A Note from Steve “People don’t want statistics, people Jewish people did not arrive in want stories about statistics!” our Canada until 1760, when Jewish sol- publishing team yelled when I told diers in the British army came to fight them about this issue of the Canadian in the French and Indian War. Once Communiqué. I agree wholeheartedly Britain seized control of the area in but as FOI Gospel Ministry continues that same year, Jewish officers, sol- to expand in Canada, my desire is that diers, merchants, and fur traders your knowledge of the Jewish people founded the first Jewish settlement in Canada expands. For instance, did in Canada. By the early 1800s, Cana- you know the Jewish population in dian Jews had gained full rights as Canada has a rich but short history? British subjects. Long before any Jewish people came The Jewish population slowly grew to Canada, a group of Roman Catho- throughout the 19th century as Jewish lics from France colonized the region people emigrated from Eastern Europe as part of the larger area known as and settled in Montreal, Toronto, and “New France” in 1608. New France was Vancouver. Today, the Jewish people strictly Roman Catholic territory. In of Canada thrive in one of the most 1627, Cardinal Richelieu even decreed diverse populations in the world. that only Roman Catholics could live Yes, statistics may not be what in the area. we all desire but they can give us a
2 | SUMMER 2016 deeper understanding of our country illustrates a wonderful picture of and areas around us. I have asked God’s promise in Genesis 12:3: “I will four of our workers and one of our bless those who bless you [the Jewish board members to show a glimpse of people], and I will curse him who Canada’s Jewish population, five per- curses you.” Canada blesses the Jewish spectives from five different locations: people by providing a safe place for John McKim surveys Saint John’s three them to thrive and prosper, and God waves of immigration. Richard Toviah in turn blesses Canada’s rich culture discusses Ontario, the province with and the Jewish contribution to it. By the largest Jewish population. John God’s grace, we at FOI Gospel Minis- Plantz traces the Jewish people of try desire to bless and encourage our Manitoba’s journey from Russian Canadian Jewish friends as we teach persecution to settlement in Winni- biblical truth and stand in solidarity peg. Larry Mitchell discusses Alberta’s with them. Jewish population by synagogue affili- ation. Bill King, board member for FOI Gospel Ministry and longtime resident of Vancouver, provides insight into his Steve Herzig is the city’s Jewish population. North American Ministries Director of The Jewish population in Canada FOI Gospel Ministry.
CANADIAN COMMUNIQUÉ | 3 New Brunswick by John McKim
4 | SUMMER 2016 The Jewish community people to flee Eastern from men. In 1950, the of Saint John in New Europe in the 1890s congregation adopted Brunswick, Canada, and come to the city. the tenets of Conser- historically grew in Authorities expelled vative Judaism, which three waves. Jewish people from their allows families to sit homes in the Russian together. Then, in fall THE FIRST WAVE Empire; so many sought 2001, the congregation The first wave of Jewish shelter in the ghettos of became egalitarian, people to settle in Saint Saint John. They were allowing both men and John were from England. poor and unfamiliar women to share the Since they actively par- with the culture, spoke same roles. Women even ticipated in English life Yiddish, wore traditional became included in the and institutions, they Jewish clothing, and had minyan, a quorum of 10 blended easily into Saint different customs. individuals older than John society. As the community 13 who must be present The founders of Saint grew, so did their differ- to conduct a religious John’s Jewish commu- ences. These differences service. nity, Solomon and Alice urged the original Hart, arrived in 1858. Jewish settlers to found THE THIRD WAVE Solomon was an afflu- a second synagogue, The third wave of Jewish ent cigar maker and Hazen Avenue, in 1906, immigration to Saint operated a factory in the and give Ahavith Achim John is happening now. city. Alice was well-ed- Synagogue to the new The synagogue has ucated and taught arrivals. During this been welcoming new, Hebrew school in her time, 300 Jewish families young Jewish fami- home, began a daytime and about 1,500 Jewish lies from Israel—most nursery, and founded individuals lived in Saint who are originally the Daughters of Israel, John. from Russia—seek- a group of women ded- In 1918, the two ing new opportunities icated to helping the congregations joined in Canada. They hope poor, needy, and new together to purchase these new families will immigrants in the city. a building for a new integrate, attend ser- English and other synagogue, Shaarei vices, and rejuvenate Western Europeans also Zedek (Hebrew, “Gates the Jewish community founded the Ahavith of Righteousness”). again in Saint John. Achim (Hebrew, “Broth- Shaarei Zedek changed erly Love”) Synagogue traditions throughout in 1898. the years. At its found- John McKim ing, the synagogue was is the Saint John, New THE SECOND WAVE an Orthodox Jewish Brunswick, field Persecution caused the community, where representative for FOI Gospel second wave of Jewish women sat separate Ministry.
CANADIAN COMMUNIQUÉ | 5 Ontarioby Richard Toviah
Approximately 227,000 Jewish people currently live in Ontario, making up 1.8 percent of Ontar- Canada’s first-ever io’s total population. census in 1871 recorded that Toronto The story behind their 1,115 Jews: 409 in Mon- holds the largest immigration to the prov- treal, 157 in Toronto, number of Holocaust ince is remarkable. 131 in Hamilton, and survivors in the world. The pogroms and the rest in small com- More than 40,000 Holo- anti-Semitism in Russia munities along the St. caust survivors live in in the late 19th and Lawrence River. Canada, concentrated early 20th centuries Most of Canada’s particularly in Montreal, forced millions of Jewish Jewish people live in Winnipeg, and Toronto. families to emigrate. Ontario and Quebec, As of 2015, 8,930 Holo- Although the major- followed by British caust survivors live in ity immigrated to the Columbia, Manitoba, the Toronto metropoli- United States, many and Alberta. More than tan area, and 5,795 live also came to Canada half (57.9 percent) of in Montreal. due to the Canadian the Canadian Jewish Overall, Ontario has Pacific Railway and our population resides in rich Jewish history, a government’s efforts to Ontario, and of those, vibrant Jewish commu- develop Canada after most—188,710—live in nity, and many Jewish the Confederation. Toronto, which houses people for whom we can Between 1880 and 83.3 percent of Ontar- pray, love, and serve. 1930, the Jewish popu- io’s Jewish population. lation of Canada grew to Ottawa has the second Richard more than 155,000. Most largest Jewish popula- Toviah is the Winnipeg, of these immigrants tion in Ontario, with Manitoba, field established communi- 13,355. representative for FOI Gospel ties in the larger cities. Many do not know Ministry.
6 | SUMMER 2016 Manitoba by John Plantz The Winnipeg Jewish community and seeded. This was difficult bea- in Manitoba began with just a few cause the land was infertile and full people in the fur trade in 1880. Today, of rocks. When the Great Depression around 16,000 Jewish people live in hit, most families left the area, leaving Winnipeg. An influx of Jewish people few in Camper by 1944. came to the area between 1875 and Today’s Jewish community in Winni- 1888 because of religious persecution peg is active, with much philanthropy in Russia and Europe. As anti-Semi- and synagogue activity. Synagogues tism rose, they searched for a place in Winnipeg range from Orthodox to to start anew. Reform. Also in Winnipeg is the wide- Many Jews fled to Canada, and a ly-circulated Jewish Post and News. small number came to Manitoba, to The Jewish Asper Center stands as the city that would later become Win- the gem of Winnipeg’s Jewish com- nipeg, their “New Jerusalem.” They munity. The center includes a school, faced numerous hardships in an area Holocaust museum, the Jewish His- that seemed like it was in the middle torical Society, the Jewish Federation of nowhere. But due to their deter- of Manitoba and its museum, a gym- mination and industriousness, they nasium, library, theater, Schmoozer’s soon established synagogues, stores, Restaurant, and the famous Folk- and businesses. lorama’s Israeli Pavilion. In the early 1900s, the Jewish Col- In this area, The Friends of Israel onization Association encouraged collaborates with The Jewish National many Jewish families to move to rural Fund, Canadian Magen David Adom, areas and establish farm colonies. I the Canadian Ben-Gurion Univer- spoke with Mr. Levine at the Jewish sity, and Israel Bonds. We continue Public Library in Winnipeg about the to communicate biblical truth about town of Camper, where my parents, Israel and the Messiah and to stand Gomer and Dorothy Plantz, had lived. in solidarity with the Jewish people In 1911, Jewish people established a and the State of Israel. farm colony there called New Hirsch, 100 miles north of Winnipeg on High- way 6. John Plantz is the Our conversation piqued my inter- Winnipeg, Manitoba, est to research more about this colony Church Ministries representative for and area. During that time, about FOI Gospel Ministry. 300 families moved to Camper; each family bought 160 acres for $10.00. Of those acres, 40 needed to be cleared
CANADIAN COMMUNIQUÉ | 7 Albertaby Larry Mitchell
A Jewish friend of mine describes her family as very religious Zion- ists who immigrated back to the Holy Land. I recently had a conver- sation with her after she had returned from visiting her family in Israel. “Canada is nice, but Israel is my home,” she told me. “Israel is not your home,” I teased. “A rabbi told me this story. And if you can’t trust a rabbi, who can you trust? Do you know that Moshe was a stutterer?”
8 | SUMMER 2016 She nodded her head. will also be forced to (8,335) and Edmon- “When he asked God return home because ton (5,550), with the where he was to lead of anti-Semitism.” remainder (1,900) living the children of Israel,” I I agreed with her and throughout smaller pro- continued, “the Lord told told her that the return vincial communities. him to go to Canada. of God’s Chosen People Both Calgary and When Moshe came is one of the birth pangs Edmonton have Jewish down the mountain, of the Messiah. I shared centers. Calgary has the children of Israel with her Isaiah 11:11–12: four synagogues: one wanted to know where It shall come to pass Conservative (700 fam- God was going to send in that day that the ilies); one Reform (340 them. Moshe tried to say Lord shall set His hand families); one Ortho- ‘Canada,’ but his stut- again the second time dox (200 families); and tering made it sound like to recover the rem- a small ultra-Orthodox Canaan. The children of nant of His people synagogue. Israel were too impa- who are left, from Edmonton has five tient to let Moshe clarify Assyria and Egypt, synagogues: two Con- his statement, so they from Pathros and servative (350 families packed up their tents Cush, from Elam and and 40 families); one and headed to Canaan. Shinar, from Hamath Orthodox (280 families); Moshe shrugged his and the islands of the one Reform (87 families); shoulders and followed sea. He will set up a and a small ultra-Ortho- them.” banner for the nations, dox synagogue. There I told her that Canada and will assemble the is also a small Con- has the fourth largest outcasts of Israel, and servative/Reform (18 Jewish population in gather together the families) synagogue in the world.1 Only Israel, dispersed of Judah Lethbridge.2 the United States, and from the four corners 1 “World’s Jewish Population Nears France have larger of the earth. Pre-Holocaust Levels, New Report Says,” Jewish Free Press, August Jewish populations. I rejoice that we 28, 2015, p. 19. 2 Shirley Brodt, ed., “National “Yes. But soon Canada had the opportunity Synagogue Directory—Alberta, will have more Jews to openly talk about 5772/2011-2012,” Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Com- than France,” she Israel, the Bible, and the mittee
CANADIAN COMMUNIQUÉ | 9 British Columbia by Bill King
I have been involved within the Jewish community of the Greater Vancouver area both professionally and person- ally for 26 years, and I am extremely excited that The Friends of Israel (FOI) is establishing its presence here. A groundswell is beginning to take place. In this brief article, I wish to provide
10 | SUMMER 2016 you with some background informa- Vancouver Jewish community is 40.3.4 tion about Greater Vancouver and Approximately 1,000 Israelis in then update you concerning our Greater Vancouver view themselves recent developments in the region. I as distinct from the Jewish population. hope this information will bless and According to Rabbi Philip Bregman, challenge you to pray for our Jewish president of Hillel at the University friends. of British Columbia, these Israelis are mostly secular Jews who do not Background of Greater Vancouver attend synagogue or participate in According to a 2014 census, more than any religious activities. 2.4 million people live in Greater Van- couver.1 It is the third most populous FOI’s Presence in Greater Vancouver metropolitan area in Canada and the The Friends of Israel Today radio pro- most populous in Western Canada. gram over Radio KARI in Blaine, WA World Population Review reported (AM 550), covers approximately 3.5 Vancouver is the most densely popu- million people, reaching as far south lated city in Canada, with more than as Bellingham, WA, and the lower 5,249 people per square kilometer. mainland of British Columbia. Yet 74 percent of people in Greater We will hold our first Prophecy Up Vancouver live outside the city.2 Close conference on November 12, The Jewish Federation of Greater 2016, and we have put together a Vancouver reported that 26,255 Jewish team of dedicated people who will people—1.2 percent of the area’s pop- be reaching out to all of these areas on ulation—lived in Greater Vancouver both sides of the border. With much at the time of the 2011 census. This prayer and hard work, we anticipate number reveals an increase of 14.2 a successful conference and envision percent from 2001. The Canadian this becoming an annual event. Jewish population at large, however, 1 “Vancouver Population 2016,” World Popu- only increased by 4.7 percent during lation Review, September 13, 2015
CANADIAN COMMUNIQUÉ | 11 FOI Gospel Ministry, Inc. PO Box 428 STN A, Brampton, ON L6V 2L4
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