High Fashion HHA Reunion It’s more affordable 50 years of beautiful days P11 than you think P10 Hamilton Jewish News THE JEWISH VOICE OF HAMILTON FEBRUARY 2011 VOL 25:3/ ADAR I & II, 5711 AGREEMENT #40007180 Pulling back the We’re getting there! curtain on Federation UJA CAMPAIGN EDGES CLOSE TO ITS GOAL decision making OF $1.15 MILLION UJA Federation, as our central diligently, within the framework of communal organization, is its mission, to build and strengthen committed to building a strong, our Jewish community in many vibrant and enduring Jewish ways. Because much of this work community in the greater Hamilton takes place behind the scenes and region, in Israel and throughout the value and impact of this work the world. Federation is guided may not always be apparent to the by the values of Tikkun Olam – community, we have prepared a repairing the world, and by Klal summary of the issues addressed Yisrael – the responsibility of each by our over the last three months. Jew for another. UJA Federation’s You can find the report on page 9. board of directors works very Photo special to the Hamilton Jewish News irst the good news. The UJA 2011 campaign is well ahead of where it was at this time last year. According to UJA Assistant Campaign Direc- tor, Christine Nusca the positive result can be attributed to a combina- tion of working with a strong and dedicated campaign cabinet headed by campaign co-chairs Danna Horwood and Lisa Morris, and the wide- spread participation of UJA beneficiary agencies. “These factors have made all the difference,”F she said. Photo special to the Hamilton Jewish News This year’s Campaign Cabinet set the tone whom we can turn for support”, said Morris, early on by holding a series of telethons led “but we feel confident that, with the partici- Can we do better? by volunteer canvassers from across the spec- pation of those who haven’t yet pledged, trum of beneficiary agencies. Lisa Morris was we’ll meet our goals.” In our continuing effort to provide a vehicle for Jewish delighted by their participation and the result Morris and Horwood said that every effort of their efforts that saw a good percentage of is being made to contact past donors who Hamiltonians to express their ideas, concerns and donors increasing the size of their gift. have yet to pledge to this year’s campaign, opinions on a myriad of issues, the Hamilton Jewish One of the biggest challenges for every and to reach out to the nearly 1,000 News devotes this issue to these questions: What’s UJA Campaign cabinet is setting a fundrais- community members who have never given working well in our community? And how can we ing goal that meets Federation’s obligations to UJA. improve? We invite you to read what some of our readers to its beneficiary agencies but does not place If you haven’t made your UJA 2011 too much of a burden on the community. campaign commitment, please call 905-648- have to say on the subject in our Community Voices Notwithstanding a promising beginning, 0605 ext 306 or donate online at www. section on pages 12 and 13. You’ll see some of those campaign co-chair Danna Horwood reported jewishhamilton.org. Our Jewish schools, the concerns reflected in our Federation columns on pages that “we are still $50,000 short of our $1.15 kosher food bank and so many agencies that 2 and 9. Add your voice to the conversation by e-mailing million campaign goal.” assist the most vulnerable in our community “Our Jewish community is relatively small depend on your generosity. the editor at [email protected]. and we have a fixed number of individuals to Be part of UJA Federation’s 75 years of Caring Community Time Capsule Send us pictures, newspaper clippings and other paraphernalia that reflect who we are and what we care about. UJA Federation Table of Contents DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH WANTED HJN FEBRUARY 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: PRESIDENT’S STOP THE SUN, A major Jewish organization is looking for a unique individual who is unquestioningly a REPORT IN THE NEWS HOLD THE VIEW! self-starter. He or she will understand how to effectively use social media. He or she must be SAVE 50% very resourceful, well organized, detail oriented and excellent with follow-up. The candidate Dr. Larry LeVIN, PREsiDENT, THE FIGHT FOR PLURALISM 7 ON DESIGNER SCREEN SHADES must be able to engage people to participate in events and become involved with the UJA FEDERATioN OF HAMILTON Challenging the status quo in Israel organization. Event planning experience would be a definite asset. SAVE 40% This is a permanent, part-time position. It will involve some travel around the province. ON SUMMERWIND™ SHUTTERS The goal will be to work with and enhance our existing programs and campaigns and create Towards a UPCOMING EVENTS new ones. SAVE 30% hhA REUNION ON CUSTOM ROMAN SHADES Please email your résumé and cover letter to: [email protected] All Renewed JCC 11 OFFER EXPIRES MARCH 15, 2011 applications confidential. Candidates will only receive a response if considered for an School celebrates 50th anniversary SALNEK.CA interview. At our May, 2010 AGM, I spoke at some DUNDAS toronto • markham length regarding my commitment to COMMUNITY VOICES 242 governor’s road • (905) 966-2551 barrie • collingwood address the major issues being faced by Hamilton’s Jewish Commun- whAt’s WORKING? WHAt’s NOT? ity Centre. I am pleased to report that since that time we have made 12 Community members share their thoughts some very positive steps to address them. Our Hamilton Jewish Community Centre is thought to be the oldest JCC in Canada. It served our community well for many years. Ask FILM any older Jewish person who grew up in Hamilton and you will hear 15 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE of fond stories about the old JCC. It played a central role in Hamilton Hamilton connection to Israeli film on Russian olim PAGE 11 Jewish life. Discussing the future of the JCC has been a recurring theme on the community agenda for a very long time. It is returning to the top of the agenda now for very specific reasons: DEPARTMENTS • the clear message from the Federation board, and myself as president that this is a high priority for our community Shuls & Organizations 4 • the continuing efforts of the JCC leadership in highlighting the Jewish Education 5 need for the facility and constantly working to improve the JCC “I’m so fortunate that my vet highly recommended and its programming JCC 6 McCann Professional Dog Trainers!” • the strong support for Camp Kadima demonstrates a critical mass In the News 7 of young families with children – the key demographic when considering the JCC’s future UJA Federation 9 • JCC programs are drawing larger numbers of participants Fashion 10 • the successes in raising some funding for capital improvements and a re-development plan Upcoming Events 11 Perhaps the most important development driving the JCC back to Community Voices 12,13 the top of the community agenda is the emergence of a new cadre of Serving Southern Ontario young leaders who have identified the need for a high functioning JCC Shalom Village 14 as a central component in raising their Jewish families in Hamilton, and Call 1-888-681-7877 or register online Film Review 15 its value in attracting and retaining new Jewish families in Hamilton. www.McCannDogs.com Emerging out of UJA Federation’s YAD (Young Adult Division) Now offering Doggie Day Care with a difference! and Genesis Leadership Development initiatives, leaders from this JEWS IN CHINA Photo by Wendy Schneider COMING UP group are now meeting regularly with JCC and Federation leadership. More than 50,000 family pets and their owners PICTURED ABOVE: President of the China Judaic Studies Association PASSOVER ISSUE Together with Federation, their purpose is to establish a new vision for trained! New sessions start every month. and Editor-in-Chief of the Chinese edition of Encyclopedia Judaica, Jewish life in Hamilton – with a great JCC providing a much needed • Deadline for booking ad space Professor Xu Xin, poses with Rabbi Jordan Cohen (left) and Professor enhanced focus on informal Jewish activities for all ages, a sports and Mar. 7, 2011 Louis Greenspan. Xu Xin delivered a fascinating and well-attended cultural centre for the entire community and a vibrant programming • Deadline for receiving editorial copy lecture at McMaster University last November entitled The Jewish hub for youth, adults and seniors. Mar. 11, 2011 Presence in China: Past and Present. Temple Anshe Sholom’s Rabbi • Deadline for receiving ad copy It’s not easy to predict what the outcome of this process may be. After Cohen previously served as rabbi of the United Jewish Congregation of Mar. 28, 2011 all, this is not the first time that enthusiastic volunteers have devoted Hong Kong, the only liberal rabbi at the time serving in Asia. Professor • Estimated date of arrival their energy to consider these matters. However, I think this will be Apr. 4, 2011 1036 KING WEST HAMILTON Greenspan is an avid student of Jewish history. Professor Xu Xin’s the time that we will be successful in developing a vision for JCC that WWW.ALBERtsnow.com Hamilton appearance was sponsored by McMaster’s Department of is attainable and supported by a broad cross section of the Hamilton 905-525-0831 Wealth of Experience Relgious Studies. Jewish community. I am hopeful because of the high level of genuine cooperation between all parties at the table, including from the JCC – president Hamilton Jewish News Joel Feldman and Racheli Kirat – YAD members David Shore and Yves Apel, from Federation – Vivienne Epstein and myself, and member-at- DARE to be YOU PLEASE reTurN UNDELIVerabLE pubLISher TREASURER EXCLUSIVE FOWLER & ASSOCIATES large Hilton Silberg.