Page 8 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – February 9, 2009
Volunteer spotlight
Activist student leader heads Hillel Ottawa By Benita Siemiatycki At the youthful age of 21, Raphael Szajnfarber speaks with the poise and clarity of someone twice his age. A fourth-year Carleton University student, Raphael studies public affairs and policy management, specializing in international studies, with a minor in political science. It’s not difficult to see where that might take him. In his first year of university, Raphael was accepted into the House of Commons page program where he got to see “Parliament in action.” The page program gives university students rare access to witness and participate in the proceedings of the House of Commons. He is still a regular on Parliament Hill, conducting public tours of the Hill as a part-time job. Apart from being a fulltime student and a part-time tour guide, Raphael holds the voluntary position of president of Hillel Ottawa,
which represents Jewish students on the Algonquin, Carleton and University of Ottawa campuses. That role has catapulted him into the spotlight as he gives media interviews, meets with high level university administrators, and tackles difficult advocacy work on behalf of Jewish students. He ensures that Hillel organizations on the three campuses are consistent in their messaging, acts as a liaison between the three groups and communicates with the broader Jewish community. The biggest obstacle Hillel Ottawa faces is challenging the anti-Israel – and sometimes anti-Jewish – sentiments on campus, Raphael says. He laments the amount of time spent on these negative activities, when his preferred role for Hillel Ottawa is to organize positive activities and spirit for students. His days are unpredictable, depending on what is happening in the Middle East, or even what is
Raphael Szajnfarber urges young people to volunteer for any cause they are passionate about. (OJB Photo: Benita Siemiatycki)
happening on campus, that requires his attention. The Hillel Ottawa job, on average, takes about 10 to 15 hours per week, not counting “all the thinking”
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that, he says, goes on continuously. Raphael admits that prioritizing his schoolwork and his volunteer work isn’t easy. Until now, he’s tried to do both, and so far, so good. “There’s a fine line between being not busy enough and being too busy. I haven’t found the balance yet. But I prefer to be too busy than not busy enough,” Raphael explains. Raphael grew up in Ottawa, attending public schools. A graduate of Nepean High School’s immersion program, he wanted to improve his spoken French even further and boarded
with French-speaking families in Quebec for two summers as part of the federal government’s Explore Education program. Raphael wasn’t always active in Hillel Ottawa. In fact, he didn’t participate much until last school year when he was personally urged to go to events by Samuel Konig, the former Hillel Ottawa advocacy associate. Once he met people and participated in Hillel’s activities, Raphael threw his name into the ring to be on the executive and became the city-wide president last summer. Alana Kayfetz, executive director of Hillel Ottawa, is thrilled with Raphael’s leadership. “Raffi is a wonderful student leader and a great example for other young Jewish students,” she says. “He is truly dedicated and shows amazing promise for the future of our community. We love having him on board and are very lucky to have him as the key leader of our student group.” Last year, Raphael volunteered for SHOUT (Students Helping Others Understand Tolerance), an organization of university students from across the country who go to Poland to learn about the Holocaust as a backdrop to understanding past and current genocides. The group actively speaks out against racism and intolerance.
Raphael will leave Hillel Ottawa this summer and move to Montreal to study law at McGill University. He’s not certain if he wants to practise as a lawyer, but sees invaluable benefits from developing the analytical and oratorical skills that a legal education will provide. His ultimate career goal, wherever it leads him, is to work in an area of policy “that can affect social change.” He is following in the footsteps of his parents, Evelyn Cooperstein and Zelik Szajnfarber, who are both trained lawyers and have worked in the federal public service on tribunals and in semi-judicial roles. Older sister Zoe is currently completing a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in technology policy and aerospace engineering. He urges other young people to volunteer their time toward any cause they are passionate about. The Hillel experience has allowed him to run meetings, deal with the media, work with all sorts of people and meet with university presidents. None of that, he says, can be learned in the classroom. Benita Siemiatycki of the Jewish Ottawa InfoCentre profiles community volunteers in the Bulletin. Many organizations are in desperate need of volunteers. Call the InfoCentre at 613-7984644 for information.
What’s happening at
Congregation Beth Shalom Sunday, February 15
Father/Son Tallit and Tefillin Club
Monday, February 23
Book Club
Thursday, March 5
Kibbitz Club Seniors Lunch
Friday, March 6
Shabbat Dinner Series
Sunday, March 15
Father/Son Tallit and Tefillin Club
Watch for more upcoming events. Everyone is Welcome! For more information, please contact the synagogue at 613-789-3501, ext. 223 or info@bethshalom.ca www.bethshalom.ca