Complexité et foisonnement d'un rapport oblique : les Juifs face au monde francophone catholique

The author points out that among French-speaking Quebec Catholics, few religious or national minorities have raised as complex a question at the turn of the twentieth century as the Jews. Debates and discussions on this issue were many in French Canadian circles, often phrased in a negative way. This had to do with the fact that Jews were not Christians and that Catholic theology harbored serious reservations with regards to maintaining close relations with the sons and daughters of Israel. However, the author maintains that despite these deprecating judgements offered by French language clerical elites, French Canadian workers had ample occasions to meet Jews in different social contexts, especially in commerce and in the clothing industry. The author presents an overview of the history of Eastern European Jewish immigration to Quebec and describes the place taken by Jewish merchants and entrepreneurs, either in the country side or in large cities. The author explains as well how this question evolved somewhat differently in Quebec and among Francophone minorities elsewhere in Canada. Ultimately, he maintains, for French Canadians, religious obstacles proved more difficult to surmount than problem having to do with language acquisition and use.

Études d'Histoire Religieuse

Vol. 81

no. 1-2

141-163

2015

fr