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June 19, 2009
JNF honors Bob Silver
Winnipeg Negev Gala draws a diverse audience.
REBECA KUROPATWA
Each year, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) of Canada holds Negev galas and dinners across the country, honoring a significant person or organization and raising funds for an essential project in Israel
This year, JNF's Prairie Region held its Negev Gala at the Winnipeg Concert Hall on June 9. It was attended by some 1,300 people and honored Bob Silver.
Silver is the president of Western Glove Works, the founder of Canterbury Park Capital LP, and is co-owner of Warehouse One, the Winnipeg Free Press and the Brandon Sun.
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said Silver "has made it fashionable to wear jeans on any occasion," for which he thanked him.
"He's the go-to person for any challenging project to move Manitoba and Winnipeg forward," added Doer.
"Not long ago, we had the president of Iran arguing that the Holocaust never happened and challenging Israel's right to exist before the United Nations," said Doer. "It's very important for us to be celebrating music and Bob, but also to be pledging our solidarity to the people of Israel."
JNF Prairie Region president and event chair Mel Lazareck said, "JNF was a green organization when the rest of the world was color-blind. Israel had no choice. It was a matter of survival."
This year, proceeds from the Negev dinner will be used to develop the Kibbutz Ne'ot Semadar Constructed Wetland, located in the middle of the Arava Desert, 60 kilometres north of Eilat. This wetland is an ecological wastewater treatment facility that uses a series of biological purification pools to simulate a natural wetland environment. The wetland project will provide a solution for kibbutzim Ne'ot Semadar and Neve Harif's wastewater disposal by recycling water and making it usable for agriculture and green space.
One of the main reasons Silver conveyed for why he chose this particular project is because he hopes this innovative Negev water recycling system can be made global – helping water-starved areas all over the world.
The gala co-chairs were Hartley Richardson and Ronald Stern (Silver's longtime business partner). Richardson described Silver as someone whose "actions clearly convey the three phases of life – learning, earning and returning (giving back)."
Silver told the gala audience that he hopes he's contributing to making the world a better place. "If we're not doing that, then our role here in life is rather shallow and unrewarding in my estimation.
"Our role is to make things better for those who follow us. It's your contribution to me that has made me better, and I hope I can do the same for you. It's the people in this Jewish, Winnipeg and Manitoba community who have made my life worthwhile. Together, we can improve life for everyone. That's what drives us."
Recently appointed chancellor of the University of Winnipeg, Silver has chaired the United Way campaign, co-chaired the Manitoba Premier's Economic Advisory Council and the Winnipeg Library Foundation and has served on the Canadian Apparel Federation and Destination Winnipeg boards.
Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz said, "I've said on many occasions that our greatest asset is our people. Bob and [his wife] Kim Silver are proof of this. Bob's a goldenah neshamah (golden soul) – a no-nonsense kind of person who doesn't do politically correct, and that's what we love about him."
Erez Rotem, JNF director/KKL emissary, Prairie Region, described the evening as "a beautiful night for the Jewish community and JNF. There was a great wave of support from the Manitoba government and the community. A good time was had ... and we're happy to have had a wide range of ages in the audience."
The evening's entertainment was a live performance of the Israeli percussion stomp group Tararam (a Hebrew word meaning hubbub or commotion).
Tararam's smart, edgy, rhythmic blend of drumming, live vocals, amusing sounds and theatrical antics are in a class of their own. The group produces extraordinary sounds from their bodies, ordinary objects, industrial tools, suspended drums and percussion.
The group's founder and artistic director, Doron Rafaeli, premièred Tararam at the Israeli Festival of Stage Arts in 1997. It has since toured internationally, including performing at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Although Tararam has performed before in the United States (in 2007), this Winnipeg trip was its first Canadian appearance. On June 15, Tararam were slated to perform at a similar fundraiser in Calgary.
Winnipeg's Negev Gala started up in 1953. Some recent honorees include Doer, Arnold Frieman and Larry Hurtig.
JNF was founded in 1901. Since its inception, it has planted more than 240 million trees, constructed more than 200 reservoirs and dams and developed more than 250,000 acres of land. It has also created more than 1,000 parks and provided infrastructure for more than 1,000 communities.
Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.
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