Top 20 Under 40- David Goodman

Dave Goodman with Hoops 4 Israel benefactors of Bat Yam, Israel, a partner city and recipient of UJA Federation funding.Pic: Michael Rajzman

Like many of us do during the time of reflection during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, 29-year-old Torontonian David Goodman tends to challenge himself and evolve on an annual basis. And Goodman is proof positive that change is, in fact, good for the soul.

But it was one experience, in particular, that Goodman, recently named to oversee the Schulich Leader Scholarships at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, credits for much of who he has become.

“In 2006, my first Birthright Israel experience helped trigger my involvement in Jewish life in Toronto, allowed me to start doing good for Jewish causes and things that were much bigger than just me and my personal success,” says Goodman. “Ever since I started to do good, I gained focus, confidence and purpose. Success, enjoyment in your work and the collaborative process of building community with your peers becomes inevitable. Essentially this can all be summed up by a firm belief in Karma.”

Perhaps it’s that belief in karma that has led Goodman to his current role with UJA Federation which sees him, a relatively young man, play a role in the future of Canada and Israel. But, true to his form, Goodman grabbed the project by the horns and is determined to see it succeed.

“I have taken on the task to carry out the vision of an icon in Canadian business and philanthropy, Seymour Schulich, through his single-largest charitable benefaction in 25 years, Schulich Leader Scholarships” says Goodman.

The $100 million dollar scholarship initiative is designed to ensure future Canadian and Israeli leaders are among the next pioneers of global scientific research and innovation.

The Schulich Leader Scholarships program is expected to increase enrollment in STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - among students entering Canadian and Israeli universities.

“As Director at UJA Federation, we are in the first phase of actualizing this extraordinary educational model across Canada and Israel with the $100m fund provided by Mr. Schulich,” says Goodman. “This opportunity is a real thrill for me professionally, as the implications for our organization are massive, and it gives me a chance to show what I can do on another level, in a new field for me with education. I had to unfortunately depart from a growing division of UJA, Community Connect that works with agencies in Jewish Toronto to engage young Jewish adults in purposeful activity that strengthens our community and Israel. I worked on my game at ‘CoCo’, managing projects such as: BAC2Fashion, Hoops 4 Israel, Joel Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament, Jam 4 Israel, Bay St. Breakfasts and CIE-Birthright Israel Marketing for 4 years, amongst other initiatives before making the jump this past September.”

A staunch and generous proponent of tzedakah and tikkun olam (repairing the world), Goodman would like to see more of his contemporaries give back to the community in their 20’s and 30’s, rather than when they make the majority of their personal wealth.

“We live in a community where so many of us have benefitted from eachother and who lead privileged lives with unlimited opportunity,” he explains. “Yet, a majority of my Jewish generation does not possess the desire to truly sacrifice any part of their lifestyle in order to take responsibility to safeguard and strengthen our community. It’s as simple as that. Each one of us having the maturity to say, “This community, our Jewish peoplehood, our impact on the world; is collectively more important than my personal success and that is something that I want to be a part of and support”.