The Jewish Community of Quebec Province: Bridging The Past And The Present*

Michael D. Yarosky** Director General, Jewish Community Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

. . . Is there a level of balance that can be achieved? True integration may not imply assimilation, but. . . perhaps we must begin, as Quebec Jews, to feel more comfortable firstly with the notion of "participatory non-integration."

The Jews of Quebec in the Context of against the British, and finally the British "Defensive Withdrawal" North-America Act of 1867, resulted in what the current Quebec Minister of Cultural It has been more than two and one-half Affairs has termed "defensive withdrawal": years since the election of the independentist Parti Quebecois government in Quebec. No . . . defensive withdrawal within ourselves, a other event in the recent history of the Jewish nation reduced to a minority on this continent which we had discovered and community of Quebec has been able to developed. The direct consequence was a generate such ongoing anxieties and tensions constant distancing between ourselves, hence­ within this community. The fact that the forth called the "French Canadians" and the Jewish community was so brutally shocked by various minority groups continually growing the election of a provincial government in our country, supported by immigration advocating the negotiation of a sovereign policies conceived by others than ourselves. It Quebec in economic association with Canada is the period of absolute distrust (1840-1960) ("Sovereignty-Association") underlines the spanning the century which, finally, will be Jewish community's distance from the socio­ the most bitter of our national history. 1 political and socio-cultural realities of contem­ It is within this context of French Canada's porary Quebec. "defensive withdrawal" that the Jewish This paper will raise a number of dilemmas community settled in Quebec. While Jews have which confront the Jewish community of been living in the Province of Quebec for over Quebec. The nature of the response to these two hundred years, it is only within the last 75 dilemmas by the leadership and membership years tnat the population has grown to of the Quebec Jewish community is vitally significance. Most of Montreal's Jewish important as it will help determine our levels immigrants came from Eastern Europe, of comfort and integration within Quebec although in the last fifties and early sixties, an society. Lack of response to these dilemmas influx of French-speaking North-African Jew­ has resulted in the Jewish community of ish immigrants has added significantly to the Quebec feeling a sense of leaderlessness, hope­ Jewish community. In 1900, the Jewish lessness, and pessimism about its future in Quebec. * Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Jewish The most recent Canadian census figures Communal Services, Toronto, Canada, June 5, 1979 (1971) indicate 109,000 Jews within Quebec, ** The Jewish Community Research Institute is a almost all of them within the Montreal two-year project, providing professional informa­ Metropolitan area. The population of the tion and interpretation concerning the political, social and cultural changes currently occurring in Province of Quebec numbers approximately 6 Quebec, and their effect on the Jewish community. million, roughly 80 percent of which are The Institute is sponsored by The Canadian Jewish French-speaking Quebecois. The history of Congress and Allied Jewish Community Services.

French Canada over the last two hundred 1 Denis Vaugeois, "The Jews and Quebec years, following the British "conquest" in Society: A Common Cultural Future," Quebec at a 1759, the unsuccessful 1837-38 rebellion Glance, Vol. 9/10/11, 1978, p. 4.

19 JOURNAL OF JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE population was 7,000. It grew to 46,000 in Beyond the political and symbolic changes, 1921; 64,000 in 1941; 102,000 in 1961; and however, the real "revolution" was in the 109,000 in 1971. amazing rattrapage (catching up) planned and While Jews gravitated to Quebec at the time executed by French Canadians themselves. of French Canada's "defensive withdrawal", Young Quebecers were able to turn their eyes this lack of acceptance of minorities encour­ and souls outwards, desire the benefits and aged the Jewish community to identify with success of twentieth-century North America, the English-speaking population of Quebec. and achieve them. Whereas only twenty years This latter population continually saw itself as earlier, the Quebec Government could not part of the English Canadian majority rather even claim the existence of a Ministry of than an English-speaking minority within a Education, the range of collegia! and univer­ French majority. Furthermore, the education­ sity institutions existing throughout Quebec al system of Quebec, which even today today is indeed impressive, and competes at a continues to be confessionally based (Catholic first rate level with the rest of North America. and Protestant) provided for, until rather The abandonment of the traditional French recently, the education of non-Catholics in the Canadian professions which nurtured the Protestant confessional stream, which was and "defensive withdrawal," the clergy, law, and is largely English language-based. Moreover, medicine, and the substitution or extension of at the time of this "defensive withdrawal" by these through scientific and business academic French Canadians, the Jews realized that the pursuits and success was stimulated by a use of English was indispensable for their strongly developing economy, and an im­ success in business and the professions in mensely growing, if not overdeveloped, gov­ Canada and North America. ernment bureaucracy. The social democratic legislation of recent governments has en­ The "Quiet Revolution: couraged the development of the "public Profitable Federalism" sector," providing for tremendous expansion The notion of "defensive withdrawal" came of employment opportunities, while at the to an abrupt end in the early 1960's with the same time visibly demonstrating to the people advent of what is known in Quebec as la of Quebec productive consequences of the revolution tranquille (the Quiet Revolution). Government's action in the areas of health From this period, irreversible progress has care, social services, education, natural re­ been made in the economic, social, cultural, source development, transportation develop­ and political evolution of Quebec. The people ment, and so forth. of Quebec, via successive governments, came Concomitant with the economic, social, and to recognize real political and economic political evolution of Quebec was the obvious power. The cultural and political distinctive­ question of French Canadian nationalism. In ness of the French Canadian nation was the political context, French Canadian nation­ enshrined through legal protection whereby alism has traditionally expressed itself via two Quebec continually negotiated with the Feder­ options: nationalist aspirations of French al government for authority and control over Canadians living on the territory of Quebec cultural, educational, and fiscal domains. At a can best be responded to either (a) within the symbolic level, Quebecers saw their institu­ Canadian context or (b) within an independent tions beginning to reflect an ever-increasing Quebec context. It must be pointed out that sense of progressive social and political Quebec nationalism is not a new phenomenon. "nationhood." The "Legislative Assembly" Successive Quebec governments, even those became the "National Assembly;" Quebec advocating a "federalist" orientation, still began to develop a sense of international made it clear that "profitable federalism" was presence with delegations in foreign capitals, the issue; slogans such as maitres chez nous amd major American centers. (masters in our own house) characterized the

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federalist orientation of provincial politics in What needs to be underlined here is that the Quebec. The current Parti Quebecois govern­ Jewish community of today has forgotten its ment of Quebec was born approximately ten recent history in Quebec. While the Jews of years ago. During a short period of time the Montreal see themselves as largely English- Parti developed strong grass-roots acceptance speaking, they have forgotten the price they by French Canadians in Quebec. Combina­ had to pay to become identified with the tions of strong grass-root support, high quality English or Anglophone community. The Jews political campaigning, attractive political can­ of Montreal today have forgotten that they didates, a promise of "good government," had to fight their way into English Montreal. and generalized dissatisfaction with the pre­ It is not so long ago, only three decades, when vious Liberal Government resulted in the there were Jewish quotas in the major English election of the Parti Quebecois on November language universities of Montreal. It is only 15, 1976. within the last decade that Jews of Montreal have been allowed to vote and present Jewish Insularity—A Major Dilemma themselves as candidates in school board Whether this government wins or loses in elections, even though their school tax the upcoming referendum to seek a mandate to payments formed a significant portion of the negotiate sovereignty-association with the rest total revenues of the Montreal English- of Canada, or whether it is defeated at the next speaking school board. In spite of these quotas provincial election, many of the dilemmas and barriers, the Jewish community learned which need to be confronted by the Jewish how to survive and thrive. community will continue to exist. The linguis­ The Jewish community of Montreal is a tic changes in Quebec, termed "francization," strongly immigrant community. Even today, have been and are very obvious indicators of more than half of the members of the Jewish how French Quebecers wish to view and con­ community were born outside of North trol their society. This paper is neither America, and only one-sixth have a parent intended to defend nor attack the current born in North America. Montreal's Jewish Quebec government or its legislative plat­ community has one of the highest proportions forms. The intent is to underscore the point of foreign-born of any North American city. that the Jewish community of Montreal needs Additionally, Montreal has an exceedingly to come to grips with demanding realities. The high proportion of Nazi holocaust survivors most obvious of these realities is that the tradi­ amongst its population. The early Jewish tional insularity and isolation of the Jewish immigrants to Quebec were largely unfamiliar community of the past are under assault. with both French and English, they were poor, While other communities in Quebec may have unskilled, poorly educated refugees from been similiarly insulated and isolated, it is not oppression. Even with the poverty, the my intention to deal with the full range of ignorance and the lack of language skills, and minorities of Quebec, but to focus only on the in spite of a non-welcoming, if not overtly Jewish community. The Jewish community hostile French and English-speaking "host has been characterized by its successful communities," the Jews "made it." Perhaps adaptation to life in Quebec in the past, in because of the somewhat impenetrable barriers spite of its early basically "unwelcoming" erected by both the French and English com­ environment. The "defensive withdrawal" of munities, the Jews developed the Montreal French Canadians meant that there was Jewish community into one of the most minimal outreach from French Canadians and vibrant in North America. They counted on interplay with them, except at a basically mer­ themselves, and they did it for themselves. A cantile level. As has already been noted, Jews full range of elementary and secondary Jewish were thrust into the English-speaking educa­ day schools, ranging from Yiddish-Zionist to tional stream. Hassidic, afternoon schools, dozens of syna-

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gogues and religious institutions, highly more professionalized, and more sophisti­ developed social service and immigrant recep­ cated, but it is still exceedingly isolated. tion agencies, community-initiated and sup­ In other Canadian provinces, or in the ported health services, chronic care facilities, United States, Jews have affiliated themselves recreation and leisure-time services, were all and participated actively, even at key leader­ developed with the efforts of these immigrant ship levels, with a full range of political Jews bent on making the Montreal Jewish options; this has not been the case in Quebec. community a strong Jewish center. And they Jews have been largely absent from the Quebec did it. political scene, and have generally tended to rally behind only one political party (the Adaptation to the Realities of Quebec Quebec Liberal Party). Jews in Quebec are Now, these same Jews, perhaps one also characterized by a very high degree of generation removed, are being asked to economic segregation. The majority of Mon­ confront another challenge, adaptation to the treal Jews work for Jews or Jewish-owned socio-cultural and socio-political changes with­ enterprises; a minority use French to any in Quebec. And whereas, in the past, this significant extent at work.2 community was able to "make it" so well in Whereas the Jews of Quebec see themselves spite of the tremendous odds against it, the as successful English-speaking Canadians, odds of prejudice and discrimination, poverty they have developed to this point largely in and limited education, this very same com­ isolation from, and isolated by, French munity is now challenged with the need to Canadians. But these days of isolation are adapt to Quebec. This community is now over. Whereas the Jews of Montreal "just exceedingly well-resourced in comparison with want to be left alone," there is now a social the earlier generation. Today's Jews in force surrounding them which urges them Montreal are generally well-educated, success­ strongly and clearly to "participate". It is up ful in business and professions, relatively to the Jewish community to define both affluent and culturally sophisticated and even internally and in concert with the larger society the most bilingual of all Quebec's minority what this "participation" means. The fact that groups. Yet, with all these successes behind the Jewish community has been ignoring the them, Montreal Jews worry about whether question of "participation" means that the they can "make it" in the new Quebec. Jewish community has been unable to look Indeed, many of Montreal Jews ask, in view of beyond its former insularity. the assault on their traditional insularity, and What is required of the Jewish community is in view of the push to greater participation in that it develop the same kind of contact and French Quebec society, do they really want to association with the French-speaking com­ "make it" in Quebec? munity as it fought for and achieved with the It is my view that, until proven to the con­ English community. We are not talking here of trary, the Jews of Quebec can continue to have assimilation, or even of significant integration. a vibrant and exciting community, if they wish Most Jews in Montreal will tell you that they it. The Jewish community will need to adapt to are basically not "integrated" into the the socio-cultural changes in Quebec, and will Montreal English-speaking non-Jewish com­ need help from community institutions with munity. They co-exist with it. What is required this process. Most important, it will need, and is for the Jewish community to recognize that is strongly lacking, communal leadership it needs to work towards this same degree of which is able to express faith in itself, in the "non-integration" with the Francophone com­ strength of the Jewish community of Quebec, munity as it has with the Anglophone and confidence in the good-will of the larger communitv. Perhaps stating the issue in terms French majority of Quebec. The Jewish 2 Jewish Community Research Institute, A community may have become more affluent, Survey of the Jewish Community of Montreal, 1979.

2? JEWISH COMMUNITY OF QUEBEC

of negatives, in terms of "non-integration," as represented by the community's leadership. might make the notion a bit more acceptable There is nothing "anti-Jewish" happening to the Jews of Montreal. But, this is really a in Quebec of a significant or organized nature. play on words. The reality is that there is no There is a government-sponsored initiative significant political force or social force in aimed at reducing access to and the visibility of Quebec or within Canada which will advocate the English language in Quebec. As unaccept­ on behalf of or protect tne interests ot able as this may be for a variety of moral, civil entrenched English language minority groups libertarian, or pragmatic reasons, it needs to in Quebec which do not wish to accommodate be noted that, as far as the Jewish community to the new cultural realities of Quebec. This is concerned, it is its "Englishness" and not its message has been delivered clearly by provin­ "Jewishness" which is the point of contention. cial and federal leaders in Quebec and Canada Community leadership, to date, has taken of all significant political parties. The reality is little if no action not only to encourage, but that the English-speaking population of assure the linguistic adaptation of the Jewish Quebec has been told not only by the community's institutions. Insufficient help has independentist Premier of Quebec, but by the been provided by the leadership of the federalist leader of the Provincial opposition community to its members which indicates an party, as well as by the Prime Minister of acceptance of the French reality of Quebec and ' Canada, that "Quebec is to become as French indication to the members of the Jewish as Ontario is English." Once that notion can community that the Jewish community can not be accepted by significant forces within the only live with this, but live as a part of it. Jewish community of Montreal, we can get on There is a high level of resentment within the with the job. The job is to continue to develop Jewish community about language legislation ourselves, our community, our families, in which erodes the freedom of choice of Quebec productive and satisfying fashions, in a residents in terms of access to, use of, or Quebec which is becoming overwhelmingly visibility of English language services. In my "French". opinion, it is not the agenda of the Jewish community, on an organized communal basis, Role of Jewish Community Leadership to fight for a "bilingual" Quebec. What is A primary dilemma, therefore, is the role of required is for the Jewish community to truly the Jewish community leadership. Today, the accept the French language realities of Jewish community leadership of Montreal is Quebec, and for the structures of the Jewish seen by many as a mirror image reflection of community to actively ensure the total the community "followership". The leader­ bilingualism of members of the Jewish ship of the major Jewish community institu­ community so that they can be as equally tions of Montreal have been unable to emerge competent in French as they are in English as risk-taking, direction-providing, and most today. This is not only a symbolic gesture, but important, unable to demonstrate a sense of a gesture which is the only one that can be confidence in themselves and the future of the made in order to assure the participation of the community. Too many members of the Jewish community in a changed Quebec. This leadership are characterized by community kind of statement is often seen by many members as "sitting on packed suitcases". members of the Jewish community as implying What about large numbers of Jews who either the "unlearning" of English. To the contrary, do not wish or are unable to leave? What the goal is to have the Jewish community about those members of the Jewish commun­ characterized as being truly bilingual, with its ity that are looking for indication of confi­ services reflecting both the linguistic realities dence in the community's ability to adapt to of Quebec, and irrefutable realities of the need the changes in Quebec, and are willing to make for English in the North American and those adaptations? These people are not seen international general and Jewish contexts.

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Encouraging Jewish Immigration to Quebec as anywhere else in the western world, there is and Other Programs for Adaptation not a shred of evidence to indicate that Quebec is more of a problem area than A further dilemma is the inability of the elsewhere. There are those who feel that Jewish community leadership to consider references to French Canadian anti-Semitism strategic programs for action and to consider where there is not any, or the likening of institutions assuring the community's thriving French Canadian nationalism with that of beyond that of a declining repository of the Nazi Germany, can precipitate an anti-Jewish "old and immobile". This dilemma is of backlash. Offensive and ill-founded accusa­ particular importance to our Jewish brethren tions of anti-Semitism or Nazi-like compari­ outside of Quebec. The Jewish community of sons in Anglo-Jewish North American publi­ Montreal needs to engage actively in a cations are a source of great irritation to even program of immigrant recruitment in order to "neutral French Canadians". A Jewish pro­ continue not only to maintain but to renew the fessor teaching at l'Universite de Montreal has Jewish community. There is currently no written: "It is probable that the vociferous and strong advocacy coming from Jewish com­ often offensive opposition to the French munity sources in the direction of encouraging Canadian nationalism expressed in North immigration to the Jewish community of America's Jewish press may create a backlash Montreal. To the contrary, this is largely an against the real Jews living in Quebec. While ignored area. Every effort should be under­ so far the probability of such a backlash is not taken together with international Jewish high, those writing on the subject should be resettlement organizations, as well as with the aware that it, nevertheless, exists. What service Canadian and Quebec governments, to pro­ do they do their fellow Jews in Quebec when mote the recruitment and resettlement of they compare their situation with Nazi Jewish immigrants to Quebec. Simply, there Germany? "3 are Jewish people who have, are, and will be leaving their countries of residence or origin While anti-Semitism may not be an issue for either "push or pull" reasons, and the within Quebec, the lack of Jewish presence in institutional structures of the Jewish commun­ many sectors of Quebec society, particularly ity of Montreal are not presenting our French university campuses, and within labour community as ready, willing, and excited movements, has given rise to some pro- about welcoming immigrant Jews. There are Palestinian and anti-Zionist manifestations. even members of the Jewish community Informed students of this area confess that the leadership who feel that it would be irrespons­ problem is related to the larger presence of ible at this time to encourage Jewish immigra­ Arab students on university campuses, in tion to Quebec in the face of existing uncer­ comparison with the limited presence of tainty. Jewish or Israeli students, to provide an alternative point of view. Whereas anti-Zionist Anti-Semitism: A Non-Issue manifestations would perhaps be more im­ As someone who has worked for years with mediately condemned or even noticed by both the Jewish community and with repre­ non-Jews in other parts of North America, sentatives of the Quebec government, and as these are often ignored by French Canadians, someone who has a history of social relation­ but can become a source of real concern to ships in both the Jewish and French Canadian members of the Quebec Jewish community. community, I state clearly that the question of Quebecers tend generally to be poorly in­ institutional, state-sponsored, or socially ac­ formed about not only the Jewish community, ceptable anti-Semitism or anti-Jewish manifes­ tations is simply a "non-issue" in Quebec. 3 Yakov M. Rabkin, "Quebec '78 Is Not Berlin Whereas the disease of anti-Semitism is '33," Sh'ma, A Journal of Jewish Responsibility, probably as likely to manifest itself in Quebec Vol. 9/161, November 1978, p. 8.

24 JEWISH COMMUNITY OF QUEBEC but also about Israel, and tend to be unaware the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Israel of depth of "Jewish-Zionist inter-relation­ to Montreal. Jurisdictional disputes between ship". There is the need for a well-planned Quebec and Ottawa or protocol questions media initiative on behalf of Jewish and seemed to have taken precedence over the Zionist sources in Quebec to reach out to sensitivities of members of the Jewish com­ Quebecers and explain the realities of Jewish munity, who felt offended by the lack of life in Quebec, in Israel, and elsewhere. government presence at these significant Jewish events. Either representatives of the The Jews and the Parti Quebecois government were unaware of the impact that Another important dilemma is the lack of such unresponsiveness would have on the "responsiveness" of the current government Jewish community, or were unconcerned to the Quebec Jewish community. In essence, about the impact of this unresponsiveness. the Parti Quebecois government does not feel Employment Opportunities for Jews that it is "beholden" to the Jewish commun­ ity. This is a potentially difficult area in that The following dilemma is often raised by the current Quebec government is sometimes concerned members of the Jewish community characterized by minorities as the government of Montreal: even if we learn French perfectly, of those who voted for it, and has done little to will we be able to compete for the same jobs date to allay the fears and anxieties of and at the same levels with those whose names minorities in Quebec who may feel threatened are Belanger and Vaillancourt, even though and insecure, not knowing what is their place our names may be Cohen or Goldberg? The in Quebec. However, this is only partially question is an important one and an impos­ correct. The previous government, the Liberal sible one to answer. It requires confidence in Government, which received substantial, if not French Quebecers, and self-confidence in the overwhelming, support of the Jewish com­ Jewish community. It also needs to be pointed munity, also enacted language legislation out that while our names are Cohen and aimed at reducing freedom of access to English Goldberg, and even though we mastered the language in Quebec. Whereas this legislation English language, this did not assure accept­ was seen as unacceptable to large segments of ance by the English-speaking community of the Jewish community, Jews, nevertheless, high-level corporate positions in the past. This continued to demonstrate their political alle­ is a question that can be answered only giance to this Party. There is the feeling that through experience, experience with Jews the current government, because it knows making themselves present and visible in members of the Jewish community have not French Quebec, and experience with French voted for it, and are unlikely to do so in the Canadians accepting Jews within French future, need not be particularly considerate of Quebec. the sensitivities of the Jewish community. This Jews Are Quebec's Representatives Too has manifested itself in pressures on govern­ ment-subsidized Jewish day schools for more This leads to another significant issue. The hours of French-language instruction and Quebec Government has opened government reductions in government subsidies to those information offices in various major cities schools unwilling to accept what has been throughout the United States. Beyond the characterized as unacceptable levels of French- obvious objectives of encouraging economic language studies. Similarly, this lack of sensi­ development and tourism, these Quebec tivity may have manifested itself in the government offices also have the added Government's insufficient responsiveness to objective of presenting the socio-political Jewish community invitations for senior level realities and intended changes in Quebec, in a government representation at events such as fashion which will make them acceptable to the 30th Anniversary festivities for Israel, or "the American people". While these "ambas-

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sadors of goodwill" employed by the Quebec expresses a new national pride .... Government may or may not have an effect on ... In today's context where Quebec American public opinion, it seems clear that society is asserting itself and expressing a new we too, the Jews of Quebec, and the other assurance, the Quebec Jewish community must assume its part of this general and minorities of Quebec are, for the time being, lasting phenomenon. Once integrated in "ambassadors". Because we, for example, as Quebec society and sharing the great objec­ Jews, have a range of personal and institu­ tives, the broad consensus, the distinctive tional relationships at family and community cultural behaviour and the pride of being, the levels throughout North America, and because Quebec Jewish community will always neces­ we are so often in contact with representatives sarily have a special message for their of "American public opinion" (our friends compatriots of this country. And this and relatives or professional colleagues), we particularity, which is that of another are in a critical position to "signal" our levels 'minority' than our own on this continent, who has learned to overcome many more of comfort or discomfort with Quebec society. obstacles, we would like to hear from it and Therefore, when the day comes that we, as to understand it—not as a message coming Quebec minorities, are able to tell our from elsewhere, but as thinking which rises American friends and relatives that we feel for us and amongst us. good about living in Quebec, that we feel There is no question here of your confident about living in Quebec, that will committing yourself to an irreversible process perhaps play an even more important role than of total assimilation, quite the contrary. will all the public relations efforts of the However, it is important that the Jewish Quebec government in influencing North community installed in Quebec integrate American public opinion. itself into this country as a community, and This notion of "feeling good about Quebec" that it considers itself rightfully and com­ is something that needs to be worked on. It pletely at home here. And integrating oneself means accepting this land as one's own and needs to be worked on not only by the 'putting one's shoulder to the wheel' of the Government of Quebec which has shown too development of national society whose little concern for and interest in the questions objectives and lifestyle you accept. Inte­ of how the minorities of Quebec feel, but also grating oneself into Quebec society is to by the leadership of the minority communities, accept to live and to build America 'a la and in our case, the Jewish community, who Quebecoise', with your compatriots and in need to be much more visibly preoccupied with this land. Your integration means also that helping to continue to make the Jewish you assume the past, the present, and the community of Quebec continue to be, as future of this country as a special way, a different way and eventually a distinct way of exciting tomorrow as it was in the past. being.

Jewish Integration Into the Quebec Majority? Thus to integrate oneself means to partici­ pate by sharing solidarity, by keeping one's The Quebec Minister of Cultural Affairs, in fundamental originality. For your commun­ an address to an organization promoting links ity, it is to accept to create a true Quebec between Quebec and Israel stated: Jewish community, as national Jewish com­ munities exist in so many countries.4 ... In Quebec we have no other objective than this one: to recognize the importance of Initial Comfort with "Participatory the Jewish community established with us on Non-integration'' ? the territory of Quebec as well as the toughness of its will to live as a homogeneous The message is clear, the message is strong, group, on the one hand, and, on the other, to many Jews feel the message is "much too invite this community to participate actively strong". We are not used to being made to feel in the cultural development of the larger Quebec society which, as a whole, clearly 4 Denis Vaugeois, op.cit., p. 8.

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"so welcome". Can the Jews of Quebec balance that can be achieved? True integration "share solidarity" and yet keep their "funda­ may not imply assimilation, but as noted mental originality"? Why do so many Quebec earlier, perhaps we must begin, as Quebec Jews feel that this possibility exists elsewhere Jews, to feel more comfortable firstly with the in North America, but not in Quebec? The notion of "participatory non-integration". By present Quebec government seems to be living together, by getting to know each other, pushing too hard, too quickly, without the by breaking down generations of insularity, by confidence of the Jewish community. Dia­ being able to talk to each other in a common logue, mutual understanding, mutual respect, language, we may be able to begin the process, accompanied by a reduction of traditional together, feeling that we can continue to make Jewish community isolation from the life of it in Quebec as we did in the past. French Quebec is needed. Is there a level of

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