Yosef Wosk is a rabbi, philanthropist, author, community leader, religious art consultant, bibliophile, musician, businessman, and an academic who is director of interdisciplinary programs in the department of continuing studies at Simon Fraser University. Recently named one of B.C.’s premier intellectuals, he was identified as one of the top 10 thinkers in B.C. at the beginning of the millennium. He founded the Academy for Independent Scholars as well as the Philosophers’ Cafe, one of SFU’s most successful programs, which has grown to be one of the largest series of cafe discussion gatherings in the world.