Category Local

Learning about other faiths

photo - Grade 6 students from Vancouver Talmud Torah – Sophie Chelin, Ava Abramowich, Sayde Shuster, Ruth Nahmad and Rachel Seguin – do the blessing over the candles at an interfaith Shabbat dinner on May 6

Grade 6 students from Vancouver Talmud Torah – Sophie Chelin, Ava Abramowich, Sayde Shuster, Ruth Nahmad and Rachel Seguin – do the blessing over the candles at an interfaith Shabbat dinner on May 6. (photo by Jennifer Shecter-Balin) The joy…

VHEC marks anniversaries

photo - Robbie Waisman, left, and Éloge Butera will be the keynote speakers on May 26

Robbie Waisman, left, and Éloge Butera will be the keynote speakers on May 26. (photo from Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre) At a first-in-a-decade gala dinner this month, the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre will mark three significant anniversaries. “It’s more than…

JFSA lunch raises $266K

photo - Hootsuite’s Ryan Holmes speaks to an attendee at the Innovators Lunch on May 4

Hootsuite’s Ryan Holmes speaks to an attendee at the Innovators Lunch on May 4. (photo by Sandra Steier) More than 550 people at the Jewish Family Service Agency’s Innovators Lunch on May 4 raised more than $266,000 for the important…

Courage’s two records

photo - Lorne Segal, chair, Courage to Come Back Awards

Lorne Segal, chair, Courage to Come Back Awards. (photo by Cynthia Ramsay) In its chai year, the Courage to Come Back Awards had a record night on May 5 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with more than 1,500 guests and…

Home for our war veterans

photo - Shalom Branch 178 began as Fairview Branch 178 in 1945

Shalom Branch 178 began as Fairview Branch 178 in 1945. (photo by Shula Klinger) As the Second World War was drawing to a close, servicemen and -women began returning to Vancouver. Among them were Jewish veterans. As they looked for ways…

A future he never imagined

photo - Sam Rozencwajg

Sam Rozencwajg (photo by Drew Tapley) Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In a decade from now, there will be virtually no one alive with a living memory of this time in…

The resilience of survivors

photo - Peter Suedfeld and his mother. Taken at Vajdahunyad Castle, Budapest, Hungary, circa 1939/40

Peter Suedfeld and his mother. Taken at Vajdahunyad Castle, Budapest, Hungary, circa 1939 (photo from Peter Suedfeld) Dr. Peter Suedfeld has devoted his life to the study of how human beings adapt to and cope with challenge, stress and danger.…

Where do Messianics fit?

Last month, the Jewish Independent received an email from a reader concerned about a new group for Messianic Jews being organized via meetup.com. While the organizer did not respond to requests for an interview, the Independent followed up on the…

JNF hosts Israel’s Rasnic

photo - At the Jewish National Fund, Pacific Region, Negev Dinner on April 10, left to right, are Ruth Rasnic, dinner honoree Shirley Barnett and B.C. Premier Christy Clark

At the Jewish National Fund, Pacific Region, Negev Dinner on April 10, left to right, are Ruth Rasnic, dinner honoree Shirley Barnett and B.C. Premier Christy Clark. (photo from JNF Pacific Region) When many people think of feminism, it’s likely…

RJDS student mitzvah

Students Tomer Berko Gabay (student council president), Liam Greenberg (secretary) and Nathan Tourvieille (treasurer) with Heartly, aka Karen Pasqua, senior events coordinator, Howard Blank, Reesa Pawer and Julie Kendell. Student Tal Pretli (vice-president) was absent when the photo was taken

Students Tomer Berko Gabay (student council president), Liam Greenberg (secretary) and Nathan Tourvieille (treasurer) with Heartly, aka Karen Pasqua, senior events coordinator, Howard Blank, Reesa Pawer and Julie Kendell. Student Tal Pretli (vice-president) was absent when the photo was taken.…