5 Jewish things to do in Montreal

Montreal is a beautiful, multicultural city that has warm summers and quite chilly winters so choose your travel time wisely. Montreal is the one of the oldest Jewish communities in Canada with a population of over 100,000 according to the last census. This community is diverse, and consists of many different Jewish divisions which arrived in Canada over different periods of time. The largest immigration was the Ashkenazi Jews who arrived from Eastern Europe following World War II. This large immigration of Ashkenazi Jews has had a huge cultural influence throughout the 20th century in Montreal. They settled along the Main and in the Mile End and these places remain strongly influenced by Jewish community and culture. There are a number of Jewish restaurants, food tours, libraries, schools and even parks to visit established by the Jewish community. There are so many exciting things to be a part of in the city of Montreal, especially when it comes to Jewish culture. Here are 5 Jewish things that you could do in Montreal to brighten up your vacation: Museum of Jewish Montreal The Museum of Jewish Montreal was founded in 2010, when Montreal’s Jewish community was 250 years old. At first this museum began to map Montreal’s Jewish history but has since expanded to include online exhibits, histories and online/mobile walking tours. The Museum of Jewish Montreal website displays online exhibits with descriptions of key institutions, events, places and people in the history of Montreal’s Jewish life. Each exhibit shows imagery and links to further research should the viewer want to explore further history. The exhibits are intended to show the audience how different elements of the Jewish community’s history fit into the history of Montreal. There are over 125 original exhibits along with exhibits based on Sara Tauben’s research on historic synagogues in Montreal. At the start of 2013, the Museum of Jewish Montreal began collecting digital exhibitions, such as, A Geography of Jewish Care and Between These Walls which are still on display today. The Museum began to create pop-up exhibitions in 2014 with it’s exhibitions on garment workers, “Parkley Clothing: 1937.” There have been many exhibitions over the years involving Jewish culture and the Museum organizes events, including lectures, debates and other public outings for everybody to enjoy and learn from. Website: imjm.ca/ “Beyond the Bagel” Jewish Food Tours This tour was created by a Jewish food historian and experts in Montreal’s Jewish history with the Museum Of Jewish Montreal. This delicious food tour describes the city’s Jewish food history through personal stories, recipes, and photos gathered from restaurants, business owners and their families. As you pace down the streets of Montreal you will have the opportunity for seven different food tasting which include some of Montreal’s most iconic dishes: a Schwartz’s smoked meat sandwich, Saint-Viateur and Fairmount bagels, and the Wilensky Special. This in-depth tour provides an insider perspective on the stories behind Montreal’s Jewish culinary restaurants, including some popular hot-spots like Beauty’s and Moishes and foods from Montreal’s Hasidic community. Yum! During this tour you will learn about Montreal’s Jewish food scene and visit eateries that are contributing to this community of food. You will explore the main streets and back alleys of Plateau and Mile End while enjoying the fascinating history of these traditional Jewish neighbourhoods. There are vegetarian alternatives available on the tour but there is not a certified kosher/kashrut to provide vegan, gluten, or allergy free alternatives. All the delicious food mentioned is included in the price of the Beyond the Bagel tour. Website: museemontrealjuif.ca/beyond-the-bagel/ The Montreal Holocaust Museum This museum centre is free for the public to enter and provides a deep insight into the history of the holocaust by telling stories from the survivers. The museum prides itself on sharing the honest and sometimes traumatic stories of the Holocaust under the Nazi regime. The museum has daily tours available for the public and many exhibitions focused on teaching Primary and Secondary students the history of the Holocaust and the impact on the Jewish community. There are permanent exhibitions at the museum including Life before the War, Life during the Nazi Era, and Rebuilding life after the Holocaust. Through the varied experiences presented in the Museum, you will have a better understanding of the complexity and magnitude of the Holocaust. The museum is open 11am-4pm Monday to Sunday and closed on Saturday’s. Website: museeholocauste.ca/en/ The Jewish Public Library The Jewish Public Library or JPL is a public library in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, founded in 1914. The library hosts the largest circulating collection of Judaica in North America. It has close to 4,000 members and receives 800 visitors weekly. Unlike the public libraries of Montreal The Jewish Public Library is independent and receives its funding and support from the city’s Jewish community through membership fees, donations and endowments. The Library has a vast array of rare books, music, Yizkor literature, photographs, newspapers and many more artifacts available to the public. The Library hosts a programme of cultural events and educational workshops throughout the year. There is Jewish Book Month where Jewish authors such as, Andrei Codrescu and Cynthia Ozick have spoken. The Library hosts readings in Hebrew, Yiddish musical nights, Russian concerts and walking tours of Jewish Montreal throughout the year. Many of the libraries programmes collaborate with other organisations such as the Montreal Holocaust Museum and the Montreal Jewish Museum. The Library Archives offer fascinating tours, workshops and offer much of its content digitally for people to access. Website: jewishpubliclibrary.org/ Tastes and traditions of Jewish Montreal 6 day tour If you’re looking for an all inclusive tour of history, culture, tradition and food then this tour will be perfect for solo, couple, or family travelers. Enjoy six days of eating beautiful food from meze, falafel, and rugelach and uncover the rich Jewish culinary traditions. You will be taken across the city to visit chefs, rabbis and local experts who will show you how food and history combine and introduce you to Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi experiences. This all inclusive tour includes five nights accommodation at a boutique hotel in the centre of Montreal. All meals are included in the tour with vibrant, delicious Jewish food by world class chefs. An experienced local guide will accompany you throughout the trip and you will have access to all proposed activities, locations and events in the tour. Website: www.airbnb.com/experiences/1207949 The city of Montreal has the oldest Jewish populations in Canada. Circulating throughout Montreal are the city’s very own Jewish publications. The most well-known publication is “Montreal Jewish Magazine,” a premium source of all things Jewish, this publication has a readership of more than 90,000 people. Montreal Jewish Magazine includes a wide variety of editorials and articles about international news, local activities and community events in the Jewish population. We love hearing from our community and would welcome you to share your own experiences and thoughts on these places if you have been yourself or perhaps planning a holiday in Montreal. Help our community grow by suggesting any places you recommend in the comments or by adding a new Jwall post on the Montreal Travel Page.