connecting to excellence - fall 2012

7/29/2019 Connecting to Excellence - Fall 2012

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As one of the greatest minds

in history, Albert Einstein has

become a timeless symbol o

scientic curiosity, discovery, and

originality. As a member o the

Hebrew Universitys original

Board o Governors, Einstein also

symbolizes the Universitys

dedication to revolutionary ideas.

Now, CFHU and the Hebrew

University are combining orces to

seek out and cultivate Einstein-worthy

ideas: new ways o thinking and

understanding that have the potential

to make the world a better place.

I you have a novel way to eed

the hungry, build stronger neighbour-

hoods, clean our air, increase access

to education, reduce inant mortal-

ity, move toward world peace, or cure

the common cold, then nows your

chance: whether its big or small, i

youve been thinking about a way to

improve the world, CFHU and

Hebrew U want you to tell us about it!

Starting in February 2013,

aspiring Einsteins can log onto

www.searchingoreinstein.com or

www.leprochaineinstein.com to

submit ideas in English or French.

Contestants will submit an outlinedetailing one BIG IDEA or Improv-

ing Our World. Te top 10 submis-

sions will be voted on by the public

via our contest site, accounting or

50 per cent o the nal vote. Our

nal judging panel, made

up o Nobel laure-

ates and distinguished

university alumni, will

be responsible or the

remaining 50 per cent.

Te BIG IDEA winner

will receive a grand prize o

$10,000 to help bring the idea

to lie, as well as a trip or two to

Israel, and a once-in-a-lietime

opportunity to be recognized at the

prestigious Presidents Conerence atthe Hebrew University in June 2013.

Weekly prizes will also be awarded

or personal ideas submitted

or improving lie in contestants

local communities. Sponsors to date

include: Shaw Media, Astral Media,

and EL AL. For sponsorship opportu-

nities, please visit our contest website.

So what are you waiting or?

Unleash your inner Einstein and

start thinking about your idea toimprove our world. Like us on Face-

book.com/CFHUFriendsandAlumni

and ollow us on Twitter.com/

CdnFriendsHUor details on the

contest launch and to win prizes!

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ConnectingVolume 10 Issue 1 Fall 2012The national newsletter of Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Connecting

Four years ago, Canadian

Friends o the Hebrew University

o Jerusalem set out on an ambitious

and ultimately transormative

mission: to spearhead and champion

an international, cutting-edge

medical research acility at the

Hebrew University.

Te result was IMRIC: the Institute

or Medical Research Israel-Canada.

Rather than simply supporting

research rom aar, IMRIC wascreated on the premise o international

collaborations between Israels and

Canadas most innovative medical

researchers. By harnessing the

brainpower o scientists in both

countries, we aimed not only to

exponentially increase the pace

o medical innovation, but also to

orge ever-stronger partnerships

and relationships between the

research communities and the

people o both countries.

Just as important as researchpartnerships, however, is the

inrastructure the laboratories,

acilities, specialized equipment,

the bricks-and-mortar structures

themselves that brings research

to lie and ideas to ruition. Tis kind

o inrastructure also keeps Israels

leading scientists in Israel: time

and time again, we hear rom the

Hebrew Universitys Israeli

researchers that they would strongly

preer to stay at home i they

have access to the necessary and

specialized scientic equipment and

acilities they need to do their work.

oday, CFHU is entering into

the next phase o our vision or

IMRIC: a capital campaign tobolster the Israeli inrastructure

behind these research partnerships.

Our goal is to raise $7 million

to complete the nal three

oors o the IMRIC building

on the Hebrew Universitys Ein

Kerem campus, and to equip

those oors with the key, cutting-

edge equipment that supports

research into innovative new

treatments or cancer, heart

disease, HIV/AIDS, etal alcohol

spectrum disorder, Alzheimers

disease, diabetes, and other

devastating conditions.

Over the next two years, well be

seeking out Canadian champions

o Israel, the Hebrew University,

and medical research. Your

support will help to, quite

literally, take medical research

in Israel to the next level and

provide the acilities that

Hebrew University scientists

need to realize their vision.

Now is the time to accelerate

and enhance our eforts to ensure

that IMRIC ullls its potential

as one o the great researchinstitutes in the world, stamped

with both Canadian and Israeli

brands, says CFHU past national

president Ronnie Appleby,

who is chairing this campaign.

Your suppor t will help ensure

that IMRICs vision is realized.

Become a partner in this major

success story! Please complete the

enclosed envelope orm to pledge

your support or this campaign.

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Strengthening Israels scientific infrastructure

CFHU embarks on a capital campaign for IMRIC building

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The national newsletter of Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Connecting

Connecting

Inside: Message from Our Leadership, page 2 Students and Alumni, page 2 Focus on Philanthropy, page 3

Social Venture Fund, page 3 New lab at PBC, page 3 Whats Happening at Hebrew U, page 4 Calendar of Events, page 6

Whats Happening across Canada, page 6 Canada shines at BoG, page 8

Taking medical research to the next level: CFHU is embarking on a new capital

campaign to complete and equip the IMRIC building.

Searching for the next Einstein

Contest aims to generate ideas to improve the world


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Theres power in numbers.

And a new CFHU oronto initiative

is harnessing that power to make a

diference at the Hebrew University

o Jerusalem.

Te oronto Social Venture Fund

brings together groups o young

couples who are passionate about

the University and Israel. Each

couple contributes a minimum git

o $1000 to a joint und. Over

the course o a year, theyll

make an educated decision on how

to invest the money: a naming

opportunity, perhaps, or student

scholarships, research into a

specic technology or promising

medical breakthrough

Helping the group decide

where to invest will be high-level

speakers, venture capitalists, and

business leaders rom Israel and

across Canada, who will talk about

the Universitys global impact,

groundbreaking projects, success

stories, and pressing needs. Te

initiative held a kickof event with

Hebrew University VP o external

relations Carmi Gillon at the home

o new oronto board member

Randal Slavens (Rothberg 9495),

who is chairing the initiative.

It was probably the best year

o my lie, says Slavens o his

time at Hebrew U. It had an

amazing impact. And or that

reason were ocusing initially on

a web o Rothberg alumni who

eel similarly.

Sara Gottlieb, who also recently

joined the oronto board, agrees.

I like the idea o the power o

numbers: your $1000 times 10 or

15 can really have an impact. Its

a great way to show the world the

power o Israel and its contributions

to the world.

For more inormation on the

Toronto Social Venture Fund,

please contact Elan Divan:

[email protected].

Lewis Dobrin traces his

involvement with the Hebrew

University o Jerusalem back to two

transormative moments in his

lie. Te rst was studying with the

great philosopher and classicist Allan

Bloom at the University o oronto

in the early 1970s. Bloom, says

Dobrin, loved his students and put

everything he had into developing

and encouraging their intellect.

Te next chance encounter or

Dobrin, a Montreal lawyer who cur-

rently oversees his amilys investment

holding company, was an invitation

to become a Wexner Heritage Fellow.

Te goal o the intensive, two-year

program is to develop Jewish lay

leadership and create a model o

practice or public service in the

Jewish community. In many ways,

says Dobrin, it was Bloom all over

again, only this time applied to

anach and almud.

From there, the path to CFHU

seemed almost inevitable: I love be-

ing part o a university community,

says Dobrin, who served as presi-

dent o the Montreal chapter or

seven years. oday, hes a member

o the CFHU national board and

a Hebrew University governor and

honorary Fellow.

Dobrin comes by his love o aca-

demia honestly: his ather, Mel, com-

pleted a commerce degree at McGill

University beore becoming president

o Steinbergs Inc., the Quebec-based

supermarket chain ounded by Lewiss

grandather Sam. Mitzi, Lewiss

mother, let McGill to have her rst

child: she later completed a BA and

then earned a law degree one o

three women to graduate in her class

o 1970. Dobrin is married to Rosalie

Jukier, a proessor o law at McGill,

and they have three children.

oday, the Dobrins continue to

support Hebrew U students in the

spirit o Bloom. Whether its

scholarships, helping to build the

Rothberg campus student village, or

ostering joint programs and exchanges

between McGill and Hebrew U,

theyre always looking or opportuni-

ties to create those transormative

moments or the next generation.

Message from our Leadership Focus on Philanthropy

Students and Alumni

The next generationA compelling theme emerges on

the pages o this issue o Connecting:

the potential o our next generation,

coupled with the wisdom o our

established leadership.

We see it in our leadership

across the country: Winnipeg has

recently welcomed two new board

members, both young women in

their 20s with a wealth o ideas or

promoting the Hebrew University

to their cohort. In Montreal,

36-year-old Ari Brojde is taking

on the role o chapter president

intent on translating his

passion or the Hebrew University

to other young proessionals.

Randy Milner, Vancouvers new

chapter president, has similar

goals. In oronto, an exciting

mentorship program pairs recent

Rothberg International School

graduates with established board

members in order to groom the

next generation o leaders.

We see it in our Searching

or the next Einstein contest,

where we draw on the insp iration

o Hebrew University ounding

board member Albert Einstein

to cultivate and support the next

Big Idea to improve the world.

We see it in the increasingly diverse

body o Canadian students who

attended the Rothberg International

School in the 201112 academic

year. Record numbers o excellent,

engaged Canadian students rom a

wide variety o religious and cultural

backgrounds ocked to the Hebrew

University because o its stellar

academic programming: they become

ambassadors or the University,

orging stronger ties between Canada

and Israel (recently named the

worlds two most educated countries

according to an OECD (Organisation

or Economic Co-operation and

Development) study were proud,

but not surprised).

Our eyes are rmly ocused on this

next generation as we embark on the

next phase o our IMRIC campaign:

to complete the nal three oors o

the IMRIC building. Tis investment

in Israels scientic inrastructure is

an investment in the next, brilliant

generation o Canadian and Israeli

medical researchers with benets

or all o humanity. Please ll out and

return your year-end contribution in

the enclosed envelope, and watch

or and support campaign

initiatives across this country.

ogether, we will create the

laboratory acilities that will

continue to bring IMRICs

ideas to ruition.

Rami Kleinmann

President & CEO (l)

Nathan Lindenberg

Chairperson (r)

2 3

Lewis Dobrin with his mother, Mitzi Dobrin,

at the 2012 Hebrew University Board of

Governors meeting.

Chance encounters shape life of philanthropy

What do you get when you

merge ubiquitous computing with

nanotechnology?

Te possibilities, says Pro. Ronny

Agranat, director o the Hebrew

Universitys Peter Brojde Center or

Innovative Engineering and Computer

Science (PBC), are endlessly exciting.

Ubiquitous computing reers to

a post-desktop world o computing,

where the physical world and

cyberspace merge, so that inormation

processing becomes thoroughly

integrated into everyday objects and

activities. Nanotechnology reers

to technology at the molecular or

cellular level: imagine, or example,

diagnosing a disease in or delivering

medication to an individual cell.

Combining the two could create

opportunities or an interace

between the living environment

and cyberspace.

Now, a new lab being built

at the PBC the Micro-

Electromechanical Systems and

Micro-Fluidics Laboratory has

as its goal to create the engineering

tools and methods to merge these

two branches o engineering

technology. Aligning the bottom

up approach o nanoscience

with the top-down approach o

ubiquitous computing, says Pro.

Agranat, will play a major role in

a world struggling to optimize the

use o its energy resources, preserve

the environment, combat terror,

and provide medical services to all.

Imagine, or example, that your cell

phone can orecast an earthquake,

let you know i its sae to drink the

local water, or act as a lie detector.

Te new lab has been generously

unded by Montreals Brojde amily.

Anna Brojde, her son and daughter-

in-law Ari and Robyn, and her

daughter Karen were on hand at the

2012 Board o Governors meeting to

announce the establishment o the

new lab, which will be the rst o its

kind in Israel.

New lab at PBC first of its kind in Israel

CFHUfacilitates academic andresearch partnerships between

CanadaandIsrael aswell as establishingscholarships, supporting

research, cultivatingstudent andfaculty exchanges, andrecruiting

Canadianstudentsto attendthe RothbergInternationalSchool.

National Office

3020 3080YongeStreet, PO Box 65, Toronto, ON M4N3N1

Phone416.485.8000 Toll-free1.888.HEBREW U

Donations andTributeCards: [email protected]

Student Inquiries: 416.485.1222 [email protected]

Website:www.cfhu.org General Inquiry:[email protected]

President& CEO:RamiKleinmann, [email protected]

ExecutiveVicePresident:MerleGoldman, [email protected]

ChiefFinancialOfficer:MichaelAbrams ca, [email protected]

NationalDirector,CommunicationsandMarketing:

MiriamPilc-Levine,[email protected]

DirectorofStudentRecruitmentandAlumniAffairs:

Moshik Galanty, [email protected]

Montreal ChapterExecutive Director: SimonBensimon,[email protected]

Phone514.932.2133

Ottawa Chapter

Director: ShelliKimmel, [email protected] Phone613.829.3150

Toronto Chapter

Executive Director: ElanDivon,[email protected]

Phone416.485.8000

Winnipeg Chapter

Director: SharonZalik, [email protected] Phone204.942.3085

Western Region and Vancouver Chapter

Executive Director: DinaWachtel, [email protected]

Phone604.257.5133

Edmonton Chapter [email protected]

Phone780.444.0809

Calgary Chapter [email protected]

The Hebrew University of Jerusalems Institute for Medical

Research Israel-Canada brings together the best minds

from the scientific disciplines. Together, our researchers are

creating innovative approaches to meet the challenges of

medicine in the 21st century.

Contact

Email: [email protected]: www.imric.org

Connecting newsletter

Managingeditor: MiriamPilc-Levine

Writingandediting:SusanGoldberg, go!communications

Design,artdirectionandproduction:Print Dot ComInc.

Toronto Social Venture Fund

RIS: Exceeding expectations

Shabbat shalom: U of T student Angela Zhu (centre) and her roommates at the

Hebrew University, getting ready for Shabbat. Zhu received a full scholarship to take

courses in political science this past summer at the Rothberg International School.

Put your expectations on hold.Tats the message that Angela Zhu

has or Canadian students considering

studying at the Hebrew University o

Jerusalem. Zhu, 20, spent a month this

past summer at Hebrew U, taking part

in the Rothberg International Schools

(RIS) Coexistence in the Middle

East course. Tere was no better way,

she says, to augment her studies at the

University o oronto, wheres shes inthe third year o a double specialization

in international relations and peace,

conict, and justice studies.

Tere were a lot o things I didnt

expect, says Zhu, who chronicled

her rst time in Israel in a blog called

Around the World in 70 Days. We

met with the Egyptian ambassador to

Israel. We spent 90 minutes with the

spokesperson o the Foreign Ministry.

We met Danny irzah, who designed

the separation barrier. Hearing him

talk made me understand more o

the pros and cons about the barrier.

And studying conict, its important

to see both sides: its so multiaceted

no textbook could have possibly

conveyed it.

Zhu is just one o approximately

300 Canadian students a record

number who chose to study at

the Hebrew University in 2011

2012. With an increasingly dynamic

and varied course selection, the

RIS is attracting a diverse body o

international students eager to take

advantage o its unique oferings.

Te RIS has created several courses

in partnership with Canadian

universities, including law programs

or students at the University o

Manitoba and Osgoode Hall Law

School. Currently in the works are a

set o wet and dry courses in water

conict resolution and management,

created with U o and set in the

Negev desert and the Red Sea.

Look as well or upcoming programs

in lm, engineering, journalism, and

security and counterterrorism.

Scholarships, says Moshik Galanty

CFHUs national director o student

& academic afairs, are key to

both increasing and diversiying

Canadian student enrollment at

Hebrew U.

Like Zhu, most Canadian students

beneted rom scholarships through

endowments established at Ontario

universities, as well as CFHUs

Asper National Fund. As enrollment

continues to increase, says Galanty,

CFHU needs to ensure that

we continue to nd ways to keep

scholarship unding healthy.

Like Zhu, most Canadian students

at Rothberg in 201112 had never

been to Israel beore, notes Galanty.

Its a great way to introduce them

to the country. Tey become

ambassadors or Israel and Hebrew U.

You can help us send more Canadian

students to Hebrew U! To fnd out

how you can help support scholarship

unding, please contact Moshik Galanty:

[email protected].

Investing by the numbers: CFHU Toronto board member and Rothberg alumnus

Randal Slavens pictured here with his wife, Shirley, and their children, Samara and

Isaac spearheaded the Toronto Social Venture Fund.

Ubiquitous computing + nanotechnology: PBC director Prof. Ronny Agranat (l) and

Anna, Ari, and Karen Brojde with a 2012 PBC scholarship recipient (2nd from l) at the

Hebrew University Board of Governors annual Canadian Awards Evening, June 2012.


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4 5

Heading BlueSubhead Green

Summit of Geniuses2012 Asian Science Camp brings250 young scientists to IsraelWeve all heard o luxury sleep-away camps. But

its an uber-select group that gets to summer with

Nobel laureates. At the end o August, 250 young

scientists rom China, India, Japan, Korea, and

other Asian-Pacic countries did just that when

they converged with their Israeli counterparts

at the Hebrew University or the annual Asian

Science Camp (ASC).

At the ASC, considered the worlds most

important encounter or promoting young

scientists rom Asia and the Pacic, science

students aged 1721 engaged in plenary sessions,

round-table discussions, and dialogues with Nobel

laureates and leading Israeli and international

scientists in the spheres o physics, chemistry, the

lie sciences, and mathematics.

Now in its sixth year, the ASC is the initiative o

several East Asian Nobel laureates in the s ciences,

who wanted to create a platorm or nding,

promoting, and connecting the uture generation

o Asian scientists. Te Israeli delegation was

selected according to a strict criteria o excellence

and was made up o 35 young Jews and Arabs

rom across the country.

Te Nobel laureates in attendance included ASC

co-ounder Pro. Lee Yuan-i (chemistry), rom

aiwan; Japans Pro. Makoto Kobayashi (physics),

who chairs the ASCs Advisory Committee;

Hebrew University Pro. Yisrael Aumann (game

theory); Pro. Aharon Chechanover (medical-

chemistry), rom the echnion-Israel Institute o

echnology; and American Pro. Roger Kornberg

(biology).

Bringing the ASC to Israel was a key objective o

the Israeli Ministry o Foreign Aairs or the year

2012. Te project is part o Asias Year in Israel,

in which Israel commemorates anniversaries o the

establishment o diplomatic relations with some

o the largest and most important countries on the

continent.

Hosting the ASC constitutes a wonderul

opportunity to enhance Israels positive image

in the elds o academia and science, as well

as creating ties between young people who

are destined to lead scientic research in their

countries and to link them with Israeli academia,

says Hebrew University President Pro. Menahem

Ben-Sasson.

Tree IMRIC researchers were recognized at

the 2012 Kaye Innovation Awards, or work

that exemplies the synergy between s cientic

excellence and commercial potential.

Deects in the mitochondria the microscopic

organelles inside our cells that regulate cell activities

aect approximately one in 8,000 live births.

Pro. Haya Lorberboum-Galski, head o the

research committee and external relations at IMRIC

(and its new Chair), received a Kaye prize or her

work on a new approach to treating mitochondrial

diseases that could restore the activity o damaged

mitochondrial protein. Te approach could lead to

new ways to manage many incurable mitochondrial

diseases and other metabolic disorders. Its now

being developed or clinical use or the treatment o

human diseases.

Pro. Saul Yedgar was recognized or his

research on a novel class o multi-unctional

anti-inammatory drugs (MFAIDs). Tese

drugs, currently in development by Morria

Biopharmaceuticals PLC, will be used to treat

inammatory diseases or example, hay

ever, asthma, cystic brosis , eczema, Crohns,

conjunctivitis that aect billions o people

worldwide. Preliminary research suggests

that Pro. Yedgars MFAIDs may be saer and

more efcient than the corticosteroids and

other treatments currently used to treat

inammatory diseases.

A Kaye award also went to promising IMRIC

student Dr. Chamutal Gur, MD, or her research

on treating ype 1 Diabetes (1D). A physician at

the Hadassah University Medical Center, Dr. Gur

is also a PhD candidate, working with IMRICs

Pro. Oer Mandelboim. Her research has shown

the importance o Natural Killer cells in the

development o 1D: by nding ways to block

certain receptors on these cells, diabetes treatment

could be revolutionized.

Yissum, the Hebrew Universitys technology

transer company, helps to select the winners o

the Kaye prizes, which were established in 1993

by Isaac Kaye.

Rewarding IMRICs innovationThree IMRIC researchers receive Kaye

Innovation Awards

Its a Catch-22: We want the health benets o

eating resh ruits and vegetables, but we dont

want the health risks and environmental damage

caused by pesticides. And while organic arming

goes a long way to address some o these con-

cerns, agricultural scientists are constantly on

the lookout or environmentally riendly ways to

control plant pathogens.

Now, scientists at the Hebrew University

have developed an eective, environmentally

riendly, and non-toxic biocontrol agent

synthesized rom o all things the humble

strawberry. Yissum, the Hebrew Universitys

research and development company, has

patented the idea, and is searching or an

appropriate partner to urther develop and

commercialize the product.

Dr. Maggie Levy, rom the department

o plant pathology and microbiology at the

Universitys Faculty o Agriculture, Food and

Environment, has isolated a species o the

epiphytic yeast Pseudozymarom the leaves

o the strawberry plant. She and her team

have shown that the yeast secretes substances

that inhibit the growth o several ungal and

bacterial pathogens, while at the same time

enhancing plant growth. Whats more, the

yeast-based biocontrol agent actually reduces

pathogens ability to develop resistance.

Ranked among the top technology transer

companies in the world, Yissum has registered

more than 7,700 patents covering 2,200

inventions; has licensed out 580 technologies and

has spun out 74 companies. Yissums business

partners span the globe and include companies

such as Novartis, Microsot, Johnson & Johnson,

Merck, Intel, and eva, among others.

Fungal biocontrol agents have become an

important alternative to the use o chemicals

due to environmental concerns, says Yissum

CEO Yaacov Michlin. Te novel biocontrol

agent developed in Dr. Levys lab is easy

to produce, non-toxic, and eective at low

concentrations, and will serve to reduce the

amount o chemicals required or pathogen

control. Tis, in turn, would genuinely benet

armers, consumers, and the environment.

A century ago, ew people believed that it would

be possible to revitalize the Hebrew language.

History, however, has proved otherwise.

Now, Hebrew University language-learning

experts are being asked to help another culture

save its endangered languages. Last February, rep-

resentatives o the Sami minority in Norway came

to the University to learn how Hebrew is taught

to students rom around the world. Teir goal is

to apply similar teaching methods to revitalize the

endangered Sami tongues.

Te delegation was greeted by Hebrew University

president Pro. Menahem Ben-Sasson, who told

them that the Universitys name reected a con-

scious decision to emphasize the Hebrew language.

An estimated 100,000 Sami people live in

Lapland, a region in northern Europe stretching

across Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia.

O 10 known Sami languages, several have dis-

appeared, and some currently have as ew as 30

speakers. Not all o the languages

are mutually understandable.

With nancial support rom the

Norwegian government, the Sami

have launched several initiatives,

such as a Sami-language kinder-

garten, to promote their traditional

languages. Tey must also learn

how other cultures have successully

revived traditional languages and to how adopt

those methods in their own communities.

Te delegation visited the Hebrew Universitys

Rothberg International School, where they attend-

ed an ulpan class, met with teachers and admin-

istrators, and learned how the Hebrew University

and other institutions have taught Hebrew to vast

numbers o immigrants, students, and others.

Te delegation plans to bring Sami teachers

back to Jerusalem so they can learn ulpan teaching

methods. We want to ocus on the spoken

language so that our people are able to

communicate with each other, says

delegation leader Kevin Johansen. We think

that will help motivate people and lead to

better results.

At rst, says Johansen, we ocused on

Scotland and Wales, because we had looked

at how many people speak the dierent

minority languages in Europe. But they told us

that its better or us to go to Israel, because the

Israelis are the experts. We wanted to learn rom

the best.

Saving SamiNorwegians turn to HU

Strawberries secret ingredientEco-friendly pesticide alternative

Strawberry fields forever: Dr. Maggie Levy

(2nd from l) and research team members outside

her lab in the department of plant pathology and

microbiology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Award-winning research: Kaye Award recipients Saul Yedgar, Chamutal Gur, and Haya Lorberboum-Galski

EyalCohen

Summer camp for science stars:Asian Science

Camp participants release balloons at the Hebrew

Universitys Edmond J. Safra Campus.

Saving lost languages: Hebrew University president Prof. Menahem

Ben-Sasson (2nd from l) meets with members of the Sami delegation

from Norway.


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6 7

CFHUs chapters have an exciting array

of events planned for the coming months.

Visit www.cfhu.orgor call your local

chapter ofce for more information.

NationalFeb. 2 (evening)3, 2013 National

Board Retreat; Boca Raton, Florida

Feb. 4, 2013: Snowbird social event withIdo Aharoni, Israeli Consul General to

New York. Boca Raton, Florida

Feb. 11Apr. 22, 2013 Searching for

the Next Einstein online contest

June 1320, 2013 Jerusalem:

Hebrew University 76th BoG meeting

and Presidential Conference.

OttawaMar. 28, 2013 Annual Passover luncheon

MontrealFeb. 2013 Albert Einstein Business

Forum Luncheon

June 2013 Young Leaders Mission to

Israel, led by Ari and Robyn Brojde

TorontoDec. 11 The Wayward Moon: Author talk

with Janice Weizman. Prosserman JCC.

Mar. 2013 March Madness 2013

Apr. 2013 Special event with Prof. Shy

Arkin, HU head of R&D

WinnipegApr. 3, 2013 Traditional Sephardic

Mimouna lunch to mark the end of

Passover.

Apr. 29, 2013 Tribute evening honouring

Dr. Brent Schacter

VancouverNov. 27 In My great (and short)

great-grandfather and the revival of the

Hebrew language, Hovav shares family

secrets about Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the

inventor of modern Hebrew.

CalgaryDec. 2 My Great (and short)

Great-Grandfather and the Revival of

the Hebrew Language: HU Alumni

Gil Hovav opens the Jewish Book &

Art Festival.

Vancouver A group o 23

British Columbians, hand-picked

by Dr. Moira Stilwell, B.C.s

minister o social development,

travelled to Israel in May or a tour

o the country that ocused on

Israels innovations in the eld

o lie sciences.Participants, many o whom had

never beore visited the country, were

treated to speakers rom all sectors o

Israeli academia and business. In addi-

tion to visiting the Hebrew University,

IMRIC, and other academic institutions

and businesses, they also gained insight

into Israel through a cultural lens with

trips to Yad Vashem and the Old City

o Jerusalem.

Te group, mainly leaders in the

eld o lie sciences, was joined by B.C.

Minister o Health Mike de Jong. Teywere excited to learn rom Israeli suc-

cesses and innovations, and to explore

possibilities or partnering with Israeli

companies and researchers. Participants

had a chance to reect on their trip later

that summer at a private dinner at Dr.

Stilwells home in Vancouver.

Te trip was a perect balance

o business, history, culture, politics,

religion, ood, humour, and hospital-

ity, says Michael Bidu, ounder and

CEO o Sanotron. It inspired me and

the colleagues in our group to ndways to try to turn a visit like this into

meaningul and protable initiatives and

relationships between our two countries.

CFHU succeeded in turning a visitor

like me into a riend and ambassador.

Vancouver trip builds R&I bridges

Medicine, music & peaceOttawa Canadas national capital

became a small but brilliant satel lite

campus o the Hebrew Univer-

sity on September 11, when three

distinguished proessors shared their

expertise and insight with a

Canadian audience. More than

110 people attended the Ottawa

chapters Best o Hebrew U event,

organized under the theme

o medicine, music,

and peace.

Dr. Elie Podeh, head

o the Islamic and MiddleEastern studies department

at the Hebrew University,

gave the keynote address,

an insightul look on the

so-called Arab Spring. He

also lectured later in the eve-

ning on the missed oppor-

tunities o the Arab-Israeli

peace process, holding

out hope or the possibility

o a peaceul solution.

Cellular biochemistry

proessor Dr. Haya

Lorberboum-Galski, the

new chair o IMRIC, discussed

the development o new

medications, rom idea to

molecule. Musicology proessor

Dr. Edwin Seroussi, director o

the Jewish Music Resource Center

at the Hebrew Universitys aculty

o humanities, rounded out the

evening with lectures onJudeo-Spanish musical dreams

and the creation o Israeli music

through the story o Moroccan-born

Israeli singer and hazzan Joe Amar.

Te evening was a east or the

palate and the mind, says partici-

pant Beth Roodman. Leonard Shore

described the program sponsored

by Stephen and Gail Victor,

Fergulsea Properties Ltd., and

Arnon Corportation as

thoroughly satisying, intellectually

stimulating, insightul, and in many

respects, proound. A real treat!

Stimulating, insightful, profound: Hebrew

U Prof. Elie Podeh gave the keynote address at

Ottawas Best of Hebrew U event.

B.C. business and culture:A visit to Tevas new, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Jerusalem

Hold thedate!

Across CanadaBannerPhotographCredits: Vancouver: WayneStadler, iStockphoto.com Calgary: Andrew Penner, iStockphoto.com Edmonton: W.R. Mayes, iStockphoto.comWinnipeg: DeborahClague, iStockphoto.com Toronto: FulvioEvangelista, Dreamstime.com Ottawa: Alex Hunt, Dreamstime.comMontreal: AlphonseTran, Dreamstime.com

CALLING ALLSNOWBIRDS!

Montreal A ive-day,

ly-in mission to Israel sparked

Ari Brojdes pass ion or th e Hebrew

University o Jerusalem.

When youre there, when you

have a chance to talk to the

proessors and students, when you

can see rsthand the impact o their

research and what your support

accomplishes thats what makes

the dierence.

As incoming president o CFHUs

Montreal chapter, Brojde, a portolio

manager at RBC, hopes to spark the

same kind o passion in other young

proessionals, and to expand the

Hebrew Universitys prole. Hes

looking orward to showcasing the

University to a wide sector o young

Montreal proessionals rom all back-

grounds, through visits to the Univer-

sity, vibrant events, and partnershipswith diverse Montreal communities.

At 36, Brojde is the youngest

person to take on the chapter

presidency. In 2008, his mother,

Anna Brojde, spearheade d the

establishment o the Peter Brojde

Center or Innovative Engineer-

ing and Computer Science at the

Hebrew University in honour o

her late husband. Since then, Ari

has become a supporter o Hebrew

University in his own right, and

has worked tirelessly to preserve his

athers legacy.

Ari has been an eective member

o the board since he burst onto

the CFHU stage six years ago,

says outgoing chapter president

Monette Malewski, who has worked

closely with Brojde or the pastew years. Hes young, hes

passionate, hes enthusiastic, and

hes bringing in the next generation

its a perect t.

Montreals next generation

Young, passionate, enthusiastic:Ari and Robyn Brojde will lead a Young Leaders

Mission to Israel for Montrealers in June 2013.

Winnipeg Baillie Chisick

and Melissa Weinstein are on a

mission to raise the proile o the

Hebrew University among

Winnipegs young pro essionals.

he two women, both lawyers

in their 20s, are the two most

recent additions to CFHUs

Winnipeg board. Were reallylooking to expand the proile

o Hebrew University, not only

with the younger members o

Winnipegs Jewish commu nity

but the larger community, says

Chisick, an associate at Aikins,

MacAulay & horvaldson LLP.

o that end, the two are

planning a series o events

designed to appeal to their cohort,

including a cooking demonstration

with Israeli wine pairing s in

November, and a Sephardi-style

post-Passover mimouna luncheon.

We want to get people excitedabout the research and partner-

ships coming out o the

University, says Weinstein, a

Crown attorney who recently

honeymooned in Jerusalem and

is considering the Hebrew

Universitys Masters in law pro-

gram. Our goal is to cultivate

academic and cultural exchange

programs that showcase the

excellence and relevance o the

work coming out o Hebrew U.

Dynamic additions to YWG board

Melissa WeinsteinBaillie Chisick

Toronto A new program,

launched by the oronto chapter in

October, is designed to maximize

one o CFHUs most valuable

resources: our alumni.

Te CFHU oronto Alumni

Mentorship Program pairs recent

Rothberg grads with seasoned

mentors all Canadian alumni

o Hebrew U with the goal o

developing the next generation

o CFHU leaders. In addition

to career guidance, mentees will

receive networking opportunities

in their chosen elds and rsthand

exposure to the world o governance,

undraising, and community

leadership opportunities. In

return, they commit to learning

about CFHU and identiying and

developing other young leaders or

the organization.

oronto board member and

mentor Adam Cooper (Rothberg

9293) says that the timing o

the program is key: Here are so

many young, educated, enthusiastic

people who have just returned rom

Israel having learned a tremendous

amount: about themselves, about

another culture, about the world,

he says. We need to tap that

resource, to nurture and oster it.

Vicky obianah, 23, recently

graduated rom McGill University

with an Honours BA in English

and political science. She thought

the program would be not only a

great way to urther her budding

career in journalism,

but also to stay

connected to the

Jewish community,

meet other young

proessionals,

and give back to

Hebrew U, where

she studied in 2010.

Te program

really adds value

to a Rothberg

Mentoring the future

Bowling for mentors: Recent Hebrew U alumni and

seasoned members of the CFHU Toronto board meet up

for an evening of bowling to launch the Toronto Alumni

Mentorship Program.

education, says oronto chapter

director Elan Divon. It makes

our grads part o the community,

urthers their careers, and urthers

the success o CFHU.

WILL YOU BE IN FLORIDA THIS WINTER?

IF SO, WED LOVE TO SEE YOU!

Please send us your Florida address and email.For more information, please contact

Merle Goldman [email protected]

MON. FEB. 4, 2013 DETAILS TO FOLLOW

CALLING ALLSNOWBIRDS!

WILL YOU BE IN FLORIDA THIS WINTER?

IF SO, WED LOVE TO SEE YOU!

Join us in Boca Raton for an eveningwith special guest Ido Aharoni,

Israeli Consul General to New York


5/5

omorrowThe Israeli Presidential Conference 2013

+

Board of Governors Meeting and Presidential Conference in celebration of the 90th birthday of Shimon Peres, President of Israel

6

SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 13-20, 2013

National Office

PO Box 65

3020 - 3080 Yonge St

Toronto, ON M4N 3N1

Publications mail agreement #400-268-33

The Hebrew Universitys 75th

Annual Board o Governors

Meeting highlighted the strong and

passionate connections between

Canada and the University.

wo Canadians Janice Gross

Stein and Rick Hansen were

among the select group awarded

honorary doctorates at the

Hebrew U convocation ceremony

(at which a record 366 students

were awarded doctoral degrees!).

Hansen was chosen to deliver the

2012 convocation address to the

PhD graduates.

Canadians awarded dozens o

scholarships and enjoyed the

opportunity to meet and celebrate

with scholarship recipients at the

annual Canadian Awards Evening,

always a highlight o the BoG.

David and Rose Brownzl and

Nachman Feldmanzlwere

honoured at the Universitys Wall

o Lie, and Montreals Lewis Dobrin

was named an Honorary Fellow o

the University.

For more BoG photos, please visit

www.cfhu.org/bog2012

Canada shines at BoGIsrael: The Land of Creativity & 75th Board of Governors Meeting

Jerusalem walking tour:

Vancouvers Roberto Schwartz,

Winnipegger Miral Gabor, Torontos

Risa Masters, tour guide Geoff

Katz, Montrealer Lewis Dobrin and

his mother, Mitzi Dobrin, RobbieGabor, and Randy Masters enjoyed

a walking tour of the Old City. Lewis

Dobrin was named an Honorary

Fellow of the University at the BoG

(see story, page 3).

Wall of Life: The Hebrew University

inscribed the names of longtime

supporters David and Rose Brownzl on its

Wall of Life. Hebrew University president

Menahem Ben Sasson (r) congratulates

the Browns daughter, Glennie Lindenberg,

and her husband, CFHU Chairperson

Nathan Lindenberg, who accepted the

award on behalf of her family, including

her brother, Morland, at a ceremony on

the Mount Scopus campus.

Passionate about scholarships: Calgary

resident and passionate scholarship champion

Lenny Shapiro held a gathering to honour the

recipients of the 59 scholarships he and his

wife, Faigel, awarded to Hebrew University

students for the 201112 academic year. Here,

Lenny (front row, centre) poses with just some of

the students whose education he supports.

Honorary doctorates:

Canadians Janice Stein and

Rick Hansen were awarded

honorary doctorates. The

work of these two prominent

Canadians one a leadingpolitical scientist and authority

on Middle Eastern relations,

the other a celebrated activist

and advocate for people with

disabilities illustrate the

benefits of robust relations

between Canada and Israel.

For more information,

please contact

Merle Goldman at

416.485.8000,

[email protected].

connecting to excellence - fall 2012

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