February 21, 2024
Rabbi Debra Dressler
Rabbi Debra Dressler has been the spiritual leader of Temple Israel since 2010, following her ordination from Hebrew Union College--Cincinnati in 2009. Originally a native of Lansing, Michigan, she spent her not entirely misguided youth on the American east coast, graduating from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and then working in magazine circulation and non-profit direct marketing before beginning her career in the Jewish community in 1997. In a prior life, Rabbi Dressler played the cello, varsity lettered on the math team, and even did a variety of needlework; however, she is grateful that her rabbinate does not rely on any of those now-lapsed skills.
Rabbi Dressler’s rabbinic thesis was titled, “Refugee Rabbis from Nazi Germany in America.” She has particularly enjoyed studying and teaching about the development of Reform Judaism and women in the rabbinate. In addition to her work at Temple Israel, Rabbi Dressler has been deeply involved in the London interfaith community, in particular the Muslim and Christian communities, establishing such programs as the London Interfaith Peace Camp, recipient of the 2016 London Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Award (Youth Category).
Rabbi Dressler has thoroughly enjoyed settling in London with her two younger children, and became a proud Canadian citizen in 2019. Her oldest, a lawyer, lives with her husband in the Boston area.
February 28, 2024
Dwejendra Doobay
Pandit Dwejendra (Dev) Doobay was born in Guyana and shortly after graduating from the University of Guyana, he came to Canada in 1991 and became the first full time priest at the London Hindu Cultural Society London Ontario where he continued his studies in Sanskrit and Vedanta. He completed his masters at University of Western Ontario. Pt Doobay has worked as a college teacher and continues to lecture at the Fanshawe College London Ontario as well as at UWO. Pandit Doobay regularly represents the Hindu Community at many interfaith events.
March 6, 2024
The Venerable Sam Thomas
Sam was born into the Syro-Malabar Thomas Christian family in Kerala, India with the ancient tradition which claims it roots to disciple Thomas. He emigrated to Canada in his late teen years and studied at Huron, Western University. He was ordained in 1985 as an Anglican priest for the Diocese of Huron and retired in 2022 from parish ministry. However, he continues to work for the Diocese as Territorial Archdeacon for the region of Sarnia (Lambton) and London. This has exposed him to the life of many parishes in his region and has come to appreciate the challenges and opportunities that are awaiting the church. As an Archdeacon, Sam offers counsel to the Bishop of Huron on the ministry possibilities that will enhance the Diocese. In addition to all of these duties, Sam has been working at Huron University College with seminarians on their spiritual formation.
March 13, 2024
Imam Abd Alfatah Twakkal
Imam Abd Alfatah Twakkal was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. He holds a BA Honours in Religious Studies, a BSc in Zoology, and a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies. Imam Twakkal has been engaged for several years in many aspects of interfaith dialogue, the media, youth and family counseling and outreach. He lives in London, Ontario where he served as the Imam of the London Muslim Mosque for four years and its Director of Community Outreach and Engagement until June of 2018. He has been serving as the Muslim Chaplain for the London Police Services since July of 2018 and also volunteers as a chaplain and spiritual care worker with the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre and the London Health Sciences Centre. When the attack on Our London Family took place in June of 2021, Imam Twakkal was deeply engaged on various levels in the community response to this horrific crime. He serves on several Equity, Diversity and Inclusion advisory committees as a community faith leader. In January of 2022, he was appointed as the first Muslim Chaplain for the RCMP “O” Division. Since 2018, he has been working full-time at a non-religious social service family support agency, the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration in London, Ontario, serving as their Intercultural Community Relations Coordinator, offering faith-based support in a social service context.
March 20, 2024
Sarvarinder Dohil
Through his volunteer work with Guru Nanak Mission Society, where he currently serves as President, Sarvarinder has shown amazing leadership in helping his fellow Londoners.
He believes that no one should sleep hungry, and has worked to build partnerships with organizations across the City to serve meals to people in need, enlisting volunteers to help serve more than 500 meals in a single day at shelters around our community. He has also brought together London businesses to sponsor free pizza drives and other free meal drives in our community. Despite COVID-19 lockdowns, Sarvarinder continued to lead a strong team of volunteers to ensure they could keep providing hot meals for those in need.
Sarvarinder has also organized blood donation drives, tree planting, and more. He serves as an outstanding example for everyone who would like to make a difference in their community.
March 27, 2024
Kwaku Asumadu
Kwaku Asumadu, is from Ghana, West Africa. he is married with three children who currently reside outside of Canada. Kwaku has a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies (Economics and Geography) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a Master of Arts in Theology (Leadership) from Akrofi Christeller Institute of Theology Missions and Culture, Akropong-Akwapem, Ghana. He is currently taking a Master of Divinity at Huron College at Western University. Kwaku has worked as a banker, an entrepreneur, and a resident pastor before coming to Canada. He has also served as a missionary within Ghana and other parts of Africa, mainly in Siera Leon, in the year 2016. Kwaku loves spending time listening to music and preaching on podcasts. I’ve is a student member of the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care, and is in his second CPE unit at St. Joseph Health Care London. Kwaku currently resides in Byron village, here in London