List of Canadian Jews
Appearance
Template:Jew list Template:JewsByCountry The Jewish population of Canada is approximately 385,000, with a majority living in either Toronto (200,000) or Montreal (100,000). Following the end of World War II, some 40,000 Holocaust survivors, stemming mainly from Eastern Europe, resettled in Canada (third in number behind Israel and the United States).[1] The following is a list of some prominent Canadian Jews (Jewish Canadians).
Academics
Natural scientists
- Sidney Altman, molecular biologist, Nobel Prize (1989)
- Ursula Franklin, metallurgist (Jewish mother)
- Calvin Gotlieb, computer scientist
- Charles Hollenberg, physician
- William Kahan, computer scientist, Turing Award (1989)
- Martin Kamen, chemist
- Irving Kaplansky, mathematician
- Rachmiel Levine, physician
- David H. Levy, astronomer
- Rudolph Marcus, chemist, Nobel Prize (1992)
- Henry Morgentaler, doctor & abortion activist
- Louis Nirenberg, mathematician
- Abraham Peliowski, Physician, Neonatologist
- John von Polanyi, chemist, Nobel Prize (1986) (Jewish father)
- Anatol Rapoport, mathematical psychologist
- Ray Reiter, computer scientist
- Juda Quastel, biochemist
- Louis Siminovitch, molecular biologist
- Louis Slotin, physicist & radiation victim
- Mark Wainberg, AIDS researcher
Social scientists
- Irving Abella, historian
- Anne Bayefsky, human rights scholar
- Eric Berne, psychiatrist (Canadian-born)
- Norman Cantor, historian
- Erving Goffman, sociologist
- J. L. Granatstein, historian
- Jane Jacobs, urban sociologist, activist
- Raymond Klibansky, philosopher
- James Laxer, political economist (Jewish father)
- Michael Marrus, historian.
- Leo Panitch, political scientist
- Steven Pinker, psychologist
- Myron Scholes, economist, Nobel Prize (1997)
- Lionel Tiger, anthropologist
- Jacob Viner, economist (Canadian-born)
Artists
- Aba Bayefsky, painter
- Joyce Borenstein, animator, filmmaker & cartoonist
- Sam Borenstein, painter
- Sorel Etrog, sculptor
- Albert Gilbert, photographer[citation needed]
- Philip Guston, abstract expressionist
- Frank Gehry, architect
- Jack Goldstein, multimedia artist
- William Raphael, painter
- Moshe Safdie, architect
- Yechiel (Eli) Shainblum, painter, sculptor and Montreal Jewish day-school teacher
- Joe Shuster, co-creator of Superman
Business and philanthropy
- Izzy Asper, founder of CanWest Global Communications
- David Azrieli, businessman & philanthropist
- Jenny Belzberg, philanthropist
- Samuel Belzberg, businessman & philanthropist
- Garner Bornstein, founder of Generation Net and Airborne Entertainment
- Samuel Bronfman, founder of Seagram, Bronfman family dynasty
- Edgar, Sr., Edgar, Jr., Edward & Charles Bronfman, businessmen & philanthropists
- Reuben Cohen, businessman
- George Cohon, founder of McDonald's of Canada
- Maxwell Cummings, businessman & philanthropist
- Leslie Dan, businessman & philanthropist
- Jack Diamond, businessman & philanthropist
- Jacob Ghermezian & sons, real estate owners & developers
- Milton Harris, businessman
- Michal Hornstein, businessman & philanthropist
- Avrom Isaacs, art dealer
- Phyllis Lambert, architect and founder of the Canadian Centre for Architecture
- David Mirvish, Theatre producer and son of Ed Mirvish
- Ed Mirvish, businessman & philanthropist
- Andy Nulman, co-founder of the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and Airborne Entertainment
- Paul Reichmann & family, real estate owners & developers
- Sarah & Herman Reitman, founders of Reitmans
- Harry Rosen, businessman
- Joseph Rotman, businessman & philanthropist
- Seymour Schulich, businessman & philanthropist
- Gerald Schwartz, founder of Onex Corporation
- Barry Sherman, bilionaire, founder of Apotex
- Alex Shnaider, billionaire, co-founder of Midland Group
- Jeffrey Skoll, billionaire, co-founder of eBay, philanthropist
- Isadore Sharp, businessman
- Max Stern, arts benefactor
- Jack Tietolman, radio pioneer
- Nelson Millman, Program director and VP of Fan 590
- Moses Znaimer, Founder of CityTV, media philosopher
Film, TV and stage
Actors and performers
- Paula Abdul, dancer, choreographer, singer (Canadian mother)
- Harvey Atkin, actor
- Matt Austin, actor
- Liane Balaban, actress (Jewish father)
- Jay Baruchel, actor
- Lani Billard[2]
- Ben Blue, actor and comedian
- Lloyd Bochner, actor
- Neve Campbell, actress (Sephardic or partially Sephardic Jewish mother)
- Emmanuelle Chriqui, actress
- Lauren Collins — TV actress ("Degrassi: The Next Generation")[3]
- Paulo Costanzo, actor (Jewish mother)
- Erica Ehm, video jockey
- Jake Epstein — teen idol/TV actor ("Degrassi: The Next Generation")[4]
- Stacey Farber — TV actress ("Degrassi: the Next Generation")[5]
- Victor Garber, actor
- Jessalyn Gilsig, TV actress (Jewish father)
- Joanna Gleason, actor
- Jake Goldsbie (1988 - ) TV actor ("Degrassi: the Next Generation")[6]
- Aubrey Graham — TV actor ("Degrassi: The Next Generation")[7]
- Lorne Greene, actor
- Corey Haim, actor
- Monty Hall, TV host
- Melissa Hayden, ballet dancer (unconfirmed)
- Lou Jacobi, actor
- Shane Kippel, actor
- Mia Kirshner, actress
- Eugene Levy, actor
- Jaclyn Linetsky[8]
- Howie Mandel, actor & comedian
- Rick Moranis, actor & comedian
- Jesse Paikin, actor & playwright
- Saul Rubinek, actor
- Mort Sahl, comedian
- Paul Shaffer, TV comedian
- William Shatner, actor
- David Steinberg, comedian
- Kyle Switzer[9]
- Tara Strong (neé Charendoff), voice actress
- Al Waxman, actor
- Wayne and Shuster, comedy duo
- Joseph Wiseman, actor
Directors and producers
- Mark Achbar, director
- Sidney M. Cohen director-producer
- David Cronenberg, director
- Garth Drabinsky, theatre impressario
- Sidney J. Furie, director
- Harold Greenberg, producer
- Arthur Hiller, director
- John Hirsch, theatre director
- Sharon Hyman, filmmaker, film producer
- Robert Lantos, producer
- Louis B. Mayer, film producer
- Lorne Michaels, TV producer
- Ivan Reitman, director
- Albert S. Ruddy, director
- Mark Slutsky, writer-director
- Moses Znaimer, TV producer
Historical figures
Politicians
- Israel Asper, Manitoba MLA, leader of provincial Liberals
- Dave Barrett, premier of British Columbia
- Lawrence Bergman, Quebec MNA and cabinet minister
- Sidney Buckwold, senator and mayor of Saskatoon
- David Caplan, Ontario MPP
- Elinor Caplan, MP
- Saul Mark Cherniack, Manitoba MLA
- Erminie Cohen, senator
- David Croll, senator
- Barnett Jerome Danson, cabinet minister
- Howard Epstein, Nova Scotia MLA
- Mike Feldman, deputy mayor of Toronto
- Sheila Finestone, MP and senator
- Raymonde Folco, MP
- Myra Freeman, lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia
- Ron Ghitter, senator
- Victor Goldbloom, Quebec MNA and doctor
- Carl Goldenberg, senator
- Yoine Goldstein, senator
- Herb Gray, deputy prime minister
- Sidney Green, Manitoba MLA
- Allan Grossman, Ontario MPP
- Larry Grossman, Ontario MPP
- Charles Harnick, Ontario MPP, Attorney General of Ontario
- Anthony Housefather, Mayor of Cote Saint-Luc (suburb of Montreal)
- Susan Kadis, MP
- Bob Kaplan, solicitor general
- Sam Katz, mayor of Winnipeg
- Leonard Arthur Kitz, mayor of Halifax
- Leo Kolber, senator
- Monte Kwinter, Ontario MPP
- Saul Laskin, mayor of Thunder Bay
- Mel Lastman, previous mayor of Toronto
- David Lewis, NDP leader
- Stephen Lewis, Ontario NDP leader
- Robert Libman, Quebec MNA and mayor
- Richard Marceau, MP
- Herbert Marx, Quebec MNA and Minister of Justice
- Nathan Phillips, previous mayor of Toronto
- Stephen Mandel, mayor of Edmonton
- Henry Nathan, Jr., 1st Jewish Canadian in House of Commons
- Bob Rae, premier of Ontario (Jewish paternal grandfather; practicing Anglican)
- Scott Reid, MP (Jewish mother)
- Fred Rose, MP
- Harvey Rosen, mayor of Kingston
- Jacques Saada, MP
- J.B. Salsberg, Ontario MPP
- Morton Shulman, Ontario NDP MPP, Doctor, Coroner, Journalist, Businessman
- Mira Spivak, senator
- Sidney Spivak, Manitoba MLA
- Gerry Weiner, former MP
Jurists and public servants
- Rosalie Abella, Supreme Court justice
- Alan Borovoy, lawyer
- Harold Buchwald, lawyer
- Irwin Cotler, justice minister
- Ben Dunkelman, soldier
- Morris Fish, Supreme Court justice
- Samuel Freedman, Manitoba chief justice
- Alan B. Gold, Quebec chief justice
- Klaus Goldschlag, ambassador
- Allan Gotlieb, ambassador
- Edward Greenspan, lawyer
- Sol Kanee, lawyer
- Bora Laskin, chief Supreme Court justice
- Nathaniel Nemetz, British Columbia chief justice
- Louis Rasminsky, governor of the Bank of Canada
- Marshall Rothstein, Supreme Court justice
- Clayton Ruby, lawyer
- Bernard Shapiro, Ethics Commissioner of Canada
- Morris Shumiatcher, lawyer
Religious figures
- Aviel Barclay, blog author and first certified Soferet (female Torah scribe) in Jewish history
- Neil Gillman, Conservative Rabbi (Canadian-born)
- Ernest Klein, Rabbi and author
- Gunther Plaut, Reform Rabbi
Musicians
Popular musicians
- Paula Abdul, singer, dancer, & choreographer (Canadian mother)
- Natalie & Nicole Appleton, members of All Saints (Jewish mother)
- Steve Bays, member of Hot Hot Heat
- David Buchbinder, jazz and klezmer trumpeter and composer
- Leonard Cohen, songwriter & poet
- Percy Faith, bandleader, composer and conductor
- Chilly Gonzales, electronica
- Daniel Greaves, Joey Serlin, Sammy Kohn, members of The Watchmen
- Moe Koffman, jazz musician
- Corky Laing, member of Mountain
- Steve Lederman, musician, music historian, drummer
- Geddy Lee, frontman of Rush
- Marilyn Lerner, jazz pianist
- Ben Mink, collaborator of k.d. lang (who herself claims remote Jewish ancestry)
- Steven Page, member of Barenaked Ladies
- Peaches, electrothrash artist
- Robbie Robertson, member of The Band (Jewish father)
- Lhasa de Sela, singer/songwriter (Jewish mother)
- David Usher, singer/songwriter (Jewish father)
- Zack Werner, judge on Canadian Idol
- Zal Yanovsky, member of The Lovin' Spoonful
Classical musicians
- Harry Adaskin, violinist
- Murray Adaskin, violinist & composer
- Louis Applebaum, composer
- Henry Brant, composer
- Alexander Brott, composer, violinist & conductor
- Victor Feldbrill, conductor
- Harry Freedman, composer
- Srul Irving Glick, composer
- Nicholas Goldschmidt, conductor (Jewish father)
- Leo Grinhauz, cellist
- Luis Grinhauz, violinist
- Ofra Harnoy, cellist
- David L. Kaplan, professor and conductor
- George London, operatic baritone
- Berta Rosenohl, pianist
- Howard Shore, film composer
- John Weinzweig, composer
- Maurice Zbriger, violinist
Writers
Authors
- Irving Abella, historian
- Pierre Anctil, non-Jewish translator of Yiddish writing into French
- Joel Bakan, author
- Saul Bellow, writer, Nobel Prize (1976) (Canadian-born)
- David Bezmozgis, author
- Leonard Cohen, poet and songwriter
- Matt Cohen, writer
- Cory Doctorow, author, blogger
- Howard Engel, mystery writer
- Martin Friedland, author, professor & lawyer
- Matt Friedman, journalist & author
- Mavis Gallant, author
- Phyllis Gotlieb, science fiction writer & poet
- Sondra Gotlieb, writer
- Charles Yale Harrison, novelist and biographer
- Anna Heilman, memoirist
- Karen Irving, novelist
- Naïm Kattan, writer
- Jane Jacobs, urban sociologist, author
- A.M. Klein, poet
- Rachel Korn, poet
- Henry Kreisel, novelist
- Irving Layton, poet
- Norman Levine, writer
- Jack Ludwig, writer
- Eli Mandel, poet
- Seymour Mayne, poet
- Anne Michaels, poet and novelist
- Edeet Ravel, novelist
- Mordecai Richler, author
- Régine Robin, author
- Rick Salutin, playwright & critic
- Mark Shainblum, author & comic book creator
- Jason Sherman, playwright
- Joseph Sherman, poet
- Mark Strand, poet
- Morley Torgov, author
- Karen X. Tulchinsky, author & screenwriter
- Miriam Waddington, poet
- Tom Wayman, poet
- William Weintraub, author
- Adele Wiseman, writer
Journalists
- Barbara Amiel, journalist
- Steven Cojocaru, fashion critic
- Barbara Frum, journalist
- David Frum, political advisor and columnist
- Jamie Glazov, cyberjournalist (Jewish father & maternal grandfather; identifies as Christian Jew)
- Lorrie Goldstein, journalist and editor
- Martin Himel, journalist
- Ben Kaplan, journalist
- Naomi Klein, journalist, author and activist
- Michael Landsberg, sports broadcaster
- Michele Landsberg, columnist and social activist
- Ezra Levant, journalist
- Avi Lewis, broadcaster
- Eric Margolis, journalist (Margolis has a Jewish father)
- Peter C. Newman, journalist
- M.J. Nurenberger, founder of Canadian Jewish News
- Steve Paikin, broadcaster
- Joe Schlesinger, journalist
- Ellie Tesher, advice columnist
- Marc Weisblott, music and media journalist and blogger
Sports
- Samuel Berger, CFL teams owner
- Noah Cantor, CFL player
- Steve Dubinsky, NHL player
- Sherman Greenfeld, racquetball world champion
- Cecil Hart, Montreal Canadiens coach
- Sydney Halter, first commissioner of the Canadian Football League
- Lew Heyman, Toronto Argonauts & Montreal Alouettes coach
- Abigail Hoffman, track and field athlete
- Bobbie Rosenfeld, all-round female athlete
- Louis Rubenstein, world figure skating champion
- Albert Schneider, Olympic boxing champion
- Adam Stern, Boston Red Sox farmhand.
- Ben Weider, physical fitness
- Daniel Yanofsky, Chess Grandmaster
See also
References
Footnotes
- ^ Franklin Bialystok, Delayed Impact: The Holocaust and the Canadian Jewish Community, 1945-1985 (Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2000). (as cited in http://www.bnaibrith.ca/institute/millennium/millennium01.html)
- ^ [1] "Lani Billard (Busy) in real life - who is Jewish"
- ^ [2] "She's currently trekking across Israel on a 10-day kibbutz and chatting about her career while surrounded by a busload of other young adults... When she returns from the tour — a trip called Birthright that offers free treks to the country for Jews in their late teens and early twenties — filming will begin almost immediately..."
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4] "Brandon: The question I’ve found most people want to know about you, Stacey, is your ethnicity. Many are guessing that you’re Jewish. Stacey: I am... Brandon: How many people on the show are Jewish? Stacey: The majority of the cast."
- ^ [5] "He's Jewish."
- ^ [6] "Aubrey: I’m also Jewish. Brandon: How many people on the show are Jewish? Stacey: The majority of the cast."
- ^ [7] "A year ago, life could not have been much better for Jaclyn Linetsky. The beautiful young Jewish actress from the Montreal suburb of Hampstead had just scored a starring role in a new YTV tween comedy-drama 15/Love."
- ^ [8] "Another Jewish member of the cast is Ottawa’s Kyle Switzer who plays campus newspaper editor Rick Geddes."