Shabbat Message - September 10, 2021
This message has 574 words and will take a little more than 2.5 minutes to read.
I hope you had a wonderful and COVID-safe Rosh Hashanah!
One Rosh Hashanah celebration we were especially proud to be part of was the peer-led service on Salt Spring Island that we supported with a community engagement grant. After the event, we heard from Tali Weinberg, an islander, who was "thrilled to see such an incredible turn-out. People left expressing so much gratitude for the opportunity to gather together and to share in our Jewish traditions together on the island. They are already wondering when and where the next gathering will happen." This is a great example of how we help Jewish life flourish in communities across the region.
We were also thrilled to see close to 90 people come out to the PJ Library Ride the Rosh Hashanah Train event on Sunday. The day brought together families from across our community and 10 partner organizations and Federation programs for an amazing opportunity to be back together again.
It’s great to see kids having fun, but as COVID lingers an increasing number of young people are having a very difficult time.
The mental health issues that many children and youth are dealing with was highlighted in this article. There are three key points to take away:
- The problem has grown considerably during COVID;
- Adults often misinterpret the signs of depression and anxiety in children; and
- The longer a child goes without treatment and support, the worse the issues can become.
You will hear more from us about how we and our partners are proposing to address youth mental health in the coming weeks, so watch this space.
This Rosh Hashanah was particularly meaningful for me, because it coincided with the first yahrzeit of my grandfather.
I had the honour of speaking at Har El and Chabad Richmond about the Federation Annual Campaign and, of course, about him. He used to talk about how the same G-d that creates things as large as the universe also cares how one person acts toward another. That is part of why it matters so much that we look back at our actions right now. As we prepare for Yom Kippur I am doing that, and I want to apologize to those I have wronged and ask for your forgiveness.
The yamim noraim or Days of Awe are filled with a sense of seriousness and of potential, and of our hope to influence a good outcome through our actions.
In addition to asking forgiveness from those we have offended, it is traditional to give tzedakah. One of the things you can do is take the initiative and call your canvasser so you can make your gift before Yom Kippur. There is no need to wait for them to call you, so reach out and say shana tova and talk about your gift today. If you don’t have a canvasser, click here to donate.
This is also a time when we look ahead, and there are many wonderful things on the horizon—including Sukkot celebrations. If you live outside of Vancouver we have two great events coming up. The first is a picnic for Israeli families in Coquitlam this Sunday, click the link to register. The second is the Stable Harvest SukkahFest in Langley on September 26, which is sold out but you can contact Adam Ben-Dov to volunteer. What a mitzvah!
G’mar chatimah tova and Shabbat shalom. I hope you have a meaningful fast.
Ezra S. Shanken
Chief Executive Officer