By Howie Silbiger
It’s very sad. I have known Dr. Moss for a very long time, and to see a homegrown doctor, who is the leading expert in his field, leave the city presents a huge loss not only for the Canadian medical community, but for the Jewish community and the Quebec healthcare system.
For the last few days, there has been speculation on social media about why the chief heart surgeon at the Jewish General Hospital would leave the city for Atlanta. Some pointed to Quebec’s health care system. Others pointed to the rise in anti Jew hatred in Montreal. Others tried to dismiss the story altogether. Now there is no need to guess.
In a letter published by the Montreal Gazette, Dr. Moss wrote that “the trajectory of healthcare in Quebec is concerning,” but added that “just as real is the rise of antisemitism in Montreal.”
The Gazette had previously reported that Moss, one of Canada’s top cardiac surgeons, was leaving Montreal for the United States, with people close to him pointing to both the state of Quebec’s health care system and the rise of anti Jew hatred in the city.
That report was followed by the usual noise. There were people questioning whether anti Jew hatred really had anything to do with it. There were people trying to soften the story, explain it away, or turn it into a simple career move. Dr. Moss has now dispelled all rumors.
Montreal is losing the chief of cardiac surgery at the Jewish General Hospital. He is not a minor figure and not easily replaced. He is a leading surgeon with expertise that Quebec cannot afford to lose, and part of the reason he is leaving is anti Jew hatred.
Dr. Moss grew up in Montreal, raised his family in Montreal, and has watched his city turn into one where Jewish schools have been shot at, synagogues have been firebombed, and Jewish businesses have been vandalized. Where Jewish students have been harassed on campus and beaten up on the street, and where Jewish Montrealers have watched protests cross lines that would have been unthinkable not long ago.
There will still be people who try to explain it away. There always are. They will say it was really about health care. They will say Atlanta was simply a better opportunity. They will say anti Jew hatred was only one factor. All of that is true, major life decisions usually have more than one factor involved.
But in his letter, Dr. Moss was clear: the decision was made much easier due to the rise of anti Jew hatred in Montreal.
Prime Minister Mark Carney stood in Ottawa this week and promised that Canada would fight Jew hatred. He spoke about safety, responsibility, and the need to make Jewish Canadians feel protected in their own country.
But while Ottawa gives speeches, Montreal is losing a top Jewish doctor who says the rise of anti Jew hatred helped push him out. That is the gap between the announcement and the reality.
Jewish Canadians do not need another carefully staged promise. They need a country where a lifesaving surgeon like Dr. Emmanuel Moss does not look at the city he grew up in and decide it is time to leave.
Howie Silbiger is the host of The Howie Silbiger Show on truetalkradio.com and Political Hitman on Israelnewstalkradio.com. He is the Editor in Chief of The Montreal Jewish News.
