Canadian Paralympic athlete and wheelchair racer Rick Hansen, known for his work to break down barriers for people with disabilities, receives an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University from then-Hebrew U president Menahem Ben-Sasson. In December 2010, Hansen visited Hebrew U…
The Jerusalem Winner Marathon encompassed multiple races, from a full marathon to a 5K circuit and a 1.7K family run. (photo from Jerusalem Municipality) On April 4, approximately 40,000 runners participated in the 14th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon, which broke…
Ruchot Hatzafon members, left to right: Gil Melamood (bass guitar), Adam Halfi (keyboards), Ofir Baz (drums), Liraz Moalem (stage manager) and Eyal Shavit (vocals and electric guitar). (photo by Yannay Shifron) “We will dance again” is the theme of this…
Jaime Stein hopes to bring a Jewish voice to the table at Vancouver City Hall. He is vying for one of the two seats that will be filled in a by-election April 5. One seat opened after Councilor Christine Boyle…
In Vancouver, affordable housing continues to be an issue, despite the amount of development. (photo from satanoid / flickr) In the April 5 civic by-election, TEAM for a Livable Vancouver has nominated Colleen Hardwick, a former city councilor, and Theodore…
Last week, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, in conjunction with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, released the results of a community survey on antisemitism. There were, perhaps, few surprises. Of those surveyed, 85% said that antisemitism has…
“A people driven by hate are not – cannot be – free.” (Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z”l) (photo from flickr) According to Exodus 1:8, a new Egyptian king rose to power who did not know Joseph. He did not remember,…
After the Israelites escape from Egypt and the Sea of Reeds has returned to its normal flow, with the enslavers either drowned or on the opposite side, Miriam leads the women in singing a song of praise. Apparently, it is…
The new exhibit at the Zack Gallery, “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers, derives its name from the eponymous poem by Emily Dickinson. Gallery manager Sarah Dobbs, who curated the show, was instrumental in coming up with the name, as…
JQT Vancouver is hosting two supported and spiritually grounded workshops in partnership with JFS Vancouver, as part of the JQT Mental Health Support Series: Facing Emotions and Healing Relationships on March 30, and Queering with Our Kids on April 6.…
Alix West Lefler plays Frida in The Fast Runner, a 15-minute short from director David Bercovici-Artieda that was shot over the course of four days in the Greater Victoria area. (photo from thefastrunnerfilm.com) The Fast Runner, a film about a…
Tova Krentzman’s Fire Tower is a documentary about the people stationed high above the ground in the Yukon and Alberta, who are looking for smoke or signs of a wildfire. (photo from Tova Krentzman) Tova Krentzman’s Fire Tower, a documentary…
Australian TV personality Erin Molan at Schara Tzedeck in Vancouver March 19. (photo by Pat Johnson) Security was tighter than usual at Congregration Schara Tzedeck when Australian media personality Erin Molan spoke to Vancouver’s Jewish community March 19. The non-Jewish…
Among the activities in which Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Dr. Shiran Reichenberg, left, took part while she was in Vancouver was a lunch and learn at Lawson Lundell LLP, hosted by Peter Tolensky. (photo from CFHU Vancouver) Dr. Shiran Reichenberg,…
Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer, coined the term “genocide” in 1944. (photo from Arthur Leipzig Estate, courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery, via ushmm.org) Anna-Mae Wiesenthal was in the United Kingdom recently and passed a table in Dublin that was accusing…
Members of the local Jewish and Muslim communities who came together in the Downtown Eastside March 16 to commemorate Shushan Purim and Ramadan by giving out food to those in need. (photo from Rabbi Philip Bregman’s Facebook page) On Sunday,…
In a March 2 lecture called Jewish Innovators Who Changed the World, Jonathan Bergwerk spoke about the lives and psychology of prominent historical figures. “I’m especially interested in what makes these people tick,” said Bergwerk, the author of the Audacious…
Three members of the BC Jewish community have recently been announced as recipients of the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community…
Artist Mari Sue Baga listens as Rabbi Shmuly Hecht talks about a painting of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that she made in his honour. (photo from Okanagan Chabad House) On March 9, the Chabad Living Library officially opened its doors to…
Rose’s Angels co-founder Courtney Cohen, left, with May Stefanov, tenant relations coordinator with Tikva Housing Society. (photo from Rose’s Angels) Rose’s Angels recently completed its 12th year of giving, donating collected items to 14 Richmond not-for-profits, including Richmond Family Place,…
Author Israel Ellis with his new book, The Wake Up Call, after a Feb. 10 talk at Beth Tikvah Synagogue in Toronto, where he joined journalist Dave Gordon in conversation. (photo by Dave Gordon) In his new book, The Wake…
My kids were volunteering at the Purim carnival, helping younger kids do games and offering other support. My husband was there to help. I went home early “for a break.” Meanwhile, I receive “helpful” warnings from Jewish websites and other…
This year, the Jewish community will greet Passover with mixed emotions. On a holiday where we celebrate the 3,500-year-old Exodus from Egyptian slavery to freedom, we also mourn the modern-day hostages held captive for so long and the loss of…
Tal Kinstlich and Stephanie Schneider, the owners of Vancouver’s Kosher Food Warehouse. (photo from Kosher Food Warehouse) Canada is exempting key imported Passover foods from the current diplomatic trade war with the United States. The ministry of finance sent The…
Ilan Rabchinskey’s photograph of Tamarind Street Corn Cups in Sabor Judío: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook inspired me to make them. (photo by Ilan Rabchinskey) Since reviewing Sabor Judío: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook by Ilan Stavans and Margaret E. Boyle for…
In Every Generation: A PJ Library Family Haggadah can be downloaded from pjlibrary.org (photo from PJ Library) Passover is the ultimate Jewish story – a tale of freedom, hope and food – which makes it the perfect holiday to share…
Sussita entrepreneur Itzhak Shubinsky driving a Sabra Sport car, from the newspaper Barkav, in the 1960s. (photo from Haifa City Museum) For a trip down memory lane, cruise over to Haifa’s City Museum at 11 Ben-Gurion Blvd., in the German…
I am human. I share many elements of my nature with other beings on this planet. I laugh, I cry, I aspire to things, hope for things, wish for things, work for things. No different than it is for others,…
Light projections on the internal walls of the Tower of David, in Jerusalem, part of the Night Spectacular. (photo by Pat Johnson) Tourism to Israel plummeted after Oct. 7, 2023. For example, January 2024 saw an 80% drop in visitors…
