July 5, 2023 | 16 Tamuz 5783
Looking to the Future of King David High School
The high school years are when many teens form community bonds of their own and solidify the values that they will carry with them into adulthood. With a commitment to academic excellence and to providing a Jewish education rooted in our traditions and values, King David High School plays a unique and important role in our community.
But if King David is to continue to support Jewish youth in their education journey, they need improved resources to support the evolving needs of the students. This includes the need for more classrooms and multipurpose spaces to continue supporting students in their academic and Jewish journeys.
Head of school, Russ Klein, explains the importance of creating these new spaces: “We’ve reached a point where we need a bigger space to accommodate the growing number of students. To do our jobs as educators in the Jewish community, we need purpose-built spaces to give students the tools they need to evolve into their best selves.”
From Strength to Strength
In the years since King David opened its doors, over 700 students have graduated and pursued careers in business, law, medicine, social services, trades, arts and culture at renowned schools like McGill University and University of British Columbia.
The 2022-2023 school year was the largest enrollment in the school's history, with 271 students enrolled and the largest graduating class of 62 students. It was also a banner year for sports with the King David High School boys' basketball team winning the Provincial Championships, a goal that seemed almost impossible for a school without its own gymnasium.
The new school will be rebuilt as part of the second phase of the JWest redevelopment project, following the construction of the new Jewish Community Centre. One of the priorities for the JWest redevelopment is a dedicated gymnasium for the school—something they are missing in their current space. There are also plans for a robotics and computer science lab, encouraging equal opportunity for students to participate in STEM. For youth interested in the arts, studios for film and music programs will be built, as well as an art room for ceramics.
Rendering of the new entrance of the JWest Early Childhood Education Centre
Investing in the future of our community
Thanks to the vision of a passionate group of volunteers, parents, and the Diamond Foundation, who recognized the school's potential to positively impact Jewish families and the wider community, King David High School was established in 2005 to provide youth with a high school education grounded in Jewish learning and values.
Now, having outgrown their current school, King David can build again for the next generation of students.
“King David plays a pivotal role in nurturing the future generation of leaders and visionaries, who are poised to make significant contributions to our community, both locally and abroad. Its new home as part of JWest will allow KDHS to continue to provide an outstanding learning environment that has made us so successful to date,” said Russ Klein.
Like the first time, this will require a passionate group of volunteers and philanthropists who are committed to the future of Jewish education. The Diamond Foundation led the way with the first lead gift to the JWest capital campaign in 2022, and to date the project has successfully raised over $50 million.
A cornerstone of the JWest project, the new King David High School is poised to nurture and cultivate more well-rounded Jewish leaders who will lead change and growth for our community for generations to come.
For more details about the JWest project visit JWestnow.com.
Bring Israel Home: Become a host family!
Jewish Federation is delighted to welcome back the Shinshinim program to our community. The program offered through the Jewish Agency recruits and trains Israeli high school graduates to spend a year in the Diaspora before their military service. The word shinshin comes from the Hebrew phrase shnat sherut – a year of volunteering.
During their year here, the visiting teens volunteer as emissaries, educating local students at the day schools, Hebrew schools, summer camps, the JCC and in the regional communities, about Israel and Israeli culture. It also provides the shinshin with an immersive experience of the Jewish community in the diaspora.
Looking for host families
The success of this program relies on finding host families for our shinshinim. We are looking for families to host for four-five months, have kids at home, and live in Vancouver or Richmond with easy access to transit. Hosting a shinshin is wonderful chance to build a unique bridge with your family and Israel.
Interested in hosting a shinshin? Contact Lissa Weinberger for more details.
Bring your chairs, blankets, towels, musical instruments, swimsuit for the spray park, a vegetarian dish to share and come meet others in your community.
Friday, July 7, 2023
6:00 p.m. start
Confederation Park (by the playground) - 250 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby, BC
*Please note this event is weather dependent. An email will be sent to registrants on the Friday by 3 pm if the event is cancelled.
Please join us as we celebrate the joy and diversity of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2+ Jewish Community at Pride Reimagined.
Hosted by CIJA , Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the JCC, in partnership with 20 local Jewish organizations, Pride Havdalah is a festive evening including cocktails, tapas, schmoozing, entertainment, and community Havdalah, followed by a dance party, held at the JCC Atrium and Wosk Auditorium.
Saturday July 29th, 2023
Doors open: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 950 West 41st Ave, Vancouver
Tickets: $18
Face It, Fight It is the official launch of a sustained campaign to face, fight, and push back against the single-most important challenge we confront today: antisemitism.
This comprehensive conference includes two days of advocacy training for Jewish leaders, students, community advocates, advocacy professionals, and other faith and ethnic community leaders and partners on the critical issues facing the Jewish community.
October 16-17, 2023
Shaw Centre, Ottawa, ON
For more information visit www.fightit.ca
Know a student/young adult who is interested in going into politics?
The CJPAC Fellowship Program can help make that happen for post-secondary students. It provides political training to 50 of the top pro-Israel and politically inclined students.
Fellows learn how to fight and win campaigns, hear from top figures in the political world, as well as meet and engage with elected officials from all levels of government.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be a part of the premier political training program in the country! Apply before Sept 12.
