In 2008, Moishe Alexander and Canadian Funding Corporation made a substantial donation to Chabad Flamingo, a synagogue in Thornhill, Ontario.

About Chabad Flamingo:

In the late 1980s, Rabbi Zalman A. Grossbaum, the visionary director of Chabad Lubavitch activities in the Province of Ontario, took notice of the planning of new neighborhoods in the northern areas of Thornhill.  He inspired Mr. Ernest Manson, a local developer, to commit a 2.4-acre site for a future Chabad Centre.

Mr. Manson passed away, on the wings of a mitzvah, shortly after making this gracious donation. As the area developed, his family generously honoured his commitment. Rabbi Grossbaum then appointed Rabbi Mendel and Faygie Kaplan, to serve as the Shluchim to the area.

Filled with energy, optimism and dedication, the Kaplan’s founded Chabad @ Flamingo shortly after their arrival from Jerusalem in the spring of 1998. Little did they know that they would soon be enthusiastically welcomed by the diverse multi-cultural assortment of Canadian Jews living in the area.

The Kaplan’s and Chabad @ Flamingo provided a genuine, common foundation where these various elements came together. Beginning at ground zero, without a single contact in the neighbourhood, remarkable growth ensued.

In the fall of 1999, Chabad @ Flamingo moved into the magnificent but still incomplete, Ernest Manson Lubavitch Centre. The state-of-the-art, 22,000 square foot facility included a synagogue sanctuary, beth midrash chapel and library, classrooms, administrative offices, multi-purpose social hall which also serves as an auditorium and gymnasium, a fully-serviced kitchen and attractive mikvah (ritual bath) facilities.

In the winter of 2006/07 the women’s mikvah was totally renovated and remodeled into a spa-like facility that is currently the most beautiful mikvah in the country! At the same time a handsome new men’s mikvah was added as well.

As the community continued to outgrow the (still relatively new) building plans were laid for the addition of 22,000 additional square feet. In the spring of 2008 ground was broken on phase one of this most ambitious project.

Completion of phase one, which includes a stunning new synagogue sanctuary (seating nearly 700), a bridal/simcha suite, new entrances and ancillary rooms, a renovated Beth Midrash and totally remade landscaping and parking area’s is slated for completion in the spring of 2009, with a grand dedication event being planned for Thursday, March 26th .

For more information, please see: http://www.chabadflamingo.com