Congregation Adath Israel – based out of the Montreal island suburb of Hampstead – is standing by its spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Whitman, after a barrage of social media attacks were directed against him by the synagogue’s former cantor, Shmuel Levin. On Jan. 1, 2017, Cantor Levin released a YouTube video in which he made …
Former Cantor Accused of Extortion by Montreal Synagogue Read More »
Quebec Confidential For the past 40 years and counting, B’nai Brith Canada has organized Hanukkah Candle Lighting ceremonies at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) in Montreal. This began with – and still remains – a proud community volunteer service project of B’nai Brith’s Maple Leaf Lodge. To this day, organizers of the event still invite …
B’nai Brith Continues a Hanukkah Candle Lighting Tradition Read More »
Quebec Confidential Founded in 1977, Chez Doris is a day shelter for vulnerable women living in Montreal, offering a safe environment for up to 100 women every day. The shelter is open seven days a week and provides women with various essentials such as breakfast and lunch, access to showers, hygienic products, emergency food bags, respite beds, custodial …
B’nai Brith Canada Gives the Ladies of Chez Doris a Boost Read More »
It was one of the most extraordinary falls from grace by a prominent figure in Montreal Jewish community history. Seven months after being elected as the city’s first Jewish mayor, albeit on an interim basis, Michael Applebaum was paraded down the front steps of his home in handcuffs by the province’s anti-corruption police, UPAC, and …
Will Montreal’s First Jewish Mayor be Declared Innocent of Bribery Charges? Read More »
I’d like to take this opportunity to bring to light a particular Remembrance Day ceremony that is near and dear to my heart. Larry Rosenthal, a long-time B’nai Brith Canada activist in Quebec, must be commended for once again organizing a very special commemoration at the Baron De Hirsch cemetery Jewish War Veterans monument. Although …
Reflections on Rosenthal’s Remembrance Day Contributions Read More »
For a first-time visit to Montreal, Artists 4 Israel made a fairly good impression last week on McGill and Concordia university campuses. Artists 4 Israel was established in 2009 as a non-profit initiative to promote artists’ rights and the right of Israel to exist in peace and security. Based in New York City, its artists are talented …
Artists 4 Israel Makes Strong Impression on First Visit to Montreal Read More »
One of the essential pillars of B’nai Brith Canada as a charitable organization traditionally has been volunteer community service. After all, “people helping people” is something we like to say, so I hope that the following piece of personal history tugs at your heartstrings and persuades you that there is importance attached to volunteering to …
The next Quebec provincial election is fewer than two years away and the current Liberal government, led by flip-flopping Premier Philippe Couillard, must be feeling somewhat uneasy after the Parti Québécois elected the very smooth Jean-François Lisée as its new leader. There is only one reason why the Liberals still lead in the polls and …
Lisée’s Victory as New PQ Leader could be Bad News for Liberals Read More »
As a city councillor in the mostly-Jewish Montreal municipality of Côte Saint-Luc, one of my portfolios is naming rights. When we attach a name to a park, building, street or event, a tremendous amount of thought and consideration goes into the process. Most recently we renamed a street after the legendary Rabbi Sidney Shoham, who passed away …
Did Jacques Parizeau Really Deserve to have a Park Named After Him? Read More »
Montreal’s Jewish community is about to mark its first Rosh Hashanah in many years minus the presence of three extraordinary spiritual leaders: Rabbis Sidney Shoham, Ron Aigen and Chaim Steinmetz. Rabbi Shoham served Beth Zion Congregation in Côte Saint-Luc for 50 years. Although officially retired when he passed away suddenly on Sept. 20, 2015, he …
Changing of the Guard: Three Montreal-area Synagogues Welcome New Rabbis Read More »
