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Mausoleum work to resume

photo - The construction site of the mausoleum for Bahá’í leader ‘Abdu’l Bahá, east of Haifa Bay, Israel

The construction site of the mausoleum for Bahá’í leader ‘Abdu’l Bahá, east of Haifa Bay, Israel. (photo by Gil Zohar) Construction of Vancouver-based architect Hossein Amanat’s mausoleum for Bahá’í leader ‘Abdu’l Bahá (1844-1921) was set back when a fire on…

רכישות צבאיות על ידי ממשלת קנדה

photo - A Lockheed Martin F-35

רכישה ראשונה: קנדה החליטה לרכוש את המטוס המפציץ החמקן אף שלושים וחמש לאור פלישת רוסיה לאוקראינה הבינו בקנדה שיש להיערך ברצינות לאיומים שבדרך. ממשלת קנדה הליברלית בראשות ראש הממשלה, ג’סטין טרודו, החליטה סוף סוף לרכוש מטוסי קרב אמריקנים חדישים. מדובר…

Helping Ukrainian refugees

photo - On March 5, in western Ukraine, children and families make their way to the border to cross into Poland

On March 5, in western Ukraine, children and families make their way to the border to cross into Poland. (photo © UNICEF/Viktor Moskaliuk) A friend described to me once what Warsaw looked like in the aftermath of the Second World…

The scarcity of water

photo - The seawater desalination plant in Ashkelon, Israel

The seawater desalination plant in Ashkelon, Israel. (photo from © VID) The Consulate General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada marked World Water Day on March 22 with a webinar entitled “Squeezing Water from a Stone.” Dr. Alex Furman…

Celebrate Israel with joy

In the coming days, we celebrate the 74th anniversary of the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel. By press time, we were still anticipating the first local in-person celebration in three years, a coming together that, if…

Happy 74th birthday, Israel!

Like many Jewish kids who go to religious school twice a week, my understanding of Israel and its history was, well, simplistic. That changed when I was 16. I went to live, on my own, on Kibbutz Beit HaShita for…

Fundraiser for Ukraine

Among the works for sale is “Spring Time” by Yuri Padal

Among the works for sale is “Spring Time” by Yuri Padal. On April 3, at Art Works Gallery, Art in Aid of Ukraine was launched. Artists and communities in Vancouver, standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, came together for…

A celebration of dance

photo - Liat Har Lev premières a new work at the Dance Centre on April 29, as part of the centre’s celebration of International Dance Day

Liat Har Lev premières a new work at the Dance Centre on April 29, as part of the centre’s celebration of International Dance Day. (photo by Chris Randle) International Dance Day is April 29. To celebrate the occasion, the Dance…

25 years since deadly crash

photo - The monument for the 73 Israel Defence Forces soldiers killed in the 1997 helicopter accident over She’ar Yashuv in northern Israel

The monument for the 73 Israel Defence Forces soldiers killed in the 1997 helicopter accident over She’ar Yashuv in northern Israel. (photo by Geoffrey Druker) This year’s community Yom Hazikaron commemoration on May 3 will mark the 25th anniversary of…

Art Vancouver fair returns

photo - “I Cast to Earth a Seed,” by Lisa Wolfin

“I Cast to Earth a Seed,” by Lisa Wolfin. Art Vancouver returns after a two-year COVID-imposed hiatus. Artists and galleries from across Canada and the United States – as well as from countries including Argentina, Cuba, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Taiwan…

Presenting Mixed Repertoire

photo - A Million Voices, choreographed by Matthew Neenan, is described as a “lighthearted and whimsical ode to Peggy Lee’s iconic jazz standards"

A Million Voices, choreographed by Matthew Neenan, is described as a “lighthearted and whimsical ode to Peggy Lee’s iconic jazz standards.” (photo by Rob LatourRob Latour) Los Angeles-based BODYTRAFFIC returns to Vancouver for their DanceHouse debut, May 5-6, at the…

Fostering literacy, education

photo - Aaron Friedland will be the keynote speaker at this year’s King David High School Golden Thread Gala

Aaron Friedland will be the keynote speaker at this year’s King David High School Golden Thread Gala. (photo from goldenthreadgala.com) King David High School’s Second Annual Golden Thread Gala takes place May 12. For an event that celebrates the story…

BGU tackles climate change

photo - Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s School of Sustainability and Climate Change have been experimenting with alternative ways of irrigating trees, in this case, by floodwater

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s School of Sustainability and Climate Change have been experimenting with alternative ways of irrigating trees, in this case, by floodwater. (photo by Dani Machlis/BGU) “It is in the Negev that the creativity and…

Revitalizing community

photo - Torah West wants to make Metro Vancouver a destination for more Orthodox newcomers

Torah West wants to make Metro Vancouver a destination for more Orthodox newcomers. (photo by Cynthia Ramsay) A new initiative, called Torah West, aims to grow Metro Vancouver’s Jewish population and make it more attractive to Orthodox newcomers – a…

Angels still giving

photo - Courtney Cohen with students from Richmond Jewish Day School holding donated items for care packages

Courtney Cohen with students from Richmond Jewish Day School holding donated items for care packages. (photo from Rose’s Angels) The ninth annual Rose’s Angels took place over the months of February and March. With the generous help of family, friends…

Immigration challenges

photo - Adi Barokas and her husband Barak during their time in Vancouver

Adi Barokas and her husband Barak during their time in Vancouver. (photo from Adi Barokas) I read a review in an Israeli newspaper of Adi Barokas’ Hebrew-language graphic novel, the title of which translates as The Journey to the Best…

A religious pilgrimage

Bohras in prayer at the marble open-air mosque located on the grounds of Barzilai Medical Centre. (photo from Ron Lobel) The Barzilai Medical Centre in Ashkelon, Israel, is known for treating victims of border skirmishes with Gaza. It is also…

נבחרת קנדה בכדורגל הגיעה לגביע העולמי

קשה להאמין אבל זו עובדה מוגמרת: נבחרת קנדה בכדורגל הצליחה להעפיל למשחקי הגביע העולמי הלא הוא המונדיאל. זאת, לא מעט בזכותו של מאמן הנבחרת הבריטי, ג’ון הרמן. יש לזכור שקנדה לא השתתפה בשום מונדיאל מאז אלף תשע מאות שמונים ושש…

Beckow’s music will live on

photo - Joan Beckow, left, Wendy Bross Stuart, centre, and Jessica Stuart, during a visit a few years ago

Joan Beckow, left, Wendy Bross Stuart, centre, and Jessica Stuart, during a visit a few years ago. (photo from Jessica Stuart) Acknowledging that the music world is “a fickle one in which skill, talent and ingenuity do not necessarily result…

Sculpting emotion with glass

photo - Some of Tara Pawson’s Human Beams

Some of Tara Pawson’s Human Beams. (photo from Tara Pawson) Tara Pawson’s fascination with glass began when she was in high school. “My dad was a welder,” she said. “He would bring home some metal pieces, and I would fabricate…

Opening of hearts

image - In this Vancouver Playback Theatre screenshot are, top row, left to right, Peter Abrams, Diandra Lee and Laen Hershler; middle row from left, Ingrid Broussillon, Joel Bronstein and Louise Lemieux; and Carol Ann Fried

In this Vancouver Playback Theatre screenshot are, top row, left to right, Peter Abrams, Diandra Lee and Laen Hershler; middle row from left, Ingrid Broussillon, Joel Bronstein and Louise Lemieux; and Carol Ann Fried. If you want to see tikkun…

Bar mitzvah reveals tensions

photo - Nicholas Guerriero, left, Lorene Cammiade and Rudy Smith rehearse a scene from Bema Productions’ staging of Men Overboard, which will be at Emanu-El Synagogue’s Black Box Theatre May 5-15. Guerriero plays Jay Silver, a Buddhist monk and the youngest son of Zaida Ernie, Cammiade portrays Eva Fuzesi, the bar mitzvah tutor from Hungary, and Smith plays Doug Silver, Ernie’s middle son and a psychotherapist

Nicholas Guerriero, left, Lorene Cammiade and Rudy Smith rehearse a scene from Bema Productions’ staging of Men Overboard, which will be at Emanu-El Synagogue’s Black Box Theatre May 5-15. Guerriero plays Jay Silver, a Buddhist monk and the youngest son…

A new story every year

Each year, we revisit the same Torah portions but, while the words remain the same, our understandings change based on what is happening in our world or in our lives. The exodus story, the story of Passover, remains as relevant…

Take a comedy break

photo - Left to right, Ori Laizerouvich, Israel Atias, Daniel Gad and Omer Perelman Striks co-star in The New Black

Left to right, Ori Laizerouvich, Israel Atias, Daniel Gad and Omer Perelman Striks co-star in The New Black. (photo from ChaiFlicks) I have to improve either my Hebrew comprehension or my English speedreading skills before April 12. The second season…

Criminalize Holocaust denial?

Criminalizing Holocaust denial would draw a moral line in the sand, say two advocates for legal action, but a lawyer and Canadian-Israeli former member of the Knesset has reservations. Michal Cotler-Wunsh, head of the Nefesh B’Nefesh Institute for Aliyah Policy…

Making internet safer

image - from internetmatters.org

(image from internetmatters.org) On March 30, Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti announced a new expert advisory group on online safety as the next step in developing legislation to…

Synagogue’s milestone

photo - Montreal’s Congregation Shaar Hashomayim has been at its Kensington Avenue home for 100 years

Montreal’s Congregation Shaar Hashomayim has been at its Kensington Avenue home for 100 years. (photo by Lainie Berger / unsplash.com) Montreal’s Congregation Shaar Hashomayim is 176 years old – and it has been in its current building for 100 years…

Again: war triggers memories

Again and again the world does not learn. The ego of dictators and high-ranking politicians is inflated, bordering on insanity. There are many conflicts in the world, but it is Russia’s war on Ukraine that I’m thinking of at this…