Professor
Stephen Leacock Building, Room 812
855 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2T7
Tel.: 514-398-6853
Email: morton.weinfeld [at] mcgill.ca
Office Hours:ĚýWinter – 2025
Wednesdays 2:30 to 4 PM or by appointment
Research Areas
Ethnic and race relations; immigration; public policy analysis; survey research and data analysis; Canadian society; sociology of Jews; Canadian Jewish studies; sociology of education
Biography
(PhD, Harvard University, 1977; EdM, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 1973; BA, 91ÉçÇř, 1970). Professor, at 91ÉçÇř since 1977.
Professor Weinfeld is the winner of the 2013 Marshall Sklare Prize for outstanding career Ěýcontributions to the field by the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry. Among his recent publications are an edited collection The Jews in Canada, with Robert Brym and William Shaffir, 2nd edition, (Oxford, 2010); Like Everyone Else But Different: The paradoxical success of Canadian Jews (McClelland and Stewart, 2001) which was featured in One Hundred Great Jewish Books, by Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman (Blue Bridge, 2011), Still Moving: Recent Jewish Migration in Comparative Perspective, with Daniel Elazar (Transaction, 2000); Ethnicity, Politics, and Public Policy, with Harold Troper (University of Toronto Press, 1999), and Who Speaks for Canada? with Desmond Morton (McClelland and Stewart, 1998). He has published Old Wounds: Jews, Ukrainians and the Hunt for Nazi War Criminals in Canada (with Harold Troper), Viking/Penguin, 1988, a case study of ethnicity and public policy. In 1989 he published Trauma and Rebirth: Intergenerational Effects of the Holocaust (with John J. Sigal), Praeger, 1989. He wrote The Social Costs of Discrimination in Canada, a research report for the (Abella) Royal Commission on Equality in Employment, 1983.
Current research and thesis supervision interests are in areas of ethnicity and public policy, notably the role of minority-origin professionals in various policy domains. Professor Weinfeld has taught undergraduate courses on the sociology of ethnic relations, Jews in North America, an undergraduate seminar in Canadian ethnic studies and graduate seminars on the sociology of ethnic conflict, and social inequality and public policy.
Selected Publications
Books
Weinfeld, M. with R.F. Schnoor and M. Shames. 2018. Like Everyone Else but Different: The Paradoxical Success of Canadian Jews. Second edition, revised and updated, 91ÉçÇř- Queen’s University Press.
Weinfeld, M. 2010. The Jews in Canada. 2nd Edition. With R. Brym and W. Shaffir, Oxford University Press.
Weinfeld, M. 2001. Like Everyone Else but Different: The Paradoxical Success of Canadian Jews, First edition. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart.
Included as one of One Hundred Great Jewish Books: Three Millennia of Jewish Conversation by Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, Bluebridge, 2011.
Winner of J.I. Segal Award, 2002; Canadian Jewish Book Award, 2002; the Lockshin-Frances and Samuel Stein Memorial Prize for Scholarship on a Canadian Jewish Theme, 2002; nominated for a Quebec Writer’s Federation Award, 2002.
Elazar, D.J. and M. Weinfeld (eds). 2000. Still Moving: Recent Jewish Migration in Comparative Perspective. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction.
Troper, H. and M. Weinfeld. 1999. Ethnicity, Politics and Public Policy: Case Studies in Canadian Diversity. Toronto: Toronto.
Morton, D. and M. Weinfeld. 1998. Who Speaks for Canada? Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.
Chapters
Weinfeld, M. “Canadian Jews in comparative perspective” David Koffman ed., No Better Place: Canada, Its Jews, and the Question of Home. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, in press.
Livingstone, A. and M. Weinfeld, “Black Families and Socio-Economic Inequalities in Canada” In Lloyd Wong and Shibutani Guo eds., Immigration, Racial and Ethnic Studies in 150 years of Canada: Retrospects and Prospects. Toronto, Sense publishing, 2018, pp. 129-151.
Weinfeld, M. “Canadian Jews, Dual/Divided Loyalties and the Tebbit “Cricket” Test”, in Lloyd Wong and Shibao Guo eds., Multiculturalism in Canada: Theories, Policies, and Debates. Rotterdam: Sense Publishing, 2015, pp. 141-159.
Weinfeld, M. and R. F. Schnoor. “The Demography of Canadian Jewry, and the “Census” of 2011: Challenges and Results.” in Arnold Dashefsky and Ira Sheskin ed. The American Jewish Yearbook 2014, vol. 114, 2014, pp.285-300.
Weinfeld, M. “Jewish Life in Montreal,” in Ira Robinson ed. Canada’s Jews: In Time, Space, and Spirit. Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2013, pp. 152-167.
Weinfeld, M.Ěý“Overview of Canadian Jewry” with Randal Schnoor and David Koffman. In Arnold Dashefsky and Ira Sheskin eds. The American Jewish Yearbook 2012,ĚýSpringer: 2013, pp. 55-90.
Weinfeld, M. “Introduction” A new introduction written by editors, of the second edition of The Jews in Canada. Eds Robert Brym, William Shaffir, Morton Weinfeld. Oxford University Press of Canada, 2010, pp. v-xi.
Weinfeld, M. “The Montreal Jewish Community: A Demographic and Socio-cultural Analysis, with Charles Shahar and Adam Blander.” in Pierre Anctil and Ira Robinson eds, Les Communautés Juives de Montreal: Histoire et Enjeux Contemporains. Montreal: Septentrion, 2010, in press.
Weinfeld, M. “Quebec Anti-Semitism and Anti-Semitism in Quebec.” In Charles Small ed. Yale Seminars in Anti-Semitism: A Comparative perspective. New Haven: Yale University Press, forthcoming.
Weinfeld, M. "Gay Jewish Men seeking a Mate." With Randal Schnoor in Lorne Tepperman and Harley Dickinson eds. Reading Sociology: Canadian Perspectives. Toronto: Oxford University Press. 2007, 95-97.
Weinfeld, M. "Canadian Jewry - post 1945." Encyclopaedia Judaica. 2nd Edition. New York: Macmillan Reference. In press.
Weinfeld, M. "The Jewish Diaspora in Canada" with S. Schoenfeld and W. Shaffir. In Transnational Communities in Canada. V. Satzewich and L. Wong eds. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2006, pp. 278-295.
Weinfeld, M. 2003. "Canadian Jewry: A Relative Success Story," in S. Encel and L. Stein, eds., Continuity, Commitment, and Survival: Jewish Communities in the Diaspora. Westport Conn.: Praeger pp. 23-48.
Weinfeld, M. 2001. "Ravitch vs. Asante: The culture Wars and American Diversity," in T. Ayabe's (ed.) A Comparative Study of Multiculturalism and Assimilation in Canada, the US and Australia. Chiba, Japan: Josai International University, pp. 145-150.
Weinfeld, M. 2000. "Israel, the Jewish People, and the New World of Migration," in D. J.Elazar and M. Weinfeld, eds., Still Moving, New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction. 3-12.
Weinfeld, M. and D. J. Elazar. 2000. "The Integration of Jewish Immigrants in Montreal: Models and Dilemmas of Ethnic Match," in Daniel J. Elazar and Morton Weinfeld, eds., Still Moving, New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction, 285-298.
Weinfeld, M. and P. Couton. 1999. "Aperçu crititque de la recherche en immigration au Canada," in M. McAndrew, A. C. Decouflé and C. Ciceri, eds., Les politiques d'immigration et d'intégration au Canada et en France : analyse comparées et perspectives de recherche. Actes duséminaire tenu à Montréal du 20 au 22 mai 1998. Ottawa, Conseil de recherche en sciences humaines du Canada, 159-170.
Weinfeld, M. 1999. "Jews," in P. R. Magocsi's (ed.) Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples. Toronto: University of Toronto, 860-881.
Weinfeld, M. and L. A. Wilkinson. 1999. "Immigration, Diversity, and Minority Communities," in Peter Li, ed., Race and Ethnicity in Canada, 2nd ed., Toronto: OxfordUniversity. 55-87.
Weinfeld, M. and H. Troper. 1999. "Diversity in Canada," in M. Weinfeld and H. Troper, eds., Ethnicity, Politics, and Public Policy: Case Studies in Canadian Diversity, Toronto: Toronto. 3-25.
Weinfeld, M. 1999. "Jewish Demography: Qualitative, Quantitative or both," in B. Lightmanand M. Brown, eds., Creating the Jewish Future, Walnut Creek: Sage. 234-248.
Weinfeld, M. 1999. "The Challenge of Ethnic Match: Minority Origin Professionals in Healthand Social Services," in H. Troper and Morton Weinfeld, eds., Ethnicity, Politics and Public Policy in Canada. Toronto: Toronto, 117-141.
Weinfeld, M. 1997. "Dilemmas of Ethnic Match," in W.W. Isajiw, ed., Multiculturalism in North America and Europe. Toronto: Canadian Scholars. 245-260.
Weinfeld, M. and M. McAndrew. 1997. "The Social Integration of Immigrants and the Response of Institutions," in M. Lombardi, Metropolis: First Conference. Milan: Fondazione Cariplo, 51-73.
Weinfeld, M. 1996. "Social Identity in the Nineties," in J. Littleton, ed., Clash of Identities, Scarborough: Prentice-Hall. 106-112.
Weinfeld, M. and H. Troper. 1996. "Canadian Multiculturalism and Canadian Jews," in H. Adelman and J. Simpson, eds., Cultural Pluralism: Canada and Israel. Jerusalem: Magnes, 11-36.
Weinfeld, M. 1995. "Ethnic & Race Relations," in R. Brym, ed., New Society: Sociology for the 21st Century. Toronto: Harcourt Brace, 4.1-4.28.
Articles and Reviews
Weinfeld, M.Ěý“Between Suspect Minorities and Reasonable Accommodation in Canada.” Canadian Ethnic Studies. Forthcoming.
Livingstone, A. and M. Weinfeld. “Black Students and High school completion in Quebec and Ontario; A Multivariate analysis.” Canadian Review of Sociology 54:2, 2017 pp.174-197.
Livingstone, A. and M. Weinfeld “Black Families and Socio-economic Inequality in Canada” Canadian Ethnic Studies, 47:3, 2015, pp. 1-23.
Weinfeld, M. “Political Integration and the Charter of Values.” Canadian Diversity/Diversité canadienne 10:2, 2013, pp. 54-56.
Weinfeld, M. “If Canada and Israel are at War, who gets my support? Challenges of Competing Diaspora Loyalties.” Contemporary Jewry, 34:3, Oct. 2014, pp 167-187. Reprinted in Canadian Jewish Studies, vol. 21, 2014, pp. 27-50.
Weinfeld, M. “Canadian Jews, Dual loyalty, and the Tebbit “Cricket” Test. “ CanadianĚý Ethnic Studies. Vol. 43-44. Nos. 3-1, 2011-2012. Pub. Date March 2013, pp. 59-80.Ěý
Weinfeld, M. and D. Koffman. Recent Developments in the Social Scientific Study of Canada’s Jews.”Ěý Contemporary Jewry,Ěývol. 31:3, June 12 2011,Ěýpp. 199-221
Weinfeld, M. “The Distancing Debate” Contemporary Jewry, vol. 30,:2-3,Ěý2010, pp. 279-281
Massa, E. and M. Weinfeld. 2010. "We needed to prove we were good Canadians: Contrasting paradigms for suspect Minorities." Canadian Journal for Social Research vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 15-28.
Weinfeld, M. "Misconceptions of Immigrant Economic and Social Integration” in Univers Canadien Universe, vo. 1 no. 1 Summer 2009, pp. 166-168.
Weinfeld, M. “A Sub-Economy in Montreal.” International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2007, 1:1, pp. 24-50.
Weinfeld, M. “Utilization of health Care Services for Psychological Distress by Immigrants in an Urban Multicultural Milieu”. With L. Kirmayer (first author) et al. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Vol. 52, no. 4, April, 2007, pp. 61-70.
Weinfeld, M. “Seeking a Mate: Inter-group Partnerships among Gay Jewish Men” with Randal Schnoor. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 37:1, 2005, pp. 21-39.
Weinfeld, M. 2003. "Review Essay: From Periphery to Center - Two Studies of Jewish Transformation." Current Sociology, vol. 51(1), pp. 73-78.
Weinfled, M. 2002. Review of A. Keysar, B.A. Kosmin and J. Sheckner's Contemporary Jewry, vol. 22, pp. 138-139.
Weinfeld, M., B. Vissandjee and S. Dupere. 2001. "Gender, Ethnicity and Health: Research and Policy Challenges for Immigrant Women in Canada." Journal of International Migration and Intergration, 2:1, pp. 55-75.
Weinfeld, M. and J. J. Sigal. 2001. "Do Children Cope Better Than Adults with Potentially Traumatic Stress? A 40-Year Follow-up of Holocaust survivors." Psychiatry, 64(1) Spring, pp. 69-80.
Weinfeld, M. 2001. "Research on Holocaust Survivors in Canada." Canadian Jewish Studies, vol. IV-V, 1996-1997, pp.135-138.
Weinfeld, M. and J.H. Thompson. 1995. "Entry and exit: the dynamics of Canadian immigration." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 538:185-198.
Courses Taught
Undergraduate Courses:
SOCI 327 Jews in North America
SOCI 375ĚýSuspect Minorities in Canada
SOCI 475 Canadian Ethnic Studies Seminar
Graduate Seminar:
SOCI 512 Ethnicity and Public Policy
Students Supervised
Title: Negotiating "Nous" Competing Host National Identities among Second Generation Immigrants in Quebec
Student: Leslie Cheung
Year: 2015
Degree: PhD
Title: Caught Between the "Bleeding Homeland" and the "Safe Heaven": Negotiating Loyalties in Times of Conflict
Student: Kalyani Thurairajah
Year: 2013
Degree: PhD
Title: Gay Jews in Toronto
Student: Randal Schnoor
Year: 2003
Degree: PhD
Title: Cultural sensitivity in the context of ethnic politics: a comparison of two family service agencies
Student: Ho Hon Leung
Year: 2001
Degree: PhD
Title: The Genesis of an Ethnic Community: The Case of the Kurds in Canada
Student: Josie Sciortino
Year: 2000
Degree: MA
Research Grant
Annual research stipend as Chair in Canadian Ethnic Studies.
Prof. Weinfeld has been involved as a co-investigator with Laurence Kirmayer (as the PI) and Alan Young in Anthropology (as co-investigator) for a FRSQ (Fonds de Recherche en Sante du Quebec) Grant, Équipe Prioritaire, Culture et Sante mentale.
Ěý
Other Professional Activities
1991- present Member Advisory Council, Multicultural History Society of Ontario Encyclopedia Project
1985- present Member of National Board of Canadian Ethnic Studies Association
2020- Appointed as Chair of the Statistics Canada Expert Canada Advisory committee on Immigration and Ethno-cultural Statistics