Shaping My Jewish Identity

Throughout history, Jews have consistently encountered obstacles that they have had to overcome. Even in Canada, up until the 1950s, it was challenging for Jews to pursue certain careers and live as freely as their non-Jewish counterparts. As a great grandchild of Holocaust survivors, my Jewish roots are a large part of my identity and the discrimination Jews faced in history contributes to this identity. Moreover, two moments in Canadian history that have influenced my Jewish identity are the SS St. Louis affair in 1939, and the development of Jewish hospitals in Canada. These events demonstrate the challenges Jews faced and the resilience they exhibited to prevail.