PHILOSOPHER'S CAFE: Next Event is Monday November 5th at 7:30pm
Speaker: Mr. AVI MELAMED
Monday, November 5th at 7:30pm
Location: Okanagan Community College - Theatre Room in Students center
Price: Free to the Public
The OJC is pleased to present, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Canada, Mr. Avi Melamed.
The Middle East 2012 - Winds of Change and Quick Sand: The Arab Awakening, Israel and the Region
AVI MELAMED is an independent Strategic Intelligence Analyst and lecturer on Middle East
Affairs including Current Affairs in the Arab and Muslim world and the Impact on Israel and
the Middle East; Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in the Arab World; the Role of
Evolving Radical Islam; Israel's Security Challenges, etc.
SPECIAL OJC PHILOSOPHER'S CAFE
Israel and her Neighbours
On Monday June 4, over 50 guests attended a special Philosopher’s Café featuring a presentation by Rabbi Joel Schwartzman on Israel and her Neighbours. Rabbi Schwartzman is a retired US air force chaplain, Colonel, who has served over 23 years in the military and has seen tours of duty
throughout Europe and the Middle East. Rabbi Schwartzman approached the topic from a somewhat unconventional perspective. He focused on Israel’s neighbours and their past and present actions that affect the balance of power in the region. It was a thoroughly thought provoking evening, as confirmed by the interesting questions posed by the audience.
Rabbi Schwartzman will be returning to Kelowna in September. Please check the OJC website for dates and speakers of next season’s Philosopher’s Café.
throughout Europe and the Middle East. Rabbi Schwartzman approached the topic from a somewhat unconventional perspective. He focused on Israel’s neighbours and their past and present actions that affect the balance of power in the region. It was a thoroughly thought provoking evening, as confirmed by the interesting questions posed by the audience.
DR. ROSS HALPERIN - EXCITING INITIATIVES
IN KELOWNA AT OUR LOCAL CANCER CENTRE
On Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7:00 pm, there will be a special Philosopher’s Café presentation, at the Okanagan Jewish
Community Centre, with Guest speaker Dr. Ross Halperin, MD who is the Professional Practice Leader in Radiation Oncology at the BC Cancer Agency Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna.
Dr. Halperin will be accompanied by Cynthia Waldek-Peters, Director of Development, Southern Interior for the BC Cancer Foundation.
Our local Cancer Centre is part of the BC Cancer Agency providing a province-wide cancer control program for everyone in British Columbia and Yukon. The BC Cancer Foundation is the bridge that connects philanthropic support and research breakthroughs in cancer knowledge.
Come out to hear about some very exciting initiatives happening right here in Kelowna at our local Cancer Centre, the BC Cancer Agency Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior.
This event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC at NO CHARGE and will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre located at 102 Snowsell Street N (corner of Union & Snowsell St – across from the North Glenmore Elementary).
On Monday, April 2, 2012 at 7:00 pm, Inspector Rick Flewelling of the Kelowna RCMP detachment will be the Guest Speaker at the monthly OJC Philosopher's Cafe.
Inspector Flewelling is the Operational Support Officer with his position encompassing all plain clothes/specialized investigative units as well as traffic, the forensic identification unit, Police Dog Services and professional standards. He also looks after the HR for the Kelowna office. He will be speaking about his experiences when he was with the security detail for the Governor General as well as present day challenges.
‘THE KELOWNA STORY: AN OKANAGAN HISTORY”
On Monday, March 5, 2012, Sharron Simpson was the Guest Speaker at the OJC’s monthly Philosopher’s Café. 
Sharron’s background in the Okanagan and Kelowna, in particular, made her an ideally suited person for
writing the book “The Kelowna Story: An Okanagan History”. She has published numerous artivles and local histories, including two previous books entitled "Boards, Boxes and Bins: S.M. Simpson and the Okanagan Lumber Industry" and "Kelowna's General Hospital: The First 100 years" as well as a third book, co-written with Ian Greenwood, entitled "Deep Roots, Strong Branches: The History of Sun-Rype Products Ltd."
There were about 60 in attendance (almost a full house in the auditorium of the OJC). Sharron led her audience
through the early beginnings of Kelowna as it was discovered through exploration up from the United States
with the event of Father Pandosy settling in the Okanagan Mission and other details and stories of Kelowna’s
progress through to the way the City of Kelowna has evolved today. As well, she read some excerpts from the
many stories (about the early founders) included in her book.
The audience was given an opportunity to ask questions following her presentation. After the question period,
former OJC Past President and Philosopher’s Café Chair, Mel Kotler, thanked Sharron and presented her with a
bottle of wine from Summerhill Winery as a token of appreciation. Everyone was then invited to enjoy some light refreshments and mingle.
The book is certainly a ‘must read’ for anybody who has recently moved to Kelowna or is thinking about moving to Kelowna as it is informative and entertaining and embellishes the humanity which has made Kelowna such a special place to live and visit.
“ SEEDS IN THE WIND”
AUTHOR TERESA MAY GUEST SPEAKER AT OJC PHILOSOPHER’S CAFÉ
The Okanagan Jewish Community hosted Teresa May on February 6th, 2012. Teresa was the guest speaker at the OJCA's monthly Philosophers Cafe Program, that is open to the public at no charge. There were close to 35 people in attendance for a very inspirational topic given by Teresa on multiculturalism and about people accepting One race....the human race.
Teresa talked about the need for accepting differences in, race, culture, and religion, gender, and people with disabilities. She also talked about her experiences as a Chinese immigrant moving to Canada with her family at a young age. Teresa explained how difficult it was in the 1970's and the effects that racism had on her, however she was a fighter and always protected her brother and sister.
Teresa attended Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax Nova Scotia and graduated with a Bachelor of child study degree. Teresa was a teacher for 10 years, and has taught children ages 3-11. Teresa's love for children has always been her main focus of her career, and encouraging them to participate in random acts of kindness and making a difference in the world they live in. She encourages children to stand up for what they believe in, if it means a positive change for the world.
Currently Teresa is promoting her book entitled, "Seeds in the Wind" which she started 20 years ago. One chapter at a time, She read it to her students who later submitted their reflections through drawings, poems, and journal entries. A 10 year old student thought that May's life was like a ‘seed in the wind’ - hence the title of her book.
May concluded her presentation by saying ‘' I have a dream." Her dream is to sell 1 million copies of her new book, and to give a portion of the proceeds to the ‘My Fairy Godmothers’ Organization in Kelowna which she is a co-founder of. This organization’s mission is," to help children with broken hearts".
The evening concluded with OJCA Executive member Michael Troup, thanking Teresa May for her encouraging presentation and the message it sends. He presented her with a print by artist Lee Claremont entitled "Hope."
Everyone had refreshments and mingled.
OJCC HOSTS NEW MAYOR
The Okanagan Jewish Community hosted newly elected Mayor Walter Gray on January 9, 2012. He was the guest speaker at the OJCA's monthly Philosopher's Cafe program, open to the public. Close to 50 OJC and other members of the public attended for an informative talk on the future of Kelowna under Mayor Gray, followed by a lively question and answer period. Mayor Gray had previously served as Mayor of Kelowna for three, three year terms in 1996 through 2005 and was reelected in the fall of 2011. He spoke of new high rise developments and revitalization of the downtown and waterfront, the new Kelowna Yacht Club, improved transit, Kelowna's airport now being the 10th busiest in Canada, the need to promote a more balanced age demographic of Kelowna residents, policing, taxation and many other areas contained within the city's $412 million budget.
UBCO now has more than 10,000 students and continues to expand with a new Faculty of Medicine. A major expansion of the Kelowna General Hospital is near in completion. Mayor Gray and the new council see the economic benefits of sustained development and want developers to view Kelowna as "open for business".
At age 71 Mayor Gray well illustrated his qualities as an articulate, energetic, and intelligent leader. One of his first acts as newly elected Mayor was an almost immediate approval of the placement of a nine foot menorah in Stuart Park directly across from City Hall for nightly candle lighting during Hannukah.
The evening concluded with the evening's host, OJC member Sid Segal, thanking Mayor Gray and presenting him with a gift of a limited edition print of artist Dina Kotler's 'Red Dragon'.
Everyone mingled and enjoyed refreshments following.