Category: Local

Loans to help students

The Hebrew Free Loan Association of Vancouver (HFLA) continues to evolve to serve the Jewish community better. Last fall, HFLA introduced a new maximum $5,000 loan category that has become its most requested type of loan. The association’s latest innovation is a new student loan program.

Students are saddled with increasingly large debts after graduation because of the high cost of education. HFLA understands this dilemma and is happy to be able to give interest-free loans to Jews in British Columbia. Each and every payment made on an HFLA loan pays down the principal, getting rid of the debt far more quickly than any interest-bearing loan, no matter how low the interest rate. Borrow for education, pay no interest. Simple and helpful.

The program has a new scale for the repayment schedule, a maximum $3,000 yearly loan amount for four years, and requires proof of enrolment and two guarantors. The parameters of this new program have been guided by best practices from other successful student loan programs that have been running for many years in other cities.

The low repayment schedule gives students a chance to chip away slowly at their student debt throughout their post-secondary education without appreciably impacting their limited student budget. In the second year of borrowing, the payments level out at $100 per month and do not increase until six months after graduation, at which time, repayment is required at HFLA’s usual rate of $25 for every $1,000 borrowed.

The HFLA Student Loan program is perfect for an undergrad or graduate student who needs to top up a Canada Student Loan or a scholarship. HFLA seeks to ease the financial burden on students and their families while enabling students to reach their potential. All kinds of post-secondary education fall under the program and will be considered by HFLA’s board of directors as are all of its loans.

For more information on this or other interest-free loan types, visit hfla.ca or call 604-428-4282.

 

Serving healthy, tasty food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To place kosher orders, visit mendelsonskosher.ca.

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

Families key for shul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More funds for security

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

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

The priorities address five key areas of opportunity:

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

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

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

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

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

JSA celebrates another year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Helping youth at risk

Beit Vancouver is a centre for youth at risk in Kiryat Shmona. (photo from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)

The Etzbah HaGalil, or Galilee Panhandle, is the northernmost part of Israel, a “finger” of land extending into Syria and Lebanon, with its southeastern border also touching on Jordan. Militarily and geopolitically vulnerable, Etzbah HaGalil is also far removed from any urban centres, rendering it somewhat cut off from Israel’s economic and cultural heartlands, as well as its government infrastructures. For all of these reasons, young people growing up in Kiryat Shmona, one of the Etzbah’s major towns, face particular challenges.

Add to the above the fact that many immigrants are drawn to the Etzbah by cheaper housing. As in any other country, newcomers to Israel have a particular need for social services and community institutions to help them integrate into society and flourish. Yet those are the very things that have been hard to find in the Etzbah. Enter Beit Vancouver, a centre for youth at risk in Kiryat Shmona.

Originally built by the British Jewish community campaign (United Jewish Israel Appeal) in the early 1980s and held by the Israeli Housing Ministry, the youth centre that would eventually become Beit Vancouver was built near a major public high school in Kiryat Shmona. Inadequate operating support left it deserted for many years and the centre was in need of rescue in 2004 when the Partnership2Gether Coast-to-Coast steering committee identified it as a high-priority project in the region. P2G is a partnership between Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and five other Jewish communities across Canada, and the steering committee includes representatives from the Canadian and Israeli communities in the partnership.

In 2005, three Vancouver-based families (the Diamond, Heller and Libin families) visited the region and donated funds for the renovation and renewal of operations at the centre. Beit Vancouver was scheduled to open July 11, 2006, but that day turned out to be the first day of the Second Lebanon War, which delayed the centre’s opening until September 2006.

The initial operating years of Beit Vancouver were strong, with rapid growth. An infusion of funds from the Israel Emergency Campaign beyond the initial commitments from the core funders helped.

Juvenile delinquency dropped dramatically in the region and, in 2008, the centre was singled out for national recognition for excellence in providing services to youth.

Unfortunately, 2009 saw both a reduction in funding and changes in staff that led to a decline in the centre’s effectiveness. A visit by Vancouver Federation staff in 2009 inspired a strong intervention with the city administration to force attention to the state of the program and building. Three core partners – Vancouver Jewish Federation, Kiryat Shmona and the Rashi Foundation – each committed to a revitalization of Beit Vancouver, with ongoing operating funding at a sufficient level.

photo - At the launch of the Friends of Beit Vancouver recognition wall on a mission led by Anita and Arnold Silber, Arnold Silber addresses the audience. He is joined by, left to right, Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, and Eran David from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Israel office
At the launch of the Friends of Beit Vancouver recognition wall on a mission led by Anita and Arnold Silber, Arnold Silber addresses the audience. He is joined by, left to right, Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, and Eran David from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Israel office. (photo from Federation)

The centre reopened in March 2010 and the level and quality of programming has grown steadily. When a financial crisis in Kiryat Shmona caused the closure of all other community centres in the city, Beit Vancouver stayed open, providing full-scale services to hundreds of youth on a daily basis.

“This centre is really essential for the youth of Kiryat Shmona,” said Ezra Shanken, Vancouver Jewish Federation chief executive officer. “The community is lacking many things we take for granted. There is no movie theatre in Kiryat Shmona. It is incredibly important that the youth there have somewhere to go.”

And, not only that, but the Beit Vancouver building has been used for emergency housing and relief for Israeli children in communities under attack. For example, when under fire from Gaza, children from Sderot were bused to Beit Vancouver.

Federation currently funds three programs at Beit Vancouver: Net@, Merkaz Ma’ase and Youth Futures. Krembo’s Wings is under review to be funded for 2017.

Net@ is an education program that helps high school students achieve high-level computer skills. The program has produced 5,000 graduates and is the only one of its kind in the region that integrates Muslim, Jewish and Christian youth in joint activities.

Merkaz Ma’ase is a leadership program for young adults designed to deliver equal opportunities and social mobility. It engages at-risk youth in a year of volunteer service after they graduate high school and before they begin their army service.

Youth Futures is a community-based intervention that aims to help children in junior high who are notably at risk for failure or withdrawal. Children are referred to Youth Futures by teachers, social workers and others who observe their need for help, shown by poor attendance, failing grades and behavioral problems. The child is paired with a trustee who acts as a bridge between the child, the family, the school and the public system.

Lastly, Krembo’s Wings provides weekly social activities for young people living with any type of motor, cognitive or sensory disability. The program helps these children become part of community life.

Shanken encourages Vancouver Jews to make Beit Vancouver part of their Israel trip. “Having a place that bears our name creates a bridge that can connect our communities,” he said.

Vancouverites can designate donations for Beit Vancouver through the Federation’s annual campaign, which was launched last week. For more information, visit jewishvancouver.com.

Matthew Gindin is a Vancouver freelance writer and journalist. He blogs on spirituality and social justice at seeking her voice (hashkata.com) and has been published in the Forward, Tikkun, Elephant Journal and elsewhere.

87 headstones added

Shirley Barnett, chair of the Jewish cemetery restoration project, led the proceedings. (photo by Cynthia Ramsay)

photo - Headstones for the graves of 87 babies and children were unveiled at Mountain View Cemetery’s Jewish section on Sept. 11
Headstones for the graves of 87 babies and children were unveiled at Mountain View Cemetery’s Jewish section on Sept. 11. (photo by Cynthia Ramsay)

On Sept. 11, a small crowd gathered at the Jewish section of Mountain View Cemetery for the unveiling of 87 headstones for babies and children who had passed away between 1893 and 1996.

Shirley Barnett, chair of the Jewish cemetery restoration project, which began in 2012, welcomed attendees. She acknowledged several of the people who greatly contributed to the project, and noted there is still a need for financial support.

“There is work to be done yet,” she said. “There are at least 40 or 50 adult burials that do not have headstones.… We have about 10 or 11 baby and children’s headstones that we did not cover today; we’re still researching the data on those.”

Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt of Congregation Schara Tzedeck said a few words about how the loss of children is treated in the Tanach, while Rev. Joseph Marciano chanted the prayers for the unveilings.

Before the service, however, Barnett paid tribute to Helen Aqua, who donated the funds for all of the 87 headstones unveiled that day.

“I am but a small piece of this project, and most proud to have been part of this restoration,” said Aqua.

The project also received $27,000 toward the restoration from the federal government’s Canada Western Economic Diversification Infrastructure Canada 150 Grant.

photo - Helen Aqua donated the funds for all of the headstones unveiled that day
Helen Aqua donated the funds for all of the headstones unveiled that day. (photo by Cynthia Ramsay)

Representing the Government of Canada, Dan Ruimy, member of Parliament for Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge (Liberal), spoke.

“Just to be here today is very special to me,” said Ruimy, who is Jewish. He said the ceremony was “a solemn reminder of the early pioneers and their families who have helped shape and build this community.”

He said he was proud that the government was “able to help with this meaningful project.”

People were invited to walk through the cemetery, and Daniella Givon led a tour, using a guidebook created by the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia.

Jewish education fund

A longtime advocate for Jewish education, Leon Glassman has established the Leon Glassman Fund for Jewish Continuity through Education with a $1 million endowment at the Jewish Community Foundation. (photo by Don MacGregor)

Learning of new challenges in accessibility to Jewish education in Greater Vancouver, Leon Glassman did exactly what he has always done: he stepped up.

A longtime advocate for Jewish education, Glassman established the Leon Glassman Fund for Jewish Continuity through Education with a $1 million endowment at the Jewish Community Foundation. This endowment fund will support tuition assistance at Jewish day schools and ensure that every family that wants to send their children to a Jewish day school on the Lower Mainland can do so, regardless of their financial means.

As a young father, Glassman made the decision to move his family from Regina to Vancouver because, at the time, the Saskatchewan capital did not have a Jewish school. Looking back, he recalled that, as a child, he had a very limited Jewish education, “so it was always important to me that my children would know their background and have a Jewish identity.”

Glassman’s son-in-law, Jonathan Berkowitz, said that his father-in-law also embraces “the principle that all Jewish children should have access to a Jewish education.”

Over the decades, Glassman has invested untold amounts of time, energy and resources in improving the quality of, and access to, Jewish education. But, he recently discovered that local day schools have been facing the daunting dual challenges of the impact on families of the Lower Mainland’s high cost of living and the schools’ accompanying difficulty in keeping pace with subsidy requests. Families continue to grapple with Metro Vancouver’s housing costs: being reasonably close to a Jewish day school, for many young families, means they spend so much on housing, they cannot afford tuition. The schools, in turn, have faced significant challenges meeting the demand for increased subsidies.

In response, Glassman established the education fund. It will be a legacy that reflects his passion, generosity, lifetime commitment to community and, most importantly, to the continuity of Jewish life and Jewish identity through education.

When asked why Jewish education is important, Glassman said, “Antisemitism is, sadly, once again on the rise, in part through anti-Israel sentiment. Israel is a big part of who we are. Most criticism of her is unfounded and the younger generation must be able to counter the falsehoods. That’s the negative side. On the positive side, the younger generation should know their background, take pride in where they came from and, above all, take pride in who they are.”

While Glassman’s million-dollar gift has started his namesake fund, it is his hope that the community will increase the capital of the fund by making contributions to mark the significant life events of friends and family. In that way, the entire community will both participate in and benefit from the growth of this fund.

For more information or to make a donation to the Glassman fund, visit jewishcommunityfoundation.com.

Youth mentorship program

Kathleen Muir, youth services coordinator at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. (photo from Kathleen Muir)

Chill Chat, a peer mentorship program that began a few years ago but seemed to disappear, has been reignited in Vancouver as a hub for youth programs in the community.

The program’s revitalization can partly be attributed to the new Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver youth services coordinator, Kathleen Muir, who has returned to her hometown of Vancouver after getting a degree in social work at the University of Calgary. She brings with her a wide rage of experience, including working in the areas of homelessness and addiction, and suicide prevention and intervention, as well as with disabilities organizations in Calgary and impoverished school districts in Barbados.

Chill Chat is “a peer-to-peer mentorship program” for Jewish youth aged 12 to 22, explained Muir in an interview with the Independent, “but it’s customized to needs and interests, so it really means that anyone who is interested, there is a place for them.”

She said, “You can go into it if you have a disability or if you don’t have a disability, you can go into it if you have any mental health concerns or if you don’t.”

Chill Chat is a three-tiered system, where the mentees are mainly in grades 8 and 9, but with some in grades 7 and 10, and the mentors are in Grade 10 and up.

“You have the grades 11 and 12 that are both going to give support and receive support from Hillel and [the Jewish Students Association at the University of British Columbia],” she said. “What’s really cool about that and something that I love is that it really makes it clear that you can receive help and also be able to give help and, just because you are receiving help doesn’t mean you don’t have the ability or expertise to give out help, too.”

About the role of Chill Chat in the Vancouver Jewish community, Muir said, “We are creating this huge network fabric for support that’s going to be across the board and, because Chill Chat is based on informal support of calling the person or meeting up with them, rather than [come,] sit down, workshop, go home. You have these groups of people who are able to call each other whatever time they need, who are able to provide support that a service that is 9-5 can’t provide.”

When Muir joined the JCC staff, Chill Chat was focusing more on supporting kids with disabilities, but she wanted to broaden that scope because, she said, “we’ve all been there and needed some kind of advice.”

And the program is now better supported itself. “We have so many different stakeholders who know about the program, who know how it’s run and who are highly invested in it, so it doesn’t just fall on to me,” said Muir.

Chill Chat has partnerships with a variety of organizations, such as the CIJA, CJPAC, JCC Maccabi, Festival HaRikud, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Queerious. This allows the program to “really meet the needs that the participants want,” said Muir.

“If you have a kid that is already interested in athletics, then pairing up with a mentor and both of them working towards JCC Maccabi – they are working towards a common goals together,” she said by way of example.

The commitment for participants is that they communicate once a week in some way, in any form, “from Snapchat to a telegram,” and, once a month, mentors and mentees have to meet up face-to-face.

The meet-ups can be facilitated by the JCC, which hosts a Chill Chat Chill each month, where, said Muir, “we get together, we watch a movie, have a pizza party, go ice skating. Once a month we also have a Chill Chat Ed and we bring in educators to talk about what a mentoring relationship is like and how to support each other. We have an amazing partnership coming in November with CIJA and CJPAC, who are going to bring in people in the political world to do a world café and speak one-on-one with out mentors and mentees”

To take part in Chill Chat, teens and young adults can email Muir at [email protected], call her at 604-257-5111, ext. 308, or complete the form at thecalloutjcc.com/#!get-connected/c2022. There is a meet-and-greet picnic on Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the JCC Teen Lounge.

Zach Sagorin is a Vancouver freelance writer.

More than a pageant

Vancouver Jewish community member Alicia Ohana is Miss Canada Petite 2016/17. (photo from misscanada.tv)

This August, self-described proud Jewish community member Alicia Ohana won the title of Miss Canada Petite 2016/17.

The mission of the national competition, which took place in Toronto, is to “help raise funds and bring public awareness to [competitors’] charitable causes; promote multiculturalism, special events and nonprofit fundraisers throughout Canada. Be a symbol of today’s modern woman!”

Born and raised in Vancouver, Ohana, 23, works at All Hair & Skin Care, a beauty salon owned and operated by her family. She had never competed in a pageant before, but was inspired to get involved because of the various opportunities this particular event provides.

“The Miss Canada Globe Pageant is a beauty pageant that offers girls all over Canada a chance to get involved in their community and represent a charity of their choice to help fundraise for improvements,” she told the Independent in an interview before the competition. “I was modeling jewelry for a company and met another girl that previously participated in the same pageant. She said it was a life-changing experience that opened many doors for her community-wise and has, overall, made her a well-rounded person with more unique experiences.”

Excited by the prospects of meeting new people, making a difference and traveling, Ohana began the lengthy application process.

“I went through multiple interviews by application, phone and essay submission,” she said. “They accept people who want to make a change, are looking for something new and exciting, and can handle pressure.”

And the pressure was intense, as Ohana realized once she was accepted into the contest, for which she was sponsored by Pharmasave (Oak and 41st), After Five and the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.

“To prepare, I have been working out everyday (thank you, JCC!), researching charities, fundraising to help cover costs of the pageant, and trying to find appropriate gowns, clothes and attire,” she said. “I have been educating myself on foreign events, I have been writing many essays on how I plan on helping my charity and community, and I’ve also been designing and making my national costume.”

Ohana admitted that she was surprised by the time, work and commitment required.

“It’s taken me months to prepare and it’s honestly unbelievable,” she said. “I thought this was going to be about great hair, dresses and a trip to Toronto! But, it turns out, it’s a whole lot of research about my community and becoming involved to make it a better place.”

Ohana’s road to the pageant had its obstacles. In April, mere months before the competition, she made the difficult decision to withdraw due to her father’s battle with mental illness.

“My father unfortunately slipped into a huge depression, causing me to put more important things first,” she explained.

It was the time spent at her father’s side while he was in hospital that opened her eyes to the needs of that facet of her Vancouver community.

“I met other patients and saw how lovely and warm they were, and saw how grim the hospital was, and I realized I could help raise awareness about the conditions and actually make a change with the help of the pageant,” said Ohana. “The patients inspired me to make changes for their sake.”

Ohana jumped back into the competition in June with the hope of making those changes.

“It has actually set me back quite a bit,” she admitted. “I’ve returned donations, let go of sponsors, and didn’t have time to properly fundraise, which has caused me to work way harder, but I believe everything will work out fine!”

In light of her experiences, Ohana used the pageant platform to get involved with the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, specifically the fundraising unit for mental health care. But her commitment extends beyond the event.

“Because of what my father went through, the conditions at the hospital really struck a chord with me and this is more of a personal goal, to make things better, rather than just for the sake of the pageant,” she said.

Nonetheless, her participation in the pageant was essential for her to make the impact she wanted.

“This pageant is helping me get involved with charities that have helped my family personally and is giving me more of a voice,” she said. “Before I joined, I felt I could only help so much, but now it’s given me the power to join the foundation and raise awareness.”

Ultimately, Ohana wishes to help instil a sense of hope and community in the hospital’s mental health patients and their families.

“I hope to organize a group of people affected by mental illness directly or indirectly to help patients, once discharged, become more involved in the community so they do not feel so lost,” explained Ohana before the pageant. “I want to provide support for the patients in terms of visitation and outings, as many of them do not have supportive families or visitors and are faced with loneliness, boredom and a tough environment both inside and outside the hospital.”

During her father’s illness, Ohana saw firsthand the valuable difference being part of a strong, supportive community makes.

“As my family has experienced, a sense of community is everything,” she said. “Without this wonderful Jewish community, things would have been a lot harder and we would not have been able to handle it.”

Ohana – who won Miss Petite British Columbia and then took the national title – is following through on her pageant goals. Inspired by the 80 contestants of the event, she said, “I created OHANA support circles right after the pageant to help people who have gone through rape, abuse, mental illness, homophobia, molestation, eating disorders and many other forms of trauma; for victims to share their stories with other victims who do not have a support system. I’m hoping I can strengthen communities and destroy the fear that has been put in people. It has been lovingly received and I have had many men and women approach me to join. My pageant sisters across Canada are also taking on my challenge and starting circles in their communities.”

The group is accessible via facebook.com/ohanasupportcircles.

Ohana is also collecting donations in the form of toys, art supplies and books in support of fundraising for mental health care, which can be dropped off at All Hair & Skin Care on Oak Street.

“This year,” said Ohana, “I promised myself to try everything new that comes my way – and my life has definitely changed since I have.”

Brittni Jacobson is a freelance writer living in Toronto.