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Moment of opportunity

From the first of Vancouver’s weekly vigils for Israeli hostages, after the 10/7 attacks, members of the local Iranian community were a welcome presence. Asked by the Independent why he was moved to join the mostly Jewish crowd at one of the first vigils, an Iranian-Canadian man explained that no one knows better than Iranians the enemy Israel is up against.

Now, it is the Iranians in Vancouver who are gathering regularly to show solidarity with their families halfway around the world. And it is uplifting not only to see Israeli flags and Jewish community members amid the throngs, but additionally inspiring that the Jewish presence is as profoundly welcomed at these gatherings as the Iranian-Canadian support was at our own community’s vigils.

The escalating confrontation between the United States, Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran is fraught with danger. War in the Middle East rarely unfolds in neat or predictable ways. Yet, for all the risks, the present moment might represent a genuine opportunity.

For more than four decades, the regime in Tehran has destabilized the Middle East. Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Islamic Republic has invested enormous resources in regional proxy networks, backing armed groups across the Middle East while suppressing dissent and freedoms at home. Iran is one of the world’s foremost state sponsors of terror and the primary backer of both Hamas and Hezbollah – Israel’s most dangerous terrorist enemies.

Many Iranians living outside Iran, probably most, support efforts to weaken or eliminate the Islamist regime in Tehran. Diaspora communities across North America and Europe include people who fled political persecution, censorship and the stifling of basic freedoms. 

Domestic opposition – the courageous Iranians who have taken to the streets in opposition to government tyranny – has not dislodged the regime, obviously. Many hope that the US-Israel military action could create an environment that might topple it.  

The Israelis and Americans, it needs to be noted, have both explicit and less overt objectives in this war. One stated aim, of many unclear objectives, is to ensure that Iran is prevented from developing nuclear weapons. Regime change is not an explicit goal. The US president has instead called on the Iranian people to take this opportunity to continue to rise up against their oppressors. However, the US administration has not made it clear that ending the theocracy is their aim or that the US will be there for the Iranian people if the war’s other geopolitical aims are met.

For Israelis, regime change in Iran probably presents the greatest chance for stability the country has experienced, at least in the past four decades. 

A post-theocratic Iran might pursue normal relations with its neighbours and with the West. It could redirect vast resources away from proxy wars and toward economic development. 

None of this, of course, is guaranteed or, perhaps, even likely. History offers sobering reminders that the collapse of authoritarian regimes can produce chaos as easily as freedom. 

Iran is not Iraq in 2003 or Afghanistan in 2001. It has a large, educated population, a long, cohesive national history and a strong sense of cultural identity that predates the current regime. Civil society – though heavily suppressed – has shown remarkable resilience, from women’s rights movements to waves of protests demanding political reform. These internal forces matter a great deal. Ultimately, the future of Iran will be determined not by foreign militaries but by the Iranian people.

That is why the current moment, dangerous as it is, should also be understood as holding possibility. If external pressure weakens the regime enough to create space for internal change, Iranians may have a chance to shape a different future. 

The risks are undeniable. Escalation could spiral. More civilian lives will be lost – especially as a regime saturated with end-times theology sees its very survival threatened. The region could face new volatility before it finds stability. Civil war could break out.

Sometimes, though, the status quo is the deeper danger. The Islamist regime in Tehran has spent decades exporting conflict and constraining the aspirations of its people. As long as it remains in power, Israel and other countries in the region will not know dependable calm or have much chance to fulfil any dreams of peace.

For the Iranian people, for the region and for the world, this may be one of those rare instances when risk and opportunity arrive together. What follows will depend not only on military outcomes but on whether the international community – and Iranians themselves – can seize the chance to build something better.

As events unfold half a world away, something positive is happening closer to home. In this time of danger and war, it is uplifting to witness Jewish British Columbians standing alongside our Iranian neighbours as they have stood alongside us in our most challenging moments. 

Shooting response

Jewish leaders and public officials across the Greater Toronto Area are warning that a series of shootings targeting synagogues has pushed antisemitism into a far more dangerous phase, prompting urgent calls for action from police, governments and civil society. Community organizations said the attacks were not isolated acts of vandalism but part of a broader climate of escalating hatred that has left many Jewish families feeling exposed, shaken and abandoned.

Groups including CIJA and UJA Federation said symbolic condemnations are no longer enough, arguing that officials must respond with stronger enforcement, more visible protection and a clearer strategy for confronting extremist incitement before more serious violence occurs. Their message was that when shots are fired at houses of worship, the issue is no longer only about one community’s fears, but about whether public institutions are willing to defend basic safety and democratic order. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney described the attacks as “criminal antisemitic assaults” and said federal agencies would support investigators in identifying and prosecuting those responsible. Other civic leaders publicly denounced the shootings as an attack on the right of Jewish Canadians to gather in safety. Together, the reactions reflected a growing consensus that these recent events are not just alarming, but a national test of whether repeated anti-Jewish violence will finally trigger a more serious response. 

BC budget fails seniors

Brenda Bailey, BC minister of finance, delivers the government’s 2026 budget. (photo from flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos)

British Columbia’s 2026 budget sends a message that should concern every family in this province: seniors can wait. Indefinitely.

Seven scheduled long-term care projects have been delayed. These designated projects were to be built in Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Delta, Fort St. John and Squamish. They now have no completion dates. Are these “delays” just another broken government promise? 

This is not a minor policy adjustment. It is a policy choice with real consequences. The reality is that this reinforces an all too familiar pattern: the fastest-growing demographic in the province continues to receive the slowest response. What is government waiting for?

When long-term care beds are delayed, the need does not disappear. It shifts. It shifts into overcrowded hospitals, onto exhausted family caregivers, and into the homes of seniors who are increasingly isolated and struggling to cope without adequate support.

Despite the fiscal challenges facing the province, delay of critical infrastructure for seniors leaves seniors living in isolation and without proper supports. Government knows this produces worse outcomes for seniors.

The province is aging faster than its systems are evolving. Every year of delay widens the gap between need and capacity. While governments talk about sustainability, the current approach is neither sustainable nor strategic. Even with the completion of these planned beds, demand for long-term care beds vastly outpaces availability. It always will.

Delaying long-term care without rapidly expanding home support is not a cost-saving measure. It not only shifts the burdens of care, but the costs. It shifts costs to emergency departments. It shifts costs to family caregivers who reduce work hours or leave the workforce. It shifts costs in its impact on seniors’ physical and mental health as isolation deepens. And, ultimately, it shifts even greater costs back onto the health system.

This is why the 2026 budget was a missed opportunity for bold solutions.

If capital projects must be delayed, then investment in home support should surge. Instead, innovation in home and community care remains an afterthought – despite overwhelming evidence that it is the most cost-effective way to support aging populations.

Jewish Seniors Alliance of British Columbia knows that most seniors want to age at home. Supporting them there is dramatically cheaper than institutional care. Preventing crises is cheaper than responding to them. Keeping people connected is cheaper than treating the consequences of isolation.

The math is not complicated. The policy response should not be either. This is why JSABC has long been a leading advocate for universal free access to home support for all BC seniors.

Across British Columbia, community organizations are already proving what works: volunteer-driven wellness checks, culturally appropriate outreach, transportation assistance, social programs and coordinated home-support initiatives that keep seniors healthier and independent longer. These are not luxury services. They are preventive health care in its most practical form. Yet they remain chronically underfunded, and our community organizations can’t keep pace to support our seniors’ needs province wide.

Home support is not a side program. It is the backbone of a modern seniors care strategy focused on providing alternative service delivery models and providing support for people to age well in place.

It is time for government to prioritize seniors. Ignoring the problem today won’t change the system for when we ourselves are looking for extra support not so far into the future. 

Jeff Moss is executive director of Jewish Seniors Alliance of British Columbia.

Ritual is what makes life holy

Years ago, I regularly walked with my two bird dogs on streets near my home, in Winnipeg. I had a setter-mix and a pointer, rescued from a Kentucky animal shelter as young dogs, before moving to Canada. I walked them once or twice a day. Our routines were solid. The dogs sat on street corners. They heeled while crossing streets. Strangers admired their obedience skills and called out praise. Others stopped to say hello. I said thank you, but the next question almost always was, “How did you do that? My dog doesn’t….”

The answer, every time, was the same. I walked these dogs for years. Every day, we waited at street corners for cars to pass, and I had my dogs sit. Every time we crossed in traffic, I aimed for two lively dogs who heeled at my side to make the street crossing safer. Now, I own a different dog (another setter mix from the pound) and have twins as well. My family gets complimented about those lovely teens with their good manners, and we all say thank you. How did we do it? The same way – with consistency and positive reinforcement.

Our Jewish lives are also full of ritual and routine. No matter your level of observance, some of those repetitions stick. Perhaps you say a blessing when you wash your hands or do blessings before eating. Others may light Shabbat candles, attend a family seder or use Yiddish phrases of endearment. Some hum Jewish music or embrace Jewish values. These visible and invisible parts of our identity are so ordinary that we may not think about them much. 

I’ve heard rabbis express their congregants’ disinterest in the specifics of how to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, in the wilderness in Exodus when reading the Torah portion each year. Yet these details mattered enormously to the many people who used the information as “how-to” guides. These were people with great skills, those who spun the finest linen yarn or wove the curtains, dyed the textiles the right shades using natural materials, or who worked gold and silver to create ornamentation. Later in our history, the priests who made the sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem needed to know how to do those sacrifices properly. The rabbis debated and recorded these routine details, even though the Temple no longer existed. The information was precious. It was a guide for the Jewish people.

The details illustrate how meaningful it was to create this beautiful “home” for the Divine. Today, we may not understand the details of how spinners, goldsmiths or hand-dyers worked. However, our texts record their efforts, these gorgeous descriptions, for a reason. 

Just as our body is the “container” for our soul, our homes and synagogues are now our mishkan, our sanctuary. How we create beauty and routine matters. A house that’s functional and attractive is one where we find rest and peace to escape the outside world. 

Like the daily dog walk, other routines or “sacrifices” make our houses and gardens functional and humming. It’s a pain to clean up thoroughly, whether dusting, scrubbing or sweeping. Still, these small moments add up to a clean, healthy and safe place to live. Clinging to these rituals also orders our lives when we’re mourning or stressed.

Many have seen social media images of Israelis, family or friends, rushing to their shelters to stay safe during the war. Recently, I saw a clip of a mom who taught her small children that, when they heard a big boom in the shelter, they should say, “Olé!” She created a quirky, positive celebration of life to respond to missiles and the Iron Dome response. That routine helps create resilience during anxious moments. We can panic when we don’t know what to do. Solid routines (rituals) create order during difficult times.

About eight years ago, I crossed a busy street in front of my home with my (new to me) adolescent, large dog. We tripped over each other. I literally fell and rolled at an intersection full of fast-moving cars. Kind people asked if I was OK as I got up from the pavement, but some stopped their cars to yell at us instead. This further panicked an already bruised and disoriented young dog and owner. My long routines of dog walks helped me get up, calm the new dog and get across the street safely. The drivers, jostled by this upsetting event, lost their calm commute. While I was bruised, I had the tools to get up again. I could proceed without yelling rude things back.

Every dog walk is an opportunity for training and reassurance. Every meal is a chance to rejoice in good, tasty food with people we love. We make the ordinary something special. When we’re faced with upheavals, a bad tumble or even a war, we can find resilience in the rituals and beauty of each day as it comes. Jewish life offers repeat performances, if we choose to embrace them. 

While I sometimes dread chores like weeding, our small choices each day, what we plant or weed, can become glorious garden landscapes later. Similarly, big Shabbat meal prep for family and friends can feel overwhelming. However, when I break it down into first steps and familiar routines, baking challah or turning out salads, I regain calm. And, with each gathering, the bonds with family and friends are deepened.

We can choose resilience and ritual, meaning and beauty as daily practice even during hard moments. We can find the joy in the everyday, if we look around and see what we’ve created through those routines. The minutiae in our lives, the how-to manuals of our days, can feel like too much. Even so, a calm child or dog, a well-planned meal or a garden filled with colour are all signs of someone’s daily efforts. These household routines aren’t ordinary, but magnificent, like the ways we built the Mishkan, our wilderness sanctuary. Perhaps what’s limiting is the unimaginative person who yells negatively, for that’s the person who cannot see the countless steps that go into making the mundane into something holy. 

Joanne Seiff has written regularly for the Winnipeg Free Press and various Jewish publications. She is the author of three books, including From the Outside In: Jewish Post Columns 2015-2016, a collection of essays available for digital download or as a paperback from Amazon. Check her out on Instagram @yrnspinner or at joanneseiff.blogspot.com.

Dogs help war veterans live again

When Achiya Klein awoke after surgery, doctors began asking simple questions. Could he see this? Could he see that? “First, take off the bandages,” he told them.

“We already did,” they replied.

Klein was injured during a 2013 military operation near the Gaza border. His team discovered a two-kilometre, reinforced tunnel extending 400 metres into Israel. Klein led an Israel Defence Forces mission into Gaza to investigate further. As he approached an opening above the tunnel, a hidden booby trap detonated, with Klein, at the front of the team, taking the worst of the blast. The explosion caused severe burns, multiple facial fractures and catastrophic damage to his eyes, leaving him permanently blinded. He was evacuated under fire while rockets and gunfire erupted in the area.

Klein, now 34, grew up on a small religious kibbutz in the Judaean mountains. His childhood unfolded during the Second Intifada, surrounded by soldiers and a culture that expected young Israelis to serve. As a teenager, he and his friends competed to see who would make it into the most elite units.

In hospital, Klein initially believed surgery would fix the damage and allow him to return to his command. Realizing he could not see forced him to confront a completely different future.

Instead of dwelling on what might have been, he focused on recovery. Within months, he began rehabilitation through sport – cycling on tandem bikes, swimming, and running with guides. Eventually, he joined Israel’s para-rowing program and went on to compete internationally, representing Israel at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, in 2021.

A turning point in his independence came when he received his first guide dog from the Israel Guide Dog Centre. The dog, Knight, allowed him to navigate campuses, travel independently and rebuild everyday life.

photo - Achiya Klein with his guide dog Joy
Achiya Klein with his guide dog Joy. (photo by Pat Johnson)

Today, Klein lives in Toronto with his guide dog Joy. For him, the dog represents far more than mobility – she makes it possible to work, travel and be fully present with his children, like walking them to school.

Klein shared his story with the Independent on a previous visit to Vancouver (jewishindependent.ca/freedom-and-friendship) and he shared it here again recently as part of a cross-Canada tour sponsored by Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Centre. He and Joy were joined by fellow IDF veteran Nave Rachman, and his dog Jack.

Rachman trained in flight school before serving in an elite combat unit. During a military operation, what should have been routine turned into an ambush. Several soldiers were severely injured and Rachman helped evacuate them under fire. 

Physically unharmed, Rachman initially continued with his life, even moving to Hong Kong for work. But the trauma lingered. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms gradually emerged – depression, anxiety, avoidance and difficulty with relationships. Without visible wounds, he received no immediate treatment and tried to push through alone.

Over time, his condition worsened, straining his marriage and leaving him isolated. After his wife left, Rachman sought professional help and began intensive therapy. His recovery took another turn when he was paired with Jack, a service dog from the Israel Guide Dog Centre.

At first, Rachman doubted he could care for a dog – but Jack soon became essential in his life. The yellow Labrador helps him manage anxiety, navigate crowded environments and detect rising stress before panic sets in.

Rachman and Klein shared their stories with invited guests at the home of Ellen Wiesenthal and Eyal Daniel on Feb. 26. They were joined by Noach Braun, who founded the Israel Guide Dog Centre 40 years ago, and Atarah Derrick, executive director of Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Centre. While in British Columbia, they also spoke at Congregation Schara Tzedeck and at Vancouver Talmud Torah, as well as at a ski-and-learn event in Whistler. Their tour included presentations in Calgary and Toronto. 

Braun said he was motivated by his love of people and dogs in founding the Israel Guide Dog Centre for the Blind, drawing on his experience training dogs in the IDF.

Each year, he said, the centre raises about 150 puppies, many of them Labradors. After two months with their mothers, the dogs spend about a year with volunteer families – often university students – who provide early socialization and care before the animals return to the centre for formal guide-dog training.

Expanding out from service dogs for the visually impaired, the centre also provides animals for emotional support and other needs, with PTSD being an increasingly common condition for which service animals deliver a range of supports. 

The rise of PTSD in soldiers and civilians after Oct. 7, 2023, is putting added strain on the Israel Guide Dog Centre, Braun said. Training dogs is an intensive, multi-year undertaking and maintaining quality while increasing quantity requires significant investments of money and human resources.

“It will take time,” Braun said. “We need more money, more people, more dogs, more land, more vehicles.… We need to build it properly.”  

Remain vital and outspoken

The stars of Stacey Tenenbaum’s documentary Tough Old Broads, playing at VIFF Centre March 14 and 17: Kathrine Switzer, left, Sharon Farmer, centre, and Siila Watt-Cloutier. (screenshots from film)

If you’re feeling hopeless about the state of the world – or you just want to know more about some incredible people who have spent their lives making the world a better place – head to VIFF Centre March 14 or 17 to see Stacey Tenenbaum’s Tough Old Broads. 

The feature-length documentary features Sharon Farmer, the first woman and first person of colour to be director of White House photography; Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon; and Siila Watt-Cloutier, the first woman to connect climate change to human rights (garnering a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize nomination for that work).

Watt-Cloutier, who calls Kuujjuaq, Que., home, also lived in Iqaluit, Nunavut, for 15 years or so. She was a pioneer in fighting for environmental protections, starting in earnest in the 1980s, when it was realized that pesticides and other toxic chemicals were poisoning the marine mammals that the Inuit were eating, ending up in the breast milk of Inuit women. At the time, Watt-Cloutier was head of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, which represents Inuit from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Chukotka, Russia, on international matters. She has been instrumental in several actions that have changed how people think about climate justice.

In the documentary, she talks about negotiating with the United Nations from the perspective of being a mother. She says, “How could Inuit women be carrying this burden of, if I eat my country food, I’m going to poison myself and my children? At each UN talk, I continuously intervened to educate people on the importance of Inuit culture and how the world needs to do things differently.”

More than 40 years later, she continues to speak internationally, educating people about Inuit culture and the environment. In the film, at a conference, she shares one of the lessons she has learned: there will always be tough moments and “it is really about sticking with it and not giving up during those periods of time because those are the moments that you are meant to be at to raise your next level of consciousness, those are the moments that are making you, not breaking you.”

Not giving up is a key message from Farmer, too. The photographer was part of the civil rights movement in the 1970s, capturing images of the protests at Ohio State University; she was a student there at the time. Her career was spent fighting for social justice and documenting key moments in American history with her camera, including when she was at the White House (during the Clinton administration). She continues to do so.

Right after the 2024 election of Donald Trump, Farmer, who lives in Washington, DC, comments on the lack of people at the White House gates.

“If you don’t register displeasure,” she says, “everybody thinks what happens is OK – and I mean around the world, too. I don’t want that tale of woe to be our legacy. Our legacy should be we still have courage, we still don’t like what’s going on and we’re not giving up. I don’t see that happening down here today, and that’s the disappointing part.”

The third subject of Tough Old Broads is Switzer, who, while running the Boston Marathon in 1967, was literally attacked by race official Jock Semple, so outraged was he by her participation. Switzer’s coach, Arnie Briggs, running alongside her, body-checked Semple out of the way and she finished the race. This was the seminal moment in her life of activism, which has included helping bring the women’s marathon event to the Olympics (1984) and founding the nonprofit 261 Fearless, “261” having been her bib number in the 1967 marathon.

Switzer continues advocating for and mentoring women, pushing for equality. She says in the film: “There is so much to do and I still feel responsible…. It hasn’t been finished yet, and it is very simple. If you put the hard work in, if you pay attention, if you ‘work the phones,’ as we used to say, if you show up, is the biggest thing. That is the key point. It’ll happen. I’m not saying you have to be patient, I’m just saying we have to be persistent.”

Watt-Cloutier and Farmer would likely agree.

Tenenbaum, who is a member of the Montreal Jewish community, said in the press release: “I made this film to share the wisdom and experience of older women with a new generation and to inspire all people to remain vital and outspoken as they age.” 

At tougholdbroads.com, people can read more about the film, find some data on the status of women’s equality and download a discussion guide. It is hoped that the documentary “will spark a movement of women, both young and old, to embrace their power, speak out and demand attention.”

For tickets to the Vancouver 1 p.m. screenings, go to viff.org. 

An urgent play to see

Synthia Yusuf  stars in Kat Sandler’s Wildwoman, which runs March 26 to April 4 at Gateway Theatre, a co-production with Alberta Theatre Projects. (photo by David Cooper)

“Wildwoman is a story that celebrates women who refuse to be silenced and reminds us that theatre can be funny, wild, fearless and alive. With such an amazing cast and design team, we are thrilled to bring this sumptuous theatrical production to life on our stage,” said Barbara Tomasic, executive artistic director of Gateway Theatre, where Toronto Jewish community member Kat Sandler’s play can be seen March 26 to April 4. (Sandler also wrote Yaga, which Crave is making into a series.)

Wildwoman reimagines 16th-century French history, specifically the story that helped shape the legend of Beauty and the Beast. It centres on Catherine de Medici, the new wife of King Henry II of France, who is played at Gateway by Synthia Yusuf. Eager to be on the king’s council, Catherine quickly learns that her political aspirations matter far less than her ability to produce an heir. Surrounded by scheming courtiers, a powerful royal mistress and a male-dominant court obsessed with legacy and control, Catherine feels trapped inside this patriarchal world. That is, until she meets Pete, a wildman kept in the dungeon as one of the king’s caged oddities, who awakens her wild side.

“When I first read this play, it was like my body was filled with bees; I felt inspired, furious and delighted,” said Jamie King, director of the local co-production with Alberta Theatre Projects. “The play looks at power, at fertility, at legacy, all unflinching and full of humour. It’s inspiring to find new plays that are able to speak about both our human history and contemporary issues with such insight and still make it feel alive and fun. This is an urgent play that needs to be seen.”

Tickets start at $37, with a pay-what-you-will option. Go to gatewaytheatre.com or call 604-270-1812. 

– Courtesy Gateway Theatre

Pop-up exhibit popular

Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia director of programming Elana Wenner and JMABC executive director Eli Klasner at the Feb. 11 launch of the museum’s pop-up exhibit You Can’t Spell Delicious Without Deli. (photo from JMABC)

Omnitsky Kosher Delicatessen has been in business for more than 115 years. A community institution, it is the perfect location for the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia’s pop-up exhibit You Can’t Spell Delicious Without Deli: A Look Behind the Counters of Vancouver’s Historic Jewish Delis.

Patrons can grab something to eat – at the restaurant or to take home – and peruse the photographs and blurbs about five different delis that have made their mark on Vancouver history. There’s a printed guide available, which has more information about the exhibit and the delis featured. There is also merch: T-shirts. One has a bowl of matzah ball soup, one a deli meat sandwich, another an assortment of containers, a cereal bowl and a block of cheese with the words, “I can tolerate a lot of things. Dairy is not one of them.” 

The exhibit launched Feb. 11, filling the restaurant, the night hosted by the current owner of Omnitsky, Richard Wood. The deli has seen only three owners in its long history: it was started in Winnipeg by Louis Omnitsky in 1910; bought some seven decades later by Eppy Rappaport, who brought it to Vancouver in the 1990s, running it here until 2023; and Wood. 

Omnitsky has been in a few locations in Vancouver, including on Oak Street near 41st, where it took over the space of Kaplan’s Deli, when that community institution closed in 2014. 

Kaplan’s was started by Ida and Abrasha Kaplan in the 1960s; Serge Haber ran it from 1981-2000, Marshall Kramer for a dozen-plus years and Howie English for its last year or so.

Kaplan’s is one of the five delis featured in the exhibit, along with Omnitsky, which is now on Fraser Street between 18th and 19th avenues. The others are Oscar’s (1943-1956), Rubin’s (1955-1981) and Max’s, which has been in operation since 1949 on Oak Street at 15th Avenue, with various owners over the years.

More than dates and names, the exhibit shares tidbits about each establishment, like where Ida Kaplan learned how to make her famous cinnamon buns, some of the many celebrities that visited Oscar’s and how Rubin’s was a late-night hotspot, open to as late as 3 a.m. in its heyday.

“Sometimes I find myself browsing through the stories of our past, and certain items or documents just speak to me in a way that screams, ‘Tell my story!’” Elana Wenner, director of programming at the Jewish Museum and Archives, told the Independent about the how the deli exhibit came about.

“In this case, I was visiting Omnitsky’s at their new location on Fraser Street, and I had just recently come across some photos in our archives of the old Kaplan’s Deli on Oak Street…. As I browsed the shelves in the new Omnitsky’s storefront, it occurred to me just how poignant it was to be living through this unique moment in Vancouver’s Jewish history. 

“As a Vancouver native and historian of local Jewish culture, the transitions of any local Jewish establishment always trigger a certain chord of interest for me,” she explained. “The major move of Omnitsky’s from Oak Street to Fraser Street was a transitional moment that would surely become a marker in the future telling of Vancouver’s many chapters of Jewish culture and growth.”

Wenner leads the museum’s walking tours of the Strathcona neighbourhood.

“I always conclude [them] with an ‘epilogue’ of where the community moved next, as there was a pretty abrupt collective move from Strathcona over to Fairview in the 1940s, and then a slow progression along Oak Street through to the new millennium,” she said.

The story is, of course, still being written.

“As young families continue to populate the areas east of Fraser, the residential centre of Jewish life in Vancouver is transitioning starkly eastward,” said Wenner. “So, while Omnitsky’s move from Oak to Fraser may have seemed like a shock to many of the old-timers … it makes a lot of sense in the grander scheme, in the way that the community seems to be moving now.”

The 2018 edition of the museum’s journal, The Scribe, had the theme of Jewish restaurants. Most of the original content for the pop-up exhibit came from this publication, said Wenner, “all based on oral history interviews with the restaurateurs themselves.”

The initial concept was to feature all the local Jewish-owned restaurants throughout Vancouver’s 140-year history, but there were simply too many, she said. “So, the project shifted to become focused on just Jewish-owned delis.

“As I put the word out that we were looking for more information, I quickly discovered that there had been many more delis owned by Jewish families in Vancouver than I had ever expected,” she said. “We chose the five featured in the current exhibit based on the extent of information available to us, both from existing archival materials, as well as new information collected from interviews with family members, descendants, and gleaned from secondary sources outside the museum.”

The museum’s archives include oral histories, copies of menus, newspaper articles and even some handwritten notes of sale and purchase lists, said Wenner. 

Response to the exhibit has been positive.

“On the one hand, we wish we had complete stories for each and every single deli,” said Wenner, “but it’s actually really satisfying when people pop out of the woodwork and say, ‘But wait! My grandparents owned this place!’ and then they have all this new information for us to delve into about a deli that had previously not even been on our list.”

As part of the exhibit, the museum asks visitors to share any information they may have on Pheasant Deli, Barer’s Deli, Lindy Fine Foods, Triangle Café, Moishe’s Deli and Leon’s Kosher.

“We wanted to highlight the fact that we do know they existed, but the archives are only as good as the material we receive, and these are stories we haven’t yet collected,” said Wenner, who expects more pop-ups in the museum’s future.

“What makes this exhibit so interesting,” noted Eli Klasner, executive director of the JMABC, “is the collaboration with a business that is such an important part of our local Jewish history. The museum is committed to preserving Jewish history and retelling our stories in unique and interesting ways, including with entertaining pop-up exhibits in a range of locations and venues.”

photo - Two of the T-shirts for sale at the exhibit, which runs to April 1
Two of the T-shirts for sale at the exhibit, which runs to April 1. (photo by Cynthia Ramsay)

The T-shirts are proving to be a popular aspect of the current exhibit, which runs to April 1.

“In terms of the T-shirts – honestly, people are obsessed,” Wenner said. “There’s been a lot of hype surrounding the deli exhibit in general, but the limited-edition T-shirts being sold alongside the display have garnered a lot of unexpected public attention. We keep receiving requests for more, and plan to release a new line of designs in the coming months to meet the demand.”

Wenner urged readers to check out the new JMABC website, jewishmuseum.ca, where there is information about upcoming programs, including for Jewish Heritage Month in May, as well as many online exhibits. 

“Our summer 2026 season of walking tours is coming up soon,” she said, noting that the tours sell out quickly. 

The museum offers four different tours throughout Vancouver and Victoria, she said, “each telling the fascinating stories of early Jewish life and community in BC, from 1858 to present day.” They also offer private tours, which can be booked by emailing [email protected]. 

An invite to join JWest

If you’ve been through the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver lately, you may have noticed a simple question appearing in the hallways and around the building: “Are you in yet?”

It’s the invitation to join JWest, the re-construction of the JCC and King David High School, but it didn’t start as a marketing slogan. Its origins are more personal.

Some time ago, Shirley Barnett – a longtime JCC visionary and supporter who regularly works out there – made an observation that stuck with me. We were talking about the campaign, and she said, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have something that made it easier to start a conversation about what we are building here? The community centre is full of people who recognize each other from being there regularly. You see the same faces in the gym, in the hallways, or in the change rooms. But, often, you just smile and move on.”

That idea resonated with me. What if the campaign had a line that felt natural for one person to say to another to get them engaged? Something simple and inviting: “Hey, are you involved in the project? Have you thought about contributing?”

From there, we worked with Traction Creative, a small agency that has deep ties in the Jewish community. They came back with a few ideas, including the one I had penned, and when we saw “Are you in yet?” with some sample layouts, we knew that was indeed the one. It’s friendly. It’s direct. And, most importantly, it sounds like something people would actually say.

The creative team had some fun with the idea by tailoring messages to different parts of the building. For example, in the long hallway between the gyms, one sign reads: “Less long hall, more pickleball,” a nod to the multi-use athletic courts planned for the new space. Wherever you see the signs, they all tie back to that same question: “Are you in yet?”

Over the past several years, the JWest project has raised close to $200 million from governments, foundations, and donors from the Jewish community and beyond. At one point, many people believed government funding at a significant level for a project like this would be impossible. Eldad Goldfarb, the executive director of the JCC, doggedly courted them. After years of making our case, both the provincial and federal governments stepped up at the early stages of the project, and it was a moment of elation. This could and would be a reality. 

photo - Alvin Wasserman in front of a model of the proposed JWest development
Alvin Wasserman in front of a model of the proposed JWest development. (photo from JWest)

Now the campaign is in its public funding phase, with an invitation extended to the entire community. Yes, major gifts were instrumental in getting us here, but JWest has always been about something bigger than that. It’s about participation. When someone contributes, whether it’s a “good luck multiple of $18” gift or a larger one, they’re signaling, “I’m a part of this.”

This sense of belonging is exactly what the centre has always been about. I often describe it as the living room of the community, a heimish space to come together. On any given day, you might see kids from daycare singing, seniors gathering for coffee and students from KDHS stopping by between classes. The mix of ages, backgrounds and activities is inspiring. It’s like a small, vibrant city inside one building. The JWest project will make that experience even stronger and ensure its continuity. 

So, if you see the campaign message and wonder whether to get involved, my answer is simple: you’ll want to be part of this. It’s going to be amazing. 

I encourage community members to give at whatever level feels comfortable. Remember, stretching always makes you feel better. What matters is being able to say, years from now, that you helped build something that will serve the community for generations. 

So, are you in yet? 

Alvin Wasserman is a JWest Foundation and Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver board director, and was a two-time board chair of the JCCGV.

Successful campaign

Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing. This year’s campaign was the most successful to date. (photo from Tikva Housing)

Tikva Housing Society’s annual fundraising campaign has concluded with its most successful result to date, raising more than $75,000 to support innovative, affordable housing solutions. The campaign brought together donors, volunteers and community supporters who share a common belief: that everyone deserves a stable place to call home.

“Our community showed tremendous generosity and engagement throughout this campaign,” said Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing. “Every gift helps us continue providing safe homes and strengthening community connection. We are deeply grateful to everyone who chose to stand with us.”

This year’s total represents a new milestone for the organization and reflects Tikva’s growing impact on community members across Metro Vancouver. Over the past year alone, Tikva expanded its housing portfolio by 45 units through the landmark acquisition of the Ronald S. Roadburg Residences in Richmond, the city with the second-largest Jewish population in the Lower Mainland.

“With ongoing support, we hope to continue to grow,” said Gogo. “Our goal is to build on this momentum and create more affordable housing solutions across the region.”

Support from donors and partner organizations has helped people like Olexandr, who fled the war in Ukraine with his family in search of safety and stability. After first relocating to Israel, his family once again faced the uncertainty created by conflict and ultimately decided to rebuild their lives in Canada.

In May 2025, Olexandr arrived in Vancouver ahead of his family to begin the immigration process and establish a new home. One of the biggest challenges he encountered was finding affordable housing.

With limited resources, he could only afford shared accommodations and was forced to move between three apartments in less than six months. Eventually, with the help of Jewish Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Olexandr connected with Tikva Housing and was offered a home large enough to reunite his entire family.

“This apartment with Tikva Housing means safety and freedom for me, and a comfortable life with my family,” he said. “I’ve met many people from Israel and Ukraine in this building. We speak about our lives, our housing and our Jewish connection. It feels like a big family, and we help each other.”

Donor support has also helped expand the reach of Tikva’s Rent Relief Program, which provides short-term subsidies to individuals and families living in market housing who are experiencing a temporary financial crisis.

When Elisheva moved to Vancouver from Israel with her family, they were initially able to support themselves using the limited savings they had brought with them. However, the high cost of housing for a family of five quickly drained those funds, leaving them uncertain about how long they could remain in their home.

“We started becoming very stressed about our situation and about being able to pay our rent,” she said. “Tikva Housing came just in time and saved us.”

Through the Rent Relief Program, Elisheva’s family was able to remain in their apartment while they worked to stabilize their finances.

“We have a roof above our heads and we don’t need to move from place to place,” she said. “My three young girls already moved from one continent to another. They had so many changes. Having stability means everything for our family.”

The annual fundraising campaign plays a vital role in supporting Tikva Housing’s work throughout the year. Donations help maintain existing homes, support residents through cultural and educational programming, and ensure the organization can continue responding to housing needs across the community.

The campaign’s success also reflects the dedication of volunteers, board and committee members, and community advocates who helped share Tikva’s mission and encourage participation. From spreading campaign updates to inviting friends and family to contribute, their efforts helped make this record result possible.

While the campaign has officially wrapped up, the need for affordable housing remains significant. As of February 2026, 499 applicants were registered on the Metro Vancouver Jewish Housing Registry, including 125 families with children and 173 seniors seeking stable housing.

“This campaign shows what is possible when our community comes together with compassion and a shared commitment to helping others,” said Gogo. “With continued support, we can ensure that more individuals and families have access to the safety, dignity and stability that come with a place to call home.”

For more information or to donate, visit tikvahousing.org. 

– Courtesy Tikva Housing