Dear Friends,
Although summer approaches and activities are winding down in the community, the team at Shaarey Zedek continues to work actively on the capital campaign and creating a path for our congregation’s future.
Recently, the Board of Directors, clergy, and key staff from the areas of ritual, programming, education, and communications, came together to begin the development of a business strategy. The team met in-person at the shul on a Sunday, May 29th with business consultant Ken Goldstein of The Goldstein Group, who facilitated discussions about how our shul fits into Winnipeg’s Jewish culture today and how it could in the future. Mr. Goldstein, a former Winnipegger now living in Calgary, was first hired in 2021 as part of our Executive Director Search. His professional experience, along with having worked through a similar strategic planning process with his own shul, made him the right fit for our venture.
Over the summer, Ken will meet with Board members and key staff monthly to continue developing a business strategy. This process will help us affirm our identity and role in the community, create clear business and financial goals, and optimize our operations. Your contribution to this process is integral — meetings will be set up with congregants in the Fall so they can add their voice to the conversation.
We have now raised over $8.7 million of our $14 million target goal! Thank you to those who have contributed, and those working to raise these funds. Click here to be taken to our campaign website to see all who have confirmed their support.
Our fundraising efforts now include a grant application campaign, which focuses on approaches to funding organizations and government programs. Research is underway to identify grant makers who would consider supporting our efforts. If you have any knowledge of foundations or other granting organizations who have supported projects like ours, please reach out to our Capital Campaign Manager, Jodi Novak, by emailing jodi@szfuture.ca or call 204-452-3711.
We are also looking for more volunteers to assist with canvassing for this campaign. If you would like to connect with fellow congregants and play an important role in the reinvigoration of our shul, please reach out to Jodi Novak.
As always, if you have any comments or questions about the campaign, please reach out to Jodi.
Our next member update will be at the end of June.
Thank you and be well.
Gary Hyman
President
Ran Ukashi
Executive Director