March 21, 2025 | 21 Adar 5785 | Candle lighting at 7:10 p.m.

This message has about 1,040 words and will take about 4 minutes to read.
 

We listened to Jeffrey Schoenfeld, co-chair of the Israel Emergency Response Committee of Jewish Federations of North America, who played a vital role in helping allocate over $850 million in donations in response to the events of October 7th.

The survey also revealed that 61% of respondents avoided wearing items that would identify them as Jewish and 65% avoided places and events that were out of concern for their safety. Read more in our media release here.  

Beyond our community, the concern is growing.  
As Nico Slobinsky, CIJA's vice president of the Pacific Region, said, "I wish these results were surprising, but unfortunately, they are not. I want to thank our allies for standing with us to fight the oldest of hatreds." I, too, want to express my gratitude again to Peter Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Group and honorary co-chair of our Fund to Combat Antisemitism, for not only speaking out but for taking real, tangible steps to combat antisemitism. This kind of solidarity is crucial—it's how we make progress, and I'm proud to stand with those committed to this fight. 

Antisemitism is not just a statistic; it's personal and pervasive. Over the last seventeen months, I've had countless conversations with parents who fear for their children, students who feel isolated, and community members who hesitate to wear a kippah or Star of David in public. Behind the numbers are real people—our friends, our family, our neighbours—who are living in fear in spaces where they should feel safe. This reality is something we can't ignore, and it drives our commitment to continue our fight against antisemitism. 

Let's also take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work being done by our Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, which I introduced to you last year. They are doing an outstanding job engaging with our community, listening to firsthand experiences of antisemitism, analyzing the data, and evaluating current efforts to support us in various environments. If you haven't met our Task Force yet, we encourage you to watch this video.  

We've been pushing back and creating resources to help you be your own best advocate. 

If you experience or witness an antisemitic incident or hate crime, please report it here.

As we continue to navigate these challenging times, it's important that we also take action to shape the future of our community. 
Earlier this week, we shared a message about the upcoming by-election, where two new City Councillors will be chosen. This is an opportunity for all of us to have a say in who will represent our interests and help create the change we need. To learn about the candidates, click here.  

Here's how you can make your voice heard:
1) Vote by mail 
Apply by March 24 for a package to be mailed to you. Visit www.vancouver.ca/vote for more info. 

2) Vote in advance  
Dates: March 26 & April 1 (8 am to 8 pm) 
Location: Vancouver City Hall 

3) Vote on Election Day 
Date: April 5 (8 am to 8 pm) 
Locations: Vancouver City Hall or any of the 24 community centres 

While building a stronger community, let's also celebrate the unifying power of arts and culture. 
Chutzpah! Plus, Spring Edition kicked off this week, bringing five days of shows to celebrate the season.

And speaking of coming together, I want to give a special shout-out to our amazing community connectors for organizing successful Purim events across the region.

More than just a celebration of survival, Purim stands as a testament to the resilience of Jewish identity—our unwavering commitment to remain Jewish despite adversity. The spirit of connection, tradition, and joy continues to grow, and we will bring many more moments of unity in the future.

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

Copyright © 2025 Jewish Federation of British Columbia, All rights reserved.


Unsubscribe

March 21, 2025 | 21 Adar 5785 | Candle lighting at 7:10 p.m.

This message has about 1,040 words and will take about 4 minutes to read.
 

We listened to Jeffrey Schoenfeld, co-chair of the Israel Emergency Response Committee of Jewish Federations of North America, who played a vital role in helping allocate over $850 million in donations in response to the events of October 7th.

The survey also revealed that 61% of respondents avoided wearing items that would identify them as Jewish and 65% avoided places and events that were out of concern for their safety. Read more in our media release here.  

Beyond our community, the concern is growing.  
As Nico Slobinsky, CIJA's vice president of the Pacific Region, said, "I wish these results were surprising, but unfortunately, they are not. I want to thank our allies for standing with us to fight the oldest of hatreds." I, too, want to express my gratitude again to Peter Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Group and honorary co-chair of our Fund to Combat Antisemitism, for not only speaking out but for taking real, tangible steps to combat antisemitism. This kind of solidarity is crucial—it's how we make progress, and I'm proud to stand with those committed to this fight. 

Antisemitism is not just a statistic; it's personal and pervasive. Over the last seventeen months, I've had countless conversations with parents who fear for their children, students who feel isolated, and community members who hesitate to wear a kippah or Star of David in public. Behind the numbers are real people—our friends, our family, our neighbours—who are living in fear in spaces where they should feel safe. This reality is something we can't ignore, and it drives our commitment to continue our fight against antisemitism. 

Let's also take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work being done by our Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, which I introduced to you last year. They are doing an outstanding job engaging with our community, listening to firsthand experiences of antisemitism, analyzing the data, and evaluating current efforts to support us in various environments. If you haven't met our Task Force yet, we encourage you to watch this video.  

We've been pushing back and creating resources to help you be your own best advocate. 

If you experience or witness an antisemitic incident or hate crime, please report it here.

As we continue to navigate these challenging times, it's important that we also take action to shape the future of our community. 
Earlier this week, we shared a message about the upcoming by-election, where two new City Councillors will be chosen. This is an opportunity for all of us to have a say in who will represent our interests and help create the change we need. To learn about the candidates, click here.  

Here's how you can make your voice heard:
1) Vote by mail 
Apply by March 24 for a package to be mailed to you. Visit www.vancouver.ca/vote for more info. 

2) Vote in advance  
Dates: March 26 & April 1 (8 am to 8 pm) 
Location: Vancouver City Hall 

3) Vote on Election Day 
Date: April 5 (8 am to 8 pm) 
Locations: Vancouver City Hall or any of the 24 community centres 

While building a stronger community, let's also celebrate the unifying power of arts and culture. 
Chutzpah! Plus, Spring Edition kicked off this week, bringing five days of shows to celebrate the season.

And speaking of coming together, I want to give a special shout-out to our amazing community connectors for organizing successful Purim events across the region.

More than just a celebration of survival, Purim stands as a testament to the resilience of Jewish identity—our unwavering commitment to remain Jewish despite adversity. The spirit of connection, tradition, and joy continues to grow, and we will bring many more moments of unity in the future.

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

Copyright © 2025 Jewish Federation of British Columbia, All rights reserved.


Unsubscribe