connecting to excellence - fall 2012
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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!
1
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
1
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:
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:
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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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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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
-
7/29/2019 Connecting to Excellence - Fall 2012
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,