North Bay's Jewish Community continues to be humbled by the efforts made by North Bay businessman Tom Richardson and are publicly saying "Toda raba" to its mensch: "Thank you very much."
Richardson, who is not a member of the Jewish community, created a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising enough money to renovate the aging synagogue located on the corner of McIntyre Street West and Cassells Street in North Bay.
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His initiative raised $8,500 for the cause and by late October the painting and renovations to the windows were nearly complete.
"A 'Mensch' is a particularly good person who can be relied on to act with honour and integrity, but the Yiddish term means more than that: it also suggests someone who is kind and considerate, who goes out of his way to help others," the Sons of Jacob Synagogue congregation stated.
"Tom Richardson did a mitzvah for both our congregation and the city.
"Not out of a sense of duty but with a joyous heart, he asked for permission to revitalize the eyesore that was the outside of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue located on the corner of McIntyre and Cassells.
"After Tom received donations through a GoFundMe website, he single-handedly obtained free and reduced-cost paint from Stewart’s Decorating, arranged a free lift from United Rentals for three weeks, paying only for delivery and pick up in lieu of the $2500.00 weekly rental cost and got a reduced rate for the electrical lights that will be installed on Cassells, plus arranged for Mike Foisy to give his expertise and brickwork gratis. This was only the legwork.
"In all kinds of weather, Tom Richardson himself, working in sections, scraped and cleaned each brick before painting the entire building. His generosity to the Jewish community and to the beautification of the city cannot be measured by any normal means.
Tom, the Jewish community is beyond grateful. A simple, 'Thank you' is not enough.
"You are a true 'Mensch.' The Jewish community and the city thank you," the congregation concluded.
The Sons of Jacob Synagogue is considered the oldest synagogue north of Toronto still in use as a place of worship.
According to the synagogue site, it was built in 1913 as a grocery store, then transitioned into a hardware store and later a furniture store.
The first services in the historic building as a synagogue were held in 1925, the year North Bay was incorporated as a city.
