Michael Kerzner
Entrepreneur, Ontario PC Party Candidate
Michael, can you please introduce yourself to our readers.
I'm an Ontario Progressive Conservative party candidate for York Centre. I am proud that I have been an active member of the Jewish commmunity for over twenty-five years, and I believe that the most important thing in life is to try to be “a mench” – a decent person, that we should take care of each other, sharing sorrows and joys.
Where does your family come from? What role did Judaism plan in their lives?
My father's parents, Sam and Sarah Kerzner, emigrated to Canada in 1930 from Stopnica, Poland. My grandmother, Sara, insisted on leaving Poland. In my grandfather's family, everyone was killed during the Holocaust. My grandfather and grandmother were religious Jews who observed all traditions. They had to work very hard to adapt in Toronto.
My maternal grandfather, Murray Penwick, was born in Toronto. After graduating from the University of Toronto, he received a degree in Pharmacology, and later opened a pharmacy on Vaughan Road. My maternal grandmother, Tilly Penwick, is from England. She emigrated to Canada in her youth, got married, and helped her husband run a pharmacy. They were Orthodox Jews and were members of the Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue.
Who are your parents by profession? Tell us about them.
My parents are Max and Dolly Kerzner, who are, thank G‑d, both alive and well. My father was a chartered accountant who worked in accounting for many years before starting his own business. My mother, who graduated from the University of Toronto, was raising her four children and helping her father in his business. They are members of the Beth Tzedek Synagogue. My parents have always supported us, their children, in everything, and sincerely believed that everyone should contribute to the prosperity of the Jewish community.
Where did you study and work?
In the late 1980s, I enrolled in York University and received a bachelor's degree with honors. After university I started helping my father and his brother, Joe Kerzner, in their joint construction business. I learned how to manage the complex process of building commercial buildings. But then I abruptly changed my field of interest. In 2015, together with my friend, I started doing genetic testing at DNALabs Canada. I have always considered myself an entrepreneur, and am interested in innovative and promising ideas.
How did you and your wife meet?
In 1995, I was invited to the company of close friends of my parents (who turned out to be cousins of my future wife). There I met Rochelle. She was (and remains) very independent and always defends her point of view on important issues of principle. Her family took an active part in the life of the Beth David Synagogue community. My wife and I have many similar views, but above all, we both believe that it is necessary to help those in need. My wife and I have been together for almost twenty-six years, and no one has supported my desire to give back to the community like Rochelle.
We enjoy traveling and visiting new places together. We especially wanted to visit Israel, which we did in 2013. Since then, we have tried our best to return there every year and feel at home there. On our last visit, in 202, we rented a car for the first time and drove around Israel like real Israelis. It was wonderful. Israel is our favorite place to travel with our kids.
Have you ever encountered manifestations of anti-Semitism?
Oddly enough, recently we have witnessed manifestations of aggression against Jews. During the election campaign, going from house to house, from apartment to apartment, we knocked on doors, and some asked: “Are you a Jew?” I always answer, “Yes, I am a Jew and proud of it.” Several times in response I heard an insulting: “Jew!” But we - my family and members of my team - take our identity very seriously and are proud to be Jewish. Our home is a Jewish home. I would also say that in the past we have felt aggression from some of the people with whom we have dealt with our Jewishness. And it was a manifestation of disgusting discrimination.
Just a few weeks ago, at the Passover table, we read in the Haggadah: “What is this service you have?” This question, unchanged for centuries, is an attempt by the younger generation to understand the elders and better appreciate what the heritage they have inherited. What are we doing to change our lives? I feel compelled to help our community address urgent Jewish needs – to secure effective funding for Jewish education, including pre-school, and to be vigilant against those who seek to divide us in our fight against anti-Semitism. I advocate finding a way to help those in need. I am a proud Jew who is possibly the first person to wear a kippah at all times in the Legislative Assembly, who went to a Jewish day school for education, who attends synagogue, who serves the community and believes in service above self. This is what our Haggadah teaches us, and I live by it.
