May is Jewish Heritage Month – an important time to celebrate the rich and vibrant history, culture and diversity of Judaism and the Jewish community. Formally established by Parliament in 2018, Jewish Heritage Month also recognizes the significant societal contributions made by Jewish community members across Canada – including many critical advancements in healthcare and health equity.
The Jewish community has a longstanding history of advocacy for health equity and access to culturally safe care, partially born out of the response to the discrimination experienced by Jewish immigrants both as patients and providers. Here at Women’s, we are proud to have an incredible community of Jewish staff, physicians and learners who have continued to build on this legacy of breaking down barriers to inclusive care – like Dr. Minnie Cohen, who began her career at Women’s in 1919 and overcame adversity to become the first female Jewish doctor to practice in Toronto.
In the coming weeks, we look forward to celebrating the many achievements of the Jewish community as we mark Jewish Heritage Month for our second year together.
Our Next Event: Holocaust Survivor Andy Réti – A Ring of Love When: Wednesday, May 22 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Where: WCH Auditorium
Join us for an in person conversation with Andy Réti — Holocaust survivor, author and motorcycle enthusiast — as he recounts his incredible story of love, survival and resilience during the Second World War. Andy has been involved in Holocaust education since 1998. In 2001, he wrote The Son of an Extraordinary Woman — a sequel to his mother’s book, An Ordinary Woman in Extraordinary Times, which was written in 1990. In 2016, the two books were combined and re-released as Stronger Together.
Holocaust Survivor Andy Réti – A Ring of Love When: Wednesday, May 22 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Where: WCH Auditorium
Join us for an in person conversation with Andy Réti — Holocaust survivor, author and motorcycle enthusiast — as he recounts his incredible story of love, survival and resilience during the Second World War. Andy has been involved in Holocaust education since 1998. In 2001, he wrote The Son of an Extraordinary Woman — a sequel to his mother’s book, An Ordinary Woman in Extraordinary Times, which was written in 1990. In 2016, the two books were combined and re-released as Stronger Together.
About Andy: Andy Réti is a child survivor of the Holocaust. Born in 1942 in Rechnitz, Austria, he was only two years old when his mother and grandmother were forced out of their home in Hungary and into a Jewish ghetto. Andy’s father and grandfather had already been moved to a forced labour camp. He was liberated from the Budapest ghetto on January 18, 1945, by the Soviet Red Army. He and his mother, grandmother and grandfather survived the horrors of the war through good fortune and grit. They immigrated to Canada shortly thereafter. Andy attributes his survival to the courage, resilience and sacrifice of his mother and grandmother. He believes that “every Holocaust survivor’s story is a love story; the love of life, family and freedom.”
The Jewish community in the Diaspora is full of rich diversity, customs, traditions and cultures from across the world, and is built upon communities and families of differing denominations and observances. From culturally Jewish people and Orthodox Jews to Ashkenazi and Mizrahi, being Jewish looks different depending who you ask. Read more to learn about some of the many Jewish customs observed worldwide and some of the major denominations of Judaism in Canada.
One of the mitzvahs – good deeds – that Jewish people around the world hold close to their heart is called Tzedakah, a Hebrew word meaning “justice” or “righteousness”. Tzedakah is a responsibility of all Jews to help those in need, through acts of service, tangible goods or financial donations. This Jewish Heritage Month, you can also join the Jewish community in the mitzvah of Tzedakah and help people in vulnerable populations, including Jewish people and families.
Below are spotlights of notable Jewish Canadians created by Jewish Heritage Employee Resource Groups from across the TAHSN network.
