Following Vancouver City Council’s approval of JWest’s rezoning application in July and the groundbreaking ceremony in September, JWest recently announced another milestone: the development permit for the new Diamond Jewish Community Centre has been approved.
This approval confirms the City’s acceptance of the proposed six-storey JCC building, including its placement on the site and exterior design. The next step in the permitting process is the building permit, beginning with Stage 1: Excavation and Shoring, the application for which was submitted earlier this year.
The JWest Community Campaign recently raised an additional $650,000, bringing the total to more than $7.6 million toward the $18 million goal. For more information and to donate, go to jwestnow.com.
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This year’s Jewish Family Services’ Project Isaiah campaign has raised more than $100,000 and collected more than 70,000 pounds of food, helping support more than 1,600 people.
Recently, a client shared: “JFS has been a godsend while I face constant health and food challenges. Because of my diabetes, life has become more expensive, and your support directly helped me get the specific food I needed. Please know that every bit helps at this difficult time in my life. You are greatly appreciated.”
These words remind us that Project Isaiah is about more than food. It is about dignity, connection and knowing that the community will show up for one another.
JFS thanks Sandy and Ian Penn, whose matching gift inspired others to give; Project Isaiah sponsors Still Creek Press and Bulldog Bag Ltd.; participating synagogues, schools, community partners, volunteers and donors.
In-kind donations can be dropped off at the Kitchen to Oct. 30, and JFS’s Virtual Food Drive is open until Oct. 31.
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After more than 15 years of Chabad Okanagan bringing more Jewish life and programming throughout the region, it was such a joy to celebrate Sukkot in the first-ever sukkah on the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. Special thanks to Nuri and Denise Fisher for sponsoring this UBCO milestone.
Thirty to 40 students, along with some faculty, joined the holiday celebrations. Thank you to Spring Castle for grilling the kosher steaks and providing the great food.
Jewish students brought friends, Jewish and non-Jewish, some of whom were experiencing a sukkah for the first time.
Maya Bejerman, who is on the Chabad UBCO student board, said, “For me, seeing students gather in a sukkah right on their own campus meant so much more than just Sukkot. It said loud and clear that here is a place they can celebrate their Jewish heritage, with total acceptance.”
The gathering took place on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The program included discussion about the meaning of the day and shared aspects of Jewish history, displacement, oppression and the faith and hope Jews have carried through generations. Indigenous participants from campus took part.
Thank you to the student board and everyone who helped bring this first campus sukkah to life.
