Strengthening ties between our community and Israel – the heart of the global Jewish community - is one of UJA’s core priorities. It is the ancestral home of the Jewish people and the birthplace of Judaism. It is the land to which we returned after 2,000 years of exile. We invest more than $15 million every year for programs that strengthen the relationship between Israel and the Greater Toronto Jewish community, and advance solutions that support Israeli communities facing unique challenges. Evan Cooperman, CEO of Foremost Financial Corporation, has been a member of UJA’s Israel & Overseas Committee (IOC) for six years, and was the Co-Chair of the committee in 2018. UJA spoke with him about why he continues to volunteer with IOC, and the impact that Israel has had on his Jewish identity and experience.
UJA: Why do you think it’s important to dedicate your time, money and energy to
supporting Israel?
Evan: Toronto provides a tremendous amount of support to those less
fortunate in Israel, and it is important that we dedicate time to ensure that our charitable
dollars have the maximum social impact. It is exciting and vital to pilot bold and
innovative initiatives that, if successful, materially strengthen the demographics and
future of Israel, while also offering significant return potential. It is also personally
rewarding to see the meaningful changes, first-hand, that our community is bringing to our
sisters and brothers in Israel.
UJA: What has IOC accomplished that you are most proud of?
Evan: There are many accomplishments. We have funded programs to encourage
girls to study sciences. We funded a program called Youth Futures that mentors at-risk
youth—and this program was so successful that it was rolled out nationally. We funded a
strategic plan for the region of Eilot which culminated in their focus on renewable energy,
and has brought tens of millions of dollars to the region. We stuck with Sderot at a time
when most other donor communities stepped back after the most acute emergency had subsided.
I am most proud of Toronto’s continued steadfast support of Israel.
UJA: What story about the work you do has affected you the most?
Evan: In Bat-Yam, we focused on helping the Ethiopian immigrant community.
During the time of our intervention, the percentage of Ethiopian students who matriculated
from high school rose from 47% to over 80%. One program in our intervention was called ‘Warm
Home’. Perhaps this impacted me because I am a father, but we learned that many Ethiopian
children came home to empty apartments because their parents were working. In addition,
their parents were not educated, so they could not help with homework, and many kids were
not getting three full meals a day; it’s hard to focus on learning when you have an empty
stomach. Warm Home provided young children with a safe and enriching after-school
environment that included meals and tutoring until parents came home from work.
UJA: Why do you think the Jewish community of the GTA should continue to support Israel
and small Jewish communities around the world?
Evan: We are blessed to live in Canada in a relatively affluent community.
While we have no shortage of challenges at home, there are so many people in Israel,
especially in the geographic periphery, who live below the poverty line and live lives
filled with hardship and adversity. Also, as our children grow up in Canada, it is important
to support Israel and teach them to realize the vital link that Israel holds for their
Jewish identity and nationhood.
UJA: How do you respond to the sentiment that Israel has reached a point where help from
the Jewish community in the GTA is no longer needed?
Evan: This simply is not true. There are many Israelis who fall through the
social safety net, and it is important to remember that it is our job, as compassionate
human beings, to act as the Global Jewish 911 for those in need.