Although this, my inaugural President’s Message, is appearing in the High Holidays Shofar, it is being written in early July and I am not ready to give an inspirational message about the High Holidays. I don’t need to introduce myself to members of the congregation thanks to the very kind article written by Gerry Posner in the last Shofar.

 

I have decided to tell you about a remarkable man who embodied what I believe to be all the best aspects of being a Jew and was a great inspiration to me and many others. I am speaking of Harry Abramovitch, my wife’s late uncle, who passed away a year ago in Montreal where he lived fully to the age of 95 after arriving in Canada with his family from Bershad, Ukraine at the age of five or six. My wife and I have just returned from his unveiling and an opportunity to once again celebrate with family and friends a life well lived.

 

Harry was a very modest man who had a keen intellect and a never ending thirst for knowledge. He attended McGill during the Jewish quota and became a chartered accountant, founding his own accountancy firm which proudly bears his name to this day.

 

While attending a conference in Montreal two years ago, I called Harry, who at the time was on oxygen and mainly confined to home, as I wanted to pay him a visit. He asked if I could come a little later as he was busy seeing a client! Despite his failing health, at the age of 94, he still felt an obligation to his clients, many of whom were the children and grandchildren of his original clients.

 

Throughout his life, Harry pursued continuing education, never auditing university courses, insisting on taking the examinations because he believed that was the only way to learn. He took full advantage of the rich Jewish cultural life in Montreal and, on one of our brief visits to Montreal, he whisked us off to a lecture with a Jewish diplomat unknown to me at the time, Benjamin Netanyahu. His evenings were filled with such outings, as well as dance classes, countless evenings at the libraries, etc.

 

At his unveiling, the Rabbi recounted his first meeting with Harry, at a lecture where he was obviously challenged by Harry, who loved to study Jewish history and law. Living across the street from the Shul on Westbury, he could always be counted on to make a Minyan.

 

Harry had a keen sense of humour, and his nieces and nephews told treasured memories of Harry at the family seders finding ingenious places to hide pieces of the Afikomen, including one year sewing it in his tie. He had a favorite joke, the punch line of which is SO FAR SO GOOD. This became Harry’s favourite response to a query as to how he was, always with a twinkle in his eye. He was ever the optimist.

 

And so I find myself answering the many who ask me how things are going as President, SO FAR SO GOOD, and thinking with a smile of Harry. In my brief tenure I have attended numerous programs, lectures and services, welcomed our most recent new members at a New Member Shabbat, congratulated our recent Conversion Program graduates and attended the wondrous Friday Night Alive service and Shabbat Dinner held on the River Rouge. I have attended many meetings with our exceptional staff and our very committed volunteers. I have marveled at the skills and dedication of our clergy and the breadth of experience and commitment to the Synagogue and community of our Board.

 

There is no question that the position of President of Shaarey Zedek is a challenging one, but, as I see more and more of our members and non-members attending our services and programs, hear visitors complimenting us on the wonderful atmosphere at Shaarey Zedek, speak to more and more people who are coming forward with constructive ideas for positive change and renewal, and listen to our Board members thoughtfully discuss and reexamine our policies to make sure they are sensitive to the needs of our members, I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to participate in the growth and strengthening of our congregation. The riverboat service is a shining example of the type of vibrant, exciting and innovative program we have in store for you. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones who attended, talk to someone who was, and make sure you sign up early for next year’s cruise. You won’t want to miss it.

 

P.S. If you ever happen to be walking through the Jewish cemetery on Rue de la Savonne in Montreal, and you come across a distinctive footstone reading SO FAR SO GOOD, please smile and thank God for a beautiful Jewish soul whose life was so well lived, because that marks the grave of our beloved Harry Abramovitch.