Beth Rivkah Montreal

Beth Rivkah Montreal is the central educational institution of the Chabad community in Canada, serving all female students in Quebec Province across various age-specific departments, distinguished by its exceptionally high academic standards.

The institution belongs to the Beth Rivkah network of institutions founded by the Friediker Rebbe for the elevation of his grandmother's soul, Rebbetzin Rivkah, wife of the Rebbe Maharash.

History

In 1946, several years after the arrival of a group of shluchim to Montreal, Rabbi Moshe Eliyahu Gerlitzky received a phone call from the Rebbe, who was then serving as director of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch under his father-in-law, instructing him to establish a Jewish school for girls.

Although at this point there was no educational staff, no building to serve as a school, and not even enough students, Rabbi Gerlitzky's wife decided to open the institution in their basement with their daughters, and within a short time 50 girls enrolled. The institution moved to a more spacious apartment that served the needs of the institution, and thus the institution grew and developed.

Upon completion of the first graduating class in 1962, the Rebbe sent a special blessing letter to the graduates.

In 1969, the school moved to its spacious permanent location on Vezina Avenue.

For many years, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Slavin and Rabbi Isaac Schwei led the institution, and in 1974, Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz was appointed as the institution's director, a position he holds to this day. Over the years, as the institution expanded, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Marozov joined to assist with the management work.

In 1989, a new floor was built for the institution, and in 1996, a new wing was built, and today the institution's complex spans an entire city block.

For several years, the school received the highest rating among nearly 500 educational institutions in Quebec, Canada, being the only Jewish school to successfully enter the prestigious list in several categories, which led to a great Kiddush Hashem, interest and coverage from major media outlets, and expansion of the institution.

As of 2022, nearly 1,000 girls study at the institution.

Staff

• Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz - General Director
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Rosenfeld - Administrative Director
• Rabbi Shneur Zalman Rabin - Development Director
• Mrs. Chaya Rachel Halperin - Deputy Director
• Rabbi Muller - Academic Studies Coordinator
• Mrs. Batsheva Slapochnik - High School Department Principal
• Mrs. Sabrina Oziel - Secular Studies Director
• Mrs. Mellul - High School Department Director