What does inclusion mean to you?

Shabbat Message from CEO Ezra S. Shanken
 

A lot of factors have to be in place in order for our community to be as strong and vibrant as we know it can be. One of those is that every person must be able to take part fully. Yet, for many people the pathway into community is not as simple and easy as it is for others.

Our partner, the JCC, does a remarkable job ensuring that people with diverse needs are genuinely valued for who they are and for the unique gifts they bring.

We were very pleased to hear that their Inclusion Services program was recognized for their exceptional work by none other than our honourary patron, the Honourable Janet Austin Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Kol hakavod to Eldad Goldfarb, Leamore Cohen, and the entire Inclusion Services team! You can read more here.

Having a safe, supportive environment is key to helping people thrive.

Our board chair, Candace Kwinter, and I spent Tuesday at Camp Miriam—the first stop on our annual series of visits to the regional overnight camps. These are trips we make on behalf of our organization, and also on behalf of you.

Summer camps play an important role building Jewish identity. We were especially lucky to be there at a time to see their youngest campers of seven and eight years old have their first sleepaway camp experience. That was truly special. Thank you, Trilby Smith, for facilitating our visit.

Many children and teens are not having an easy time of it these days.

Mental health issues among their age groups have exploded throughout the pandemic. Camp isn’t just a chance to make new friends, it can be a safe space to engage in conversations about how you’re feeling and to have difficult conversations in a supportive environment. We have long believed in the importance of mental health supports in the camp environment.

You will hear us talk a lot about mental health as we move into the Annual Campaign. It is a key focus of our work and a critical piece for recovery from the pandemic.

What makes mental health issues harder to address than they should be is that there is still a stigma.

That is why we are bringing mental health to the forefront at our Annual Campaign Opening event on September 8th. It is time to shine a light on this and to inspire more open conversations. We are finalizing the details with our special guests, so stand by for an announcement very soon.

Until then, here are three excellent resources for you, if the children and teens in your lives are struggling.

• This article lists signs to look for based on your child’s age.
• Here, you can find links to coping strategies, parenting strategies, and resources for adult mental health, because, as we know, when a child is affected, the whole family is affected.
• If you are wondering what to expect from therapy or how to explain it to your child, this article has a basic outline.

We still have work to do in order to make sure that everyone feels comfortable participating in Jewish community life.

That includes making spaces and programs welcoming for LGBTQ+ Jews, as we strive to make our community a place with full equality and acceptance for LGBTQ+ Jews and their families.

Eighteen organizations have partnered for our community’s annual Pride Shabbat next Friday, hosted by our advocacy agent, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Everyone is invited. I am planning to be there, and I hope you will register here and join me!

Ezra S. Shanken 
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver