Susan Inhaber, president, Na\u2019amat Canada (left), with Dalia Margalit-Faircloth, president, Na\u2019amat Vancouver. (photo by Heather Freed)<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/i>Na\u2019amat Canada and NA\u2019AMAT USA came together last month to celebrate a milestone: 100 years of community work.<\/p>\n
The Centennial Celebration, held in Toronto May 16-18, brought together leaders, members and supporters for a weekend filled with joy, reflection and renewed purpose. The program featured tributes, performances and presentations from Na\u2019amat International leaders. Together, participants honoured a century of activism and achievement while charting the course for the work ahead.<\/p>\n
Na\u2019amat was \u201cthe first and last women\u2019s organization for which I ever worked,\u201d said the late Golda Meir, national secretary (president) of Na\u2019amat in the 1930s, decades before she became Israel\u2019s prime minister.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1925, Na\u2019amat Canada is a Jewish nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and families in Israel and Canada through education, advocacy and social services.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom our humble beginnings as a single organization to the growth of two vibrant organizations dedicated to empowering women and children in Israel, we can take great pride in our rich and storied history,\u201d said event co-chairs Jan Gurvitch (NA\u2019AMAT USA) and Susan Inhaber (Na\u2019amat Canada). \u201cThis celebration honours not only the trailblazers who came before us but also the dedicated individuals who continue to give their time and energy to carry our mission forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The weekend began with welcomes and candlelighting, continued with performances and storytelling, and culminated in a\u00a0 <\/span>tribute to Na\u2019amat\u2019s past national presidents, women who helped shape the organization\u2019s direction for generations. Attendees also heard from Na\u2019amat Israel leaders Hagit Pe\u2019er and Shirli Shavit, who shared updates on urgent needs and inspiring progress on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, as we honour this remarkable milestone, we celebrate not only the achievements of the past but also the enduring partnership that continues to drive our mission forward,\u201d said Pe\u2019er, president of Na\u2019amat Israel and Na\u2019amat International. \u201cTogether, we have built a legacy of resilience, compassion and progress that will inspire future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n The event captured the deep sense of community that defines Na\u2019amat: from singing and dancing, to laughter and reflection, to sharing dreams for the next 100 years.<\/p>\n Kanot Youth Village<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n After wrapping up the centennial, the occasion served as the launchpad for Na\u2019amat Canada\u2019s next major initiative: a fundraising campaign to equip a brand-new middle school building at Kanot Youth Village, a life-changing boarding school for at-risk youth in Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe help children cross the bridge \u2013 from being lonely to being socially connected, from failing in school to succeeding, from mistrust and alienation to belonging, connection and pride in being part of society,\u201d said Dr. Hezi Yosef, director of Kanot, who is an expert in cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy and lectures at educational institutions and organizations in Israel and worldwide.<\/p>\n Founded by Na\u2019amat in 1952, Kanot today serves 700 students, many of whom face poverty, trauma or loss. The new building \u2013 a collaborative project between Na\u2019amat Canada, donors and Israel\u2019s Ministry of Education \u2013 is nearly complete but, to open its doors in September 2025, it must be fully furnished and equipped.<\/p>\n Na\u2019amat aims to raise $180,000 CAD to provide classroom furniture, lab tools, creative arts supplies and technology to transform the space into a vibrant learning environment.<\/p>\n