Title: Six lives: a memoir. Author: Marmur, Dow Six lives 212 p. Publisher: Toronto : Key Porter Bks, 2004

Wehrfritz-Hanson, Garth

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 32Issue 1 Cultural Reception of the Gospel Article 175-1-2007Six lives: a memoirGarth Wehrfritz-HansonFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationWehrfritz-Hanson, Garth (2007) "Six lives: a memoir," Consensus: Vol. 32 : Iss. 1 , Article 17.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/17certain possibility of forgiving and loving in humanity. The book closeswith an epilogue that sums up nicely the carefully wrought findings ofLéon-Dufour’s critical investigations.I found the work and the topic refreshing. From the standpointboth of contemporary Christian proclamation and engagement in theworld, this kind of study is of great importance. While I am less fondof viewing the problem as a kind of sweeping Biblical theological one(especially since such orientations tend to level distinctions betweenvarious texts and traditions), it is worthy of careful theologicalconsideration – and any good theology of the gospel (or here, a kindof “theological ethic of the gospel”) should make account of theBiblical materials. Theologically, I found the repeated appeals to asynergy between God and humanity a little distracting. In actuality, thevery theocentric orientation of Léon-Dufour’s view of the gospelmade the synergistic tag somewhat less than apt. In the end, he himselfmakes it all hinge on a God who comes, forgives, and loves. What hedescribes may be less synergistic than he thinks (especially judging bythe number of the favorable quotes from Augustine toward the end ofthe book). Even with these disagreements, however, I recommend thebook for wider reading. For anyone who has to think about therelationship of Biblical texts to a theology of the gospel and the waythat gospel enables action – and what preacher doesn’t! – this book isa very helpful conversation partner.David Schnasa JacobsenWaterloo Lutheran Seminary, WaterlooToronto School of TheologySix Lives: A MemoirDow MarmurToronto: Key Porter Books, 2004212 pages, $26.95 SoftcoverDow Marmur was most recently known as senior rabbi of one of theworld’s largest Reform synagogues, Holy Blossom Temple inToronto, which he served from 1983 to 2000. That institution, with itssix to seven thousand members, is perhaps the most influentialReform synagogue in Canada.148 ConsensusPublished by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007The first thing about this book that caught my attention is thetitle; it is an apt description of Rabbi Marmur’s life journey. Thechapter titles also reveal the author’s distinct pilgrimage: “Poland:Beginnings, Soviet Union: Exile, Sweden: Refuge, England:Vocation, Canada: Challenge, and Israel: Homecoming.” AlthoughMarmur was born in Poland, an only child, he and his parents fled theNazis to live in the Soviet Union Republic of Uzbekistan for fiveyears. Life was very difficult there; exiles like the Marmur family hadto steal food in order to survive. Dow, although a young boy at thetime, took on an adult role in his community, since he had learned theUzbekish language quite well and served as an interpreter. After World War Two, the family moved to Sweden, whereDow’s parents settled for the rest of their lives. His parents weresecular Jews, therefore not overly happy when Dow decided to moveto England, where he studied for the Reform rabbinate at London’sLeo Baeck College. Prior to this move, Dow met and married FredziaZonabend, a Holocaust survivor of Ravensbruck concentration camp,who, with her family, also had settled in Sweden.After Marmur completed his studies at Leo Baeck College, heserved as an ordained pulpit rabbi of two Reform synagogues in London.These were happy and fulfilling years, where the Marmurs raised theirthree children and they resided for more than a quarter century.After this, the Marmurs were up to the challenge of moving toCanada where Dow served Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple Reformsynagogue. (It was not an easy move for their children. Both daughterseventually chose to move back to England and pursue careers inpalliative care nursing and acting. Their son made aliyah and lives inIsrael, where he is a rabbi and dean of a Reform theological college.)Under Marmur’s leadership, Holy Blossom Temple was able tosuccessfully navigate through several conflicts and changes – includingnew liturgies and worship books, practicing kashruth, wearingheadgear, revitalizing the youth and offering significant educationalprograms for members of all ages, becoming involved in social activismthrough projects like “Out of the Cold” for Toronto’s homeless, andengaging in interfaith dialogue with Christians and other faith traditions. After serving Holy Blossom Temple as senior rabbi for seventeenyears, the Marmurs realised that it was time for a change so theyofficially retired and made aliyah. They now reside for half of theyear in Jerusalem and in Canada for the other half-year. Book Reviews 149http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/17As we journey along with Marmur, we learn of his survivor’s guilt, hispersistent feelings of inadequacy and struggles with identity. He observesthat there are basically two kinds of rabbis: “cat rabbis” and “dog rabbis.”Cat rabbis are introverts; they prefer a life of solitude and scholarship. Dograbbis are extroverts; they prefer to be in the limelight and serve peoplewell. Although Marmur spent most of his rabbinate in the synagogue, heclaims that he appreciates times of solitude, reading a good book.In order to compensate for his inferior feelings, he became aworkaholic, deeply involving himself with several high-profileinternational Reform organisations, writing a few books, teachingcourses in Judaism in a Toronto theological college, and engaging ininterfaith dialogue and social action projects. This was all in additionto his full-time duties as senior rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple. One thing I appreciated about the memoir was Marmur’sdetermination to write with honesty – his “tell it like it was/is” style –yet without rancour. He tells of synagogue members who, at first,adamantly opposed his leadership, only to eventually, by the grace ofGod, changed their hearts and minds and become his loyal supporters.Some praised him as a person of conviction and a courageous leader,as well as a distinguished preacher and teacher; but he describes hiscourage more as the fear of failure than anything else. The last chapter,entitled “Afterthoughts,” extends that confessional tone, as hehonestly examines some of his motives that determined the path of hislife. A final chapter, written by his wife and titled “Coda ‘My Luck’by Fredzia Marmur,” rounds out the memoir. She makes the point thathad it not been for her work and support, and in numerous cases thesacrifices she made, husband Dow would never had been able topursue many of his involvements as rabbi of three synagogues.Throughout the memoir, one can see God’s grace working in andthrough people and events, filling Rabbi Marmur’s life with countlessblessings. The last two sentences of his chapter “Afterthoughts” arevery telling: “Mine has indeed been a rich and rewarding life. I thankGod for it daily” (199). Hopefully those who read this memoir cansay the same thing.Garth Wehrfritz-HansonGrace Lutheran Church and The Good Samaritan Society’s SouthRidge Village, Medicine Hat, Alberta 150 ConsensusPublished by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007

Six lives: a memoir

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 32
Issue 1 Cultural Reception of the Gospel Article 17
5-1-2007
Six lives: a memoir
Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Wehrfritz-Hanson, Garth (2007) "Six lives: a memoir," Consensus: Vol. 32 : Iss. 1 , Article 17.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/17
certain possibility of forgiving and loving in humanity. The book closes
with an epilogue that sums up nicely the carefully wrought findings of
Léon-Dufour’s critical investigations.
I found the work and the topic refreshing. From the standpoint
both of contemporary Christian proclamation and engagement in the
world, this kind of study is of great importance. While I am less fond
of viewing the problem as a kind of sweeping Biblical theological one
(especially since such orientations tend to level distinctions between
various texts and traditions), it is worthy of careful theological
consideration – and any good theology of the gospel (or here, a kind
of “theological ethic of the gospel”) should make account of the
Biblical materials. Theologically, I found the repeated appeals to a
synergy between God and humanity a little distracting. In actuality, the
very theocentric orientation of Léon-Dufour’s view of the gospel
made the synergistic tag somewhat less than apt. In the end, he himself
makes it all hinge on a God who comes, forgives, and loves. What he
describes may be less synergistic than he thinks (especially judging by
the number of the favorable quotes from Augustine toward the end of
the book). Even with these disagreements, however, I recommend the
book for wider reading. For anyone who has to think about the
relationship of Biblical texts to a theology of the gospel and the way
that gospel enables action – and what preacher doesn’t! – this book is
a very helpful conversation partner.
David Schnasa Jacobsen
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Waterloo
Toronto School of Theology
Six Lives: A Memoir
Dow Marmur
Toronto: Key Porter Books, 2004
212 pages, $26.95 Softcover
Dow Marmur was most recently known as senior rabbi of one of the
world’s largest Reform synagogues, Holy Blossom Temple in
Toronto, which he served from 1983 to 2000. That institution, with its
six to seven thousand members, is perhaps the most influential
Reform synagogue in Canada.
148 Consensus
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007
The first thing about this book that caught my attention is the
title; it is an apt description of Rabbi Marmur’s life journey. The
chapter titles also reveal the author’s distinct pilgrimage: “Poland:
Beginnings, Soviet Union: Exile, Sweden: Refuge, England:
Vocation, Canada: Challenge, and Israel: Homecoming.” Although
Marmur was born in Poland, an only child, he and his parents fled the
Nazis to live in the Soviet Union Republic of Uzbekistan for five
years. Life was very difficult there; exiles like the Marmur family had
to steal food in order to survive. Dow, although a young boy at the
time, took on an adult role in his community, since he had learned the
Uzbekish language quite well and served as an interpreter. 
After World War Two, the family moved to Sweden, where
Dow’s parents settled for the rest of their lives. His parents were
secular Jews, therefore not overly happy when Dow decided to move
to England, where he studied for the Reform rabbinate at London’s
Leo Baeck College. Prior to this move, Dow met and married Fredzia
Zonabend, a Holocaust survivor of Ravensbruck concentration camp,
who, with her family, also had settled in Sweden.
After Marmur completed his studies at Leo Baeck College, he
served as an ordained pulpit rabbi of two Reform synagogues in London.
These were happy and fulfilling years, where the Marmurs raised their
three children and they resided for more than a quarter century.
After this, the Marmurs were up to the challenge of moving to
Canada where Dow served Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple Reform
synagogue. (It was not an easy move for their children. Both daughters
eventually chose to move back to England and pursue careers in
palliative care nursing and acting. Their son made aliyah and lives in
Israel, where he is a rabbi and dean of a Reform theological college.)
Under Marmur’s leadership, Holy Blossom Temple was able to
successfully navigate through several conflicts and changes – including
new liturgies and worship books, practicing kashruth, wearing
headgear, revitalizing the youth and offering significant educational
programs for members of all ages, becoming involved in social activism
through projects like “Out of the Cold” for Toronto’s homeless, and
engaging in interfaith dialogue with Christians and other faith traditions. 
After serving Holy Blossom Temple as senior rabbi for seventeen
years, the Marmurs realised that it was time for a change so they
officially retired and made aliyah. They now reside for half of the
year in Jerusalem and in Canada for the other half-year. 
Book Reviews 149
http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/17
As we journey along with Marmur, we learn of his survivor’s guilt, his
persistent feelings of inadequacy and struggles with identity. He observes
that there are basically two kinds of rabbis: “cat rabbis” and “dog rabbis.”
Cat rabbis are introverts; they prefer a life of solitude and scholarship. Dog
rabbis are extroverts; they prefer to be in the limelight and serve people
well. Although Marmur spent most of his rabbinate in the synagogue, he
claims that he appreciates times of solitude, reading a good book.
In order to compensate for his inferior feelings, he became a
workaholic, deeply involving himself with several high-profile
international Reform organisations, writing a few books, teaching
courses in Judaism in a Toronto theological college, and engaging in
interfaith dialogue and social action projects. This was all in addition
to his full-time duties as senior rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple. 
One thing I appreciated about the memoir was Marmur’s
determination to write with honesty – his “tell it like it was/is” style –
yet without rancour. He tells of synagogue members who, at first,
adamantly opposed his leadership, only to eventually, by the grace of
God, changed their hearts and minds and become his loyal supporters.
Some praised him as a person of conviction and a courageous leader,
as well as a distinguished preacher and teacher; but he describes his
courage more as the fear of failure than anything else. The last chapter,
entitled “Afterthoughts,” extends that confessional tone, as he
honestly examines some of his motives that determined the path of his
life. A final chapter, written by his wife and titled “Coda ‘My Luck’
by Fredzia Marmur,” rounds out the memoir. She makes the point that
had it not been for her work and support, and in numerous cases the
sacrifices she made, husband Dow would never had been able to
pursue many of his involvements as rabbi of three synagogues.
Throughout the memoir, one can see God’s grace working in and
through people and events, filling Rabbi Marmur’s life with countless
blessings. The last two sentences of his chapter “Afterthoughts” are
very telling: “Mine has indeed been a rich and rewarding life. I thank
God for it daily” (199). Hopefully those who read this memoir can
say the same thing.
Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson
Grace Lutheran Church and The Good Samaritan Society’s South
Ridge Village, 
Medicine Hat, Alberta 
150 Consensus
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007


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