first permanent resident, Wm. Englander, standing (middle) before his store and the sign that reads, “W. Englander, Groceries & Meat, Butter, Eggs & Poultry” (1898).
Another butcher during the early days was Eric Valensky. Nicknamed “Orke”, he changed his first name to Aaron. He and his brothers, with the exception of one remaining in England, adopted “Williams” as their new family name. Born in 1860,39 Orke married Aaron Meretsky’s sister, Gishe (Jessie), who was nine years his junior. Having emigrated to Canada with other Meretsky family members, the couple had seven children: two sons (Edsel and Ben) and five daughters (Alty, Dora, Libby, Edith, and Mary).40
Orke Williams was a very religious man. Having been persuaded to become a butcher, he probably was the first to use a section of William Englander’s store for his ritual slaughtering and for the sale of kosher meat.41 Between 1902 and 1933, he lived at 66 Mercer Street42 (later renumbered 462)43 and died on December 5, 1938. A man by the name of Lopatin became shochet in 1934. Cases revolving around improper slaughtering procedures were again brought before the courts and it would seem that the controversies persisted throughout the 1930s.
The Next Move — Shaarey Zedek
The little Pitt Street synagogue had a property exemption of $1,000 by 1904.44 Aaron Meretsky had been re-elected president, William Englander became treasurer, and trustees were S. Geller and S. Cohen.45 The synagogue had become too small to accommodate its burgeoning population and the decision was made to build a new one.46 By 1905 Joel Gelber was president and his vice president and secretary was Simon Meretsky. In May of that year, Simon purchased an east end lot at the corner of Mercer and Brant streets, for $900 from a Mrs. James Park.47 The Pitt Street building was sold to David Meretsky for $1,00048 and a campaign was begun to raise the estimated $3,500 to $4,000 needed for the proposed cement-block structure that was to be built by Alderman Euclid Jacques.49 Aaron Meretsky laid the cornerstone and by January 1906,50 $750 had been collected with the expectation of another $250 later that year. Upon completion of the new synagogue, the builder was paid $3,480. Soon thereafter, a crack was discovered in one corner and the congregation threatened to sue the builder.51 Shaarey Zedek likely opened its doors in time for the High Holidays in 1906. Simon Meretsky, Aaron’s son, was elected president and Isaac Weingarden was elected secretary of the congregation, with Rabbi Morris Gitlin appointed as its spiritual leader.52 The battles among the membership did not stop. For instance, Barney Kaplan accused Simon Meretsky of using insulting language in the vestibule of the new house of worship. The case was settled out of court with Meretsky donating $5 to the synagogue and Kaplan paying all court expenses. Following a dispute in 1908, the position of president remained open until the election of an Essex farmer, A. Orechkin.53 That caused dissension again, splitting the membership into two separate factions,54 one led by Jacob Meretsky, who favoured retaining Morris Gitlin as its rabbi, and the other led by William Englander, who advocated the appointment of S. Schumann, a rabbi from Chicago. Rabbi Schumann refused to accept the position, however, because of threats made against his life.55
In 1910, Isidore Orechkin succeeded A. Orechkin as president. Samuel Schwartz acted as vice president, Charles Kovinsky and Michael Noble were first and second trustees, respectively, Nathan Cherniak was secretary, and Samuel K. Baum was treasurer.56 By 1911 Windsor’s estimated Jewish population had reached a total of three hundred. Isidore Orechkin had been re-elected president of Shaarey Zedek; E. Subulski, vice president; and Joel Gelber, treasurer, with J. Orechkin and Peter Meretsky serving as members of the board of directors.57 Nathan Cohen, who had been elected secretary in 1908 was re-elected to that position.58
Photo courtesy of the Windsor Star
Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, Brant Avenue.
Rabbi Morris Gitlin, at that time, expressed a desire to move to Detroit.59 He claimed it would give him the opportunity to study with other rabbis in a more Orthodox environment.60 However, it is more plausible that this very religious man decided to leave Shaarey Zedek because he had grown tired of the constant infighting that made solemn worship virtually impossible. He apparently remained in Detroit until his death in February 1931.
The tension among the membership only grew worse with the arrival of Rabbi Gitlin’s successor. Samuel Abrahamson was not an ordained rabbi.61 Some argued that he was no more than a shochet and soon raised the ire of everyone. Aaron Meretsky accused him of using insulting language and others strongly resented the fact that he dared to question the propriety of some of the ladies in the congregation.62 There also was trouble between Samuel Abrahamson and his brother Aaron, who accused Samuel of insulting Aaron’s wife, Hanna, implying that she had not been “pure” before Samuel had married them. Subsequently, Aaron swore an affidavit to negate his brother’s claims. The arguments between them deteriorated to such an extent that Aaron was fined $7.75 for disturbing the peace. As he apparently could not raise the money, he was given the option of spending twenty-one days in the Sandwich Jail.63 It is not known whether the sentence was ever carried out.
In 1912 Aaron Meretsky became president of the congregation, with Nathan Kaplan serving as vice president,64 and Michael Meretsky and Morris Katzman as first and second trustee, respectively. One of the new leader’s first acts was to dismiss Samuel Abrahamson, with whom he frequently had rows that were so severe that they required court settlement.65 More trouble ensued when the deposed rabbi opened a store in town. Apart from defiantly serving customers on the Sabbath,66 he was resentful of the power wielded by Aaron Meretsky. Samuel Abrahamson complained in the following letter published in the Evening Record of November 16, 1912:
The undersigned begs to say he was Rabbi in the Jewish colony for three years and had no trouble in court until Mr. Meretsky got the Aldermanic bee in his bonnet. He wanted me to use my influence with the Jewish people to help elect him. But because I was candid enough to remind him of his shortcomings from an educational standpoint and not to seek the office, trouble started right there. Since that time, Alderman Meretsky has tried to make me feel his majestic might. I stopped the church business and started a grocery and dry goods store, with which I have been able to make a living. I want to be left alone, but Alderman Meretsky has become so proud that he wants to see everybody bowing down before him or else running away.67
Those who had attended Shaarey Zedek as youngsters attested to that confrontation and other unpleasant encounters. In view of the perpetual bickering and the explosive atmosphere that prevailed at the corner of Mercer and Brant streets, they still wonder today how religious services could have been conducted at all.
The same year, 1912, Aaron Meretsky invited Reverend Harris Wolenske, formerly from Great Britain and New Haven, Connecticut, to come to Windsor to perform the marriage of his daughter, Tibe, to Michael Burnstein. Subsequently, Wolenske became the rabbi of Shaarey Zedek,68 as well as its religious teacher.69 This scholarly gentleman was warmly received by the congregation and remained its spiritual leader until at least 1917.70
Aaron Meretsky continued as president of Shaarey Zedek until 1914, when Joseph Loikrec took over, with Joseph Kovinsky and Nathan Cohen remaining as treasurer and secretary, respectively, until 1916.71 Also in that year, Cohen and Loikrec were presented with gold medals in appreciation of their services to the congregation.72
The Beginning of a Jewish Cemetery
When a Jewish resident of Windsor died, funeral services were usually held at the home of the deceased. In the absence of a local cemetery, burial took place
