Faith Kaplan is the new incoming President of the Winnipeg Chapter of Canadian Friends of  Hebrew University.  Faith, who is a popular columnist for the Winnipeg Jewish Review, says she has “had a soft spot” for Hebrew University since she spent a year there in 1979. “I loved living in Jerusalem. I didn’t want to come home,” she recalls with a smile.  “My year there was a life-changing experience.”

In fact, she remembers that “I came back to Winnipeg because I had depleted my savings and was broke. My parents wouldn’t send me money, and when I threatened to make aliyah and join the IDF they put my Baba Dolly on the phone. She insisted I come home. So I did.”

Kaplan, a graduate of Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate, has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Manitoba, and a B. Comm. Honours in Marketing. She runs her own consulting company, faith kaplan consulting.  From 1986-1990 she was an active member of the Professional and Business Division of the Winnipeg Chapter of Canadian Friends of Hebrew U.

“I reacquainted myself with Hebrew University last January when I went on a Hebrew U mission. The timing coincided with an opportunity to visit my son Adam, who was in Israel on a volunteer program, so I popped over for a week. It was my first time roaming the campus in 30 years! The research being conducted at the University is amazing and I am happy to give back to this institution which made such a positive impression on my life,” she told the Winnipeg Jewish Review.

Kaplan is a past president of the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education, has been active for many years in the CJA, and received the Max Nathanson Young Leadership Award from the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg in 1997.

Sharon Zalik, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Chapter of Canadian Friends of Hebrew U and the Board of Directors are “delighted to welcome Faith as their new President.  We look forward to an active and productive Hebrew University presence in our community under her leadership and guidance.  We thank past President Sheryl Rosenberg for her four years of dedication and commitment to the Chapter.” 

Editor’s note: The Winnipeg Jewish Review chooses Faith Kaplan as Winnipeg Jewish Community’s Newsmaker of the Year 5771!! Congratulations Faith