For three generations, Mordehai Wosk and his family have been connected to Hebrew University.  Morris J. Wosk, his father, served on the International Board of Governors, received an honourary Doctorate and helped to develop the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University.   Mordehai's mother, Dena was awarded the Hebrew University's "Torch of Learning" award.

 Mordehai applied to attend Hebrew U’s overseas program at the Rothberg International School, in 1968.  At the time, he was a first year arts student at the University of British Columbia, who was looking for adventure and an opportunity to live and study in Israel.  Little did he know what a life changing experience it would be.

 The following year would be one of the most memorable years of his life.  He studied with Professors who were leaders in fields such as Psychology, Philosophy, History, Religion, Mysticism, Archaeology and Politics; met people from all over the world, some who he continues to remain friends with today; and took the opportunity to travel extensively through the country.  His experiences helped him to grow intellectually, socially, culturally and spiritually.

 Mordehai remembers staying up until the early hours of the morning, drinking Turkish coffee with his roommate from Edmonton, challenging one another on various philosophical paradigms; he remembers going on a trip to Sinai, in a truck with a group of students, having to sleep the night under the vehicle, waking up with icicles on his beard, climbing the summit at 3 a.m. and reaching the peak at 6 in the morning to have the sun warm his face, body and soul; he reminisces over the days he sat with Arabs and Palestinians in the marketplace and learned how to speak simple phrases and to count in Arabic.  He says he will never forget his first meditation experience with a Zen monk from Japan on Mount Scopus.

During that year, Mordehai also took a course in Chinese history that gave him insight into the dynastic cycles of China and Chinese culture, which sparked an interest in this field.  In fall of 1970, he returned to Vancouver and pursued a Bachelor of History in Oriental Fine Arts. 

 After he completed his degree in 1973, he and Hana decided to return to Israel to study at a Yeshiva.  One night a week, they would also attend a Hebrew U Maimonides and Jewish philosophy lecture led by one of their teachers and mentors, Rabbi Dr. David Hartman, a world-renowned philosopher of contemporary Judaism. 

 The experiences that Mordehai and Hana shared in Israel and at Hebrew U continue to influence their lives today.  As Mordehai says:  “In Israel I was exposed to Israeli and Arabic culture.  I met Druz, Bedouin, Bahaii, Christians, Armenians and Greek Orthodox… I met people from all religions and understood much better who they are.  I visited different religious neighbourhoods and realized the multidimensions within our own Jewish religion…my experience in the overseas program helped to give me a solid understanding of Jewish history, philosophy, identity and influenced my own Jewish values, and helped me to develop a greater respect for Judaism and its universal and human values.”

 Mordehai and Hana are both deeply committed to their Jewish community, and have been involved in many Jewish organizations, including the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University, Or Shalom Synagogue, Vancouver Hillel, Jewish Federation, Vancouver Talmud Torah Foundation, and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.  They are also supporters of organizations in the general community such as the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace Education in Vancouver, the Pacific Parklands Foundation and the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra.  Mordehai has also spoken at international conferences on topics such as Jewish perspectives on non-violence and sustainability.  He has sounded the shofar to inaugurate globas music festivals in India, on two occasions, representing the ancient Jewish traditions in music and chanting.

 Hana has recently graduated from the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a Hebrew U program offered here in Vancouver, which explores the riches of Jewish heritage and learning.  The Mini-School’s overall goal is to help students understand the meaningfulness of their Jewish lives extending beyond ritual observance and Jewish communal service, embracing everyday activities that take place in the family, business and community.

 Mordehai and Hana’s children also follow in their footsteps of broadening their learning experiences and commitment to Jewish life.  Ariel, their older son, is a graduate, magnum cum laude, from the University of Judaism in California in communications and literature.  Their younger son, Daniel, has recently returned from Israel, having spent the last six months attending the Hebrew U's Rothberg International Students Program on Mt. Scopus.  Within this time he has learned to speak Hebrew, become friends with students from around the world, and has made deep and meaningful connections with both the people and the land of Israel.  He returns to his studies at Concordia and will finish his bachelor’s degree in sociology.