freelancer

freelancer

NGOs should flaunt funding

The Transparency Bill, also known as the NGO Bill, received cabinet approval in December and is, therefore, closer to becoming law in Israel. The bill requires any Israeli nongovernmental organization receiving more than half its funding from foreign governments to…

Shabbat 100 success

photo - Among the many Shabbat 100 volunteers were, from left to right, Ben Felstein (Chabad Jewish Student Club and Israel on Campus), Daniella Malpartida (Jewish Students Association), Anna Kapron-King (Progressive Jewish Alliance), Lior Bar-el (JSA and PJA), Michelle Levit (CJSC), Sydney Switzer (CJSC), Katrin Zavgorodny (CJSC board), Jennifer Brodsky (CJSC) and Becca Recant (Hillel BC)

Among the many Shabbat 100 volunteers were, from left to right, Ben Felstein (Chabad Jewish Student Club and Israel on Campus), Daniella Malpartida (Jewish Students Association), Anna Kapron-King (Progressive Jewish Alliance), Lior Bar-el (JSA and PJA), Michelle Levit (CJSC), Sydney…

A long time in China

photo - A model of the Kaifeng synagogue at an exhibit at the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv in 2011

A model of the Kaifeng synagogue at an exhibit at the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv in 2011. (photo by Sodabottle via commons.wikimedia.org) With the Chinese New Year taking place next week, it is an appropriate time to reflect on…

נתניהו לא אוהב את זה

photo - Bombardier Canadian corporation that has provided for more than 10 years locomotives and train cars in Israel, began to explore the possibility of selling airliners to Iran

התאגיד הקנדי בומברדייה שמספק מזה למעלה מעשר שנים קטרים וקרונות לרכבת ישראל, החל לבדוק את האפשרות למכור מטוסי נוסעים לאיראן. (צילום: bombardier.com) נתניהו לא אוהב את זה: קנדה החליטה להסיר הסנקציות נגד איראן בשלבים קנדה שנחשבה עד לאחרונה ידידה קרובה…

Psychological thriller to play

photo - Hannah Moscovitch

Hannah Moscovitch (photo from Hannah Moscovitch) Not one normally drawn to psychological thrillers, Little One intrigues me, in large part because its playwright, Hannah Moscovitch, has such an impressive track record. She has not only won multiple awards for her…

Painting beauty, meaning

photo - Lori Goldberg in front of one of her paintings

Lori Goldberg in front of one of her paintings. (photo from Lori Goldberg) Lori Goldberg is one of the artists whose work has been chosen to be part of a special project in aid of what will be Abbotsford’s first…

Eat and play at Shuk

photo - Shuk owner Alon Volodarsky, left, and chef Evy Swissa

Shuk owner Alon Volodarsky, left, and chef Evy Swissa. (photo by Lauren Kramer) Shakshuka is not a dish that’s easy to come by in Vancouver. Until recently, that is. When Shuk opened its doors on Oak and 41st in early…

The beauty of France here

photo - “Panty By Post is about shipping a piece of self-love in a little package,” says Natalie Grunberg. Monthly subscriptions start at $15 and increase depending on the style and type of panty

“Panty By Post is about shipping a piece of self-love in a little package,” says Natalie Grunberg. (photo from Natalie Grunberg) Underwear. We all wear it and it’s not something most of us think too deeply about – until our…

Let the American race begin

When Joe Lieberman was named Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, there was some discussion about the potential for America’s first Jewish vice-president. With the exception of the dustiest corners of the internet, the discussion was respectful and more curious…

Democracy and choice

The sublime thing about liberal democracies is that they are based on the rights and responsibilities of individuals rather than groups. Unlike the kind of sectarian societies imploding in civil war in the Middle East, in a liberal democracy, it…

Call for nominations

Nominations for this year’s Courage to Come Back Awards are open until Feb. 12, 2016, 5 p.m. The annual awards recognize abilities, celebrate differences and give centre stage to six British Columbians who have overcome tremendous challenges, yet reach out…

Living at Victoria’s Hillel House

photo - Living at the Victoria Hillel House has provided Hannah Faber a space to engage with her Jewish identity in a holistic way

Living at the Victoria Hillel House has provided Hannah Faber a space to engage with her Jewish identity in a holistic way. (photo from Hannah Faber) When I decided to move to Victoria to finish my undergraduate degree at the…

Noah’s Ark marks chai

photo - The Noah’s Ark Project began in 1997 as a response to the B.C. law stating that a newborn may only be discharged from a hospital in a regulation, rear-facing infant car seat

The Noah’s Ark Project began in 1997 as a response to the B.C. law stating that a newborn may only be discharged from a hospital in a regulation, rear-facing infant car seat. (photo from JWI-BC) The Noah’s Ark Project, a…

Mystery photo … Jan. 29/16

photo - Women organizing a mail-out for State of Israel Bonds, circa 1960

Women organizing a mail-out for State of Israel Bonds, circa 1960. (photo from JWB fonds, JMABC L.14497) If you know someone in this photo, please help the JI fill the gaps of its predecessor’s (the Jewish Western Bulletin’s) collection at…

Overburdened system

photo - Mardy Yager, manager of fund development at Marymound

Mardy Yager, manager of fund development at Marymound. (photo from Mardy Yager) Mardy Yager manages the resources of Marymound, the second largest agency in Manitoba that provides support to some of the province’s highest-needs kids. Every day, he has to…

Berlin’s House of One

photo - In Petriplatz, Pastor Gregor Hohberg, left, and Imam Kadir Sanci listen as Rabbi Andreas Nachama recites a prayer for peace

In Petriplatz, Pastor Gregor Hohberg, left, and Imam Kadir Sanci listen as Rabbi Andreas Nachama recites a prayer for peace. (photo by Frithjof Timm) In the middle of Berlin, on the grounds of where a church was destroyed in the…

יחסים מאוד מאוד טובים

photo - Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, in Davos, Switzerland last week

ראש ממשלת קנדה, ג‘סטין טרודו ,בדאבוס שהתקיים בשבוע שעבר בשוויץ. (צילום: facebook.com/JustinPJTrudeau) פגישה נוספת בין ג’סטין טרודו לבנימין נתניהו: השניים נפגשו בשבוע שעבר בדאבוס ראש ממשלת קנדה, ג’סטין טרודו וראש ממשלת ישראל, בנימין נתניהו, נפגשו בפעם השנייה. הפגישה הפעם ארעה…

Memorial reflects loss, hope

photo - On Jan. 26, Robyn Driedger-Klassen (soprano), Joseph Elworthy (cello), Mark Ferris (violin), François Houle (clarinet) and Mark Fenster (baritone) will be joined by Lani Krantz (harp) and Kozue Matsumoto (koto) in a performance of Renia Perel’s Songs of the Wasteland

On Jan. 26, Robyn Driedger-Klassen (soprano), Joseph Elworthy (cello), Mark Ferris (violin), François Houle (clarinet) and Mark Fenster (baritone) will be joined by Lani Krantz (harp) and Kozue Matsumoto (koto) in a performance of Renia Perel’s Songs of the Wasteland.…

Each creation unique

photo - The faces that Larry Cohen creates communicate a range of emotions

The faces that Larry Cohen creates communicate a range of emotions. (photo by Olga Livshin) Larry Cohen has been working with pottery, on and off, for about 30 years. “A long time ago, I tried to make money from it,…

Limmud starts next weekend

Limmud Vancouver 2016, which takes place Jan. 30 and 31, includes seminars, lectures, workshops and discussions on a wide range of topics. This second article in a two-part series features a few of the presenters. The love of two women…

Are good intentions enough?

The pope visited a Rome synagogue Sunday – the first visit to a synagogue during his papacy and a significant event in the context of inter-religious friendship. Pope Francis condemned violence based on religion and called on Catholics to rediscover…

Germany trip changes views

photo - In fall 2015, Yael Levin, third from the right, participated in the program Jewish Life in Germany – Past, Present and Future

In fall 2015, Yael Levin, third from the right, participated in the program Jewish Life in Germany – Past, Present and Future. (photo from Yael Levin) Last year marked 50 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel. To celebrate…

Land connections

photo - Dried fruit and almonds are traditionally eaten on Tu b’Shevat

Dried fruit and almonds are traditionally eaten on Tu b’Shevat. (photo from Gilabrand (talk) via commons.wikimedia.org) Until Jews began to return to Eretz Israel in 1948, no one thought of them as farmers. For nearly 2,000 years, we had been…

An evolving experience

photo - Madrichim at Camp Miriam palling around in summer 1990. The author is in front

Madrichim at Camp Miriam palling around in summer 1990. The author is in front. (photo from Mira Sucharov) On a little corner of Gabriola Island lies an enclave of old-style Jewish utopianism. Modeled after a kibbutz, campers (chanichim) and counselors…

In the Okanagan

photo - A typical day at camp is split between the waterfront, where campers learn to swim, ski, sail, canoe and kayak, and land, where campers participate in sports, drama, crafts and Jewish programming

A typical day at camp is split between the waterfront, where campers learn to swim, ski, sail, canoe and kayak, and land, where campers participate in sports, drama, crafts and Jewish programming. (photo from Camp Hatikvah’s Facebook page) Established in 1937,…

Outside of British Columbia

photo - Camp BB features a horseback riding instruction program

Jewish summer camp combines land and water activities with learning about Israel and Judaism. (photo from Camp BB Riback) When summer comes to the Pacific Northwest, it’s the best time to head into the great outdoors and, of course, for kids, into…

הדולר הקנדי

photo - The Canadian dollar weakened significantly versus the Israeli shekel

הדולר הקנדי נחלש משמעותית מול השקל הישראלי. (צילום: Cynthia Ramsay) הדולר הקנדי כידוע מאבד גובה מול הדולר האמריקני אך גם מול מטבעות חזקים אחרים בעולם, בהם הלירה שטרלינג הבריטית והיורו האירופאי. עתה מתברר שהדולר הקנדי נחלש משמעותית גם מול השקל…