WINNIPEG — A University of Manitoba student left for China last week to see the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

Maxim Berent, 20, is the chair of the cultural committee for the Israel pavilion at Folklorama in Winnipeg, one of the largest and longest-running multicultural events of its kind in the world. Folklorama, which takes place annually for two weeks in August, features more than 40 cultural pavilions each year. The Jewish community has traditionally hosted the Shalom Square pavilion at the Asper Jewish Community Campus, featuring entertainment, displays and Israeli food.

Expo 2010, which runs from May to October, is the largest in the event’s history, Berent said.

 “The most important thing is that for the first time ever, Israel will be putting on a… pavilion at Expo, designed to showcase its accomplishments in science, technology, medicine, architecture and so on. Israel has just invested $6 million to build this temporary pavilion, and it will be able to host up to 2-1/2 million people,” Berent said.

“I’ll return to Winnipeg full of ideas on how to make our Israel pavilion in the city better than ever. [The] pavilion, which is already the largest of Folklorama, will be phenomenal.”

Berent, whose trip to Expo is being supported by private donors in the Jewish community, was born in Ukraine, raised in Israel and moved to Canada five years ago. He has just been elected as the new president for JSA/Hillel at the University of Manitoba. He was also actively involved in putting on a community-wide Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration last month.

Berent learned about the expo through research.

“Since I am involved in planning the Israel Pavilion for Folklorama. I am always trying to educate myself about opportunities to learn how to showcase Israel. I think it’s important that people hear not only about the conflict but about all of the amazing developments that are taking place in Israel that can improve people’s lives,” he said.

“I came across the plans for the Expo and saw that Israel was participating for the first time and thought that I could benefit from this experience.”

Berent also says the ideas he picks up at Expo 2010 may help him plan for Israel Days on Campus, a program JSA/Hillel puts on every year.

“All of this is about letting people know that there is much more to Israel beyond the conflict. There is a lot about Israel’s advancements that people don’t know,” he said.

The theme of Expo 2010 is innovation for better life, and Berent says that as a student of architecture, he is also interested in seeing the design of the Israel Pavilion by Haim Dotan Ltd. Architects and Urban Designers.

“When I am in China, I will also spend Shabbat with the Chabad in Shanghai. I’ll be staying very near to the Expo grounds, so that I’ll be able to get the most out of the event,” he said.

Berent, who enjoys photography, also looks forward to soaking up all the innovative ideas he sees.

“I hopefully will be able to transport some great ideas back to Winnipeg that will benefit the Jewish community in all sorts of ways.”