“Without meaningful Jewish learning and experiences, the next generation is at risk of losing its connection to the rich fabric of our Jewish heritage and history,” said Federation CJA President David Cape.

As part of the new Generations Fund for Educational Excellence, you may be eligible for a tuition cap for your child’s Jewish day school education. Just launched by Federation CJA’s GEN J, the Fund has two main objectives: ensuring excellence in schools and increasing accessibility for families.

“The evidence is clear that a full-time Jewish day school education is the best way to secure our children’s Jewish identities. This is key to ensuring a strong and vibrant Jewish future for our community,” said David Cape, President of Federation CJA. “Federation CJA is deeply committed to assisting our Jewish day schools achieve the highest levels of academic excellence and to ensuring they are accessible to those who choose Jewish education.”

From now until May 29, 2012, parents who have registered their child at one of the participating Jewish day schools for September 2012 can go online at www.generationsfund.ca to assess their eligibility for the tuition cap.

Parents anonymously fill out a simple online calculator form and respond to a few questions to determine if they qualify. If so, they will be directed to an online application form to apply for a tuition cap for the 2012-2013 academic year. Applications are confidentially processed and families will receive notice of their Generations Fund Tuition Fee Cap Certification by the end of June, including a commitment to provide a tuition cap for the remaining length of the child’s education at that school, with the annual resubmission of documentation.

“Without meaningful Jewish learning and experiences, the next generation is at risk of losing its connection to the rich fabric of our Jewish heritage and history. And among these Jewish experiences, we all know that, by far, the most effective one is attending a full-time Jewish day school,” said Cape. “While Federation CJA recognizes that some of our Jewish day schools are facing increasing challenges in maintaining enrolment in a very competitive market, we believe that this new initiative to invest in excellence and enhance accessibility will position our schools not only to meet these challenges, but rather to reach new heights.”

Principles of the Generations Fund for Educational Excellence

• Make Jewish day school accessible to middle-class families while providing confidential assessment and response.
• Through a centralized, easy-to-use online calculator, allow families to enter information upon which objective financial decisions are based.
• Allow parents to properly plan for their children’s educational future by knowing the Tuition Cap Certification is guaranteed until the end of elementary or high school, depending on the grade at which the student enters the program.
• Improved competitive advantage among Jewish day schools.
• Excellence Grants for school leadership and programs.
• Arm students with Jewish values and with skills to thrive in Quebec society.

Are you eligible?

Find out if you are eligible for a tuition cap by visiting www.generationsfund.ca.

“It is well-known that Dieudonné’s trademark is not humour but hatred toward Jews,” noted CIJA VP Luciano Del Negro.

French comic Dieudonné is rapidly becoming more famous for his anti-Semitism than anything else. European comedy clubs who once welcomed him are now beginning to close their doors. The Montreal Just for Laughs Festival no longer has a spot for him in its lineup. In spite of the comedian’s increasing marginalization, he still managed to book a four-night run at Montreal’s Corona Theatre scheduled for mid-May.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) immediately became aware of this booking and, as always, had to navigate the delicate balance between ensuring that hateful speech would not be allowed to go on in the guise of a comedy routine and the risk of garnering Dieudonné even more publicity by informing the public, as well as the promoting company Evenko, of the true racist nature of his performance under investigation in Belgium for incitement to racial hatred.

CIJA staff contacted Evenko on April 18 and questioned why the company was providing a stage for Dieudonné.

“It is well-known that Dieudonné’s trademark is not humour but hatred toward Jews,” noted CIJA VP Luciano Del Negro in a letter to Evenko. “That is why the French courts have on several occasions found him guilty of inciting hatred.”

Evenko responded on May 4 that they had no intention of offering a platform to any form of racism or anti-Semitism, but that they were contractually obligated to the performer. They would however be reviewing their rental policy and expressed their intention to be more vigilant in the future.

On May 10, the National Post ran a front-page story on the event featuring interviews with Del Negro and Associate Director of Public Affairs David Ouellette.  The article also referenced several instances where the comedian was barred from performing in Belgium and France due to the hateful and anti-Semitic nature of his performance.  On May 9, in Brussels, police stopped Dieudonné mid-performance after determining his act contravened hate laws.

On May 11, the Corona Theatre announced that it would be cancelling the four scheduled performances.

“Due to contractual conflicts, the Corona Theatre has decided to cancel Dieudonné’s performances scheduled for May 14, 15, 16 and 17,” said its statement.

CIJA immediately issued a statement, which received extensive media coverage in Canada and France.

“In Quebec, it took some time for the media and the entertainment world to catch up with the controversies,” noted Ouellette. “We are confident now that Dieudonné appeals to a niche audience at the extreme margins of Quebec society.”

Stay Tuned

Keep up with CIJA’s developing stories:
Visit www.cija.ca, become a fan at www.facebook.com/cijainfo and follow CIJA on Twitter @CIJAinfo.

“I know I can expect to have a wonderful time, socialize with many people and I can watch my children marvel at the many different Jewish learning opportunities,” said Sherri Rosenbloom (second from left), seen here at the West Island Jewish Family Learning Centre’s Dancing with the Stars event that she chaired.

By Sherri Rosenbloom

My name is Sherri Rosenbloom and here is my Jewish story. I grew up in Chomedey, Laval, which was a melting pot of various nationalities. Jewish, Greek, Lebanese, Italian, just to name a few. I went to public school in the neighborhood and loved the fact that I had many friends with many different nationalities. Growing up I felt like I had so much to learn from everyone. My mother wanted me to hang around the “Jewish” crowd, but I never felt like I fit in. I felt more at home with “everyone else”. I always felt it was more important to connect with the person, rather than the religion.

My upbringing was not religious in any way. We observed the traditions and holidays, but nothing more than that. Growing up I did not feel that “connection” with religion or a group of people in that sense of community. I had worked for Maison Shalom (a Jewish religious group home for multi-handicapped adults) as an educator for eight years and I always had questions regarding the traditions and laws about how to do everything from when to cut hair, to the way things were cooked, to the way one got ready for Shabbat. Growing up in a non-traditional or religious environment, many of the followings always seemed strange to me.

Once I got married and moved out to the West Island, I started to look for schools and activities for my son. I found activities in churches, libraries and many other locations. It wasn’t until I wanted to put my daughter in a preschool that I even ever thought of putting the children in a Jewish program or school. I had a friend who spoke very highly of the CPE at Hebrew Foundation School, and I was looking for a place for her, so I said why not?

Having her attend the CPE of HFS was a wonderful experience. She loved the many different programs and the whole Jewish experience. While she was there, I was approached and asked to become the volunteer liaison between the CPE and Federation CJA West Island. I had no clue what I was about to embark on, nor the doors that were about to open for me. I met Cheryl Bender and the whole team at Federation CJA and really felt at home for the first time as a Jewish person.

The many programs organized through the West Island Jewish Family Learning Center really helped my family and I to understand more about our heritage and to be a part of that “community” I missed out on as a child. As the children got older, I realized how wonderful the whole Jewish experience was for them, and together we learned all about our many different traditions and practices. Today when there is a holiday, or even on Shabbat, the children are so proud to participate in the ceremonies and to show off their Jewish knowledge.

As my family grew and grew, I did not go back to work. I hung up my towel as an autism specialist and I became a CPR and First Aid instructor and a Reiki practitioner. I volunteered in my children’s schools and at the CLSC in the Nourri Source department as a breastfeeding support mom.  My need to want to do more in the community stems from my inherent desire to want to create resources for others and to empower others via support. Through my years of volunteering and seeing needs arise in the area of women and support, I have recently created a new support group for women who’ve have had an unplanned Cesarean called HEALING IN SECTIONS. It was due to these skills and specializations that Cheryl and the Tikun Olam Volunteers decided to use my expertise by asking me to become Chair of their new initiative called Shalom Baby. This wonderful new project aimed at supporting women and their new babies in the community is where I feel right at home.

This journey of Judaism for me started off as simply following along at my Bubby`s Seder table to now fully participating in family gatherings at my own Seder and Shabbat tables. The Federation CJA West Island events really opened up my eyes to how much fun learning and implementing the various activities can be for me and my whole family. I really did not know what to expect going in; now I simply look forward to each of the many activities put on by Federation CJA West Island, where I know I can expect to have a wonderful time, socialize with many people and I can watch my children marvel at the many different Jewish learning opportunities at each event.

Share your Jewish journey

When and how did you connect to the Jewish community? Share your personal story with Tikun Olam by emailing Amanda Wener at amanda.wener@federationcja.org.

“I have a special place in my heart for the State of Israel and the staff at the Foundation has helped me understand the great work they do there,” said Michael Engels, a Legacy Society contributor.

Last year, over $27 million in funds was given from one charitable foundation in Montreal to hundreds of social services and community organizations around the world. This same foundation also has total assets in excess of $310 million – all meant to secure the high quality of Jewish life in Montreal for future generations.

This benefactor is none other than the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal – this year celebrating its 40th anniversary.

“The Jewish Community Foundation has really evolved in the ways donors can give philanthropically,” said Joel Segal, President. “It was created as a safety net for the future of the Montreal Jewish community. People would give to the Foundation and they would invest it and only use the capital to benefit the community.

It used to be a very passive process. We would only get money when people bequeathed it in their wills. We wouldn’t even know it was coming. Now, people can give in a variety of ways that offer significant tax and financial planning advantages. It is very personal. We work really hard with donors to make sure their gifts are in accordance with their wishes and their charitable priorities.”

In celebration of this milestone anniversary, the Foundation launched what’s called the “Dream Principle”. Highlighting this focus on the donor, the Dream Principle allows people to decide when, where and how to give back to community. Families can be brought in and the priorities decided upon together in a way that reflects their needs, desires and values. Through planned giving initiatives (such as creating an endowment, a family foundation, a gift of life insurance or a will bequest), the Foundation essentially works with people to identify and realize their philanthropic dream.

“I have a special place in my heart for the State of Israel and the staff at the Foundation has helped me understand the great work they do there. Their partnership with Montreal’s sister city of Beer Sheva, as well as several other initiatives surrounding education, are particularly appealing to me. My contribution will go towards supporting these programs,” said Michael Engels, a 32-year-old who recently became a Legacy Society contributor. “I’ve made a commitment to contribute a portion of my assets after my life. I plan on sticking around on this earth for a very long time, but in case something happens to me, I wanted to make sure my savings would be put to use for the greater good of our Jewish community, especially Israel. It is very important to ensure the continuity of our community and to make sure it is left in good shape for future generations. If we don’t take it upon ourselves to invest in our own community, no one will.”

“For me, endowing my Lion is to perpetuate the legacy – it will guide my children and grandchildren to be able to continue my dream of giving and helping others beyond my lifetime,” said Thérèse Attias, seen here signing the Book of Life with husband Jacob and family.

Today, donors have the utmost flexibility in their planned giving. For example, they can decide to designate an endowment fund with the annual allocation going to as many organizations as they choose, and they can change their beneficiaries at any time. With such a variety of options and plans available, anyone in almost any financial situation can make a difference – an endowment can be started with as small an investment as $10,000; and a $100,000 life insurance policy costs very little for a young person and the premiums are tax-deductible.

“It is not about being generous. It is the importance of giving and making a difference for our future generations. There are always people who need help. I grew up in a Jewish home concerned with the survival of Jewish heritage, specially the meaning of tzedakah. The Foundation helped me to understand more about that meaning,” said Thérèse Attias, who endowed her Lion of Judah ($5,000 annual contribution to Women’s Campaign of Combined Jewish Appeal). “For me, endowing my Lion is to perpetuate the legacy – it will guide my children and grandchildren to be able to continue my dream of giving and helping others beyond my lifetime. Canada has given us security and opportunity. The Jewish Community Foundation has built our institutions and has created a foundation for the future. It’s up to us to nurture this foundation.”

Realize your philanthropic dreams

To learn how you can fulfill your philanthropic dreams, contact the Jewish Community Foundation at 514-735-3541 or email info@jcfmontreal.org. Visit www.jcfmontreal.org for more information on planned giving initiatives.

“As a people, we are good people. We don’t believe in killing, in war; we believe in kindness, in charity, in education and these are primary qualities that make us an outstanding people,” said philanthropist Mickey Rosenthal.

Throughout Mickey Rosenthal’s 95 years, he has made it his personal mission to encourage people to help the Jewish community of Montreal and he has led by example through his own philanthropy and volunteerism.

“I have always had a philosophy that every man must do his share. It’s a way of life. It covers so much, like education, marriage and charity. It never hurt me and it never denied my family a good life. If you do your share, you are doing things. We are supposed to do our part and I do it and really believe in that,” Rosenthal said. “We are taught from childhood to give and to help, to give a piece of the field to the poor. From the Bible days, we are told it’s moral and ethical and social. We learn it whenever we come in front of our leaders, religious leaders or social leaders. We have to help out. So I do. You can always do more, but I believe in always doing something that is respected and substantial.”

Aside from contributing to Combined Jewish Appeal financially, Rosenthal has also been a dedicated fundraiser for the Campaign for close to 30 years, serving as Campaign Chair in 1986, raising $30 million that year. He attributes his success in fundraising to his no-holds barred attitude.

“I don’t resist my drive to consider their ability to participate in charitable activities. I consider what I can ask, what I can try to get. I look at everything – then you can know in what framework you can think to make your request reasonable and effective without fear of insult,” he said. “I believe you should give fair and give appropriately. That’s what I do; I speak like that every day of the year.”

Rosenthal does all of this because he believes so strongly that Federation CJA addresses all of the most important social service areas facing the Jewish community of Montreal today.

“I think we are a growing community that offers more help every year in many respects to many organizations. Education. The needy. Of course, Israel. Anti-Semitism. I truly believe Federation CJA, with the 20 odd divisions or agencies, covers the widest range of needs and is number one in my books,” he said, noting that he has made it his life’s mission to encourage people to give at a higher contribution level with respect to their total income. “In a progressive world, there is always room for giving and helping more.”

Rosenthal began spreading this word upon selling his family business at the age of 67. A leader in the electronic distribution industry, Rosenthal ran the company CESCO (Canadian Electrical Supply Company) with his father Jack.

“I sold my business and I had a contract to work for three years. They fired me four months later and paid my full contract and I wasn’t ready to retire. So I made a list of a dozen things to do. I was at a point where I was retired and ended up getting deeply involved and I find it very satisfying,” he said, as do the numerous organizations that have honoured Rosenthal over the years – a testament to the important part that he has played in the development of this community.

“There are so many people that are so pleased and appreciative, it’s unbelievable to me. People I don’t even remember, I don’t know their names and they know me. Everybody knows that I did my share. It gives me great pride in having contributed to our Jewish people. I receive tremendous respect as a major compensation.”

Do your share

To get involved at Federation CJA as a volunteer, fundraiser or donor, please call 514-345-2600 or visit www.federationcja.org.

“I wished I could bottle up the innovative thinking and life-changing programming that…was offering the chance for a better life to so many disadvantaged members of Israeli society.”

By Deborah Corber, LL.M.
CEO of Federation CJA

In February, I had the privilege of participating in my very first Executive Mission to Israel, chaired by Federation CJA President, David Cape. Of course, I had been to Israel several times before that, beginning in the summer of 1976, when I spent eight weeks travelling from the Golan Heights to Sharm el-Sheikh, courtesy of a high school graduation present from my parents. Like so many others of my generation, I was a product of the public school system, and my only exposure to Jewish learning had come from a Zionist summer camp. Not surprisingly, then, my first trip to Israel was transformative, for nothing quite beats the intensity of an Israel experience for teenagers. I remember coming home from that trip convinced that I would make aliyah in an instant were it not for the fact that I couldn’t imagine leaving my family.

My unforgettable Summer of ‘76 was followed by numerous trips over the years to visit with family and friends, each occasion weaving new insights into my own personal tapestry of Israel experiences.

I confess that I approached the Executive Mission to Israel largely as any other business trip: an opportunity for professional development and for getting to know some of the Federation CJA lay leadership. But the Mission proved to be so much more than that.  It was my second transformative experience in Israel, teaching me and touching me more profoundly than I could ever have imagined.

Many of us have read Dan Senor’s Start-Up Nation, which tells the tale of Israel’s economic miracle, having produced – against overwhelming odds – more start-up companies than large, peaceful and stable countries like Japan.  We know, as well, that the tiny Jewish State is home to a disproportionate share of Nobel prize winners.  So like many people, I had assumed that Israel’s greatest strengths were concentrated in the areas of science and technology.

I had little idea that Israel was also on the cutting edge of educational and social programming.  I returned from the Executive Mission wishing that I could bottle up the innovative thinking and life-changing programming that I could see, with my own eyes, was offering the chance for a better life to so many disadvantaged members of Israeli society.

“The idea that as Jews living in Montreal, we are part of a global Jewish family, responsible for one another, is no longer a theoretical one for me - it is my new reality,” writes Deborah Corber, seen here (third from left) with Susan Laxer, CA, First Vice President; David Cape, President; and Shlomo Toledano, Director of Israel & Overseas and Special Projects.

But perhaps the biggest take-away for me was the realization that the Montreal Jewish community has the power, through our human and financial resources, to effect positive change in Israeli society.  We can’t do it by voting for the governments that we, as individual Canadian Jews, might think would take Israel in the “right” direction.  But we can effect change by partnering with like-minded Israelis who are dedicated to strengthening the human fabric of their country.

Arguably, when we raise and allocate funds to provide for the most vulnerable members of our community here at home, we are addressing needs that are the proper responsibility of government.  Yet we step up to meet these needs because we believe that we are responsible for one another.  Following the Mission, my understanding of that responsibility has taken on a whole new dimension.  The idea that as Jews living in Montreal, we are part of a global Jewish family, responsible for one another, is no longer a theoretical one for me – it is my new reality.

The Montreal Jewish community has a long and proud tradition of generously supporting the people of Israel in times of need.  Today, however, the question sometimes arises as to why we would allocate to projects in Israel in the face of growing needs in our local community.  I believe that the answer is that we can, and we must, do both.  Our commitment to the people of Israel is a commitment to the global Jewish family of which we are an integral part.  And as we fulfill that commitment, we strengthen the entire mishpacha, which ultimately resounds to the benefit not only of our sisters and brothers in Israel, but of our own community right here in Montreal.

What’s your Israel experience?

Share your moving Israel experiences in the comment space below.

Photo: Red Button Photo

April offers many opportunities to join your community in several events, commemorations and celebrations. Show your pride by participating in one, or all, of the events listed here.

Wednesday, April 18^th

Yom Hashoah Commemoration

The Yom Hashoah Commemoration in memory of all those who were victims of the Holocaust takes place:

Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation
6519 Baily Road, Cote-St-Luc

“I think that was part of my mission, to continue teaching by passing on this story. And it’s not just my story, but the whole idea of the Holocaust, the whole idea of personal responsibility, and of how easily mass mentality is spread among people who are reasonable and organized and cultured and cultivated and educated. Do I think that enough is being done? Nothing is enough.“

- Eva Kuper, Holocaust survivor and member of the Yom Hashoah Commemoration Committee

Tuesday, April 24^th

Yom Hazikaron Commemoration Ceremony

The community-wide Yom Hazikaron Commemoration Ceremony honouring Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror will be held:

Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Federation CJA
5151 Cote-Ste-Catherine Road

“Living in Israel, we don’t always realize that there are Jewish communities around the world that support us and mark Yom Hazikaron like we do. I was really moved to see that hundreds of people came out to honour those that gave their lives for Israel – I realize now that Israel belongs to all of us.“

- Daniella Fried, visiting student from Beer Sheva, Israel

Thursday, April 26^th

Israel Day Celebration

The Israel Day Celebration is being held:

Thursday, April 26 at 11:00 a.m.
Phillips Square, Downtown Montreal
www.israelrallymontreal.com

“I remember coming out the first year our community held the Israel Day Celebration. It was so amazing to see thousands of people waving the flags of Israel, Canada and Quebec, supporting democratic values. I have been every year since and I would never miss it. It’s my way of expressing how strongly I feel about Israel. If I can’t be there, I will be here.“

- Max Greener

Thursday, April 26^th

West Island Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration

Bring the whole family to the West Island Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration:

Thursday, April 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Federation CJA West Island
96 Roger Pilon in Dollard-des-Ormeaux

“I’m very impressed with what I see. Everyone is here for a good party. Young kids, big kids, adults – it’s a great time. Everyone is out here and it’s a beautiful thing to see people in a relaxed atmosphere taking it all in. It’s fabulous. I come every year. It’s an amazing community, I’m really happy to be part of it. If anyone has young kids, or is thinking of having young kids, this is where you want to be!“

- Laurence Chriqui

Click here to view the embedded video.

“The passing on of the story is very important. It has become my mission - not so much my story, as the story of this genocide, of the Holocaust,” said Holocaust survivor Eva Kuper (left), seen here in 2005 with Sister Klara Jaroszynska, the woman who saved her.

“I believe with all my heart that the person who listens to a witness becomes a witness.”- Elie Wiesel

“There are parts of my story that bring tears to my eyes. My life was spared by a series of miracles, the first of which was that I was saved at the last moment from the train which was taking my mother and me to Treblinka, where she was murdered.  Miracles play a part in the story of every survivor,” said Eva Kuper, a “hidden child” and Holocaust survivor.

Born in Warsaw in 1940, Kuper was displaced to the Ghetto with her parents. After her mother was taken, her father managed to escape with two-year old Kuper through the sewers, entrusting her safety to foreigners. She was hidden in a convent for blind children until the end of the war. Today, Kuper is a volunteer speaker at the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre (MHMC) where she often gives her testimony to Museum visitors and sits on the Yom Hashoah committee. She has shared her story in a film and has written it for posterity.

“Personally, the passing on of the story is very important. It has become my mission – not so much my story, as the story of this genocide, of the Holocaust. I am probably one of the youngest survivors and I’m not young,” she said. “It’s not going to be too long from now when there will be no living survivors. Then it’s going to be up to the generation of my children and my grandchildren, etcetera, etcetera to tell the story.”

The MHMC has been preparing for this inevitability for several years. They started videotaping survivor testimonies 16 years ago and have collected over 500 so far. The testimonies are entered in a searchable database, used on their website and in the collection in the Museum. Survivors are quoted in articles and educational materials, and the MHMC will be starting a YouTube channel with the testimonies.

“At the beginning they were much shorter – an hour to an hour and a half – and now we let people express themselves; about the Holocaust, before the Holocaust and how they reconstructed their lives. Now interviews can go from an hour to two or three hours,” said Eszter Andor, Remembrance Coordinator at the MHMC. “We are hoping that, in time, all the schools that cannot make it to Montreal and to the Holocaust Museum to hear a living survivor will have access over the Internet to certain interviews and certain survivor testimonies so they can get this personal story and perspective of the Holocaust.”

Andor explained that using social media is a key way to reach the younger generation. Aside from the YouTube channel, the MHMC is on Facebook and has an extensive website targeting this population. Many events are organized throughout the year in partnership with other organizations and communities as the MHMC focuses on outreach and links with a universal message.

“We are bringing younger people in to our structure so they themselves become more educated about the topic and also that they are able to influence their social and family groups. The message has to be personal responsibility…..in their life, today, when they see injustice, discrimination, bullying…what is their role, their responsibility? Other programs, like the Jewish camps, all the Jewish schools, March of the Living – they all have Holocaust education pieces. Even the Birthright trip to Israel goes to Yad Vashem. It has to be a concerted effort. Not only in Montreal, but worldwide,” said Kuper. “Because the younger generation is so used to visual media, I find that their response, their emotions are more easily accessed in discussion after a film then after a story. We have to try to use every avenue of communication, and since the electronic avenue is the one with which youth are so comfortable, it is an effective medium when approaching Holocaust education with this age group.”

Aside from the testimonies and events, personal objects on display at the Museum also have a significant impact on continuing the message of the Holocaust.

“We can thank the survivors for the Museum, for all the objects they donated and the personal stories that go with the objects because it’s always more immediate when you see an object and you know the story. For example, you have a menorah and you can tell the story of what a menorah is, what holiday you celebrate with a menorah and you can talk about the person who owned the menorah, what happened to that family and about how the menorah came to this country. So there’s a lot of emotion there,” Andor said.

For Kuper, all of these initiatives are critical to ensuring that there continues to be witnesses to the Holocaust, long after the last survivor is gone.

“It’s only in very recent times, in the last 25-30 years, that people have been coming out of the shadows of their memories and have found the courage to express what they went through. It is extremely powerful for people to hear it directly from the mouths of those of us who have lived it. The horror of it is much more real when it comes from a real person, standing in front of you,” Kuper said. “I always end my presentation by asking why my audience thinks I do this, why they think I testify, tell my story.  Even with young children, I always do that. They know the answer- they tell me that I want them to know about it so that they will remember.”

Federation CJA allocated $319,433 to the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre.

Become a witness

Do you know a Holocaust survivor who could share their story? Have you ever visited the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre? Help carry on the story of the Holocaust.

For more information, visit www.mhmc.ca or call 514-345-2605.

Breaking matzah are Luciano Del Negro, Vice-President, Quebec Region of CIJA; Jean-François Royal, Director of the Museum of World Religions; Bishop André Gazaille and Alain Drouin, Mayor of Nicolet (Photo: Le Courrier du Sud).

In the Mauricie region of Nicolet, near Trois-Rivières, a group of francophone Québécois gathered recently to celebrate and to break… matzah. More than 80 people from Nicolet and surrounding regions were the invited guests to a traditional Passover Seder organized by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), in conjunction with the Museum of World Religions.

A tradition started by the Canadian Jewish Congress (now CIJA) in 2004, the Interfaith Seder provides an opportunity to build bridges with non-Jewish Quebec communities and to expose them to Jewish customs and practices.

“Having these Seders helps make Quebecers understand about Judaism and the Jewish community,” said Myriam Azogui-Halbwax, Assistant Director, Community Relations and Campus at CIJA. Each year, the Seder is held in a different region of Quebec and has been previously held in Sherbrooke, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and Quebec City. “Most people had never even had any contact with any member of the Jewish community before. This is an integral part of the strategy to demystify images of Jewish people.”

Community leader Joseph Gabbay led the Seder, explained the order of the service and recited the prayers. Bishop André Gazaille spoke of the connection and similarities between Passover and Easter.

“We find some elements of this meal in Easter Vigil. Also, many gestures and rituals of the Seder are found in Christian Eucharist. For all of us, the Seder is a sacred meal that reminds us our common sources,” said Bishop Gazaille, while Luciano Del Negro, Vice-President, Quebec Region of CIJA, noted the commonalities of the symbols of lamb, yeast and wine.

With the Mayor of Nicolet, the Bishop, nuns, francophone Québécois and Jews breaking matzah together, it is fair to say that the community Seder was a huge success.

“They were very happy and grateful to be invited and to learn,” said Azogui-Halbwax. “I would say that they were very appreciative.”

Take part

CIJA is always looking for volunteers to participate in community events. To get involved, please contact Myriam Azogui-Halbwax at mazogui@cija.ca or call 514.345.6411 ext. 3673.

“This past March, we, the Diller Teen Fellows from Beer Sheva and Bnei Shimon, started an amazing journey. We finally arrived in Montreal!”

This spring, a group of 20 Israeli Diller teens arrived for a two-week visit to Montreal where they met with their Montreal counterparts, toured the city, visited Irwin Cotler, PC, OC, MP on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and were immersed in the culture of Montreal.

The Diller Teens Fellows program focuses on Jewish identity, community service, Israel and young leadership. Participants are selected based on their leadership skills, community activism and their ability to represent diverse aspects of their Jewish community, both in Montreal and Beer Sheva/Bnei Shimon.

Here is a personal account from the perspective of two Israeli Diller Teen Fellows:

By Hili Paryenty and Neta Alima

This past March, we, the Diller Teen Fellows from Beer Sheva and Bnei Shimon, started an amazing journey. We finally arrived in Montreal!

“We earned a Canadian family and strengthened the connection with the Israeli one. We learned about Canada and we showed Israel to Canada.”

The real expedition began when we first met our peer group from Montreal. During the preparations for this significant delegation, we were concerned and worried about a lot of things- will we get along with the Montreal group? How will it be to be a guest in a stranger’s house? How will the Jewish community respond to us as a group from Israel? We were so glad when the worries were proven wrong.  After a few moments of awkwardness, we started to realize that now we had the opportunity to share this great experience with new friends for life.

Right away we drove for an hour and a half to the retreat where we spent three days together. We learned more about each other and how to overcome the differences and find out the similarities. Through activities, we got to know each other, we talked about Jewish peoplehood. The most important part was the experience of Shabbat out of Israel and to be exposed to different ways of expressing Judaism.

After a lot of bonding and making memories, we drove to Montreal and started to experience the Jewish community. In the following seven days, we visited Jewish community centres, we were hosted in the homes of the Montreal group and we volunteered with a lot of different organizations, including Jewish ones, such as the JEM Workshop. We talked to the workers there and did an art project with them. The most important thing we learned was how to communicate and be attentive to other people with differences (and also similarities) from us.

The Jewish community in Montreal received us better than we even thought it is possible – with a lot of curiosity and patience to the language difficulties and cultural gap. Our host was so warm and gave us real feelings of home when we needed it.

And about our Montreal twin group – they turned out to be amazing friends who we love and we are sure that we will keep in touch with even after the year will end.

This journey, which was so important and meaningful for us, left a lot of memories that we will never forget.  We earned a Canadian family and strengthened the connection with the Israeli one. We learned about Canada and we showed Israel to Canada. We really felt a connection to Montreal’s Jewish community and it was very major for us to share our feelings, volunteer and meet you all.

Thank you for this unique and important experience- we hope that we all stay united and strong and keep the connection with each other.

Got what it takes?

Do you have what it takes to be a Diller Teen Fellow? To find out, email Yamit Ochayon, Montreal Diller Teen Fellows Coordinator at yochayon@ymywha.com or call 514.737.6551, ext. 541.

Visit federationcja.org/en/diller for more information.