MAY 19 • 2022 | 31

Holidays. We keep the syna-
gogue going.
”
Cantor David Neumark has
been Shaar Hashomayim’s spir-
itual leader since 1993. Rabbi
Sholom Galperin of the Chabad
Jewish Centre of Windsor also
has a hand in services at the
synagogue.
Shaar Hashomayim’s
constitution defines it as
an Orthodox congrega-
tion, although it has made
some concessions to certain
Conservative practices at the
request of many congregants.
While it strives to maintain
strict separation of men and
women in the main sanctuary,
it does provide mixed seating
in the social hall as well as
limited areas of family seating
in the balcony during the High
Holidays.
Shaar Hashomayim also
runs its own Hebrew school,
serving about 20 kids, with
Rabbi Galperin as its director.

The Shaar runs its own
cemetery as well, which
Mechanic estimates
holds 1,000-1,300
graves spanning gener-
ations of families.
Mechanic says the
synagogue currently
has 85-90 “member
units” — families or
individuals who belong.
Each year, Shaar
Hashomayim draws
men from all over for
its biggest social/fundraising
event of the year, a kosher deli
feast known as “The Man’s
Lunch.
” It features all-you-
can-eat corned beef, pastrami,
salami and more. The meat
is custom-brined and takes a
month to make in Hamilton,
Ontario. The lunch also offers
seven-layer cake and rye bread
from Detroit’s Bake Station,
along with guest speakers. This
year’s lunch takes place Sept.
22, and spots can be reserved

now.
The synagogue, which
has endured its fair share of
struggles, is still going strong
as it approaches its centennial.
Mechanic takes pride in
its aged uniqueness and is
grateful for the community
that continues to unabashedly
support it and the multiple-
generational families that still
congregate there.
“We’ve reinvested over $1
million in the last 20 years to
bring this building back to

the level it should be at and
to honor those who made it
available to us starting in 1929,
”
Mechanic said.
“We’ve been given this
magnificent synagogue, and
we just have to keep it going.
There’s no synagogue like it; it’s
inspirational.
”

To learn more about Shaar Hashomayim

or to donate, visit https://shaarwindsor.

org, call (519) 256-3123 or email shaar@

mnsi.net. Also, check out a conversation

with Rabbi Galperin on thejewishnews.

com.

The
sanctuary