freelancer – Page 473

Ukrainian Jews to Israel

The Hon. Stockwell Day, right, and International Fellowship of Christians and Jews of Canada senior vice-president Rabbi Yael Eckstein with a Ukrainian Jewish family who were among the 220 that the Fellowship brought to Israel on Sept. 29. (photo from the Fellowship)

The Hon. Stockwell Day, chair of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews’ board of directors in Canada, and his wife Valorie gathered with the immigrants as they boarded two flights from Kiev bound for Tel Aviv to begin their new lives in Israel, thanks to support from the Fellowship’s donors in Canada. The flights are the latest in the Fellowship’s ongoing campaign to help Jews in need living in Ukraine and other communities around the world facing economic challenges and antisemitism. Not counting these latest flights, the Fellowship’s global partners have brought 3,532 Jews on 29 flights from Ukraine to Israel.

Glimpses of happiness

Many people have read an enormous amount of Holocaust literature during their lifetime. The stories are tragic, horrifying, heartbreaking. No matter how many books you read, or films and documentaries you see, you can never come to terms with the fact that such evil exists in the world.

But Dr. Anthony D. Bellen’s book – After Auschwitz: The Unasked Question (Mazo Publishers, 2016) – is different. He is a clinical psychologist specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder, moral resilience and restorative processes. He lives in Israel, is a husband, father and grandfather, and has retired from the Israel Prison Service, where he headed the department of treatment and rehabilitation. He now works with people who have suffered trauma.

The unasked question in the book’s title is: “Do you remember any positive experience from your time in the concentration camp? Was there ever a positive interaction – a brief moment of happiness in the midst of that evil abyss?”

Bellen has chosen six survivor interviews for this book from 56 he conducted with Holocaust survivors in 2004 for his doctoral research study in the department of criminology at Bar Ilan University. The six gave him permission to share their stories, although their names have been changed for privacy.

I don’t think I will ever forget any of these stories. Motti’s moment of happiness occurred on the day of liberation from Theresienstadt, when a Russian soldier stood on a wooden crate and called out in Yiddish: “Has anyone seen my mother?” For Ida, it was finding a friend from her village – Miryam. For Eva, it was finding her hairbrush from home that her brother managed to give her before he was gassed in Majdanek. Reuven’s moment of happiness came in a swimming pool with two friends. Ya’acov’s joy came from meeting the love of his life, Sonya, in a laundry in Brintz. Sarah’s positive memory came from a Christmas in Bromberg, where she and some friends “performed” a song for the SS and later for the inmates of the camp.

These were just miniscule moments of happiness, gone in a flash, but powerfully remembered decades later – and never shared before.

The book concludes with a bibliography and references, as well as the seven questions Bellen asked each interviewee. These remarkable stories may help other people with different traumas find the strength to overcome them. They may even change your perceptions and understanding of your own life.

Dvora Waysman is a Jerusalem-based author. She can be contacted at [email protected] or through her blog dvorawaysman.com.

This week’s cartoon … Oct. 7/16

For more cartoons, visit thedailysnooze.com.

Donating his wish to others

Matthew Boroditsky with some of the children he met at Project Somos. (photo Matthew Boroditsky)

In life, we all face hurdles – and how we react to these trials can come to define us. This story exemplifies that.

Three years ago, Matthew Boroditsky was told he had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a relatively rare form of cancer, accounting for about 0.5% of all cancers and 15% of all lymphoma cancers diagnosed. Approximately 900 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Canada each year, and it is more frequently found in males than in females, and in people between the ages of 15-39 and older than 55.

Boroditsky was born in Chicago, moving to Vancouver with his family at four months old. At age 17 – on Oct. 13, 2013 – he was diagnosed. After completing high school at St. George’s and once the disease was under control, he moved to Hamilton, Ont., to study at McMaster toward a bachelor of health sciences degree.

Thinking back, Boroditsky recalled, “I had just returned to school for my Grade 12 year after playing in a hockey tournament over the summer months, when things quickly changed for me. All of a sudden, my life was put on hold, as the only focus became on fighting this disease over the next eight months of my life. During this time, I never truly understood the magnitude of influence this experience would have on my life.”

The importance of health and how much we take our good health for granted was something that especially struck Boroditsky during this time. Just as he and his family began settling into the treatment schedule, they were approached with the opportunity to be granted a wish by the Children’s Wish Foundation.

“This was a unique and intriguing opportunity, one that I did not take lightly,” said Boroditsky. “It was quite overwhelming when I first fully realized the vast possibilities associated with this wish. After several days of thought, I felt sure I wanted this wish to be one I could look back upon many years later. I wanted to make a wish that could serve as a constant reminder to not only me, but to the greater community, about the importance of gratitude, hopefully sharing a small bit of what I learned through my experience. Thus, I came to the conclusion that I would like my wish to be a giving wish.”

Before his diagnosis, in March 2013, Boroditsky and several classmates visited Project Somos, which is located in a southern Guatemalan community as part of a service-learning experience. An eco-sustainable alternative community for at-risk mothers and children, it arose, among many other factors, because of rising poverty and poor access to education and medical care in the region.

photo - A plan for the clinic designed by Project Somos — A plan for the clinic designed by Project Somos. *(image from Matthew Boroditsky)*

In line with Project Somos’ commitment to environmental sustainability, a 960-square-foot medical clinic is in the planning stages. It is to be built with earthquake resistance in mind and will feature solar hot water and electrical power.

“The people in rural areas, such as Chivarabal – where Project Somos is located – often don’t have the money to cover transportation to a medical clinic,” said Boroditsky. “If they do manage to get to a free clinic, they might not be able to afford the medication prescribed…. Even generic drugs are prohibitively expensive. There aren’t many systems in place for long-term health conditions and preventative care is completely lacking.

“Realizing the limitations and the precarious situations people find themselves in, the tragic lack of what we, at home, would consider basic simple care, sparked the idea of constructing a medical clinic on site.”

When the idea was first conceived, Boroditsky was not fully aware of how this could be done. But, when he went to Children’s Wish and started discussing with them how he wanted to use his wish, they helped translate his dream into a reality.

“I wanted my wish to make a difference in this world and to continue to help the people of Guatemala for many years to come, trying to parallel the philosophy of Project Somos in its recognition of the importance of sustainability,” said Boroditsky. “The people at Children’s Wish have been, from the very beginning, extremely supportive surrounding the initiative and did everything they could to help make it become a reality. Children’s Wish is truly a remarkable organization that I’m proud to have been able to work with.”

And so, nearing the end of his treatment, in partnership with Children’s Wish, Boroditsky has directed the initial funds into the medical clinic for Project Somos.

But, the planning of a medical clinic and neighborhood house at the Project Somos site has been challenging and Boroditsky, friends and family are continuing to fundraise. In that vein, they will be holding an event next month – on Oct. 13 at St. George’s School.

“We are planning to celebrate the continued progress and success of the project that we hope will make a big difference in the lives of others who are less fortunate,” said Boroditsky. “The event will be centred on learning more about how this project came to be and hearing from a few inspirational speakers who have personally moved me into action.

“Life has a funny way of evolving,” he added. “I never would have even imagined I’d be involved in a project like this so far from home. I feel we have an obligation as a global community to help each other, and I know that many of you reading this feel the same way.

“I feel optimistic and excited to make a difference in the lives of so many. With the help of Children’s Wish and many supporters … we’re getting closer to seeing this wish become a reality.

“Never underestimate the power you hold in helping to make good things happen,” he said. “Please help us by donating directly to the medical clinic project or by coming to our event to help make this giving wish come true.”

To read more about Boroditsky’s story, see “Letter from Matthew Boroditsky: A Giving Wish” at projectsomos.org. For more information on the project and fundraiser, visit facebook.com/helpingadreamcometrue. (A tax receipt for donations will be issued by the Compassionate Fruit Society, a nonprofit for Project Somos.) To buy tickets to the Oct. 13 event, which takes place 7-8:30 p.m., at St. George’s School, 4175 West 29th Ave., visit matthews-wish.eventbrite.ca.

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

Serving healthy, tasty food

Susan Mendelson launched Mendelson’s Kosher Gourmet from the kitchens at Vancouver Talmud Torah earlier this fall. (photo from Susan Mendelson)

Susan Mendelson, the entrepreneur at the helm of Lazy Gourmet Catering for the past 38 years, debuted Mendelson’s Kosher Gourmet from the kitchens at Vancouver Talmud Torah earlier this fall.

Mendelson and her team of six are now serving a selection of 25 lunches a week to VTT children and offering the Jewish community their kosher event catering services, as well as the opportunity to purchase BCKosher-certified challahs, babkahs and cinnamon buns.

Months ago, Cathy Lowenstein, VTT’s principal, approached Mendelson and asked her to help create a request for proposals that the school could use to obtain bids from potential caterers.

“I felt this would be a great opportunity to get back into the Jewish community,” Mendelson reflected. So, she put in a proposal, her bid was accepted and she worked with the school to create a kitchen space that would work.

Construction finished just as the first orders needed to be prepared, which meant the timing was tight and every detail needed attention. “When we need to order sheet pans and dishes, they have to be dipped three times in the mikvah before we can use them, so it’s much more complicated than anything I’ve done before,” she said.

Step One was finding a great team. Vancouver chef Marat Dreyshner is presiding over the kitchen while his spouse Ella Dreyshner is managing the operation.

Since both are mashgichim, all the kosher details are fully supervised. “They’re fabulous people and I’m lucky to have them,” Mendelson said.

Students were audibly impressed by their pre-ordered meals, which were based on focus groups with VTT kids earlier in the year. Lunch options include hot dogs, burgers (made from scratch), roasted turkey sandwiches, chicken noodle soup and sushi. There are gluten-free and vegan options daily, and the Mendelson’s Kosher Gourmet team is dedicated to healthy meals, with grains made from sprouted whole wheats and treats like banana chocolate chip bread served only on Fridays. “The rest of the time, it’s Caesar salad, kale chicken wraps, Israeli salad and dishes like that,” she said.

Sustainability is another key word for Mendelson, so you won’t find any take-out containers in her serving materials. Instead, the children are using regular silverware and melamine dishes for their meals.

Mendelson has spent her lunch hour walking around the school, creating systems and processes to streamline service and gauging reactions to the food. “It’s exciting to me that the kids are really enjoying this healthy food,” she admitted. “Today they were coming back for second and third portions of soup and, if there’s extra, we’re happy to give them more.”

The kosher catering orders are also coming in fast, leaving Mendelson fully energized, engaged and up planning from 3 a.m. She credits Lowenstein for getting her involved. “She’s an extraordinary partner, a brilliant, kind, thoughtful and accommodating woman who is always looking at how to make things work. If it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t have pursued this,” she said.

Meanwhile, Lazy Gourmet Catering is still going strong with a staff of 170 and contracts for conference work downtown with Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. There’s the womb-to-tomb events Mendelson’s been catering the past four decades and a new Chinese website is helping secure business from Vancouver’s Chinese community. “For one Chinese wedding, we had six days to cater for an event with 200 people,” Mendelson said.

“I’m exhausted,” she admitted. “But I’m energized. With Mendelson’s Kosher Gourmet I thought to myself, this might make a difference. If I can turn these kids on to a healthy way of eating, maybe I’ll make a difference in this world.”

To place kosher orders, visit mendelsonskosher.ca.

Lauren Kramer an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond. To read her work online, visit laurenkramer.net.

Families key for shul

Michael Sachs, left, and Rabbi Levi Varnai of the Bayit. (photo from Michael Sachs)

The Bayit, a small shul in Richmond, is seeing a resurgence. The increase in attendance and birth of new programming seems to be due to the growth of young Jewish families. Rabbi Levi Varnai, who took his post at the Bayit in July of this year, said their Shabbat morning services are busy and full, and a recent dinner welcomed 80 people to the shul, which only has 42 chairs.

Though Varnai is himself a Chabad rabbi, the shul is not affiliated with any denomination and stresses its inclusivity.

“There is a huge movement of young families into Richmond,” Varnai told the Independent. “We are not here to compete with the existing shuls, which are doing a great job. We are here to make a place for young families who haven’t yet found their place in the Richmond Jewish community.”

Varnai was born in Vancouver, but his family made aliyah in 2000. After yeshivah, he was drafted into the Israel Defence Forces and became an army chaplain, since he had semichah (ordination). In 2011, he married his wife Rivky, the daughter of Rabbi Shaul and Chaya Brocha Leiter, who run Ascent, a hostel in Tzfat known for its classes on Jewish mysticism. The couple moved to Vancouver in 2013 and have three children: Mendel, Shmuli and Chaya.

Children are a very important part of their vision for the synagogue. They have Shabbat programs for kids and are planning an afterschool program which will be a club featuring a number of fun, hands-on activities, like baking and arts and crafts, imbued with Jewish culture. The shul is currently preparing for Rosh Hashanah and, on Sept. 18, gathered to decorate family honey jars. “We aim to make this place a dynamic centre for young families and, so far, there is a lot of energy and interest,” said Varnai.

According to its website, the Bayit has the only kosher mikvah in Richmond.

Michael Sachs is the current president of the synagogue. He and his family moved to Richmond in January 2015, priced out of the Vancouver market, and has since been instrumental in the Bayit’s rebirth.

“My favorite thing is probably our Carlebach-style Friday night services,” said Sachs. “One thing that I really love is the difference we are making in people’s lives, either with help finding housing or support during hard times … we are there, with our local Jewish partners, for the Richmond community.”

Matthew Gindin is a freelance journalist, writer and lecturer. He writes regularly for the Forward and All That Is Interesting, and has been published in Religion Dispatches, Situate Magazine, Tikkun and elsewhere. He can be found on Medium and Twitter.

Such hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is everywhere, perhaps, and it can be a full-time occupation to call it out. For years, the anti-Israel movement, which generally comprises advocates of social justice who envision themselves as defenders of human dignity and respect for the diverse experiences of peoples, has employed the most toxic language and imagery imaginable against Israel. This includes the routine equation of Zionism with Nazism, apartheid and even Satanism. “IsraHELL” is commonly used in online commentary, and how frequently have we seen images of Israeli leaders with devil’s horns drawn on them?

Such language and imagery are often condemned as antisemitic, because, well, they are – regardless of the insistence of perpetrators that the target is Israel, not Jews. It is sheer hypocrisy when concern about antisemitism is dismissed as Jewish posturing to “silence” criticism of Israel or deflect attention from Israel’s “war crimes” and other “atrocities.” There is almost certainly no other ethnic or cultural group whose expressed concerns would be so summarily disregarded by people who proudly carry the mantle of social justice and human equality.

Criticism of Israel is not necessarily antisemitic, of course. But sometimes it is. And well-intentioned people will take the time to distinguish when it is and when it is not. Instead, while asserting that Zionists equate “any” criticism of Israel with antisemitism, the anti-Israel side goes full-tilt in the opposite direction, claiming that no criticism of Israel is tainted by antisemitism. Antisemitism, in their narrative, is not a bigotry to be confronted, but an always-false assertion used to deflect or negate criticism of Israel.

Antisemitism, as we have said here before, has its own name because it differs in critical ways from other forms of discrimination and bigotry. For instance, where many forms of racism are premised on the idea that the perpetrator perceives themselves as better than the victim, antisemitism, in some instances, is founded on the assumption that Jews perceive themselves as better than other people – see how often the “chosen people” concept is raised in online dialogue as criticism of Israel and Jews.

Similarly, anti-racism activism sees race as integral to economic and class division, which it often is. But, because one of the key prejudicial assumptions about Jews is that they are both economically and socially advantaged, Jews de facto cannot be victims of discrimination. The corollary of this is twofold. Jews do not (in the narrative of contemporary anti-racism activism) experience economic disadvantage, therefore, there is no evidence of antisemitism. Ergo claims of antisemitism are a cynical attempt to gain sympathy by a group of people who have long since exhausted the world’s reserve of empathy.

Alternatively, there are those who accept that antisemitism may exist. After all, it is hard to ignore the Jew-hatred spray-painted on walls, prevalent on social media and filling the comments sections after almost any news story involving Israel or Jews. Yet even this evidence may not elicit sympathy or allyship. In fact, there may be a counterintuitive response. Given the prejudiced idea that Jews consider themselves superior – usually founded on an ignorant misreading of the concept of chosenness – there may be a frisson of satisfaction among some that the uppity Jews are getting taken down a notch.

In the face of this reality, what should we do? For one thing, we should not allow the hypocrisy of others to distance us from the values we share with those others. We must not abandon the fundamentally Jewish commitment to racial, social and economic justice that has been central to our identity for hundreds of generations before this postmodern incarnation of social justice emerged a couple of decades ago. We should not cower from the concept of chosenness, because we know this is not a symptom of superiority but of a humble role in service of tikkun olam, of a better world.

Shul etiquette “commandments”

There’s no use in pretending it doesn’t bother me. The woman has invaded my sacrosanct space and time! But what can I do about it?

Let me explain.

I have a precious and brief time that I dedicate to enhancing my well-being each week. I attend a yoga class on my doctor’s order to become mindful of my time and space. I have come to cherish this opportunity to shut out the constant and disparate white noise that my brain exudes during the rest of my week. It’s the noise that reminds me to pay a bill, check my calendar for meetings, and note the items I have to remember to add to the shopping list. Not to mention all the family obligations that must be juggled. I’m anxious just writing these items, worried that my life is spinning out of my control, hence my doctor’s suggestion-cum-order.

In the first few minutes of each class, I focus my energy, breathing in and exhaling slowly. Recently, just as I was reaching the plateau that allows me to connect mind and body, the door to the quiet room opened with a woman who was not quite finished a phone conversation.

“Yeah, I know just what you mean, Sally. I had the same issue with her. I’ll have to tell you about it after my yoga class. I’m just getting in to it now.” Sally’s friend looks around, finds a spot, dumps her bag and continues to talk. “Oh, you do? Which one do you take?” She tucks the phone between her ear and shoulder, then unrolls her mat. “Really? Uh huh. Oh, and how much is it? Wow, that’s a lot less than I’m spending.” She upends her bag, looking for her water bottle. The instructor looks at her and smiles, suggesting she is ready to begin. “Listen sweetie, I gotta go, this class makes the British rail schedule look slack! Yeah, let’s do that, I’ll check my schedule for next week. No problem, I’m always here for you.”

As the instructor takes us through the first movement, Sally’s friend declares that this first stretch is feeling good, especially after such a stressful day. I am regaining my initial plateau, reminding myself that I need to judge others favorably. But with each position shift Sally’s friend has a comment. I’m finding these verbal utterances very intrusive.

Sally’s friend is not content with oohing and aahing. Now she is complimenting other classmates on their yoga attire. My desired state of mind is now wishful thinking. The only thing I am mindful of is how aggravated I am getting. Doesn’t Sally’s friend realize that this space and time is sacrosanct to me and to the others? Surely she must realize that there is a time and place for everything, and that this is neither the time, nor the place for her behavior. How can she be so oblivious to her poor yoga etiquette? Can she not see the distress she is causing?

This is related to my other dilemma. I don’t go to yoga to enhance my well-being and connect with my soul and my soul-maker; for that, I go to shul and pray with my community. And Sally’s friend’s behaviors reflect behaviors that regularly occur each Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and on any given Shabbos, from people both religiously observant and not. So, I humbly submit for consideration and hopeful implementation “10 commandments of etiquette for shul attendance.”

Remember in whose house you are a guest. The sanctuary is G-d’s domain, not yours. People often comment they don’t find shul a “spiritual experience,” but a little preparation can help. Just as you ready yourself for a day of work, ensuring you have briefed yourself for an upcoming meeting, for example, so you should ready yourself for prayer. Avail yourself of the many sources of Jewish inspirational writings for the appropriate holy day. It’s up to all of us to bring our own spiritual thoughts and emotions to the sanctuary.
No cellphones. Just as theatres request that you refrain from talking, texting or photographing, shul is not a place for cellphone use during Shabbos or Yom Tov. If G-d needs you, He’s got a better way of getting your attention. And, if you can’t separate yourself from your communicator for the length of services, you’ve probably got an addiction and may need some professional help – perhaps even a yoga class.
Stop the chatter. Shul is not a baseball diamond, and you are not in the outfield yelling, “batter, batter, batter, swing batter.” The rabbi, chazzan and Torah reader do not require a cheering section and you are not there to provide color commentary. They do require your respectful attention.
Socialize outside the sanctuary. Any conversation longer than the prerequisite greeting of “Good Shabbos or good Yom Tov” should be held outside of the sanctuary. Nobody else wants to hear about your bad back and why you can’t golf or play tennis anymore.
No market reports, please. Whether it’s Bloomberg, BNN, the Wall Street Journal or the costs of buying kosher meat and poultry, if it is important enough to discuss at length, see Commandment #4.
Wear comfortable shoes. Women, you are not walking the catwalk in a Jimmy Choo or Louboutin fashion show. There are lengthy periods of the services that require standing in front of the open ark. Sitting down while the ark is open is disrespectful unless you’re over 70 or have a serious medical condition or impairment. If you regularly suffer from foot fatigue, pinched toes or aching bunions, bring a pair of flats.
No beach, cocktail or lingerie wear. It should be obvious but if your outfit suggests you need to apply sunscreen, then don’t wear it to shul, as it’s unlikely that there will be a tanning bed provided. Likewise, men, jeans – no matter if they are considered “dress wear” – are not appropriate unless you are under the age of 6, and even then it’s questionable. As well, unless your shul sports a disco ball from the ceiling over the bimah, leave the booty-shaking togs at home.
Don’t show off your offspring. Bubbies and zaidies, your grandchildren are not fashion accessories. They are small human beings, worthy of your respect. If you insist on traipsing them through the sanctuary to have your shul mates ooh and aah over them, you are doing yourself and your grandchildren a disservice, and creating a distraction for all around you.
Bribing children into the sanctuary. From a small child’s point of view, the sanctuary is crowded and there are a bunch of strangers wanting to pinch their cheeks or kiss them. Offering bribes in the form of candy, juice, cookies or an iPad or other tech gadget often results in major negotiations that would impress even the most accomplished CEO. Save yourself the grief and sign the kids up for shul programs for their age group, or leave them at home with Mary Poppins.
No electronic gadgets. This is for shul attendees of all ages. Just as police are cracking down on distracted driving, there should be a penalty for distracted davening. Do not engage your smartphone or Star Trek communicator during “slow parts” of the service. Answering your email, checking Facebook or sharing your latest photos are not earning you any extra credit with G-d.

We all have a lot to be grateful for and Rosh Hashanah is the time to express our gratitude to our creator on the anniversary of the creation of the world. At a time when we ask for emotional, physical and spiritual help on behalf of ourselves and others, we should be mindful that we are being judged by the king of all judges regarding our behavior, our attitudes, our compassion and our consideration for our fellow human beings.

Ellen Freedman is a native Vancouverite. She is a longtime reader and first-time writer.

More funds for security

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver has launched this year’s annual campaign under the leadership of Alex Cristall, general chair. The campaign is the Greater Vancouver Jewish community’s central fundraising initiative and closed last year with a record $8.3 million result. The campaign is one of the primary fundraising opportunities through which Federation will grow the financial resources required to meet the goals outlined in its 2020 Strategic Priorities. These priorities will guide the organization’s work on behalf of the community through the year 2020 and beyond.

“We are very excited that Alex Cristall has taken on the role of chair of this year’s campaign,” said Ezra S. Shanken, Jewish Federation’s chief executive officer. “Alex has a passion for making our community stronger, and he is an extraordinary leader in terms of addressing the goals outlined in our 2020 Strategic Priorities.”

The priorities address five key areas of opportunity:

Affordability: helping community members struggling with the high cost of living in the Lower Mainland.
Accessibility: reaching the nearly half of community members who live in underserved areas.
Seniors: planning for the needs of our growing seniors population.
Engagement: connecting young adults and young families to ensure community continuity.
Security: continuing to address evolving community security needs proactively.

While the campaign benefits all areas of need in the Jewish community, the particular focus of this year’s campaign is security. Jewish Federation is leading the development of a comprehensive, long-term approach to keep the Lower Mainland’s Jewish community ahead of the curve. In recognition of the need for a community-wide strategy, Federation established the community security advisory committee. The committee’s mandate is to provide a leadership role in assessing the risks facing community institutions and to propose and evaluate specific strategies to mitigate these areas of concern.

Growing security needs requires increased financial resources to address them. Federation has worked with a group of donors to create a matching gifts program to jumpstart the funding and create awareness among donors.

“I am very pleased to announce that every new or increased gift will be matched, with the matching amount allocated to local community security initiatives that will benefit every Jewish organization in our community,” said Cristall. “Community security is an issue that affects every single one of us every time we set foot in a Jewish institution, take part in a Jewish program or attend a community event. Through the Federation annual campaign, it is an issue we can all play our part in addressing.”

The annual campaign runs to Nov. 30. For more information on the campaign or the 2020 priorities, visit jewishvancouver.com/2020.

JSA celebrates another year

At the recent Jewish Seniors Alliance annual general meeting, three volunteers were honored: Ralph Jackson, left, Bill Gruenthal, centre, and Milt Adelson. (photo by Binny Goldman)

The word used in praising or thanking someone in Hebrew is hodaya. Our foremother Leah said, “I will praise,” after the birth of her son and names him Judah (Yehuda), and todah comes from the same verb. On Sept. 15, the Jewish

Seniors Alliance of Greater Vancouver held its annual general meeting to say todah to its members and the community for helping it achieve its goals for the past year.

JSA president Marilyn Berger, along with Marshall Berger, opened the meeting, which took place at Congregation Beth Israel, with O Canada and Hatikvah, followed by a minute of silence for those members who died during the year.

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, spoke of connecting Greater Vancouver’s Jewish communities with organizations like JSA, which is playing a vital role in seeing that seniors can stay in their homes, and can live well into their “golden” years without fear of neglect.

Dan Ruimy, member of Parliament for Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, said that his trip to Israel reinforced his desire to get in touch with his Jewish roots. He said we need to work together to support Israel as well as our own local communities.

Adolf Zilbershtein, head of Most-Bridge Russian Jewish Seniors, works at connecting his 60 members to their Jewish roots, and integrating them into the larger Jewish community. He thanked JSA for the $1,500 grant Most-Bridge received and wished everyone a healthy 5777.

JSA treasurer Larry Meyer explained it is an ongoing effort to keep the books balanced, as grants are not constant, but that JSA maximizes the use of federal, provincial, municipal and private donations so that its programs, such as peer-support services, can continue to flourish.

Pam Ottem, chair of JSA’s peer support and senior counseling program, reported that the program is so well-known that there is a waiting list of people wanting to avail themselves of the vital service and those who wish to take the counseling course, which is offered at no cost. Thanks were expressed to Grace Hann and Charles Leibovitch who lead the program.

Lyle Pullan, membership chair, shared that there were 36 new members, 48 life members, 439 individuals, 128 Most-Bridge members and 20 affiliates. He encouraged attendees to pay their $18 membership fee and search out new members.

In her final report, Berger acknowledged the accolades she had received and the assistance of her “troika,” as she handed the gavel over to Ken Levitt. Bev Cooper was presented with a certificate in appreciation of her outstanding work.

Serge Haber, head of the nominating committee, read the slate of incoming board members and then welcomed Levitt as incoming president.

Levitt, in saying farewell to Berger, lauded her, stating that she had brought the care and concern of the needs of the community to each meeting, and that she will be a great role model for him to follow. Noting that Berger demonstrated every day her commitment to Yiddishkeit, Levitt presented her with a gift from JSA.

The dinner reception, which 185 people attended in the synagogue’s ballroom, was convened by Larry Shapiro and Barbara Bronstein and emceed by Jack Altman, who proved once more to be a master of wit and words, able to ad lib at will.

Three volunteers were honored for their time and service to others.

The first volunteer was Ralph Jackson, nominated by Royal Canadian Legion Shalom Branch 178. Jackson had served in many capacities and has now assumed the presidency. His twin granddaughters, in introducing the man they love as their grandfather, proudly announced that, although he turned 90 in August, Jackson still loves to dance and enjoy life.

He actually texts them on his iPhone and, occasionally, they even respond. Being of service to others has been a major part of Jackson’s life, including being president of the War Vets for many years – he can often be spotted selling poppies in November. Jackson said he truly appreciated the honor and sincerely thanked the legion and JSA for the evening.

Bill Gruenthal, nominated by the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, was introduced by Prof. Chris Friedrichs, who said seniors don’t suddenly wake up overnight and find themselves to be seniors but that they are part of a growing and giving community maturing along the way. Gruenthal was treasurer of Temple Sholom, where he also formed a 60-plus club. Born in Netanya and a staunch supporter of Israel, anyone traveling the forests of Israel will see the trees planted by Jewish National Fund because of Gruenthal. In thanking everyone for the honor given him, Gruenthal said he was especially glad that family had flown in from out of province for the AGM, making it a family reunion.

Before Levitt introduced the honoree nominated by JSA, Milt Adelson, who was treasurer of JSA for eight years, Beth Israel Rabbi Jonathan Infeld encouraged and praised JSA for doing all that it does for the Jewish community, and he encouraged everyone to heed the call to help when hearing the sound of the shofar this year.

In speaking of Adelson, Levitt said that stepping down from being JSA treasurer has allowed Adelson to take the many steps he takes daily, walking 8.5 miles a day – he counts his steps in miles and not kilometres. One of Adelson’s lesser-known feats is holding the record for the most French fries consumed at the Aristocratic restaurant. Adelson was also treasurer for L’Chaim Adult Day Centre and proudly advocates for people to “walk the talk,” and walk it with vigor. Saying that he is a doer, Adelson thanked JSA for honoring him, adding that no one can say no to Haber, a statement to which many can attest.

Because some of the dinner crowd had not been present at the AGM, Levitt again made a presentation to Berger for her dedication and service to JSA. He presented her with a collage of photos taken during her tenure as president – called “The Many Faces of Marilyn” – which was put together by Karon Shear and Jennifer Propp.

The salmon dinner was catered by Susie Siegel of Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine. Then, as part of the entertainment, Jackson serenaded his wife of 62 years with “Because of You,” which melted the hearts of the many romantics in the room. Lorraine Smith further tugged at people’s heartstrings by playing and singing special Jewish favorites.

The evening ended with wishes for a peaceful, productive and prosperous year ahead, and thanks to the conveners of the dinner, Shapiro and Bronstein, and to the office staff. The work of the many volunteers behind the scenes was also acknowledged. The video of the event, taken by Stan Shear, can be seen at jsalliance.org.

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes community commitment and support to make sure that the world in which the child lives is secure and safe into its senior years.

Binny Goldman is a member of the Jewish Seniors Alliance of Greater Vancouver board.