Shabbat Message - September 17, 2021
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We are very proud to share that our advocacy agent, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, working with IsraAid, has helped the Afghan Women’s Cycling team flee the Taliban and relocate to Canada! The first group is now safe in the UAE, and we expect a second group to join them in the next several days. Media is starting to take notice and CNN has picked up on it. We have also worked closely with community organizations to determine how best to support Afghani refugees who come to BC. This is something of which we can all be incredibly proud, and we will share more with you as this unfolds.
In the meantime, mark your calendar for Sunday, October 3rd at 5:00 p.m.
That’s when we are featuring New York Times best-selling author and TED speaker, Neil Pasricha, at our Annual Campaign event, The Community of Awesome. The event name is a play on Neil’s The Book of Awesome, in which he helps people find beauty and happiness in the little things of life.
We had a great conversation with Neil this week, and he was incredibly generous and giving of his time and ideas. We talked about community, family, and how he could hit a homerun at this event. You can expect a fun experience that’s as interactive as you want it to be. It’s your choice whether to sit back and enjoy the show or join in via the chat.
With the Annual Campaign in full swing, it’s time to unveil this year's video!
We’ve kept it very short and sweet this year at just one minute long. I want to thank Alvin Wasserman for once again taking the lead on developing a creative concept that encapsulates the mood of the community and the role of the Annual Campaign. In addition to making your gift, one thing you can do to help is share the video with your friends, family, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
You can also do a mitzvah for staff and residents at Louis Brier Home and Hospital.
On our monthly call with organizations that serve seniors, David Kesselman, CEO of Louis Brier Home and Hospital (LBHH), mentioned that they are trying to provide their staff with healthy, individually wrapped snacks to keep up their morale as they work long shifts. If you can help, please drop them at our office on the second floor of the JCC.
While you’re at it, today is the last day to drop off your bags of groceries for Jewish Family Services’ Project Isaiah. Click here for drop-off locations.
It is time to have your say, federally and provincially.
Last week we said that we would update you if more political parties announced support for the JCC redevelopment, and we are pleased to tell you that the NDP joined the Liberal Party and the Conservatives in doing so. No matter which party or candidate you support, please make time to vote on September 20th.
We also encourage you to help shape B.C.’s anti-racism data legislation, which will enable the government to identify existing gaps and create a more inclusive, equitable province. Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, said “This engagement will help shed more light on the experiences of people using government services in B.C., so that we can break down these barriers they’re facing, identify gaps and deliver better supports.” You can participate here until November 30th.
Shabbat shalom and chag sukkot sameach.
Ezra S. Shanken
Chief Executive Officer