It’s amusing to us how the meaning of words change over the years. As children we remember our parents going to “the market” to go shopping. It was not as though they were going to A & P (Nina’s mother called that the goyishe market) or to Waldbaum’s. They would say that they are going marketing. Today we identify by name where we are going to do our shopping. Trader Joe’s, ShopRite and we are off to buy our groceries.

As years passed and we found ourselves up North in a “foreign” country, we discovered a different type of market (no not the stock market). We learned that Montreal is the home of several outstandingly wonderful markets. Open every day of the year, these markets sell farmers produce, eggs, plants, flowers and, more recently, cheeses from all over the world and other items that we cannot avail ourselves of because they are not kosher. These markets, however, are the size of at least 10 city blocks. One of the markets, “the Jean Talon Market”is where we spent many wonderful hours leisurely going up and down the aisles—checking out the produce, sampling fruits and veggies that were cut up waiting for tasters and looking in awe at the many different types and colors of eggplants, beets, tomatoes, potatoes and cauliflowers, etc. In the fall we could buy bull rushes to use as schach for our sukkah and erev Pesach one would find many people shopping for theirPesach needs. Tomatoes in the crate full, eggs being sold by a Jewish farmer who would wish us a gut yom tov, it was an experience never to be forgotten. We bought 35 dozen eggs each year before Pesach—maybe that is why he was so friendly.

Every time Nina’s mother would visit Montreal it was a necessity to take her to the Jean Talon Market. As she would walk up and down the aisles she would inevitably comment on the cauliflower. She had never seen any that were as big (they were truly humungous) and always she would wish that she couldbring one back to Long Island to show toher friend Bessie. Each year she made the same comment. After Nina’s mother passed away and we would go to the market together, Nina would pass the cauliflower and comment how she wishes that her mother could be there to bring one to Bessie.

When we moved to Bergenfield it was exciting for us to hear someone comment that he had bought his wife flowers at the Farmers Market. Where is it we asked?We were told that the store on New Bridge Road opposite Pathmark is the “Farmers Market. ” We looked at each other and slyly grinned. Lo and behold we then heard about the Teaneck Farmer’s Market that is now open each Thursday in “downtown” Teaneck. We were anxious to go and check this out. As market professionals, we couldn’t wait. We have never considered ourselves snobs in any way but come on Teaneck?!Is that a market?Three or four stalls with prices higher than the supermarket. You must be joking!

We invite you all to visit the Jean Talon Market. If planning a trip to Montreal, let us know and we will arrange a complete itinerary for you. You will not be disappointed, and certainly your palettes will be rewarded by the fruits and veggies that you will get to taste along the way.

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