{"id":42072,"date":"2023-09-01T01:50:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=42072"},"modified":"2023-08-31T09:56:12","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T16:56:12","slug":"cjpac-bridges-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2023\/09\/01\/cjpac-bridges-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"CJPAC bridges engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Avishai Infeld speaking during a mock question period at CJPAC\u2019s Generation: Student Leaders Program. (photo from CJPAC)<\/em><\/p>\n

When it comes to making a mark in Canadian politics, waiting for elections is a thing of the past. The Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) is a bridge to meaningful political engagement, and the year 5784 is a perfect opportunity to jump in.<\/p>\n

For Vancouverite Avishai Infeld, CJPAC kindled his political curiosity. \u201cCJPAC ignited the spark of political interest that I long had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Drawing from his participation in several CJPAC programs, Infeld added, \u201cIt showed me just how accessible yet valuable political engagement can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

CJPAC is a national, independent, multi-partisan organization with offices in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. It is committed to involving Jewish and pro-Israel Canadians in the democratic process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you think \u2018CJPAC,\u2019 think volunteering and campaigning,\u201d said Kara Mintzberg, CJPAC\u2019s director for the B.C. region. \u201cDuring elections, we\u2019re like a political concierge. We help connect community members to candidates and campaigns of their choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, CJPAC\u2019s role extends beyond elections, building relationships between politicians and the community year-round. The nonprofit also molds Canada\u2019s future political leaders through innovative, hands-on programs.<\/p>\n

Sarah Warsh, a product of CJPAC\u2019s national Generation: Student Leaders Program, speaks highly of its transformative impact. \u201cGrowing up in Nanaimo, B.C., connecting with CJPAC was an invaluable experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Tailored for Jewish students in grades 10 through 12, the program features regular virtual and in-person sessions, cultivating political knowledge and skills. \u201cGeneration was the turnkey that immersed me into politics, multi-partisanship and the Jewish community,\u201d said Warsh, who went on to participate in CJPAC\u2019s flagship Fellowship Program for post-secondary students, where, each year, CJPAC equips 50 of Canada\u2019s top, pro-Israel, politically engaged students with the tools to win campaigns.<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Sarah Warsh (top left) in the House of Commons while participating in CJPAC\u2019s Fellowship Program. (photo from CJPAC)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since 2006, more than 500 of Canada\u2019s brightest have graduated from the Fellowship Program, with more than one-third assuming roles in political offices across the country, including Warsh. She credited CJPAC for jumpstarting her career in a national political party, a federal political leader\u2019s office and a premier\u2019s office.\u00a0\u201cThe decision to get involved with CJPAC was one of the best I\u2019ve made,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Both programs send participants to Ottawa for multiple days to meet with politicians, strategists and staffers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to everything I gained from CJPAC,\u201d said Infeld, \u201cI have volunteered on campaigns in Canada, served on an MP\u2019s youth council, and now work as the Hillel Montreal advocacy coordinator.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those acquainted with politically inclined students in high school or post-secondary education, applications for CJPAC\u2019s Fellowship Program close Sept. 12, while the Generation program applications are due by Oct. 6.<\/p>\n

But, even if you\u2019re not a student or don\u2019t know one, there\u2019s still a chance to engage \u2013\u00a0attend CJPAC\u2019s inaugural B.C. ACTION Party. Save the date for May 16, 2024, and get ready to celebrate political engagement with Jewish and political communities.<\/p>\n

To learn more, visit cjpac.ca. For specific inquires, reach out to Mintzberg by email (kmintzberg@cjpac.ca<\/a>) or phone (604-343-4126).<\/p>\n

\u2013 Courtesy CJPAC<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Avishai Infeld speaking during a mock question period at CJPAC\u2019s Generation: Student Leaders Program. (photo from CJPAC) When it comes to making a mark in Canadian politics, waiting for elections is a thing of the past. The Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) is a bridge to meaningful political engagement, and the year 5784 is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42074,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[22578,3076,4300,3597,22579,3753],"class_list":["post-42072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","tag-avishai-infeld","tag-education","tag-kara-mintzberg","tag-politics","tag-sarah-warsh","tag-youth"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}