Montréal is Also Part of the Exile

ד' לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ד

Arutz 7: Montreal Votes In First Hassidic Female Council Member
In a landmark move for Hassidic, Jewish women's representation, Montreal elects Mindy Pollak, 24, to city council

Dalit Halevy, Tova Dvorin, November 8, 2013

Mindy Pollak, 24, has become the first Jewish representative to be elected for city council in Montreal, several news media outlets reported. The landmark decision is a first in Jewish representation in Quebec, but also as to the involvement of Orthodox Jewish women - specifically, Hassidic women - in the public sphere.

The elections, which were held last week, selected Pollak to represent the Montreal borough of Outremont, a district highly publicized in local media for the past several years due to an ongoing conflict between its large Orthodox Jewish population and other local residents, according to the website Hello, Toronto.

The conflict allegedly started over plans to extend a synagogue into public space. When the issue was brought to light, media coverage of the issue expanded the conflict into clashes of opinion between the locals and the Orthodox community, the former of which was critical of the way the Orthodox kept themselves separate from the wider Outremont community and specifically the Hasidic and Haredi ways of life, which are often more isolationist.

Pollak, a Montreal native, has been working to bridge the gaps between the two communities for several years. Her efforts have included establishing the group Friends of Hutchinson, which aims to bring the communities together to discuss the issues in an open and relaxed environment.

Pollak has worked to establish an environment of mutual understanding. Hopes are high that her election on the council will put the conflict permanently at rest.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Just I proclaimed to...

Rabbi Nachum Shifrin, when he was a candidate for the California State Senate,

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, when he was a candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives from New Jersey,

Joe Strauss, when he was re-elected Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and

Itamar Gelbman, when he was a candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives from Texas,

...regarding the United States of America...

Canadian (l) and Israeli (r) Commemorative Friendship Stamps
"Friends," but still the Exile

I will tell Mindy Pollack (who is apparently not Montréal's first councilor - see comment below) that Canada is not her Homeland. It is only a temporary way station before being able to return How nice it is that she wants to bridge that gaps between the Hassidishe and goyshe communities of Montreal. But does she waste he time? She, like any other Canadian, Québécois or Montréal Jew is now able to return to Eretz Yisra'el (Land of Israel), the only true homeland of the Jewish People.

Must I remind Mindy Pollack, that although I have no doubt her intentions are pure, and has the physical safety of her People in mind, the results of her activities have the potential for idsaster. After all, we are supposed to remain separate from the goyim. This issue alone has kept us viable.

Want to have a greater representation for your community? Want to bring them out of isolation? Then begin employing the only Jewish option to fulfill these desires, not to mention the only solution to prevent the escalation of Jew-hatred toward your community. Use the publicity, noteriety, and media access which comes with your position, and encourage Jews, not just in your constintuency, buy all around Montreal, Quebec, and Canada as a whole, to make Aliyah.

Set a deadline for yourself, when you will do the same, and set the greatest example that you can for your people in your section of Galuth (exile). After all, Montréal is also in Galuth.