Increase of Jewish Citizens Astounding

From The Toronto Star Weekly, February 24, 1912

Is the problem—for a problem there assuredly is—in connection with Toronto’s Ghetto sufficiently realized by Torontonians in general? Ten years ago the Jewish population in the whole of Ontario only numbered just over five thousand people. To-day there are something like twenty thousand Jews in Toronto alone. Apart from the natural increase of a people who are noted for large families, during the past three years the number of Jewish immigrants, who have come to live in Toronto, has averaged about fourteen hundred per annum.

In the immediate future it is likely that these figures will be largely augmented. For there is every prospect that the rigid restrictions which the United States are now putting into force will swell the tide of Jewish immigration into Canada — and particularly to Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg.

The Jew loves to make his home in a large city, seldom, indeed, in the country, for who, in these days, ever hears of a Jewish farmer? There are at present about fifty thousand Jews in Montreal. However, Montreal is big enough to look after itself. What about the Jews in Toronto?

Impossible to Assimilate Them

But what, someone may say, is the problem? Well, in the first place, it is not possible to assimilate the Jews.They don’t fit into the life of the body corporate. They remain a separate community for reasons of dietary, of language, of religion. They do not intermarry with Gentiles. Their thoughts are constantly turned to Palestine — to Zion.

In their hearts they despise the Gentiles among whom they live. Dr. Meyer, of Cincinnati, stated, the other day, that in the Jewish quarter of New York fourteen Christian churches had recently had to be abandoned. In Toronto, two Methodist churches have been converted to Jewish uses — one on Agnes street, turned into a Jewish theatre, and the other on McCaul street into a Jewish synagogue.

The Swedenborg Church on Elm street has also become a synagogue. Grace Church (Church of England) on Elm street is now empty, as is another Protestant church on Chestnut street. More than one Christian church in the neighborhood of Spadina avenue is finding its congregation dwindling because the houses in the vicinity are being taken by Hebrews to such an enormous extent. In Kensington avenue, in Baldwin street, in St. Patrick street, and, in fact, in all the streets in that section, both east and west of Spadina avenue, the number of Jewish residents is increasing at an almost astounding rate.

Are Neither Strict Jews Nor Gentiles.

Now, Dr. Meyer stated that the Jews of New York were really infidels. One need not agree with that assertion to realize that among many of those in our midst a great change is taking place.

The older Jew still exhibit what used to be the badge of all his tribe — a flowing beard and an expression of humility. But the young semi-Canadianized Jew, of whom one sees so many in the city, if less Orthodox in observance — for he will show less care in matters of dietary when feeding in a Gentile restaurant — is often less admirable in other ways. The Jew is both emotional and imitative. And many of these young men, lured partly by excitement, partly by their wish to show that they have become Canadianized, find their way to the pool rooms and other resorts of a similar character. They think they are “sports,” and that in the noble army of “sports” there is neither Jew nor Gentile. And, all the while, they are deluded.

What is known as “Orthodox Judaism” has a fair footing in Toronto. But there are also a good number of “Reformed Jews,” who are more liberal, or less rigid, in their doctrines and practices. One or two of the former, with whom The Star Weekly has talked, stigmatized the latter — who, by the way. constitute the local Jewish aristocracy, so to speak — in terms of opprobrium not far short of those which Dr. Meyer applied to the Jews of New York. According to Dr. Meyer, of the whole number of Jewish children in New York, only a small proportion — about two in every hundred — receive any religious education of any kind. In Toronto, the Jews have recently been paying more attention to their “Sabbath Schools,” but still there is a large percentage of Jewish children here who get no religious instruction.

Are Difficult to Christianize.

How are the Jews to be assimilated? The natural answer seems to be: Christianize them. That, however, is easier said than done. Two missions to the Jews in Toronto, one, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, of which the Rev. S. B. Rohold has charge, and the other, an interdenominational one, known as the Toronto Jewish Mission, in the charge of Mr. Henry Singer.

The Star Weekly asked both of these gentlemen as to the difficulty of Christianizing Jews. “One of the chief aims of this mission,” said Mr. Rohold, “is to create a better feeling between Christian and Jew. But the Jew is hyper-sensitive, and the other often will not try to understand him.” Mr. Singer gave it as his opinion that there were not nore than about a hundred really converted Jews in Toronto, although, he added, there are several hundred who go to Christian churches.

One could not help being impressed with the fact that the unhappy divisions among Christians constitute one of the greatest stumbling blocks to success in this mission field in our midst. For the Jew is quick-witted, and he naturally asks, Why these divisions? “However,” added Mr. Singer, “things have looked more promising of late, as regards conversions.”

Where do the Toronto Jews come from? Well, from nearly every nation under Heaven — from Spain and Portugal (a very few, these), Germany, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Galicia, Bohemia, Italy, Turkey, Palestine, Poland, and Russia. Many of them have come (to quote Mr. Rohold) not merely to seek their fortunes, but to save their very lives. And in no country to which they go do they meet with much of a welcome — they account themselves fortunate if they get mere tolerance.

Apart altogether from other considerations mentioned, they are unwelcome to the masses of the workers of any country, for it is alleged that they cheapen labour wherever they go. The whole question of Jewish immigration is one of the greatest perplexity and complexity. It is one which the United States, at all events, have found cannot be longer ignored. ♦

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Concerning the Jew in Toronto

From The Times, Niagara-On-The-Lake, March 29, 1912

A matter which has not been discussed to any extent openly, but which is causing considerable anxious thought, is the rapid increase in the Hebrew population of the city. Ten years ago there were not in all Ontario more than 5,000 Jews. Today there are in Toronto alone not less than 20,000, and some estimates place the number as high as 25,000, in itself a city of respectable dimensions.

The immigration of Jews into Toronto in recent years is estimated to be upwards of 1,500 a year. In addition, the natural increase is very large, Hebrew families being quite as prolific as French-Canadian. Families containing twelve children are not uncommon, and six is regarded as a small family circle.

Now the invasion promises to take on an even more serious aspect. Since the United States has increased the severity of its regulations governing this class of immigration.

GREAT MONEY GETTERS.

Many of the European Jews arriving in Toronto come from conditions of indescribable overcrowding and poverty. But they do not very long remain poor. Their natural acquisitiveness is wonderful to behold. If the Jew makes only 50 cents a day he saves some of it, and his savings he puts into a business, or into real estate.

There are probably twenty-five Jews in Toronto who are wealthy, that is, whose property runs into six figures. These include such men as Jacob Cohen, a prominent politician and now a police magistrate, “Judge” Cohen, as he is admiringly called by his fellows; Sigmund Samuel, head of a large wholesale hardware firm; the Frankel Brothers, dealers in scrap metal; S.Frankel, the jeweller, and many others.

The splendid residence of the late Dalton McCarthy on Beverley street has been purchased and is now used as a club by wealthy Hebrews. The Jews do not assimilate, and this, is a thing which causes food for thought, now that they are getting so numerous. They stick to their religion. Several of the churches have maintained missions to the Jews in Toronto for years, but it is doubtful if all told there are 100 converts to date, and they are probably looked upon by their fellows as renegades. ♦

◊ This article was evidently syndicated in other newspapers as well.