The story behind this secret Jewish photo of Guy Lafleur

For Robert Foxman, this photograph has become family lore. It's a shot of hockey legend Guy Lafleur sporting a kippah, draped in a tallit and holding a siddur, as if in prayer. Foxman snapped the shot in 1981, when he was a 19-year-old photography student. Foxman showed up to a Montreal Canadiens practice and asked Lafleur, who, incredibly, agreed to pose for this kid he'd never met.

Foxman has been reflecting on the encounter this week after Lafleur died from cancer at age 70. He considers the homegrown hockey hero and five-time Stanley Cup winner a true mensch—as do many other Canadian Jews, given the numerous Jewish fundraiser events Lafleur attended in Montreal to help the community.

Foxman joins to share the story behind Guy Lafeur's most Jewish photo and explain what he hopes the Lafleur family takes away from it.

What we talked about:

• Sign the digital guestbook to express condolences to the family of Guy Lafleur
• Read "‘Offensive’ photos taken at Canada’s National Holocaust Monument have been removed from Instagram: Ottawa photographer"
• Read how Lafleur helped raise money for Montreal's Jewish community in The CJN archives

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.