Erez Rotem, who was the JNF Shaliach for the Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Alberta has completed his service with the JNF-Canada. 

Rotem, who was an Israeli  journalist on Channel 2 television arrived in Winnipeg in the summer of 2008 on a three year contract. He had indicated to the Winnipeg Jewish Review in the spring  that there was a possiblity that his term would be extended a year, although clearly that did not come to pass.

Although there was no farewell gathering for Rotem and no formal announcement  telling the community he was leaving his position , Joe Rabinovitch, Executive  Vice President of JNF Canada wrote in an email to the  Winnipeg Jewish Review on July 25 that  " Erez will not be returning to JNF - Canada. His relationship with us has now ceased. Please note that his contract is with KKL in Israel." 

When the  Winnipeg Jewish Review called the  JNF office in Winnipeg, Morgan Ripley advised us that Rotem is in Israel now, and she did not have a number where he could be reached.

In an unrelated development Jaqueline Freedman Development Co-ordinator for the JNF resigned from her postiion for personal reasons shortly after the JNF Negev Gala on May 31.

Rabinovitch wrote to the Winnipeg Jewish Review that the JNF will not be hiring a new Shaliach for the Prairies Region, but instead is hiring two full time Executive Directors--one in Winnipeg and one in  Alberta. The JNF has already hired its executive director for Alberta and is currently completing its hiring process for an Executive Director in Winnipeg.

As Rabinovitch wrote on July 25 " We are in the process of hiring an Executive Director for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We will not be hiring a schiliach as we have re-organized Western Canada with a full time Executive Director for Alberta now in place and the same structure for Man/Sask soon to be completed."

Traditionally, in addition to providing a salary to the  JNF schaliach, the JNF also  paid  for a schaliach's moving expenses, rental accommodation, schooling of the shaliach's children at  a Jewish school, and expenses for home entertainment.