Haim Goldstein, 67-68, was born in Israel and moved to Canada with his family in 1975, according to the Jewish National Fund of Canada (JNF). A 2023 Instagram post from the organization notes, “Haim’s parents and grandparents played significant roles in Israel’s history. His father fought in three pivotal wars, and his grandfather was named an honorary citizen and invited to the President’s house in Jerusalem, recognized for his contributions to helping new immigrants from Romania settle and find employment in Israel.” It adds that in 1989, at the age of 31, Goldstein “returned to Israel to serve in the army, reaffirming his deep-rooted connection to the country he calls home.”
Goldstein was the president of the Hamilton chapter of the JNF as of August 2023. In a December 2022 article in the Hamilton Jewish News, Goldstein claimed to have gone on more than 30 trips to Israel throughout his life, including in his capacity as a JNF official.
Describing the JNF’s work, he wrote, “For me, the highlight of our trip was seeing the diversity of the projects that JNF Canada supports. We have our imprint on every corner of the country and in so many ways. JNF Canada enables each of us to do our little part to sustain Israel for generations to come. It is said that Jews ought to be a light to the nations. The outcomes of the seeds that have been planted over the last 74 years are overwhelming. Israel’s diversity and its flexibility to adjust to the changes of the world’s needs is remarkable. In so many areas, we allow ourselves at JNF to further respond and build—that is the key to sustainability. JNF links the bond from our past to our present and it will ensure that Israel will be maintained for future generations.”
