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Gideon Strauss

Gideon Strauss was the editor of Comment from 2000 to 2010. He is currently Associate Professor of Worldview Studies at the Institute for Christian Studies, a graduate school of philosophy in Toronto, and a senior fellow with the Center for Public Justice in Washington DC. Gideon also facilitates vocational discipleship in churches in his native South Africa. Bio last modified June 17th, 2021.


Thread of 1,000 Stories

Pure laine and Purim

In the eleventh installment of his Outremont series, columnist Gideon Strauss takes us through Quebec history through the eyes of Guy, a “pure laine Outremonter.”

Reaching our Mothers

In his eighth regular dispatch from Montreal’s faith-rich Outremont district, Gideon Strauss meets Nora Chénier-Jones and Jennifer Dorner, the women who co-founded Pluralisme Outremont, a group promoting an appreciation of diversity in Outremont's schools.

Giving Space

Leila Marshy, the daugther of a Palestinian refugee, moved to Outremont in 2008. She grew to understand the Hasidim in her community and what they were contributing to her neighbourhood. When tension surrounding the referendum arose, she spoke out in support of her local synagogue.

The Sidewalk View

In his seventh regular dispatch from from Montreal’s faith-rich Outremont district, Gideon Strauss meets with Emile Kutlu, the president of the Laurier West Merchant Association, responsible for the commercial interests along this street that runs along the southern end of the borough of Outremont to Mile End. 

To Wake Up the Heart

In the sixth of his regular dispatches from from Montreal’s faith-rich Outremont district, Gideon Strauss talks to one restaurant owner of Jewish background who was drawn to Sufi Islam.

Façades and Values

This week author Gideon Strauss brings us an alternate perspective on the ongoing conversation occurring in Outremont over the borough referendum campaign supporting a ban on new places of worship on Bernard Avenue.  

Hasidic Joy in Outremont

Each week Gideon Strauss brings fresh perspective as he explores the unique intersections of faith and tradition in his new neighbourhood of Outremont, Montreal. 

Across Our Backyard Fences

In the third of his regular dispatches from from Montreal’s faith-rich Outremont district, Gideon Strauss meets a 27-year-old borough councilor. She, a Hasidic Jew, decided to run for councilor in order to take advantage of the opportunity to make a difference in her community.

Sharing a Long Obedience

In the second of his regular dispatches from from Montreal’s faith-rich Outremont district, Gideon Strauss meets a Baptist pastor who came to Canada from Greece as a young man and set up a radio repair shop a few steps from the church he has made central to his life for 56 years. 

Two Sides to Outremont

"All it took was walking down Avenue Bernard." Read Gideon Strauss reflect on the surprises that await, hidden in Outremont’s antagonisms.