Page 8 - Shalom Toronto Centre Passover 2024

The Man and his Music
My friend, Jonathan Usher, came across an old photo of Leonard Cohen together with my friend’s brother, Dan Usher. (See clipping to the right)
The connection was, that both Leonard Cohen and Dan Usher were close school buddies in the their childhood, through their youth and during their University days at McGill in Montreal, and both became accomplished.
Dan Usher entered the world of academia and grew to be a respected economics professor at Queen’s University having written many academic papers and economics textbooks, whereas Leonard Cohen, of course, made his primary mark, on the world of literature and his music.
Aside from being a legendary songwriter and singer, Cohen was also a poet and novelist. As a character, he was variously described as aloof yet approachable, a star who remained modest. Indeed, large wall murals of our music icon have been painted on the sides of 2 Montreal buildings. (See pics below)
Early Years
Leonard Cohen grew up in Montreal’s upper-crust enclave of Westmount, born to a successful family that was deeply rooted in orthodox Judaism who were leaders among Montreal’s Jewish community. A friend said, “Leonard had a very sheltered childhood, with a nanny who took him everywhere”.
Cohen found both recognition and a sense of belonging at McGill University. He was president of both the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and the McGill Debating Union. He was a close friend of poets Irving Layton and Louis Dudek, who were part of the second wave of Canadian modernist poetry writers.
He was a Buddhist who stayed true to his Judaism and who was fascinated by the Catholicism that defined the Montreal of his childhood. Leonard Cohen was full of contradictions, much like his city of Montreal.
Leonard’s Music and Writings
Leonard Cohen is a legendary figure in the world of music and literature. The Montreal artist released 14 albums over the span of nearly 50 years, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
Leonard’s Relationships
Sex and religion are common themes for Cohen, often in the same song. “Suzanne” is based on his platonic relationship with Suzanne Verdal from Montreal, who served him tea and oranges. He wrote the line "I touched your perfect body with my mind" because she was married to his friend.
With respect to Leonard Cohen’s relationship with women, yes, it could be said that he had a few, and it appears for the most part, his love relationships were true and mutual, but with inevitable difficulties; Leonard Cohen left 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
One of Leonard Cohen’s first partners and lifelong friend, Marianne Ihlen, passed away in July, 2016, 4 months prior to Leonard Cohen’s death in November of 2016, whereas Leonard Cohen’s close school buddy, Dan Usher, passed away in December 2017, a year after Leonard’s death.
Compiled from internet sources and edited by Arthur Roman, VP, Lifestyle Magazines
Leonard wearing his signature fedora
8 SHALOM TORONTO Central edition PASSOVER 2024