Portrait of early Montreal

Religion professor Ira Robinson has translated and written an introduction to a document important to Canadian Jewish studies.

The Jews in Canada (In North America) was first written by Y.E. Bernstein in Hebrew and published in Russia. It portrays Jewish life in Montreal in the late 1800s, including religious, educational, social and political concerns of the late 19th century, particularly Zionism and anti-Semitism.

The chapbook includes historical photographs, and a reproduction of the original Hebrew text.

This publication, made through Concordia’s Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies, initiates a series devoted to translations, documents, and scholarly essays on Canadian Jewish history.

Although the Institute’s other publications are for sale, this one is available free of charge. For more information or to receive a chapbook,contact the Institute at cjs@alcor.concordia.ca, ext.8760, or www.concordia.ca/jchair.

Sermons by Canadian Rabbis

Scholars from Israel, the United States and across Canada will present papers on sermons by Canadian rabbis at a conference on Oct. 24 and 25 titled Skilled Tongue: Sermon & Society in the Canadian Jewish Experience.

It will take place Sunday, Oct. 24, at the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation of Montreal, and Monday, Oct. 25, at the Institute for Jewish Studies, Concordia University, 1590 Dr. Penfield Ave.

On Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at the Institute, there will be an archival exhibit and commentary called Russia in Montreal.

Remarks on the Russian Jewish Archives Project will be made by Concordia professors Loren Lerner and Norma Joseph.
Admission is free.