JSMHT.org - Go Above & Go Beyond

Written by: Dave Goodman

I recently heard a saying: 'A camel is a horse built by a committee'.  I thought about it and realized, you know what, that's usually pretty accurate.  Then I attended a committee meeting one week before the inaugural Joel Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament on March 13th, 2011 at Chesswood and thought, this couldn't be farther from the truth, especially if you have witnessed what transpired in the past 7 months in preparation for tomorrow.

12 teams, over 150 players, over 40 gameday volunteers and over a dozen hands on volunteer committee members, chairs and co-founders, primarily under the age of 30....who said the next generation of Jews were apathetic in giving back to community?  

The story behind Joel Schwartz (z"l) for me, is a story of transformation.  Transformation of a young man.  And now, transformation of our community towards greater acceptance of those with Autism.  Only having known Joel for just over 3 months and seeing his transformation as my Birthright Israel participant, I know what we did for him, we being my co-staff, Jodi Katzeff, Emanuel Flatt (Joel's shadow from Reena), Adam Miller (our trip medic), Mo Sirhan (Bus Operator), Yossi Mamon (Israeli Tour Guide) and the incredible participants of that Toronto 1 - CIE Birthright Israel trip changed his life.

The trip introduced Joel to a world of acceptance, all the excitement that travelling brings, a new world-view, a deep connection to his Jewish identity and Jewish homeland; and best of all, to new Jewish friends he had been longing to meet.

Joel's passing was a tragedy.  Life is so strange to see how you can experience the most intense grief and now just two years and 10 days later, we have picked up the pieces and are in a position to celebrate his life and his new legacy for the Toronto Jewish community.  

The JSMHT Committee

The following people have my utmost respect and admiration for taking on such effective leadership to make this initiative not just succeed, but inspire.  We have truly built a horse, not a camel.  Last summer, when I sat down with the JSMHT Co-Founders: Jesse, Jon and Zack, there was an apprehension about the prospect of raising more than $10,000, or getting enough volunteer participants to fill a 12 team tournament.

8 months later, we are stone's throw from breaking $90,000 and have Jewish hockey players desperate to get in on the action.  I've turned away at least 8 from my team (Notables) and can't wait to strap them up in honour of Joel tomorrow morning.

Without further ado - our all star volunteer JSMHT Committee:

Jesse Abrams, JSMHT Co-Founder

Jon Schwartz, JSMHT Co-Founder

Zack Belzberg, JSMHT Co-Founder

Carly Bardikoff, JSMHT Team Management Chair & Gameday Operations Co-Chair

Asher Kirshenbaum, JSMHT Sponsorship Chair

2011 JSMHT Team & Organization Sponsors - THANK YOU!



Jason Finestone, JSMHT Public Relations Chair



A small sample of some of the Joel Schwartz coverage online in the past two months

Lauren Wyman, JSMHT Co-Chair of Gameday Operations 

Ari Diamond, JSMHT Co-Chair of In-Kind Sponsorship

Jodi Solomon, JSMHT Co-Chair of In-Kind Sponsorship

Josh Rotman, JSMHT Co-Chair of In Kind Sponsorship

Mel Little, JSMHT Co-Chair of Gameday Operations (seen here teaching Joel how to skate)

Zach Grosz, JSMHT Volunteer Committee Member and pro-bono Consultant

Other JSMHT Committee Members:

• Julie & Larry Schwartz
• Ali Rendely
• Ryan Turkienicz
• Sam Banks
• Luke Slan
• Sarah Kraftchuk
• Sherri Becker
• Corrie Pollock
• Esther Benarroch
• Jodi Katzeff

Top 10 Fundraisers as of March 12, 2011 at 1pm:

1. Jonathan Schwartz
2. Anton Jivov
3. Eric Sherkin
4. David Rubin
5. Jodi Solomon
6. Adam Gurza
7. Jason Finestone
8. Daniel Pearlstein
9. Ari Diamond
10. Zack Belzberg

Top 3 Fundraising Teams:

1. The Mighty Ducks
2. Kanes Cab Co.
3. Notables

Please come join us for our main event on Sunday at 6pm to 9pm for networking, raffle and contest prize opportunities, photo opps with the Honourable, Ken Dryden, M.P. a free pleasure skate and the finals of the tourny at 7:30pm!

I would be remiss not to mention the incredible support that the JSMHT received in its first year from the community organization's that provided the support and non-profit infrastructure to help facilitate this endeavour.  Reena Foundation's dynamic staff of the project: Gary Sim (CEO of Reena Foundation), Michelle Primus & Jessica Kassabian were instrumental and unbelievable to work with.  We are so admirable of the important and effective work you do to help Reena thrive!

I must also recognize the important role that UJA Federation of Greater Toronto has enabled through its two in-house agencies: Canada Israel Experience (CIE) & UJA's Community Connect.  CIE will be executing the Birthright Israel trips that will bring Reena clients like Joel and a Reena shadow to Israel.

As well, my team with UJA's Community Connect could not be more pleased with this partnership to help lend support to young Jewish adults that want to make a difference in the Jewish community, while also helping to support a UJA agency in Reena Foundation.  Creating a legacy for Joel Schwartz (z"l) and his amazing family and friends who have been with him every step of the way was a powerful experience both personally and professionally.  We have ensured the CIE Birthright Israel - Reena Program will have continuity and support for years to come.

The Joel Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament is a legacy in the truest sense of the word.  All organizing members and organizations can take pride in what has been created.  Although our $85,000 is an incredible feat for a inagural grassroots fundraising event, the message that illustrates how our community is dedicated to the inclusivity of those with developmental disorders was a primary objective of this project.

Joel Schwartz: Our inspiration

Written by: Dave Goodman


About 27 months ago I had the privilege of leading one of the most significant Taglit-Birthright Israel CIE buses of my life with my good friend Jodi Katzeff.  Before we started to get the participants organized with logistics and information in the fall of 2008, we were informed that one participant, Joel Schwartz (25), would be joining us with a shadow staff member, Emanuel Flatt (22) from a unique initiative within Reena Foundation, supported by UJA Federation of Toronto and it's Canada Israel Experience division.

Joel lived with Asperger syndrome and was greatly encouraged by his parents, Julie & Larry, and younger brother Jonathan, who was attending McGill, to join our group of 39 other young Jewish adults from across Canada.  I don't think I knew that this trip would change my life, but I learned very quickly that this would be one of my most profound experiences.  The experience itself is currently becoming an inspirational story for our community.  A symbol of inclusiveness and support for those who live with developmental disorders.

This is becoming Joel Schwartz's great legacy, and it is also, our inspiration...

Michelle Cohen & Joel Schwartz

From the beginning of the trip, our young professionals bus quickly accepted Joel into the fold.  Although I had gathered some insights before the trip about how things would play out, I came to understand that people with Autism are very self aware of their capabilities and how they are accepted into society on a social level.  I think part of what made this group so special and mature, was that they accepted Joel for who he was from the start. 

The major challenge was our ability to enable Joel with the mindset that he could get through the 10 days.  In Joel's mind, putting himself in social situations with other Canadian Jews for ten straight days, the physical challenges of intense hikes, heat and long hours...well I guess you could say that aside from managing the group, Jodi, Emanuel, our incredible trip medic Adam Miller and our tour guide Yossi, had our hands full.  But it was worth every second of attention Joel required.

Joel after conquering the Jillabun hike on Day 2

Caleigh Rykiss and Adam Miller (Trip Medic/Guard)

But Joel was a teddy bear!  He had an outgoing personality and was a sponge for information.  His timely wit and his 'gentle giant' presence made him the most loveable guy on our bus.  Challenging trip elements that seemed like mountains were overcome on a daily basis.  Although it was a roller coaster for Joel, he and we pushed him to experience everything the amazing C.I.E. itinerary offered.  We knew from that point on, that Joel was recognizing his true self-worth in his young life.

You could see it unfold before your very eyes, and everyone who embraced Joel throughout the Birthright Israel experience knew that they had a small piece of making this time of his life that much more significant and meaningful.  For one of the few times in Joel's life, he was truly accepted by his peers for who he was; a kind, caring, funny and beautiful young man.

I remember many times during the trip, watching his love for Israel and his love for life being shaped by his Jewish peers.  I can only hope it enhanced the experience for everyone else, as much as they enhanced the experience of Israel for Joel.

Tragically, we lost Joel just 2+ short months later in early March 2009.  The community lost Joel, but I can safely say that our December C.I.E. bus, lost a dear friend.

The Birthright Israel trip that is heavily supported by UJA Federation, UIA Canada and Taglit Birthright Israel,  changed this young man and his 50 new friends from the trip, Israeli & Canadian participants alike.  It changed the way others see young Jewish adults with developmental challenges.  It strengthened the Jewish community and characterized our people hood.

Since Joel's passing, I have only learned to embrace other young Jews who seem 'different', with the same respect and appreciation I would have for anyone who wants to experience a more meaningful Jewish life through our events and initiatives in the community.  For it is people like Joel who make our community a vibrant and interesting place to want to support and spend time.

Although Joel and his experience in Israel is only but a microcosm of the incredible work that is being facilitated by organizations within UJA Federation such as Reena Foundation; my new volunteer partners that have created The Joel Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament now use Joel's story as our inspiration.

In the spring of 2010, Jonathan Schwartz, Joel's younger brother came to me with a vision to commemorate his older brother in an effort to help other young Jewish adults have the same experience in Israel that transformed Joel.  Jonathan's ability to drive change was evident in his extensive and effective volunteer work of Hoops 4 Israel 2010.  Devising a model that could find the right leaders to form a leadership committee and make this initiative a reality was welcomed with enthusiasm and dedication by Jon, Jesse Abrams, Zack Belzberg, Corrie Pollock, Asher Kirshenbaum, our project chairs.

Jon Schwartz, Co-Founder & Volunteer Chair

Jesse Abrams, Co-Founder & Volunteer Chair

Zack Belzberg, Co-Founder & Volunteer Chair

Corrie Pollock, Co-Founder

Asher Kirshenbaum, Volunteer Chair

Jason Finestone, Volunteer Chair

Ari Diamond, Volunteer Chair

It has been amazing to witness the momentum that this initiative has picked up in the past few months after several chair meetings and now 3 full committee meetings with several dedicated young adults who have all banded together to actualize this grassroots initiative.  Incredible awareness for Reena Foundation and the Birthright Israel Shadow Program, along with necessary funds that will enable the shadow staff member to accompany the C.I.E. bus to Israel for 10-days will be realized.  

The inaugural Joel Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament will take place at Chesswood Arena for a full day of hockey and other entertainments on Sunday, March 13th, 2011.

Although this is the first of several other personal updates I will bring to the table regarding The JSMHT, please address any inquiries or offer support to: info@jsmhtournament.com, or visit our event site, or facebook page.