Canada's First Synagogue

The Corporation of Spanish and Portuguese Jews is the oldest Jewish institution in Montreal, in Quebec and in Canada. It traces its history back to the first Jewish settlers who began to arrive in 1760. The few families met for prayer in private homes until the Congregation was formally established in 1768. In 1993 there were an ongoing series of celebrations to mark the 225th anniversary. The Congregation is as old as Quebec itself. The Congregation today serves over 700 families who come from almost every country in the world in which Jews have ever lived. It is a multicultural community reflecting Montreal life and Canadian pluralism. Although established mainly by English speaking Jews it has now become a bilingual community due to the arrival of numerous French-speaking families from North Africa and the Middle East.