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May 21, 2026 | 5 Sivan 5786 | Candle lighting at 8:39 p.m.
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This message has approximately 812 words and will take about 3 minutes to read.
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| As Shavuot approaches, I’m sending this message a little earlier than usual. Tonight, communities around the world will begin celebrating a holiday rooted in learning, reflection, and the shared experience of receiving Torah, an invitation to engage, question, and grow together. |
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| In that same spirit, our Wexner Speaker Series comes to a close this Sunday. Throughout the series, our community has come together to explore important ideas and deepen our collective learning. We are grateful to the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation for supporting this initiative and helping make these conversations possible. Register here. |
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| Like many of you, I’m looking forward to marking the holiday with family, getting hands-on in the kitchen with Rachel and the kids, making cheesecake and blintzes together, and enjoying the simple joy of being around the table. If you’re planning your own celebration, here are some great recipes we’ll be trying as well.
Jewish Heritage Month Recognized in Vancouver
This week, the City of Vancouver officially proclaimed May as Jewish Heritage Month, highlighting the rich history, cultural contributions, and vibrant presence of Jewish communities across Vancouver.
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| I had the honour of speaking in chambers, expressing that this is not only a time for celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on what our community has built together, and I reaffirmed our responsibility to continue strengthening this city for everyone who calls it home. |
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| Jewish Heritage Month invites us to recognize how our shared story is carried forward in real and tangible ways.
And speaking of our shared history, this year marks 35 years since Operation Solomon, when more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel, an extraordinary moment of courage, continuity, and connection.
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Today, that story continues to unfold, including here in Vancouver, where Ethiopian-Israeli families have become an important part of our community, enriching our diversity and strengthening our collective future.
Learn more here. |
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Advancing Access to Mental Health Care
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder of the growing need for accessible, responsive care in our community. It is especially encouraging to see Jewish Family Services (JFS) recognized for its work in expanding access to mental health support. |
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| JFS was recently named a 2025 Innovation Exchange Winner by The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, a distinction awarded to a select group of organizations whose work demonstrates measurable impact, strong design, and adaptability across the broader human services sector. It is well-deserved recognition. |
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| Its innovative service redesign, Beyond the Waitlist, was recognized for addressing persistent barriers to care. In response to growing demand, long wait times, and limited system capacity, JFS redesigned how individuals access counselling and support services.
At the center of this approach is a digital assessment platform that enables real-time triage and connects people to the appropriate level of care. This was paired with the development of an Intern Counselling Clinic, bringing in up to 15 graduate-level students annually alongside a network of registered clinical counsellors. family, community, and time together.
This model has significantly reduced wait times, expanded access, and strengthened future workforce capacity. Through the Innovation Exchange, JFS will join peer organizations to exchange insights and extend the reach of this work to benefit even more individuals and families.
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| As Tanja Demajo, CEO at JFS, shared: “This recognition speaks to the strength of JFS’s mission and values, the creativity and dedication of its team, and the trust placed in its work by partners, funders, and the broader community. It also affirms JFS’s role in advancing forward-thinking solutions that improve lives.”
JFS's support has a significant impact on our community and beyond.
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| In response to the humanitarian crisis in Iran, they are helping members of the Persian community cope with grief and distress. As partners, we are grateful for this work and for the care being extended where it is needed most. Those seeking support can access complimentary clinical counselling sessions by contacting [email protected]. |
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Annual General Meeting
Continuing that sense of shared responsibility and collective impact, we invite you to join us on Monday, June 22, for our 2026 Annual General Meeting, a moment to reflect on a year of impact and take an important step forward as we continue our transition to the Jewish Federation of British Columbia.
Click here to register. |
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| We also invite you to nominate exceptional individuals for this year's Young Leadership Awards at the AGM! This award honours high school and university students, as well as young adults making a meaningful impact in our community. Nominations are open until Thursday, May 22. Click here to submit.
Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful Shabbat and a joyful Shavuot, however you’re celebrating, I hope it’s filled with family, community, and time together. If you’re looking to connect, there are wonderful Shavuot events and celebrations happening across our community this week. Check our community calendar here.
Chag Shavuot Sameach and Shabbat shalom,
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Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver |
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| Enjoy Jewish music at JSABC’s Spring Concert. Register now. |
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| Learn about kidney donation and how one act can save a life. Register here. |
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| Discover Voices of Resilience, stories of the Holocaust legacy. RSVP here. |
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| Celebrate Or Shalom’s renovated bayit and joyful reopening. RSVP here. |
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| "Operation Solomon" was one of the most remarkable rescue efforts in modern history, in which more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel in little more than a day. Now, in this riveting volume, Stephen Spector offers the definitive account of this incredible story, based on over 200 interviews and exclusive access to confidential documents. |
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