Nevertheless, the question of why Jewish immigrants were so successful in planting roots in Canada still remains. There are a number of answers. In Canada, Jews found something they had been denied in Europe, a relatively prejudice-free environment in which they could exercise their natural abilities. The freewheeling economic system which they encountered in Canada also dovetailed harmoniously with the desire of many Jewish immigrants to develop the kinds of business ideas and concepts which were not permitted to flourish in the uncongenial  climate of Eastern Europe.

There is another factor which helps to explain the success of Jewish settlers. When other immigrants came to these shores they inevitably underwent the trauma of moving from a society in which they had been part of the majority to a country where they immediately became a minority. The move from the centre to the periphery (in addition to the exposure to a strange language and culture) occasioned much psychological dislocation for non-English and non-French immigrants to Canada.

Jewish settlers did not experience the same magnitude of trauma. In Europe, Jews had always been a minority population and had suffered various disabilities ranging from economic repression to religious persecution. In Canada, Jews found themselves in the same minority situation but with most of the disabilities of European civilization absent. They readily imbibed the new atmosphere of freedom and opportunity and plunged into the marketplace and the civic life of Canada.

One of the ways in which Canadian Jews expressed their loyalty to their new homeland was through enlistment in the Canadian armed forces. Even though the total Jewish population in Canada was miniscule at the outbreak of World War 1, almost 5,000 Jewish citizens participated in the Canadian war effort. Of this number, 100 were killed in their country's service and 84 received various decorations for valour. As well, about 400 Canadian Jews joined the Canadian arm of the Jewish Legion in response to the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917 which signified Britain's approval of establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.

From the moment that Canada joined Great Britain in declaring war on Nazi Germany in 1939, Canadian Jews rushed to join the three branches of the armed services. By war's end in 1945 almost 17,000 Canadian Jewish men and women had participated in their country's fight against Fascism.

The bulk of Canadian Jews served in the army (over 10,000); almost 6,000 served in the air force and the remaining Canadian Jews served in the navy, and the women's division of the air force, navy and medical corps. The Canadian Jewish contingent in the armed forces represented an astonishing 10 percent of the total Jewish population of Canada at that time (about 170,000). When one computes the male population at roughly one half of the total number, it can be seen that 20 percent of Jewish males in Canada signed up for the war effort, in all likelihood the highest ratio of any group contributing soldiers.

By war's end more than 500 Canadian Jews had made the supreme sacrifice in defence of their nation and hundreds more carried their wounds back with them to Canada. A tally of decorations and medals indicates that 196 Canadian Jews were recipients of Distinguished Service Orders, Distinguished Flying Crosses and other awards for acts of gallantry and distinguished service.

It would be excessively naive to suggest that the Jews in Canada escaped all the prejudices that had enveloped them in Europe. At first, certain areas of commerce and banking in particular were still denied them. Until the end of World War 11, the entry of Jews into the various professions was strictly regulated. Jews were forbidden access to some private clubs, service institutions, resort hotels and certain parcels of real estate. Until the post World War II period, moreover, it was very difficult for Jews who had graduated from medical school to obtain positions as interns in Canadian hospitals. The most serious example of anti-Jewish prejudice, however, occurred before and during the War when Canadian immigration officials turned a blind eye to European Jews seeking refuge in Canada in order to escape Nazism. This chapter in Canadian history is one of the most shameful in the annals of the Dominion. The anti-Jewish practices and pressures to which they were exposed, were, for the most part, minor irritants when compared to the broad picture of life for Jews in Canada. And when compared to the stifling rigours of life in Eastern Europe, the Canadian Jewish experience appeared idyllic.

Four decades after the conclusion of World War II, Canadian Jews have been welcomed into the legal and medical professions and the investment has paid off as Jewish medical researchers make important strides in cancer research and related fields. Jewish academics are now found throughout Canadian universities. The presidents of York University and Ryerson Institute of Technology. both in Toronto, as well as the University of Alberta, are all members of the Jewish community.

Jews have come a long way in the political sector since the days Ezekiel Hart was refused a seat in the legislature of Lower Canada. Canadian Jews have served proudly in the House of Commons for the three major political parties on the federal scene. Several have served as cabinet ministers and a number have been appointed to the senate. A Jew has served as premier of British Columbia and all three major political parties in Ontario have had a Jewish leader including the recently elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives, the Honourable Larry Grossman. Jews have served and are serving as cabinet ministers in Ontario, Quebec and other provinces.

In addition to elected positions in government, a large contingent of Canadian Jews has made valuable contributions to the public service. A number of deputy ministers, aides, advisers and a governor of the Bank of Canada have been active members of the Jewish community. As well, the late and brilliant Chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, The Right Honourable Bora Laskin, was a Jew with roots deep in the heart of northwestern Ontario.

In the area of the arts, culture and entertainment Jewish personalities in Canada have been especially active. The list of Jewish novelists, poets, writers, critics and journalists is an integral part of any Canadian Who's Who in the world of literature. The names of Nathan Cohen, Mordechai Richler, Irving Layton, Leonard Cohen, and A.M. Klein come to mind immediately in this context. The extraordinary contributions of people like Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster, Ophra Harnoy, Boris Brott, John Hirsch, Louis Applebaum and Ed Mirvish to the music and entertainment spheres are also widely recognized.

There is no gainsaying, of course, the prominent role played by Jewish businessmen in Canadian history. The small Jewish peddler of yesteryear, however, has been replaced by dynamic and innovative entrepreneurs who have helped revolutionize Canadian business. Jewish businessmen have become involved in a number of new development concepts in the wholesale food industry, discount department stores, retail supermarkets, pharmaceutical chains, fast food outlets and steel manufacturing.

The names of Ray D. Wolfe, Murray Koffler, George Cohon, Milton Harris, and families such as the Bronfmans in eastern Canada and Belzbergs in western Canada are just a few of those associated with mammoth business enterprises that have generated employment for thousands of Canadians. In recent years Jewish businessmen have directed their attention to land development and the construction trade. The gigantic Olympia & York firm, a Toronto based construction concern directed by the dynamic Reichmann brothers, has been especially active in promoting large scale construction projects which are labour intensive and which contribute significantly to the improvement of the employment picture.

Canadian Jewish businessmen have also been conscious of their civic obligations and are among the leaders in charitable and educational endeavours. The University of Toronto recently recognized the contributions of one such stalwart Jewish citizen when it named the new student services building in honour of Murray Koffler.

As Canadian Jewry looks forward to the 1990s, it can take pride in many successes and accomplishments. Granted, the road to integration has not been without some bumps along the way, but the readiness of Canadian society to recognize past prejudices against Jews shows that this country is a free and democratic society which has afforded Jews unparalleled opportunities for personal and vocational development. Today, Canadian Jews look to a future that will be longer and even more enriching than their past.