June 2, 2017 David Birnbaum became an elected official in the spring of 2014 when he was tapped by then Quebec Liberal Party leader Philippe Couillard to succeed Lawrence Bergman as the candidate and ultimately the Member of the National Assembly for D’Arcy McGee. I always used to call Bergman the de facto Minister of …
Quebec’s Only Jewish MNA Rises to Occasion on Premier’s Mission to Israel Read More »
Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat is one of the most prominent rabbinical figures in the history of Canadian Jewry. It was 70 years ago, upon his arrival as the spiritual leader of Shaar Hashomayim Congregation in the Montreal island suburb of Westmount, that he presided over the first series of Bar Mitzvah ceremonies. A bond was immediately …
Bar Mitzvah Boys Reunite After 70 Years – With the Same Rabbi at the Pulpit Read More »
Quebec Confidential May 19, 2017 MONTREAL – Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard ventured into the heart of Quebec’s Jewish community last week to speak to an overflowing crowd at the City of Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club. This visit came on the eve of a historic trade mission the Premier will lead from May 19 to 24 to …
A Historic Mission to Israel for Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard Read More »
MONTREAL – Fourteen years ago Montreal businessman, philanthropist and B’nai Brith Canada supporter Amos Sochaczevski felt that the city’s annual Israel rally needed an adrenaline shot. Federation CJA had moved the event from downtown to the suburbs and, as such, it lacked the kind of appeal he felt it deserved. Sochacevski proceeded to establish the Jewish …
Montrealers Rise to the Occasion Once Again to Celebrate Israel Read More »
Quebec Confidential MONTREAL – I think it is safe to say that, 72 years after the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, Holocaust Remembrance Day has never been more visible in Montreal. Last week, there were two high-profile Yom HaShoah ceremonies: the community-wide commemoration at Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation in Cote Saint-Luc and …
Yom HaShoah Takes On New Prominence in Montreal; B’nai Brith Gets a Big Assist Read More »
MONTREAL – Last week, I wrote about the controversial “Passover Against Apartheid” event held at Concordia University. To recap, the Concordia Student Union (CSU) partnered with the Fine Arts Student Alliance and campus group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (note the absence of any Jewish groups) to host an art exhibit and discussion session on why Passover …
In honour of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), B’nai Brith Canada Quebec will be commemorating those who perished during the Holocaust on Monday, April 24, 2017. Since 2002, B’nai Brith has held this significant event in Montreal, which was officially adopted by Montreal City Hall – and thanks to Mayor Denis Coderre – last year. …
B’nai Brith Yom HaShoah Ceremony in Montreal Honours Victims of the Holocaust Read More »
MONTREAL – As Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre prepares for the 2017 elections in November, there is no question that he has the support of the Jewish community behind him. Last fall, Mayor Coderre led a much publicized mission to Israel with his Toronto counterpart John Tory. Two of his senior councillors, Lionel Perez and Russell Copeman, are Jewish, …
Montreal City Hall Continues B’nai Brith Yom HaShoah Tradition Read More »
MONTREAL – Posters marked with the words “Passover Against Apartheid” were plastered around the Concordia University campus on Monday, shortly before the start of Passover, promoting an event being held Thursday, April 13 called – you guessed it – “Passover Against Apartheid.” It is being hosted by the groups Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, the Fine Arts Student Alliance (FASA), and the Concordia Student Union. The four-hour-long event will feature an art exhibit and two discussion sessions. The first is titled …
Passover BDS Event a Disgusting Display of Religious Appropriation at Concordia Read More »
MONTREAL – Last week, a dozen B’nai Brith Canada volunteers enthusiastically headed to the MADA Community Centre warehouse to pick and pack more than 2,000 food baskets. It marked the beginning of what both organizations hope will become a long-term partnership. MADA is a volunteer-based organization that evolved from a small neighbourhood community centre to Montreal’s premier group that fights …
Feeding the Needy in Montreal: B’nai Brith and MADA Unite for Passover Food Drive Read More »
