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October 4, 2002
Pianist commends CJA
Carmen Or said campaign dollars gave her a new life.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
One of the more common questions asked throughout the annual Combined
Jewish Appeal (CJA) campaign each year is, "Where does the
money go?"
The campaign's lay leadership and professional staff work hard to
prepared information for the canvassers in order to help answer
that question. They also send information pamphlets to the community
at large and run ads in the Jewish Bulletin and their own
Yachad publication.
But perhaps no better answer to that question has been offered than
that which was presented in person at the CJA Women's Division top
gifts event Sept. 18 at the Four Seasons Hotel.
The event, which hosted more than 60 women committed to the annual
campaign, featured a performance by Israeli pianist Carmen Or and
her husband, world-renowned opera singer Eduardo del Campo.
Before the performance began, Or addressed the audience by telling
her inspirational story of how Israel and the federations of the
world gave her the life she never thought she could have.
Born and raised in the Soviet Union shortly after the establishment
of the state of Israel, Or quickly became one of Russia's top young
pianists, winning various competitions around the country.
At the age of 13, while chaperoned by a member of the KGB, Or and
a group of other talented musicians took a trip to Geneva, Switzerland,
to represent Russia in an international competition. On one of those
days, Or had been left alone in her room for a few hours. Though
she was young and afraid, she knew her mother would want her to
take that chance to sneak out of the hotel in hopes of escaping
return to a hopeless life in Russia.
Remembering what her grandmother had always told her to do if she
ever needed help, Or located a synagogue and asked the rabbi to
help her. Knowing he couldn't keep her in his community, the rabbi
had Or sent to Israel, which opened its doors to her.
There she was taken in by an Israeli family and, at the age of 18,
she joined the Israeli army. When her general reviewed her impressive
resumé, he told her she would best serve Israel by continuing
to play the piano and represent her country through her talents.
Or told the women at the Four Seasons that it was the contribution
of the federations from around the globe that gave her the opportunity
to live the life she and her mother had always dreamed for her.
Her original flight to Israel, room and board payments to the family
who took her in, medical coverage, Hebrew language training, counselling
and referrals to other services were all supported by the Jewish
Agency for Israel, which is funded by the campaigns of Jewish federations
worldwide. The Jewish Agency also flew Or's mother from Russia to
Israel 10 years ago.
Today, as a successful pianist living in Montreal, Or is dedicated
to giving back to the Jews of the world, who she felt gave her everything
she has. As an example, Or and her husband agreed to come to Vancouver
only under the condition that they would volunteer their time.
Lola Pawer, who chaired the event with Shelley Ail, said Or is the
type of person who "absolutely gives of herself."
"Her goal in life is just to pass the word about the importance
of these campaigns," Pawer said."
The result of Or's presentation was extraordinary, Pawer said.
"We had four people move up to a different level [of giving
to the CJA]," she explained. "I got thank you notes in
the mail from people who said this was the best event that they've
ever been to because she really was a recipient of Federation. People
like the emotion and they like to see what their money is doing."
This year's CJA campaign goal is to raise at least $4.5 million.
For more information about the campaign, call the Jewish Federation
of Greater Vancouver office at 604-257-5100.
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