Rosh Chodesh Elul: Honouring Jacque Friedland

Welcome to Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of the final and most sacred month of the Jewish year.

Elul, the sixth month of the Jewish calendar (counting from Nisan), precedes Rosh Hashanah and is traditionally a time of introspection, spiritual reflection, and preparation for the Yamim Noraim—the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is an opportunity to review the past year, seek personal growth, and ready our hearts for the season ahead.

The name Elul is associated with the verse from Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs), “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li”—“I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.” Our sages teach that the “Beloved” refers to God, reminding us that Elul is a time to strengthen our relationship with the Divine. We prepare for the Days of Awe not only with reverence, but also with love, trust, and hope.

Known as the month of Divine Mercy and Forgiveness, Elul is especially suited for teshuvah (returning to God), prayer, tzedakah (charity), and Ahavat Yisrael (love for one another). As Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi taught through the image of “the King is in the field,” God is especially accessible during this month, welcoming all who seek to draw near.

May this sacred month inspire us to reflect, renew, and grow in faith and compassion.

L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu V’Teichateimu—May you be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year. Learn more & join us in sacred worship here: holyblossom.org/event/rosh-chodesh-elul-2/

The Women of Valour Series is generously sponsored by Robert Lantos in memory of his mother Agnes Lantos z”l

 

WOMAN OF VALOUR – JACQUELINE FRIEDLAND

By Jill Witkin

I met Jacque around1995, when she first came to Canada after meeting Tom on a ski trip in Utah.

From the minute I met her, Jacque has epitomized what it means to lead and inspire. She is a person who is organized, efficient, industrious, warm, and compassionate. She draws her energy from interacting with others, and she is a powerhouse for positive social change—a woman whose commitment to bettering the lives of those around her is truly exceptional.

Jacque’s volunteer work at HBT includes former positions as a Board member, co-chair of the Out of the Cold Program, member of the Women’s Advocacy Group, and head of HBT’s Refugee Resettlement task group. Her work with these new Canadians deserves special mention. Although she had many volunteers helping her, Jacque was single-handedly responsible for working with JIAS to sponsor and resettle twenty-five refugees who came to Canada. They include Syrian, Yazidi, Rwandan, and Nicaraguan families, two women from Iran, and men from Eritrea and Sudan.

Jacque and her volunteer team did invaluable work with these newcomers, most of whom arrived in Canada with no possessions, speaking little or no English, and having never experienced a Canadian winter. Jacque made sure they had subsidized accommodation and furnishings, rides to appointments, language lessons, education, employment, and computers and cell phones. She saw to it that their children were enrolled in extra-curricular activities and had warm, reasonably fashionable clothing.

It takes a village, but Jacque has an effective way of motivating and mobilizing support. She is a strong communicator—always sharing enough information, but never too much—and she conveys her passion for the plight of these refugees in a personal and meaningful way. She appeals to people’s emotions so that, as volunteers, they want to help rather than feel obligated to.

But most of all, when it comes to these new Canadians, Jacque is their friend. Even today, she cooks with them, goes for walks with them, and discusses parenting and cultural differences. She includes them in her book club, invites them to her dinner table, to her children’s bar mitzvahs, and to her now-famous Women’s Seder. For Jacque, this is more than volunteer work; it is human connection, which we all know is the key to survival and success in life. The Friedland home is filled with artifacts, crafts, souvenirs, and magnets from all over the world. It is a place that would make any newcomer to Canada feel welcome and accepted.

In her day job as an actuary, Jacque offered the following advice as President of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries: “If you see a need, raise your hand. If you don’t understand something, ask a question, and if you are not satisfied with the answer, get involved to make it better.” This epitomizes Jacque. She is tireless, and she will do whatever is necessary to make others feel safe, included, and comfortable.

Canada prides itself on tolerance and openness as the wellsprings of its security and prosperity. Jacque became a proud Canadian citizen twenty-two years ago. We, as Canadians and as Holy Blossom members, owe Jacque our gratitude, for she has made us, our community, and our country a better place.