“Nine visas changed everything.” That’s how the story of Congrégation Lubavitch Shull in Montreal begins. In 1941, nine Lubavitch students arrived here. These students escaped war-torn Europe. Their arrival marked the beginning of a strong Lubavitch presence in Montreal.
Let’s step back in time. Picture Shanghai during the summer of 1941. The Polish ambassador in Japan organized visas for students stranded in Shanghai. These students represented various yeshivahs and youth groups. The Lubavitcher yeshivah received nine precious visas.
These visas were lifelines. Rabbis Moshe Elya Gerlitzky, Zev Volf Greenglass, Yitzchok Hendel and Herschel Kotlarsky were among the chosen few. Leibel Kramer, Yosef Rodal, Avraham Stein, Yosef Wineberg and Rabbi Yosef Menachem Mendel Tenenbaum also joined them.
The group set sail for San Francisco. Their destination was Montreal. The journey began two days before Yom Kippur. Kosher food was scarce. The students subsisted on salmon and produce. They built a Sukkah on the ship before Sukkos. High winds quickly destroyed it.
Upon arriving in California, the Jewish community welcomed them. After a tiring train trip, they reached Montreal on October 24, 1941. The Jewish Federation arranged for them to rest in the Laurentian Mountains.
However, rest was not on their minds. A telegram from the Rebbe Rayatz in New York changed their plans. The Rebbe instructed them to resume their studies immediately. The students, to the shock of the local community, began learning in the basement of the Nusach Ari shul on Pine Avenue.
Their dedication inspired many. The transplanted Lubavitcher Yeshivah attracted dozens of new students. Within a year, enrollment exceeded one hundred. Classes expanded to include younger students. Tomchei Tmimim Lubavbitch school was born.
Congrégation Lubavitch Shull stands as a testament to their resilience. It symbolizes their commitment to Torah study. It represents the growth of the Lubavitch community in Montreal. The story of the nine students continues to inspire. Their legacy lives on in this vibrant congregation.