A Reluctant Welcome for Jewish People

Voices in Le Devoir's Editorials, 1910-1947

Pierre Anctil, Tonu Onu

• Publisher: University of Ottawa Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN:
  9780776627953
• eBook ISBN:
  9780776627977
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Jewish Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

Noted historian Pierre Anctil takes a deep dive into editorials devoted to Jews and Judaism in Quebec's daily Le Devoir in the first half of the twentieth century. Long one of the most discussed historiographical issues in Canadian Jewish history, these editorials are of great significance as they are representative of the reaction of the nationalist Francophone elite to the Jewish presence in Montreal, to German Nazi State anti-Semitism and to the Shoah.

Pierre Anctil proposes a new reading of the editorials published in the pages of Le Devoir from 1910 to 1947—from the founding of the newspaper by Henri Bourassa until the death of its second director, Georges Pelletier.

During that time, some two hundred editorials were devoted to Jews and Judaism, of which Anctil has selected sixty for inclusion in this volume. Although many of the editorials conveyed the clearly anti-Semitic views of Le Devoir's editorialists and of Quebec society at large, a number of the editorials did express positive views of Jewish activities and accomplishments in Quebec society.

Readers will find this to be an in-depth analysis and nuanced treatment of an important aspect of Canadian Jewish history.

Published in English, translated from the original "À chacun ses juifs".

Appendix 1

List of editorials in Le Devoir on Jewish subjects, 1910–1947

The editorial titles in bold indicate major editorials on Jewish subjects.

1.« Politique anti-nationale » (Canadian immigration policy, “An Anti-national Policy,” translated in present volume), Georges Pelletier, August 4, 1910, NEGATIVE.

2.« Le credit populaire, l’exemple des Juifs » (Montreal, Hebrew Free Loan Association, “Credit for All, the Jewish example,” translated in Do What You Must), Omer Héroux, June 11, 1913, NEUTRAL.

3.« Juifs et Protestants à la Commission scolaire dissidente » (Montreal, Protestant schools, “Jews and Protestants at the Dissentient School Board,” translated in present volume), Omer Héroux, April 15, 1914, NEUTRAL.

4.« Si vous avez la presse… » (Catholic press), Georges Pelletier, February 13, 1920, NEGATIVE.

5.« Une dépêche qui fait rêver » (minorities in Europe), Omer Héroux, October 22, 1920, NEUTRAL.

6.« Trucs et réformes » (fraudulent immigration), Georges Pelletier, May 27, 1921, NEGATIVE.

7.« Le Pape et la Palestine » (Vatican), Omer Héroux, September 2, 1921, NEGATIVE.

8.« Ce qui importe d’abord » (immigration to Canada, “What Is Most Important,” translated in present volume), Georges Pelletier, April 5, 1922, NEGATIVE

9.« Pour réveiller le civisme » (Montreal, municipal charter), Louis Dupire, April 13, 1922, NEGATIVE.

10.« L’urbanisme » (Montreal urban development), Louis Dupire, April 28, 1923, NEUTRAL.

11.« Si les mères savaient » (Montreal, infant mortality), Louis Dupire, July 27, 1923, NEUTRAL.

12.« Pas trente milles : 4 000 pieds seulement » (Montreal, urbain transport), Louis Dupire, August 9, 1923, NEGATIVE.

13.« Que ferons-nous ? » (Montreal, public parks), Omer Héroux, October 22, 1923, NEUTRAL.

14.« Les étrangers à Paris » (Paris, social life), Georges Pelletier, November 6, 1923, NEGATIVE.

15.« Le tribunal des jeunes délinquants » (Montreal, youth protection), Louis Dupire, November 8, 1923, NEUTRAL.

16.« Résumé de session » (Canadian Parliament, political life), Henri Bourassa, March 17, 1924, NEUTRAL.

17.« Sur les Remparts » (review of Abbot Édouard Lavergne’s Book, “On the Ramparts,” translated in Do What You Must), Henri Bourassa, July 26, 1924, NEUTRAL.

18.« Pourquoi pas la paroisse ? » (education, commission of inquiry on schools), Omer Héroux, October 16, 1924, NEUTRAL.

19.« Pourquoi nos enfants meurent » (Montreal, infant mortality, “Why Our Children Are Dying,” translated in present volume), Louis Dupire, January 13, 1 925 NEUTRAL.

20.« Les exemptions de taxes » (Montreal, municipal taxes), Omer Héroux, July 29, 1925, NEUTRAL.

21.« Sur une conférence par un échevin sortant » (Montreal, municipal administration), Louis Dupire, April 10, 1926, NEUTRAL.

22.« Un nouveau “scheme” : une exposition au parc Maisonneuve » (Montreal, municipal administration, “A New Scheme : Fairgrounds in Parc Maisonneuve,” translated in present volume), Louis Dupire, June 4, 1926, NEGATIVE.

23.« Le cinéma américain ne boycottera pas Montréal » (Montreal, Hollywood cinema), Louis Dupire, June 15, 1926, NEGATIVE.

24.« Un règlement qui dort depuis 18 mois au conseil municipal » (Montreal, Hollywood cinema), Louis Dupire, November 20, 1926, NEGATIVE.

25.« Une once de sanction vaut mieux que cent onces de législation » (Montreal, Hollywood cinema), Louis Dupire, January 17, 1927, NEGATIVE.

26.« La mortalité infantile chez les Juifs et les chrétiens » (Montréal, public health, “Infant Mortality Among Jews and Among Christians,” translated in present volume), Louis Dupire, August 5, 1927, NEUTRAL

27.« Rien que les Femmes Savantes… » (Montreal, theatre, “Nothing But the ‘Learned Ladies’…, “ translated in Do What You Must), Georges Pelletier, October 3,1927, NEGATIVE.

28.« Mariage et divorce XXIV » (Lower Canada, 1832 law), Henri Bourassa, June 4, 1929, NEUTRAL.

29.« Sur une poudrière » (Palestine, British imperialism, “On Top of a Powder Keg,” translated in present volume), Omer Héroux, August 28, 1929, NEGATIVE.

30.« Silence au Mexique, clameurs en Palestine » (Catholic persecutions in Mexico, Jewish persecutions in Palestine, “Silence on Mexico, Protests for Palestine,” translated in present volume), Georges Pelletier, September 6, 1929, NEGATIVE.

31.« De M. Taschereau et du “Journal” » (freedom of expression in Quebec), Omer Héroux, December 18, 1929, NEUTRAL.

32.« Vingt ans de trop » (immigration in Canada, “Twenty Years Too Many,” translated in present volume), Georges Pelletier, December 19, 1929, NEUTRAL.

33.« Les compagnies d’assurance et le logement salubre » (Montréal, public health, “Insurance Companies and Hygienic Housing,” translated in Do What You Must), Louis Dupire, January 20, 1930, NEUTRAL.

34.« Arabes, Juifs et Anglais » (Palestine, British imperialism), Omer Héroux, February 16, 1930, NEGATIVE.

35.« Les écoles de Montréal » (Protestant schools, “Montreal Schools,” translated in the present volume), Omer Héroux, February 20, 1930, NEUTRAL.

36.« Si c’est cela de l’art français » (theatre in Montreal, “If That Is ‘French art’ …,” translated in present volume), Georges Pelletier, February 28, 1930, NEGATIVE.

37.« Sous la main du gouvernement » (Montreal, Jewish school board, “Under the Government’s Thumb,” translated in present volume), Omer Héroux, March 18, 1930, NEUTRAL.

38.« Pourquoi pas un ajournement ? » (Montreal, Jewish school board, “Why Not a Postponement?” translated in present volume), Omer Héroux, April 1, 1930, NEUTRAL.

39.« 1 sur 65 » (federal student bursaries), Omer Héroux, April 3, 1930, NEGATIVE.

40.« De Bombay à Jérusalem » (British imperialism, Palestine, “From Bombay to Jerusalem,” translated in present volume), Omer Héroux, May 22, 1930, NEUTRAL.

41.« Ne blâmons pas les Juifs : imitons-les » (Montreal, summer camps, “Do Not Blame the Jews: Imitate Them,” translated in the present volume), Louis Dupire, June 3, 1930, NEUTRAL.

42.« En marge de la quête de la S.C.P.R. » (Montreal, Hebrew Free Loan Association), Louis Dupire, October 4, 1930, NEUTRAL.

43.« La question de la Palestine » (Jewish immigration, “The Palestine Question,” translated in present volume), Omer Héroux, October 21, 1930, NEUTRAL.

44.« Après Baldwin, Smuts » (British imperialism, Palestine, “After Baldwin, Smuts,” translated in Do What You Must), Omer Héroux, October 24, 1930, NEUTRAL.

45.« C’est l’avenir qui nous sollicite » (Jewish philanthropy in Montreal), Louis Dupire, March 24, 1931, NEUTRAL.

46.« Le théâtre d’exportation, » (theatre in Montreal), Georges Pelletier, April 23, 1931, NEGATIVE.

47.« Leçons et réflexions » (Montreal, anti-Semitism, “Lessons and Reflections,” translated in present volume), Henri Bourassa, August 26, 1931, NEUTRAL.

48.« Rôle capital de la charité » (economic slowdown, Christian philanthropy), Henri Bourassa, September 24, 1931, NEUTRAL.

49.« Quelques traits de plume en marge du rapport Schubert » (Montreal, fight against unemployment), Louis Dupire, May 26, 1932, NEUTRAL.

50.« Rien que pour plaire à M. Bercovitch ? Non » (anti-defamation law, “Only to Satisfy Mr. Bercovitch? No,” translated in present volume), Georges Pelletier, March 11, 1933, NEGATIVE.

51.«...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Translator’s Note
• Preface
• Introduction
• Immigration to Canada (1913–1930)
• Jewish Immigration to Canada (1910–1929)
• Jewish Immigration to Canada (1933–1943)
• Nazi Germany (1933–1937)
• Anti-Semitism in Europe (1937–1938)
• Kristallnacht (1938)
• The Holocaust (1943–1945)
• Anti-Semitism in Canada (1931–1933)
• Le Devoir and the Canadian Jewish Congress (1934)
• “Buy from Your Own” (1934–1939)
• The “Detrimental” Influence of Jews in Montreal (1926–1936)
• The Jews and Montreal Schools (1914–1930)
• Observance of Sunday (1933–1934)
• The Success of Jews in Montreal (1930–1946)
• Public Health in Montreal (1925–1927)
• Persecution of Jews, Persecution of Catholics (1929–1933)
• Palestine Under the British Mandate (1929–1930)
• A National Home for the Jewish People in Palestine (1937–1939)
• Appendix 1 — List of editorials in Le Devoir on Jewish subjects, 1910–1947
• Appendix 2 — List of editorialists who wrote on the subject of Judaism on Le Devoir’s pages and the Jewish presence in Canada, 1910–1947
• Bibliography
• Backmatter
• Backcover