A Look Ahead

Around the world, the chagim brought people together again, including in the regional communities.

The White Rock/South Surrey JCC organized a beautiful event in the sukkah of two community members to celebrate the holiday and mark the kick-off of the Hebrew School, and the Abbotsford community hosted an open sukkah.

Supporting the growth of Jewish community life in regions outside of Vancouver is one of our strategic priorities, and last week our Regional Communities Committee convened and we are very pleased to see them building a vision for the future.

Speaking of the future, we welcome all the new and returning municipal officials including Vancouver's next mayor, Ken Sim! We look forward to working with him and his council.

We are very proud of the work our advocacy partner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), does in building relationships with elected officials at every level of government and across the political spectrum. This week, together with CIJA and Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island, we co-hosted a farewell reception in honour of Premier Horgan to thank him for his friendship with our community and for his service and commitment to creating a more inclusive province. You can see photos here.

With the whirlwind of holidays behind us, it is a great time to look ahead to Choices.

It is the biggest annual women’s event in our community, and this year’s keynote speaker is Ellen Schwartz. Ellen is the founder of Project Give Back, through which she helps children realize the power within themselves to change the world.

We are also delighted to feature the Krell sisters: Shoshana Lewis, Simone Kallner, Michaela Singerman. As children of a child survivor of the Holocaust, they will share their reflections on what the role for the next generation could be.

The deadline to buy your ticket for Choices is this Monday, so be quick to register.

If you have teens, you may also want to register for March of the Living.

We are very happy that this impactful journey to Poland and Israel is back after a pandemic hiatus. Teens will learn about the Jewish communities that once flourished in Europe, the Holocaust, and the establishment of the State of Israel.

Along with thousands of fellow Jews from around the world, they will walk the three kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and honour the survivors and uphold the memory of those who were murdered. They will then spend a week in Israel spanning Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day).

We have a Zoom information session  this Tuesday for families who want to learn more. Can’t make it? You can contact Dafna Silberstein, read about previous trips in e.Yachad, or visit the March of the Living website to learn more. Ready to register? Click here.

With so much stress and uncertainty these days, can you imagine moving halfway around the world?
 
Well, that is the case for the many newcomers to our community who hail from countries including Israel, Mexico, Argentina, and more. If you arrived in Canada recently, our BeyachadBC program is here to engage and empower you by partnering with different Jewish newcomer groups in Metro Vancouver. Together, we are delivering social and cultural programs infused with your own unique cultural practices and traditions to ease your way into feeling at home in the community.
 
If you or someone you know is new to Canada, we would love to see you at our workshop this Tuesday. Dr. Mor Cohen Elig will cover everything you need to know about the local medical system. You can sign up here.
 
The Annual Campaign is still in full swing. Have you made your gift?
 
If not, please connect with your canvasser, respond to our letter, or click here and make a secure online gift. All of the work that we and our partners do—including the work you read about here each week—is only possible because of the generosity of thousands of donors who put community at the heart of their giving. It’s Shabbat. It’s the start of a new year. And it is the perfect time to join your gift with us and make Amazing Happen!