Photo Credit : Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives
1879 - 1942
Peter Bercovitch
Peter Bercovitch was a Canadian politician who practiced law in Montreal and acted as one of the primary legal voices representing its Jewish community.
Born to an educated Jewish family, Bercovitch grew up in the vibrant, albeit humble, Plateau neighbourhood. He received his Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University and then his Master of Laws from the Université de Montreal. In 1901, he was called to the Quebec Bar.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, representing the Montreal riding of Saint Louis for the Liberal party in 1916, and continued to be re-elected until 1936. In 1938, he was acclaimed to the Canadian House of Commons and represented the Cartier riding until he passed away in 1942.
Bercovitch’s work in municipal government is especially notable due to the anti-Semitism common in Quebec during the first half of the twentieth century. With Jewish immigration stalled, and Canada’s Jews having little representation, Bercovitch acted as a voice for the community. He was also a role model for many Jewish lawyers and politicians to come.
