Date
Monday, April 6, 2020 | 11:30am-12:30pm
SPEAKER
Rabbi Dolgin, Senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
Rabbi Michael Dolgin has served Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto since 1992. He is proud to have fostered a culture of innovation and tradition during his decades as Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Dolgin has worked with his professional colleagues to create a new, cultural approach to prayer and spirituality, bringing into the synagogue many forms previously found only in the theatre. His personal creative work is expressed in a three-volume original siddur, Mikveh Yisrael, which is used at Temple Sinai for daily and holiday services, as well as Shabbat.
Rabbi Dolgin’s love for learning and teaching traditional text has helped him to create a treasury of brief lessons housed on the Temple Sinai website, on topics such as prayer and mitzvah. His work is imbued with the values of inclusion and welcoming, seeking to help Temple Sinai grow as an exemplary community with a warm place for all who wish to make it their spiritual home. Rabbi Dolgin is passionate about community engagement, interfaith and intercultural understanding, and tikkun olam. His commitment to the State of Israel and its Reform and Progressive Movement is essential to his identity as a Jew and his work as a rabbi. Michael is the father of three sons: Andy, Matthew, and Zach.
MODERATOR
Sara Lefton, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy and Campaign Director at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
In her role at UJA, Sara provides strategic leadership of UJA’s Annual Campaign, raising more than $60 million per year to enable grants to more than 100 different programs and agencies. Sara is also a member of UJA’s Senior Executive Team, overseeing the management of Canada’s largest Jewish communal organization.
Sara has extensive experience developing and leading teams in the private, not-for-profit, and political sectors. She began her career as a corporate lawyer at one of the leading law firms in Toronto, providing advice to clients on issues relating to regulatory compliance, public affairs, business planning, and development. A long-time volunteer in Jewish communal organizations, Sara left the private sector to take on a professional role in the community and joined The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), where she was the Vice President responsible for leading the Toronto team of Canada’s leading Jewish and Israel advocacy and public policy organization.
Sara is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University. Prior to commencing her legal studies, Sara earned her MSc in Government from the London School of Economics, focusing on Conflict Resolution. She also holds a B.A. (Honours) in Political Studies from Queen's University. More recently, Sara completed a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University.
Sara was born and raised in Toronto, and lives there with her husband and two young children.