Anti Semitism

Despite the generally good relations between Jews and non-Jews in Niagara Falls, there were also anti-Semitic attitudes present in the area, as there were elsewhere across Ontario, especially in the period before and immediately after the Second World War. Jews were not admitted to the Niagara Falls social clubs. Frances Meisels remembered that she loved to skate, but Jews could not join the skating club. Finally, she and her sister were invited to join, but told that none of their Jewish friends would be admitted. They decided they did not want to join under these conditions. Anti-Semitic attitudes also extended beyond the private, social club sphere. Don Carrel remembered travelling as a young boy with his father to a hotel in the Port Credit area around 1943. The man at the desk refused to allow Harry Carrel to register because he was a Jew. As an active member of B’nai Brith, Carrel was able to respond that he would involve the Anti-Defamation League and that the hotel had yet to hear the end of the story.

The old anti-Semitism improved considerably by the later decades of the 20th century. In some cases, this happened thanks to the efforts of Christians like Father Stuart Macdonald, who were determined to make a difference. The accomplished and engaged Pastor of St. Thomas More Church, Father Macdonald has studied Canon law and reads Hebrew well. He is also socially active in the community and has worked on sexual harassment issues. Don Carrel reported that his family has enjoyed having Father Stuart Macdonald visit with them on Jewish holidays and that he has been a real asset to the community.

• Introduction
• Anti-Semitism