8: Cecil Street, Jewish Institution Row
23 Henry Street (Cecil Street & Henry Street)
Welcome to Stop 8 of Scrolling Spadina. Cecil Street was commonly known as “Jewish Institution Street,” as it was home to numerous Jewish organizations that served the growing needs of the community. Press play to learn how the Jewish people came together to provide support to their community.
Running Time: 6 minutes
Archival Collection
Learn more about photographs sourced for this video from the OJA’s collection.
![Gordon Perlmutter and Gurion Hyman at the entrance of the Ostrovtzer Synagogue in 1938. Both Perlmutter and Hyman grew up in the area and later worked there too. Perlmutter became a dentist in the community, and Hyman worked in the family business and helped operate Hyman's Art and Book Shoppe, located on Spadina Avenue.
OJA, item 1180.](https://ojascrollingspadina.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/003_1180.jpg)
Gordon Perlmutter and Gurion Hyman at the entrance of the Ostrovtzer Synagogue in 1938. Both Perlmutter and Hyman grew up in the area and later worked there too. Perlmutter became a dentist in the community, and Hyman worked in the family business and helped operate Hyman’s Art and Book Shoppe, located on Spadina Avenue.
OJA, item 1180.
![Architectural drawing from 1919–1922 for the Beth Jacob Synagogue on Henry Street. Beth Jacob was the first synagogue in Toronto that was designed by Jewish architect Benjamin Brown.
OJA, fonds 49, series 1, file 2, item 1.](https://ojascrollingspadina.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/001_F49_s1_f2_i001.jpg)
Architectural drawing from 1919–1922 for the Beth Jacob Synagogue on Henry Street. Beth Jacob was the first synagogue in Toronto that was designed by Jewish architect Benjamin Brown.
OJA, fonds 49, series 1, file 2, item 1.
![Residents and staff gathered in front of the Jewish Old Folks' Home on Cecil Street. On the upper-left side of the photo there is a legend to identify the superintendent, treasurer, house committee, and nurse at the home. [ca. 1925].
OJA, fonds 14, series 6, item 2.](https://ojascrollingspadina.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/002_F14_s6_i2-scaled-1800x1453.jpg)
Residents and staff gathered in front of the Jewish Old Folks’ Home on Cecil Street. On the upper-left side of the photo there is a legend to identify the superintendent, treasurer, house committee, and nurse at the home. [ca. 1925].
OJA, fonds 14, series 6, item 2.