Category News

BCTF’s Nakba motion

“An important part of our work as teachers is to create safety for our students within our classrooms and schools. Globally and locally, we are hearing how increasing rhetoric and hate speech in communities are threatening safety and belonging. With…

BCTF nixes antisemitism efforts 

A group of public school teachers who are pressing for resources and  supports to help educate about antisemitism and the Holocaust have been rejected by the provincial teachers’ union. The recently formed Holocaust and Antisemitism Educators Association was informed earlier…

VanCAF apologizes

photo - Miriam Libicki in 2017, when she was writer-in-residence at the Vancouver Public Library

Miriam Libicki in 2017, when she was writer-in-residence at the Vancouver Public Library. (photo by Jeff Vinnick/VPL) The Vancouver Comic Arts Festival (VanCAF) issued a public apology to Miriam Libicki on June 2, eight days after posting online that it…

Legal helpline on call

photo - Lawyer Erin Brandt founded the Antisemitism Legal Helpline to help connect people experiencing antisemitism with volunteer lawyers who could provide them with free, confidential legal advice

Lawyer Erin Brandt founded the Antisemitism Legal Helpline to help connect people experiencing antisemitism with volunteer lawyers who could provide them with free, confidential legal advice. (photo from Erin Brandt) After Oct. 7, Erin Brandt was angry. She decided to…

Health professionals gather

photo - The inaugural board of the Jewish Medical Association of British Columbia

The inaugural board of the Jewish Medical Association of British Columbia. (photo from JMABC) The newly incorporated Jewish Medical Association of British Columbia held a meeting at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue on May 29, with more than 70 physicians and allied healthcare…

Action must be taken

photo - Richard Heideman, left, and Warren Kinsella participated in a B’nai Brith Canada virtual fireside chat on May 30

Richard Heideman, left, and Warren Kinsella participated in a B’nai Brith Canada virtual fireside chat on May 30. (photo from B’nai Brith Canada) The League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada hosted a virtual fireside chat with Canadian lawyer…

One family’s influence

photo - Ben Shneiderman was the featured speaker at Jewish Senior Alliance’s Spring Forum May 26

Ben Shneiderman was the featured speaker at Jewish Senior Alliance’s Spring Forum May 26. (photo from hai.stanford.edu) On Sunday, May 26, the Jewish Seniors Alliance presented their annual Spring Forum. Featured speaker Ben Shneiderman spoke about his family’s influence on…

Tea unites, entertains

photo - Richmond Jewish Day School students at the school’s annual  Garden Tea Party, which took place May 22

Richmond Jewish Day School students at the school’s annual  Garden Tea Party, which took place May 22. (photo from RJDS) On May 22, Richmond Jewish Day School (RJDS) welcomed community members to its annual Garden Tea Party. The event began…

Community gathering place

photo - Many community events, lessons and celebrations take place in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s Wosk Auditorium

Many community events, lessons and celebrations take place in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s Wosk Auditorium. (photo from JCC) A sense of family and community, somewhere to be physically active and mentally stimulated, a haven in which to…

About the 2024 Summer JI cover

Vancouver Jewish Community Garden coordinator Maggie Wilson took the photo that graces this year’s cover of the Jewish Independent Summer issue. According to the garden’s newsletter, “A few strawberry plants opted to try their luck in the gravel and managed…