OTTO BARUCH RAND passed away on Monday, January 25th, 2021 at the age of 88, joining his beloved wife Jackie and son Roy in Olam HaBah. The loving brother to David Dinur, father of Micah and Dan Rand, father-in-law of Lee and Paula Rand. Devoted saba of Shaya and Shira, Sasha, Gedaliah and Bayla, Nikki and Robbie, Hillel and Elisheva, Jared, Miriam and Shmuel, Aaron, Bailey, Benyamin. Dear great-grandfather of Michoel and Akiva; Moshe, Leah and Yehudis; Eliezer; Elianna and Talia. Respected educator to thousands of students around the globe – from Israel to Ecuador to North America.

Otto had a fascinating life.  After escaping the Holocaust in Czechoslovakia, he went on to inspire change in Jewish communities around the world. One of his proudest accomplishments includes founding the Toronto Heschel School, the first arts-based, interdenominational, egalitarian Jewish day school in the city. Among many other things, Otto will be remembered for his passion for learning (particularly about ancient Jewish history), his go-getter attitude and resilience, his progressive thinking, his incredible ability to make friends wherever he goes, and his aspirational sense of adventure.

Otto has left a lasting impact on his family, friends and the communities that he has been a part of. In addition to the legacy of his family, Otto has left us with books that he’s authored on Ancient Civilizations, “Some Angels Speak French” about his experience in the Holocaust, and, most recently, “Reflections at Dusk,” which chronicles his life experiences and how they informed his personal concept of G-d.   

Memorial donations may be made to Ezer Mizion Canada at https://www.ezermizion.ca/donate/

This service will be livestreamed on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at http://smclive.ca