Circle of Support

This Yiddish Theatre thanks its lucky stars for bringing Leanor and Alvin Segal into their orbit. This generous and visionary couple championed the cause of Yiddish arts and culture, popularized and supported it and created a stalwart circle of support that allows this theatre to fulfill its artistic mission.

The story begins in 1995…

Dora Wasserman, already in her seventies, was looking to the future, seeking a professional to take over the helm of Yiddish Theatre and a funding base that would allow the theatre to continue and tthrive. The Yiddish theatre was popular but more so among the rank and file and the artistic community than among large donors.

Dora had written then: "Our deficit over the years has grown to $30,000, which is really a small amount, but our volunteers must struggle to pay it off. It has to be covered by our Galas and Program Books. Our volunteers put in a lot of work and get none of the glory the actors get, working devotedly behind the scenes. "

Thus Dora and her grandson Bradley Gaffen had the idea of creating an endowment fund for Yiddish Theatre but - where were they to begin? Who would spearhead it? They approached Montreal's most respected community professional, Manuel Batshaw for advice. Mr. Batshaw suggested Leanor and Alvin Segal as co-chairpersons and had hoped they would be able to raise a modest amount for this purpose.

Leanor, a graduate of Peretz School with an interest in the arts, had recently returned to Montreal after a hiatus in the USA. She initially inspired her husband's interest in theatre. Alvin is a successful entrepreneur, president of Peerless Clothing, who also recognizes quality and talent in people. By then Bryna Wasserman had assumed the artistic mantle of the Yiddish Theatre due to her mother's stroke. The Segal's appreciate Bryna's leadership skills, determination and creativity.

The Segal's enthusiasm led to a groundswell of support among Montreal's elite. Fundraising for the Dora Wasserman Endowment Fund for Jewish Culture exceeded all expectations. Suddenly the Yiddish Theatre was "in". People were coming to Yiddish theatre not only from the working and middle class neighbourhoods but from the most exclusive neighbourhoods of Montreal. The theatre was renamed the Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre in their honour.

Leanor and Alvin are role models for the partnership of business, community and the arts. Despite running an international business, being parents and grandparents and also having homes in Florida and New York, they give tirelessly and unstintingly of themselves to the arts and many other worthy causes in Montreal.

They have recruited countless people to the cause of Yiddish Theatre. Among them are the Reitman family, with their firm, Reitmans (Canada) Limited, as the Yiddish Theatre's annual presenting sponsor.

In 2007, the Segals once again came to the theatre's rescue when there was a possibility of the closing of the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts. This evolved into the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, which was launched June 1, 2007. Alvin Segal is the President of the Board.

PDF

• Bio of Alvin Segal