Presentations

It's been a little while. Med school has been both very interesting and very work-intensive. Though it's kept me far more occupied than I might have liked, the studies and the work are both very rewarding. Some days, I miss Cambodia a lot. Still, I remain happily convinced that I made the right choice in deciding to return to Toronto for my studies.

For those who are interested, I'll be giving a set of three talks, based on my work in Cambodia, in January at the Adath Israel Synagogue: 37 Southbourne off of Bathurst just north of Wilson. You can find a map here and a short outline can be found here. A more detailed outline follows below:

Tiqun Olam in Cambodia

1. International Development and Tiqun Olam: A Contradiction?
   Monday January 9, 7:30pm
   What does Jewish Law say about international aid? About development? What practically can we, living in Canada, do to provide help to those who need it most? Drawing on experiences in Cambodia and elsewhere, this talk will provide a practical outline of Jewish law and philosophy as it relates to Tiqun Olam, bettering the world, as well as a critical view of the charity and aid industries.


2. The Cambodian Genocide from a Jewish Perspective
   Monday January 16, 7:30pm
   When referring to the Holocaust, the Jewish response is an emphatic 'Never Again!' What does this phrase mean for other peoples? This talk will explore the parallels between the events of the 1975 to 1979 Cambodian genocide and the Jewish Holocaust in Europe.


3. The Other Side of Tzedakah
   Monday January 23, 7:30pm
   Where the first talk addressed the problems of charity and aid on an international scale as well as how best to lend one's support to a good cause, this talk will focus on what happens directly in the field. How is charity money spent? What is the most efficient way in which to help the impoverished to achieve sustainable livelihoods and freedom from vulnerability? Examples will be taken directly from my work and experiences overseas in Cambodia.

For those of you attending the Engineers Without Borders National Conference, I'll also be facilitating a two and a half hour session on the practical aspects of International Development work in Cambodia on January 19. I'm looking forward to seeing a few old friends there, recently returned from their own work overseas.

All the best in the New Year!