W. Gunther Plaut was born in Germany, but in 1935 fled the Nazis for the United States, where he became a rabbi. He served pulpits in Chicago and St. Paul, and from 1661-1977 was Senior Rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Upon his retirement, he was appointed Senior Scholar. He has been President of the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and from 1978 to 1985 served as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Rabbi Plaut has received nineteen honorary degrees and is a Companion of the Order of Canada. He has published twenty-five books, including his magnum opus: The Torah: A Modern Commentary.