Dr. Jonathon Leipsic will be honoured by Schara Tzedeck at MOSAIC on June 16. (photo from Schara Tzedeck)
At its annual MOSAIC event on June 16, Congregation Schara Tzedeck will honour Dr. Jonathon Leipsic.
“It would be hard to find someone more worthy,” Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt told the Independent. “In addition to the countless hours that Jonathon gives toward advancing the synagogue goals, one cannot miss the fact that Jonathon loves Schara Tzedeck with his full heart. He attends, classes, services, programs regularly – which he is clearly fitting in between clinical, research and family responsibilities. Jonathon provides leadership in practice and in personal example and his commitment to personal growth, learning, community and helping others is almost without peer.”
Leipsic is professor and chair of radiology and professor of cardiology at the University of British Columbia, as well as a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Cardiopulmonary Imaging. He has more than 800 published peer-reviewed manuscripts and more than 300 scientific abstracts – he has been one of the top 1% most impactful scientists globally for multiple years, according to the Web of Science citation database.
In addition to his professional roles, Leipsic has been significantly involved in the Jewish community, notably with Schara Tzedeck, King David High School, Vancouver Talmud Torah and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.
Schara Tzedeck executive director Shelley Rivkin, who is also an active community leader, recently becoming board chair of Jewish Family Services and having worked with the Jewish Federation for 17 years, called Leipsic “a pillar of our community.”
“His impact extends far beyond the boardroom or the walls of our shul,” she said. “His leadership is defined not by title, but by character. As immediate past president of Schara Tzedeck, Jonathon led the board with steadiness, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to klal Yisrael.
“During the heartbreak of Oct. 7 and the resilience required in its aftermath, his voice as a tireless advocate for our shul and wider community – and his clarity of heart – were the anchor that held us together over challenging times. Jonathon is a man of many talents and accomplishments: community engagement, Torah study and medicine. We are celebrating all of these facets at the gala.”
The evening will feature Shulem, one of Leipsic’s favourite performers, said Rivkin. There will be tributes, followed by dinner and another performance by Shulem, who blends traditional cantorial melodies with classical crossover.
“I am honoured to even be a part of the Schara Tzedeck community,” said Leipsic about his being
recognized by the congregation. “The shul has played a foundational role in my spiritual growth and in infusing ahavat Torah and ahavat Yisroel in my family and amongst so many. I am humbled to have served the shul as a board member and as president.”
Schara Tzedeck has been the spiritual home of Leipsic and his wife, Karly Bogner, since they met. Bogner’s grandparents were members of the synagogue, said Leipsic. “I feel privileged to daven, to celebrate simchas and to join for moments of reflection and learning at Schara Tzedeck,” he said.
“I try to live my life in accordance with the talmudic principle of ‘Klal Yisroel arevim zeh lah zeh’ [‘All of Israel is responsible for one another’]. Karly and I feel deeply grateful to be part of klal Yisroel and to have the privilege to enjoy all that Jewish Vancouver has to offer – a community and institutions that we did not build but that we feel deeply responsible to help strengthen and build,” said Leipsic.
“As we enter our 119th year, longevity is finding the right balance between the responsibilities that the halachah demands and flexibility to meet our congregants’ needs on a contemporary basis,” said Rosenblatt. “We must have that backbone of daily service attendance and regular Torah study, reliable kashrut and Shabbat observance. At the same time, we have to be relevant to the contemporary generation, we have to provide opportunities for them to give back and to leverage Jewish wisdom in their own growth and in answering the questions and challenges they face today.”
This year, MOSAIC’s fundraising focus is the Clergy Sustainability Fund.
“Vancouver is a great distance from the large Orthodox centres, where we primarily recruit our clergy,” said Rivkin. “To attract additional clergy, we need to be able to support the real conditions that make long-term leadership possible: housing, family connection during the holidays, and professional growth. This fund
will enable us to address these concerns and help ensure that Schara Tzedeck can continue to attract outstanding young rabbis to our community and give them the foundation to stay and lead.”
To attend MOSAIC, visit scharatzedeck.com.