Shabbat Message - March 26, 2021

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With Shabbat about to begin and then flowing right into the start of Passover, we have all been rushing a little extra this week. As hard as it is to lift up our heads and look around during such a hectic few days, it is precisely during this extra level of haste that we need to pause and remember how precious time is.
 
At Passover we think about the modern things to which we are still enslaved, and our schedules can certainly fall into that category. One thing I’ve learned over the past year is the importance of living in the moment. That said, time is rarely more precious than Shabbat followed by a chag, so we’ll keep it short and sweet today.
 
In the midst of the pre-Shabbat and pre-Passover bustle, I was one of many people who delivered holiday food packages to families and individuals throughout our community. A number of organizations coordinated these initiatives, including Schara Tzedeck, who prepared the packages I delivered to families living in Tikva Housing’s Dayson Residences in River District. Most of them moved in last fall, so this is the first Passover they will spend in their new homes. I hope we were able to be part of making it memorable.
 
This Passover will be memorable for another reason, too—and not just because of the many Zoom seders taking place again. We received some good news yesterday that Dr. Henry issued a temporary variance to allow indoor religious services. Unlike last year, we will be able to gather for services, but there are a number of restrictions in place. Click here for more information, and please check with your synagogue for details of what they have in place.
 
We have a Passover update from the federal level, as well. Minister Jim Carr led a round table discussion between Jewish community leaders from across the country that Karen James, our immediate past board chair and member of the executive committee, and I attended. We were joined by Prime Minister Trudeau, Ambassador Bob Rae, Special Envoy Irwin Cotler, and a number of Members of Parliament. They extend to each of you their best wishes for a happy Passover. The discussion was an opportunity for the group to talk about the common priorities that all Canadian Jewish communities share, such as combatting anti-Semitism and online hate, the Canada-Israel bilateral relationship, the UN, security, and the infrastructure program. I was particularly pleased to see Canadian Jews of colour represented on the call, and for JQT Vancouver to be highlighted for their important work advocating for inclusion, diversity and accessibility.
 
At Passover, we don’t just remember our collective history, we immerse ourselves in it as though we were there. So, it is important to recognize that the times we are living in now will one day be remembered as part of our history. Over the past year, COVID has changed much about our lives and impacted our community in myriad ways. We have been in discussions with our partner, the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, who have taken on a new project related to COVID that we will bring you details about in the next week or two.
 
In addition to bringing us today’s news, community newspapers essentially capture our community’s history, week after week. Many of you will recall that the Canadian Jewish News ceased publishing shortly after COVID hit, and we’re happy to tell you that they are ready to ramp up again. You can subscribe here.
 
Hopefully, you are already keeping up with local community news from the Jewish Independent, where the lead story today is about the upcoming Yom Hazikaron commemoration and Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration. I know there’s so much to do before then, but it really is just around the corner. If you have time before Shabbat, click here to read what Geoffrey Druker and Pam Wolfman and their committees have in store for us.

Shabbat shalom and chag sameach.

Ezra S. Shanken
Chief Executive Officer