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Breaking barriers was not something we did consciously. Rather,
it happened by virtue of our efforts as motivated, involved
people born and raised in a small rural community, now known
as Thunder Bay, Ontario. We learned early on to appreciate
our Jewish identity while being appreciated by all our neighbours
around us. It was a League of Nations, so-to-speak, consisting
of immigrants from many distant countries and we all got along.
While we were accepted in our various volunteer positions
with many Jewish organizations’ local chapters, we were
overcoming societies imposed restrictions as we emerged onto
the general scene, Saul serving as Mayor of Port Arthur and
then, because of his vision and ambition to see the cities
of Port Arthur and neighbouring Fort William amalgamated,
he became the first mayor — Jewish no less — of
the city of Thunder Bay. Adele also made a name for herself
through her long-standing involvement with the Children’s
Aid Society, the Canadian Club, as well as her local interior
decorator television program called “Style with Adele.”
Through this extracurricular work, we were emulating the
generosity of our parents and, by the same token, setting
the example to our five children, Deborah, John, Susan, Shelley,
and Mark and our 12 grandchildren. We were taught not only
to contribute monetarily but to give of ourselves. And our
parents often gave beyond their means, explaining that we
should never know what it means to be destitute.
We watched our parents — poor immigrants from Europe
—struggle to establish themselves, and, only years later,
came to appreciate the many sacrifices they made in order
for us to be well educated and afforded any opportunity our
hearts desired. We made sure to do the same for our children
and their children. We feel we have imbued in them this sense
of social and moral responsibility as Jewish people and as
citizens of Canada. And we helped pave the way to make their
ambitions a reality. We settled in Toronto following our retirement
in order to be closer to our children who live in and around
the city. Proximity is, in part, what helps us maintain traditions
instilled long ago such as observing holidays and celebrating
simchas together.
Our contributions to community help preserve our precious
yiddishkite and it makes us extremely proud to see our children
and grandchildren doing their part, as well.
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