Jonathan Berkowitz is a consulting statistician and recently retired professor at the University of British Columbia where he taught over 18,000 (1000 x chai) students, won major teaching awards, and co- authored two Canadian editions of a statistics textbook.

Jonathan has a long track record of volunteerism in the Jewish community that includes serving as president of Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and General Chair of its annual campaign, president of Congregation Beth Israel, and vice president of Vancouver Talmud Torah School. He served as a trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation, and represented Vancouver nationally at Jewish Federations Canada-United Israel Appeal. He is an alumnus of the Wexner Heritage Program, served on the Wexner Alumni Council, and co-chaired a successful effort to reprise the program in Vancouver.

Jonathan is also board member of the Vancouver Symphony Society. His volunteerism began as student president of Hillel, both at the University of Alberta, in his hometown of Edmonton, and at the University of Toronto, where he received his Ph.D. in Statistics.

While numbers are his vocation, words are his avocation, and he has a passion for puzzles, word games, and puns. Jonathan is an active member of the National Puzzlers’ League. For ten years he has entertained radio audiences as The Word Guy on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio’s North by Northwest. Jonathan has also written two books about words: The Whirl of Words: Puzzling Past and Present, and Tales From the Word Guy: What Your English Teacher Never Taught You. He is a sought-after speaker and teacher to audiences of all ages, from children to seniors. Jonathan is also a classically-trained pianist. Long ago, in his student days, trivia was his passion, and he competed and won on a number Canadian television quiz/game shows.

For Congregation Beth Israel, Jonathan plays many roles. He is a parnass/gabbai and one of a team of lay davenners. He gives guest d’vrai Torah and unique bar/bat mitzvah presentations. He is well-known for his annual Purim Shpiel, fourteen and counting. They have been performed at many other synagogues across North America. All involve unique creations with wordplay and humour.

Jonathan and Heather, a very supportive, literate and creative wife, have two grown and married sons, both who have inherited the math gene and a way with words, and one grandchild, with a second expected imminently.