National Volunteer Week Message – Gail Gould, Executive Director

This week we celebrate National Volunteer Week by recognizing the significant contribution of our incredible volunteers. Today, we are honoured to recognize and celebrate those volunteers who have given so generously of themselves by volunteering at the Bernard Betel Centre for 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years. This year’s them is “The Value of One, The Power of Many.” The theme focuses on the individual and collective efforts as seen during the pandemic. Looking to the future – the value of one act and the power of many, enables us to thrive together.

During the past pandemic year we had 159 individual volunteers and 29 corporate volunteers give a total of 9,277 hours of volunteer work . You inspire us on a daily basis. Individuals who give of themselves and ask for nothing in return. Individuals who possess endless amounts of energy and generously give of your time, your expertise, your commitment despite your own busy lives.

As a volunteer you bring a richness to the Betel Centre – skills, advice, experience, intellect, leadership and most of all you bring compassion. You help build and strengthen our community. But what you give most, whether it has been for 5 years or 25 years, is your time. We all know that time is the most precious resource in our lives. It is a finite number. Once you give an hour of your time, it is lost forever. It will never be replicated.

Your time is priceless. You have chosen to donate life’s most precious commodity. You help us in so many ways fill the voids and expand our reach within the community we serve. You significantly contribute to our capacity to make a difference to the people we serve and to the community. The warm, sparkling smiles you give, the compassion that you bring are a lifeline to our many members and community participants.

The concept of ‘tikun olam – repair the world’ expresses the value of volunteering in Judaism. It is one of the primary Jewish principles that unifies, engages and motivates our community. We know our world is imperfect, but we have not only the opportunity, but the obligation to help make it better. YOU Make it better! One of our Jewish sages said; “It is not what one says, but rather what one does, that makes all the difference in the world.” We could never ask for more dedicated volunteers. Words cannot express how grateful and appreciative we are. You are inspirational, a pleasure and a privilege to work with you.

Thank you for the many lives you touch in positive and uplifting ways and for contributing significantly towards our vibrancy and reputation in the community. Today we recognize the following Milestone volunteers:

25 years – Judy Cohn

20 years – Laura Greenberg

15 years – Sarah Abuharoon, Anisoara Kirschner-Kozai, Julia Sztibel

10 years – Donna Lindo, Joyce Solomon, Ronald Berman, Susan Altman, Sonia L. Jacobs, Lorne Zon, Rudolf Stanovski, David Benegbi, Michael Gershtein

5 years – Harold Blond, Marcia L. Kareff, Alisha Kumar, Judy E. Weiss, Debbie L. Efrach, Anita Budman, Miriam Meiri, Genya Baskin, Mednik Feiga, Donna Krakofsky, Talya Moshinsky, Fira Bolhovsky, Eleonora Vilensky, Arkady Balanovsky, Shir Barzilay, Anna Faradgiv, Rita Kaplun, Helen Margiel, Harold Rosenfeld, Eda Szwajcer, Azril Rom

With the deepest gratitude,

Gail Gould
Executive Director
Bernard Betel Centre