News – Page 234

Donating his wish to others

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

Serving healthy, tasty food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To place kosher orders, visit mendelsonskosher.ca.

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

Families key for shul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

ביקור מלכותי

(צילום:רוני רחמני)

ביקור ראשון לנסיכים המלכותיים ויליאם וקייט במחוז בריטיש קולומביה וטריטוריית יוקון, ביחד עם ילדיהם הקטנים ג’ורג’ (בן השלוש) ושרלוט (בת השנה וארבעה חודשים). הביקור הקודם של הנסיכים בקנדה נערך ב-2011 מיד לאחר חתונתם (באפריל 2011), עת ביקורו במחוז אלבטרה.

הנסיך ויליאם, הדוכס מקיימברידג’ והנסיכה קייט, הדוכסית מקיימברידג’, הגיעו במטוס (של חיל האוויר של קנדה) ביום שבת אחר הצהריים ונחתו בבירה ויקטוריה. כל הביקור הרשמי כמתחייב בתקנון (ממלכות חבר העמים הבריטי), ממומן על ידי משלם המיסים הקנדי. עם נחיתתם, קיבלו אותם נציג המלכה אליזבט המושל של קנדה, דיוויד ג’ונסטון ואשתו שרון ג’ונסטון, ראש ממשלת קנדה, ג’סטין טרודו ואשתו סופי גרגואר טרודו, נציגת המלכה המושלת של בריטיש קולומביה, ג’ודי גאושון, והפריימר של בריטיש קולומביה, קריסטי קלארק ובנה היימש קלארק. אלפי תושבים המתינו שעות לקבל בחום ואהבה את הזוג המלכותי הבריטי בשדה התעופה של ויקטוריה.

ויליאם וקייט שמו לעצמם למטרה לפגוש הפעם בביקור העמוס לעייפה בן שמונת הימים, נציגים של שכבות שונות באוכלוסיה, ובעיקר את החלשים בבריטיש קולומביה ויוקון. וכן הם ביקשו לראות מקרוב מה קורה בנושא איכות הסביבה בטריטוריות השונות של האינדיאנים.

וויליאם וקייט הגיעו מוויקטוריה לקוהל הרבור בוונקובר במטוס צף, ביום ראשון לקראת אחת עשרה בבוקר. הם התקבלו כאן על ידי עשרות אלפי תושבים שהמתינו להם משעות הבוקר המוקדמות, בג’ק פול פלז’ה שליד הלהבה של אולימפיאדת ונקובר 2010. תחילה עברה קבוצה גדולה של עיתונאים וצלמים. לאחריהם אנשי ביטחון ומשטרה רבים. עם הגעתם של ויליאם וקייט, רבים החלו לצרוח ומהצלמות צילמו ללא הפסק. הפעם ללא ליווי הילדים הרגישו השניים יותר חופשיים לנוע בשביל הבטוח, שנוצר עבורם בין המבקרים הרבים. וויליאם לחץ ידיים ודיבר עם הקהל בצד השמאלי של השביל, ובאותה עת קייט עשתה את אותו הדבר בצד הימני. לאחר מכן השניים נכנסו ללימוזינה מפוארת ובלווית מכוניות ביטחון ומשטרה רבות, הם נסעו במהירות להמשך הביקור בדאון טאון, שכלל מספר תחנות.

ויליאם וקייט נפגשו עם נציגים של ‘הפירסט ניישן’ (אינדיאנים) אתמול בוונקובר איילנד, והיום בוונקובר. הם ביקרו במעון מיוחד לנשים בהריון ואימהות צעירות (‘שיוואי’), שסובלות מבעיות נפשיות והתמכרויות לסמים ואלכוהול, בדאון טאון אייסט סייד. לאחר מכן הם ביקרו במוסד של ארגון שירותי ההגירה של בריטיש קולומביה, שמטפל בפליטים חדשים שהגיעו מסוריה, גם הוא ממוקם בדאון טאון אייסט סייד (ג’סטין טרודו הסביר בביקור לנסיכים כיצד ממשלתו מטפלת בשיתוף פעולה עם האזרחים בשלושים ואחד אלף פליטים, שהגיעו כבר מסוריה). לאחרי כן השניים השתתפו בטקס קבלת פנים באולם ‘בטאלס גארדן’ בדאון טאון, למנהיגים צעירים בעלי הישגים מרחבי קנדה, כולל נציגים של נבחרות קנדה למשחקים האולימפיים ולמשחקי אולימפיאדת הנכים, בריו דה ז’ניירו. האירוע כלל נאום של ראש הממשלה טרודו.

החלק האחרון בביקור המאוד מתוקשר של הזוג המלכותי בוונקובר, באמצעות אמצעי תקשורת מכל העולם, כלל את התחנה של משמר החופים בחוף של קיצ’לאנו. השניים הגיעו למקום בסביבות שלוש אחר הצהריים, וניפגשו עם נציגים שונים של צוותי חירום והצלה, נושא הקרוב אישית לוויליאם, שעד לאחרונה הטיס בעצמו מסוק של צוותי החירום בבריטניה.

אל הזוג הצטרפו בחלקים מהביקור בוונקובר, כאמור ג’סטין טרודו ואשתו סופי, קריסטי קלארק, וכן ראש עיריית ונקובר, גרגור רוברטסון. עם סיום הביקור בקיצ’לאנו טסו הנסיכים בחזרה לוויקטוריה, לבית הממשלה בו הם לנים עם ילדיהם.

פסטיבל הסרטים שיפתח השבוע

הסרט ‘מעבר להרים והגבעות‘ מספר על איש צבא שהשתחרר לאחר עשרים ושבע שנים של שירות, וחוזר לביתו ומשפחתו שממנה היה רחוק כל אותן שנים. (צילום: מפסטיבל הסרטים הבינלאומי של ונקובר)

ארבעה סרטים ישראלים משתתפים בפסטיבל הסרטים הבינלאומי של ונקובר שיפתח השבוע

שוב יצוג מכובד לקונלוע הישראלי בפסטיבל הסרטים הבינלאומי של ונקובר, שנחשב לאחד מאירועי הקולנוע החשובים ביותר של צפון אמריקה. ארבעה סרטים של יוצרים ישראלים ישתתפו בפסטיבל הסרטים הבינלאומי של ונקובר, השלושים וחמישה בספר, שיפתח השבוע.

הסרט הראשון הוא ‘בין הגדרות’ (באורך 85 דקות) של הבמאי אבי מוגרבי, בשיתוף פעולה עם הבמאי חן אלון. מדובר בקופרודוקציה ישראלית-צרפתית. הסרט הדוקומנטרי מתעד סדנת תיאטרון של מבקשי מקלט בישראל שהגיעו מאריתריאה וסודן. הזרים כלואים במתקן חולות. הסרט בוחן את מעמדם הקשה של מבקשי המקלט בישראל. וכן דן בסוגיות הכואבות: מדוע הם החליטו לעזוב את מולדתם, אי הסדרת מעמדם כפליטים בישראל וכן יחסי הגולמין והקשרים בין הישראלים עצמם לפליטים. בסרט משולבות טכניקות יוצאות דופן ששייכות לעולם התיאטרון. הסרט יוקרן פעמיים בפסטיבל: ביום שלישי (ה-30 בחודש) באחת אחר הצהריים וכן ביום ראשון (ה-2 באוקטובר) ב-6.30 בערב.

הסרט השני הוא ‘מעבר להרים והגבעות’ (באורך 90 דקות) של הבמאי ערן קולירין, עם המפיק אילון רצ’קובסקי. מדובר בקופרודוקציה ישראלית-גרמנית. הסרט שמתרחש בירושלים, מספר על איש צבא שהשתחרר לאחר עשרים ושבע שנים של שירות, וחוזר לביתו ומשפחתו שממנה היה רחוק כל אותן שנים. הוא מגלה שמאוד קשה לו להסתגל בחזרה לחיים בישראל (שמחוץ לצבא). איש הצבא לשעבר מצטרף לחברה שעוסקת בשיווק ערכות לדיאטה, דבר שמסבך מאוד את היחסים עם משפחתו. כך הוא מגלה עד כמה הוא עצמו רחוק מהחיים מודרניים שנעים כיום סביב חומריות וכסף. הסרט יוקרן פעמיים בפסטיבל: ביום חמישי (ה-6 באוקטובר) בשעה 10:45 בבוקר וכן ביום ראשון (ה-9 באוקטובר) בשעה 9.15 בערב.

הסרט השלישי הוא ‘ג’אנקשן 48’ (באורך 97 דקות) של הבמאי השנוי במחלוקת אודי אלוני. מדובר בקופרודוקציה ישראלית-גרמנית-אמריקנית. הסרט עוסק בשני צעירים אמנים ערביים שגדלים בגטו הפלסטיני של לוד, העיר הענייה ורבת הפשע שידועה כאחד ממרכזי הסחר בסמים הגדולים שיש בישראל. קשר אהבה העמוק ביניהם והמוסיקה שהם יוצרים, משמשים ככלי נשק להילחם בדיכוי שמפעילה החברה הישראלית מצד אחד, ובלחצים שמפעילה החברה הערבית השמרנית מהצד האחר. סרט יוצא דופן זה מתאר את הדור החדש של הערבים בישראל ומחוצה לה, שמחפש חיים נורמליים ומודרניים באמצעות אהבה ומוסיקה. הסרט יוקרן פעמיים בפסטיבל: ביום ראשון (ה-9 באוקטובר) בשעה 9.30 בערב וכן ביום שלישי (ה-11 באוקטובר) בשעה 11.30 בבוקר.

הסרט הרביעי הוא ‘ויטה אקטיבה’ (באורך 125 דקות) של הבמאי ערן אושפיז. מדובר בקופרודוקציה ישראלית-קנדית. הסרט הדוקומנטרי הוא ביוגרפיה אינטלקטואלית אישית של הפילוסופית היהודייה ילידת גרמניה, חנה ארנדט. הפילוסופית הגרמניה ידועה לאור המושג שטבעה “הבנלאיות של הרוע”, כאשר אפיינה את הרוע הנאצי באמצעות דמותו של הצורר אדולף אייכמן. הסרט עוקב אחר חייה של ארנדט והקשר עם הפילוסופיה שלה. משלובים בו חומרי ארכיון נדירים בהם קטעים של משפט אייכמן שלא הושמעו עד כה. מדהים עד כמה האמירות החשובות שלה שלה מתאימות גם למציאות חיינו היום. הסרט יוקרן פעמיים בפסטיבל: ביום שבת (ה-1 באוקטובר) בשעה אחת בצהריים וכן ביום רביעי (ה-5 באוקטובר) בשעה 9.15 בערב.

פסטיבל הסרטים הבינלאומי של ונקובר יפתח ביום חמישי השבוע (ה-29 בחודש), ויימשך במשך כשישה עשר ימים עד יום שישי (ה-14 באוקטובר). הסרטים יוקרנו בשישה בתי קולנוע ואולמות תיאטרון שונים ברחבי ונקובר. הפסטיבל יתמקד בנושאים יוצאי דופן רבים ושונים בהם: סרטים מהודו, איראן, אפריקה, המזרח התיכון, סיפורים איסלמיים וזכויות האזרח.

EU’s split personality

The European Parliament. (photo by Treehill via Wikimedia Commons)

Dr. Sharon Pardo is a member of the department of politics and government at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the director of the Centre for the Study of European Politics and Society. He has been awarded the Ad personam Jean Monnet Chair – and was the first Israeli scholar to receive it. He also was elected to join the advisory council of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a think tank funded by the German government, another singular accomplishment for an Israeli scholar. Pardo was in Vancouver last month, where he gave a lecture at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.

A major theme of Pardo’s research is the disjunction between the public stance the European Union has taken on Israeli policies – its “normative position” – and the economic and trade relationships between individual member countries and Israel. Contrary to the common perception that the EU is anti-Israel, Pardo argues that the reality is much more complicated.

“The truth is that trade relations proceed with no regard to the normative position,” explained Pardo to the Jewish Independent in an interview at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Aug. 21. “That is, in fact, the very thing that allows the EU to speak with one voice – the fact that individual member countries know that their own trade relations with Israel will not be affected by the normative position of the EU.”

The professor explained that there are two different voices, “the normative voice on the supranational level and the economic voice on the trade-relations level, on the realpolitik level of the individual member countries. We could say that Europe has a split personality.”

photo - Dr. Sharon Pardo of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev spoke in Vancouver in August — Dr. Sharon Pardo of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev spoke in Vancouver in August. (photo by Dani Machlis, BGU)

The facts on the ground are that Israel and the EU have such extensive relations that, for most practical purposes, Israel is already a member of the EU, said Pardo. EU members have well-developed trade relations with Israel, and the EU and its members fund research and development and other initiatives in Israel. The EU accounts for 35% of Israeli trade, said Pardo, and perhaps 41% of Israelis are would-be citizens of the EU.

Pardo contends that the critical position of the EU towards Israel on issues related to the occupation and Israel’s wars are not intended for external consumption at all, but are actually directed inwards as a means to establish an integrated European identity.

“These normative positions are being used to shape the new European identity through asserting shared values,” he said. “They are for internal consumption. The EU has striven to unite 508 million citizens around a set of values – the rule of law, human rights, etc. – which are perceived as European values. Since 1957, Europe has been asking the question, ‘Who are we? How do we define ourselves?’ One way to define ourselves is against the other. Israel is the ultimate other: Israel is part of us, but Israel is what we are not.”

Citing as an example of the emptiness of many of the EU’s statements, Pardo pointed to the 2012 EU guidelines for the territories occupied by Israel.

“We call these ‘guidelines for nothing,’” said the professor. “There are a total of five research institutions in the territories, none of them were ever supported by the EU. There was one institution, Ahava, a private project which received some funding. The reason it is so easy for the EU to author those guidelines is that there is no trade there. A total of 0.6% of Israeli trade with the EU comes from the territories.”

As an expert on the EU, Pardo can also speak to Brexit. He calls it “an accident, both at the U.K. and EU levels. Brexit was not meant to issue in a real British exit,” he said. “Little Britain surprised David Cameron – the amount of euro-skepticism was underestimated.”

Pardo worries that there will be dire consequences for Britain, and potential negative fallout for Israel as well.

“This is going to be a nightmare for the British economy and the city of London,” he said. “The EU has no choice but to crush the city of London because it will be unregulated in its competition against other European capitals. The EU cannot offer them a good deal – they can only be offered the worst deal possible, and they will be offered the worst deal possible. Theresa May is stuck with this strange decision, which is a result of PR companies manipulating the British public. Just imagine having now having to negotiate 192 new trade agreements with the rest of the world!”

While Pardo is optimistic about the relationship between Israel and the Jewish people and the British leadership, he is concerned about the effects of Brexit on Israel as a country.

“David Cameron was one of the friendliest European leaders to Israel, and Theresa May will also be friendly. She has been a friend to the Jewish people and an enemy of antisemitism,” he said.

But, he added, “Brexit can weaken the European integration project and have major implications for Israel.”

Pardo said it is essential for Israel to adopt a more explicit “grand strategy” with regards to the EU.

“Israel needs the EU,” he said, “and we need to be clearer about what we want from our relationship and how we plan to conduct it. We will not serve our own interests with the kind of anti-EU rhetoric that some Israeli politicians employ simply to get votes from an Israeli public that resents the normative positions of the EU.”

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.

Planting seeds of wellness

Young community members in Harlem participate in the painting of a shipping container inside of which fresh produce is grown. (photo by Nick Smith)

Seed Street, a hydroponic farming venture and food-justice initiative that grows fresh produce inside shipping containers, arrived in Harlem in the summer of 2015. It was brought there by Leigh Ofer and Hannah Bronfman.

The idea came from an environmental justice class Ofer took in college, as well as Bronfman’s deep ties to the Harlem community and her advocacy for healthy living and positive body image.

“Even with time and less financial stress than a family, it was still expensive and challenging to eat and live healthy with so much misinformation out there … I was confused and searching for sustainable ways to live and eat healthfully while living in a big city,” said Ofer. “Women, in particular, in our modern-day society, can be so disconnected from our bodies. I felt a tremendous sense of disillusionment with the current food system and anger at how deep-seated interests have infused our system with toxic Franken-foods.”

Ofer believes this issue is at the heart of America’s health crisis. “It’s really impossible to eat well, to feed your mind, body and soul,” she told the Independent. “Growing up in Israel, in an agricultural society, eating healthy was a by-product of living. You don’t think about it. But, in the U.S., it takes jumping through hoops just to eat healthy – a total polar opposite on the spectrum.

“This was having a profound effect on me. I felt it in everything – my skin, my well-being, my energy, but I count myself as one of the lucky ones. If I was having a hard time eating and living well, how was a young family managing? I felt a deep sense of obligation to do something about this.”

When Ofer was searching for solutions, she came across a new development in agriculture. Cutting-edge farmers and technology geeks were building hydroponic farms inside shipping containers. The idea immediately resonated with Ofer, partially because of her family background in shipping.

photo - Leigh Ofer checks out the Seed Street hydroponic farm in Harlem — Leigh Ofer checks out the Seed Street hydroponic farm in Harlem. *(photo from Seed Street)*

“It was a no-brainer to transform freight containers into highly productive urban farms using the latest technologies and minimal resources to reconnect urban communities to fresh food,” she said. “It made perfect sense, harnessing the power of new technology to revitalize urban neighborhoods, introduce farming jobs and reeducate a community about where food comes from.”

When Ofer met Bronfman a couple of years after having come across this idea, the two decided to take a leap of faith together and go for it. With limited resources, they kicked things off with one container. It landed at their community partner’s yard – the Children’s Aid Society – in July 2015, and they have been growing tomatoes, leafy greens, herbs, peas and cucumbers ever since.

“We are retrofitting freight containers with hydroponic growing technology and bringing the farm back to the city,” said Ofer. “You can put these farms almost anywhere. Each farm container has a very high yield, equal to about an acre of traditional farming and using 90% less water and 75% less fertilizer. All you need is an electrical outlet to hook up to and a water supply. We had a plethora of tasty, healthy veggies in our last harvest.

“We got started by partnering with the Children’s Aid Society at their central Harlem location,” she explained. “We piloted our grow farm in their backyard playground a little over a year ago. In January, we launched the volunteer-run youth development urban farming program, serving 60 youth from central and east Harlem. Our proprietary Grow, Move and Create program engaged the youth three days a week in healthy activities, such as yoga, hydroponic farming and entrepreneurship.”

The program was successful and involved the community and especially kids, who learned by doing how foods grow and the different ways food can be eaten and enjoyed. Community members participated in planting, harvesting, managing the farm stand and creating recipes for the fresh produce they brought home, not to mention yoga. At the end of the modules, the kids shared a presentation with the parents – a business plan, a recipe book or yoga stretches, depending on their group’s focus.

Heading into 2016, Ofer said there were three pillars she and her team wanted to address with the program: accessibility of fresh, healthy food; sustainability; and the sharing of knowledge and information.

“Most importantly, in order for us to be successful, we needed to address the issue of economic security,” she said. “We believe you can fill lettuce bags all day long, but if people don’t have access to good food, a base sense of financial security and practical knowledge about food and health, it’s going to be useless.”

For the second phase of the Seed Street urban farming initiative, the focus was shifted to economic development as a more effective way of empowering community members and improving food justice, by providing food education and nutrition information.

“Basically, what we’re doing is increasing opportunity for a community to have economic independence and helping them to take ownership of their health and nutrition,” said Ofer. “We want to ensure our model is not just another organization out there that does community gardening. We want it to be one that addresses the inequities and is also functional, taking needs of the community into account and including community stakeholders in the planning, growing and harvesting of foods and ideas.”

Seed Street is currently evaluating technology suppliers and sites for the commercialization of five to six container farms in Harlem. They are strengthening their partnerships and learning, through collaboration, the best ways to partner with other local youth development, food-justice, employment, and health and wellness advocacy programs.

The container farms operate year-round, allowing continuity in education and providing ongoing employment for the operator, unlike an outdoor garden that closes for winter.

“When I started the project, my dream was to build farms in Israel and Palestine, because I could visually see that it would be a beautiful way to bridge two sides and actually grow produce together and work on a shared initiative together,” said Ofer. “My dream continues to evolve, but I clearly envision us creating a model for collaboration and conflict resolution.”

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

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.