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October 23, 2009
There's a fresh face at the JNF
Goldwein leads the Vancouver chapter into the next era.
SARA NEWHAM
There's a new face walking the corridors of Vancouver's Jewish National Fund (JNF) these days and he's hoping to make a big impact.
Micha (Micky) Goldwein, who recently assumed the post of shaliach (representative) of the JNF, may still be exploring his new city's environs but he's not wasting any time in reaching out to the community. He has already visited the community's synagogues, spent time with representatives of other organizations housed in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) and visited with various community leaders.
"I've been here exactly six weeks. I'm still new in my position, still learning the community, the JNF. I'm really trying to get to know as much as possible," said Goldwein. "We continue to be an active partner in the foundation of Israel. It's a new country and it's still under construction.... My agenda is to try and expose what the JNF is doing in Israel ... to expose it to as many [parts of] in the community as possible."
Goldwein was born in Israel, on a kibbutz, and served as a crew commander in the Israeli Defence Forces' armored forces infantry from 1969 to 1972. He volunteered for reserve duty from 1973 to 1993 and served as a platoon commander in the armored infantry.
From 2006 until recently, he served as the marketing and public relations manager for the Irgun Olei Merkaz Europa, an organization that assists Israeli Holocaust survivors from central Europe, based in Haifa. He and his family have also spent considerable time in the United Kingdom, where Goldwein was fundraising manager for the Keren Hayesod Foundation Fund, Irgun Olei Merkaz Europa and Pisgat Ahuza Home for the Aged.
Goldwein's extensive background in fundraising may be a great asset to him at the JNF in Vancouver, as the organization faces challenges in the current era of economic hardship. But he's not apprehensive. "We might suffer in the short-term but I don't think, in the long term, we need to worry about it," he said. "We look forward to increasing our fundraising, that is the vehicle through which the bonds between our community here and the community in Israel can be strengthened, enabling us to enter into more projects which are so important to the country." One project that links the Canadian Jewish community to Israel is a park in Ofakim, a town west of Be'er Sheva, where funding from Canada has contributed to the greening of the area.
In existence since 1902, the JNF funds all kinds of projects in Israel, including reforestation and afforestation projects to fight desertification, river and waterway protection, the building of infrastructure for settlements, educational programs throughout the country and security roads in the north, along the Lebanese border. According to Goldwein, all of the money donated to JNF ends up in Israel, not in other countries. He stressed that JNF has contributed to the landscape and well-being of Israel in projects spread all over the country.
As part of his vision for the agency, Goldwein said he looks forward to deepening the organization's educational programming within Jewish schools. The organization wants younger generations to have a greater awareness, commitment and involvement in the activities of JNF.
"I think the JNF should be the leading Jewish organization in British Columbia, in terms of its support, commitment and solidarity for Israel and – more importantly – the people of Israel," he said, noting that Israel has the largest community of Jews in the world.
"With Israel being the centre, the nucleus, of the Jewish world, we need to create new connections with the Diaspora. There's only one place where Jews can feel safe and secure [and that's] because we can rely on the government, we can rely on the army." When asked why Jewish people can feel safest in Israel, he noted that "it's not our country here [in Canada] ... wherever we go, we are a minority."
To that end, Goldwein said JNF is looking to strengthen young adult leadership as well; young adults being the source and base of local community leadership in the future. In spite of the fact that some Diaspora Jews are choosing to make aliyah (emigrate) to Israel, for the most part, the majority will remain in their countries of residence.
So what does Goldwein bring to the job that will help him achieve his goals?
"I believe my strength is being born in Israel, living most of my life in Israel," he said. "I'm a Zionist and I love the country and the landscape very much. I'm attached to the country," he said.
He also brings with him a wealth of experience. Prior to his career in fundraising for various organizations, Goldwein began his career at a gold jewelry manufacturing company, Noga Jewelry, in 1978. He holds a bachelor of arts in agriculture from Hebrew University's faculty of agriculture in Rehovot.
In 1990, he completed the two-year advanced management course from the external studies department, at Haifa University. He has also completed courses in gerontology and mediation.
Goldwein said he knows how to create warm, close relationships with people and to motivate them. He acknowledged a stubborn streak, but noted a positive side of his stubbornness: "Even if I face obstacles, I never give in."
So far, Goldwein, who moved here with his wife Lili but left behind four adult children and two grandchildren in Israel, is really enjoying his new life in Vancouver. "It's very convenient.... Wherever you go, there is not a lot of traffic. People are very polite. The drivers are polite. The landscape is beautiful."
Although his take on Vancouver traffic may one day wear off, Goldwein will have the community to fall back on. "I like meeting with the people, the community, the synagogues. And the JCC, it's really the centre of Jewish life."
Sara Newham is a Vancouver freelance journalist.
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