Jewish Heritage Month
Jewish Heritage Month is celebrated every May in Canada to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish communities.
Explore Jewish heritage at Concordia through stories, scholarship, and cultural contributions that reflect the depth of Jewish life in Montreal and beyond.
Scholarship
Concordia Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies
The Institute is dedicated to exploring the Canadian Jewish experience through research, education, and community engagement. It offers undergraduate and graduate courses, hosts public lectures, artistic installations, and supports publications in fiction, non-fiction, and scholarly work. The institute also administers fellowships and collaborates with organizations like the Canadian Jewish Congress Archives and Montreal's Jewish Public Library
Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies
Founded in 2011, the Institute has supported the advancement of Israel Studies through educational programs, publications, and more.
Mordecai Richler Reading Room
Concordia is the home of Mordecai Richler’s desk, typewriter, some of his private papers, books and mementos. Curated by the Department of English, the Mordecai Richler Reading Room is designed to inspire creative writers, spark fresh ideas among students, and foster original research from scholars.
Cultural Events and Collaborations
Film Screenings
Concordia has collaborated with the Museum of Jewish Montreal to screen films like The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, highlighting Montreal's Jewish community in the 1960s. These events often include discussions with artists and scholars.
Performances and Installations
The university has hosted various events, such as the dance-music-film-textile performance Needle and Thread, that starts from a list of 600 names of Holocaust victims collected by Yad Vashem in an extensive and ongoing project: “Pages of Testimony”. The work is a commemorative performance that develops from the dance and installation practices of Suzanne Miller and Mindy Yan Miller.
In November 2024, the Judaica collection was permanently installed at the university. Curated by Mika Benesh and introduced by Claire Guttadauro, this initiative serves as a lasting educational and cultural resource for the community.
Performing the Canadian Jewish Archive
An initiative led by Miranda Crowdus, this fellowship program encourages interdisciplinary projects that transform archival materials into creative works, fostering a dynamic engagement with Jewish-Canadian history.
Commemorative Events
Peter Mansbridge in Conversation with Holocaust Survivor George Reinitz
In January, Concordia community members had the rare opportunity to hear Holocaust survivor George Reinitz share his powerful testimony in conversation with journalist Peter Mansbridge. The event, held in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, offered space for reflection on the importance of remembrance, the dangers of antisemitism, and the need to preserve survivor voices for future generations.
The event was hosted by the Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre in partnership with the Montreal Holocaust Museum.
Books
Discover publications on a variety of topics related to the Canadian Jewish experience.
Watch
The Concordia Library has a subscription to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Log in to access the Archive's online catalog, as well as information about its activities and excerpts from some of the testimonies.
Research
The Concordia Library has guides to support research on the Holocaust, including the Azrieli Holocaust Collection and the Jonassohn Genocide Collection.
Max Stern Art Restitution Project
For close to thirty years the executors and university beneficiaries of the Estate of Dr. Max Stern have upheld the wishes of an extraordinary individual who, during the course of his life delved into almost all facets of the art world.
Max Stern in Germany, c.1925, National Gallery of Canada, Library and Archives, Fonds Max Stern
Days of Significance
In alignment with our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, Concordia recognizes a range of cultural and historical observances throughout the year.