(Winnipeg, August 12, 2013) - Hebrew University of Jerusalem will honour local community leader, philanthropic executive and business person Moses (Moe) Levy with the prestigious Scopus Award at a gala event in Winnipeg on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. In recognition of Mr. Levy’s pivotal role in establishing the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, this gala will be the first public dinner held at the Museum.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1918 and opened officially in 1925 on Mt. Scopus, is Israel’s premier university as well as its leading research institution. The Hebrew University ranks internationally among the 100 leading universities in the world and first among Israeli universities. The Scopus Award is Hebrew University’s highest honour conferred upon individuals who have demonstrated leadership and involvement within their communities and Israel throughout their careers, and who have excelled in their respective fields.

The Hebrew University’s stated goals are: the training of public, scientific, educational, and professional leadership; the preservation of, and research into, Jewish cultural, spiritual, and intellectual traditions; and the expansion of the boundaries of knowledge for the benefit of all humanity. 

Mr. Levy will receive the 2014 Scopus Award for his dedication and leadership in fostering business innovation and entrepreneurship, his extensive professional career, and commitment to promoting human rights. “Manitoba has benefitted enormously from Moe’s dedicated and strategic philanthropic focus, as demonstrated by his successful career in both Jewish and general communities,” states Margaret Shuckett, CFHU Winnipeg Chapter President. “We look forward to an extraordinary evening for a very special friend.”

The Honourary Dinner Chairs for the evening include David & Ruth Asper, Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL.D & Michael Paterson and Leonard & Susan Asper. Gail Asper, a member of the Board of Governor’s of Hebrew University notes:  “Moe is a remarkable individual and we are very grateful for his many years of tireless dedication to The Asper Foundation. This Scopus Gala will be an opportunity to celebrate someone whose quiet yet energetic leadership, creativity and collaboration have enhanced the lives of so many people.” Co-chairs for the evening include Neil Duboff, Susan Glass, Arni Thorsteinson, Murray Palay and Margaret Shuckett.

Moe Levy was born in Bombay, India to parents with a long tradition of helping others.  He came to Canada in 1968 and went on to receive his Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) and Masters in Business Administration (Finance) degrees from the University of Manitoba. Mr. Levy began his career in government and achieved the position of Managing Partner in Manitoba’s Industry, Trade and Tourism department. A long-time lecturer at the Asper School of Business, Moe was instrumental in creating the Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Management, now the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, and in 2003 was made a Fellow of the Asper Centre.

Mr. Levy was CEO and President of The Canadian Heritage Company, one of Canada’s largest retail catalogue companies. He has been the Executive Director of the Asper Foundation since 1999.  Until 2003, Moe worked closely with Dr. Israel Asper, O.C., O.M. to implement the many philanthropic initiatives of the Foundation, including spearheading the creation of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.  Since then he has focused his energy on ensuring Mr. Asper’s dream becomes a reality.     Moe continues to pursue many other philanthropic initiatives today with members of the Asper Family.

Moe devotes his time to numerous boards, including Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Associates -  Asper School of Business, The Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, The Westbury Group, Philanthropic Foundations of Canada and The Board of Governors of Hebrew University of Jerusalem among others. 

Moe resides in Winnipeg with his wife Barbara, as do their children Adam, Samuel and Sarah.

Proceeds for the evening will support infrastructure at the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) at the Ein Kerem Campus of Hebrew University.  IMRIC is committed to bringing together Israel’s and Canada’s most brilliant minds to find solutions to the world’s most serious medical problems through a multidisciplinary approach to biomedical research.  Together, researchers are creating innovative approaches to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.

For more information, please contact Sharon Zalik, Executive Director of CFHU Manitoba Region, at 204.942.3085 or [email protected].