TORONTO — When Oleg Shteyner lived in Ukraine, and then in Sderot, Judaism was a mystery. When he moved to Canada, it became his passion.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was honoured last week by the Orthodox Union (OU) Canada and NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth). From left are Pierre Poilievre, Harper’s parliamentary secretary; Larry Zeifman, president of OU Canada; Philip Reichmann, tribute event chair, and Jason Kenney, the minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism.
Shteyner, 20, spoke last week at the Orthodox Union Canada and NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth) Canada’s gala dinner and concert, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper was honoured.
“I couldn’t connect to the Jewish people around me” he said before his speech to an audience of about 1,600 people. “A year ago things changed.”
While at Newtonbrook Secondary School in North York, Shteyner joined the Jewish Student Union club, where he began to learn about his religion.
Now, a year later, he keeps kosher, is heavily involved with NCSY Canada, a group that engages Jewish youth through social and recreational activities, and, at the time of his speech, was preparing to undergo a circumcision.
“I’ll be both physically and spiritually a part of [Judaism], It is important to go all the way. Only by that are you able to understand what God is all about,” he said.
Harper is the first recipient of the OU/NCSY Outstanding Award of Merit. At the event, he was represented by members of his cabinet.
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been a role model for all Canadians,” Shteyner said. “He made the decision to support Israel, he is a man of his word.”
During the reception and concert, organizers played a video tribute to Harper, which highlighted his condemnation of anti-Semitism and his decision to boycott the Iranian president’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly this year.
According to Rabbi Glenn Black, the CEO of NCSY, Harper received the award of merit because of his consistent support of the Jewish community.
“There has never [before] been a prime minister… who has been steadfast in their support of righteousness and freedom,” Rabbi Black said about Harper’s relationship with Israel. “Israel is a lone democracy in a sea of hatred… [Harper] understands his role is to stand up against the power of evil.”
Black, along with Philip Reichmann, the tribute event chair, and Larry Zeifman, the president of OU Canada, met with Harper in Ottawa at the end of last month to present the award to him.
Pierre Poilievre, Harper’s parliamentary secretary and Jason Kenney, the minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, spoke at the reception on behalf of the prime minister.
“We’re… proud to be part of a government that has taken a zero tolerance approach towards anti-Semitism,” Kenney said.
Kenney talked about his experience four years ago at the University of Calgary, where he tried to organize a Solidarity with Israel rally. When he approached a Jewish group on campus, he was surprised by their response.
“They said, ‘We don’t like to cause trouble, we don’t want to be controversial. We have our bagel lunches on Wednesday. That’s enough,’” he said.
“I was ashamed to hear that. We need… young Jews who are proud of their identity. I know the youth involved in NCSY are exactly those kinds of young people.”
