The Montreal Jewish community rallied together recently to raise $550,000 in support of Operation Miriam and the Ben Weider Educational Center/Chabad Seminary of Canada at their annual Feast of the Nations gala.

Held at the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, the evening honoured Shari & Ron Shlien, and through the generosity of the 350 people in attendance as well as many other sponsors, the Ben Weider Educational Center/Chabad Seminary of Canada will be able meet the immediate goals of Operation Miriam.

Operation Miriam is the organization’s mission to welcome 125 young women, 25 per year for the next five years, from war-torn Ukraine to study at the Ben Weider Educational Center/Chabad Seminary of Canada.

“We cannot thank the community enough for their support,” said Rabbi Abraham Cohen from the Ben Weider Educational Center/Chabad Seminary of Canada. “All the money raised will provide these vulnerable young women with the opportunity to take refuge in Canada as well as continue their studies in the safe and warm communal environment that we provide.”

All expenses for Operation Miriam are being subsidized by the Montreal Jewish community through events such as the aforementioned gala or via private donations. On average, the sponsorship of each student refugee is estimated at $34,400 per year. Furthermore, ancillary costs such as legal fees are being provided to the Seminary at no charge.

The gala, which had the theme of One Person, One World, welcomed a host of well-known members of the community and supporters, including: Gad Bitton, Eric Bissel, the Cukier Families, Jack Dym, Barry Fagen, Jason Farber, Sal Guerrera, Zohar Krivorot, Dr. Stephen Poloz, Terry Pomerantz, Patricia Saputo, Stephen Shiller, Richard Stern, Maurice Supino and Yair Szlak.

Helping to organize the evening and serving on the gala committee were: Jordan Aberman, Daniel Benchetrite, Gad Bitton, Benny Bouganim, Jack Dym, Barry Fagen, Sal Guerrera, Anthony Housefather, Barry Kotler, Zohar Krivorot, Peter Nicholson, Terry Pomerantz, Aaron Remer, Nadia Saputo, Patricia Saputo, Jeff Segel, Stephen Shiller, Shari & Ron Shlien, Amos Sochaczevski, Derek Stern and Richard Stern.

 Established in 1989, the Ben Weider Educational Center/Chabad Seminary of Canada, under the auspices of the worldwide Chabad movement and the Québec CEGEP system, has been dedicated to the highest caliber of post-secondary education for young Jewish women from the province and beyond. The collegial certificates bestowed are recognized across Canada, the United States and Israel.

By Mike Cohen