Potential Merger with Beth Tikvah

Today, the leadership of Beth Tikvah Synagogue informed Beth David that they no longer wish to pursue a merger of our two synagogues at our Yeomans Road location. 
 
Our understanding is that their Board of Governors believes that they will not be able to garner sufficient support from their membership for the merger solution that we shared with our communities in June, particularly given the obligation to leave their spiritual home on Bayview Avenue and the costs associated with enhancing accessibility at Beth David, such as the entrance foyer, bima, offices, and other building improvements.
 
While we’re disappointed that we will not be able to pursue this merger solution with Beth Tikvah, I’m grateful to our Board of Directors, Clergy, staff, and you, our Members, for your interest in this process and your engagement, questions and feedback to date. Thank you as well to our hard-working team of volunteers who have been serving on the Merger Joint Steering Committee and various working groups, giving so much of their time and expertise.
 
We’ve learned much through this effort so far, including developing a comprehensive and compelling Vision of what our Beth David community aspires for the future, based on extensive input from our Members and staff. We will continue to actively consider other strategic options for Beth David, including merger opportunities as they arise, and will leverage the knowledge and experience we have acquired over the past year.
 
Going forward, our outstanding Clergy team of Rabbi Emeritus Philip Scheim, Cantor Marshall Loomer, and Ritual Director Michael Rubin will continue to serve our congregation, will welcome you at this year’s High Holy Days services, and will continue to provide spiritual advice, counsel and support to our Members, as they always have.
 
Shortly, we’ll announce the timing of a Town Hall meeting to provide further details, answer your questions, and solicit your input and feedback on other strategic options that we might pursue to secure the future of our Beth David community.
 
In the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, please renew your Beth David membership via the Members Portal on the Beth David website or by contacting the office. As we continue to explore opportunities, your commitment to Beth David is more important than ever and deeply appreciated.

June 12, 2022

Beth David and Beth Tikvah’s approaches to Conservative halacha and the conduct of weekday, Shabbat and holiday services are highly similar. Both synagogues are egalitarian. A few differences include the conduct of online services, following triennial Torah readings, and the role of a choir. However, both clergy teams believe that there are no major halachic impediments to bringing our two communities together.

Given the size of the merged synagogue and the demand for clergy services – including officiating at worship services and life-cycle events, teaching, engagement, providing pastoral care and support to members, and much more – we would retain all current clergy from both synagogues. Should we proceed with a merger, Rabbi Jarrod Grover would become the Senior Rabbi and Mara d’Atra and Rabbi Philip Scheim would become the Rabbi Emeritus. Hazzan Marshall Loomer and Hazzan Tibor Kovari would share Cantor duties, while Michael Rubin and Irv Kirshenblat would share the Ritual Director duties. Given the size of the congregation, an Associate Rabbi would likely be hired.

By joining our Clergy teams, members of the merged synagogue would enjoy and benefit from the combined leadership, experience, skills, and familiarity of an expanded clergy team and the sharing of ritual practices across both communities. Bringing together service structures, halachic approaches, and melodies familiar to each synagogue would ensure that all feel comfortable and at home in worship services. Members would also have access to a wider range of clergy expertise and styles, including the ability to learn and daven in smaller groups, drawn from a larger membership.

June 3, 2022

A merged Beth David – Beth Tikvah would require only one synagogue building, which we both agree should be on the Bathurst Street corridor. Following a merger, Beth Tikvah would sell their Bayview Avenue property and bring their community to Beth David’s building on Yeomans Road.

The new synagogue would dedicate a portion of the sale proceeds to some much-needed renovations to address accessibility concerns and to create suitable multi-purpose space for services and programs. We’re currently discussing the possibility of creating a new entrance/foyer that would improve access to the Main Sanctuary/Social Hall level, as well as lowering the bima, adding washroom facilities on the upper level, and creating social, educational, community, and office space.

To ensure that all members from both shuls feel at home, a future design process would include consultations with our community. Important artifacts such as both shuls’ memorial boards, the historic Aron Kodesh in Beth Tikvah’s chapel, Judaica, and other significant items would be sensitively accommodated. As well, since the building will not be large enough to accommodate High Holy Days services for all members at once, alternative options and locations will be explored such as the auxiliary services that Beth David hosts in Richmond Hill.

An accessible synagogue with multi-purpose space is vital for in-person services and programs, with flexibility for concurrent activities and remote participation, including in members’ homes and other community venues. However, it’s important to consider that while shul buildings will always hold important emotional value, in the future, synagogues will increasingly need to be more than “bricks and mortar”. They will need to be communities that engage and connect with members and prospective members in programs and activities wherever they are, including by leveraging technology, where appropriate.

Your comments and questions about a potential merger with Beth Tikvah are always welcome at merger@bethdavid.com.

• The home of the new merged synagogue would most likely be in Beth David’s Yeomans Road building, located on the Bathurst corridor, in the heart of Toronto’s Jewish community.
• Rabbi Grover would be the Senior Rabbi and Rabbi Scheim would be the Rabbi Emeritus of the new shul. Cantors Loomer and Kovari would share the Cantor duties, while Michael Rubin and Irv Kirshenblat would share Ritual Director duties. Given the number of members in the merged synagogue, we would likely hire an Associate Rabbi.
• Beth Tikvah’s Bayview Avenue property would be sold, with the proceeds invested to support the new merged synagogue, including some building renovations, improved services, programming and outreach for Members, and long-term financial stability
• Upgrades to the Yeomans Road building would be undertaken so that all Members feel at home, and to improve accessibility for all, including potentially through (a) a larger entrance/foyer to ease access to the Sanctuary/Social Hall level, (b) lowering the bima, and (c) refreshed community, meeting and office space
• All Beth David and Beth Tikvah employees would be retained following a merger to provide continuity of service to our combined community
• A new Board of Directors would be established, reflecting equal representation from both Beth David and Beth Tikvah
• Annual membership dues would decrease for the vast majority of Members of both synagogues
• A new synagogue name would be chosen that will respect the history and legacy of both Beth David and Beth Tikvah while looking ahead with confidence to serving the needs of our current and future Members