TORONTO — UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s 2011 campaign has raised a total of $15.5 million so far, campaign co-chair Jeff Rosenthal announced at last week’s official campaign launch.
From left, Dan Aykroyd with UJA campaign co-chairs Sherry Firestone and Jeff Rosenthal. [Jen Arron Photography photo]
The tally was more than he expected: donors had come forward earlier that night to pledge a total of $2.5 million. The event, held Aug. 24 at the Carlu in downtown Toronto, featured actor/comedian Dan Aykroyd.
This year, organizers want to raise an additional $2.5 million beyond what was raised last year, to help young Jews counter negative messages about Israel.
If previous donors can increase their gifts by five per cent, and if those who haven’t given to UJA in the past contribute now, that goal can be achieved “easily,” said Rosenthal.
Last year, UJA raised $64 million. More than $9 million of that amount was raised by UJA Women’s Philanthropy, said women’s philanthropy chair Sarena Koschitzky.
New UJA initiatives this year include reducing the Birthright Israel waiting list from its current number, 1,200, to 600; providing Israel advocacy training for high school and university students; enhancing the quality of Jewish education in day and supplementary schools; and increasing funding to strengthen Jewish summer camps and increase the number of children attending, Rosenthal said.
As well, the organization will continue to raise money for vulnerable community members, and to assist Israel and promote Jewish identity and culture, he added.
Amir Gissin, Israel’s consul general for Toronto and western Canada, said he is proud to be a partner of UJA Federation. In addition to its initiatives for young Jews, he lauded UJA for its projects that seem unconnected to the Jewish people and Israel, such as its recent launch of a fund to help flood victims in Pakiston. “Such help opens doors unseen and unavailable for us on a regular basis,” Gissin said.
Sherry Firestone, co-chair of Campaign 2011 with Rosenthal, announced that Vaughan mayor Linda Jackson and Toronto mayor David Miller proclaimed last week UJA Week in their respective cities.
Addressing the importance of helping young Jews, Firestone said, “A week doesn’t go by where we don’t hear from those who question Israel as a Jewish State or its right to exist at all.
“Without a proud and strong Jewish identity and a love of Israel, young people simply can’t withstand the onslaught of those who seek Israel’s demise. There are all too many who simply opt out of Jewish life entirely. We must take swift and bold action now to empower our youth and give them the confidence to lead full and Jewish lives… Our community’s future is in their hands.”
A successful 2011 campaign “is absolutely vital for the future of our community as well as for the entire Jewish people,” said Dahra Granovsky, co-chair of the launch with Randy Weisz.
The evening also featured more than half a dozen young speakers whose lives had been touched by UJA and a performance by Kochav Nolad, a Russian Jewish quartet of young singers from Moscow, in recognition of the 20th anniversary of Operation Exodus, which brought more than 1 million Jews from Russia to Israel.
See CJ Shmooze, CJN’s blog, to read what it was like to interview Dan Aykroyd.
