For Robert Foxman, this photograph has become family lore. It’s a shot of hockey legend Guy Lafleur sporting a kippah, draped in a tallit and holding a siddur, as if in prayer. The shot is from 1981, when Foxman was a 19-year-old photography student who showed up to a Montreal Canadiens practice, where he asked Lafleur to pose.
Foxman has been reflecting on the encounter since Friday, when Lafleur died from cancer at age 70. He considers the homegrown hockey hero and five-time Stanley Cup winner a true mensch—as do many other Canadian Jews, given the numerous Jewish fundraiser events Lafleur attended in Montreal.
Listen to the story behind Guy Lafleur’s most Jewish photo—and what Robert Foxman hopes the Lafleur family takes away from it.
What we talked about:
- Sign the digital guestbook to express condolences to the family of Guy Lafleur
- Read “‘Offensive’ photos taken at Canada’s National Holocaust Monument have been removed from Instagram: Ottawa photographer“
- Read how Lafleur helped raise money for Montreal’s Jewish community in The CJN archives
Credits
The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.