Join FSWC at our annual marquee event, Spirit of Hope, in Toronto on October 29 as we feature two leading thinkers and commentators – CNN’s Van Jones and NYU’s Scott Galloway – in an engaging conversation, moderated by journalist Steve Paikin, on current events – domestic and international – and their implications for the Jewish community and Israel.
Please note: Proceeds from Spirit of Hope will go exclusively to fund our educational
programs in Canada devoted to the Holocaust, antisemitism and human rights.
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is proud to present Spirit of Hope 2025, where we are thrilled to host a lively, thought-provoking panel discussion on today’s risks, challenges and opportunities for world Jewry and Israel, along with our special tribute to allies who have stood in support of the Jewish community.
In addition to featuring speakers CNN’s Van Jones and NYU’s Scott Galloway in an insightful conversation with journalist Steve Paikin, we will celebrate seven extra ordinary individuals for their great courage and moral clarity in speaking out against antisemitism and standing up as allies in support of our community.
is the Director of Faith Community Engagement at the Cardus think tank. Canada’s first Ambassador for Religious Freedom, he’s long been in the forefront of efforts in the Christian community to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust education.
is a Partner at Masters Insurance where she leads the Commercial/Construction team, fostering industry partnerships. Cathy supports numerous local charitable and community organizations.
is the President and CEO of CIBC and leads a team of over 48,000 team members globally. He has held numerous positions with organizations focused on inclusion, including the Black North Initiative and Catalyst Canada.
is President and CEO of North York General Hospital where, over the past 25 years, he’s served in clinical, administrative and leadership roles and has long volunteered in local, national and global humanitarian organizations.
recently served as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism and is a former Canadian ambassador to Israel and Afghanistan, with a strong commitment to community support.
is a banking and capital markets professional and an active community volunteer. He’s involved in a variety of fundraising efforts and serves on several not-for-profit boards.
is a Senior Advisor at Oyster Group and Director of Indigenous Affairs and a Senior Fellow at Macdonald-Laurier Institute. She sits on governance and advisory boards of non-profit organizations and works to improve the state of Indigenous communities.
Van Jones is a U.S. media personality, entrepreneur and world-class changemaker. He has a rare track record of bringing people together to do hard things – in areas as diverse as clean energy solutions, criminal justice reform and racial inclusion in the tech sector. In 2007, Van was the primary champion of the Green Jobs Act, signed into law by George W. Bush. In 2009, he worked in the Obama White House as the Special Advisor for Green Jobs. In 2018, he helped pass the FIRST STEP Act, signed into law by Donald Trump; the New York Times calls that legislation the most substantial breakthrough in criminal justice in a generation.
In 2021, Van was the first recipient of Jeff Bezos’ Courage & Civility Award. He has since founded Dream Machine Innovation Lab and launched RAPPORT.co, which uses A.I. to increase firms’ EQ. A Yale Law School graduate, Van is a CNN host, an Emmy Award-winning producer, a 3X New York Times best-selling author and the creator of the Van Jones Substack.
Scott Galloway is Professor of Marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business and a serial entrepreneur. He was named one of the world’s best business professors by Poets & Quants. Scott has founded nine companies, including Prophet, RedEnvelope, L2, and Section School, where he also teaches. He is the New York Times–bestselling author of The Four, The Algebra of Happiness, Post Corona, Adrift: America in 100 Charts, and The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security. His most recent book, Notes on Being a Man, will be released in November 2025.
Scott has served on the boards of directors of The New York Times Company, Urban Outfitters, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Panera Bread, and Ledger. He has won multiple Webby and Best Podcast awards, and his books have been translated into 28 languages. Across his Prof G Pod, Prof G Markets, Raging Moderates, Pivot podcasts, No Mercy/No Malice newsletter, and his YouTube channel, Scott reaches millions.
Best known for his long career at TVO where he served for nearly 20 years as the host and senior editor of its flagship current affairs program, The Agenda, Steve Paikin is an award-winning Canadian journalist, author and documentary producer. He’s written eight books, including his most recent, John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada’s 17th Prime Minister. As a print and broadcast journalist, he’s long been recognized for his fairness, high standards and keen interviewing skills.
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center is honoured to have Lauren and Benjie Levy serve as Co-Chairs of this year’s Spirit of Hope gala.
Benjie is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of experience driving innovation and growth in sports media, technology, and gaming, most recently as President and Chief Operating Officer of theScore. Lauren is an entrepreneur, content creator, and brand builder with over 20 years of marketing experience, who recently co-founded Odd Cookie Snacks.
Together, Lauren and Benjie have championed causes close to their hearts, supporting Jewish advocacy, women’s health, children and nutrition. They are proud, active supporters of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and its work across Canada to fight antisemitism.
Spirit of Hope Fundraising Committee
Eddie Weisz (Committee Chair), Ron Baruch, Michael Bregman, Judith Finer-Freedman, Lauren and Benjie Levy, Jill Reitman, Ashley Steinhauer and Fred Waks
Thank you to our valued sponsors
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