Quality you can build on, a name you can trust. LONDON page 65 Almost as interesting as the vote, was the lengthy process leading up to it — which includ- ed several ritual committee, syn- agogue board and open congregational discussions. "I did not care which way the vote went, but I wanted due process. If people had concerns, then they should have been able to communicate them," said Ellen Rosen, Or Shalom's current, and first female, president. Opposition came mostly from two longtime congregational members. "We abstained, be- cause the vote was overwhelm- ingly in favor...there was no point to vote against it," said Murray Leff, whose family helped found Or Shalom. Because of the deci- sion, Mr. Leff has stopped at- tending morning minyan at Or Shalom — the one time of the Recognized by Remodeling Magazine for excellence in design and construction. Quality craftsmanship. 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Vehicles shown may have additional optional equipment. Plus lax, title, plates, destination, includes rebate. Requires 02,000 down payment.Security deposit equals payment. Lessee has no obligation to purchase vehicle at lease end. "Plus lax, title and destination, includes rebate. Some extra equipment shown in photo may affect cost of vehicles. day tefillin are worn — although he still remains a member. "I opposed it because it wasn't traditional and had never been done before," he said. Art Ender, a past president of Or Shalom and the only person who quit the congregation over the controversy, added: "It is not a gender issue, but one of tradi- tion. If we water it down, we won't have anything left," said Mr. Ender, who switched to the Orthodox Beth Tefilah. London's three synagogues all employ American rabbis (it is not unusual for Canadian syna- gogues to have American rabbis, since Canada has few rabbinic schools, and they are all Ortho- dox). Conservative Rabbi Melvin Glazer from Atlanta, Orthodox Rabbi David Rosenberg from Boston and Reform Rabbi Joel Wittstein from Cincinnati all have brought their unique Jew- ish-American pasts and ideology with them, including an enthu- siasm for Klal Israel (religious unity). The three meet monthly to work on issues of concern to the entire community. Despite the conservative out- look of London Jews, intermar- riage is common. In an attempt to slow the rate, the three rabbis have run community educational programs. The three rabbis agreed that most Canadian Jews tend to be more traditional in their beliefs than are Americans — conserv- ative in outlook, if not Conserva- tive in religious observance. Canadian Jewish sociologists and other observers have explained this by noting that more Cana- dian Jews are relatively new im- migrants — often post-Holocaust — as compared to American Jews. In short, this answer holds, they still adhere to European modes of thinking. Rabbi Rosenberg prefers an- other explanation, however. "Canadians as a whole have not wrestled with revolution like their neighbors to the south. Quebec (and the French Separatist move- ment) is the only similar is- sue," he said. In addition to the three synagogues, London Jewish life also boasts a rich infra- structure in London that amazes most visitors. There is an eruv, commu- nity mikvah and federation- operated London Community Day School with more than 70 students. For a long time, London was the smallest North American city to have a Jewish day school. Now, nearby Kitch- ener, Ont., home to just 600- 800 Jews, has that distinction. London has no kosher food stores, but dedicated community leaders have brokered arrangements with kosher butchers, bakeries and grocers in Hamilton (about 90 minutes away) and Toronto to make weekly deliveries to local stores. For those food-intense hol- idays such as Passover, many Londoners journey to Detroit or Toronto to shop. There are also several Amer- ican-born spouses here, proving that cross-border dating — as well as shopping — is also popular. The London Jewish Federa- tion, which expects to raise $415,000 for the United Jewish Appeal this year, also supports a Jewish Community Centre, so- cial service department, child day care center and seniors citizens apartment complex — all locat- ed on one campus in the city's North London section, home to a majority of the city's Jews. Aside from the infrastructure, Rabbi Glazer commented on London's two major strengths: "There is a strong value placed on Israel and there is also a healthy respect for authority and rabbis," he chuckled, "which is wonderful for us." El