We met in Toronto during our last year of university, only to discover that we had been on opposite journeys. Karmit was born in Israel, at the age of two moved to South Africa, and at the age of 19 moved to Canada. Gilad was born in South Africa, at the age of six made Aliyah to Israel, and eventually moved to Canada at the age of 30. Unbeknownst to us, we crossed paths in nursery school in South Africa. We got married in Israel in 2000, lived there for two years, and moved to Canada in 2002. 

Our children—Ori, Ella, and Shira—were born in Canada and are fully bilingual (English/Hebrew) having gone through the Jewish day school system at Associated Hebrew School and TanenbaumCHAT. We speak Hebrew and English at home in efforts to maintain the Hebrew language. The love for Israel is symbolically represented in our children’s Hebrew names; by taking a letter or two from each child’s name, together it reads ISRAEL. 

אורי ,אלה ,שירה = ישראל 

Zionism was a core value in both our families with grandparents originating from Turkey, Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary. Having survived the Holocaust and World War II, our grandparents created homes in Israel and instilled the values of Jewish life, community, and volunteerism. 

As a family, we focus our Jewish volunteer energy in the places we have lived: Israel, Canada, and South Africa. Over the years we have volunteered for the following organizations: Beit Issie Shapiro (Israel), Jewish Vocational Services (JVS Toronto), Israeli Scouts (Toronto Chapter), Ayin L’Tzion/Zichron Yirsoel Congregation (our local shul), and Tshemba Foundation (South Africa). 

In 2022 we decided to create our own family fund with the Jewish Foundation to allow us to take a more strategic approach to our philanthropic giving, while empowering our children to take an active part in deciding which causes to support. We hope to give them a legacy of love, compassion, generosity, optimism, and resilience. 

As we were all devastated by October 7th, we decided to allocate all the funds to causes supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of Israel. This allowed for speedy delivery of funds at a time of emergency. We then decided to replenish the fund to support future giving. 

Leading by example, during these challenging times, we feel that every effort should go toward supporting Israel, those who are wounded, people struggling with mental health, and the physical rebuilding of the communities that were directly impacted. 

We pray for the well-being of the State of Israel, and for the quick and safe return of all hostages. 

Am Israel Chai      

עם ישראל חי