Our Story, Our Community

Our History

The story of Sephardic Jewry in Quebec began in the 1950s, with immigration focused primarily in Montreal. Quebec, in particular, attracted many French-speaking Moroccan Jews, who found familiarity and comfort within the province’s French environment. They quickly became an integral part of Jewish life in the city, while remaining deeply committed to preserving their unique Sephardic traditions.

By the mid-1970s, a new influx of Moroccan Jews arrived, driven in part by the instability that followed the Yom Kippur War. As a result, many additional Sephardic synagogues were established. Determined that the minhagim, piyutim, and values of their ancestors would not fade into memory, these pioneers worked tirelessly to recreate the synagogues and communal life they had known in Morocco. Small minyanim were formed—intimate gatherings in which the sounds of the past became the voices of the future—and the community flourished.

Alongside these achievements, however, a deeper challenge emerged: how could a community grow from a mere presence into a true force—one capable of safeguarding the essence of Moroccan Sephardic Jewry for generations to come?

It was in response to this challenge—and with a deep awareness that Moroccan Jewry had once been defined by a proud, uncompromising commitment to Torah and Torah scholars—that Chouva Israel was founded. For Rabbi Asher Messod Benoliel שליט״א, restoring that original pride in authentic Moroccan Sephardic Judaism was always central. The goal was not merely to preserve customs, but to revive the depth, dignity, and Torah-centered identity that had characterized Moroccan Jewry even before its arrival in Canada.

Originally named Congregation Juive Francophone de Montréal, Chouva Israel was established to return Torah to the center of communal life and to rekindle a profound admiration for Torah learning and for our great Torah scholars. Through this vision, the congregation strengthened Jewish identity, inspired lasting commitment, and ensured the continuity of authentic Sephardic tradition in Montreal and beyond.

Over the years, the congregation moved through several locations as a Bet Midrash and synagogue—from Congregation Beth Hillel, to the Lubavitch Yeshiva, to a Bet Midrash on Clanranald, and later to the Yeshiva Gedola building—before finally settling in the vibrant Sephardic community of Côte St-Luc. There, Rabbi Benoliel שליט״א established a top-class Bet Midrash, which eventually gave birth to Kollel Avrechim, Caisse Beth Yossef, Yeshiva Ohr Israel, the Jewish Education Program, Yeshivat Maor Yisrael, Maor Bet Yaacov, and more—institutions that continue to nurture Torah learning and proudly carry forward the legacy of Moroccan Sephardic Jewry for generations to come.