CELEBRATING
157 YEARS OF PYTHIANISM
Grand
Lodge
Knights of Pythias
Domain of Quebec
Located in the city of Laval, just a short drive from Montreal, is our
Pythian Cemetery. The Association invites Jewish members of the Knights
Of Pythias of Quebec that are in good standing to join our cemetery
association, and to reserve a single or double plot. The fees are
extremely reasonable. The Cemetery is run according to strict Orthodox
Jewish laws and is recognized as such by the Orthodox Jewish Rabbinate
of Montreal.
Highlights from the
PYTHIAN CEMETERY
Memorial Services
Held on October 18, 2026
Duvernay, Laval, Quebec
About 20 family and friends from our beloved Pythian departed, gathered
here to remember their loved one.
Dear Friends
As we begin our Annual Memorial Ceremony, we honour our dearly departed
family and friends. We believe that anyone who is lovingly
remembered has never left us but will always remain dear to us in our
hearts and souls.
It is my great honour to ask Michael Berman, President of the Pythian
Cemetery Association to say a few words and to read a short poem.
Don't cry for me now I have
died, for I'm still here I'm by your side,
My body's gone but my soul's is here, please don't shed
another tear,
I am still here I'm all around, only my body lies in the
ground.
I am the snowflake that kisses your nose,
I am the frost, that nips your toes.
I am the sun, bringing you light,
I am the star, shining so bright.
I am the rain, refreshing the earth,
I am the laughter; I am the mirth.
I am the bird, up in the sky,
I am the cloud, that's drifting by.
I am the thoughts, inside your head,
While I'm still there, I can't be dead.
Thank you, Michael now I would like to introduce Calvin
Finkelstein, Vice President of the Pythian Cemetery Association to read
his poem.
We Remember Them
At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember
them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter;
We remember
them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of
spring; We remember
them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of
summer;
We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the
autumn;
We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends;
We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are
now a part of us as
We remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength;
We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart;
We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make;
We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share;
We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs;
We remember them.
For as long as we live, they too will live, for they
are now a part of us
as, We remember them.
Psalms Chapter 23 תְּהִלִּים
מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: יְהוָה רֹעִי, לֹא
אֶחְסָר.
בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא, יַרְבִּיצֵנִי;עַל-מֵי
מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי.
נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב; יַנְחֵנִי
בְמַעְגְּלֵי-צֶדֶק, לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ.
גַּם כִּי-אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת, לֹא-אִירָא
רָע--כִּי-אַתָּה עִמָּדִי;
שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ, הֵמָּה
יְנַחֲמֻנִי.
תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי, שֻׁלְחָן--נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי;
דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי,כּוֹסִי
רְוָיָה.
אַךְ, טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי--כָּל-יְמֵי
חַיָּי;
וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית-יְהוָה, לְאֹרֶךְ
יָמִים
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm Of David.
The LORD is my bshepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in dgreen pastures.
He eleads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for his names sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
We are all familiar with the Hebrew term Mitzvah. We think of a
Mitzvah as a good deed, for example, I did a great Mitzvah by helping
out a friend in need. The term Mitzvah actually means
COMMANDMENTS, as one of G-d’s commandments. The Bible lists 613
mitzvot so we can conclude that G-d commanded us to do good deeds, and
to be kind, caring, giving and understanding. To me this is what
it means to be an honourable Jew.
Also, in Hebrew there is a term called CHESED SHEL EMET, which is
translated as kindness or love. Chesed is central to our ethnics
and theology, viewed as the highest virtue a person can achieve.
So, why would anyone get involved with the Pythian
Association? The answer simply lies in understanding the
two terms of Mitzvah and Chesed.
We believe that our steadfast and loyal commitment to managing and
maintaining our Pythian Cemetery is one of the most important concepts
of Chesed. The cemetery is the final resting place of so many
great and dedicated Pythians who helped to build and preserve our
Pythian Order making it the success that it is today, many years after
its initiation in the 1950s. Part of the Pythian philosophy
included establishing and developing this Cemetery
Association.
Many of these dearly departed Pythians are OUR role models as we
proudly continue our work in the Pythian Order performing
Mitzvot.
Charity is a large part of our faith. We are reminded
especially during the New Year season of three important duties for
Jews to perform. Tefilla (prayer), Teshuvah (Repentance)
and Tzadah (Chairty). As most of you know the motto of our
Pythian Order is, Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Pythian
Appeal. Money that we raise goes to Montreal, Jewish and
Israeli charities as we continue to support those in need,
fulfilling the commandment of Tzadah. The volunteering of our
time, our energies and dedication all goes to make our community
a better place.
In honour of the holy souls who have left our world, in order to reap
the heavenly rewards, we beseech the ALMIGHTY to bless each and every
one of us, their earthly families with a happy and healthy 5787.
AMEN
At this time, I would like to ask everyone to include with your
thoughts a special prayer for the state of Israel and for soldiers, the
guardians of Israel. We ask our dear L-rd to watch over Israel
and His people and that there be peace in the Middle East.
On behalf of Michael Berman, President of the Pythian Quebec Cemetery
Association, and his Executive, and Calvin Finkelstein, Grand
Chancellor of the Domain of Quebec, and his Executive, I would like to thank you for
joining us today, helping us honour our dearly departed, and we would
like to wish you a healthy and happy year ahead.
I would like to ask Mr Martin Labow, son of one of the Cemetery's
Founding members, Sir Cecil Labaw, to lead us in the Kaddish Prayer.
Pythian (Quebec)
Cemetery Association
Executive, 2026-2028
 |
Michael
Berman
President
|
 |
Calvin
Finkelstein
Vice-President
|
 |
Jayson
Derrick
Member of the Board of Directors
|
|
John Derrick
Secretary/Treasurer
|
 |
Sir James
Indig
Past
President
and all around great guy!
|
 |
We
will always remember
Brother Eric Goldapple Z"L
Director of our Cemetery
Who passed away in March, 2026
|
|
Welcoming
Jeffrey Weinstein
as a new Director
|
A
TIME FOR EVERYTHING
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to
pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to
build up;
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time
to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast
away;
A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silent and a time to
speak;
A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
|
Tekiah-shevrim-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah-shevarim-tekiah
Tekiah-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah gedolah
