Students in Uganda at work in a BrightBox, a solar-powered classroom. (photo from Simbi Foundation) This year’s graduating class at Vancouver Talmud Torah made a significant impact to the lives of thousands of refugees in the Bidibidi refugee settlement in…
Congregation Beth Israel, children in costume, 1965. (photo from JMABC L.09778) The launch of the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia’s latest edition of The Scribe will be held virtually on Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. This year’s book…
Chabad Richmond’s Hebrew school teaches kids to read Hebrew, explore Jewish history, revel in hands-on Jewish living through holiday experiences and traditions, and pray. Plus, students learn a new mitzvah each week. The Hebrew school – which is for kids…
I’ve dealt with all kinds of conflicts as an Israel educator the past 25 years, from the mad parent who storms in and says, “Why do you have that map on your wall and not this map?” to the parents…
Left to right: Lydia Okello, Shana Myara and Joanne Tsung. (photo from VQFF) The 2021 Vancouver Queer Film Festival, which runs until Aug. 22, includes the screening of local feature documentary Well Rounded, directed by Jewish community member Shana Myara.…
Megan Phillips, left, and Hayley Sullivan in A Coveted Wife of East Van, part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, which runs Sept. 9-19. (photo by Marn Norwich) An all-star Jewish team consisting of poet Marn Norwich, director Ariel Martz-Oberlander, jazz…
Officials in Edmonton unveil the first sculpture of Anne Frank in Canada. (photo by John Stobbe/Dutch Canadian Centre) On Aug. 8, 2021, officials in Edmonton unveiled the first sculpture of Anne Frank anywhere in Canada. The world’s newest memorial to…
(photo from essenceofemail.com) בחודשים האחרונים בזמן שמגפת הקורונה ממשיכה לטלטל את חיינו התכתבתי מספר פעמים עם מכר שגר בדרום אמריקה. הוא בחר לגור באחד מהאזורים הבעייתיים בעולם, והקוביד מראה בברור מה ההבדל ביננו החיים בקנדה המסודרת, לבינם החיים בג’ונגל אין…
“Antisemitism is hate, and it is not acceptable at SFU,” said Simon Fraser University president and vice-chancellor Joy Johnson. (photo by Jeff Hitchcock / flickr) The president of Simon Fraser University met with Jewish students recently and issued a statement…
Juneteenth webinar panelists (clockwise from top left) Heather Miller, Dr. Tameika Minor, Rafi Forbush and Kendell Pinkney. (photos from internet) The United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) held a webinar entitled Juneteenth Through the Eyes of Jews of Colour: Sharing…
The ongoing squabbles in the Green Party of Canada stopped short of a bloodbath Monday, after opponents of leader Annamie Paul abruptly holstered their figurative weapons. A litany of threats against the leader was dropped that day. These included a…
In the summer, we read through Torah portions that sound like very weird vacation routes. As a Shabbat regular joked during our livestreamed service, it sounded like the old-fashioned CAA TripTiks. In the days before GPS or MapQuest, you went…
Action over words was what was most needed at this week’s National Summit on Antisemitism, hosted by the federal government. That was the consensus at a July 14 townhall in the lead-up to the summit. Hosted by the Centre for…
COVID-19 isn’t the only global pandemic to worry about; the worldwide increase in domestic violence has been coined a “shadow pandemic” by the United Nations. Globally, an estimated one in three women lives with violence and fear. But the number…
(screenshot) For this year’s Negev campaign, JNF Pacific Region has partnered with ALUT, the Israeli Society for Autistic Children, to renovate Aviv House, one of the first lifetime living facilities established by ALUT. ALUT has built and operates 18 “Homes…
Israeli actor Shira Haas was the featured guest at the Canadian Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev’s virtual gala July 7. (photo by Shula Klinger) On July 7, the Canadian Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev held…
The annual general meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver took place on June 21. Welcomed were five new directors: Gil Kimel, Dean Lederman, Lana Pulver (chair of the annual campaign), Michelle Pollock (chair of the Israel and global…
Paralympic world champion rower Moran Samuel (photo by Detlev Seyb) Israel is sending its largest-ever Olympic delegation – 89 athletes – to the Tokyo Olympics, set for July 23 to Aug. 8. And it’s sending 32 athletes to Tokyo for…
Vancouver-based consultant Zena Simces’ You Can Make a Difference: A Guide to Being a Great Consultant(Tellwell Talent, 2020) is an informative, concise and useful primer for anyone considering this career path – or, really, anyone who works with diverse individuals…
I recently read two works of fiction by former Winnipeggers. I mention that because, when I think of Winnipeg, where I grew up, I think of the Prairies, I think of wide open spaces. Yet both of these novels portray…
הסייף הישראלי שאול גורדון, ייצג את קנדה בתחרויות הסיף באולימפיאדת טוקיו שתתקיים בחודש הבא (יולי), ביחד עם 11 סייפים קנדים נוספים. בניגוד לשאול, אחיו הצעירים מתי גורדון שמשחק רוגבי שביעיות ותמר גורדון שמתחרה אף היא בסיף, משתייכים דווקא לנבחרות ישראל.…
Leah Goldstein is the first woman, and the first Israeli, to win Race Across America. (photo by Vic Armijo / RAAM) Leah Goldstein became the first woman to win Race Across America in its 38-year history. The Vernon, B.C., resident…
Syd Belzberg talks with Vancouver Talmud Torah kids at Stable Harvest Farm. (photo by Shira Sachs) “The children loved to take their harvest home to share with their families. Many children helped to prepare the family meals, including washing, chopping…
“Hanging Out” by Derry Lubell. Derry Lubell’s photography captures the motion of dance, the ephemeral magic of the art form that generally only exists at the moment of performance. Unless, of course, it is recorded by a talented photographer. Lubell’s…
Rabbi Reuven Bulka (photo from thecjn.ca) Rabbi Reuven Bulka, who served as spiritual leader of Ottawa’s Congregation Machzikei Hadas for 48 years, died of cancer early on June 27 in New York. He was 77. Bulka moved to New York…
Two bills recently introduced by the federal government are aimed at reducing online hate and putting some controls on the anarchic world of online commentary. Some, like Jewish community organizations, have been calling for stronger rules to deal with rampant…
We have relatives who live in Surfside, Fla., where a high-rise collapsed. Many people are still missing or have died. Although the area around Miami is urban, the town of Surfside is small and close-knit, with fewer than 6,000 residents…
A still from Max Shoham’s animated film Sophie and Jacob. The Future of Film Showcase, an annual short film festival and professional development conference dedicated to fostering the future of emerging Canadian filmmakers, features 11 shorts from Canada’s most promising…
Libby Yu performed A Concert for the Soul on June 28, hosted by Jewish Seniors Alliance and the Kehila Society of Richmond. (screenshot) On June 28, Jewish Seniors Alliance and the Kehila Society of Richmond presented classical pianist Libby Yu…
Rick Tash is the primary caregiver of his wife, Bambi Fass, who is dying of cancer. (still) A new short film by Dr. Jessica Zitter and Kevin Gordon gives an intimate look at the toll involved in caring for a…
