Our Facilities

The Beit haMidrash in the new building of Congregation Emanu-El houses our library. The library is growing with each additional donation and contains some quite remarkable texts. We have a range of chumashim and siddurim published over the years, which could provide grist for anyone wanting to investigate changes and shifts in content of prayer services, type faces, or text interpretation; we have several editions of the Jewish Encyclopaedia; English translations of Mishnah and Talmud; a large section about the history and social development of modern Israel; quite a large section on Canadian Jewish history - the list goes on. The books are organized into categories, aka the Deweyle Decimal System.

Lynn Greenhough has assumed the task of organizing the books on our newly donated bookshelves(todah rabbah to the University of Victoria) . Library usage is based on an honour system. To that end, there is a notebook on the shelf near the entrance to the room, and patrons are asked to please sign their name with the title of the book they have borrowed, as well as date borrowed. We ask that each book be returned within one month. Obviously, returning books is essential to the library maintaining its integrity, and much as it is easy to assume that once read the book is now yours, we ask that members please return all borrowed books.

Our library is a wonderful resource. Members are encouraged to take some time in their day or evening and look through the shelves in the beit HaMidrash to become familiar with its texts. If you are looking for some area in particular feel free to call Lynn, she will be happy to help you look through our shelves. Also, if you have texts on your shelves that you would like to consider donating to our library, please call Lynn. Lynn and Leila Lustig at the JCC library are beginning to coordinate their efforts to ensure optimum access to both collections.

Congregation Emanu-el now has a new commercial kitchen that is kosher (dairy), under the supervision of our rabbi, Harry Brechner. All the equipment is commercial grade stainless steel and includes a six burner gas stove, two gas ovens, counters, sinks, high speed dishwasher, huge walk-in cooler. The kitchen is fully equipped with stainless steel pots and pans, food processers, coffee makers, instant hot water, and dishes and cutlery for two hundred people.

For a personal tour of the kitchen, please call our kitchen manager, Marc Fagen at 514-4078. If you would like to prepare food in the kitchen, Marc can show you how to use the equipment. As well, if you have any questions about finding kosher ingredients and food products, Marc can help you find what you need.

With our new social hall adjacent to the kitchen, the shul could be the perfect place for your next simcha.

The kitchen manager has a list of caterers who are familiar with the kitchen and can cook kosher.

The hourly charge to a shul member to use the kitchen is $10.00/hour, non-member $15.00/hour, caterer $15.00/hour. There is a flat fee of $50.00 for the use of the kitchen on Shabbat. For more information and to reserve time in the kitchen contact Marc Fagen at 514-4078.

• all profits from community gift shop donated to assist the Hebrew School;
• sells Judaica all year round;
• open during shul office hours, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday to Friday;
• for further information, call Charlotte Sutker at 382-0615