Jacque Friedland:

Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto has a list. A simple opt-in email list—names, addresses, sometimes small notes scribbled in margins. But over time, The List became something much more: a lifeline for families starting over, and a map to finding who can help within one community's unshakable commitment to supporting refugees coming to Canada with dignity.

At the heart of it all is Jacque Friedland. It is said that if something needs to get done, give it to a busy person. Jacque is the Executive Director of the Risk Assessment and Intervention Hub at OSFI, an important and challenging job. In her spare time, she extends her leadership and commitment to social action across every aspect of her life.  She is a former board member at Holy Blossom Temple and a long-time volunteer for everything from the Out of the Cold program to organic food drives.

Her days are full. Her inbox is fuller. But when a refugee family needs housing, a winter coat, or a bank account set up, Jacque acts. And The List answers.

The work is not loud. It is not flashy. But it is steadfast. Holy Blossom has supported more than ten family units—from Syria, Eritrea, Rwanda, Nicaragua, Israel, Iran, Sudan, and Ukraine. At first, they followed the training provided by JIAS, which outlined thirteen essential committees needed to welcome newcomers—everything from housing and airport greetings to language assessment and health services. That structure gave them a framework, and each time a new family arrived, they activated the right committees with precision and care. They have done it so many times now, they can do it by rote - starting with sending out an ask, using The List.

Sometimes, Jacque's emails go out at midnight, and by morning, gift cards arrive. So do offers: I have a car seat. I can drive. I'll drop one off. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the giving continued - online guitar lessons and Zumba classes bridging distance with care. The List never stopped giving.

Jacque came into this work through a legacy. As a child, she watched her mother in Atlanta help Jewish families from the former Soviet Union. Later, while living in San Francisco, Jacque helped welcome her own families from the former Soviet Union, and again, 30 years ago, when she moved to Toronto. Another family. Another friendship. And so it continued, now with even more help from her Temple community.

The impact of this work is evident everywhere in Jacque’s life. A virtual women's seder during the pandemic included Nicaraguan and Syrian newcomers who helped recount the historical story of Exodus, all the more poignant given their own exodus stories. Mother's Day notes with well-wishes from people who have come from different corners of the world. Families helped by the Temple smiling, present, and proud at Jacque's youngest son's bar mitzvah.

Relationships shape and deepen how Jacque sees community, motherhood, and responsibility. Holy Blossom is a large Temple. That gives it capacity. But what sets it apart is its strong commitment— the decision to do this again and again. Always with intention. Always with Jacque and The List.

The List is a living, breathing network of action. What began as a spreadsheet has become something else entirely: a mirror of a community that chooses not to look away.