Tag: Beit Vancouver

Community milestones … October 2025

photo - Anita and Arnold Silber
Anita and Arnold Silber (photo from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)

Last month, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver received the generous gift of $500,000 from the Arnold and Anita Silber Family Foundation toward the postwar renovations and expansion of Beit Vancouver in Kiryat Shmona. 

The Silber family are long-time supporters of Federation’s work in its partnership region of Etzba Hagalil. This recent gift will jumpstart the launch of the centre into the next era, advancing the upgrades the facility requires in its role as the central hub of growth and resilience for the youth and children of Kiryat Shmona. As part of the renovation, the new Silber Family Wing will provide spaces for small-to-medium-sized group programs and activities, helping meet the growing needs of the community as they return to the region and rebuild their lives. 

Established in 1980, Beit Vancouver has long been a centre of learning, creativity and community. More than 1,000 children and youth participate in weekly programs, including the Youth City Council, Krembo Wings (an inclusive youth movement), the Studio Program (a social-emotional therapeutic initiative) and a music centre. Since the mid-1990s, Jewish Federation and donors from the Vancouver community have invested funds to strengthen Etzba Hagalil, with Beit Vancouver at the heart of this work – supporting education, social welfare and regional development to help youth grow, lead and shape their futures. 

“I don’t come from a strong home at all … and my folks are always struggling. Beit Vancouver was the one place I could rely on after school and during vacations. My other option was to hang out for hours at the park,” shared Hodaya, who grew up in Kiryat Shmona. “My experiences at Beit Vancouver have made me connected to my community and city until today. Beit Vancouver changed my life.”

Throughout the Iron Swords war, Beit Vancouver stood empty, suffering damage from nearby rocket hits and neglect. Now, as families return to the region, the need to restore and renew this space is more urgent than ever. 

“Beit Vancouver represents the heart of the community in Kiryat Shmona. Our family believes in the power of youth to lead and heal, and we are honoured to help create a space where they can thrive. This gift is our way of standing with them as they rebuild their lives and their city,” said Arnold Silber.

• • • 

photo - “The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring” by Liron Gertsman
“The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring” by Liron Gertsman

Liron Gertsman’s “The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring” has been awarded the Bird Photographer of the Year title, selected from more than 33,000 entries. His image also won Gold Award in the Birds in Flight category.

“I spent well over a year of planning to capture my dream of a bird in front of the total solar eclipse,” said Gertsman. “I enlisted the help of a boat to position myself near some islets off Mazatlán that were frequented by seabirds. As the moon uncovered the sun’s edge at the end of totality, I captured this image during the eclipse phase known as the ‘diamond ring’ – a moment that lasts mere seconds.”

Celebrating bird life from around the world, the Bird Photographer of the Year images comprise some of the most incredible bird photos in the world, while also raising funds for Bird Photographer of the Year’s partner charity, Birds on the Brink.

Check out the behind-the-scenes clip at birdpoty.com/2025-winners to see the moment that Gertsman took the photograph. To attend one of Gertsman’s workshops or tours, visit vancouverbirdingtours.com.

• • • 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver welcomes several new community connectors – local leaders who foster engagement, connection and belonging. 

Abbey Westbury is the community connector for the Okanagan. She has been a pillar of Jewish life in the region for more than a decade, serving as vice-president of the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre and as a board member of the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia. 

On Salt Spring Island and the Gulf Islands, Ayala Reznik has already begun her work, and Elvira Molochkovetski and Anabel Wind are on the Victoria team, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island (JFVVI).

In Squamish, Sara Evans will support local Jewish engagement, strengthen connections between individuals and organizations, and work closely with both Federation and grassroots partners. 

In South Delta, Lizz Kelly has joined the team, bringing her experience in community engagement with the Chamber of Commerce to her new role. 

In the Comox Valley, Jessica Benoualid’s work over the past year to create welcoming spaces for the Jewish community made her the perfect fit for this position. 

To learn more or connect with a community connector near you, email [email protected].

Helping youth at risk

Beit Vancouver is a centre for youth at risk in Kiryat Shmona. (photo from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)

The Etzbah HaGalil, or Galilee Panhandle, is the northernmost part of Israel, a “finger” of land extending into Syria and Lebanon, with its southeastern border also touching on Jordan. Militarily and geopolitically vulnerable, Etzbah HaGalil is also far removed from any urban centres, rendering it somewhat cut off from Israel’s economic and cultural heartlands, as well as its government infrastructures. For all of these reasons, young people growing up in Kiryat Shmona, one of the Etzbah’s major towns, face particular challenges.

Add to the above the fact that many immigrants are drawn to the Etzbah by cheaper housing. As in any other country, newcomers to Israel have a particular need for social services and community institutions to help them integrate into society and flourish. Yet those are the very things that have been hard to find in the Etzbah. Enter Beit Vancouver, a centre for youth at risk in Kiryat Shmona.

Originally built by the British Jewish community campaign (United Jewish Israel Appeal) in the early 1980s and held by the Israeli Housing Ministry, the youth centre that would eventually become Beit Vancouver was built near a major public high school in Kiryat Shmona. Inadequate operating support left it deserted for many years and the centre was in need of rescue in 2004 when the Partnership2Gether Coast-to-Coast steering committee identified it as a high-priority project in the region. P2G is a partnership between Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and five other Jewish communities across Canada, and the steering committee includes representatives from the Canadian and Israeli communities in the partnership.

In 2005, three Vancouver-based families (the Diamond, Heller and Libin families) visited the region and donated funds for the renovation and renewal of operations at the centre. Beit Vancouver was scheduled to open July 11, 2006, but that day turned out to be the first day of the Second Lebanon War, which delayed the centre’s opening until September 2006.

The initial operating years of Beit Vancouver were strong, with rapid growth. An infusion of funds from the Israel Emergency Campaign beyond the initial commitments from the core funders helped.

Juvenile delinquency dropped dramatically in the region and, in 2008, the centre was singled out for national recognition for excellence in providing services to youth.

Unfortunately, 2009 saw both a reduction in funding and changes in staff that led to a decline in the centre’s effectiveness. A visit by Vancouver Federation staff in 2009 inspired a strong intervention with the city administration to force attention to the state of the program and building. Three core partners – Vancouver Jewish Federation, Kiryat Shmona and the Rashi Foundation – each committed to a revitalization of Beit Vancouver, with ongoing operating funding at a sufficient level.

photo - At the launch of the Friends of Beit Vancouver recognition wall on a mission led by Anita and Arnold Silber, Arnold Silber addresses the audience. He is joined by, left to right, Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, and Eran David from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Israel office
At the launch of the Friends of Beit Vancouver recognition wall on a mission led by Anita and Arnold Silber, Arnold Silber addresses the audience. He is joined by, left to right, Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, and Eran David from Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Israel office. (photo from Federation)

The centre reopened in March 2010 and the level and quality of programming has grown steadily. When a financial crisis in Kiryat Shmona caused the closure of all other community centres in the city, Beit Vancouver stayed open, providing full-scale services to hundreds of youth on a daily basis.

“This centre is really essential for the youth of Kiryat Shmona,” said Ezra Shanken, Vancouver Jewish Federation chief executive officer. “The community is lacking many things we take for granted. There is no movie theatre in Kiryat Shmona. It is incredibly important that the youth there have somewhere to go.”

And, not only that, but the Beit Vancouver building has been used for emergency housing and relief for Israeli children in communities under attack. For example, when under fire from Gaza, children from Sderot were bused to Beit Vancouver.

Federation currently funds three programs at Beit Vancouver: Net@, Merkaz Ma’ase and Youth Futures. Krembo’s Wings is under review to be funded for 2017.

Net@ is an education program that helps high school students achieve high-level computer skills. The program has produced 5,000 graduates and is the only one of its kind in the region that integrates Muslim, Jewish and Christian youth in joint activities.

Merkaz Ma’ase is a leadership program for young adults designed to deliver equal opportunities and social mobility. It engages at-risk youth in a year of volunteer service after they graduate high school and before they begin their army service.

Youth Futures is a community-based intervention that aims to help children in junior high who are notably at risk for failure or withdrawal. Children are referred to Youth Futures by teachers, social workers and others who observe their need for help, shown by poor attendance, failing grades and behavioral problems. The child is paired with a trustee who acts as a bridge between the child, the family, the school and the public system.

Lastly, Krembo’s Wings provides weekly social activities for young people living with any type of motor, cognitive or sensory disability. The program helps these children become part of community life.

Shanken encourages Vancouver Jews to make Beit Vancouver part of their Israel trip. “Having a place that bears our name creates a bridge that can connect our communities,” he said.

Vancouverites can designate donations for Beit Vancouver through the Federation’s annual campaign, which was launched last week. For more information, visit jewishvancouver.com.

Matthew Gindin is a Vancouver freelance writer and journalist. He blogs on spirituality and social justice at seeking her voice (hashkata.com) and has been published in the Forward, Tikkun, Elephant Journal and elsewhere.