Montreal

Montreal is the second largest city in Canada (after Toronto), located in the province of Quebec. The city has a population of 1.9 million, while the greater Montreal metropolitan area is home to 3.8 million people. The city is situated on an island at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers.

Montreal is home to a large and vibrant Chabad community of approximately 700 families, with emissaries, synagogues, educational institutions, and a branch of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva network.

The Jewish Community

The Jewish community of Montreal is one of the oldest and largest in North America. Today more than 100,000 Jews live in the city, among them several thousand Israelis. The city has approximately 20 Jewish day schools of all types, one of which is the Yavneh school, directed for many years by Rabbi Masoud Chai Haviv, a Chabad Chassid.

Among the Jewish communities of Montreal are a large community of Moroccan Jews (French-speaking); the Rebbe Rabbi Meshulam Feish Lowy of Tash, with hundreds of his Chassidim in Kiryas Tash (near Montreal); hundreds of Chassidim of Belz, Vizhnitz, Satmar, and Skvere — concentrated in the Outremont neighborhood; the Lithuanian community in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood; and the Sephardic community in the Côte-Saint-Luc neighborhood.

The Chabad community of Montreal has grown rapidly since the arrival of the Temimim students from Otvock by way of Shanghai in 5702 (1941–1942). Today the majority of the Chabad community lives in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood.

The Founding of the Chabad Community

The group of students upon their first arrival in Montreal

Clear details about the founding and early members of the Chabad community in Montreal during the decades prior to the arrival of the Temimim from Otvock in 5702 (1941–1942) are not available.

In the 1980s there existed in Montreal a synagogue called Kehillas Anash Nusach HaAri — a Chabad-style congregation following the prayer rite of the Arizal (the sixteenth-century Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, whose distinctive prayer liturgy was adopted by the Chassidic movement). The rabbinical position of this congregation was filled by a rabbi who had previously served in several Latvian cities but was not himself a Chabad Chassid — Rabbi Nasan Neta Efraimovitz. As will be described below, when the refugee Temimim arrived from Otvock by way of Shanghai, they initially established their yeshiva in this same synagogue.

The Rescued Students Arrive in Montreal

At the request of the Montreal community, the Rebbe Rayatz petitioned the Canadian government to grant visas to the students of Tomchei Temimim of Shanghai — the branch of the Chabad flagship yeshiva that had found refuge in Shanghai during the Second World War. The Canadian government agreed, and out of eighty visas distributed among all the yeshiva students then in Shanghai, the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva received nine. On 2 Cheshvan 5702 (October 23, 1941), nine Temimim who had received visas departed: Yosef Rodal, Aryeh Leib Kramer, Yosef Menachem Mendel Tannenbaum, Menachem Zev Greenglass, Moshe Eliyahu Gerlitzky, Yitzchak Hendel, Yosef Weinberg, Yosef Tzvi Kotlarsky, and Shmuel Stein — sent with the mission of strengthening the community and establishing a branch of Tomchei Temimim in Montreal. The person charged — by the Rebbe Rayatz's directive — with welcoming them and hosting them in his home was Rabbi Yerucham Fishel Avrutick.

The students traveled by ship from Shanghai to San Francisco, California, and from there made their way to Montreal by bus.

The very next day after their arrival, the yeshiva opened its doors under the leadership of Rabbi Yitzchak HaKohen Hendel. The students were temporarily housed in the Chabad synagogue of Nusach HaAri. As the yeshiva grew, larger and more permanent quarters became necessary, and those responsible began planning the purchase of a large and suitable building to accommodate all the students comfortably. In the interim, the yeshiva relocated to a local orphanage, where they were given several rooms in which to conduct classes.

A few days later, on 9 Cheshvan, the Rebbe Rayatz sent a lengthy letter to the Temimim students detailing his sacred instructions for their activities in the city (Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. 6, p. 48). Throughout the month of Cheshvan, the Rebbe Rayatz dispatched the distinguished mashpia — spiritual mentor and guide — Rabbi Shmuel Levitin, to assist in establishing the yeshiva in its early stages. Subsequently, the Rebbe directed the formation of an executive committee to oversee the administration of Tomchei Temimim, to be elected by the Anash of the city. The Rebbe instructed that Rabbi Yehuda Albert — apparently a prominent lay figure who had contributed greatly to supporting the yeshiva — be appointed as head of the committee. Rabbi Shmuel Levitin departed from the yeshiva shortly after 10 Kislev 5702 (November 28, 1941), approximately one month after his arrival.

At its opening, the yeshiva enrolled 24 students. Within a year it had grown to more than two hundred students. The Rebbe Rayatz wrote that given the great effort the students were investing, the yeshiva should by rights have had at least five hundred students.

On 15 Kislev 5704 (December 12, 1943), a dedication ceremony was held for the building purchased for the yeshiva, attended by the Rashag — Rabbi Shmarya Gourary, son-in-law of the Rebbe Rayatz — who traveled to Montreal especially for the occasion as the Rebbe's personal representative.

On Sunday, 23 Iyar 5722 (May 27, 1962), a new yeshiva building was dedicated — the first building that Chabad constructed in North America. Following the passing of Rabbi Peretz Muchkin, the yeshiva expanded into his home. In 5764 (2003–2004), a fire broke out in the yeshiva's dormitory building — which stood adjacent to the main yeshiva building (which also houses the Lubavitch synagogue, study hall, and mikveh — a ritually pure immersion pool) at 6405 Westbury Avenue. Subsequently, on 26 Sivan 5767 (June 12, 2007), a magnificent new building was dedicated in place of the dormitory at 6355 Westbury Avenue, and the main yeshiva study hall relocated to the new building.

In 5709 (1948–1949), the Rebbe Rayatz sent Rabbi Moshe Chaim Spochkinsky to serve as the community's ritual slaughterer and as rabbi of the Nusach HaAri synagogue.

In the early years of the Rebbe's leadership, he dispatched three emissaries from Paris, France, to Montreal: in 5711 (1950–1951), Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Zeitlin, to serve as spiritual mentor, ritual slaughterer, and mohel — one who performs ritual circumcisions; in 5712 (1951–1952), Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman Marozov, to serve as ritual slaughterer and spiritual mentor; and Rabbi Peretz Muchkin, to serve as spiritual mentor.

Subsequently, Rabbi Leibel Kramer and Rabbi Yosef Rodal were appointed as heads of the communal institutions and the yeshiva, and they established a synagogue and a mikveh.

In 5719 (1958–1959), Rabbi Yehuda Shputz — who had previously studied at the yeshiva — was sent by the Rebbe to work within both the yeshiva and the Lithuanian girls' institution Beis Yaakov.

That same year, the Gan Yisroel — Montreal summer camp was founded in the Quebec mountains by Rabbi Reuven Tzvi Yehuda Feigelstock and Rabbi Berel Muchkin.

In 5730 (1969–1970), Rabbi Leibel Kramer established the well-known Beis Rivkah Montreal girls' school, as well as the Pardes Chana summer camp in the mountains, named in honor of the Rebbetzin Chana. With the assistance of Rabbi Shalom Ber Kalmanson — who was living in Montreal at that time — he succeeded in enrolling a large number of students in both institutions.

In 5737 (1976–1977), the Rebbe directed that elections be held for the position of mashpia. Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Zeitlin, Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman Marozov, and Rabbi Moshe Eliyahu Gerlitzky received the highest number of votes. Rabbi Gerlitzky was also appointed as the synagogue's gabbai — lay administrator. Rabbi Menachem Zev Greenglass, a Kabbalist who had become a revered spiritual figure in the community, also served in the role of mashpia.

In 5741 (1980–1981), the Rebbe established the Tiferes Temimim kollel — an advanced Torah study program for married scholars — in Montreal.

In Elul 5754 (August–September 1994), a new junior yeshiva (mesivta) was founded under the leadership of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Raskin and his brother-in-law Rabbi Pesach HaKohen Shperlin.

In Elul 5756 (August–September 1996), the Daily Sicha project — bringing a daily teaching from the Rebbe's talks to the community — was founded by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Goraria of Montreal. From that time until today, the Daily Sicha is heard in the community synagogue between the Mincha and Maariv afternoon and evening prayer services.

In Elul 5777 (August–September 2017), Rabbi Dovber HaKohen Baal was appointed as rabbi of the Chabad community.

Over the years the community has grown and solidified, built in large part upon the graduates and close associates of the yeshiva.

The Community Today

The synagogue, mikveh, and Talmud Torah building as they appear today

Today the community numbers hundreds of families and encompasses dozens of institutions. Among those who serve the community:

• The mashpia (spiritual mentor and guide), Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Goraria.
• The chairman of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad of Canada — the umbrella organization uniting Chabad Houses across Quebec — Rabbi Shalom Dovber Muchkin.
• Rabbi Yoel Zusha Zilberstein, emissary of the Rebbe.
• Rabbi Dovid HaKohen Baal and Rabbi Eliyahu Cohen (of blessed memory), spiritual mentors for the French-speaking community.
• Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Cohen, spiritual mentor for the Hebrew-speaking community.
• Rabbi Avraham Ben Shimon, among the distinguished senior members of the Anash community.

The Rabbinate

For many years, the head of the rabbinical court — known as the Vaad HaIr (City Rabbinical Council) — was Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung, who maintained a special relationship with the Rebbe and was among those who signed the rabbinic ruling affirming that the Rebbe has the presumptive status of Moshiach. Also serving on the court were Rabbi Aizik Schwey and Rabbi Yitzchak Hendel. The current head of the rabbinical court is Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin Weiss.

In 5708 (1947–1948), Rabbi Yitzchak Hendel was appointed as the rabbi of the Chabad community by the Rebbe Rayatz.

In 5757 (1996–1997), following the passing of Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung, Rabbi Avraham Dovid Nizhnik was appointed as head of the Montreal rabbinical court. The title of Associate Head of the Court was granted to his colleague Rabbi Yitzchak HaKohen Hendel, rabbi of the Chabad community, alongside whom served Rabbi Dovid Refoel Banon and Rabbi Dovber Baal. Also active during this period was Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Neiman, a pillar of religious life affiliated with Belz, who passed away in 5767 (2006–2007).

In 5767 (2006–2007), following the passing of Rabbi Nizhnik and Rabbi Hendel, Rabbi Dovber Baal was appointed as judge and rabbi of the Ashkenazic community, Rabbi Dovid Refoel Banon as judge and rabbi of the Sephardic community, and Rabbi Moshe Abba Stern as halachic decisor for the Chabad community.

Institutions

The Beis Rivkah campus — Chaya Mushka building

The Chabad Center for Russian-speaking Jews, named in honor of the benefactors Mr. David and Eda Schottenstein, under the direction of emissary Rabbi Yisrael Sirota

• Maday — Chabad House for Hebrew speakers and Semicha (rabbinic ordination) institute, under the direction of Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Cohen and his nephew Rabbi Moshe Scharf.
• Tomchei Temimim Montreal yeshiva, under the leadership of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kaplan, Rabbi Shmuel Kramer, and Rabbi Moshe Abba Stern.
• Beis Rivkah Montreal — girls' school, under the educational direction of Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Marozov.
• Seminary Chai Mushka for girls, under the direction of Rabbi Michael Dahan.
• Girls' Seminary in Ste-Agathe, under the direction of Rabbi Karlbach.
• Ohr Menachem Lunerstein Yeshiva in Naperville (approximately one hour south of Montreal), under the direction of Rabbi Yehuda Meir Dahan.
• Junior Yeshiva — Mesivta, under the direction of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Raskin.
• Chabad House Côte-Saint-Luc for the Moroccan Jewish community, under the direction of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Raskin (Montreal).
• Cheder — a traditional Jewish elementary school for Chabad children.
• Lubavitch Beis Midrash and mikveh for the Anash community, under the administration of the gabbaim (lay administrators) Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanow, Rabbi Peretz Matzkin, Rabbi Avraham Goraria, and others.

Gan Yisroel summer camp

• Summer Camp Gan Yisroel Montreal, founded by Rabbi Shalom Dovber Muchkin and directed by his son Rabbi Yisrael Muchkin.
• Summer Camp Pardes Chana for girls, under the direction of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Marozov.
• Chai Center — synagogue and kollel for advanced Torah study, under the direction of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Perlstein.
• Chabad House Shebanel, under the direction of Rabbi Yoel Zusha Zilberstein.
• Chabad House Central, under the direction of Rabbi Moshe New.
• Chabad House Montreal West, under the direction of Rabbi Pesach HaKohen Shperlin.
• Vufartzt Center, Ville Saint-Laurent, under the direction of Rabbi Eliran Hadad.
• Vaad HaIr — the rabbinical council overseeing kosher certification for mikvehs, food products, and Lubavitch ritual slaughter in the city.
• French-speaking Chabad House, under the direction of Rabbi Shalom Shriki.
• The Weekly Sicha, under the direction of Rabbi Yechiel Yosef Zeitlin (Montreal).
• Heichal Menachem, under the direction of Rabbi Boruch Aharon Huss.
• Friendship Circle for children with special needs, and the inter-city Hebrew education network Pri Hebrew, under the direction of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Friz.
• Chabad House Westmount, under the direction of Rabbi Yosef Schneevis.
• Chabad House at the Jewish General Hospital, under the direction of Rabbi Barak Chatzroni.

External Links

• Gan Yisroel Montreal Camp — official website
• Chabad House Côte-Saint-Luc website
• The Nine Arrive in Montreal — a brief overview with historic photographs, on the Anash.org website
• Rabbi Jurkowitz's Captivating Portrait of the City of the Ovdim in Our Generation — Lachluchis Geulasit
• As Instructed by the Rebbe: Torah Gathering Held in Montreal