Orthodoxy in Transition: The Vaad Ha‘ir of Montreal in the Twentieth Century Steven Lapidus A Thesis In the Department of Religion Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Concordia University Montreal, Quebec, Canada April, 2011 © Steven Lapidus, 2011 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES This is to certify that the thesis prepared By: Steven Lapidus Entitled: Orthodoxy in Transition: The Vaad Ha’ir of Montreal in the Twentieth Century and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Religion) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the final examining committee: Chair Dr. C. Jamieson External Examiner Dr. J. Bauer External to Program Dr. L. Sanders Examiner Dr. N. Joseph Examiner Dr. L. Orr Thesis Supervisor Dr. I. Robinson Approved by Chair of Department or Graduate Program Direct Dr. L. Orr, Graduate Program Director April 7, 2011 Dr. B. Lewis, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science ii Abstract Orthodoxy in Transition: The Vaad Ha‘ir of Montreal in the Twentieth Century Steven Lapidus, PhD. Concordia University In 1922, a group of eastern European Jewish immigrants joined together to form the Jewish Community council of Montreal (Vaad Ha’ir) to coordinate and organize the growing Jewish population‘s communal needs. Merging Orthodox and secular elements, the Vaad Ha‘ir of Montreal was founded to manage the basics of Jewish life in Canada: reliable kosher food, Jewish education, communal cooperation, and mutual aid. Beset by struggle, competition, recalcitrant butchers, wayward kosher slaughterers, and conniving wholesalers, the Vaad‘s history has been an active one. Centering this study on the archives of the Vaad Ha‘ir of Montreal in the 1950s and 60s, I have identified the challenges faced by voluntary Jewish communal bodies in North America. Although the archives are mostly limited to the mid-century period, the analysis takes us beyond that point into the twenty-first century to examine how these changes have affected Orthodoxy in the long term. Questions of ethnic identity, Orthodox adaptability, and communal boundaries are reflected within the records of this community, and form the basis of my analysis. Although the Vaad Ha‘ir aspired to recreate a European-style communal council that would dictate virtually every aspect of Jewish life, as was the case in Europe, the new North American reality would not permit such authority. Faced with new social and legal circumstances, the history of the Vaad Ha‘ir illuminates the struggle of traditional iii Jewish communities in North America to address the challenges of voluntary societies and personal freedom. By the end of the century, the agenda of the Vaad Ha‘ir of Montreal was decidedly narrower than previously. This winnowing of communal power and influence provides evidence that that European-style communal councils were not easily amenable to the new reality of individual liberties in the new world. iv For MH without whose love and support none of this would have been possible. v Acknowledgements I would like to thank all of the members of my committee: Dr. Julian Bauer, Dr. Lionel Sanders and Dr. Christine Jamieson for their time, thoughtfulness and effort into reading my work. I am indebted to the guidance, advice, and camaraderie that I have enjoyed these past few years with Norma and Leslie and I look forward to years more fun together. Words are difficult to describe the role of my supervisor, Ira, who also supervised my MA. Not only has he given me countless opportunities to publish and expand my academic career, Ira has always been available, reliable, patient and wise. I would not have accomplished as much as I have without his guidance. My sincerest thanks to all of you. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my dear friend and mentor, Donald Boisvert. I learned one of life‘s greatest skills from Donald: how to teach. I will be forever grateful for his friendship and his example. What can one say to Tina and Munit, who provided TLC and a place to talk and vent to me — and hundreds of other graduate students — over the years? What we didn‘t talk about in that office! And like good caregivers, they yelled and prodded when necessary. I wonder how many people would have graduated without Tina or Munit? Much gratitude to Janice Rosen and Hélène Vallée who put up with me sitting in the CJC archives day after day, photocopying, babbling, yelling, and often retelling long-involved Vaad Ha‘ir stories. Their knowledge and reliability made my research a far pleasanter task than it might have been. Pierre Anctil était aussi présent aux archives souvent et on a pu partagé de bons temps ensemble. Mais Pierre représente beaucoup plus que ça dans ma vie. Il est devenu un ami et un mentor. Et il m‘a généreusement fourni des occasions de conférencier et publier en français. Mit noenkeyt. Many others have helped and guided me along the way as well, and I appreciate each of them. I would like to thank Shannon Hodge, Eiran Harris, Eddie Paul and the staff of the JPL for their Jobian patience and constant helpfulness. To my friends who listened and waited very patiently over the years, I thank you. Thanks for feeding me or distracting me when necessary. You made the moments between writing memorable. Thanks to Lucie, Susan, Mike, Chantal, Beth & John. I want to thank Sruly & Chavi and their family for their open hearts and welcoming זאל דער קליינע דאקטאר באלד אן עכטער .home. They are truly examples to observe ווערן. Words do not suffice to thank my family for their love, patience, and support. My father‘s illness has limited his abilities, but not his pride or his love. Although it vi has been several years, Matt, Mom, and Shari, you have been rocks. It has been difficult at times, and you have always been there. This has been a busy road, sometimes good and sometimes not so good, and yet, at every step you were there. That‘s what family is there for. Rona, Alyssa and Ashley have inspired me. I want to be a model for you the way others were models for me. But, it seems like you‘re doing okay already. I will love and support you unconditionally, the way I was. I‘ll always be there for you. In memory of little Alex. He is missed. vii ―The Jewish Community Council of Montreal (the Vaad Ha‘ir) is so nearly unique that its development well deserves the serious attention of anyone interested in the community.‖1 1 Voice of the Vaad (1962): 11. (CJCCCNA/ZB/Cohen, Hirsch/1962). viii Table of Contents A Note on Sources, Citations, and Transliteration ............................................................. 1 1. Orthodoxy in Transition: The Vaad Ha‘ir of Montreal in the Twentieth Century ............ 4 2. The Early Years of the Vaad Ha‘ir and Vaad Harabbonim of Montreal .......................... 41 3. The Kosher Meat Market in Montreal .............................................................................. 67 4. Threats to Kashrut in Montreal ......................................................................................... 84 5. Policing Kashrut.............................................................................................................. 140 6. Rabbinical Relations ....................................................................................................... 175 7. The Vaad Hai‘ir of Montreal in the Last half-Century ................................................... 216 8. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 231 References ....................................................................................................................... 260 Appendix A ..................................................................................................................... 271 Abbreviations & Glossary............................................................................................... 275 ix A Note on Sources, Citations, and Transliteration This work is based on the archives of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal (known as the Vaad Ha‘ir). The collection contains some thirteen linear metres of textual records, of which approximately four metres (about twelve banker‘s boxes) contain ledgers and financial records exclusively. The balance are filled with reports, minutes, and correspondence. I examined every box with the exception of those containing uniquely financial information. Not only were the finances of the organization not of germane interest to this work, a forensic audit merits a large-scale project of its own, beyond the skills of this author. The archives are on permanent loan from the Jewish Public Library of Montreal to the Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee National Archives, where I consulted them. In about 1995-96, these documents were discarded by the Jewish Community Council of Montreal and through the help of Ira Robinson, Claire Stern, Beverley and Eiran Harris, of the Jewish Public Library in Montreal, and Janice Rosen and Hélène Vallée of Canadian Jewish Congress National Archives, the documents were salvaged and catalogued and made available to researchers. The initial haphazard treatment of these important documents resulted in incomplete files and a truncated time line. While some documentation remained from the early period in the 1930s (treated in ―The Vaad Early Years‖), the bulk of the collection