Category Local

Feed the hungry

photo - Project Isaiah is collecting donations

(photo from Jewish Family Service Agency) Each year, Jewish Family Service Agency, in collaboration with Jewish Women International-B.C., operates Project Isaiah – a High Holy Days food drive that assists members of our community in need. A successful response to…

A time to socialize and lunch

photo - Most of the volunteers have been with the JFSA Seniors Lunch program for up to 15 years

Most of the volunteers have been with the JFSA Seniors Lunch program for up to 15 years. (photo from Jewish Family Service Agency) The Jewish Family Service Agency Seniors Lunch program held its annual volunteer appreciation event on Aug. 8.…

Sumekh swipes out hunger

photo - Rachel Sumekh is one of five speakers who will participate in FEDtalks Sept. 13

Rachel Sumekh is one of five speakers who will participate in FEDtalks Sept. 13. (photo from Rachel Sumekh) University students with meal plans often end a semester or term with a surplus on their cafeteria swipe card. Whether because they…

Unity, not uniformity, Hillel’s goal

photo - Eric Fingerhut, chief executive officer of Hillel International, will be part of FEDtalks on Sept. 13

Eric Fingerhut, chief executive officer of Hillel International, will be part of FEDtalks on Sept. 13. (photo from Hillel International) There are internal and external challenges facing the Jewish community, said Eric Fingerhut, and their solutions will come from the…

Newcomers settling in

photo - From left to right: Rabbi Dan Moskovitz, Meha Qewas, the Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, Hesen Mostefa, Brenda Karp and two of the Mostefas’ children

From left to right: Rabbi Dan Moskovitz, Meha Qewas, the Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, Hesen Mostefa, Brenda Karp and two of the Mostefas’ children. (photo from Temple Sholom) “I am not scared,” says Meha Qewas, sitting at her small dining table…

Volunteer to tutor students

photo - Chabad Richmond is looking for seniors to teach English to Israelis

Chabad Richmond is looking for seniors to teach English to Israelis. (photo from chabadrichmond.com) Want to make a difference in the lives of Israeli teens? Consider Israel Connect, a volunteer program where Vancouver retirees engage via Zoom (it’s like Skype)…

Making discourse civil

photo - Rabbi Jay Henry Moses will speak at FEDtalks on Sept. 13

Rabbi Jay Henry Moses will speak at FEDtalks on Sept. 13. (photo from Rabbi Jay Henry Moses) While hate groups and their opponents across North America rally, and sometimes brawl, proponents of civil discourse are teaching people to communicate effectively…

Talmud Torah celebrates 100

photo - Vancouver Talmud Torah’s expanded new campus includes many collaborative spaces

Vancouver Talmud Torah’s expanded new campus includes many collaborative spaces. (photo from VTT) On Sept. 17, Vancouver Talmud Torah will mark its centenary, celebrating “its humble beginnings as an afterschool cheder to the VTT of today – a modern, state-of-the-art…

Thrilled by community

photo - Rabbi Philip Gibbs is the new spiritual leader of Congregation Har El

Rabbi Philip Gibbs is the new spiritual leader of Congregation Har El. (photo from Rabbi Philip Gibbs) Rabbi Philip Gibbs, who took up the pulpit at Congregation Har El / North Shore Jewish Community Centre in July, had an unusually…

Helping out new immigrants

photo - Sol and Shirley Kort

Sol and Shirley Kort (photo from Alisa Kort) The Kort family – in an initiative led by sisters Beverley and Alisa – has established a scholarship in their parents’ names with the National Council of Jewish Women. The award will…