The Chevra Kadisha Congregation was founded in 1893 as a Burial Society associated with a small synagogue conducting services in a loft on lower St. Lawrence Boulevard. The first edifice of the congregation was erected in 1903 on St. Urbain and St. Catherine. In 1912 when Lazar Paperman established his company the congregation ceased being a burial society. When fire destroyed the building in 1920, the synagogue relocated on Jeanne Mance near Milton from 1920 to 1928, and on Hutchinson corner Fairmount from 1928 to 1955.

The B'nai Jacob Congregation was founded in 1886 in downtown on St. Constant (now DeBullion) Street, relocated in a new building on Fairmount near Esplanade in 1918 and to the modern present location on Clanranald, when the synagogue amalgamated with Congregation Chevra Kadisha in 1956.

The Chevra Kadisha-B'nai Jacob Congregation represents a merger of Montreal's oldest orthodox synagogues. The imposing community centre serves the religious and educational needs of families, embracing young and old in a comprehensive of religious services, Adult Institute of Jewish Studies and active Sisterhood and Brotherhood.

At this 40th anniversary celebration we pay tribute to the remarkable accomplishments of the past and present dedicated leaders and loyal members of our congregation. The Congregation is proud of its enviable record of leadership throughout the community and its efforts towards the support of the State of Israel.

Among its most prized achievements in its glorious history are the yearly Israel Bond Dinners. We were the first synagogue in Montreal to have hosted these affairs to raise funds for Israel. Many of our members have been honoured and held executive positions.

We were the first synagogues to hold a function on behalf of the mass aliyah of Russian Jewry. The Israel Welfare Fund was our way to distribute monies to hospitals, youth clinics and yeshivoth in Israel.