Tell Me Why Nights Are Lonesome

The biography of Bernard Haltrecht and Dora Rather, two immigrants from different countries (Russia and Poland) who met in Montreal in 1912 and for seven years corresponded before they married. The author of this book is their daughter. The author tells the story of their long-distant courtship and their married life, as well as that of herself and her brother. Bernard began the correspondence while teaching in one-room schoolhouses in rural Saskatchewan, then from 1917-1920, he was an undergraduate at Queens University before moving back to Montreal. Dora lived with her parents on Montreal's St. Louis Square, working as a stenographer for the Grand Trunk Railway. Their correspondence reflected the major socio-political world events of that era- the Russian Revolution, the First World War, the rise of the Third Reich, the flu epidemic, the suffragette movement, and the beginnings of Zionism. During the Second World War, Bernard Haltrecht became director of the Montreal-based Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Canada, rescuing Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe. He later entered McGill University law school despite the university's quota system on Jews and the Dean's efforts to dissuade him. His goal was to become a Notary. He persevered throughout the many obstacles set out for him because of his Jewish faith by the largely Francophone Board of Notaries. Finally, determined to succeed, he sued the Board and won his case.

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

Shoreline

2004

170p.

en

1-896754-35-X