CSL resident Bensimon takes over local Hebrew University chapter

The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (CFHU) announced this week the appointment of Côte Saint-Luc resident Simon Bensimon (pictured below) as executive director, Eastern Region. He succeeds Carolyn Steinman (pictured at the left), also of CSL, who took her retirement recently. Carolyn served in that post for 24 years.

Simon's mandate is to lead the Eastern Region of CFHU in its mission to promote The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and build support for projects which facilitate academic and research partnerships between Canada and Israel.

“Simon is exceptionally well-suited to fulfill this role,” says Monette Malewski, president of the Montreal Chapter of CFHU. “His contributions to higher learning and his support of Israel are well established. Simon was instrumental in creating the Bronfman Israel Experience Centre, the Birthright Israel/Taglit initiative and the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies at Concordia University. Additionally, Simon is impeccably bilingual. On behalf of CFHU, I’d like to welcome Simon Bensimon to the team."

“I am very honoured to accept this position,” says Simon. “CFHU helps advance learning and research, for the benefit of all Canadians, by building even closer ties between Canada and Israel on multiple levels. I look forward to advancing the important work done by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem across Québec and the Atlantic provinces."

From 2008 until earlier this year, Simon was principal director of development for the Concordia University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Previously he held a variety of management positions, including executive director of Hillel Montreal and director of the Israel and Oversees Department at Federation CJA. He holds a Masters in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA) from Concordia University and a BA from McGill.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1918, is Israel’s first university. The university’s founders, including: Chaim Weizmann, Albert Einstein, Martin Buber and Sigmund Freud, were leaders, thinkers and humanitarians whose genius inspired their vision of a great university that would have no limits or borders. The founding charter declared that the institution would be open to every qualified man and woman irrespective of religion, race or nationality. Ranked as one of the world’s leading research universities, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s faculty and researchers are at the forefront of the international scientific and academic communities. Many top prizes and awards have been won by its graduates and faculty including eight Nobel Prizes. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a pluralistic institution where science and knowledge are advanced for the benefit of humankind in an atmosphere free of discrimination and prejudice. For more information, please visit: www.huji.ac.il/huji/eng/.

Canadian philanthropist Allan Bronfman founded the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (CFHU) in 1944 to promote awareness, leadership and financial support for The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A national not-for-profit organization with chapters across Canada, CFHU facilitates strategic academic research partnerships between Canada and Israel as well as establishing scholarships, supporting research and recruiting Canadian students to attend the Rothberg International School. Another key CFHU initiative is the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) at Hebrew University (www.imric.org). For more information, please visit: www.cfhu.org.