Next week, Temple Sholom and UnXeptable Vancouver, with Israeli protest group Safeguarding our Shared Home and US-based registered charity America-Israel Democracy Coalition, will host a discussion about how the Jewish community in Vancouver can support the pro-democracy protest efforts in Israel.<\/p>\n
The event, scheduled to take place at Temple Sholom on Sept. 26, beginning at 7 p.m., will feature a discussion with Michal Muszkat-Barkan, PhD, of Safeguarding Our Shared Home, and Ora Peled Nakash of the America-Israel Democracy Coalition. Attendees will hear their perspectives and engage in a dialogue about the efforts by the Israeli democracy movement to build a strong civil society upholding Israel\u2019s Declaration of Independence and its commitments to Jewish history, Jewish values, democracy, equality and justice.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s pro-democracy movement brings together nearly 200 different organizations. These organizations span various facets of Israeli society, including religious and secular groups, LGBTQ+ and women\u2019s rights advocates, military veterans, medical professionals, anti-occupation activists, and many community-specific groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pro-democracy movement isn\u2019t about politics, it is about the soul of the country,\u201d said Jonathan Barsade, president of the America-Israel Democracy Coalition.\u00a0\u201cIn modern history, the soul of Israel has been a critical element for the well-being of the Jewish community worldwide. That is why it is so important for the Israeli movement to engage and include the international Jewish community in this momentous event.\u201d<\/p>\n
In partnership with JSpaceCanada, Arza Canada, Ameinu Canada and the New Israel Fund of Canada, the gathering at Temple Sholom mirrors in many ways the inclusivity of Israel\u2019s pro-democracy movement, by bringing together the leading organizations of progressive Jewry in Canada to engage in dialogue at a critical time in the history of the Israel-Canada relationship. It will be the first opportunity in Canada for Canadian Jews to meet with Israeli protest leaders live and in-person.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are honoured to host this event at Temple Sholom, which provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas,\u201d said Rabbi Dan Moskovitz of Temple Sholom. \u201cBy bringing together these influential Israeli protest leaders and showcasing the multifaceted nature of Israel\u2019s pro-democracy movement, we aim to promote understanding and empathy while answering their call for solidarity from diaspora Jews.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daphna Kedem, lead organizer of UnXeptable Vancouver, added, \u201cas an Israeli expat and proud member of the Vancouver Jewish community, I know how much pain both these communities feel about the current political climate in Israel. It is my hope that, through listening to those on the ground most affected by the potential regime change in Israel, we can work together \u2013 diaspora and Israeli Jews \u2013 to keep Israel Jewish and democratic, as stated in its Declaration of Independence.\u201d<\/p>\n