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Arthur Bielfeld

Members marked the death of Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld, a Toronto rabbi and social justice advocate. Robert Oliphant (Liberal) paid tribute to his friend and mentor of 40 years, describing Bielfeld’s lifelong work fighting poverty and hunger, his role in founding schools and charities, and his award of the Order of Canada.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

1 statement

Robert Oliphant

Liberal
“My dear friend, Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld, died two weeks ago. He spent his life fighting poverty and hunger, and he helped start schools and charities. He was awarded the Order of Canada for this work. Canada is better because of him, and I will miss him.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, he was a passionate advocate for social justice, a wise and thoughtful theologian, and a compassionate and caring rabbi. However, for me, Arthur Bielfeld was mostly my dear friend of 40 years, my mentor and teacher as a colleague in ministry, my supporter, and an occasional thorn in my flesh as a member of Parliament. Arthur’s life came to an end two weeks ago at a time and place of his choosing, but his legacy will continue for decades. Founder of the Leo Baeck Day School, Mazon Canada and Campaign Against Child Poverty, he served as rabbi and rabbi emeritus at Temple Emanu-El in North York for 58 years. He was awarded the Order of Canada for his extraordinary contributions to the Jewish community and decades of interfaith work on poverty, hunger and social inequality. I will always be inspired by his work; his wit, even his bad jokes; his moral courage; his intelligence and his integrity. I just wanted one more cup of coffee with him. Our country is richer for the life and work of Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld, but I hope heaven is ready for him.

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