Montreal Allée 2

7"X5" Oil on board

The Mile End district of Montreal is home to at least 7000 Hasidim. According to some accounts it is the third largest Hasidic population outside of Isreal (after New York & London). They are very private people and I wondered if this might be rather intrusive, except that neither the people nor the exact location are identifiable.

I am always fascinated by costumes and these gentlemen wear theirs with a great deal of style. The heavy wool overcoats they wear whenever they go out onto the street, even in temperatures in the 30C range (86F), must alone be a test of their faith.

I believe that the tarpaulin in the background may be a part of a sukkah, although I am woefully ignorant about Orthodox Jewish customs and may have got it all wrong.