CÔTE-SAINT-LUC – On the eve of Yom Kippur, thousands of people gathered at Beth Zion Congregation to say their final good-byes to Rabbi Sidney Shoham.
The main sanctuary, named after the rabbi, is where his family, friends, colleagues and confidants reunited to honour him.
“He started this whole community,” said Rabbi Pesach Sperlin.
“This used to be farmland. He built this synagogue with a few family members.”
“He dedicated his life, his total life for the community and that’s why he was so loved.”
Beth Zion started as a small cottages in the early 1950s, but it was quickly out-grown.
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When Rabbi Shoham arrived, the synagogue had only 100 members, but that number quickly expanded to over 1,000.
By 1956, when Rabbi Shoham agreed to lead the congregation, he helped build and design Beth Zion, the synagogue now known as the community centre of Côte-Saint-Luc.
“He was a builder,” said Dida Breku, Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor.
“He, himself, drove this project of Beth Zion and it’s just radiated throughout the community.”
The synagogue turned into a structure that would serve not only as a place of prayer, but a hub for Jewish people all over Montreal.
“I always came to see him when I had a big decision in life to make, including political decisions,” said Conservative candidate, Robert Libman.
“He was a confidant, a guide, a warm presence and a very dear friend.”
After Rabbi Shoham retired in 2007, the congregation went through three rabbis to find his successor.
“Everyone that needed anything, he was there for him,” said Annie Baron, member of Beth Zion.
“The people inside or outside the community.”
As the members of Beth Zion laid their spiritual leader to rest, they mentioned his words, guidance and impact will never be forgotten.
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