DALIA It’s very easy to pay tribute to Dalia Alalouf, for she is a most special educator, person and friend. Dalia, we salute you for your 40 years of teaching Hebrew at Holy Blossom Temple, an honour well deserved. Hundreds of children and adults studied and learned from you. Today they are more knowledgeable and better versed in Hebrew reading because of your patience and dedication. You always find goodness in each of your students, such a wonderful trait. The members of Holy Blossom Temple are the beneficiaries of having you in their midst to elevate Hebrew learning for all. Al and I wish you much happiness and good health, but above all the strength to continue with your love of teaching. Lots of love, Bambi HONOURING DALIA How many people can spend 40 years employed at the same place and continue to be loved and respected by those around her? Dalia, it is not an accident nor a duty that you are being honoured today by our temple, but rather an expression of admiration and appreciation for the kind of person and educator you are and always strive to be. You must have taught hundreds upon hundreds of children over these years and your kindness and sensitivity touched them in so many ways. Dalia you are such a gentle person. I can’t imagine that you’d harm an insect that’s crawling through your house. For me it was a privilege to work with Dalia as educators at Holy Blossom Temple for 15 years, not even 1/3 of Dalia’s duration. Thirteen of those years were as teammates when Dalia reluctantly agreed to become the supervisor of the Hebrew School when she was persuaded by Bob Tornberg, the Director of Education at that time. Bob’s good insight was our good fortune. It’s difficult to take a master teacher out of the classroom to an administrative position, but with Dalia as the supervisor, the entire Hebrew School benefits from her expertise. Yet Dalia never stops teaching. She can often be found
sitting with a student, listening and encouraging the child to read in Hebrew. She moves from classroom to classroom checking up on students, wanting to be certain that each child is using his/her potential to the fullest. And to be sure that the students are ready for learning she waits at the top of the stairs to welcome them and give out the mid afternoon snack of cookies and juice. Dalia can find the goodness in every child, a very special trait, which I believe contributes to her success. But I also believe there’s more to Dalia than being a Hebrew school educator that has culminated in today’s celebration. Her lifetime accomplishments are many, and for this I greatly admire her. I want to share with you parts of Dalia’s background and I hope, Dalia, that you won’t be upset with me. This is what I have learned over the years. Dalia was born in Romania during the communist era. Somehow her family was able to immigrate to Israel in the late 50’s. Here she was, around 10 years old, with absolutely no Hebrew language ability and not even a Hebrew name. Some of you might be surprised to know that it’s only in her Holy Blossom home that she’s known as Dalia, but to her family she is Jacqueline, Jackie for short. She and her sister were separated from their parents and sent to live on a kibbutz, primarily to learn Hebrew. Here she chose the beautiful Hebrew name Dalia. This was a sad time for her and less that a year later she was allowed to return to live with her parents. Dalia lived in Israel for only approximately 9 years and during that short time she went to school, became proficient in the Hebrew language, studied Bible and Jewish history, graduated from the Israeli teacher’s college, met her dear husband Jack, married and immediately emigrated to Toronto. Dalia and Jack have been married and living here for 43 years, and for 40 of them Dalia has been working at Holy Blossom Temple . When they arrived in Toronto, Dalia was once again without the language of the land. Nevertheless she found work and mastered another new language, English. She came to Holy Blossom as a Hebrew school teacher 40 years ago. Today she contributes much more to our Temple. Dalia teaches Hebrew to many of our adults, she prepares both teenagers and adults to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and
she herself chants Torah so beautifully at our services. And I think she has developed as the master Hebrew typist in our shul. A number of years ago, when we first began working on computers in our offices, I struggled to figure out how to use Word, how to set up a letter or write a curriculum program, and truthfully without Lily’s intervention nothing would ever have been completed. Dalia not only learned to use Word but very soon was typing in a Hebrew program, preparing work sheets with fancy borders. She did it entirely on her own. Dalia you are truly an educator to be admired and what most here likely do not know is that you are equally as dedicated, generous and kind to your family…your husband Jack, your sons Ophir and Ayal, their wives Tracey and Jacky, your 5 delicious grandchildren, your mother, your sister and her family and all your extended family. This family is very fortunate having you with your strength and capability in their midst. 40 years….the invitation to celebrate with you today made me think of the Israelites wandering in the desert, their difficulties and struggles but finally entering the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey. I know that you too faced hardships along the way, but your successes, your relationships and your contributions are the milk and honey you so well deserve. May you be blessed with continued success, good health and lots of happiness. Chazak V’Amatz! From Bambi Katz Nov 6, 2010