Gerry Willis: A Solel Pathfinder in More Ways Than One
by Larry Englander, February 11, 2021
For those of you who have met Gerry Willis, you know that he has been a Solel member, along with his late wife Nancy (zichrona liv’racha), since the early days of Solel. You also probably know by now that Gerry has given seed funding for us to initiate the Solel Torah Project, in which we’ll create our own Torah Scroll in time for Solel’s 50th anniversary in 2023.
I’d also like you to know another exciting detail. Stuart Englander (yes, my brother) has been interviewing Gerry for quite some time. In order that Gerry’s fascinating story become better known, Stuart has written a biography entitled “Pathfinder: The Remarkable Journey of Gerry Willis.”
Here’s how Stuart describes the book:
This is a story about finding one’s place in the world.
A boy’s dream to travel the world leads him along a path of challenge, adventure, and self-discovery. Gerald Willis left his family farm in New Brunswick as a young boy, and while World War II raged around him, he made personal discoveries that would direct his entire future.
This is a story of purpose, determination, and perseverance in the face of daunting obstacles.
Through his life’s journey, Gerald Willis found connections between his family’s past and his personal circumstances, propelling him on a path to find belonging. Taking each obstacle head-on, Gerry found his way to a community of love and support; a place that will hold him in high esteem for generations.
Most of all, this is a tale of possibility!
When I met Gerry for the first time more than forty-five years ago, I had no inkling how extraordinary this man truly was. For the past two years I’ve had the good fortune to find that out, and in these pages, I tell the story of this man’s remarkable life.
This book is now available on amazon.ca in either paperback or Kindle e-book format. It reads like an adventure novel and gives you a bird’s-eye insight into Gerry’s life.
Enjoy a great read!
Rabbi Englander
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