Marcus Stiller was prepping for the Fish Café’s reopening when the Independent chatted with him. (photo by Lauren Kramer)
The Fish Café – a beloved Kerrisdale institution for more than two decades – was set to open this week after an almost two-year hiatus.
Last month, as preparations continued, I met owner Marcus Stiller at a Kerrisdale coffee shop to reflect on his career as a chef, a career the 65-year-old began when he enrolled in hotel school in South Africa in the early 1980s. As we chatted, other customers kept coming over to greet Stiller and find out when the Fish Café would be open again. It was clear that the restaurant’s closure – due to an electrical fire in September 2024 – had left a literal and figurative hole in the neighbourhood.
“It’s nice to know there’s still that longing for people to return to the Fish Café, and that they remember it as a comfortable, welcoming environment,” he said.
The fire destroyed the restaurant and Stiller wrestled with its future until December 2025, when he began preparing for its new iteration. Since the interior was a shell, it meant ordering a new version of everything – flooring, seating, tables, decor, equipment and all the nuts and bolts that come with operating a restaurant. The new space, which came at a price tag of about $375,000, is bright and polished, with seating for 32 and fish art on the walls. It features a revised menu, offering the grilled fish staples diners crave, along with seasonal salads, soups, starters and small plates.
Stiller moved to Vancouver in 1996 and opened the Fish Café in 2000. His inspiration was a South African restaurant chain called Ocean Basket and, originally, he intended to franchise. In the early 2000s, he was running three cafés: on 41st Avenue, 4th Avenue and Yew Street. The logistics of managing so many locations became onerous. “I’m a micromanager,” Stiller said. “I know how I like things done, and three locations was just too much for me.”
He closed two of them, keeping the flagship café in Kerrisdale. As the years ticked by, the restaurant’s popularity grew. In part, that’s because Stiller knows how to prepare great food. But it’s also his personality, and the way he makes people feel welcomed. He estimates at least 50% of his diners are Jewish.
“I do all the cooking myself and, by now, I know individual customers’ preferences – for example, who doesn’t like onions on their salad,” he said. “Back in hotel school, I knew I’d be good at this because I’m not shy about talking to people. But I never imagined what running a restaurant would be like. Today, I realize I’m in the hospitality business.”
Stiller recalls well the months after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. At that time, the Fish Café felt more like a community centre, a place filled with solidarity and support.
“Yids came out of the woodwork to eat at the restaurant, and I had an Israeli flag hanging in the window,” he said. “Sure, there were people opening the door and screaming abuse, but there were many more coming in to support us – Jews, non-Jews.”
In June, as he put the final touches on the interior and waited for his business licence and occupancy permit to be issued, Stiller was excited to get back into the kitchen and reestablish the Fish Café as a favourite destination, open six days a week for lunch and dinner.
“Looking back, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved here as a family, since we left South Africa,” he said. “We managed to keep our kids in independent schools, educate them through university and own a home. The whole family unit has been there to support me and provide help when it’s needed. Some immigrants get transferred to Canada by their companies, but that wasn’t my story.”
Almost ready to open the Fish Café’s doors again, Stiller said, “I’m excited to welcome customers who have become good friends, and see them enjoy my food and the refreshed environment.”
The Fish Café is located at 2053 West 41st Ave. The phone number is 604-563-3474.
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Solomon Leadership Program fellows and mentors celebrate the completion of the 2025-2026 program. Applications for the nextsession are open till the end of August. (photo by Alan Katowitz Photography)
When Riki Oirechman first read about the Solomon Leadership Program two years ago, she knew she needed to do everything she could to bring it to Vancouver. Geared to high-achieving, community-oriented Jewish students in grades 11 and 12, the year-long program aims to foster participants’ growth as leaders, thinkers and engaged members of their communities. The Ohel Ya’akov Community Kollel undertook the initiative, under the direction of Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu, with Oirechman as coordinator of the local chapter.
The Solomon Leadership Program pairs student participants with local volunteer mentors, members of the Jewish community who have excelled in a variety of industries. Among them are doctors, a tech innovator, a judge, business executives and entrepreneurs. The mentors are assigned a small group of student participants, and there are meetings twice a month to listen to hosted speakers and discuss various issues.
“I love this curriculum, which explores topics such as leadership, character, communication, tolerance, vision, empowerment, persistence, strategy and judgment,” Oirechman said. “It encourages students to develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of purpose, but it also creates meaningful connections between generations. Students have an opportunity to build relationships with successful professionals and community leaders, expanding their personal and professional networks.”
Daniel Friedmann, a director at Solutum Technologies, which develops sustainable materials, is one of the mentors. “When I saw the amazing course material and the incredible speakers on the roster, I knew I wanted to participate,” he said. “Any time you mentor a completely different age group, you learn a lot. As a mentor, I get to see the world through the eyes of the students and learn about their issues, concerns and what they’re struggling with. But I also get the benefit of listening to the speakers, who are not paid public speakers, but individuals working at the top of their respective industries.”
He gave an example. “One of our speakers was Howard Chow, senior deputy chief of the Vancouver Police,” said Friedmann. “And though his speech was months ago, it was mind-boggling and I’m still thinking about what he said. We had many diverse speakers for each of the core topics, and they all brought something unique to that topic.”
The program’s website lists the other 2025-2026 mentors: Itamar David, co-founder of Update Capital, Inc.; Dr. Gabriel Hirsch, who works in physical medicine and rehabilitation; Mark James, president of MJG Brewery Restaurants, Red Truck Brewing Co., and Triple F Investments Corp.; Dr. Neil Pollock, surgeon and director of Pollock Clinics; Barry Rivelis, a board director and executive in diverse organizations; and Sunni Stromberg-Stein, a retired judge, who presided at all three levels of the BC courts.
Pollock has been a mentor in the Solomon Program since 2024 and also supports it philanthropically. “I was drawn to this program because it invests in the future of our youth and helps prepare the next generation of leaders. It’s been a privilege to be part of it,” he said.
“The program brings together a remarkable group of young people who are curious, thoughtful and eager to learn, grow and make a positive impact on the world and in their communities. And it offers something that is increasingly rare: meaningful conversations where students are exposed to leaders from diverse professional backgrounds and are encouraged to think critically about character, resilience, communication, responsibility and the importance of personal growth and leadership.”
Mentoring hour in action, as fellows connect with their mentors for conversations and guidance. (photo by Alan Katowitz Photography)
While he shares some of the lessons he’s learned over the years, Pollock said he’s learning a lot from the students, too. “I am continually inspired by the students’ perspectives and creativity. They ask thoughtful questions and challenge us to think about the future in new ways. Working with them gives me confidence that the next generation is well equipped to lead.
“One of our greatest responsibilities is to help develop the next generation of leaders,” he continued. “Strong communities don’t happen by accident, they are built by people who are willing to invest their time, experience and resources in young people. I support the Solomon Program because I have seen firsthand the difference it makes and how the relationships formed, the confidence gained and the opportunities created can have a lasting impact on a young person’s life.”
Friedmann said he wishes he could have been a student in the program when he was a teen. “It would have changed my life,” he said. “Students in the Solomon Program have access to really good, fundamental information on leadership that you just can’t get otherwise, knowledge that they use to figure out where they’re headed and why. They become better public speakers and develop good bonds with other students in the program.”
Rotem Eilon Kfir was one of the students who participated in the 2025-2026 program and her mother, Rachel Eilon Kfir, witnessed her daughter’s growth as a result. “She began the program as someone who was afraid to stand in front of people and talk and, over the year, she developed more confidence and grew considerably. She connected and related to her mentor, loved the guest speakers and found the program genuinely interesting,” Eilon Kfir said of her daughter’s experience. “I strongly recommend it to anyone who has a chance to attend, because it builds confidence and adds a strong sense of community.”
Pollock agrees. “I’d encourage parents to see the Solomon Leadership Program as an investment in their teenager’s future,” he said. “It gives students the opportunity to learn from accomplished mentors, build meaningful relationships and develop skills that can’t easily be taught in a classroom. It also helps strengthen their connection to the Jewish community and encourages them to think about the role they can play in shaping its future. If your teenager is willing to learn, grow and challenge themselves, this program is an exceptional opportunity that can influence not only what they do, but the kind of person they become.”
Applications for the 2026-2027 program are open now through the end of August. Prospective participants are interviewed, and must demonstrate academic excellence and volunteerism, and provide references. The program accommodates a maximum of 30 students, and costs $500. Upon successful completion, participants earn three university credits. For more information, visit solomonprogram.org.
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
The Grade 12 class of King David High School traveled to Panama last month. (photo from KDHS)
In February, the outbreak of war in the Middle East meant that the long-awaited Israel trip for the Grade 12 class of King David High School was cancelled. It was the third cancellation in five years, as COVID and the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre had made two prior planned visits impossible. Head of School Seth Goldsweig knew he had just three months to pull an alternative together – and it needed to be fabulous. The destination selected was Panama, both for its fun, unique tourism experience and its thriving Jewish community.
Over eight days in June, a group of 43 students and six staff members visited the Panama Canal, hiked, spent time in Panama’s Old Town, interacted with monkeys on Monkey Island, and got to know members of the indigenous Embera people on a day-long visit to their community.
The travelers dined at kosher restaurants, spent Shabbat experiencing two of the city’s synagogues, packed food and organized supplies for a local Jewish organization, and learned about the Jewish history of Panama.
“Panama was a great choice,” said Goldsweig, who had visited the country previously with his family. “The city has 40 kosher restaurants, so we knew food wouldn’t be an issue. The country’s Jewish life is thriving – even the mayor is Jewish! And, while they’ve not experienced security threats, they’re incredibly proactive security-wise, with some of the most intense security I’ve ever seen.”
Before the group could attend services on Shabbat, King David was required to show proof of each individual’s connection to the school, as well as their passports. “We couldn’t get into the synagogues until they confirmed each person’s name, one by one,” Goldsweig said.
“Staying at our hotel felt like being in Jerusalem, because the majority of the 18-floor hotel was occupied by Orthodox Jews!” he added. Some were in town on business, but many came because Panama has developed a reputation as a fascinating and welcoming Jewish destination. (See jewishindependent.ca/panama-city-welcoming.)
On their trip to Panama, KDHS students did many things, including visiting and learning from the indigenous Embera community. (photo from KDHS)
Goldsweig noted that some 18,000 Jews call Panama city home, the majority of them Sephardi. The city has several synagogues and its kosher supermarkets are the largest of their kind outside of Israel.
Eitan Arazi, 18, said Panama City felt like a hidden gem. “I was blown away by its infrastructure and how well developed it is,” he said. “It was also incredible to see the city’s synagogues and to experience a tight-knit Jewish community with a lot of energy. On Friday night and Saturday morning, it felt like the whole community came for shul services.
“Shabbat was the highlight of the trip for me,” he continued. “I’m not shomer Shabbat in Vancouver but, over Shabbat in Panama, I put my phone away for the whole 24 hours and was surrounded by friends and having a great time.”
Sierra Brosgall, 18, concurred that the Grade 12 group’s celebration of Shabbat was special and deeply memorable. “We went to the Sephardic synagogue on Friday night, sang songs together at dinner at our hotel and experienced Panama’s Jewish culture,” she said. “I also loved visiting the Embera tribe and learning about their culture. They performed traditional dances for us, and we played soccer with kids in their community. It was amazing!”
During the Havdalah service at the hotel, students shared the trip’s highlights, Goldsweig said. “Many talked about their day with the Embera community. The Embera were so welcoming, and they really engaged with our students. Their kids were on our students’ laps, and they painted henna-like tattoos on students’ arms. They seemed very happy to have us there.
“Other students spoke of how amazing it was to see the thriving Jewish community in Panama,” he continued. “They said the trip provided an incredible opportunity to bond with their classmates, and that it was unforgettable.”
The timing for the Panama trip was perfect, said Lev Shustik, 17. “It was right before graduation, so schoolwork was not stressful, and everyone in our group was focused on the moment, and just having fun,” he said. “The trip itself was well-planned and amazing, teaching us about Panama’s Jewish vibrancy, but, also, the country’s history and its rich culture. And being able to do this while bonding with our peers was truly a meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m beyond grateful for that.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Anat Ishai, aka Challah Mom, energizes the crowd at Beth Israel Synagogue June 13, at an event spearheaded by National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Vancouver chapter. (photo from NCJWC Vancouver)
Anat Ishai swept into the hall at Beth Israel Synagogue the night of May 13 in a twirl of silver, dancing exuberantly as Israeli music played loudly on speakers. The room, filled with 300 Jewish women and children of all ages, exploded with sound and energy as Ishai enticed onlookers onto the dance floor.
Ishai, known on social media as “Challah Mom,” was in town at the invitation of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada’s Vancouver chapter. Attendees gathered around tables to bake challah using Ishai’s recipe, to reflect on the meaning of challah-making and to hear her story.
Ishai describes herself as a digital content creator and blogger who “shares her Jewish life through challah, dance, hair-wrapping tutorials, Israel and Jewish wisdom.” Born in Israel to Russian-Israeli parents, she grew up in a secular home and the family moved to Toronto when she was 5 years old.
Ishai – who is now married and has kids – started the Challah Mom social media account during the COVID lockdown. It was an attempt to find happiness during a sad time, she said. To date, Challah Mom has a global platform with 300,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Ishai and her family made aliyah in September 2023, but she flies all over the world for Challah Mom events in different Jewish communities. In May alone, she appeared in Toronto, Winnipeg, Washington, DC, and Vancouver.
“I allow my Challah Mom community to enter my world and to see Judaism and Israel through my eyes,” writes Ishai on her website. “I share my insights, my perspective and my thoughts about Judaism, growth, Israel and everything in between. In courageously showing up as a proud Jewish woman, I hope to inspire my community to unleash their Jewish soul within.”
Jordana Corenblum, president of NJCWC Vancouver, said the goal of the recent event was “to create a community-wide, grassroots gathering, free and accessible, where women and children from different backgrounds could come together in a warm, inclusive environment.”
The event was supported by many Jewish community partners, including Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Schara Tzedeck, Chabad Lubavitch of BC, Chabad Richmond, Community Kollel, Congregation Beth Tikvah, Temple Sholom, Or Shalom, PJ Library and Bitachon, a Jewish Federation of BC security volunteering initiative.
Yamila Chikiar, a member of the local NJCWC board and a Jewish Federation staff member, said the Challah Mom event was incredibly moving. “It was filled with energy, music, and a real sense of togetherness,” she said. “There was such diversity in the room, women and children from different walks of life, ages and levels of connection to Jewish practice, all coming together with a shared openness.
“That translated quickly into a sense of belonging,” she added. “What might have started as a large gathering very quickly felt intimate, connected, and a moment of genuine community-building. Through baking, music and storytelling, Ishai creates an experience that feels joyful, nonjudgmental and unifying.”
While NCJWC Vancouver has hosted impactful programming in the past, this event stood out for its scale, accessibility and cross-community collaboration. “It reflects the kind of programming the organization hopes to continue building,” Corenblum said.
“This event was a reminder of what is possible when community is built intentionally, when it is open, collaborative and grounded in shared values. It brought together people from different backgrounds in a way that felt both simple and meaningful,” she continued. “At its heart, it wasn’t just about baking challah. It was about connection, inclusion and creating space for people to come together.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, centre, with his wife Lissa Weinberger, and their kids, left to right, Yair, Naomi and Avishai. Congregation Beth Israel’s Be the Light Gala on June 4 celebrates Infeld’s 20th year as the synagogue’s spiritual leader. The rabbi says he and his family have “been very lucky to raise a family here and help build a synagogue.” (photo from Beth Israel)
At Congregation Beth Israel’s Be the Light fundraising gala on June 4, the star of the show will be Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary as the congregation’s spiritual head. Known for his warmth, charisma and approachability, the rabbi has spearheaded profound changes in the BI community, both physically and spiritually.
The synagogue building itself has been completely transformed, but the heart of BI has grown exponentially, too, both in congregation numbers and in participation. Gary Averbach, a BI member since the 1970s and chair of the committee that fundraised for BI’s rebuild, recalled a younger Infeld, who was 33 when he first applied for the position at Beth Israel.
“He was young and was anxious to live in Canada, and especially in Vancouver,” he said. “He and his wife had decided on their honeymoon that, if there was one place to live other than Israel, it was Vancouver. That impressed me because we didn’t want a rabbi who would see Vancouver as a steppingstone to Los Angeles or New York. We wanted someone who would see Vancouver as a home and a place to raise their family.
“The total change in the physical and human structure of Beth Israel over 20 years is a testament to Rabbi Infeld,” Averbach continued. “As an overseer of the community, he is humble, never arrogant. One example of this is his reluctance to sit on the bimah during services. He designed the bimah such that he could sit with the congregation because he felt the rabbi’s place was with the congregation, not above the congregation. That shows his humility.”
Peter Lutsky, a past board member and past president at BI, spoke fondly of Infeld. “He’s caring, approachable and able to blend the practical and the spiritual,” said Lutsky. “For me, from a Jewish perspective, he’s connected the head and the heart, truly endearing himself not just to me, but to all shul members over the years.”
Infeld is proud of what the congregation has achieved over the past two decades. “The best part of it has been the building of a community with so many people involved,” he reflected. “We’re the largest egalitarian, twice-daily minyan on the West Coast, and we’ve been able to maintain that. When my family and I first arrived in Vancouver, BI Shabbat morning attendance averaged between 35 and 40, but today it’s grown to 150 to 200. And that’s on an ordinary Shabbat! Seeing that growth is fabulous.”
Beth Israel’s “culture of chesed” is also a point of pride for the community, Infeld noted. For example, One Heart Dinner delivers a free monthly meal to those with food insecurity, and the Soup Troupe offers a litre of soup each month to families receiving assistance from Jewish Family Services’ the Kitchen. The Vancouver Jewish Community Garden, a partnership between BI, JFS and Vancouver Talmud Torah, allows students, seniors, congregants and others to participate physically and meaningfully in the act of growing fruit and vegetables. Last year, the garden team donated 1,000 pounds of produce to families in need.
Emily Greenberg, head of school at VTT, worked closely with Infeld on the vision for the community garden. “We envisioned a place where everyone could come together to be Jewish and get their hands dirty in what it means to be Jewish and part of the community,” she said. “It’s been a tremendous project to do together alongside JFS.”
Greenberg said VTT is deeply indebted to Infeld for the many years he has committed to actively promoting Jewish education.
“He truly understands how important it is that we plant the seeds of Jewish education early, and he works with our Grade 5s all year, investing in those relationships and getting them jazzed up for their b’nai mitzvah. As a parent whose kids went through Beth Israel for their b’nai mitzvah, I’ve gotten to know him well. Rabbi Infeld just exudes so much care about what he does. His work is incredibly genuine and purposeful.”
Looking back on his job acceptance 20 years ago, Infeld said it was a great decision to come to Vancouver. “We’ve been very lucky to raise a family here and help build a synagogue,” he said. “All our kids have gone from preschool at the JCC, to VTT and then to KDHS, so we’ve been direct recipients of the excellent Jewish institutions in Vancouver.”
In terms of what he’s accomplished at Beth Israel, he insisted “it’s never about me – it’s always about us. At Beth Israel, we’ve built our community together, and it’s taken fabulous leadership, lay and spiritual. Yes, we rebuilt the entire physical structure of the synagogue, but we’ve also worked on the soul, and continue to build the soul of the congregation.”
Infeld reflected on the growth of key Jewish organizations since 2006, including JACS, JFS and the Jewish day schools. “When we first arrived, KDHS was just getting off the ground and now it’s one of the vibrant hearts of our community,” he said.
A rabbi’s job is never easy, but Infeld said he and his family are grateful to have found a warm, lovely home in Vancouver and at Beth Israel.
“We’ve found people who are extraordinary, and who are more than just congregants, but who are friends and family,” he said. “They’ve been there for us in challenging times and in times of celebration, such as the gala. I’m looking forward to the gala, and kudos to Jacci Sandler, the gala committee, donors and participants, who are working hard to make it a success.”
Infeld’s contract takes him through to retirement, and Averbach said he hopes that’s a long way away. “He’s still young,” said Averbach, “and I hope this 20th anniversary represents not even half of his term in Vancouver!”
King David High School students prepared a high-end Italian meal for some 90 guests on March 12. (photo by Galit Lewinski Photography)
There were 90 diners in the restaurant, and Italian music played in the background as servers whisked around the room efficiently, delivering appetizers, exquisitely plated entrees, palate cleansers and mouthwatering desserts. Bouquets of rosemary and bay leaves adorned the white tablecloths; red and white checkered napkins added an extra touch. Two opera singers made a guest appearance during the meal.
King David High School’s gymnasium was transformed into an Italian restaurant for this year’s Lion’s Den. Grade 10 students were responsible for every aspect of the meal, including the menu. (photo from KDHS)
This was no regular Vancouver restaurant – the setting on March 12 was the auditorium at King David High School. The diners were staff members at KDHS and parents. The chefs were Grade 10 students who had spent seven months testing and perfecting recipes.
The meal, called Lion’s Den, has been a highly anticipated annual event at the school for the past 11 years. Each year, the foods class picks a theme for their Lion’s Den and spends months exploring options, menu planning and learning to think like chefs. For Hilit Nurick, the school’s home economics teacher, the seven-month prep time is transformational.
On the day of the event, they entered the kitchen first thing in the morning and were hard at work until dinner service ended and the final clean-up was completed. (photo by Galit Lewinski Photography)
“It’s a milestone event for the foods class, and it’s incredible to see the students change from the beginning of the year to this moment,” she reflected. “They become accountable, responsible, detail-oriented and good at working in teams. At the beginning of the year, they care mostly about what they can eat, but, by the end, it’s all about putting the event together, and it’s beautiful to watch them accomplish this.”
Ask any caterer – it’s no small feat to prepare a four-course meal for 90 people. In preparation for the Lion’s Den, students spent three solid days in the kitchen, working side by side with mentors from the senior classes. On the day of the event, they entered the kitchen first thing in the morning and were hard at work until dinner service ended and the final clean-up was completed.
The first page of Lion’s Den 2026’s menu, all prepared by King David High School students. (photo from KDHS)
The menu, in line with any high-end restaurant, featured focaccia with dips including whipped ricotta, black olive tapenade and tomato confit, a lemon sorbet palate cleanser, an entree of fish branzino with seared eggplant, fennel steak and kale salad, and a dessert trio of biscotti, stracciatella ice cream and tiramisu.
“We heard the meal was delicious, the food was beautifully plated, the servers were very calm and efficient and that the music was fabulous,” Nurick said, describing some of the praise that came from throughout the dining room over the course of the evening.
“The Italian meal was amazing,” said Seth Goldsweig, KDHS head of school. “We could have filled up on the delicious appetizers, but we knew that an incredible main course was on the way. The lemon sorbet palate cleanser was a really nice, professional touch. And the tiramisu found a special place in my heart!”
The second page of the evening’s menu. (photo from KDHS)
While diners ate and mingled, a slideshow played with photographs from the three-day preparation. Galit Lewinski took photographs during the event itself.
Only after the last dessert had exited the kitchen did the students get to eat. By then, they were joyful, exhausted and fully appreciative of what it truly takes to create a memorable meal.
As mentioned, the theme for this year’s Lion’s Den was Italian. Previous themes have included Japanese, Thai, Israeli, Korean, Bedouin and Mexican.
“Whatever the theme, we really immerse ourselves within it, learning the basics of the food and the culture and trying to make everything from scratch,” Nurick said. “It’s not always easy – Japanese especially was challenging!”
It takes a special kind of talent to pull off an evening like this, Goldsweig added. “Hilit performs magic to coordinate over 50 students who work together to prepare the meal each year, and the evening is a highlight for King David. But she’s also teaching our students the culinary skills they need to feed themselves top-notch food, which is an invaluable life skill.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Dr. Gloria Gutman thought interviewees would have refused to place themselves in situations where they might be targeted or victimized, like rallies or Jewish events, but that wasn’t the case. “People felt more comfortable and secure when they were actively part of the Jewish community,” she said. (internet photo)
There’s been lots in the media about Jewish students feeling intimidated, but we tend not to think about older people,” Dr. Gloria Gutman told the Jewish Independent about a recent study she conducted with Dr. Sharon Avidor on the experiences of older Canadians since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel. “We really want to raise awareness of older people among service providers and the general community, and let them know that the impact is really on all of our community.”
Gutman, a lifelong Vancouverite, is vice-president of the International Society for Gerontology, director emerita of the Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University and professor emerita of SFU’s department of gerontology. Wondering how older members of the Canadian Jewish community were coping in the aftermath of Oct. 7, she reached out to the local Jewish community in summer 2024 for help in recruiting participants for the study she conducted with Avidor, a psychologist in the faculty of social and community sciences at Israel’s Ruppin Academic Centre. Their findings were published in the Canadian Journal on Aging last fall, with the title, “I No Longer Can Say ‘Never Again.’”
Avidor and Gutman interviewed 15 older adults, including Holocaust survivors and Russian immigrants to Canada, and 11 service providers. Respondents were not just deeply affected by the Oct. 7 attack and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war, but experienced the public discourse as anti-Israel and at times antisemitic, upending their sense of safety and belonging.
The study found that Holocaust survivors and their offspring, older Russian emigres to Vancouver and LGBTQ+ Jewish seniors were more impacted. Almost everyone interviewed felt a deep connection with Israel, and personally affected by Oct. 7. Many felt isolated from non-Jews in their communities and were shocked at the lack of support they encountered outside of the Jewish community, as well as by the extent of misinformation proliferating about Israel. Given their experiences of antisemitism and discrimination, many were frustrated by the notion that Jews were considered a part of the white majority.
Interviewees were apprehensive about publicly displaying their Jewish identity and felt deeply offended by the anti-Israel vitriol expressed in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. They felt a strong need to connect with others in the Jewish community, as connecting with like-minded people provided solace at a time when their social circle was shrinking to almost exclusively Jewish friends.
Prior to the study, Gutman thought interviewees would have refused to place themselves in situations where they might be targeted or victimized, like rallies or Jewish events, but that wasn’t the case. “People felt more comfortable and secure when they were actively part of the Jewish community, and some who had not previously been involved came out of the woodwork after Oct. 7, getting comfort from engaging in community-based events,” she said.
Many of the LGBTQ+ respondents were in a somewhat different situation, alienated from LGBTQ+ groups because of “belligerent, negative, and even hateful comments about Israel, sometimes personally aimed towards them because of their Jewish backgrounds,” notes the study, while also not feeling comfortable attending events with an unequivocal pro-Israel view. Thus, Avidor and Gutman write, many in the LGBTQ+ community “were given to experiences of loneliness and isolation.”
Holocaust survivors said they were retraumatized by Oct. 7 and what has followed – the study’s title comes from a survivor who used to end her talks in schools with “never again,” but told Avidor and Gutman, “My recent talks are that I no longer can say never again.”
Emigres from the former Soviet Union felt especially vulnerable. One of the service providers for members of this group described why this was the case: “Because they came, you know, after Holocaust, after everything they’ve been through in Soviet Union, it was terrible. It was terrible. Antisemitism was terrible. And I know my parents went through all this too: wouldn’t be able to be accepted to a university or a good job because of their last name. So they all have these previous traumas and experiences.”
Some of the seniors had robust coping abilities because they had overcome immense struggles in the past. “We heard things like, ‘we’ve lived through this before and will live through it again,’” Gutman said.
Her hope is that this research will raise awareness of the impacts of Oct. 7 on Jewish older adults, particularly among service providers.
“Ours is one of the few studies, to our knowledge, to explore the effects of antisemitism among older adults, often a less vocal and less salient group in society,” she said. “The Oct. 7 attack, the Israel-Hamas war and perceived antisemitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric, have had profound effects on Jewish older adults living in Canada, and this must be recognized and given appropriate attention.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Beverley Kort is a therapist who brings a psychological perspective to her worldview – and to her cartoons. (illustration by Beverley Kort)
At 75, Beverley Kort is just getting started with her second career as a cartoonist. A frequent contributor to the Jewish Independent, Funny Times and Grand Magazine, Kort is a therapist who brings a psychological perspective to her worldview – and to her cartoons.
“I was always told I was a lousy artist,” she admitted in a recent conversation with the JI. “So, when I was looking for a new, more sedentary hobby, I thought to myself, ‘let me take up something that I know I’m not good at, and perhaps I can get mediocre at it!’”
She began with art classes and quickly gravitated towards cartooning five years ago. Since it was a hobby and something she wasn’t taking too seriously, she submitted her work in myriad directions just to see what would happen. To her surprise, the response has been positive, resulting in publication in magazines, newspapers and a 2023 book, Hold That Thought, edited by David Endelman.
“In the art world, you don’t get seen until you’re somebody, but, in the cartoon world, if you’re willing to take a risk, you can get seen,” she explained. “With cartoons, it’s the idea that matters, not the art.”
Kort has two separate stations at her home office, one for therapy and one for cartooning. These days, she carries a notebook to record ideas, reads newspapers and listens to podcasts for inspiration.
“I give myself three hours each week just to sit and play with cartoons,” she said. “I’m having so much fun! I’m in touch with many creative people I’d never have otherwise met and, while I don’t ever want to take cartooning too seriously, I am improving.”
Her work as a therapist has a strong influence on her cartoons, and her examination of the human condition and its quirks is great for generating ideas. Her topics range from life’s frustrations to aging, parenting and grandparenting, and the fresh, lighthearted perspective Kort brings is unequivocally humourous.
“Arriving at cartooning late in life has been liberating for me, but I still get a thrill each time an editor accepts my work,” she said. “There’s a fearlessness that comes with no longer needing to build a career or impress others, though I hope my sense of humour connects with as many people as possible. What’s more, I’ve discovered that new passions can find you at any age.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
A fundamental part of being a counselor is to support the campers. (photo from Camp Kalsman)
Rachel Mintz worked as junior counselor, senior counselor, canoe specialist and assistant director at Camp BB-Riback in the late 1990s. In her work today as deputy chief data officer for Environment and Climate Change Canada, she’s quick to credit her leadership style, passion and confidence to the skills she learned at camp.
“Camp actually played a role in my career path,” she told the Independent. “One major lesson a person learns from work at camp is the power of passion. Anyone who came in 1998, when I was canoe specialist, would’ve experienced how much I loved teaching kids the freedom of paddling their own canoe. Today, with the staff I manage, I believe in finding projects that align with their strengths and passion.
“My last year of camp, I was 19 and working as assistant director, a position that gave me the confidence to apply and take on future management roles,” she added. “I learned the importance of a leadership role and the ‘behind the scenes.’ I came to realize that I have skills to coordinate moving parts and that I enjoy influencing others in their work.”
Jewish camp directors in the northwest are already recruiting counselors for summer 2026.
“As a counselor at camp, you build community, work with kids, run programs and act as a role model,” said Zach Duitch, executive director at Camp Solomon Schechter. “These experiences running a cabin, dealing with challenges and problem-solving teach you resiliency, which is critical for this age group. Our counselors learn from their experiences and realize that they can overcome things with patience, communication and problem-solving. It’s such an important learning experience.”
Duitch believes strongly that a position as a camp counselor teaches teens skills they would never learn in a traditional retail environment or minimum-wage summer job. “They’re learning hospitality, conflict resolution, health and hygiene for a group of eight-to-12 kids, how to run a program – these are human skills and executive skills,” he said. “We even take their phones!
“Consider that, if our counselors didn’t do this, they’d likely be bumming around at home on their phones and staying up late,” he explained. “My message to these teens is this: working as a counselor is an experience that truly doesn’t exist elsewhere. Take advantage of this opportunity as long as you can, before you’re thrown into really needing to find a job.”
Duitch’s own work as a camp counselor set him on the path to dedicating his life to Jewish work. Another camper he knew, the late Rabbi Matthew Bellas, found his path to the rabbinate at camp. “Camp teaches you skills, but it also shows you what your passions are,” said Duitch.
If money is your teen’s top priority for the summer, a camp counselor position is not going to be a top contender. The salaries for counselors range from honorariums to a few thousand dollars. One upside of the money earned at camp is that the counselors don’t spend it while they’re working. “When you leave at the end of the summer, you leave with a lump sum,” Duitch said.
Rather than look at it in financial terms, he encouraged parents to think about the opportunity camp counseling gives teens to create impact.
“If you went to camp and loved the immersive programming, the fun, the memorable moments and the joy, maybe this is your turn to give back to the kids as a counselor. There’s nothing like living a fully immersive Jewish experience at camp, surrounded by a community you can rely on.”
Don’t look at it as a “summer filler,” agreed Liza Rozen-Delman, executive director at Camp Hatikvah. “Your teen will build confidence and emotional maturity as a counselor, learning to manage stress, communicate clearly, lead with empathy and take real responsibility. These are skills that prepare them for university, travel and future careers.”
Becoming a counselor is the natural next step after aging out of camp, she said. “It lets young people return to a place they grew up, one that feels safe, familiar and supportive. These roles offer structure, purpose and a guided environment where teens can practise independence, learn to meet expectations and develop accountability, something many aren’t used to today.”
The work is meaningful but demanding, she noted, with early mornings, late nights and constant responsibility, as counselors support kids, run activities and manage group dynamics. “One of my favourite sayings,” she shared, “is that camp doesn’t just prepare young adults for ‘work,’ it prepares them for life.”
At Schechter, candidates are interviewed for their past experience working with kids, their values, trust, accountability and communication skills.
“Have they failed before, and have they used that experience to succeed? We love to give second chances at camp,” Duitch said.
Rozen-Delman said she looks for counselors who demonstrate empathy, kindness, responsibility, confidence and initiative. “They need to be team players and strong communicators,” she said.
“Camp doesn’t run without these young Jewish role models,” Duitch added. “They bring the magic to life, and we want to continue to invest in them, motivate them, provide them with resources and challenge them.”
“Working at camp is an investment in your development,” said Stacy Shaikin, executive director at Camp BB-Riback. “There’s no other job for young people that gives you this much responsibility and a chance to troubleshoot and think on your feet. Everyone who has ever done it looks back on it and uses these tools in their careers.”
When Rachel Mintz’s daughter returned home from camp, Rachel quizzed her on her favourite part. Her answer was immediate, and just two words: the counselors.
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
Summer camp experiences, which encompass a range of activities campers get to try, can be costly.(photo from Camp Hatikvah)
If you get sticker shock when you see the cost of Jewish summer camp, you’re not alone. Pay full fare and you could easily be spending $1,000 per week. But there’s a reason it’s so high, say camp directors. Running a Jewish camp is an expensive endeavour – and it’s not getting any cheaper.
For Camp Hatikvah, which welcomes 480 summer campers to the Okanagan each year and a staff of 90, the biggest chunk of its operating budget – just over $2 million in 2024 – is salaries and honorariums. Only two staff members have year-round employment and the rest serve only in seasonal roles, said Liza Rozen-Delman, executive director. Food is the next largest expense, followed by costs related to site operations. And the general program experiences, which encompass the range of activities campers get to try, don’t come cheap either. Hatikvah campers get to waterski and wakeboard, and have access to an inflatable thunderdome on the lake, among other experiences. Now add the cost of insurance to the equation.
“Camper fees cover the direct costs of care, supervision, food and other daily needs, but donors fund all capital projects, major equipment purchases and our financial assistance program,” she said. “Camp could never break even on fees alone. We rely on our donors to help offset operational costs by funding anything considered an investment that lasts beyond a single summer.”
The biggest challenge facing Jewish camps across North America is maintaining affordability for middle-income families, Rozen-Delman said. “All camps, including ours, have wonderful financial assistance programs for those in clear need. What is harder to manage is families who earn higher incomes but struggle to balance the high cost of living an engaged Jewish life.”
Hatikvah tries to manage this by setting its camp fees as low as possible and requesting donations from those who can donate. “We’re fortunate to have donors who understand the immense importance of a Jewish camping experience,” she said.
The same is true for other camps.
“Camp tuition doesn’t cover the cost of operating Camp Miriam and, as expenses continue to rise, that gap only widens,” said Leya Robinson, Miriam’s community director, who noted that no camper is turned away due to lack of funds and about 40% of campers receive a scholarship each summer.
“We rely heavily on donors and grants not only to uphold this commitment but also to cover essential camp operating costs,” said Robinson. “Operating costs include salaries, staff training and benefits, food services, facility maintenance, utilities, insurance, programming, transportation, property taxes, equipment, medical supplies, annual organizational dues and fees, and security.” She added that the camp, which is located on Gabriola Island, is in the midst of a capital campaign “to upgrade our physical facilities so we can continue delivering the ‘Miriam magic’ for generations to come.”
Camp Miriam has more than 350 campers each summer and 85 summer staff. Throughout the year, they have three full-time and three part-time staff.
In Washington State, Camp Solomon Schechter welcomes 630 campers over the course of a summer, and has a staff of 80 to 100.
“Tuition covers only 80% of our operating costs, so we rely on the community to help us with donations, and on our diversifying revenue stream, which includes an outdoor school and a retreat centre available for rent,” said Zach Duitch, executive director.
Schechter is a kosher camp, and kosher food, especially meat, chicken and cheese, are much more expensive than their non-kosher equivalents. The cost of taking care of 100 staff is high, and running high-quality programs infused with Jewish values and themes requires significant funds, too. Up to 30% of camp staff comes from Israel, South America and the United Kingdom. “We love that delegation and we can’t run the camp without them, but, between agency fees, flights and visas, the costs add up,” Duitch said.
The camp experience helps Jewish youth develop lifelong friendships, connect to Israel and have a strong Jewish identity. (photos from Camp Solomon Schechter)
Programming fees are expensive, too. “Today’s parents want and expect their kids to develop new skills at camp, and that demands staff and supplies,” he said. “It’s not enough to play gaga or kick a soccer ball around for three weeks. They want a new toolkit and to know their kids are advancing their skills in terms of tefillah [prayer], sports, arts, cooking and everything we do at camp.”
Like Rozen-Delman, Duitch emphasized the quandary of camp fees for middle-class families. “Affluent families can afford to send their kids to camp. About 25% of our camper base requests some level of financial aid,” he said. “The trickiest part is for middle-class families that want to send their kids to camp. Maybe they need to put a new roof on their house, and that takes priority. How do we make sure all families can come to camp? We know how essential the camp experience is in terms of developing lifelong friendships, connecting to Israel and fomenting a strong Jewish identity.”
Schechter’s annual operating budget is $5.5 million and, while the camp has figured out how to stay financially solvent, it can get challenging when donors drop the size of their gift, or if the camp doesn’t meet its campership goals. “We’re creative and, if we have to pivot, we certainly do,” Duitch said. “We need to focus on endowment, life or legacy gifts, because those can add thousands of dollars into your operations without touching the principal. Our goal is to grow our endowment to secure our programs and infuse cash into our operating budget.”
Consider this, said Stacy Shaikin, executive director of Camp BB Riback in Alberta. “We open six weeks ahead of summer camp, to ‘turn the machine on’ before the kids can come out. There’s an insane number of requirements – health, safety, certifications, and all that stuff has increased in price. We don’t just pay the counselors, we house and feed them. And,remember, nothing in the Jewish community comes cheap. You’re dealing with a market that is small and has ethnocentric needs, such as kashrut and special skills required for teaching. We bring in Israelis to add those cultural pieces to the experiences, and that comes at a cost, too.”
Camp BB Riback welcomes around 250 campers and 70 staff each summer, and its prices runat the lower end of the Jewish camp fee spectrum Canada-wide, said Shaikin. However, there are costs of running a Jewish summer camp that can’t be avoided.
“I have 40-plus buildings that use electricity, a boat that requires maintenance and fuel, a ropes course that has to be certified every year, a horse program and a swimming pool. Anyone that runs a swimming pool will tell you it’s a money pit,” Shaikin said. “And, every year that goes by, you have to think about renovations and replacements.”
He stressed, “I’m not complaining – I’m just offering insight into the business. We’re not-for-profit and our goal is to not lose money, but also to put something back into keeping our campsite up.”
Most of the nearby Jewish summer camps were established more than 70 years ago and maintenance costs run high – keeping the property competitive and its facilities clean, safe and up to code, means putting money back in every year.
So, as you start to consider a Jewish camp experience for your child, keep in mind the value being offered, as well as the values being imparted.
“We’re not making money at our Jewish camp. We’re literally just trying to keep the business afloat and out of debt, which is a struggle for not-for-profits,” Shaikin said. “We’re a community entity and we’re not gouging families in any shape or form. We take our responsibility seriously: to encourage people to send their kids to Jewish summer camp. If they do, then we will continue to have a flourishing Jewish identity in our province, our country and in the world.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.
