Rabbi Yosef Wosk, PhD

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation celebrated the accomplishments of Rabbi Dr. Yosef Wosk, by presenting him with the Community Champion Special Award at Building Bridges for Canada, held March 2, 2014 in Richmond, B.C.

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Wosk was the Director of Interdisciplinary Programs in Continuing Studies and still serves as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Humanities at Simon Fraser University, where he developed seminal programs such as The Philosophers' Café and The Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars.

In addition to being an ordained Rabbi and receiving two honorary doctorates, he holds Ph.D.s in Religion & Literature as well as in Psychology, and Master's degrees in Education and in Theology.

Rabbi Wosk has founded and supported hundreds of libraries worldwide, endowed Vancouver's Poet Laureate, and has lectured at a number of universities and institutes of higher learning throughout the world. Identified as one of the top ten thinkers and most thoughtful citizens in the province, he is an appointed Member of The Order of British Columbia, a recipient of both The Queen's Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals and is included in the Canadian Who's Who. Active in communal affairs—especially in the areas of education, libraries, museums, the arts, social services, heritage conservation, gardens, philanthropy and religion – Rabbi Wosk is a media commentator, public speaker and published author.

Having travelled widely, Rabbi Wosk had the privilege of joining in worship with devotees of many world religions. He has sat on councils with ministers of diverse Christian denominations as well as with Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, atheists, humanists, Wiccans, Masons and representatives of First Nations.

He has been a member of a number of religion-themed organizations including the American Academy of Religion, Society of Biblical Literature, advisory committee for The Westminster Foundation and its Biblical Museum of Canada; Board of the Community Relations Committee and Co-Chair, Interfaith Relations for the Canadian Jewish Congress, a delegate to the Medford (Massachusetts) Clergy Association, and delegate to the Pacific Interfaith Citizenship Association of British Columbia, an organization that defends religious tolerance, cultural and human rights.

Besides serving as clergy and teacher, Rabbi Wosk has also been a generous donor to a plethora of causes in the religious community including schools, synagogues and churches, adult education programs, purchase of sacred scrolls, the establishment of libraries and the donation of art.

Rabbi Wosk is a recipient of numerous awards and accolades, and was recognized as one of British Columbia's top thinkers by the Vancouver Sun and the B.C. Business Magazine.

Photo of Rabbi Dr. Yosef Wosk: Joshua Berson