Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
{{Short description|Synagogue in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
| native_name = {{langx|he|ק״ק בית אברהם יוסף}}
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| image = Logo_of_Beth_Avraham_Yoseph_synagogue.png
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| caption = BAYT logo
| religious_affiliation = Modern Orthodox Judaism
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| leadership = Rabbi Daniel Korobkin
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| status = Synagogue
| functional_status = Active
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| location = 613 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill, Toronto, Ontario
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| map_type = Canada Toronto
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| map_caption = Location in Toronto
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| coordinates = {{coord|43|48|13.16|N|79|26|38.22|W|display=title,inline|region:CA-ON_type:landmark}}
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| architecture_type = Synagogue
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| established = 1981
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| website = {{URL|http://www.bayt.ca}}
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Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto ({{Langx|he|ק״ק בית אברהם יוסף}}), also known as the BAYT, is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in the Toronto suburb of Thornhill, Ontario, and is one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in North America. The synagogue attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah tradition".{{cite web|url=http://www.bayt.ca/ |title=Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto |date= |accessdate=28 December 2012}} It also serves as a social hall for many social events in the Toronto Jewish community.
History
The idea of BAYT was conceived by Joseph Tanenbaum, who had performed philanthropy elsewhere and wanted to do something for his home town. He set out to create an Orthodox synagogue that acted as the spiritual centre of the community, and which would attract observant Jews and others searching for meaning in their lives.
Tanenbaum approached Rabbi Baruch Taub, a prominent alumnus of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, who grew up in Toronto, then national director of NCSY in New York, to be the rabbi. By the mid 1980s, the community had reached over 200 families, and has now grown to over 800.{{cite web|url=https://www.bayt.ca/baythistory|title=History|website=Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto|access-date=7 November 2021|quote=Originally {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} 15 families who met in Rabbi Taub's home, the BAYT has grown to its current membership of over 800 families. On Shabbos and Yom Tov, our multiple minyanim range from heimish to formal, from yeshivish to beginners.}} The synagogue's former chazzan, Rabbi Manny Klein, developed the first youth programs. The synagogue's current building was dedicated in 1988.
At the end of August 2006, the Bayt hired an assistant rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Y. Ackerman, an alumnus of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Queens, New York, to spearhead new, innovative projects for the synagogue's youth and young families. In mid-August 2009 Rabbi Ackerman took another position as a pulpit rabbi in Columbus, Ohio. Currently, Rabbi Shmuel Lesher is the assistant rabbi. Currently the Youth Directors are Rabbi Josh and Laura Stein
In October 2007, the synagogue became the home of a newly founded kollel, named Kollel Ohr Yosef, named after Tannenbaum.[http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/content/view/165/37/ Article in Jewish Tribune] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716093512/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/content/view/165/37/ |date=16 July 2011 }}[https://web.archive.org/web/20080815000000*/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/PDF/jt011108.pdf Another article in the Jewish Tribune]
In January 2010, Rabbi Taub announced his plans for retirement to Israel.{{cite web |url=http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20395&Itemid=86 |title=BAYT's Rabbi Taub retires after 30 years |last=Kraft |first=Frances |date=2 December 2010 |accessdate=11 September 2011 |work=Canadian Jewish News}} In January 2011, Rabbi Taub was given the honorary designation Rabbi Emeritus by the synagogue's board, and he left to Israel as scheduled. Rabbi Asher Vale functioned as the interim Rabbi, until August 20, 2011 when Rabbi Daniel Korobkin assumed his post.