Hamilton Jewish News Serving Hamilton Wentworth and Area
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Hamilton Jewish News SERVING HAMILTON WENTWORTH AND AREA JUNE 2010 VOL 24:5/ SIVAN/TAMUZ 5770 AGReeMenT #40007180 AGM hosts senior JAFI official Telling their stories Maxyne Finkelstein to speak on the topic “Does Israel really need our money?” he Hamilt on Jewis h community is invited to T attend UJA Federation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, May 26th, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at the Jewish Community Centre. This AGM marks 75 years of incorporation, a theme that will be a thread throughout community activities during the coming year. Another theme emanating from the meeting is the ongoing chal- lenge of building an inclusive Jewish community. At last year’s AGM, incoming UJA Federation President Dr. Larry Levin made a commitment to do more to Hamilton Jewish Federation’s Holocaust Education Committee held its 12th annual ensure that “our Federation is a Student Symposium on the Holocaust, Confronting the Past for the Sake of the Future place where everyone can feel on May 4, 2010 at Mohawk College. Pictured above are our dedicated Holocaust North American CEO of JAFI ( the Jewish Agency for Israel) Maxyne Finkelstein will give the survivors who shared their personal testimonies with over 900 students. Front Row: that their voices are being heard.” keynote address at UJA Federation’s Annual General Meeting on May 26. Emmy Weisz, Betty Laron, Ed Carter-Edwards, Helene Goldflus, Frank Junger, Ernie Among other matters, Dr. Levin’s Mason, Vera Barany; Back Row: Pinchus Gutter, Nadia Rosa, Max Eisen, Nate Leipciger. report to the community will Missing are Elizabeth Albano and Ora Markstein. deliver an honest assessment of are being raised about whether Award. Established by UJA Feder- Photo courtesy of the Junger Family how far we have come in meet- Diaspora financial support is as ation in 2007, in keeping with its ing that commitment and how far urgently needed in Israel as it once namesake, this award is presented we can go in the next year to do was. In view of the increasingly to a veteran volunteer who has even more. difficult challenge in supporting demonstrated exemplary leader- UJA Campaign Slightly The event’s keynote speaker local Jewish needs, these are valid ship in multiple venues. This year will be Maxyne Finkelstein, CEO concerns. Finkelstein will directly the award will be presented to Dr. of the North American Office of address these and related matters Nadia Rosa for her groundbreak- Ahead of Last Year JAFI, the Jewish Agency for Israel. in her presentation entitled “Does ing work in Holocaust education. ith a few pledges still outstanding, the UJA 2010 campaign JAFI, the global NGO of the world Israel Really Need our Money?” The AGM will also serve as is coming to a close. The campaign has finished ahead of Jewish community, is our global The AGM will also be the a venue to honor some of our Wlast year’s total, but still a little less than its goal of a 5% community’s younger members. overall increase. UJA Federation Executive Director Gerald Fisher Special attention is being given told the HJN that the overall result was typical of small community this year to student and faculty campaigns across North America. Given the remarkable recent development activists at McMaster Univer- Looking ahead, most of this year’s campaign leadership team is sity. Both Federation-supported of Israel’s economy, important questions are returning. UJA Federation President Dr. Larry Levin is delighted that student groups, the Jewish Lisa Morris and Danna Horwood have agreed to return as Co-Chairs being raised about whether Diaspora financial Students Association and Israel of the UJA 2011 Campaign. According to Levin, “We are blessed support is as urgently needed in Israel as it once on Campus will receive letters with two extremely creative, committed and capable young leaders of commendation for their cour- who have risen to the challenge of ensuring a bright Jewish future was... Finkelstein will directly address these and ageous and successful efforts at in Hamilton, in Israel and around the world. We are fortunate to related matters in her presentation entitled promoting a balanced view of welcome them back to the leadership team.” Israel in such a difficult climate. “Does Israel Really Need our Money?” McMaster’s Jewish Faculty Associ- Please join us at the 75th Anniversary ation will be the inaugural recipi- of UJA Federation of Hamilton’s ent of UJA Federation’s Public Service Award for its unwavering Annual General Meeting partner in building the Jewish venue for the presentation of support to Jewish students during State through rescue and relief, the second annual Shem Tov the now annual assault known as Wednesday, May 26, 2010 immigration, training, education Awards. UJA Federation Human Israel Apartheid Week. and social services. JAFI is also the Resources Development Chair UJA Federation president Larry 7:30 pm instrument that partners with the Vivienne Epstein told the HJN Levin said that “This year’s AGM Israeli government for the rescue that her committee created this will serve as an opportunity for at the Jewish Community Centre of Jews in danger. In recent times, award to “provide an opportun- our community to celebrate its it was JAFI that moved one million ity for any Jewish organization accomplishments, honor its Keynote Speaker Russians, 100,000 Ethiopians and in Hamilton to publicly honor current and future leaders, learn Maxyne Finkelstein so many others out of harm’s way a volunteer of their own choos- more about our relationship to and to the safety of the State of ing. The initiative was very well Israel and focus on future chal- C.E.O. Jewish Agency for Israel, North America Israel. received last year and we hope lenges. It’s a lot to accomplish will speak on the topic JAFI is the recipient of all UJA this will quickly turn into a much in 90 minutes but it will be well dollars raised for Israel in Hamil- anticipated, annual Hamilton worth the time invested. I hope Does Israel Really Need Our Money? ton, in Canada and around the community tradition.” that everyone, not only our stake- globe. Given the remarkable As well, the occasion will serve holders in our beneficiary agen- recent development of Israel’s as venue for the presentation of cies, but everyone will make the Details inside economy, important questions the third annual Cece Schreiber effort to join us.” Shem Tov UJA Community Awards Walk for Israel News See page 6 & 7 See page 9 See page 14 & 15 UJA FEDERATION UJA FEDERATION Ontario Holocaust survivors honoured PRESIDENT’S INSidE HJN JUNE 2010 insurance broker inc. DR. LARRY LEVIN, PRESIDENT, Phil Leon UJA FEDERATION OF HAMILTON Est. 1965 t has been just a year since my installation as President of UJA I Federation of Hamilton. At that time I identified several priority David A. Leon, FCIP areas, and made commitments to Vice President address them during my tenure. Jewish Education Supporting Jewish Education 21 Hunter Street East, Suite #103 Bus: 905.525.0001 and Jewish Identity initiatives is P.O. Box 1053 1.800.734.6362 one of four overarching Federation Hamilton, ON Fax: 905.525.1690 priorities. L8N 3R4 [email protected] At the time of my installation, I announced that an initiative was Discount rates available for B’nai Brith members. underway to establish a new, Hamil- Plan underwritten by Novex Group Insurance ton Jewish Middle School. I am delighted to report that the new middle school has been oper- ational for a year, and looks forward to welcoming children from both HHA, Kehila, and indeed all Jewish children, into grade 6 and 7 in September 2010. This achievement was possible because of the willingness of educators and families at both our day schoolsreport to work together to HHA Painting on Display achieve this communal goal. Chava Dena Glaser (the art teacher) and the Grade 5 class at the HHA with their painting of Jacob’s ladder as part of a Hamilton community wide project that will be displayed at the Art Gallery of Hamilton in July and August and then be displayed full time at the Stuart Memorial Hamilton’s Ora Markstein (second row, second from the left) was among 18 Ontario Holocaust survivors honoured by Ontario Premier Federation’s role in this matter was one of facilitation, and encour- Church as part of its175 anniversary celebrations . Hope you get a chance to see it in real life. it’s fabulous! There is a press release / Hamilton Dalton McGuinty on April 27, for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the province of Ontario. All honourees were agement. I am hoping that with ongoing support from UJA Federa- Spectator party tonight at columbia international college. It’s very exciting for our Jewish community to be involved in such a prestigious project! recognized for having endowed the province with their many successful endeavours in family life, culture, business, community tion, the Hamilton Jewish Middle School will continue to grow, affairs and/or politics. They also demonstrated a commitment to Holocaust education, passing the torch of remembrance to future stabilize and become a symbol of what we can achieve when we generations. Markstein, who has been featured in an earlier editions of the Hamilton Jewish News, was born in Rakospalota , Hungary, all work together. in 1924. She survived Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen, became sick with typhoid and was near death. Ten days after the war, Ora and her feature husband barely scraped together a prayer quorum amongst her town’s survivors, and were married. The couple left Hungary in 1946 on Being a More Inclusive Community an illegal transport headed to Germany .