Old Hillel's last AGM

PAT JOHNSON

Jewish students, parents, alumni and friends jammed last week into the 61-year-old Hillel House at the University of Britsh Columbia for the organization's last annual general meeting before the historic building is razed to make way for a landmark new facility.

Hillel officials expect the old building, which has stood at the heart of UBC campus since 1947, to be torn down in June. Hillel will operate out of temporary quarters in the next academic year and hopes to open the doors to the new facility in September 2009.

The final AGM at the old Hillel House was a time for nostalgia and reflection – as well as anticipation for the changes ahead.

"This is truly one of the most historic moments in the 61-year history of Hillel in British Columbia," said Alan Marchant, president of the Vancouver Hillel Foundation. "These are just walls, of course, but when we stop to think about what has taken place between these walls over the past 61 years, you realize that the impact this little hut has had is utterly extraordinary."

Marchant, halfway through a second two-year term as Hillel president, stressed the intangible social impact of Hillel House, as well as the powerful advocacy work undertaken by students, especially around Israel awareness.

"Couples have met here and married," said Marchant. "Friendships by the thousands have been forged and have lasted lifetimes. Community was built here and community continues to be built.

"Within these walls, students heard the results of the UN's partition vote and held their breath as war broke out, then more wars," he said. "Within these walls, students have advocated for Israel since before the state was born. We have educated peers about the Holocaust.... Not only have generations of students found their own, comfortable place in Judaism within these walls, they have gained the strength, confidence and skills to become leaders – first on campus, then in the community."

The new Hillel House, which is being designed by the Vancouver architecture firm Acton, Ostry, is the result of an unprecedented offer from the administration of UBC. Due to a massive redevelopment at the centre of the campus, UBC offered Hillel the opportunity to remain at its current location – until the year 2084 – if Hillel can construct a new building that suits the changing character of the neighborhood.

Eyal Lichtmann, executive director of the Vancouver Hillel Foundation, credited campaign chair Isaac Thau for exceptional work in raising community support for the new building and is optimistic about fundraising for the ambitious project.

"We have not reached our target yet, and construction costs are rising," said Lichtmann, "but we are confident the community will come through and feel our excitement as the shovels go in the ground."

The campaign must raise at least $1 million more to finish the building, but the capital campaign also hopes to put in place an endowment to ensure operational funding for years to come, he said.

Lichtmann expressed gratitude to the generations who built Hillel and encouraged members of the Jewish community to share the foresight the community had when it initiated Hillel at UBC in 1947.

"This capital campaign is a tribute to the generations whose commitment to Jewish education and continuity made this old hut a home," said Lichtmann. "Our generation is putting in place a landmark to last more than eight decades. We are ensuring that many more generations of Jewish young people have a chance to engage with their Judaism on their own terms. We are building community and creating leaders – first on campus, then for our community."

The annual general meeting saw two new members added to the board of the foundation, Rabbi Steven Berger and Eitan Pinsky. Numerous students received State of Israel Bonds as recognition for their contributions to Israel advocacy and Jewish programming. Winners of the top awards for each campus were Keta Kruse and Sam Heller (UBC), Andrea Sorin (University of Victoria) and Saar Regev (Simon Fraser University) for leadership in Israel programming. Adon Moss and Dan Shloss (UVic), Jackie Siegel and Daniel Wiseman (UBC) and Kirsten Davidson and Janie Dubman (SFU) were recognized for leadership in Jewish programming. Other students and community partners were also recognized.

More information about Hillel and the capital campaign is online at www.vancouverhillel.ca.

Pat Johnson is, among other things, director of development and communications for the Vancouver Hillel Foundation.

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