The Diamond Foundation’s donation of $1 million is posed to help develop Jewish Studies at UBC and create public awareness of the discipline.
Diamond Chair in Jewish Law and Ethics Dr. Gregg Gardner, explained that while the curriculum of Jewish Studies at UBC is not established yet, students who are interested in the field may take individual courses from the departments of history and classical, near eastern and religious studies.
Nevertheless, the gift from the Diamond Foundation will be used to invite scholars to UBC to deliver speeches or workshops to students, faculty members and the general public which will help expand and support the discipline on campus.
According to Gardner, this money could also help raise public awareness of Jewish Studies. He believes that Jewish Studies will be an essential and exciting topic to share with the public.
“It is really a great way for UBC to show how they are integrated and how they can contribute to the broader public conversation,” said Gardner.
Furthermore, this funding will directly help Go Global Seminar programs, which are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Currently, there are two relevant programs where students can study religious studies in Israel or Europe. Gardner believes that the expenses of studying abroad can be partially covered with the funding.
Yoel Levin, who is completing a Master’s program in religious studies believes that this donation will benefit students like himself as well as the department. Levin mentioned that the funding might allow UBC to invite future leaders within the field to give talks on campus, which is more convenient for the students.
“So by doing that, you might be creating opportunities to expand that field, that department over here, maybe more people will be attracted,“ said Levin.
Levin also mentioned The Diamond Foundation's contributions to the Vancouver community at large. “They help a lot in the city of Vancouver, in the hospital. You can find the Diamond section of the [Vancouver General] Hospital.”
“They definitely put their money where their heart is helping in education and the well-being health,” he said.
According to Levin, the Diamond Foundation’s gift is representative of the giving culture within the wider Jewish community. “That is [a] well-practiced culture among the Jewish community to give them, to try to prosper, to make the best you can do to go ahead and to be successful,” said Levin.
“And once you achieve that, then you start to help others.”
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