ORT Montreal has raised more than $800,000 for World ORT projects in Israel at its annual fundraising dinner.

Its Ted Wise Benefit Gala for Jewish Education was the most successful yet with the 2,300 people attending investing $1.6 million in Jewish education locally and overseas.

ORT Canada National Director Emmanuel Kalles said the partnerships established with 10 other organisations for the Gala made it a unique community-wide fundraising event.

“We have been holding an annual Gala for 34 years and this has been our most successful so far. It brings the total we have raised for ORT projects internationally to almost $17 million,” Mr Kalles said.

“We raised $825,000 for World ORT projects in Israel, including the Beer Sheva College of Technology, with the balance staying in Montreal for local Jewish education.”

A gas engineering student at Beer Sheva.

Beer Sheva College of Technology is a leader in terms of technical education with programs for target populations that serve Bedouin, single mothers, Haredim, immigrants, and pre-army teens.

World ORT has a strategic partnership with the College to increase the number of qualified technicians and practical engineers in Israel across a wide range of disciplines.

The Gala was chaired by Barry Pascal and Francine Wiseman and the honourees were philanthropists Marnie and Richard Stern.

ORT Canada Co-President Arthur Silber and friends

The event sponsors were Peartree Financial Services and Victoria Park. Platinum sponsors were Gary and Lois Alexander, CIBC Wood Gundy, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, The Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, Pipe & Piling Supplies, and ORT Canada Co-President Arthur Silber.