UJA Federation readies for launch of The Campaign For Our Jewish Future

By Jo Michaels—There’s less than a week to go before UJA Federation’s 2008 community campaign launch on August 29 at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The launch traditionally attracts over 1,000 people.
Last year, UJA Federation’s annual campaign was forced to quickly change into the Israel Emergency Campaign as Hezbollah began to attack Israel’s northern communities just prior to the event.
“This year’s launch has a different focus,” says UJA Federation campaign director, Jeff Springer. “Although there is no longer a crisis in Israel, there are still a number of serious and mounting concerns both in Toronto and in Israel’s peripheral communities. This year’s Campaign, The Campaign for Our Jewish Future, has been created to address these concerns. The launch on August 29 is the first opportunity for Toronto’s Jewish community to learn about how we’ll be taking action.”
Although the full details of this year’s vital campaign will not be released until the launch, the chairs of the event, Lynn Belzberg and Dale Lastman, have shared the four vital areas that will be the focus of The Campaign for Our Jewish Future.
“UJA Federation is embarking on a plan to address the pressing issues facing our community today,” explains Belzberg. “It calls for a coordinated array of new, ambitious and focused initiatives that will create dramatic progress.”
“These new collective initiatives will cover four vital areas of concern; inspiring Jewish identity among our next generation; standing with Israel in a time of great need; transforming lives within our underprivileged populations; and engaging the growing and dynamic Jewish community here in Toronto.”
“These four areas are all connected,” says Springer. “They speak to social justice and Jewish ideals and they highlight our collective obligation to build a vibrant Jewish future.”
Keynote speaker for the launch will be Larry Miller (pictured, above). A well-known actor and comedian, Miller is best known for his roles in films like Pretty Woman and Best in Show and television appearances on a number of shows including Seinfeld. Miller will be sharing his experiences of being an outspoken supporter of Israel while living in Hollywood.
Launch attendees will also be treated to a performance by the inspirational Tzeirei Sderot Choir, made up of eight talented teenagers from Israel, Ethiopia and the Former Soviet Union, who will be flown in from Israel to perform. Through song, this talented group – making their first appearance in Canada - will share their stories of surviving countless Qassam rocket attacks in the southern Israeli community of Sderot, to which UJA Federation has provided considerable financial assistance.
Tickets are still available for $30, but are selling very quickly. To reserve your ticket for this important community event, call (416) 631-5700 or visit www.ujaevents.com/registration/2008launch.

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto helps welcome Darfur refugees to Eilat

By Daniel Horowitz--Since 2002, hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have been murdered in Darfur. This summer, hundreds of Darfur refugees – making the sojourn from the battlefields of Western Sudan by foot - have been seeking shelter in Israel. Many of these embattled people find refuge with different aid organizations throughout the country.

Recently, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto played a vital role in helping these new members of Israeli society – particularly the children – feel welcome in the Jewish State.

UJA Federation – which has been supporting the Darfur refugees through its overseas partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel, planned a special program which was funded through its Partnership 2000 (P2K) initiative, which twins Eilat/Eilot with Toronto.

The program saw two organizations – Canada-Israel Experience (CIE), the Israel experience arm of UJA Federation best known for its birthright Israel program, and Canadian Young Judaea - come together to play an important role in this vital humanitarian undertaking in Eilat.

Shai Ben Shmuel, a CIE group coordinator in Israel and Canadian Young Judea’s Josepha Michaelson created a heart warming program for close to 100 refugee children. Over the course of a few days, CYJ participants and their staff, along with CIE participants, created a series of recreational activities for these children aged 3 to 12.

Activities included beading, boondoggle, mask making, teaching songs, playing soccer, Israeli dancing, guitars and a special visit to Eilat’s underwater observatory.

“This program is an incredible testament to the high level of cooperation and education that exists between the Toronto Jewish community and the people of the Eilat/Eilot region,” said Michael Soberman, national director, Canada Israel Experience. “Through a generous subsidy provided to Canadian Young Judaea by UJA Federation’s Partnership 2000 initiative, the Canadian Young Judaea participants were able to truly make a difference in these people's lives. This initiative has taught us all the Jewish value of treating the stranger among us with compassion and love.”

“On a personal note, I’ve never been more proud of a group of campers than I am of this one,” said Michaelson. “They put all the ideas together for the programs and ran them. I was barely able to hold back my tears watching campers holding these little kids and just hugging them. They definitely wanted to have more time with them there and want to know how they can continue being involved.”

Making public education fair for everyone

By David Koschitzky

This is an historic time for our community. The subject of integrating faith-based schools that meet provincial requirements into the public education system is back on the public agenda.

Its impact would be significant. Public funding for qualifying faith-based schools would correct decades of inequity in which only Catholic schools are part of the public system. The Catholic system is an excellent example of how well integration of faith-based schools into public education works. As a matter of fairness, inclusion should apply to all faith-based schools, including Jewish day schools.

As the system currently stands, parents who choose Jewish day school for their children are financially penalized for making that choice. They support public education, and they pay their taxes like everyone else in Ontario. And yet, their children remain shut out from the public school system.

On the other hand, 650,000 Ontario Catholic students receive the benefit of being educated within their faith, and within the public system. They participate in standardized testing; their teachers follow an approved provincial curriculum ensuring all students learn according to Canadian values and their presence strengthens public education in Ontario. That’s the formula that should apply to all faith-based students.

Funding for Catholic schools is constitutionally required, but that does not justify the exclusion of other faith-based schools that not only meet provincial requirements but also educate thousands of graduates who have made invaluable contributions to Canadian society.

From Quebec westward, every province other than Ontario provides public funding for faith-based schools. Only Ontario funds one faith-based school system to the exclusion of all others.

Integrating Jewish day schools into the public system would provide relief to thousands of Jewish families making significant financial sacrifices so their children can receive a quality education, combining Canadian and Jewish values. It would ensure that what is being taught at faith-based schools is consistent with the values cherished by Canadians. And faith-based funding would provide more Jewish community financial resources for other urgent needs such as assistance for the poor and isolated seniors.

Helping our community better understand the value of integrating faith-based schools into public education is the first step to making it a reality.

Let’s give our children the chance to be part of a strong, vital and inclusive public school system that reflects 21st century Ontario and passes the test of fairness.

David Koschitzky is Vice Chair, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.