A Common Thread: A History of the Jews of Ottawa

by Valerie Knowles, Ruth Kahane Goldberg, Gary May

Moses Bilsky and John Dover settled in Ottawa in the late 1800s. By 1900 they had succeeded in establishing two orthodox synagogues. As Jewish people arrived in Ottawa to escape pogroms and anti-Semitism, the little community helped them become settled. Many newcomers started to work as peddlers. From humble beginnings, succeeding generations became shopkeepers and finally professionals and public servants. A Common Thread tells how the Jewish community of Ottawa grew, changed, and prospered as the decades passed. Its pages are filled with the stories and pictures of the families who lived through these challenging times.

242 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 2009