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I was born in Lithuania and came to Canada when I was six.
My father, a cattle dealer, came before us and settled with
relatives on a farm in Northern Ontario. He brought me, my
mother and another brother there in the winter of 1928. After
one mid-February night on that farm with no electricity or
running water, my mother insisted on moving to the nearest
town!
We moved to Englehart, Ontario – population 1,800. There
were only six Jewish families and a few other Jewish kids.
My own family made up 40% of the local minyan! Sometimes I
would head to Kirkland Lake or Timmins to participate in activities
with other Jewish kids.
There were not many opportunities for Jewish studies in Englehart,
but we did have a shul – an old white united church.
The community brought in a shochet and rabbi for holidays
and everybody chipped in according to his means.
I was married during World War II, but divorced shortly after.
I’ve been a confirmed bachelor ever since. I never had
children of my own, but I helped raise seven wonderful nieces
and nephews.
After Englehart, I lived in Edmonton, Kitchener, and finally
settled in Toronto in the 1960s. I got into the optical sales
business, which meant I spent half the year travelling extensively.
I often spent Pesach on the road, enjoying wonderful hospitality
in different communities.
My Jewish community involvement was very limited, but I’ve
always had a great love for Israel. Since 1967, I’ve
visited my cousins there almost every other year, usually
at Purim.
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to give something to
the Toronto community. I established a fund, which now pays
for two young people in foster care to travel to Israel each
summer. So far, about six or seven kids have made the trip.
In some ways, I feel I’ve gotten more out of this program
than the recipients. I feel very good that they have the opportunity
to enjoy such an important experience. Someday, my niece,
Marla Kessler, will take the program over for me. I know that
my fund will always be there to help a few special kids enjoy
Israel each year.
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