Schulich, Technion looking for a few good people

TORONTO — Seymour Schulich, left, is not a religious man, but his identification with the State of Israel and the Jewish people is one he wants to share with young people. His message to them is clear: it’s time to step up, get involved and support an Israeli institution that develops the human resources that can help ensure Israel’s continued survival and prosperity.

The institution to which Schulich is referring is the Technion, the Haifa-based educational facility renowned for developing human capital and serving as a cornerstone of Israel’s technological and scientific infrastructure.

Schulich will be bringing his message to a select group of young adults at a March 31 “grand reception” at the Park Hyatt Hotel, sponsored by the Canadian Technion Society’s Generation Next and JUMP, the Jewish Urban Meeting Place.

“I want to say to those kids, it’s not a matter of religion,” Schulich, 71, explained. “It’s that you’re in our tribe. Whether you like it or not, when the chips are down, if you are religious or not, this is the team you’re on. You better recognize it and help.”

“To me, Israel is a great insurance policy for our tribe. I hope we never have to cash it in, but you never know.”

Schulich, who made his money in the resources sector, said growing up in Quebec, facing antisemitism and reading history made him sensitive to the potential for danger to the Jewish people. Ultimately, “we stand alone,” he said.

He was particularly incensed by the way U.S. President Barack Obama snubbed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House a year ago. Among other indignities, the president abruptly interrupted a meeting with Netanyahu to have dinner with his family. “I said, the reality is that we can’t rely on anybody but ourselves.”

Partnering with UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, World ORT and the Government of Israel, he gave $25 million to upgrade 850 Israeli classrooms with computers and whiteboards. “We all have skin in the game, so I think this will be a great project,” he said.

Ten years ago, looking to support an Israeli educational institution, as he has numerous Canadian universities, Schulich investigated a number of Israeli schools and settled on the Technion. “I kicked all the tires and really liked what I saw,” he said.

The Technion is an incubator of Israeli innovation despite having the smallest endowment pool among Israeli universities. Though it educates only 12,500 students, its graduates go on to provide more than 70 per cent of the country’s CEOs of high tech industries. In addition, 90 per cent of Israeli start-ups are led by Technion grads, he said.

In 2006, Schulich donated $22 million to the school’s chemistry faculty – a faculty close to his heart since as an undergrad at McGill University, he studied the same subject for two years before realizing his talents lay elsewhere.

A mining mogul, Schulich said he didn’t make his first philanthropic donation until age 43 and “the first serious money I gave was at 55.”

If you want to help, “you can give time, talent or treasure. I can give treasure and if you have treasure, it’s the easiest to give,” he said.

Hershel Recht, national development director of the Canadian Technion Society, said “the event is about young leadership and…why the smart money supports the Technion.”

The society, like other community agencies, is looking ahead to a time when current leaders and donors are no longer around. “The question is, where’s the next generation?” he said.

The society’s answer, in part, is its Generation Next, a group of 14 core members representing a variety of professions.

Young professionals may not have the funds to contribute immediately, Schulich said, but they can give of their time and talent. The society is on the lookout for young people to pick up the reins and develop into the next generation of leaders.

“I hope they become directors of the organization…I’m looking for people who will identify people who give cash and be interested. We need energy and young people.”

“I want people to learn more about the organization and get involved,” Schulich said. “Personally, I think it’s one of the best things in Israel to do.”

 

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