10 — THE BULLETIN— Thursday, June 18,1992
Emahii-^EI to buii^^^^
By ADELE VERNON
VIGTORIA
'Let's do
GUEST SPEAKER Grace McCarthy, former Social Credit MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain, addresses the "roast" honoring dicanagan Jewish Community fundraising chairman Mel Kotier (right). Left master of ceremonies Mel Cooper.
KELOAVNA >- Four Grace McCarthy, former
hundred guests from all over North America came to the Capri Hotel here for a spe-ciail dinner "roast" honoring Mel Kotier, the Okanagan Jewish Community ^raising chairman.
The "Fundraiser for a Fundraiser" was held June 2 to raise money for the completion of the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre. "Mr. Kotier has been the driving force behind makihg the dreatn of a comnrunity centre become a reality," an OJC spokesperson said..
"To the delight of the audience and Mel himself," the spokeisperson added, singer Anita Nider started the evening with a special rendition of Frank Sinatra's ^*My Way," altering the words to "His Way."
Master of beremonies was Mel Cooper. Okanagan South Social Credit MLA Cliff Serwa was honorary chairman for the evening.
Social Credit MLA for Vancouvef-Little Mountain, was guest Speaker, Saul Kother, the honOree's father, recited Ha MotzL
Other head table guests 1 ncluded OJC president Robert Levin; Nadler; New York fashion designers Albert and Pearl Nippn; Dean Cooper, president of Kelowha radio stations CKOV and CKLZ; Warren Kimel, president of the eastern division of Fabric land; Bob McKinney of HA. Kidd and Co. in Toronto; and Gerry Mason.
letters were read . those unable to attend, biit wishing to congratulate Kotier and the OJC on their accomplishments, said the cdmmu n i ty spokes pe rs on.. A special audiq-visual presentation, arranged by three of Kotier's child ren, depicted various years in their father's business and personal life.
After head table guests either "roasted" or "toasted" Kotier, the evening was highlighted by a Vogue fashion show, coordinated by Cindy Rose, fashion director of Vogue/ Butterick Company in New York. The Nipons provided commentary, while Sherry's School of Modelling in Kelowna supplied the models.
Kotier made special presentations to Lake water Developments, which was in charge of construction of the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre, and to Vogue/ Butterick president John Lehmanh. Healsopresented the OJC with two picture collages depicting commun-ityevents over the years. The collages will be displayed in theOJCC
Many gifts of apprecia-tion were also presented to head table guests.
The evening concluded with an auction. The OJC credited Karen Slipacoff of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa for working to obtain some of the aiuctibn items, and members of the Ottawa Jewish comrnunit\ for making donations.
The roast was "most successful in terms of fundraising, with the financial goals met through donations, ticket sales and the auction," said the OJC spokesperson. "Many guests commented that it was one of the nicest fund raising dinne rs they have ever attended."
it ''was the general consensus of members of Congregation Emariu-El at their recent annual general meeting as they discussed the need for an addition to the synagogue. ;
By an overwhelming majority, the membership voted to lookinto erectinga three-storey building on land next to the synagogue.
According to menibers, this would accommbdate the overcrowded Jpreschool
_ ria-is growing and the synagogue needs the extra space.
The rabbi said the community is developing the infrastructure-for a much larger community and plans for growth in facilities must be galvanized into action.
He added that at the rate the congregation is growing, "we'll soon need a recreational director and a principal for the evening school."
He called on the entire community to "get in-
Shortt (treasurer), Arnie Niederhoffer (gabai), Harry BroAvn (cemetery director, Michael Goldberg (Chevra Kadisha).
Named to the board of directors were Steve Barer, Cathy BaSskin, Barry Davids, Miriam Purbach, Barbara Humphreys, Leah Levi, Sid Tafler, Ralph Barer, Brian Bromley^ Hal Decter, Janna Ginsberg, David Kurier and Jack
Sturmwind. The financial report
showed total revenues for
the year ending April 30 at
CONGREGATION Emanii-EI's new executive, back row, from left: Colleen Gibblngs, Stan Shortt, Chuck Waldman, Amie Niederhoffer. Front row/from left: Michael Goldberg, Harry Brown, April Katz, Rabbi Victor Relnsteih. ■
and Hebrew school classes and provide updated office space, kitchen and washrooms. A portable classroom is now on the site.
Rabbi Victor Reinsteiri told the meeting that the Jewish community of Victo-
volved" in preparing for the future.
Michaei Goldberg was ejected president, succeeding Colleen Gibbings. Other executive officers are April Katz (vice-president). Chuck Waldman (secretary), Stan
$155,420 and expenses at $145,259, with the net income for the period totaling $10,160.
electsboard
The Today's Woman chapter of Hadassah-WiZO Victoria has elected its 1992-93 executive.
New board members are Ruth Cooperstock (president, public affairs); Fay Niederhoffer (vice-president). Eve Peraya and Ethel Tennenhouse (secretaries), Liliane Kurrier (treasurer), Stephanie Gilbert (fundrais-ing), Andrea Fill (publicity),
Evalon Hamilton (cards); Edith Sit well (trees and special gifts), Lynne Ranch (Youth Aliyah), Leah Glick-Stal and Rosanha Goodman (program-executive and membership).
The chapter's year-end function will be a barbecue June 13, 6:30 p.m. at the home of Lynne Ranch, 4434 Chart well. Call 477-4605 for more information.
The new board of Victoria Women's ORT was installed June 2 at the groupi's year-end meeting.
The slate for the 1992-93 year is Orli Kalfbn (president), Patti Page (vice-president), Rysia Kraskin (treasurer), Donna Decter ; (secretary), Esther Cohen (fundraiser), Lonia Mertzer (education), Edith Sit well (prograni), Rita Brown (membership), Aileen Barer (publicity).
By GIL KEZWER
TORONtO (JTA) --^ External Affairs Minister Barbara McDougall has told Jewish leaders here that she regrets the fact that Israel, Syriat "and Lebanon boycotted niultilateral talks on the Palestinian refugee .problem, held May 13 to 15 in Ottawa.
.;■ Speaking at the Canadian Jewish Congress' 23rd plenary assembly, McDougall said she had been given ai personal assurance on Israel's attendance by her counterpart in the Jewish state, Foreigp Minister David Levy. ■
"I accepted this role for Canada because I believe that we can legitimately contribute to the peace process, based on our reputaitipn as an honest broker, especially in the Middle East and especially on refugee issues/* she said, adding that further
talks lie ahead.
Paraphrasing Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), she asked, If Canada does not respond to a ciall for peace,
^ McDougall cited da's role in encouraging countries such as Nigeria, India, Vietnam, Benin and the Maldives to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. She also mentioned the trilateral agreement signed in October 1989 in which Canada defrays half the cost of training participants from the Third World who come to Israel to study agriculture and rural development.
"AH of these actions build legitimacy —-and they build confidence," she said.
McDougall also recalled triumphs in the human rights campaigns to free the Jews of the former Soviet Union. Ethiopia and Syria sinte she addressed the pre^
vibus triertnialCJC meeting in 1989, when she wa? employment and immigration minister.
•. She singled out for praise Judy Feld Carr of Toronto for her work on behalf of Syrian Jewry: "It just shows what one individiial and the 24-hour fax machine can accomplish.
"1 am sure that I would not be alone in tTTis room if 1 were to admit that the events which have taken place in these areas in such a short period bf time are almost beyond belief," McDougall said. She added: "Of course, the Jewish people are no strangers to miracles." ,
Alluding to the plummeting popularity of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's government, she quipped^ "This is something we Progressive Conservatives understand. Indeed, relying on miracles is part of our election campaign strategy."