News – Page 257

Connecting local food fans

With the Tangoo app, Paul Davidescu, centre, brings together restaurateurs, social influencers and diners. (photo from tangoo.ca)

Food is more than nourishment, says Paul Davidescu, it builds community. The Vancouver entrepreneur is behind an app that aims to unite people over food.

“We are passionate about creating community,” said Davidescu, whose company, Tangoo, is connecting local food fans. “The way that we believe you create community is over the dinner table, where you get people together for dinner, brunch, what we call breaking bread, because that’s when the big ideas get created, that’s when people find love, that’s when people really get together.”

For restaurateurs, Tangoo promises to “attract the perfect customer by sharing your business story through social media influencers, our pocket concierge app, and integrated marketing solutions.” For diners, Tangoo offers “the pulse of the city’s best dining experiences, exclusively recommended by foodie influencers featured on the app.” And, for social influencers – a relatively new but increasingly powerful demographic – Tangoo offers a front row seat to emerging food trends in the city.

Davidescu, who graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business in 2012, explained that businesses are having an increasingly difficult time connecting with young consumers through traditional media.

“Nowadays, PR [and] social media are turning into one, especially if you’re looking at targeting millennials,” he said. “They don’t really watch TV anymore. They’re on social media.”

Tangoo’s approach is to provide information through their mobile app that helps potential customers get a sense of a restaurant’s personality. Part of the experience includes the opinions of local figures like chef Vikram Vij, record label founder Ari Paunonen and lifestyle expert Natalie Langston on their favorite meal destinations.

While the Tangoo app has about 20,000 users, Davidescu’s vision is to leverage the existing audiences of influencers. By inviting well-known figures and social media bigshots to be the first to experience, say, a new summer cocktail or a dining room’s revamped menu, Tangoo helps restaurants get their news out to the people who most closely follow such things.

“We started to actually connect these influencers who we already have on our app with the actual restaurants directly,” he said. “Not to the point where they’re just recommending them on our app, but they’re actually going into the restaurant and they’re tasting the food and actually posting on their own Instagram.”

Influencer marketing, as it is known, is Tangoo’s bread and butter.

“Think of it as more informal PR,” he said. For businesses with tight budgets – and restaurants tend to operate on narrow margins – conventional media can be very expensive and social media can be a time-consuming gig.

“You resort to either not doing social media or giving it to your manager at the bar who is multitasking and will never, ever do a very good job on that,” said Davidescu.

Tangoo aims to do the work for the restaurant by connecting them with social media figures with foodie followers.

“It’s kind of like getting guaranteed press through a very targeted channel,” he said. “We are trying to make PR really affordable for restaurants, that’s the core. They’re the ones that nurture community by being alive and keeping things interesting.”

Right now, Tangoo is busy with the Vancouver food scene, but Davidescu said it could grow organically to other cities in future.

“There are a lot of restaurants in Vancouver,” said Davidescu, who was born in Mexico and came here as a child. He was a camper and counselor at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, Camp Hatikvah and Camp Biluim in Quebec. When he was a student at UBC, he helped organize an interfaith discussion group. As part of his co-op studies in business school, he had placements in Germany and Barcelona.

Davidescu said there is a connection between his Jewishness and his devotion to food and connecting over a meal. Community is built across the table, he said.

“Food is cultural,” he said.

“It’s a way to just bring people together.”

New chef’s meals “fabulous”

Executive chef Steven Boudreau heads Weinberg Residence kitchen. (photo from Weinberg Residence)

The Weinberg Residence recently hired executive chef Steven Boudreau, whose extensive culinary experience includes stints at Cioppino’s (under chef Pino Posterero) and Il Giardino (under Umberto Menghi). How did such a talented chef come to work at the Weinberg Residence? For Boudreau, the reasons lay in his desire to find a more balanced, happier work life.

“After 18 years working in a high-pressure restaurant environment, I wanted a chance to spend more time with family. Here at the Weinberg, it’s refreshing to be able to relax into the cooking a little more,” he explained. “Above all, I took this position because of the wonderful people here. The residents are great to be around and I come to work happy and smiling.”

Born and raised in Cape Breton, N.S., Boudreau attended the Culinary Institute of Canada in Prince Edward Island. After graduation, he was selected with four other students to work on Nantucket Island. He worked there for two seasons and then made his way out west, where he landed in Vancouver and worked for Cioppino’s and Il Giardino.

Boudreau left Vancouver to work two seasons at Painter’s Lodge on Vancouver Island and April Point on Quadra Island as executive sous chef. He then spent the winter traveling and exploring such countries as Vietnam, Cambodia, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, France, Germany and beyond, gaining inspiration and knowledge of diverse culinary traditions from around the world. Next, he spent a year in Montreal, running a bistro and catering company.

Longing for the West Coast, he returned to British Columbia to become the executive chef of Poets Cove Resort and Spa on Pender Island for the next five years. Finally, he spent two seasons working for the Restaurant at Painted Boat on the Sunshine Coast before moving to Vancouver to work at the Weinberg Residence.

As for his philosophy on cooking, Boudreau stresses the importance of keeping things simple.

“I have a real passion for creating tasty and healthy meals to inspire people. For me, it’s all about keeping the process as simple as possible, while creating delicious food that the residents will love,” he said.

The residents are already raving about Boudreau’s culinary contributions. “The food is great and there’s a lot of variety. His fish is the best I’ve ever tasted,” said resident Dr. Jimmy White. “The soups are outstanding and the theme meals are fabulous,” added resident Frieda Brown.

To share the news with the community, if you, your spouse or family member is considering assisted living or multi-level care, the Weinberg Residence is currently offering complimentary lunch when you take a tour. Call Vanessa Trester at 604-267-4722 for more information and to book a no-obligation tour.

Event in honor of the Rebbe

Moishe New makes a point while Rabbi Yitzchak Wineberg and other attendees listen. (photo by Lior Noyman Productions)

photo in Jewish Independent - Rabbi David Aaron at the event — Rabbi David Aaron at the event. *(photo by Lior Noyman Productions)*

On June 21, more than 200 people came to King David High School to hear Rabbi David Aaron, founder and dean of the Isralight Institute on Awakening to Your Divine Purpose, and Rabbi Moshe New, director of the Montreal Torah Centre, at Evening of Inspiration and Connection, which also featured music by Itamar Erez and Liron Man. The farbrengen was held in honor of the 22nd yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, which this year is observed July 8-9 (3 Tammuz). The June event was co-hosted by Chabad Lubavitch BC and the Ohel Ya’akov Community Kollel, and more photographs can be found on both groups’ Facebook pages, facebook.com/LubavitchBC and facebook.com/kollel, respectively.

Contribute to new podcast

The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia’s Feeding Community project wants your story. (photo from JMABC)

What does an egg taste like when it’s been boiled for hours with onion peels and coffee? Have you ever consumed a meal while sipping on a carbonated yogurt beverage? What kind of oven do you need to make cubana, a dough that you leave on the fire from Friday late afternoon to Saturday?

These are just some of the questions the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia has encountered in the early days of its research for the Feeding Community project. JMABC researchers have devoured cheesecake on Shavuot while talking about the use of dried lime in Persian cooking. They have asked a rabbi to divulge the secrets of his cholent recipe. They have pored over handwritten recipes and black and white photographs of Sephardi Jews in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. It’s been a rewarding and immersive sensory experience, learning about the community’s diverse roots and traditions – and the findings will be shared through a podcast being developed for the JMABC.

Some might say that too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth, but the opposite goes for making a podcast. The more people the JMABC hears from, the richer the podcast will be. The JMABC is interviewing members of the community, hoping to unravel what the act of eating and traditions of food mean for individuals and in terms of family. As much as the JMABC hopes people will listen to the series, it also encourages people to be contributors.

Whether your family arrived in Canada by way of Mexico, Minsk or Morocco, Argentina, Albany or Azerbaijan, South Africa, Sri Lanka or Shanghai, the JMABC would like to hear from you. To learn more about Feeding Community or to contribute information, email info@jewishmuseum.ca or call 604-257-5199.

Humanitarian delivery

Humanitarian goods from Turkey arrive at the Kerem Shalom crossing point into the Gaza Strip; it was the first such shipment to arrive in Israel from Turkey since the reestablishment of ties between the two countries at the end of last month. (photo from Ashernet)

The families of Israel Defence Forces soldiers Oren Shaul and Hadar Goldin – both of whom were killed two years ago in Operation Protective Edge and whose bodies are still held by Hamas – were dissatisfied with the reconciliation agreement between the two countries, as it did not include the return of their sons’ bodies or the return of two Israeli citizens, Avraham Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayyad, imprisoned in the Gaza Strip. Many also objected at the apology by Israel to the Turkish government, together with a $20 million compensation package, over the May 2010 IDF raid on the Gaza-bound Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which resulted in the deaths of 10 Turkish citizens after the activists on board attacked the IDF soldiers; it was this event that caused the break in Turkish-Israeli relations.

התוכנית האסטרטגית ל-2020

הפדרציה היהודית הכינה תוכנית עבודה ארוכת טווח לספק את הצרכים החדשים של חברי הקהילה ולהגדיל את התקציב למימון פעילותיה.

הפדרציה היהודית של אזור מטרו ונקובר הכינה בשנתיים האחרונות תוכנית עבודה ארוכת טווח עד לשנת 2020. העבודה המורכבת על התוכנית נעשתה על ידי מועצת המנהלים בניצוחו של היושב ראש, סטפן גרבר ובשיתוף פעולה של חברי קהילה רבים. לדברי גרבר מדובר באחד הפרוייקטים החשובים ביותר בהיסטוריה של הפדרציה, כדי לקבוע את סדרי העדיפויות והמשאבים הכספיים הדרושים, כדי להתמודד עם האתגרים העומדים בפני חברי הקהילה היום ובהמשך הדרך. במסגרת היערכות ארוכת הטווח של הפדרציה היהודית החליטה מועצת המנהלים שלה להחתים את המנכ”ל, עזרא שנקן, לשש שנים נוספות עד ל-2022. גרבר: “לצורך ישום העדיפויות של התוכנית האסטרטגית ל-2020 והגשמת מטרותיה, אנו זקוקים למנהיגות יציבה וחזקה ושנקן הוא זה שימשיך לספק את המנהיגות הזו עד 2022. אנו ברי מזל שיש לנו את שנקן בתפקיד המנכ”ל”.

רשימת סדרי העדיפויות של הפדרציה היהודית לארבע השנים הקרובות כוללת שישה פרקים מרכזיים. השקעות אסטרטגיות – למציאת פתרונות כדי שיובטח שהקהילה תמשיך להיות חזקה ותוססת גם בדורות הבאים, שיפור הביטחון והבטיחות של המוסדות היהודיים, עזרה במימון אחקת המבנים של המוסדות השונים של הקהילה ולאפשר לחנך את הילדים והצעירים שהם הדור הבא. כל זאת תוך אבטחת מימון יציב לשותפים בקהילה היהודית הנסמכים על הפדרציה. סגירת פערי המימון – כדי לאפשר למוסדות השונים בקהילה לקבל תקציבים לפעילותם, כדי שיוכלו לספק שירותים חשובים לאלפי חברי הקהילה. התקציבים שהפדרציה השיגה עד היום כבר אינם מספיקים לספק את כל הצרכים החדשים ואין מספיק מימון לכל הצרכים והארגונים. הפדרציה מקבלת מדי שנה בקשות בהיקף של כמיליון וחצי דולר למימון תוכניות ושירותים נוספים שנדרשים. כאמור זה כבר לא מספיק ועל הפדרציה למצוא דרכים לסגירת הפערים, בין תקציב המימון הנוכחי לעומת הצרכים האמיתיים. צרכים חדשים ומתפתחים של הקהילה – כיום כבר כארבעים ושישה אחוז מחברי הקהילה היהודית גרים מחוץ לוונקובר. שינוי משמעותי זה מצריך היערכות חדשה לאספקת תוכניות ושירותים זמינים עבור חברי הקהילה באזורים, שמחוץ לוונקובר. התחברות לדור הבא – ההצלחה של הקהילה בעתיד תלויה במידה רבה ביכולת שלנו להתחבר ולהתקשר לדור הצעיר, ולעזור להם לפתח כישורי מנהיגות ואינטרסים פילנתרופיים. הארגונים היהודים עושים רבות למען הצעירים, אך יש לעשות הרבה יותר אם אנו רוצים שתהיה לנו השפעה לטווח ארוך על המשכיות של הקהילה בעתיד. ישראל והשותפים שלנו בצפון המדינה – אנו מחוייבים להביא יותר מישראל לקהילה בוונקובר באמצעות אירועים תרבותיים. אנו מתמקדים בעבודה עם השותפים שלנו באזור הגליל העליון, בין היתר כדי לסייע לתושבים המקומיים מול האתגרים הסוציו-אקונומיים עימם הם מתמודדים. המפתח להצלחה נעוץ בתמיכה בפרויקטים של שירותים חינוכיים וחברתיים שמסייעים לאוכלוסיה בסיכון לממש את הפוטנציאל שלה. קהילות יהודיות גלובליות נזקקות – הפדרציה תומכת בכמאה שישים וחמישה אלף קשישים יוצאי ברית המועצות לשעבר שגרים באירופה, שרבים מהם ניצולי שואה.

לאור הגידול בצרכים של התוכניות והשירותים של הפדרציה, יש להגדיל את ההכנסות מקמפיין התרומות השנתי מ-8.3 מיליון דולר (שגוייסו ב-2015) ל-10 מיליון דולר. יש להגדיל את הנכסים בניהול של הקרן הפדרציה היהודית מארבעים ושישה מיליון דולר לשישים מיליון דולר. הדירקטוריון של הקרן מכין תוכנית פיתוח עסקית להשגת מטרה זו. במסגרת התוכנית ל-2020 הפדרציה שמה לעצמה למטרה להגדיל את תקציב המתנות המיוחדות מתורמים לשני מיליון דולר.

Affirming transgender rights

Citing both changing social practice and traditional Jewish values, the international association of Conservative rabbis passed a resolution on May 22 calling on Jewish institutions and government agencies to embrace the full equality of transgendered people.

The Rabbinical Assembly’s Resolution Affirming the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People begins, “Whereas our Torah asserts that all humanity is created b’tzelem Elohim, in God’s divine image….” It discusses historical evidence of “non-binary gender expression” in Jewish texts dating back to the third-century Mishnah. It calls on synagogues, camps, schools and other institutions affiliated with the Conservative movement to meet the needs of transgender people and to use the names and pronouns that people prefer. It also encourages Conservative institutions to advocate for national and local policies on behalf of transgender people. In light of its passing, the Jewish Independent spoke with several local rabbis from across denominations about the resolution and about transgender inclusivity in their communities.

“The statement feels comprehensive and as positive and embracing as it should be,” said Rabbi Hannah Dresner of Or Shalom, which is part of the Jewish Renewal movement. “We need always to try to get to the heart of what the halachah (Jewish law) and the mitzvot are trying to do for us. The way they were concretized in another century does not limit them for all time. Halachah is a process. I think it is beautiful when any part of the community pulls up a chair at table and says we are participating in the ongoing evolution of halachah. This is at the heart of what it means to continually create Torah, to turn Torah over and over, to continually participate in the exchange between the Holy One and human beings, which is God giving the written Torah and our response by taking it in and answering in the voice of our humanness. This is at the heart of what the halachic process is and should be in any sphere.”

LGBTQ people are fully welcomed at Or Shalom, and people are called to the Torah by their preferred gender identification. Or Shalom is currently working on infrastructural and ritual changes to be more explicitly and fully inclusive of LGBTQ people in all spheres. “There are alternatives that are easy and sweet,” said Dresner. “We just have to do our work.”

When asked what he thought of the Conservative resolution, Rabbi Dan Moscovitz of Temple Sholom, a Reform congregation, replied with typical humor: “Great, welcome to the party.” He said he views the resolution as a return to the deep values of the tradition, not a departure. “This is at the core of who we are commanded to be as human beings – to find the tzelem Elohim (image of God) inside of each individual and to not be confused or distracted by outside appearances, generalizations or labels,” he said.

The resolution is largely the same as that passed by the Reform movement in November 2015. As early as 1965, the Women of Reform Judaism called for the decriminalization of homosexuality. In 1977, Reform’s Central Conference of American Rabbis adopted a resolution calling for legislation decriminalizing homosexual acts between consenting adults, and an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians. In the late 1980s, the primary seminary of the Reform movement, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, changed its admission requirements to allow openly gay and lesbian people to join the student body. In 1990, gay and lesbian rabbis were officially affirmed and, in 1996, so were same-sex civil unions. In 2000, a resolution followed fully affirming sanctified Jewish unions for same-sex couples and, in 2003, there was a resolution affirming the full acceptance of trans- and bisexual people, a stance confirmed and elaborated in the 2015 resolution.

“We have trans members, both adults and children, who we embrace and welcome fully,” said Moscovitz. “We call up to the Torah by preferred gender and gender-neutral pronouns which are present on our gabai [person who calls people to the Torah] sheet…. All bathrooms are multi-gendered or non-gendered.”

Moskovitz cited the case of a bar mitzvah boy who now identifies as a female and was offered a mikvah ritual as a transitional symbol, as well as a new Hebrew name and the reissue of the bar mitzvah certificate as a bat mitzvah.

The Conservative movement has been slower to change its position on LGBTQ sexuality than the Reform. In 1990, the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS), which sets halachic policy for the movement, stated their desire to “work for full and equal civil rights for gays and lesbians in our national life.” Nevertheless, the CJLS maintained a ban on homosexual conduct, the ordination of homosexuals as rabbis and same-sex marriage unions until 2006, when LGBTQ people were first admitted for rabbinical ordination; in 2012, the Israeli Masorti (Conservative) movement followed suit. In 2012, the CJLS allowed same-sex marriages, with the U.K. Masorti movement following in 2014. The 2016 resolution is a milestone for the Conservative movement.

Rabbi Jonathan Infeld of Congregation Beth Israel, which is part of the Conservative movement, applauds the new document. “Kevod ha’ briyot [the dignity of all created beings, cited in the CJLS resolution] is very important…. For me, the over-arching concept of respecting all human beings and making them feel welcome, bringing them into the Jewish community is vitally important and is the keystone of the resolution.”

Infeld said the resolution is an expression of foundational Jewish values. “It is critically important to recognize the humanity and holiness of every person and that’s the essence of the resolution,” he said.

Beth Israel has private, non-gender-specific washrooms available, and calls to the Torah for an aliyah are done on the basis of the gender with which the person identifies, he noted. “We don’t loudly announce our stance so much as we are very happy to have trans and gay people in our synagogue as a natural part of the social fabric of our shul, by being warm and welcoming to everyone who walks in the door,” he said.

Speaking to the JI only days after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Infeld said, “The Orlando massacre is another reminder of the need to fight discrimination on every level and recognize the humanity of every person.”

Unlike non-Orthodox denominations, Orthodox Jews maintain traditional rabbinic stances against homosexual conduct, and behaviors such as cross-dressing or identifying with a gender aside from one’s birth gender. Nevertheless, there are a number of Orthodox rabbis and Jewish groups that are openly LGBTQ and/or call for greater inclusivity in Orthodox communities. And, in recent years, a number of Orthodox statements have been issued – mostly from within the Modern Orthodox world but also from others – calling for the expression of love, support and inclusion of LGBTQ people without condoning LGBTQ behaviors.

“We do not judge anyone here,” said Chabad Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu of Ohel Ya’akov Community Kollel. “We love and welcome everyone. We follow the Orthodox halachah that the Torah only allows union between a man and a woman, but gay, lesbian and transgender people are welcomed in our community and no one will judge them or condemn them. We do not ask questions about people’s behavior or police them. We love people, and we do not make everything they do or don’t do our business. We have had and do have gay and lesbian couples here and, in the past, even one Orthodox gay couple, and they were not judged, no one is saying anything to them. Everyone is welcome here.”

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. He has written more on the Rabbinical Assembly resolution on forward.com (“Jewish values tell us to back equality for transgender people – it’s in the Torah”), medium.com (“Repentance in the wake of Orlando”) and hashkata.com (“All a horrible mistake: The Bible’s supposed condemnation of homosexuality”).

Impact of Brexit vote

In the historic referendum last week, the United Kingdom voted to leave the 28-nation European Union (EU), sending shockwaves throughout Europe and the international community. The results of the so-called “Brexit” vote – 52% in favor of exiting the EU and 48% opposed – spurred the resignation of U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and called into question the identity and strength of the EU, while leaving many nations, including Israel, wondering how the vote will affect policy and trade in the years ahead.

“It’s hard to know what is going to happen, and nothing is going to happen right away,” said Dr. Oded Eran, the former Israeli ambassador to the EU. “There is no doubt that Israel will be left to follow the agreements that will be made between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and to adjust its economic and trade relations with Britain accordingly.”

Opposition leaders in France and the Netherlands have hailed British voters’ decision, calling for similar referendums on EU membership in their countries. “This is the dilemma that the European Union will face,” Eran said. “If Britain was a singular case, then this would be a simpler situation.”

A major factor in the Brexit vote was the influx of Muslim immigration into Europe. Supporters of the Brexit suggested that Muslim immigration threatens the distinct character of European nations.

Opponents of leaving the EU cited growing xenophobia and anti-Islamic sentiment in British society, often coupled with antisemitic sentiments.

According to Fiamma Nirenstein – a former Italian parliamentarian who served as vice-president of the parliament’s committee on foreign affairs and as a member of the Italian delegation to the Council of Europe – there are opposing views within Europe’s Jewish communities on the causes and potential consequences of the Brexit vote.

Nirenstein noted that one school of thought views the Brexit vote “as a sort of punishment for Europe” for growing anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment.

“Over the past century, Europe has been so bad to the Jews,” she said. “And, increasingly now, Europe is against Israeli actions, and Europe is seeing an explosion of antisemitism. So, in the view of one camp, there is something wrong with Europe and something needed to happen to demonstrate that, and the Brexit vote represents this.”

On the other side, Nirenstein suggested, is a second camp that views the Brexit vote negatively – “as an event that strengthens and empowers an illiberal right-wing sentiment throughout Europe,” a sentiment that is simultaneously antisemitic and anti-Islamic and, at its core, anti-immigration.

“As a people that have ourselves been strangers in many lands, Jews have always identified with the value of welcoming the other, so this camp of Jews is against the [Brexit] vote,” said Nirenstein, who also served as chairperson of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians.

Shinshin program’s first year

Shinshiniot, left to right, Ophir Golombek, Tomer Tetro and Lian Swissa. (photo by Michelle Dodek)

Nine months ago, Ophir Golombek, Lian Swissa and Tomer Tetro were just the names of three Israeli 18-year-olds brought to Vancouver by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Having spent the school year helping at Vancouver Talmud Torah (VTT), Richmond Jewish Day School (RJDS), King David High School (KDHS), the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver and the Hebrew schools at congregations Beth Israel, Beth Tikvah and Temple Sholom, these young women are now known and loved by many across the Lower Mainland.

The women have been here for a shnat sherut (year of service, for which the acronym is shinshin) before entering the army, not as an alternative to time in uniform. The program has been running in other cities for more than a decade, but this was the first year for Vancouver. Designed to spread a connection and love for the people and country of Israel, the shinshiniot (female plural for shinshin) engaged the youth of Vancouver’s Jewish community through dance, song, food and educational programming.

The Shinshin program hinges on a series of homestay experiences where families with children in high school or younger host a shinshin for a three-month period. Federation works to match each shinshin with families that are a good fit in order to facilitate a connection between the families and the shinshiniot, sharing the Canadian experience and Israeli culture while bonding as Jewish people.

“The best thing about the year was the host families,” said Swissa. “I made amazing deep connections and was welcomed as part of the family. It’s such a crucial part of the program.”

The Friedman-Leidemann family – parents Diane and Mark and 13-year-old son Isaac – opened their home to Golombek. Living very close to VTT, it was convenient for Golombek to get to and from her daily work at the school and the family was happy to open their home to her.

“Hosting Ophir was a lovely experience,” said Friedman. “We have hosted ‘traditional’ homestays for 10 years, so we have lots of experience to compare this to and it was truly wonderful.”

She added, however, that having the shinshiniot work six days a week made exploring very difficult. “It would be nice if the girls could have a two- to three-day weekend once a month so that they could explore areas near Vancouver not conducive to day trips,” said Friedman.

Lissa Weinberger, manager of Jewish education and identity initiatives at Federation, was tasked with rolling out the Shinshin program in Vancouver. “It has been an amazing first year,” she said. “From the first time I had a child excitedly talk about the visit their class had from the shinshin to the last goodbye hugs, there has not been an experience quite like this in Vancouver. The biggest highlight of the year was having them for Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Our community and especially our kids had such a positive Israeli experience, one that could only be created by the firsthand experience of Israeli teens.”

The year has not been without its challenges. Federation recognizes that culture shock and homesickness were real issues, and they plan to have a native Hebrew-speaking social worker or psychologist as part of the support team next year. They are currently reaching out for host families, as well. “We are looking for families who have the routine of the school year, of having kids, because hosting a shinshin is bringing a teenager into your family,” said Weinberger.

Tanyss Bugis, who has two teenagers attending KDHS, said, “Hosting Lian was good for our family and my teenaged kids and it was good for Lian. For us, it was a terrific experience.”

The skills and warmth of the shinshiniot were put to a variety of uses over the year. Tetro is an accomplished dancer and she worked with Grade 4s at VTT and RJDS to prepare for Festival Ha’Rikud. At Beth Israel, Swissa used her artistic skills to create props and 3-D games about Israeli customs, culture and holiday celebrations. All three women did Israeli programming at the synagogue Hebrew schools, where they worked alternating Sundays; the weekends they were not at Hebrew school, they provided youth programming on Shabbat mornings.

“The kids we met now have a better understanding of the complexity of being a teen in Israel,” said Swissa. “They have a better idea that Israel is a nuanced, complex country. We were also able to bring a better understanding of really important events like Yom Hazikaron.”

During the school week, RJDS, VTT, KDHS and the JCC had programming provided by one or more of the shinshiniot. Golombek was full-time at VTT, visiting the classes with age-appropriate lessons on everything from women in Israeli society and history to Yom Hazikaron traditions. Jennifer Shecter-Balin, director of admissions and communications at VTT, said, “Having a young Israeli emissary at the school was a logical and natural way to build bridges with – and interest in – Israel.”

Shecter-Balin also acted as a host-mother. “For our family, hosting a shinshinit was a wonderfully positive experience,” she said. “After our time with Ophir, we feel as though we now have another close family member living in Israel and we anticipate maintaining our bond. We would definitely host again!”

Of the challenges, Shecter-Balin said there were inevitable hiccups but that VTT sees the benefits of increasing the scope of the program with two shinshiniot for next year. “We anticipate a smoother transition and integration with two emissaries working together and supporting each other,” she said.

During Shabbat services on June 25, Swissa organized a party with Israeli snacks and games. It turned out to be a surprise farewell party for her, too. It was the second such party for her on a Shabbat morning; the other was for her 19th birthday.

“We love having Lian here. She’s awesome!” said 10-year-old Aria Levitt.

Swissa said it was hard for her to say goodbye to the kids. “As a shinshinit, we develop a deep connection to the kids. It’s sad to say goodbye.”

Not quite finished their service in our community yet, Tetro is off to Camp Hatikvah for the summer and Golombek will be at Camp Miriam. Both will help with programming, adding to the already rich Zionist fabric of the camps. Swissa continues her stay in Vancouver contributing an Israeli flavor to the JCC’s Camp Shalom.

Tetro summed up her experience in a goodbye speech at a party thrown by Federation for the shinshiniot. “The Jewish community here is amazing and I am so grateful to have been part of it,” she said. “I am so thankful to have met all these incredible people, thank you for being my extended family for the year.”

Federation is looking for families to host a shinshinit for a three-month period in the coming school year. The new group of four young women will arrive at the end of August for an orientation. If you are interested in being a host family, contact Federation at info@jewishvancouver.com or call Shelley Rivkin at 604-527-5111.

Michelle Dodek is a mother and a writer in Vancouver whose children benefited greatly from their relationships with the shinshiniot.

El Al aids sheep

Friends of the Jacob Sheep directors Jenna and Gil Lewinsky with their flock. (photo by Mustard Seed Images)

El Al has agreed to come on board as a partner and subsidize the flight of the Jacob sheep from Canada to Israel. The flight would take place from an airport in North America with logistics to be determined.

The airline’s announcement came as the Israeli Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development gave the green light for the export of the Jacob sheep flock of approximately 120 animals, subject to a quarantine on both the Canadian and Israeli side, and medical testing. Despite having a low incidence of blue tongue in Canada, the quarantine is to protect the sheep. After the Canadian quarantine, the sheep will be medically tested for blue tongue and then flown to Israel.

The Israeli agricultural ministry told the Times of Israel in June that Canada is not on the list of countries that are approved to export livestock to Israel, so the Jacob sheep flock “will be approved under special circumstances, on a one-time basis for tourism purposes only.”

The project has been endorsed by the Israeli embassy in Ottawa, which blessed the endeavor to return the sheep “to their land of origin, the state of Israel,” in a letter released in May.

The Jacob sheep’s return also has received rabbinical endorsements. Rabbi Amram Vaknin of Ashdod has called the return of the sheep a “highest mitzvah” and wishes to be there to bless their return. Late last year, local Chabad Rabbi Falik Schtroks visited the Jacob sheep flock for parashat Vayeitzei, to deliver a sermon and to wish them a safe return to the land of Israel.

Friends of the Jacob Sheep directors Gil and Jenna Lewinsky have started a crowdfunding campaign to help fundraise for the costs of transporting the sheep to Israel, for feeding costs and to build appropriate infrastructure for them on the Israeli side. The campaign can be found at gofundme.com/jacobsheep.