Professor Karl Skorecki's visit to Toronto

"Whether he was speaking with high school students, CFRAM Board Members, potential donors, or members of the medical community, Prof. Skorecki shared his passion for science, Torah and the work that is being carried out at Rambam Health Care Campus."
Suzanne Kaye, CFRAM National Executive Director
 
Molecular geneticist and nephrologist Prof. Karl Skorecki, Director of Medical and Research Development at Rambam, was hosted in mid autumn by the Canadian Friends of Rambam. The Toronto native son, who immigrated to Israel with his wife and children in 1995 -- in his case, making aliyah directly to Rambam Health Care Campus from the Division of Nephrology in the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics and Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Toronto – was made most welcome in the city of his birth.
 
Over 250 people attended his lecture on “The Genetics of Being Jewish," an event co-sponsored by CFRAM and Temple Beth David Continuing Education Committee and Brotherhood, and organized by Prof. Bernard P. Schimmer of the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research at the University of Toronto. In his opening remarks, Prof. Schimmer spoke warmly of his long association with Prof. Skorecki. Among those in the audience were CFRAM Board Members Cary Green, Ron Kalifer, Jules Kronis and Les Wynn, and event volunteers Gayle Hart and Jeff Sattin.
 
Sam and Pam Handelsman hosted an evening at which Prof. Skorecki told of the enormous strides being made at Rambam in personalized medicine, stem-cell research, and other healthcare matters. Dr. Handelsman told those assembled that his relationship with the guest of honor had begun in their student days at the University of Toronto, and spoke of his pride in his friend's achievements. In attendance were CFRAM President David Green with his mother, Friend of Rambam Goldie Feldman; Board Member Bayla Chaikof with her husband, Leo; Board Member Diane Wilson with her husband, Dr. Jonathan Wilson (who serves on CFRAM's Medical Advisory Board); and many well known members of the Toronto Jewish Community, among them Gary and Linda Goldberg, Ken and Gloria Hershenfield, Jeff and Linda Mandlsohn, Dr. Uri Sagman, and Arnie and Sharyn Recht.

   
Board Member Jules Berman hosted a lunch at his firm Minden Gross LLB for CFRAM members and others from the financial and business community.  Guests included  Donald Carr, who several years ago assisted in obtaining Canadian charitable status for CFRAM; Board Members Rachel Blumenfeld of Miller Thompson LLB,  Edwin Goldstein, and Ron Kalifer;  and Friend of Rambam George Herczeg.
 
Board Member Marilyn Gotfrid and her husband David hosted an intimate breakfast at their home attended by Dr. Daphne Gladman (Chair of CFRAM's Medical Advisory Board), Carole and Lionel Schipper, Liz Wolfe, and others. Prof. Skorecki was asked why he had chosen to work at Rambam. He replied that Rambam is like a very close-knit family, and it is this workplace culture that has fostered the institution's world-class accomplishments in medicine and science.
 
During his visit to Toronto, Prof. Skorecki also shared a challenging exchange of ideas about Torah and science with high school students at Yeshivat Or Chaim and the Ulpanat Orot Girls’ School.
 
"Whenever we meet with Professor Skorecki, we are reminded of CFRAM's significant role in assisting this important Israeli hospital, Rambam, to renew and expand itself so that it can offer first-rate medical care in peace and war. Professor Skorecki exemplifies the hope and brilliance that are linked in the Israeli character. For this, we are very grateful. We always look forward to a visit from him.”

David Green, President CFRAM