Levine - Seeking the fabled city: the Canadian Jewish experience

The idea for this book originated with Scott Sellers, Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing Strategy for Penguin Random House Canada and my editor, Doug Pepper, the publisher of Signal at Penguin Random House Canada. I thank both of them for involving me in this project, and Doug, especially, for his advice in helping me shape and improve the manuscript. I am beholden as well to their wonderful team of talented individuals: Elizabeth Burns; Leah Springate, for the cover design; Shannon Parr; Joe Lee; Gemma Wain; and Kimberlee Hesas, McClelland & Stewarts tireless and excellent managing editor.

I owe my usual debt of gratitude to my literary agent and friend, Hilary McMahon, for always watching my back. Thanks also to the many individuals who have provided advice, research information and agreed to be interviewed (a complete list can be found in the ).

In particular, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following: Ellin Bessner, a professor of journalism at Torontos Centennial College; writer Bill Gladstone, an expert on Toronto Jewish history; Faye Blum, Assistant Archivist, Ontario Jewish Archives; Ester Reiter, professor emerita at York University; Saundra Lipton at the University of Calgary; Michael Schwartz, Coordinator of Programs and Development at the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia; Professors Irving Abella and Harold Troper; Yoni Goldstein, the editor of the Canadian Jewish News as well as the newspapers reporter Ron Csillag and its Montreal correspondent, Janice Arnold; Elaine Goldstine, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and Shelley Faintuch, the Jewish Federation of Winnipegs former Community Relations Director (and a long-time friend); Naomi Rosenfield, executive director of the Atlantic Jewish Council; Dr. Michael Rasminsky; Israeli dance teacher Teme Kernerman; Ryla Braemer and Yacov Fruchter, who I have known for many years, for agreeing to participate in this project; Josh Goldberg, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for the Jewish Museum of Montreal, for a fascinating tour around St. Lawrence Boulevard; Franklin Bialystock of the University of Toronto for his review comments on current Jewish organizational issues; Rabbi Michal Shekel, Executive Director, Toronto Board of Rabbis; and finally, Ira Robinson, Chair in Canadian Jewish Studies and Director of the Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies at Concordia University Montreal for reviewing an earlier draft of the manuscript. Thanks as well to Dr. Michael Rasminsky, Richard Lowy, Teme Kernerman, Trudy Harowitz, Kim Garzon, Brooke Cromar, Ryla Braemer and Justice Rosalie Abella who kindly provided photographs.

I also appreciate the following publishers permitting me to use material from several of my books: McClelland & Stewart for Scattered Among the Peoples: The Jewish Diaspora in Ten Portraits and The Devil in Babylon: Fear of Progress and the Birth of Modern Life; Douglas & McIntyre for King: William Lyon Mackenzie King: A Life Guided by the Hand of Destiny and Toronto: Biography of a City; and the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada for Coming of Age: A History of the Jewish People of Manitoba.

I am grateful, of course, to Angie, who over the course of thirty-six years has learned to live with the ups and downs of book writing (generally with a smile); and our ever-expanding family: Alexander and Shannon, and Mia and Geoff. Most importantly of all, I dedicate this book to our precious granddaughter, Ana (Alexander and Shannons daughter), who gives special meaning to our lives.

It goes without saying that all omissions, misinterpretations, and errors of fact and judgment are solely my own.

Allan Levine

Winnipeg, February 2018

INTRODUCTION

The Quintessence of a Minority

One evening, early in February 1970, the machers or community big shotspredominately men in those days, accompanied by their wiveswere out in full force at a black-tie gala at Montreals Hotel Bonaventure. This was definitely an event for the citys uptown rather than downtown Jewswhich would have likely described many of the parents and grandparents of those in attendance. Most partygoers were the sons and daughters of Russian and Eastern European immigrants who had resided in and around the mythical St. Lawrence Boulevard, or The Main, as it has been fondly feted by A.M. Klein, Mordecai Richler, and many other members of Montreals historic Jewish literati. The galas guest of honour was Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau, then two years into his mandate. In between the cocktails, hors doeuvres, and incessant schmoozing, he graciously accepted the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Briths Canadian Family of Man Award. Intellectual and slightly aloof, yet charming and charismatic, he was Ottawas most talked-about political celebrityand the guests eagerly awaited their turn to greet him.