H eadlines
Federation Housing Helps Survivor Move to Canada
is subsidized by the federal
Department of Housing and
Urban Development, manages
1,500 residents across 11
properties, according to Alyssa
Moss, the Federation Housing
social services manager.

“We like to listen to
residents and respond to their
needs,” Moss said.

With Gidaly, organization
employees didn’t just listen.

They went above and beyond.

“I am extremely grateful
for Federation’s assistance
L OCA L
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
PAUL GIDALY IS 96 and a
Holocaust survivor.

And he only wants one
thing in his remaining years:
to live in Canada near his
daughter, son-in-law and two
grandchildren. On Aug. 26, Federation
Housing, a Philadelphia-based
nonprofit, made Gidaly’s wish
its command.

The organization orches-
trated the survivor’s move to
Calgary, near Canada’s west
coast. The next day, Michele
Naftulin, the
property manager with Federation
Housing, called Canyon
Meadows, Gidaly’s new apart-
ment complex.

“They said he’s already
whizzing around on a scooter,”
she said.

Gidaly is happy to be there,
but it’s not exactly heaven
— he is still estranged from
his daughter. And while his
hope is to reconcile, there’s no
guarantee that will happen.

But trying is better than
staying in his lonely, isolated
situation in Philadelphia.

When the pandemic hit,
Gidaly was living alone in a
Federation Housing-managed
apartment building, Center
Park III, on Red Lion Road.

He had lived there since 2005,
and, in recent years, many of
his original friends either died
or moved out.

Gidaly told Naftulin he had
a hole in his heart. He also told
Federation Housing about his
Calgary wish.

The widower knew about
Canyon Meadows from a trip
to Canada two years ago. After
Canada lifted its COVID travel
restrictions in July, Federation
Housing worked with Gidaly
to buy a plane ticket, sign a
lease and ship 18 UPS boxes
containing all his possessions.

Gidaly, who was already vacci-
nated, was able to travel after
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM throughout the entire process,”
Gidaly said.

“Including planning, organizing and
financing my final wish.”
The survivor has lived in six
countries: Hungary, Canada,
Israel, the U.S., Austria
and England. He is also an
active traveler who knows six
languages: German, English,
Hebrew, French, Italian and
Latin. But he wanted to settle
down in Calgary as early as
the spring of 2020. Gidaly even
tried to get a flight out, but
then COVID hit.

And once he was finally able
to book a flight, the accoun-
tant by trade was organized
and ready; his passport and
identification cards were all
current. “He was on the ball,”
Naftulin said. “I admired his
determination to get out there,
and he made it.” l
jsaffren@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740
Montefi ore Cemetery Company
Paul Gidaly, sitting, waits at
Philadelphia International Airport
on Aug. 26 before his flight to
Canada. He is surrounded by
Jewish Federation employees who
helped make his trip happen.

Photo by Alyssa Moss
taking a COVID test.

Even though Federation
Housing will no longer watch
over Gidaly in Canada, he will
receive $500 a month toward
rent from the Franklin B. Haaz
Holocaust Rental Assistance
Program. “I look forward to being
near family. I am excited to
make new friendships,” Gidaly
said. “The pandemic made me
feel so isolated.”
He hopes the move is the
end of a long journey.

Gidaly was born in
Budapest, Hungary, in 1925.

After losing his father in the
Holocaust, Gidaly immigrated
to Canada with his mother and
sister. He married during his
initial stay there, and the
couple had a daughter. Later
they divorced, and Gidaly met
his second wife, Eva, in Israel.

Eventually, they relocated
to Philadelphia, where they
lived out the rest of their years
together. After Eva died, Gidaly
moved into Center Park III, an
affordable housing community
for seniors.

Federation Housing, which
From our family to yours,
we wish you a very
Happy & Healthy
New Year!
L’Shanah Tovah
Let Montefi ore Cemetery help you protect your loved ones
from overwhelming decisions and expenses.

And, as always, 0% Interest on all pre-arrangements.

ONTEFIORE C EMETERY C OMPANY
Serving the Jewish Community…Preserving Our Tradition
600 Church Road • Jenkintown, PA 19046 • 215-663-1250
www.montefi ore.us
JEWISH EXPONENT
SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
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