History of BSVT

Prayer, Study and Community

In the late summer of 1993 while attending a monthly meeting of the Jewish Families of Durham Region (JFOD) our soon to be founding President, Harley, suggested that the time had come to establish a synagogue of our very own.

After polling the members of JFOD, a Reform Synagogue named B’Nai Shalom v’Tikvah (Children of Peace and Hope) was born. The families of JFOD came from all places and from all backgrounds that included Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Reform, Orthodox and Conservative.

We wandered around for a few years, as Jewish people are prone to doing, and finally were invited by St. Paul’s United Church to share their home. We have grown over time to about 50 membership units and are a very tight knit but welcoming group. We invite you to come join our family and help us write our story into the future.