Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1.2 linear metres of multiple media + 58 photographs
- Fonds No.
- 1293
- Date
- 1898-2010
- Scope and Content
- Consists of ephemeral and some documentary material related to both the Yavna B'nai Synagogue (such as correspondence related to the sale of the building) as well as artefacts originating from the Synagogue (parochet/curtains, electric menorah, kesser/sefer torah crowns). Also includes photographs…
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1.2 linear metres of multiple media + 58 photographs
- Scope and Content
- Consists of ephemeral and some documentary material related to both the Yavna B'nai Synagogue (such as correspondence related to the sale of the building) as well as artefacts originating from the Synagogue (parochet/curtains, electric menorah, kesser/sefer torah crowns). Also includes photographs of the synagogue and the Parnass family.
- Date
- 1898-2010
- Fonds No.
- 1293
- Storage Location
- JPL
- Bay 9
- History / Biographical
- Raizel and Pinchas Parnass lived in Russian town of Kagul in Bessarabia with their six children, Sara, Abraham, Boris, Harry, Mottel and Joseph. In 1903, the entire family emigrated to Montreal where Pinchas opened a successful clothing store on St. James Street.
Beyond settling in their new home and raising their family, Raizel and Pinchas dedicated themselves to community building, most especially in religious observance and education. In 1910, Pinchas founded the Kerem Israel shull at 4335 St. Dominique, corner Marie-Anne. The second floor of the Kerem Israel was used as a free school for children.
In 1926, on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary, Pinchas bought Raizel a two-storey brick building belonging to the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 4690 Hutchinson Street. The sale of the church was dependent on the new owners observing Saturday as Sabbath. For Raizel the building was fulfillment of a childhood desire to build a synagogue in the "New World". As a child, Raizel witnessed the destruction during a pogrom of a synagogue built by her father. Raizel also designated the second-floor space of the building for a Hebrew free school.
The new Orthodox synagogue was given the name 'Yavna B'nai' by Rabbi Herschorn but quickly became known as the Parnass Shul throughout the community. The Parnass family indeed provided the necessary elements to the tiny synagogue: Harry, who was skilled in carpentry, built the bimah (a table used for unrolling the Torah); Raizel and daughter Sara (Berman) made and embroidered the parochet (curtain that covers the Torah Ark) and Sara also donated the Megillah Scroll for the shul. The Torah scrolls were donated by the Lubavitch Yeshiva.
Joseph Parnass, Raizel and Pinchas' youngest son, assumed management of the Synagogue and it was he that established the rule that no donations would ever be accepted by Yavna. Instead, the Synagogue was sustained by the Parnass family. In this way, the family ensured that the Synagogue remained free for anyone who wished to worship there. Joseph Parnass was also one of the founding members of the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1919 and he later sat on the board of the Rabbinical College of Canada.
Boris Parnass, the second-eldest son, assumed caretaker responsibilities for the building and after his death, his sons Victor and Myer, continued in their father's dedication.
The Yavna B'nai Parnass Synagogue was the first synagogue in Outremont and during its height was filled to capacity and provided three minyins each day. The Synagogue was also used for appeals for other organizations, specifically the Lubavitch Yeshiva and the Jewish Old People's Home, now Maimonides Hospital. A plaque hangs in Maimonides Hospital, donated by Joseph Parnass, dedicated to the founding of Yavna B'nai Synagogue by Raizel and Pinchas Parnass.
In 1991, the Yavna B'nai Synagogue was closed and sold. Proceeds from the sale went to the Jewish Hospital of Hope for that institution's Synagogue, now known as the Yavna B'nai Parnass.
- Language
- English
- Hebrew
- Custodial History
- Donated by Helen Parnass Constantine on behalf of the Parnass family.
- Accession No.
- 12-018
- Subjects
- Synagogues - Canada.
- Synagogues - Montreal (Quebec)
- Parnass, Pinchas
- Parnass, Raizel
- Parnass, Joseph
- Yavna B'nai Synagogue
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail
Kiddush cup
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 Kiddush cup : silver
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_001
Oil jug for Menorah
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 oil jug : silver plate
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_002
Tabacco box
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tabacco box : olive wood
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_003
School pencil box, "Le Scolaire"
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 pencil box : cardboard with embossed cloth
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_004
Tefillin and Tefillin bag belonging to Joseph Parnass
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tefillin bag : velvet, blue with gold embroidery + tefillin : leather
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_005
Tefillin and Tefillin bag belonging to Harry Parnass
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tefillin bag : velvet, burgundy + tefillin : leather
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_006
Egg-shaped spice box
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 spice box : wood
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_007
Tallit gadol
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tallit gadol : cotton, white and black
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_008
Tallit gadol
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tallit gadol : cotton, white and black
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_009
Tallit katan
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tallit katan : cotton, white
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_010
Tallit katan
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tallit katan : cotton, white
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_011
Tallit bag embroidered with "JP"
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tallit bag : cotton, white with embroidery
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_012
Tallit bag
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 tallit bag : cotton, white
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_013
Shirt (Men's), hand-sewn with embroidery, "JP" embroidered on chest
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 shirt : cotton, black with multi-coloured embroidery
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_014
- Date
- c 1890-1900
Menorah
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 Menorah : silver plate
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_015
Shofar
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 Shofar : horn
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_016
Kesser/Sefer Torah crowns
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 2 Kesser : silver
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_017
Candlesticks, engraved
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 2 candlesticks : tin ; 41cm high
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_018
Vase, engraved, "Presented by Officers of Dufferin School Graduates Society" on the marriage of Alice (Fish) Parnass and Joseph Parnass.
- Collection
- Yavna B'nai Parnass/Parnass Family Collection
- Description Level
- File
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 vase : tin ; 43cm high
- Fonds No.
- 1293; 1293_019
- Date
- September 10, 1924