“How the Optimism of the High Holy Days Will Inspire Us to See a Brighter Future for Israel.”

Co-chairs J. Stephen Lipper and Rhoda Vineberg

Moderator J. Stephen Lipper

Panelists:

Consul General Paul Hirschson

Paul Hirschson grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds Bachelor’s (accounting and law) and Master’s degrees. After immigrating to Israel, Paul served in the IDF (military) then worked in the public sector, relocating to England for three years.

In 2004, Paul left the private sector and joined Israel’s Foreign Ministry, becoming Israel’s first diplomat posted to the United Arab Emirates, 15 years before the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2020. In 2008, Paul relocated to the USA.

In 2011, Paul completed his posting in the USA and returned home to Israel where he served as a spokesperson in the Foreign Ministry for 4 years.

In 2015, Paul was appointed Israel’s Ambassador to Senegal and five other countries in West Africa. He ran the Israeli embassy in Dakar until returning to Israel in late 2018.

In 2019, Ambassador Hirschson took on responsibility for Israel’s relations with Caribbean countries. He was appointed Israel’s next Consul General to Quebec and Atlantic Canada and moved to Montreal during the summer of 2021.

Julia Langleben

Julia Langleben is a third-year McGill student studying Psychology and Jewish Studies. She recently spent 8 months studying abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Julia teaches Hebrew to students at the Shaar Netivot program and works for various mental health initiatives around the city. She is a passionate advocate for Israel and is active as a member of the Montreal Jewish Community. Julia also worked for an Israel advocacy organization as a Hasbara Fellow, in Israel with an organization called Shalva where she taught babies with Down syndrome as well as at a crisis hotline.

Julia won the Polly and David Binder Memorial Scholarship for commitment to Jewish studies.

Martin Rosenthal

Martin Rosenthal has been involved in community for many years. He is currently a member of the national Board of Directors of CIJA and chair of the CIJA Quebec LP Council.  He first became involved in community as an active member of the CJA campaign team. He served as Vice-President of JVS (now Ometz), as Treasurer of the Chevra synagogue, Board member of BJEC and is a past President of the Akiva School. Martin also served as a Board member and Chair of the Audit committee of the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM).

Martin is a partner at EY and the Eastern Canada market leader of EY’s Strategy and Transactions group. His practice includes advising corporate boards, financial institutions, private equity firms, not-for-profit organizations and government entities. He has acted as a strategic and financial advisor to management of numerous companies facing strategic challenges, including liquidity constraints and risks presented by changing market dynamics.