MONTREAL — World Jewry, and in particular the Montreal Jewish community, has to be prepared for a possible exodus of Jews from France, says American journalist and author Jeffrey Goldberg, who is deeply concerned about worsening anti-Semitism in Europe.

While Israel has been the destination for thousands of Jews already leaving France, Goldberg indicated Israel is not for everyone.

“Is it time for Jews to leave? I never want to tell any Jew where they should live, but the international Jewish community has to be prepared if the time comes when it is better they get out,” said Goldberg, a staff writer for the Atlantic since 2007, specializing in the Middle East, who used to live in Israel.

He was guest speaker at a Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University gala dinner May 3 where businessman and philanthropist Alvin Segal was presented with the Mount Scopus Award, the organization’s highest citation.

Goldberg continued: “Montreal is on the frontlines… A lot of French Jews may seek a haven here.” France has the third-largest Jewish population in the world, with 500,000. 

Europe, in total, has 1.3 million Jews, he noted.

“We have to be ready to help our brethren if they might need it in a dire and quick way,” he said.

Goldberg said the situation for Jews in Europe is “deteriorating with every passing month… We are seeing something we never thought we would see again [after World War II]… Jewish people can’t afford to make believe the world is something it’s not.”

Anti-Semitism has worsened in Europe over the past 15 years and soared in the last two or three, he said. “A virus that we thought had died has just changed shape.”

What makes it especially dangerous, he thinks, is that this hatred represents the convergence of three strands: the classical canard of alleged Jewish power of the far right, the anti-Zionism of the far left, which seeks the elimination of the State of Israel, and that found in the Muslim and Arab worlds.

“Angry, disenfranchised Muslim immigrants” are responsible for most of violent anti-Semitism, but can’t, he believes, be separated from the larger phenomenon.

What makes today different from the 1930s is that European political leaders are staunchly outspoken against anti-Semitism, foremost among them being German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In contrast, North American Jews have never been “so at home, so assertive about their rights, or more enfranchised. We are more in control of their destiny than any time in our history,” he said.

Segal is chair and chief executive officer of Peerless Clothing Inc., the largest supplier of men’s fine tailored clothing in North America.

He played a key role in negotiations in the 1980s leading to the North American Free Trade Agreement, a fact attested to in a videotaped message from former prime minister Brian Mulroney.

“Alvin was on the frontlines of the battle… He felt it would be great for Peerless and great for Canada, and he was right on both counts.”

With the U.S. market opened, Peerless rapidly grew from a small company serving a domestic clientele into an “empire,” in the words of Lewis Dobrin, who delivered the homage.

Segal is also an exemplary donor, contributing $20 million in 2004 to the Jewish General Hospital for the creation of the Segal Cancer Centre, and millions over the years to the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, a devotion that grew out of his love of Yiddish theatre.

Despite his prominence, Segal was lauded for his humility, quirky sense of humour, and for being his own man. The tribute video was titled Alvin Segal: The Enigma.

He did not seem destined for such success. The Albany, N.Y., native’s father died when he was seven. He was a poor student, and stuttered. 

His widowed mother remarried Montrealer Moe Segal when he was 16, and the family moved there. Alvin changed his name from Cramer to Segal.

He never finished high school, but went straight to work in the clothing factory and immediately found an environment that suited him. Peerless is essentially the only job he’s ever had. 

In business, he has been a maverick, Dobrin said, unafraid of change and risk.

As a person, he is unassuming and always smiling. “Alvin is a real mensch, a decent, upright, honourable human being.”

In keeping with that self-effacement, Segal had his wife, Emmelle, read his words of appreciation.

Proceeds from the dinner benefit two programs at Hebrew University: brain research at the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada and Revivim, a Jewish studies teacher training program.

Among the dignitaries at the evening, held at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, were Hebrew University president Menahem Ben-Sasson, McGill University principal Suzanne Fortier, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and executive committee member responsible for culture, Manon Gauthier, former Segal Centre executive director.

Segal’s two siblings, Harriet Lazare of Montreal and Connie Solomon of Israel – two major influences in his life – were also present.