Toronto youth receives honor

On Jan. 8, Israeli President Moshe Katzav presented the first set of Charlie Awards to outstanding Taglit (Birthright Israel) alumni at his residence in Jerusalem. Among the six award-winners was Johanna Herman of Toronto.

The Charlie Awards are named in memory of the late Charles Schusterman, a Jewish philanthropist and one of the founders of Birthright Israel. He was an American businessman who cared deeply about the future of Israel and the Jewish people. He admired those able to apply creative solutions to complex challenges.

Herman was born and raised in Toronto. Her passion for Israel was spurred by her Birthright Israel experience in May 2002. The trip helped develop her interests in Judaism, art, history and Israel.

Since her return from Birthright, Herman has become involved with Hillel at the University of Toronto, where she is pursuing a BA with a specialist in art history. In 2002-2003, she helped organize many on-campus programs, including a festival celebrating Israel.

Herman has participated in a leadership trip to Israel, which examined the political situation in Israel and further developed her leadership abilities. And she has spoken to various groups, including United Jewish Appeal fund-raisers, about her Birthright experience.

In 2003, Herman was elected public relations co-ordinator at University of Toronto's Hillel. In this capacity, she has dealt with anti-Semitism, created a positive representation of Israel through different campaigns and organized religious and social programs for students.

Herman has recently been accepted as a fellow in the National Jewish Campus Leaders Fellowship.

The other Charlie Award-winners were Americans Kimberly Gordon and Lach Litwer, Argentinian Jonathan Cohen Lozie, and Elena Kotova Arenkova and Kostya Mogilevych of the former Soviet Union.

Edgar Asher is with Isranet News and Media.