Remembering Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro z”l
Submitted by: Jill Hertzman
It is with sadness and heartache that I write this, a tribute to Mark Shapiro, my friend, for a short time my rabbi, and the husband of my dearest friend. Mark — principled, sensitive, joyful, funny, a touch of mischief, a passion for tapping into our Jewish past and present, with the intent of securing the future.
Mark died on Tuesday, July 21, at his home in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, a few months after reaching his 70th birthday. He succumbed to a rare disease of the brain, which slowly diminished his physical and cognitive ability. He leaves his wife Marsha and sons Daniel and Jordan. The decision was made to bring Mark home to Toronto and the graveside funeral took place on Sunday morning in the Holy Blossom section of Pardes Shalom.
Marsha and Mark, both Torontonians, were married shortly before leaving for the first year at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, followed by four years of study at the HUC campus in Cincinnati. Those close to him were delighted that, after graduation and a joyful Semicha/Ordination weekend, Mark would begin his career at Holy Blossom Temple as Assistant Rabbi. He loved being part of a large synagogue and all that a prominent, respected, and well-run organization offers. It did set the tone — in fact was a springboard — for the rest of his Rabbinate. Work was stimulating and fun with colleagues like Cantors Sheldon Merel and Beny Maissner, Rabbis Harvey Fields, Jim Prosnit, Steve Garten, and of course his esteemed office next-door neighbour, Rabbi/Senior Scholar Gunther Plaut. Mark was continually amazed by the volume of correspondence that came across Rabbi Plaut’s desk and how ably he managed it.
Mark served HBT from July 1977 to December 1982. He was high energy, hardworking, and drawn into every aspect of congregational duties. He had an infectious laugh, a playful sense of humour, decency and kindness toward every cohort in the synagogue. No detail escaped his eye. His sermons were thoughtful, articulate and warmly delivered. He was constantly reading, writing, studying, thinking – he loved it all and thrived. Evenings were filled with meetings, programs, Hebrew and Senior School, weekends with Shabbat services and Religious School (fortunately for us, he was a wonderful teacher and storyteller). Here was my window into the demands of a congregational rabbi. Though Marsha was busy with graduate school and work, Mark’s schedule allowed me to steal some extra time with her.
He wanted to draw in younger congregants, ages 25 to 35, and created programs that were well attended and received. We had never built a succah at home, until Mark inspired us to.
He was troubled by the plight of the Vietnamese “Boat People” and encouraged a small group of congregants to sponsor a refugee family. In fact, there was recently a reunion with that family at a Temple reception, linking their lives to the synagogue’s current efforts on behalf of Syrian refugees.
Mark, together with Alan Bardikoff (then a Ph.D. candidate at OISE), was asked to chair a new initiative, the Holocaust Education Committee. (I was privileged to help draft a bibliography of source material.) The committee’s focus and reach went beyond the Jewish community to the general community, and into the school system. It laid the groundwork for the new curriculum and for Holocaust Education Week, which continues to this day, a week-long event each November, with the most impressive and comprehensive programs in multiple venues.
The Shapiro family moved to White Plains, New York for his next posting at Woodlands Community Temple, and then in 1988 to Springfield, Mass, for his long tenure at Sinai Temple, where he continued to grow and shine in his congregation and beyond. Look on your bookshelf and you may find a copy of his book, The Gates of Shabbat.
The title of Rabbi Emeritus was conferred in 2016 upon his retirement. And then came a surprising offer Mark couldn’t resist: he was asked and agreed to become the Rabbi in Residence at the Episcopal Church of Springfield. What a marvellous way to strengthen interfaith relations and share his gifts of Jewish knowledge, teaching, and homiletics.
In the last few years, when Rabbi Yael Splansky knew the Shapiros would be visiting in Toronto, she invited Mark to lead Torah study, a treat for him and a chance not only for the “old-timers” to reconnect but for newer people to experience Mark’s lens into text and poetry.
I’ll end on two personal notes. First, what I observed and admired for as long as I knew Mark Shapiro was the way he cared for, honoured and loved his parents, his children, his extended family (from the youngest to the oldest) and most especially, Marsha. Second, he was the only person who called me Jilly, and it always made me smile. But that was Mark, he knew the way to make you smile and warm your heart.
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Submitted by Judy Winberg, Past President
Mark and I were childhood friends at Camp Wahanowin and through high school at York Mills Collegiate. I remember him as a kind and thoughtful friend. I also remember that Mark was funny and talented, often landing lead roles in camp and school productions. He could engage an audience even then.
When Mark and Marsha moved from Toronto we kept in touch through family friends and usually had at least one summer visit.
Holy Blossom Temple was always special to Mark not only because he was a Torontonian but especially since this was his first rabbinic posting. In more recent years Mark and I had conversations about the progress of the Temple renewal project and I know that he followed the HBT website to keep up on significant events.
Most recently when our son and future daughter in law were planning their wedding it turned out that none of the rabbis at Holy Blossom were available on the date that they chose. With Rabbi Splansky’s blessing, I reached out to Rabbi Mark and invited him to come to perform the ceremony.
While Mark, as a Reform rabbi in Massachusetts could officiate there, the province of Ontario required that he be licensed locally. With the help of the CCRJ (Canadian Council for Reform Judaism) Mark’s papers finally arrived the day before the wedding.
Mark spent time preparing with the bride and groom and given the close family ties and his personal warmth and good humour Mark enveloped us all in a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. We were so honoured to have “Rabbi Uncle Mark” with us for that special Simcha.
When preparing thoughts about a revered rabbi who has passed we often turn to the Torah for inspiration. For me, Shakespeare comes to mind. Mark, in grade 9 as Malvolio in Twelfth Night proclaimed that ….…”Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. And some have greatness thrust upon them.”
Mark Shapiro clearly achieved greatness in his life as a husband, father, son, brother-in-law, uncle, friend and esteemed rabbi. We all mourn his loss.
May his memory be for a blessing.
I first met Mark Shapiro long before he became a Rabbi when he worked summers in the X-ray library at Mount Sinai Hospital (his father was chief of that department). While he was Assistant Rabbi at Holy Blossom he asked if I would chant Torah at the Shabbat lay minion we had at that time. The rest is history and for that I will always be grateful to Mark. I was saddened to hear of his passing. I will remember him as a fine person and a real mensch.
I cannot explain why I decided to look up Mark today. I knew he had been the Rabbi at Holly Blossom many years back. Much like you, I too met Mark at Mt.Sinai and knew his father, Dr. Bernie Shapiro well along with Dr. Marvin Steinhart. My late father was a Thoracic Surgeon at Sinai and often on a Sat would go with him to the hospital. While he did rounds, Bernie and Marvin would keep us busy, teaching us about x-rays…showing us (me and my older sister) what they would look for on the film…When Dad was finished we’d go have lumpy oatmeal in the cafeteria. I had no idea that he had passed away. My condolences to his family,friends, congragants and all who knew him, like yourself. May He Rest Peacefully in Gan Eden.
Maurice and I are profoundly saddened by the untimely death of Rabbi Mark Shapiro. Many, many years ago we were part of a tightly knit group called the “Young Congregants”. A chavurah guided by Mark and Marsha through study, retreats and family events. His gentle humour and kindness linked us for a very long time that lasted long after they moved to the States. None of us will forget the sadness when he left but also the fun we had at a big send-off party. Others have praised his many qualities but for us it was that rare ability to bring people together. Our thoughts are with Marsha and the boys and we will miss you, dear Mark.
Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro was a Rabbi at Holy Blossom when i was the Executive Director and we had an excellent relationship. i was also privileged to be the Secretary of the CCLC when his Dad, Bernie, was the president. Mark will be sorely missed by all who knew him as an exceptional, sensitive person and my heart goes out to Marsha and the boys in their sad loss.
I was so saddened to hear of Rabbi Mark Shapiro’s passing. We first met him at a meeting to discuss the plight of Vietnamese refugees. He spoke to the group in such a knowledgeable, caring, and gentle way, such that each person attending pledged support and volunteered as best as they could to help. Whenever we would see him at the Temple, he would always welcome us with a smile, talking to us on a personal level. After he left for White Plains, he continued to follow news of HBT congregants and sent me meaningful notes of sympathy when each of my parents passed away. He was a true mensch and will be missed and remembered fondly by all those whose lives he touched. My sincerest condolences to Marsha and her family.