Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Erin Lesser, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot du président en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, and Friends of the Society,

I hope everyone had a great summer. I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to you to the 76th season of the Lord Reading Law Society! I am truly humbled and honoured to serve as this year’s President, and I am excited to continue to lead the Society into the future. I hope I can live up to all of the formidable Past Presidents of the Society; I certainly have big shoes to fill.

I would like to begin by thanking and congratulating our immediate Past President, Rob Steinman, for all his hard work during our monumental 75th Anniversary season and particularly for organizing the 75th Anniversary Gala, which was an incredible feat and an amazing evening. Not only was Rob a smashing success last year, but he continues to provide his time, advice and his sense of humour as well on a daily basis, which has already greatly facilitated my presidency. Thank you, Rob!

I would also like to sincerely thank my Executive and all our Board members, who continue to uphold and support the Society. Your time, input and contributions are absolutely indispensable and so greatly appreciated. In that vein, I would like to take a moment to remember Hershie Frankel, who sadly passed away this summer. Hershie was an invaluable member of the Board and the Society. He served for over 30 years as our membership chair and the gatekeeper of our membership list, and I know that we will all miss seeing his smiling face at the registration desk this year. A Shiva meal and sincere condolences were sent to Hershie’s family on behalf of the Society upon his passing. You can read more about Hershie further below in this newsletter.

This year, I plan on inviting interesting and engaging speakers who will hopefully enlighten, entertain and inspire our Society members. We will host our usual series of dinner-lectures that will follow the luxurious Lord Reading-style format (roast beef included!), and I am looking forward to bringing new types of events to the Society as well. I am excited to announce our very first Lord Reading hockey game, which will take place in February 2025. Thank you to Board member Jacob Falutz, who has been an essential driving force to help make this happen. More details to come in the future, stay tuned!

Our Season Opens Next Week!

Our 2024-25 season will begin with the annual Alan B. Gold Advocacy Lecture on September 11th, 2024. I am thrilled to say that the Society will be hosting John Baird, who is currently a Senior Advisor at Bennett Jones LLP, had along and impressive career in politics, and was notably a Senior Cabinet Minister in the Government of Canada. Rob Steinman, immediate past president of the Society and amateur observer of all things politics, will be interviewing Mr. Baird in a fireside-style chat entitled Navigating Political, Legal, and Diplomatic Storms: A fireside chat with Canada’s Former Top Diplomat. I will be pleased to welcome Senator Marc Gold, son of our honoree, who will be introducing our speakers and kicking off the evening.

Thank you to our generous sponsor for the evening, Davies, for continuing to support the Society. You can register for the dinner-meeting here.

Your Membership for the 2024-2025 Season

I encourage you to sign up for membership for the season. Without your membership, the Society cannot continue to fulfill its very important mission, which I know we all believe in. Membership provides you with incredible discounts on our traditional dinner-meetings (a great deal!) and grants you access to our members-only events, which I hope will be particularly worthwhile this year, as we will be hosting several extremely interesting CLE lunches.  You can sign up for membership online here.

Save the Dates!

I am delighted to announce that our Human Rights Lecture will be November 7, and we will be honouring Indigenous activist Nakuset, who has spent her career advocating for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness through the Native Women’s Shelter and Resilience Montreal. Relatedly, I wish to thank Neil Hazan for his involvement, effort, support and time in organizing our very first Human Rights Essay Contest, the winners of which we will announce at the Lecture.

I am also thrilled to announce that the Annual Student Dinner will take place January 16, 2025, and will feature Professor Adam Dodek of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, who has written a new book entitled Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm. Should be a great talk!

*****
I look forward to seeing you in-person and wishing you all a (touch premature) Shanah Tova on September 11th!

Sincerely,

Erin Lesser, President 2024-25
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

Our Annual Human Rights Lecture 2023-24

We concluded our historic 75th anniversary season with the timely topic of “Fighting Internet Hate: The Online Harms Act and Bill C-63” for the Society’s annual Human Rights Lecture featuring Dr. Michael Geist, Prof. Karen Eltis and Society Communications Director Me Allen Mendelsohn. We also had the pleasure and honour of awarding the Lord Reading Human Rights Award to Me Neil G. Oberman for his ongoing efforts fighting antisemitism.

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

Remembering Hershie Frankel, 1936-2024

Allen Mendelsohn

Hershie Frankel, longtime Lord Reading Board member and Membership Chair, passed away suddenly this summer on June 20th, in his 88th year. On behalf of the Society, we express our deepest condolences to his sister Hannah and his children, grandchildren, great-grandchild and entire family. Words are insufficient to express the loss to the Society, the legal profession, and everyone who knew him.

I truly believe it is my responsibility to at least attempt to explain what Hershie meant to the Society, and to me personally. I cannot. His contributions were endless. His warmth (in his own cantankerous way), and his dedication to the Society were endless. His dedication to me was endless. We spoke on the phone and emailed about Lord Reading business constantly, maybe an average of five times a week over the last 15 years. By my math that is about 4000 communications. I am guessing that is a gross underestimation.

I have a confession. For the last dozen years or so, whenever Hershie had a comment, question, or (usually) a complaint about something related to Lord Reading, his first contact was to me. Always. In the beginning I found this frustrating. I am not the President! Tell someone else! I used to dread seeing his name or “Frankel Spina” pop up on my phone. “Oh no, not again” I would think to myself. But as those years wore on, I came to appreciate what it meant that he only wanted to talk to me about these things. He trusted me, and my opinion, about Lord Reading. More than anyone. I cannot express what that means to me. I cannot express how much I will miss seeing his name on my phone now.

But what did he mean to the Society, and specifically its smooth functioning? By this point I think I, and maybe Lara, are the only ones who know. For the record, this is what he was doing for the Society, up until the very end. In his 88th year.

• Keeping the membership list. This was no easy task. He manually cut and pasted more than 300 names, addresses, emails, and other information into his Excel sheet. He kept it updated throughout the year, told me about changes in email addresses so I could update my mailing list, and a long list of related tasks.
• He kept track of and communicated with several large firms who were demanding and had their own special ways to sign up members for the season outside the normal sign-ups.
• Oh, you were a member last year but did not sign up this year? Hershie would personally email you, or call you, to cajole you to sign up again.
• Oh, you signed up for dinner as a member but are not actually a member? Hershie kept that list too, and you heard from him (or me or Lara, because Hershie could be brutal with those people, it was the bane of his Lord Reading existence, believe me I know).
• I am just getting started. Not only was Hershie the Membership Chair, he was the CLE Chair. That means he sent out CLE certificates to the hundreds of people who attended every dinner and every other CLE event. Look at one of your CLE certificates. Do you see how it has your name on it? Hershie did that. By himself.
• Of course he was there at every Board meeting and dinner, in my memory at least (and that goes back to the Montefiore days). He never missed one, unless he was out of town, or for health reasons.
• And without fail, he was there at the welcome desk, checking you in. And handing you a membership form if you had not signed up. I know what it will mean to all of us to not see him behind that check-in desk on September 11. I know how I will feel by not going to the bar to get him a Bloody Mary, like I always did. He stayed at that desk so long, until the last stragglers had arrived, he would usually end up stuck at the worst table at the back with myself, Lara, Steph and other volunteers. But he never complained.
• I know I am missing a bunch of stuff.

Hershie had a long, distinguished legal career after being called to the Barreau in 1961. Hershie had a wonderful family life, and was lucky enough to find companionship after the passing of his dear wife Marilyn. Hershie was a deeply spiritual man who was a Past President of the Shaare Zion Beth-El Congregation.

But I am not here to write about that, I am here to write about what Hershie meant to the Society. And because of our relationship, I know what he would want me to write, in his memory, to you right now:

Renew your membership.

Contributions in Hershie’s memory may be made to the “The Marilyn and Hershie Frankel Memorial Page” c/o Jewish General Hospital Foundation, (514) 340-8251.

Mazel Tov to Lord Reading Members Reaching an Anniversary at the Barreau!

The Society celebrates our long-standing members and friends who have reached important milestones at the Barreau:

60 years – The Hon. Morris J. Fish, C.C., Q.C.

50 years – Robert Cohen, Julius H. Grey, Ad. E., Irwin Liebman, FS Liverman, Donald Michelin, Howard Nemeroff, Leonard E. Seidman, Martin Sklar, Neil Stein

The Society salutes your longevity and your contributions to the legal profession!

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Mazel Tov

• To longtime Society member and dear friend Judge Suzanne Handman on the publication of her book, Mediation for Lawyers – A Practical Guide for Effective Representation of Your Clients
• To longtime Society member and past Board member Elliot Lifson on being named to the Order of Quebec

Sincere Condolences

• To the family of Maître Lionel Blanshay

Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Robert Steinman, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot du président en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, and Friends of the Society,

As we close our momentous 75th anniversary year, I find myself marveling at the remarkable success we enjoyed at Lord Reading, while at the same time, acknowledging a year that has been anything but bright for our community. On October 7th, one of the darkest days in the history of the Jewish people took place in Israel. But the repercussions, while felt most directly by our brothers and sisters in Israel, continue to be felt by Jews and our allies the world over.

From shots fired at Jewish day schools and community buildings to our CEGEP and university students feeling harassed and unprotected with little help provided by political leaders and academic administrators, I am shocked as I write what we as a community have been through in the last seven months. After the worst violence perpetrated against Jews since the Holocaust, it became clear (to me and many others) that beneath the fig-leaf of political opposition to Israeli policy lay a fierce and virulent antisemitism.

Out of this darkness came something positive, to be sure. Our community of Jewish jurists and our allies came together as never before. From our November 27, 2023 Henry Steinberg Memorial Lecture featuring the Consul General of Israel in Montreal Paul Hirschson to the development of new and allied grass-roots legal groups such as the Quebec Jewish Legal Alliance (“QJLA”), bringing us full circle to our human rights honoree next week, Me. Neil Oberman. I will discuss our upcoming dinner and Human Rights Award presentation shortly and in person on May 23, but Neil spoke to me at the outset of the development of the QJLA and its assertive – and litigious when required, and it was required – approach. It was clear to me months ago that the advocacy work of our Society would be complemented by a lawyers’ organization dedicated to bringing the legal fight to our adversaries.

The Lord Reading Law Society was founded during a dark period of exclusion and antisemitism, that seemed to have abated for a time. At 75, the Society finds itself under another very dark cloud of hate. Yet we are at a turning point when we may stand up, be counted, fight with the tools we know best, unite with true allies and go from strength to strength for another 75 years and more.

A YEAR IN REVIEW

Alan B. Gold Advocacy Lecture

Our 75th season began September 27th with a captivating lecture by Immediate Past President of the CBA Steeves Bujold entitled “A Year in Review: Seeking Equality in a Challenging Environment.” Steeves brilliantly and passionately weaved personal stories into a larger discussion of his work at the CBA – and otherwise – fighting for the equality rights of marginalized groups, namely members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Henry Steinberg Memorial Lecture

In the shadow of the October 7th attacks and the dark chapter for our community that began on that terrible day, we welcomed Consul General of Israel in Montreal Ambassador Paul Hirschson in November for his address “Navigating International Law: An Israeli Diplomat’s Perspective in Challenging Times.” Ambassador Hirschson helped to unite a grieving community and spoke eloquently of diplomacy and the law of armed conflict during wartime.

Members-Only CLE Lunch with Arsen Ostrovsky

Hosted by our friends at Fasken, in January we welcomed international law expert and CEO of Israel-based NGO International Legal Forum Arsen Ostrovsky for an extremely timely discussion entitled “Who is in the Dock? Israel, Gaza, Hamas War and International Law.” Having just returned from the International Court of Justice in Geneva, Mr. Ostrovsky gave crucial insights into the South African case against Israel at the ICJ.

Young Bar Junior Members Hockey Night

A great group of our young Society members (and others who are merely young at heart!) gathered at the Lord William Pub February 15th to eat, drink, be merry and watch our beloved Habs face off against the New York Rangers, in what has become an annual Young Bar tradition. Connections were formed, hockey was viewed and conversations were had, in grand Lord Reading tradition!

Annual Student Dinner

On January 30th, a fantastic panel comprised of Tamara Thermitus, AD. E., former Chair of the Quebec Human Rights Commission and visiting fellow at McGill Law, and Society member and criminal lawyer Lauren Shadey discussed “Restorative Justice, Restoring Justice.” Our student awards were bestowed on the best students across Quebec’s (and the University of Ottawa’s) law faculties and attendees were wowed by a captivating discussion on the benefits and uniqueness of restorative justice in a Canadian context.

75th Anniversary Gala

It was a truly great honour to be the President during our 75th Anniversary season, which culminated in the 75th Anniversary Gala. The event was a tremendous success and I could not be happier about our tremendous speakers, our incredible guest list, and the warm feelings the evening provided even in these difficult times. You can read all about the Gala in Larry’s article below, and we have put together a page of memories from the Gala that Allen discusses below and you can see here.

I would like to take a moment to thank the incredible group of Society members and friends that worked tirelessly over many months to put together the Gala. They are far too numerous to mention, but they have my, and the Society’s, endless gratitude for their incredible efforts.  I would also like to thank all our many Gala sponsors who stepped up for this special occasion; the full list of sponsors can be found on the 75th anniversary page linked to above.

Next Dinner Event: Annual Human Rights Lecture

To conclude our historic 75th anniversary season, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Michael Geist, a distinguished professor at the University of Ottawa, where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, for the annual Human Rights Lecture, with a fireside chat entitled “Fighting Internet Hate: The Online Harms Act and Bill C-63.” Dr. Geist will be interviewed on stage by the Society’s Communications Director Allen Mendelsohn. The pair, along with Society member and University of Ottawa Professor Karen Eltis will discuss the proposed legislation and how it might relate to the current rise in antisemitism.

During this wonderful evening, it will be my great pleasure and honour to bestow the Lord Reading Law Society Human Rights Award on Me. Neil Oberman, lawyer at Spiegel Sohmer. A unique selection for a unique year, Neil and the team he works with have capably and with concrete and positive effect represented an array of Jewish community members and organizations in advocating for the human rights, dignity and security of our fellow community members.

You can register for the evening here.

An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State (Bill 21) – Ongoing Litigation

The Society has continued its contestation of Bill 21. With our beloved Past President Ted Goloff – to whom we are so grateful for his years of toil in this file – acting as avocat-conseil alongside our fabulous legal team consisting of Francois Grondin, Julien Boudreault and Amanda Afeich of BLG, the Society resolved to take the matter forward to the Supreme Court of Canada as a result of the Quebec Court of Appeal judgment upholding most of the legislation. Upholding the Society’s founding principles, an application for leave to appeal was recently filed and the Society looks forward to bringing crucial and unique legal arguments forward to advance the matter. Thank you as well to our Human Rights Committee for its ongoing support of this important work.

CLOSING REMARKS

Serving as Lord Reading President has truly been one of the great honours of my professional life. Serving the legal and Jewish community at once, while challenging, especially in a time when we face tough circumstances, is a rewarding experience I will never forget. Although my presidency is coming to an end, I look forward to continuing to serve the Society in different capacities for many years to come.

This momentous year would not have been as memorable or successful as it was without the blood, sweat and (hopefully not too many) tears of a dedicated and wonderful group of volunteers with whom I had the pleasure of collaborating over the year.

A huge thanks to the Board of Directors and Past Presidents and the Executive, Committee chairs and members and volunteers. While I cannot name all of them, I want to mention a few specific individuals:

1st VP Erin Lesser, 2nd VP Anna Bronshteyn, co-Treasurers Matthew Shadley and William Malkinson, and Secretary Lauren Flam formed the best executive I could ask for!

Hershie Frankel, Lara Malewski, Stephanie Perlis, Allen Mendelsohn and Larry Markowitz all work tirelessly to ensure that day-to-day operations, such as membership, communications, website, social media and our special dinner events all run successfully and smoothly.

I want to thank immediate Past President Jonathan Gordon for providing me with his support and advice throughout the year. I learned a lot from your great work last year!

The Society’s next President, Erin Lesser, will be sworn in at the Society AGM on May 23rd. I am very confident that the Society will continue to thrive under Erin’s excellent leadership.

A final wish for our beloved Lord Reading Law Society to go from strength to strength, overcome challenges put before it, and continue to positively impact Montreal, Quebec and Canada’s legal community and so capably be the voice of Quebec’s Jewish jurists as it has for the past 75 years.

See you all on May 23!

Sincerely,

Robert Steinman, President 2023-24
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

75th Anniversary Gala: Legal Legacies

Larry Markowitz

On a snowy April 4th evening, the Lord Reading Law Society celebrated its 75th anniversary before a packed house of luminaries from the judiciary, the Bar and Montreal’s Jewish community, along with elected officials from both the federal and provincial governments.

The 75th Anniversary Gala was not merely the celebration of a milestone, but also a tribute to the tireless dedication and significant contributions of the Society’s members and supporters since its founding in 1948.

The evening’s highlight was a panel discussion entitled “Legal Legacies”, moderated by former Quebec Chief Justice Nicole Duval Hesler, and featuring former Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish and leading Toronto criminal defence attorney Brian Greenspan.

Mr. Greenspan’s dedication deserves special mention. After his flight was cancelled due to the inclement weather, he chose to brave the snowstorm and drove all day from Toronto to be a part of the celebration. His commitment stands as a testament to the significance of the gala and the spirit of the legal community.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

–US Postal Service

Our seasoned panelists engaged in fond reminiscence about the “good old days”; yet they also acknowledged the positive transformations that have helped shape the profession. They intertwined their personal legal legacies with the broader legacy of the Society.

Each speaker started by tracing their individual journey into the legal profession and reflecting on the changes they’ve observed over the course of their careers. They noted the significant increase in women’s representation within the profession, as well as the overall growth in the number of practicing lawyers. This expansion has been mirrored in the growing ranks within Montreal’s major law firms.

Justice Fish pointed out that while the advent of technology has undoubtedly simplified legal research, it has somehow diminished the “joy of finding the right case” – a sentiment that resonated with many in the room!

On a similar note, Mr. Greenspan highlighted the impact of email on client expectations. The days when clients needed to schedule an appointment just to pose a question are long gone. Now, a simple email can convey a lengthy query, and with it comes the expectation of a swift, comprehensive response.

The ease of producing long texts has also diminished the role of oral advocacy in favour of written submissions.

Another notable transformation has, of course, been the profound influence of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on jurisprudence.

However, not all evolution has been positive. The once prevalent civility among litigators has given way to less congeniality in today’s courtrooms, a change that has been met with nostalgia and regret by many in the profession.

Do as adversaries do in law,
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.

–William Shakespeare

Modern litigators are more inclined to engage with the media compared to their predecessors, who often deemed pleading in the court of public opinion as unbefitting of a lawyer’s stature. In today’s context, there is increased emphasis on safeguarding the parties’ reputations.

The evening concluded with some practical advice from Justice Fish for the next generation of lawyers:

• Don’t lose your enthusiasm for the profession.
• Take time to smell the roses and enjoy life.
• While law is inherently an adversarial profession, don’t allow an adversarial mentality to permeate your home and friendships.

As the Society commemorated its significant milestone, it paused to celebrate its rich legacy. Despite the evolving legal environment, the Society has persevered as a standard-bearer for legal excellence and helping to shape the profession, while advocating for human rights.

At the close of this historic evening, guests departed with a sense of pride in the Society’s past and a renewed sense of purpose to continue its important work.

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

Relive and remember the Society’s 75th!

Allen Mendelsohn

The Society has compiled a collection of videos, letters from dignitaries, media, and memories from our 75th anniversary. If you missed the 75th Anniversary Gala or simply want to relive the highlights, check out our 75th Anniversary Page!

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Mazel Tov

• To Past President David Ettedgui on the completion of a fantastic and successful year as Bâtonnier of the Barreau de Montréal

Sincere Condolences

• To Society Past President Inna Nekhim and her family on the loss of her mother-in-law Manya Korenblit
• To Society Co-Treasurer William Malkinson and his family on the loss of his fiancée’s father Gad Sidney Ben Ezra

Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Robert Steinman, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot du président en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, and Friends of the Society,

It is a distinct honour to serve as the Lord Reading Law Society’s President. I feel especially humbled to preside over the Society in its momentous 75th anniversary season.

After three quarters of a century, it is worthwhile to reflect on our legacy and raison d’être. The Society was founded during a dark and difficult time for Jewish members of the Barreau. While things have changed and much has progressed, we currently find ourselves once again in a particularly trying and challenging time for the Jewish community and for all who reject extremism and value the rule of law.

The Lord Reading Law Society’s mission to represent the Jewish legal community of Quebec and champion the rights of minorities across Canada is increasingly vital. In the face of current challenges – both at home and abroad – the Society’s commitment to its founding principles remains critical.

As we mark this significant anniversary, let us reaffirm our solidarity and resilience as a community. Together, we will continue to uphold the principles of justice and equality that have guided us for the past 75 years and will continue to guide us in the years to come.

75th Anniversary Gala

On April 4, 2024, the Society is delighted to mark our milestone anniversary by welcoming three very special guests for a panel entitled Legal legacies: A conversation with Justice Morris Fish and Brian Greenspan, moderated by Justice Nicole Duval Hesler.

The Society looks forward to welcoming our distinguished panel of speakers, as well as honourable judges and other dignitaries, including elected officials from the provincial and federal governments. This will also be a unique opportunity to celebrate the loyal Lord Reading membership that keeps the Society strong, along with our friends and colleagues from across the legal community who frequently attend our events and support our important work.

I want to sincerely thank our many Gala sponsors who stepped up for this special occasion at a time when the Society’s work has never been more important. We very much appreciate your generous support. A full list of sponsors can be found on the Gala registration page, where you should also sign up if you have not yet done so. You cannot miss this very special evening!

Mazel tov to the Society on this huge milestone! We look forward to furthering our valuable efforts in collaboration with our friends and allies, and to continuing to educate and inspire the wider legal community.

We’ll see you on April 4th!

Robert Steinman, President 2023-24
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

Restorative Justice, Restoring Justice

Larry Markowitz

On January 30, 2024, the Lord Reading Law Society had the pleasure of hosting its annual Student Dinner. The evening began with the presentation of the Society’s academic awards to the well-deserved recipients, setting the stage for a captivating dialogue between two esteemed jurists with remarkable and unique career paths.

The event featured a thought-provoking conversation on alternative justice approaches. Tamara Thermitus, Ad. E., a respected human rights expert, former Chair of the Quebec Human Rights Commission and visiting fellow at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, shared the stage with Lauren Shadley, a seasoned criminal defense attorney, partner at Shadley Knerr and former president of the Law Society of Nunavut.

Me. Thermitus recounted her unique childhood in Sept-Iles as a Haitian immigrant and her experiences with Indigenous classmates. These formative years influenced her later involvement in the 2006 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement—the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history—and her contributions to shaping the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s mandate. The Commission, operating from 2008 to 2015, sought to document the injustices inflicted on Indigenous peoples by the Canadian government. Me. Thermitus emphasized the role of law as a “tool for healing” and highlighted the profound impact of history on Indigenous relations.

Me. Shadley spoke of her experiences as a legal representative for Indigenous Canadians in Canada’s North, discussing the inherent tension between the foundational principles of the traditional justice system and the restorative justice practices prevalent in Northern communities. Restorative justice, she explained, focuses on mending the harm done to victims, rather than seeking retribution.

Additionally, Me. Shadley touched upon her personal identity, noting that her Jewish heritage engenders trust among her clients in Nunavut. They see her as someone who understands suffering and as a trusted advocate in their fight for justice. She values the encouragement from her Northern clients to speak authentically as herself, not merely as an advocate for Indigenous peoples.

The conversation then pivoted to the topic of Reconciliation, an ongoing process through which Canada aims to forge a renewed relationship with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples founded on the principles of rights recognition, respect and partnership.

In thanking our speakers, Society past president Nancy Cleman highlighted the influential role that lawyers can play as agents of change. The career paths of Me. Thermitus and Me. Shadley serve as testament to the truth in Me. Cleman’s words, demonstrating how legal professionals can indeed drive transformation in society.

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney (March 20, 1939 – February 29, 2024)

Allen Mendelsohn

The Society deeply mourns the loss of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, who served from 1984 to 1993. Mr. Mulroney was a close friend to the Jewish community and a warmly welcomed speaker at Lord Reading.

On March 13, 2019, Prime Minister Mulroney addressed a packed house at the Annual Henry Steinberg Memorial Lecture, with his talk entitled “Leadership, Free Trade and a Strong Canada” that was tremendously well-received. As he said that evening in his closing remarks:

If all of us remember that freedom and liberty and the protection of minority rights are the very pillars of our national democracy, we can collectively make a contribution to the well-being of mankind that will bring honour to Canada and peace and prosperity to all her citizens.

Words to live by. You can relive that evening through Larry’s write-up of the event in our April 2019 newsletter, a full set of photos on our Facebook page, and an excerpt of his speech that was published in the National Post the next day.

The Society extends its sincere condolences to the entire Mulroney family. May his memory be a blessing and a source of inspiration to us all.

Lord Reading’s Human Rights Essay Contest – Deadline Extended

Neil Hazan, on behalf of the Essay Committee

In celebration of our 75th Anniversary, the Society is thrilled to announce our Human Rights Essay Contest! Embrace the opportunity to express your thoughts and insights in either English or French, crafting an essay of a maximum of 2,000 words that addresses your perspective on the most pressing human rights issues relevant to current Canadian law. The deadline for submissions of essays has been extended to August 15, giving you more time to submit!

Student contributors placing first, second, and third will receive cash prizes of $1,000, $600 and $400, respectively, as well as a Society membership for the year, plus free admission to two Society events. A matching set of prizes (same amounts, same free membership and two free admissions) will be awarded to contributors in the professional category.

Full details and submission guidelines are available on the contest page.

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Mazel Tov

• To longtime Society member Stéphanie La Rocque on being named a judge of the Court of Québec
• To Society Board member Judge Morty Minc on being named to Concordia’s President’s Advisory Group

Sincere Condolences

• To Society President Rob Steinman on the loss of his grandmother Jean Rabinovitch
• To the family of longtime Society member and friend Howard M. Greenfield
• To the family of Salim Joubran, the first Arab Israeli to receive a permanent appointment to the Israeli Supreme Court, and a speaker at Lord Reading’s Human Rights Lecture in May of 2018

Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis

President’s Message

Robert Steinman, President

(cliquez ici pour lire le mot du président en français)

Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, and Friends of the Society,

I want to start off by wishing everyone a happy new year. I sincerely hope that 2024 improves upon the very difficult end of 2023. We must prepare, however, for continued difficult days. It is during these times that our strong and united Jewish legal community and our valued allies all shine through.

I am proud to be Society President this year and to witness the collaboration that various community groups are engaging in –  particularly in the face of an onslaught of antisemitism in the last few months.

Annual Student Dinner

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, we will hold our Annual Student Dinner. On this occasion, the Society is thrilled to welcome noted human rights expert Tamara Thermitus, Ad. E., former Chair of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse and a visiting fellow at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, for a “fireside” chat with Society member and criminal defence attorney Lauren Shadley, partner at Shadley Knerr. Their conversation is entitled “Restorative Justice, Restoring Justice” and promises to be an engaging and challenging foray into alternative modes of justice that will no doubt call on each speaker’s unique experience. For Me Thermitus’s part, she negotiated the nature and scope of the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in her role as the Government of Canada’s chief negotiator, while Me. Shadley has significant experience representing defendants in criminal cases in Nunavut and served as President of the Law Society of Nunavut.

Our Annual Student dinner is also when we welcome law students, stagiaires and Barreau students, and present the Lord Reading Law Society annual academic prizes to the deserving winners of McGill, Université de Montréal, UQAM, Université de Sherbrooke and University of Ottawa. I look forward to welcoming the award recipients, as well as representatives from each law faculty.

The event has been approved by the Barreau du Quebec for 1 hour of CLE accreditation. I would like to thank Shadley Knerr and Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon for their generous sponsorship of the evening.

You can register for the student dinner here.

Save the Date!

I am pleased to announce that our 75th Anniversary Gala will take place on April 4. We have an amazing program lined up which will be announced shortly, but I wanted to make sure you marked your calendars for what is sure to be a memorable evening!

Robert Steinman, President 2023-24
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org

Navigating International Law: An Israeli Diplomat’s Perspective in Challenging Times

Larry Markowitz

On November 27, 2023, the Society hosted the Consul General of Israel in Montreal at our annual Henry Steinberg Memorial Lecture.

In one of the more emotional dinners in the annals of the Lord Reading Law Society, Consul General Ambassador Paul Hirschson delivered a poignant lecture entitled “Navigating International Law: An Israeli Diplomat’s Perspective in Challenging Times” before a packed house with representation from many of Montreal’s most prominent law firms.

Ambassador Hirschson’s talk came in the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel. Known for his forthright approach, our guest speaker, a self-described “diplomat who is rarely accused of being diplomatic”, delivered a master class on the law of armed conflict, while touching on geopolitical aspects of the conflict.

He emphasized that the year 2023 is not 1943. The Jewish people now have agency. We have a state. We are no longer victims.

Following the October 7th attacks, Israel decided that it could no longer bear to have Hamas as its neighbour.

Israel’s war against Hamas has three clearly stated objectives:

1. Rescue the hostages – every single one of them
2. End the Hamas military threat
3. End the rule of Hamas in Gaza

Meanwhile, Israel aims to prevent conflict escalation with other groups, notably Hezbollah.

The Consul General underscored Israel’s commitment to international law, particularly the principle of distinction, which obliges combatants to differentiate between civilians and fellow combatants during attacks. He contrasted Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian harm with Hamas’ tactics of using human shields and targeting members of its own civilian population who respond to Israeli warnings of impending military manoeuvres.

Ambassador Hirschson also spoke to the principle of proportionality in warfare, where Israel strives to limit civilian collateral damage relative to the military gain. He touched upon the internal displacement issues facing Israel’s northern and southern populations due to ongoing border conflicts.

The Consul General shed light on Iran’s backing of Hamas and the potential for Israel to formalize relations with Saudi Arabia. He also addressed the surge of anti-Israel sentiment post-October 7th, that has manifested itself in street protests worldwide, including on university campuses and here in Montreal.

Concluding his lecture, out guest speaker emphasized that the people of Gaza are not the enemy; rather, Hamas is. He acknowledged the heavy toll on civilians caught in the crossfire, with loss of life and long-term psychological trauma. He predicted a lengthy healing process for those affected.

[Editor Allen’s note – the speaker was thanked by this report’s author, Society past president and my newsletter co-editor Larry Markowitz, who is too humble to note that his wonderful and eloquent thank you truly reflected the emotional response of the audience that evening.]

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

Lord Reading’s 75th Anniversary Human Rights Essay Contest

Neil Hazan, on behalf of the Essay Committee

In celebration of our 75th Anniversary, the Society is thrilled to announce the launch our Human Rights Essay Contest! Embrace the opportunity to express your thoughts and insights in either English or French, crafting an essay of a maximum of 2,000 words that addresses your perspective on the most pressing human rights issues relevant to current Canadian law.

Student contributors placing first, second, and third will receive cash prizes of $1,000, $600 and $400, respectively, as well as a Society membership for the year, plus free admission to two Society events. A matching set of prizes (same amounts, same free membership and two free admissions) will be awarded to contributors in the professional category.

Full details and submission guidelines are available on the contest page.

Remembering the Life and Legacy of Past President Justice Fred Kaufman CM FRSC KC (May 7, 1924 – December 27, 2023)

Larry Markowitz

It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Justice Fred Kaufman, CM FRSC KC, a revered member of our legal community and a Past President of the Society. His loss leaves a void that will be hard to fill, but his remarkable contributions to jurisprudence will forever be remembered.

His judgments were renowned for their clarity, rigorous reasoning, and profound respect for justice. His work left an indelible mark on Canadian law and will continue to influence future generations of legal practitioners.

Beyond the bench, Justice Kaufman was instrumental in shaping legal reform. His work on the Guy Paul Morin inquiry, which exposed systemic flaws leading to wrongful convictions, was pivotal in driving change and safeguarding the rights of all Canadians.

* * *

Born into a middle-class Jewish family in Vienna in the mid-twenties, Justice Kaufman managed to leave his native city on one of the last trains to freedom before the outbreak of World War II. He found refuge in England, but in May 1940, along with thousands of others, he was interned as an enemy alien and sent to Canada.

He was released in 1942, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Bishop’s University and then spent six years as a reporter for the Montreal Star.

He graduated from McGill’s Faculty of Law in 1954, where he served as the second-ever editor-in-chief of the McGill Law Journal. He was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1955, having stood first in the Bar Admission Course.

Following law school, he co-founded the firm of Kaufman, Yarosky & Fish, where he practised criminal law for 18 years and took part in many of the famous cases of that period.

In 1960, he secured the release of a young Pierre Elliott Trudeau from prison, and in 1973, Trudeau returned the favour by personally informing Justice Kaufman of his appointment to the Quebec Court of Appeal, the first Jewish Justice appointed to that court. He went on to serve on the bench for 18 years, including one as Acting Chief Justice of Quebec.

After his retirement from the Court in 1991, Justice Kaufman led numerous commissions and inquiries.

His investigation into the wrongful conviction of Guy Paul Morin was followed by the two-year reassessment of Steven Truscott’s 1959 conviction for murder. In a “monumental” 700-page report, Justice Kaufman recommended that the Ontario Court of Appeal reopen the Truscott case to permit a full appeal. The federal minister of justice agreed, and a special five-judge panel of the Court of Appeal began hearing the fresh evidence in mid-2006. A year later, it acquitted Truscott outright.

In his “retirement” years, Justice Kaufman also led an inquiry into the Public Prosecution Service of Nova Scotia, an inquiry into Nova Scotia’s Compensation Scheme for victims of abuse in residential schools, and an examination of safety issues in Ontario’s nuclear plants.

In 2005, he published his memoir Searching for Justice: An Autobiography.

* * *

Justice Kaufman’s wisdom, integrity, and dedication to the rule of law have inspired countless lawyers and judges, and his legacy will continue to resonate within our Society. As we mourn the loss of Justice Kaufman, let us honour his memory by upholding the values he held dear and continuing to advocate for justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

The Society extends its sincere condolences to the entire Kaufman family. May his memory be a blessing and a source of inspiration to us all.

Save the Date – The Society’s 75th Anniversary Gala is Almost Upon Us!

Allen Mendelsohn

Mark your calendars for April 4th. We have an amazing, special evening planned and you don’t want to miss it!

Who is in the Dock? Israel, Gaza, Hamas War, and International Law

A look back at our members-only CLE Lunch with Arsen Ostrovsky, by Larry Markowitz

On January 19th, the Society had the honour of hosting esteemed human rights attorney Arsen Ostrovsky for an enlightening members-only luncheon at Fasken’s impressive 35th-floor conference centre.

Mr. Ostrovsky, a renowned expert in international law and antisemitism, and CEO of the International Legal Forum, shared his insights in a talk entitled, “Who is in the Dock? Israel, Gaza, Hamas War, and International Law.”

Mr. Ostrovsky boasts a wealth of experience, having addressed prestigious platforms such as the United Nations, Members of Congress, the European Parliament, and various international tribunals.

Known for his influential social media presence, his insights reach between 50 and 100 million people each month, depending on whether it’s a “good month” (when Israel is not being attacked in the court of public opinion) or a “bad month” (when Israel is being targeted).

Unfortunately, this has been a bad month.

As it happened, Mr. Ostrovsky’s had just been at The Hague to observe the hearings at International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding South Africa’s accusations of ‘genocidal conduct’ against Israel, rooted in the United Nations’ 1948 Genocide Convention. A ruling on such matter can take a few years, but South Africa is asking for emergency provision to halt Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Mr. Ostrovsky recounted what he witnessed in The Hague as a surreal “Orwellian experience on steroids,” where the term ‘genocide’—coined by Jewish-Polish human rights lawyer and later Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Raphael Lemkin to describe the Holocaust—was misused against Israel, an alarming example of ‘lawfare’ intended to undermine Israel’s legitimacy.

The bar to prove genocidal intent is very high. Not every act of war is genocidal. Far from it.

However, the current proceedings center on South Africa’s request for “provisional measures”. On that issue, the bar is low. South Africa need only prove the “plausibility” of its accusations before the ICJ bench of 17 judges, many of whom hail from countries that are unfriendly to Israel.

A ruling is expected shortly.

While a provisional order by the ICJ would carry little enforceable weight, it would have the potential to inflict significant reputational harm upon Israel and affec the Jewish community worldwide. A negative outcome could invigorate protests and bolster the BDS movement, while diluting the gravity of the term ‘genocide.’

“If everything is a genocide, then nothing is a genocide.”

Israel is not disputing the damage in Gaza. The question is: Who is responsible?

Israel obviously attributes the damage to Hamas, which uses civilians as human shields in a cynical attempt to make Israel look bad in the court of world opinion.

Unlike nearly all other armies, the Israeli Defence Forces telegraph their moves in advance to minimize civilian harm in pursuit of a clear two-pronged goal: To rescue the 136 hostages and destroy Hamas’ capabilities.

Unlike Hamas, Israel has not expressed a genocidal intent of seeking to destroy a people.

Mr. Ostrovsky concluded by reminding us that, as lawyers, we have a voice, and we have power. Lawyers can communicate the substance of the law and how the law is to be applied. Lawyers belong to one of the few professions with the power to be agents of change.

Despite the wintry chill of Montreal, our guest’s heart was warmed by the knowledge that he was surrounded by allies in his life’s mission to pursue justice.

For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here. 

Your Membership

Hershie Frankel, Membership Chair

I encourage all of you to sign up for membership for the season, it is never too late! Your membership support will ensure the continued success of the Society, grant you access to our members-only events, and give you significant discounts on tickets for dinner-meetings.

In these difficult times, having a robust membership is important for the Society. You can sign up for membership online here.

Society Humour

News from the Mishpocha

Mazel Tov

• To Board member Neil Hazan on the birth of his daughter
• To past Society guest speaker The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney on receiving the World Jewish Congress’ Theodor Herzl Award. You can watch the video of his speech here

Sincere Condolences

• To Past President Andrew Kliger and his entire family on the loss of his father and longtime Society member and dear friend Leonard Kliger
• To Past President Lynne Kassie, Ad. E., on the loss of her mother Naomi Kassie
• To Past President Inna Nekhim on the loss of her grandmother Sarra Nekhim