Fonds 1016 - Bernard Figler Fonds

Bernard Figler was a barrister, social worker, and author. Born on June 16, 1900 in Bender, Russia, Figler relocated to Canada in 1909 and completed his undergraduate degree at the Université de Montréal followed by his master's in social work at McGill University. Figler would go on to lecture in the Department of Jewish Studies at the Université de Montréal and author many works. In 1976, Figler produced the English and French manuscripts for his book The Jews of Quebec. He authored a number of "Canadian Jewish Profiles" including Lillian and Archie Freiman, Lyon Cohen, and Sam Jacobs, as well as the texts From Mandate to State: History of Zionist Order Habonim (1951), History of the Zionist Ideal in Canada (1961), and 100 Years of Poetry in Canada's Parliament, 1865-1965.

Beyond his career as a professor and writer, Bernard Figler was affiliated with a number of organizations including the Jewish National Fund, Jewish People's School, Canadian Young Judea, Canadian Zionist (as editor), Zionist Order Habonim (as national director), the YMHA, and Zionists of Canada.