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The Jews of Alberta-page 2


Nonetheless, Alberta's first permanent Jewish settlers were urban. Jacob and Rachel Diamond arrived in Calgary in the summer of 1889 and remained for the rest of their lives. Born in Oshmina, Russia, in 1859, Jacob drama emigrated to Canada around 1879. He married Ontario-born Maria Stoodley, who converted to Judaism and changed her name to Rachel. Jacob's brothers, William and Phillip, followed Jacob to Calgary; William later moved to Edmonton and Phillip to Canmore. Each is considered to be a pioneer of the Jewish community in his respective locale. Jacob, a peddler, established a successful liquor business when western prohibition ended in 1892. Two years later, the Diamond brothers rented Calgary's Masonic Hall to convene services for the annual high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.9

Calgary's Jewish population developed slowly before the turn of the century and the local press offered little encouragement. For example, the 1892 Calgary Tribune editorial, quoted earlier, continued with the following comments:

The cruel treatment experienced by these people in Russia has excited the deepest sympathy, but it must be remembered that unbiassed [sic] writers trace to their own unsocial, usurious and crafty habits more than half the blame for the persecution against Russian Jews. They are a people apart. They make no alliances with Christians, and have no dealings with them aside from trade transactions.10
Calgary's Jewish community grew enormously during the city's unprecedented pro-World War One boom. In 1901, according to the national census, there were seven Jews in the small city of 4,000. Ten years later, 613 Jews made up 1.5 per cent of Calgary's 43,000 citizens. During that first decade of the century, the key institutions of Jewish life were created in Calgary. In 1907, Calgary Jews founded the first congregation Celebration of Minion Yom Tov in Alberta (Congregation House of Jacob, named for Jacob Diamond), established a burial society and a cemetery, and founded the Calgary Zionist Association. A temporary building served as the synagogue until an impressive brick edifice was completed in 1911.11 Other social, cultural, religious, and political institutions followed, including a local council and a Hebrew school founded in 1912. As more families arrived from Europe, the Jewish population became a true community, nestling east of downtown in districts like Victoria Park and in the immigrant community of Riverside. Broader political involvement began as early as 1911, when community member Hyman King ran unsuccessfully for a seat on city council.

The community's growth did not ensure its universal acceptance, as illustrated by this May 1911 editorial from the Nanton News:
Calgary Jews have organized a political club. It has not yet been announced what great political principle the organization will advance, but it is probably to get something for the Jews. Observation leads one to believe that single-handed the sons of Jacob will get their share, and then some, of everything within reach, and if they are going in for team work there will not be much left for the gentiles. A political organization that is not held together by some principle can only be held together by spoils.12
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Reprinted with permission from Harry M. Sanders and Alberta History (Autumn 1999 Volume 47, Number 4) 20-26.
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