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My wife Genia and I are both Holocaust survivors from Krakow.
While living in Belgium we started making plans to emigrate
to Israel but our plans changed when my cousin, Sam Waxman,
convinced us to come to Toronto instead. Canada, he said,
was the place to be.
So in 1950, when I was 30 years old, we made our way to Toronto
to join with the few cousins remaining from my family. We
thought we might still emigrate to Israel from Canada but
we never did. Toronto became our home.
At first we felt strange in this new country but soon we
acclimatized and quickly made many friends. I remember the
generosity of so many individuals, reaching out to me and
showing me the ways of Canada -- how to conduct business and
live in the community and how to be charitable on a daily
basis. It is these individuals who taught me one of my most
valuable lessons in life. To appreciate your community, you
must give back to it.
Over the years, I became involved with so many projects,
including Israel Bonds, UJA, Baycrest and many more. Three,
in particular, that piqued my interest were the Israel Bonds
Organization in Canada, The School of Massuah and the Shaare
Zedek Hospital. Working with others, we fought for Canadian
Denomination Bonds and ensured every major bank supported
them. I established the Canadian Friends of Massuah because
I have always believed that future generations must be taught
about the horrific experience of the Holocaust – to ensure
it doesn’t happen again.
While we never did emigrate to Israel, I fell in love with
our birthright country upon my first visit. It is such an
important part of who we are – as Jews, no matter where
we live.
Genia and I have been blessed with two beautiful children,
Lili and George, and four wonderful grandchildren. Our hope
is to preserve and protect Canadian Jewish life for our children,
grandchildren, and future generations to come.
We must never let the spirit of giving die. We must never
take freedom for granted. It is our obligation to keep the
Jewish community strong and we must all do our part.
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