Neither knew the other was involved at first, but both were pretty pleased when they found out. First cousins in a big and close family, Michael and Marshall Weinstein are both playing key roles in the Chesed Shel Emes “Building on our tradition of lovingkindness” campaign: Michael, 40, as a member of the Campaign Leadership Team; and Marshall, 32, as the Project Manager for Akman Construction. Both reflect proudly on their roles in this vital community project.
Marshall Weinstein: “I recently moved back to Winnipeg after three years in Saskatchewan. With Akman Construction and Chesed Shel Emes, this is the first time I’ll be working on a project for my community and it’s an honour to give back in this way. Working with the designers and the Chesed team has been a pleasure; it’s a real collaborative approach. It will be a challenging project as the building we’re replacing is located between the chapel and a neighbouring business. We’ll be working in a tight space. The designers have done a great job taking into consideration both aesthetics and functionality. The front of the building will comprise brick, Tyndall Stone, and glass. The new facility will be much more efficient and will incorporate Chesed Shel Emes’s day-to-day needs. This is an important initiative for our community and I’m really proud to be a part of it.”
Michael Weinstein: “I first came in contact with Chesed Shel Emes in 2009 when my father Joel passed away. I don’t remember much about the Chesed from that experience, and I think that’s a compliment to the organization. My mother has always said that in Jewish life we do death very well. There is a pre-ordained plan, established practices, and things come together quickly and seamlessly. Because Chesed Shel Emes runs so well it’s easy to take it for granted, and therefore important that we don’t. As a campaign volunteer, I helped to organize an event a while ago at Mira and Matthew Narvey’s home and I am canvassing a few donors. The feedback has been outstanding so far and I think people are taking the time to learn about Chesed Shel Emes. That’s very critical, because this is a once-in-a-generation campaign.”
