Thank you Charles, to you/and your parents who epitomized the values of this award.
When I started in business I looked up to and was mentored by both Max Shore and his trusted advisor
Syd Halpren. Mr. Shore taught me to keep quiet, listen, and learn from the thoughts of others.
Syd confirmed that there were many people smarter in their own fields / and that expertise / if learned can be a valuable asset in business and charitable work.
I'd like to thank the federation and the selection committee for including me in such an illustrious group of community leaders.
Before I continue I would like to congratulate the Saul Kanee recipient Mel Lazareck, and David Cohen who is the Larry Hurtig recipient, and all of the other Kavod honorees.
All of the honorees tonight will agree that there are an incredible number of talented people contributing to the over 70 organizations that make our city what it is today.
From the very being of my volunteering in this wonderful community it has been the extremely talented professionals that have pulled all of us together to make Winnipeg a better place to live.
People like Barney Yellen and Gerry Kaufman who aren’t with us anymore, Mirium Malz/ Rachel Fink/Emily Shaane/Bob Freedman ,/Elaine Goldsteine/,Faye Rosenberg Cohn and Shelly Faintuk just to mention a few.
My introduction to what it meant to being Jewish (other than school brawls at river heights and grant park) was right in this synagogue , not my bar mitzvah or confirmation but a town hall gathering in this room, in may 1967.
Six Arab countries had told the UN to pull their peace keepers, and were mounting armies along Israel’s three fronts. Emergency campaigns to assist Israel in their time of need were being organized around the world.
This synagogue was filled all the way to the back. People had their cheque books out, some checks were torn up because the amount was too low. This I believe was the awakening for me. I understood why my mother fled Austria in 1938 and my dad enlisted in the FT Garry Horse in WWII, and was wounded twice fighting for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today.
Within days, 14 of us volunteered to help Israel in any way we could, and as we soon discovered 1000's of others from just about everywhere else had the same idea. I returned from Israel with a new feeling of community, belonging, and a desire to help my fellow man.
It's my wife of 42 years Karen, who picked up the baton and insisted on a solid Jewish home and Jewish education for our children. Her participation in many of the organizations and guidance has helped the both of us achieve what we all want from our community.
The biggest award we both have received is the richness of all the wonderful organizations which have influenced our children and now our grandchildren. Our children Jonathon and Karly in Vancouver and
Sarah and Kevin here in Winnipeg are following us by giving back to the community just as their Babbas and Zaidas did before them.
I'd like to leave you all with this thought.
There are 4000 newcomers to our city. Some have families, friends, and great jobs; others have no friends, family and jobs that don't use any of their talents. So when you are looking to fill a position in your company or make room at your holiday table think of your parents, grandparents, or in my case my great grandparents, when they arrived in a strange city. Reach out and call the Jewish child and family, ask if you can help.
Thank you and Mazel Tov to all.
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