A call for submissions from co-editors Bonnie Goldstein and Jaclyn Shulman met with a flood of heartfelt stories from members and honoured friends of Toronto’s Jewish community eager to share their experiences of the birth and vibrant life of Israel. More than 200 of these voices were selected to be a part of this unique testament to Canadians’ commitment to Israel. Their words are accompanied throughout by a pictorial history of the State of Israel, in the form of cherished family photos and the work of photojournalists.
Together, words and pictures form a highly entertaining and enlightening record of a nation in the making, and constitute a lasting archive of the Canadian connection to Israel in her first half-century. Early kibbutz pioneers, Holocaust survivors, Mahal volunteers, fund-raisers, activists – even ordinary tourists – speak candidly about their views of Israel, past, present, and future, from the dream of the Jewish State, the struggles endured to realize it, and the trials and triumphs of working to ensure its survival.
