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No Silence on Race: an update

It’s been almost two months since we launched our open letter on June 30 and so much has happened since then! We have received hundreds of signatures of support from the Jewish community across Canada and several Canadian organizations, congregations…

New measures for milestones

This summer, we passed signs along the Trans-Canada Highway. These are the ones that mark 10 kilometres, one kilometre at a time, allowing drivers to see if their vehicle’s odometer is properly calibrated. My kids haven’t done much in the…

3,200-year-old fortress now open to public

photo - An aerial photo of the remains of a 3,200-year-old Canaanite fortress built near today’s town of Kiryat Gat

An aerial photo of the remains of a 3,200-year-old Canaanite fortress built near today’s town of Kiryat Gat. (photo by Emil Aladjem/IAA via Ashernet) The Kiryat Gat fortress site, which was opened to visitors this week, was prepared by the…

Best years ahead: Shanken

photo - Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver chief executive officer Ezra Shanken holding a T-shirt featuring Dr. Patricia Daly, vice-president of public health and chief medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. The Facebook post thanks Daly for always being there, throughout COVID-19, “behind the scenes providing valuable support”

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver chief executive officer Ezra Shanken holding a T-shirt featuring Dr. Patricia Daly, vice-president of public health and chief medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. The Facebook post thanks Daly for always being there, throughout…

Working to advance equality

photo - Akilah Allen-Silverstein, a co-founder, with Sara Yacobi-Harris and Daisy Moriyama, of No Silence on Race

Akilah Allen-Silverstein, a co-founder, with Sara Yacobi-Harris and Daisy Moriyama, of No Silence on Race. (photo from NSR) Amid a global reckoning around race, a group of Canadian Jews of colour is calling on the community to advance inclusivity and…

The world needs us to change

photo - Nigel Savage, president and chief executive officer of Hazon, is one of the keynote speakers for Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s annual campaign opening on Sept. 8

Nigel Savage, president and chief executive officer of Hazon, is one of the keynote speakers for Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s annual campaign opening on Sept. 8. (photo from JFGV) Nigel Savage, president and chief executive officer of Hazon, is…

Historic Israel-UAE accord?

Hosannas of historical significance followed the announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates have normalized relations with each other. The truth is, we don’t really know what this means for the long-term. History is best judged in hindsight. In…

Israel and UAE accord

photo - TeraGroup chair and chief executive officer Oren Sadiv, left, signs a research deal with Khalifa Yousef Khouri, chair of APEX National Investment, in Abu Dhabi

TeraGroup chair and chief executive officer Oren Sadiv, left, signs a research deal with Khalifa Yousef Khouri, chair of APEX National Investment, in Abu Dhabi. (photo from WAM Emirates News Agency via Israel21c) Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic could be just…

New MK has Canadian roots

photo - Both MK Michal Cotler-Wunsh, left, and her political aide, Becca Wertman, have Canadian roots

Both MK Michal Cotler-Wunsh, left, and her political aide, Becca Wertman, have Canadian roots. (photo from Becca Wertman) A new, dynamic force has hit the Knesset, with a political aide just as passionate, and both are rooted in Canada. Michal…

Making yoga more accessible

screenshot - yogabuggy.com homepage

For Miriam Leo-Gindin, founder of the Yoga Buggy, COVID-19 has meant more opportunities to bring her passion for yoga to Vancouver youth – free of charge. Leo-Gindin, 41, a former school teacher who has taught yoga in various capacities, including…

Discussion, wine, food

photo - Mayim Bialik headlines a Sept. 9 event to raise funds for the SOS: Support Our Students Assistance Fund at Ben-Gurion University

Mayim Bialik headlines a Sept. 9 event to raise funds for the SOS: Support Our Students Assistance Fund at Ben-Gurion University. (photo from CABGU) Across five time zones, two scientists and a Canadian senator will virtually get together to talk…

Supporting HU scholarships

photo - Lenny and Faigel Shapiro

Lenny and Faigel Shapiro (photo from CFHU) Calgary resident and philanthropist Lenny Shapiro recently announced that he and his wife Faigel are expanding their scholarship program at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. As part of a new five-year commitment, the couple…

More than a teaching position

photo - Sara Barahan, a former Israel Connect student, continues to meet with her mentor from the program, and has started helping others improve their English, too

Sara Barahan, a former Israel Connect student, continues to meet with her mentor from the program, and has started helping others improve their English, too. (photo from Chabad Richmond) Israel Connect pairs a mentor with an Israeli teen student who…

Real-life learning

photo - Clockwise from top left: Prof. Daphna Lewinsohn-Zamir, Prof. Guy Davidov, Ohad Amar and Vardit Dameri Madar of Hebrew University’s Clinical Legal Education Centre

Clockwise from top left: Prof. Daphna Lewinsohn-Zamir, Prof. Guy Davidov, Ohad Amar and Vardit Dameri Madar of Hebrew University’s Clinical Legal Education Centre. (photos from cfhu.org) Five representatives of Hebrew University’s Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC) took part in an…

Inspiring students’ research

photo - Students and staff of the recent Arrow Project on a tour of Sheba. In the centre is Prof. Eldad Katorza. Student Yair Jalmar is at the far right

Students and staff of the recent Arrow Project on a tour of Sheba. In the centre is Prof. Eldad Katorza. Student Yair Jalmar is at the far right. (photo from IMP) Sheba Medical Centre, Israel’s national hospital, enjoys a reputation…

Showing appreciation

photo - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin with firefighters near the Gaza border earlier this week

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin with firefighters near the Gaza border earlier this week. (photo from IGPO via Ashernet) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited the Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) at the Erez border crossing point and sites where fires have…

We always find ways to learn

All over the world, students will be continuing a different school experience, one that began soon after the pandemic. Some face a new academic year with entirely virtual learning. Others are going back into classrooms with many adjustments to allow…

Don’t wait to tell story

The other day, I went looking for a friend I met during my university days, one I had lost touch with after years of companionship. I looked him up on the internet and discovered to my dismay that he had…

Let’s restore ancient holiday

It is time for Jews to restore and transform the ancient and largely forgotten Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah l’Ma’aser b’Heimot (the New Year for Tithing Animals) into a day devoted to considering how to improve our relationships with animals.…

להאריך את הסגירה של הגבולות

image - US-Mexican-Canadian flags

(Wikimedia Commons) שלוש המדינות של צפון אמריקה שוב החליטו להאריך את סגירת הגבולות היבשתיים ביניהן. זאת, פרט לנסיעות חיוניות והעברת סחורות ממדינה למדינה. סגירת הגבולות בין ארצות הברית, קנדה ומקסיקו החלה כבר בחודש מרץ השנה. לאור התפרצות מגיפת הקורונה במדינות…

משותפות אסטרטגית חדשה

photo - One of the joint projects will be managed by Prof. Ari Matmon, of the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University, and Prof. Michael Hazan of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto. The study will be conducted in part in South Africa in order to understand how climate change affected the development of the first humans in the Kalahari Desert

אחד הפרויקטים המשותפים ינוהל על ידי פרופ’ ארי מטמון, מהמכון למדעי כדור הארץ באוניברסיטה העברית ופרופ’ מיכאל חזן מהמחלקה אנתרופולוגיה באוניברסיטת טורונטו. המחקר יתבצע בחלקו בדרום אפריקה במטרה להבין כיצד שינויי אקלים השפיעו על התפתחותם של בני האדם הראשונים במדבר…

Paul hopes to make history

photo - Annamie Paul is running to succeed Elizabeth May as leader of the Green Party of Canada

Annamie Paul is running to succeed Elizabeth May as leader of the Green Party of Canada. (photo from Annamie Paul) Annamie Paul wants to be the first woman of colour and the first Jewish woman to lead a political party…

Need for Courage increases

photo - Corey Hirsch is among the honorees of this year’s Courage to Come Back Awards

Corey Hirsch is among the honorees of this year’s Courage to Come Back Awards. (photo from Courage to Come Back) “Believe me when I say that the stories we share are true journeys of bravery, resilience and strength in the…

Redouble efforts

North American society, hobbled by the COVID pandemic and enflamed by police violence and the belated recognition of other forms of systemic racism, has now veered determinedly into a discussion of privilege. Discussion of white privilege is an effort to…

Stay home for the High Holidays

At its best, the Jewish community does amazing things in the spirit of pikuach nefesh, to save a life. At services, if someone faints, there’s silent networking. Within seconds, multiple medical professionals surge forward silently to attend those medical emergencies.…

Recording LGBTQ+ history

photo - Embarking on a new archival project: left to right, Ye’ela Eilon-Heiber, Lily Hoenig, Mickey Morgan, Madison Slobin, Carmel Tanaka, Holly Steele, Avi Grundner and Alysa Routtenberg

Embarking on a new archival project: left to right, Ye’ela Eilon-Heiber, Lily Hoenig, Mickey Morgan, Madison Slobin, Carmel Tanaka, Holly Steele, Avi Grundner and Alysa Routtenberg. (photo from JQT and JMABC) The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia (JMABC)…

New rabbi joins Victoria shul

photo - Rabbi Matt Ponak is the new education director and assistant rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El

Rabbi Matt Ponak is the new education director and assistant rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El. (photo from AJNews) Going as far back as his days with Northwest Canada Region of B’nai Brith Youth Organization, Matt Ponak has had a passion for…