I am an only child.  The only child and only son of Bertha (Bella) and (Izzy) Isadore Bogner. The Schara Tzedeck has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents came to Canada from Poland, didn’t know each other in Poland but met here in Vancouver, married in Vancouver and had their son here in Vancouver. I have the fondest memories of Schara Tzedeck since my parents attended here for as long as I can remember, as did our extended family, and as I recall as did all my parents’ friends. I recall to this day attending the High Holidays and sitting alongside my father, his brother in law, Dick Kovish, his best friend Leo Krell, and ultimately his brother, my Uncle Anschel Bogner, who finally emigrated from Poland after the war,  after tragically losing his wife and two children during the Holocaust. I remember sitting in the same row for years, and love the memory of how I was greeted when I arrived for the service. The son.

My parents were very religious and the Shul was very important to them. Accordingly, I attended Schara Tzedeck every Saturday morning for many years. I had my Bar Mitzvah at Schara Tzedeck as did my friends and I was in the choir, with the same friends for years, along with a variety of Hazzans.

As a young child I have best memories of attending synagogue for all the holidays, including Purim, Chanukah, and Simchat Torah. So much fun as a child.

There is even a story that I can’t substantiate, but we’ve heard my father would attend the Heatley Street Shul, which was quite far from where we lived, and he apparently rented a hotel room near that Shul so he could attend Friday night services, and also attend services on Saturday morning, without using transportation.

Although I have moved my seating to be closer to my cousin Morley Shafron, I’m also so fortunate to sit with my son Darren, my son in law Jonathon Leipsic and my grandson Ty Leipsic. Of our family’s affiliation with the Shul this represents 3 of the 4 generations the Bogner family have been members. Similarly I get to look up at my wife Beth, my daughter Karly Leipsic, my daughter in law Shira Bogner and our granddaughters all occupying the same seats where my mother and her sister, and their friends sat in the upper balcony 60 years ago. Remarkable.