Smolensky Family
Rabbi Simon Smolensky was born in Smela, Russia, in 1882. As a teenager he taught at a small town cheder in order to finance rabbinic studies in Lithuania.
He immigrated to the United States in 1904, and occupied pulpits in Mobile, Alabama, Shreveport, Louisiana and Tyler, Texas. He came to Calgary in 1917 to serve as Rabbi for the House of Jacob Congregation.
He remained as Calgary’s only Rabbi until 1935. As the spiritual leader of Calgary’s Jews, Rabbi Smolensky was influential and farsighted. He was instrumental in establishing an independent Talmud Torah, and also sup- ported the community centre building drive.
After his retirement from Beth Jacob, he helped form the Beth Israel Congregation, and led many services at its early House of Israel location. He also provided his services to other Jewish communities who lacked full-time Rabbis. Rabbi Smolensky represented the Calgary Jewish community at many civic events, and was a popular public speaker.
Jenny and Simon Smolensky raised five children in their large home on 1st Street E.
The children were Lena (Sam Hanen), Ben (Pat Kahanoff), Jack (Ruby Sigler), David (Pauline) and Esther (Noah Gordon).
Jenny Smolensky passed away in 1957 at 74. Rabbi Simon Smolensky died in 1964 at the age of 82, after 47 years of leadership in the Calgary Jewish community.
