It is hard to believe that in the short period of time since we moved to New Jersey from Montreal so much has changed in Quebec. The distance in driving is about six hours—it is a one hour flight, but the distance in democracy and freedom is becoming more and more mind boggling each day.
The current government in power in the Province of Quebec recently introduced a proposal to sponsor a Charter of Rights. What exactly does this bill propose? It requires that absolutely no form of ethnic or religious symbolism be shown by anyone working in a public place. For instance, a Sikh would not be allowed to wear a turban, a Moslem would not be allowed to wear a Hijab and a Jewish person would not be allowed to wear a kippah—some have even questioned the right of wearing a Magen Dovid around the neck.
It has taken many years for Jewish men to feel comfortable enough to wear kippot in their work places. The generation of our fathers had difficulty wearing a kippah in court or in their accounting offices—they were suffering from the history of their fathers who were oppressed in many cases for being Jewish. Finally, men today are able to walk proudly asserting who they are.
In Montreal there is a well known teaching hospital associated with McGill University called the Jewish General Hospital. It was established in 1934. The primary reason for its raison d’etre was to give young Jewish medical students a place to do their residencies, as they were being shunned by other hospitals because of their religious affiliation. Today, the hospital, as is the case of many of the hospitals in Montreal, including the ones in the French sector, have doctors working from all ethnic communities and kippot along with other outwardly noticeable religious gear is second nature to most.
Suddenly, all of this is being deemed inappropriate by this bill which will be voted on in several months. Most frightening, is that although there are many who are outwardly opposed to this proposal there have been significant demonstrations and approval coming from many different elements of the community.
A good friend, who is an allergist on staff at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and always wears his kippah, was moved by the letter recently written by the Chair of the Pediatrics Department at the McGill Faculty of Medicine and the Pediatrician-in-Chief at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and MGill University Hospital Center. Dr. Michael Shevell said he could not stay silent any longer and wrote as follows: “The charter goes against what we stand for. Members of my department come from all walks of life, all ethnic groups, all religions, and it’s deplorable to hear that some of them would have their rights to express themselves limited.”
Dr. Shevell invited MUHC employees to come to work on a pre-determined day wearing one of the religious symbols that the charter would ban.
We have learned to take nothing for granted; we are only 353.8 miles away from such craziness.
And we are learning to appreciate and be especially grateful for the freedoms that are bestowed upon us in the United States. I doubt that many of us take the time to think about it. We should. It is a tremendous blessing.
About the Glicks – Rabbi Mordechai Glick enjoyed a long career in the rabbinate and academia – serving as the rabbi of a number of shuls in the Montreal area and teaching psychology full-time at Champlain College. Nina Glick led Yachad in Montreal for over 10 years and was closely involved in the Special Needs Community. The Glicks have three children in the NYC area daughters and sons-in law living in the Teaneck, Bergenfield area together with nine grandchildren. They have participated frequently in the OU Marriage Retreat
By Mordechai and Nina Glick
