For Jeff and I, carrying forward our family’s values and traditions is central to who we are, deeply rooted in the stories that came before us. 

My paternal grandparents, Ella and Joe, fled Czechoslovakia in 1939 with their two young sons, one being my father, George. They arrived in Canada just days before their town was overtaken by the Nazis. Growing up, I heard firsthand accounts from relatives who survived the Holocaust. As soon as they were able, my grandfather began volunteering with organizations such as Jewish Immigrant Aid Services and Jewish Free Loan Toronto. My grandmother founded a Canadian Hadassah WIZO (CHW) chapter, raising funds for Youth Aliyah in Israel.  

On my mother’s side, my grandfather Shammai immigrated alone from Krinik, Russia, to Toronto as a young man. He met my grandmother Beatrice at the Talmud Torah Day School where he was a respected teacher and she was an administrative assistant. She was also very active in CHW. My mother Raizi also volunteered for years at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.  

Jewish tradition and community were central to my upbringing, reinforced through my experiences at Ramah Hebrew Day School in Winnipeg, where I enjoyed learning and singing Hebrew songs, and Camp B’nai Brith where I met lifelong friends. 

Jeff’s family story carries its own powerful legacy. His zaidy Harry was a founding member and involved in building Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda synagogue in Toronto. His mother Claire survived the Holocaust as a hidden child in the Netherlands, protected by a woman who risked her life to shelter Claire and her younger sister, Olga. Their parents were hidden separately, and remarkably, all four survived and immigrated to Canada in 1951. Claire later wrote The Hidden Package, sharing her story with thousands of students and teaching the importance of standing up against hatred. Growing up with these stories, Jeff developed a strong Jewish identity grounded in family tradition. 

As we built our own family, we sought to carry forward these lessons and values. Shabbat dinners, chagim, synagogue life, and Jewish education have been central in connecting our children to their heritage. 

For us, giving back is about impact: helping people of all ages and life stages. We find fulfillment in volunteering, supporting Jewish organizations, and helping those in need. My volunteer work with both CHW and Jewish Free Loan Toronto, have been particularly rewarding. 

One project especially meaningful to us and my parents is the establishment of George’s Greenhouse at the CHW Hadassim Children and Youth Village in Israel. Named in honour of my father, a graduate of the Pardes Chana Agricultural High School, the greenhouse provides hands-on education in sustainability, agriculture, and community responsibility, equipping students with lifelong skills. 

We are proud that our children have embraced these values—volunteering their time, supporting causes they care about, and building an inclusive, Jewish community. What matters most to us is continuity: a strong Jewish identity, a deep sense of responsibility, and the belief that each of us has both the ability and the obligation to help others.