Beth Zion Congregation

“A family synagogue helping to build a strong tomorrow”

Beth Zion Congregation is an Orthodox Synagogue, located in the city of Cote St. Luc, Quebec. The synagogue was established in 1954 by a handful of individuals, and has since grown to a membership of just under 700 families. The facility includes a main sanctuary, a Beit Midrash, library, classrooms, gift shop, and 2 social halls. Please note that the entire facility is fully accessible to the elderly and the handicapped. Under the guidance of Rabbi Sidney Shoham, the synagogue has provided the community with spiritual guidance, and has been a source of inspiration to the entire community. Daf Yomi, women’ Torah classes, youth and family programs have become an integral part of synagogue life.

The mission of Beth Zion Congregation is:

• To maintain a house of worship reflecting Orthodox Judaism, with services according to the traditional ritual of Minhag Ashkenaz;

• To provide, conduct or associate itself with schools for Hebrew and Jewish religious studies and traditions, language, literature and history of the Jewish people;

• To maintain a community centre for the development of its members and the cultivation of Jewish though and action;

• To foster and encourage the organization of social and cultural groups among its members, their children and the greater Jewish community for the purpose of encouraging the continual development of Jewish culture;

• To render to the members and the community such spiritual, moral, educational and other services as are generally offered by synagogues;

• To maintain a cemetery

History of Beth Zion Congregation

There were empty, overgrown fields and swamps, a few roads and some farmland. Slowly, a sprinkling of new, modest homes began to dot this sparse unsettled area. This was the beginning of Cote St Luc. It was a long time ago, not simply in years, but terms of progress.

Nineteen fifty-three is a good year to begin this story of our founding. Cote St. Luc was at the time considered to be real hinterland with respect to the rest of Montreal, yet by this time close to 2100 families had moved into the area. Among the newly arrived residents were approximately 25 Jewish families. From amongst these earliest