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freelancer

Learn ABCs, Hanukkah-style

The Canadian Medical Association would probably not approve, but Rachel Teichman’s D is for Donut is a sweet way to teach kids their ABCs. (Pun intended … groan.) For this hardcover (or ebook), Teichman again pairs up with Rebecca Wright,…

Inspiring with chutzpah

Most of us could benefit from a little more chutzpah, as defined by Julie Esther Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer, authors of Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women (The Toby Press, 2024).  According to Silverstein and Pruwer, chutzpah…

Knowing how precious life is

photo - Lillian Boraks-Nemetz speaks at the Nov. 24 launch of her latest book, Hidden Vision: Poems of Transformation, which she wrote under the name Jagna Boraks

Lillian Boraks-Nemetz speaks at the Nov. 24 launch of her latest book, Hidden Vision: Poems of Transformation, which she wrote under the name Jagna Boraks. (photo by Rhonda Dent) Lillian Boraks-Nemetz launched her latest book, Hidden Vision: Poems of Transformation,…

A voice that’s missed

Four years have passed since the loss of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020), and more than one year since the outbreak of the Iron Swords conflict. In these turbulent times, we can only imagine the wisdom that Sacks – who…

Children in the Shoah

photo - Left to right: Abby Wener Herlin, Lise Kirchner, Dr. Nataliia Ivchyk, Prof. Richard Menkis and Al Szajman at the community commemoration of Kristallnacht Nov. 7

Left to right: Abby Wener Herlin, Lise Kirchner, Dr. Nataliia Ivchyk, Prof. Richard Menkis and Al Szajman at the community commemoration of Kristallnacht Nov. 7. (photo by Rhonda Dent) The experiences of three Vancouver women who survived the Holocaust as…

Blue Rodeo is thriving at 40

photo - A 1989 PR photo for Blue Rodeo’s Diamond Mine album. Left to right are Bazil Donovan, Bob Wiseman, Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and Mark French. The documentary Blue Rodeo: Lost Together (left) has its world premiere at the Whistler Film Festival

A 1989 PR photo for Blue Rodeo’s Diamond Mine album. Left to right are Bazil Donovan, Bob Wiseman, Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and Mark French. The documentary Blue Rodeo: Lost Together (left) has its world premiere at the Whistler Film…

Hope for best outcomes

Every election leaves a portion of the electorate thrilled and another group disappointed. The more polarized the electorate, the more intense these emotions. Two elections recently were certainly examples of this – and they were elections that could hardly have…

Against their best interests

Writers often get submission calls saying “Sorry, we cannot pay you, but our publication is widely distributed. You’ll get great exposure!” I don’t bother, thinking something like “No, thanks. I live in Manitoba, Canada. We can die of exposure.” For…

Book a cautionary tale

Selina Robinson will release her memoir, Truth Be Told, in a special launch event on Dec. 18. Robinson, who served in senior cabinet portfolios in British Columbia’s government, was fired earlier this year after offhand remarks about the land on…

In honour of Arnold Schoenberg

photo - The Israeli Chamber Project ensemble

The Israeli Chamber Project ensemble (PR photo) Celebrating the 150th birth year of Arnold Schoenberg, the Israeli Chamber Project ensemble presents a semi-staged production of his expressionist cabaret Pierrot Lunaire with soprano Hila Baggio as the sad clown. Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Ravel’s La Valse complete the exploration of…

Join Pacific Theatre in Shire

photo - Peter Carlone, left, and Tim Carlson in Pacific Theatre’s production of The Hobbit

Peter Carlone, left, and Tim Carlson in Pacific Theatre’s production of The Hobbit (photo by Chelsey Stuyt) Need a break from reality? On now at Pacific Theatre is The Hobbit, based on JRR Tolkien’s book, with all its adventure, wizardry,…

Looking for everyday heroes

The deadline to nominate someone for the 2025 Courage to Come Back Awards is Jan. 17. The awards, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, pay tribute to everyday heroes who have overcome immense challenges and now give back to their community.…

Security through peace

screenshot - Noa in conversation with Rabbi Dan Moskovitz at Temple Sholom Oct. 30

Noa in conversation with Rabbi Dan Moskovitz at Temple Sholom Oct. 30. (screenshot) Israeli singer/songwriter and peace activist Achinoam Nini (Noa) was in British Columbia recently to do a Vipassana meditation. While here, she stopped at Temple Sholom Oct. 30…

Mobilizing against Jew-hatred

photo - Ysabella Hazan said phrases such as “the West is next” imply “exactly what the enemies of Israel accuse us of – being a Western outpost in the Middle East, a settled body, which is not true”

Ysabella Hazan said phrases such as “the West is next” imply “exactly what the enemies of Israel accuse us of – being a Western outpost in the Middle East, a settled body, which is not true.” (photo by Dave Gordon)…

Israel’s war is unique

photo - French writer, filmmaker and human rights activist Bernard-Henri Lévy was in Vancouver at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue Nov. 6, in conversation with the National Post’s Tristin Hopper

French writer, filmmaker and human rights activist Bernard-Henri Lévy was in Vancouver at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue Nov. 6, in conversation with the National Post’s Tristin Hopper. (photo by Pat Johnson) Bernard-Henri Lévy, a public intellectual so well-known in France that…

Update on taskforce

Since Oct. 7, 2023, many members of the Jewish community have experienced antisemitism in some form or another. Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs have been addressing these incidents, as well as progressing…

How hostages survive

photo - Dr. Ofer Merin, director general of Shaare Zedek Hospital, spoke at the event via video. He was expected to be in Vancouver in person but stayed in Jerusalem due to intelligence that Iran might strike Israel during the time he was scheduled to be away

Dr. Ofer Merin, director general of Shaare Zedek Hospital, spoke at the event via video. He was expected to be in Vancouver in person but stayed in Jerusalem due to intelligence that Iran might strike Israel during the time he…

Diversity in health care

photo - Left to right are Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, Dr. Salman Zarka, Dr. Tim Oberlander and Dr. Erik Swarz at Congregation Beth Israel, where Zarka gave a few talks Nov. 21-23

Left to right are Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, Dr. Salman Zarka, Dr. Tim Oberlander and Dr. Erik Swartz at Congregation Beth Israel, where Zarka gave a few talks Nov. 21-23. (photo from Beth Israel) “Our professional ethics, as well as Israeli…

Reflections on being a rabbi

photo - Rabbi Hannah Dresner recently retired as Or Shalom’s spiritual leader

Rabbi Hannah Dresner recently retired as Or Shalom’s spiritual leader. (photo from Or Shalom) On Nov. 30, the Or Shalom community comes together to celebrate Rabbi Hannah Dresner’s nine years of service to the shul. Dresner retired as Or Shalom’s…

Vibrant start to new year

Visiting Rabbi Cantor Russell Jayne (of Beth Tzedec Congregation, Calgary) was in Kelowna for a September Shabbaton. (photo from the OJC) The Okanagan Jewish Community may be small, but it’s got a strong, involved congregation that makes an impact on…

A Learning Stones memorial

A newly created monument in the garden of Temple Sholom Synagogue commemorates the victims of Oct. 7, 2023, and the Israeli civilians, soldiers and foreign nationals who have lost their lives since that day. (photo from Temple Sholom) There’s a newly…

Jweekly a model of success

photo - Ieden Wall and Susan Minuk’s contrasting styles balance JWeekly Canada perfectly

Ieden Wall and Susan Minuk’s contrasting styles balance JWeekly Canada perfectly. (photo from JWeekly Canada) JWeekly Canada made its Season 5 debut in September, becoming the longest-running Jewish TV talk show in Canada. Friends and colleagues warned Ieden Wall –…

Changing roles, duties

Pharmacist Ted Mah headlined the first session of this year’s Empowerment Series, which is presented by Jewish Seniors Alliance with the help of the Phyliss and Irving Snider Foundation. The Oct. 29 talk on Zoom was called Make Friends With…

A teacher to be remembered

David Laugharne, who was a teacher at Maimonides Secondary School, King David High School’s predecessor, passed away in 1994. Thirty years later, his memory and his impact on the school continue to be honoured, including an award in his name…

Whimsical, huggable toys

photo - Lea Bilot with some of her bearded gnomes

Lea Bilot with some of her bearded gnomes. (photo from Lea Bilot) Some artists find their niche, their preferred way of expression, early in life. For others, it takes longer, sometimes decades, to discover their creative outlet. Lea Bilot belongs…

המשבר הגדול של מדינת נתניהו יגיע עוד יגיע

לאחרונה דיבר עם חבר מישראל דוד שטויר, כאשר בגילו המתקדם (שבעים פלוס) כבר חווה הכל במדינה. אני הכרתי את דוד בחודשים הראשונים שלי בתהליך התאקלמות בוונקובר, אליה עברתי בחודש פברואר 2005 דוד חזר וציין בפני שאני הייתי “נביא” שראה לאן…

?מדוע אינני חוזר לגור בישראל

אני גר בוונקובר כבר למעלה מתשעה עשרה וחצי שנים ואין לי שום תוכניות לחזור לישראל. הסיבות לכך רבות וברורות מבחינתי. ובעיקר: אינני מוכן לחזור אחורה למציאות כה מורכבת וקשה שכפי שליוותה אותי במרבית חיי בישראל במלחמת ששת הימים הייתי בן…

Ageism is everywhere

screenshots - Panelists Margaret Gillis, left, and Dr. Melanie Doucet were the experts featured at this year’s Simces & Rabkin Family Dialogue on Human Rights, which focused on ageism

Panelists Margaret Gillis, left, and Dr. Melanie Doucet were the experts featured at this year’s Simces & Rabkin Family Dialogue on Human Rights, which focused on ageism. “Ageism is anytime we make an assumption, a judgment, a stereotype, or discriminate…