May is Jewish Heritage Month in Canada! It was first observed in March 2018, following a unanimous vote in the House of Commons. The goal of this month is to honor the many contributions of Jewish Canadians to Canada and educate future generations about their important role in shaping the country.
Canada is home to around 400,000 Jewish people, making up over 1% of the population. It has the third-largest Jewish community in the world. Jewish Canadians have made significant achievements in fields like medicine, education, arts, law, business, and more, contributing greatly to Canadian life.
Did you know that the first Jewish people came to what is now Canada over 250 years ago? Samuel Jacobs and Aaron Hart were the first known Jewish settlers. They came as part of the British army in 1760, when Britain took control of New France. Before that, Jewish people were not allowed to live there. Aaron Hart’s family helped start the first Jewish community in Canada. In 1768, they built the first synagogue (a Jewish place of worship) in Montreal.
Many more Jewish people came to Canada between the late 1800s and the end of World War I. Life in Europe was very hard for them, there was a lot of poverty and unfair treatment. They came to Canada looking for safety and a better life.
-Information taken from the Canadian Jewish Heritage Month Act and Library and Archives Canada
Here is a reading list of books by Jewish-Canadian Authors:
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