Gunther Plaut
A refugee rabbi who reshaped modern Jewish thought with a landmark Torah commentary that made ancient texts accessible to everyday people.
1912–2012 (age 100)·German-born Canadian rabbi·Birthday: November 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born in Germany, Gunther Plaut's life was upended by the rise of Nazism, forcing him to flee and eventually find a new home in North America. He settled in Toronto, where he became the spiritual leader of Holy Blossom Temple, one of Canada's most prominent Reform congregations. For decades, his voice blended pastoral warmth with intellectual rigor, guiding his community through the post-war era. His monumental contribution, however, sits on bookshelves worldwide: 'The Torah: A Modern Commentary.' This work, which he edited and co-wrote, broke ground by weaving traditional scholarship with contemporary insights from history, science, and literature, becoming a standard text in synagogues and homes. In his later years, as Senior Scholar, he remained a prolific writer and a moral compass, his own refugee experience deeply informing his advocacy for social justice and interfaith dialogue.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Gunther was born in 1912, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gunther Was Born
The biggest hits of 1912
Gunther's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1912Born
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1917Started school
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Became a teenager
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Could drive
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1930Could vote
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Turned 21
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1942Turned 30
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 40
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 50
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 60
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 70
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 80
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2012Died at 100
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Edited and co-authored 'The Torah: A Modern Commentary,' a foundational text for Reform Judaism and many modern readers.
- Served as senior rabbi of Toronto's Holy Blossom Temple for over two decades, significantly expanding its influence.
- Was appointed a Senior Scholar in 1978, a role he held until his death, continuing his theological work.
- Received the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honor, for his lifetime of service.
Did You Know?
He earned a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Chicago before entering the rabbinate.
During World War II, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army.
He was a founding member of the Committee for Soviet Jewry in Toronto.
His son, Jonathan Plaut, also became a rabbi and author.
“The task of the modern Jew is to live in two civilizations: the general and the Jewish, and to contribute to both.”
