Suzanne Benchimol was born in Meknes, Morocco, to an old Moroccan Jewish family; and emigrated to Canada with her family in 1964. She has been active in the community since that time, in both Sephardic and Ashkenazi contexts. She was president of the Sisterhood of the Petah Tikva Sephardic synagogue for over a decade, for over two decades was active with the women's auxiliary of Baycrest, and is regularly called upon for her expertise in all aspects of traditional life. Suzanne is a happy and active mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother.