Ezra Shanken

Federation now across BC

Jewish Federation of British Columbia Community Connectors and others from around the province. (photo from JFBC)

At its June 22 annual general meeting, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver ofﬁcially launched its new identity as the Jewish Federation of British Columbia (JFBC).

The legal name change was approved at last year’s AGM, becoming legally official a few months later. However, it was only soft-launched at the recent Whistler Engagement Summit (May 29-31) and publicly rolled out this week.

“In becoming a provincial federation, JFBC now represents the largest geographic region of any of the 140 Jewish federations in North America, reﬂecting both the scale of British Columbia and the organization’s commitment to serving communities across the province,” reads the press release.

“This moment arrives as Jewish communities everywhere face a substantial rise in antisemitism, heightened security concerns and increasing social fragmentation,” it continues.

“In a moment where distance could easily become disconnection, we are choosing something different,” Ezra Shanken, Federation’s chief executive officer, told the Jewish Independent. “We are choosing to build a network of communities that see themselves as part of a shared whole, where responsibility does not stop at the edge of a city or region, and where no one is left to navigate this moment alone. When people begin to understand that they are not isolated but connected, something shifts. Commitment deepens, relationships strengthen and resilience becomes something we build together, not something any one community carries on its own.”

“Over the past few years, the Federation has steadily expanded its engagement across the province, reaching nearly 9,000 community members this past year alone,” said Mijal Ben-Dori, chief planning officer of JFBC, in an email interview with the Independent. “This growth has been driven by three key initiatives: expanding our team of Community Connectors from a single individual to a robust team of 11; supporting regional supplementary schools through Chabad; and investing in local hubs like Burquest and the White Rock/South Surrey JCC. Our provincial work does not begin with our new name; rather, the name change reflects a reality we have already built.

“This transition is entirely additive,” she said. “At the Federation, we know that our local community’s success relies on the robust network of organizations working day in and day out – including the JCC, JFS, JSA, Hillel, VHEC, the Jewish Museum and Archives, and the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival, to name just a few. We are wholeheartedly committed to supporting this network and ensuring it remains vibrant and thriving.”

The expansion has been possible because of a strategic partnership with the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, “which is deeply committed to supporting thriving Jewish life in smaller communities across Canada,” said Ben-Dori. “Moving forward, our focus is on building capacity throughout the province. By leveraging our collective network, regional communities can access expertise and resources more cost-effectively, moving toward self-sustainability without diverting vital Vancouver-raised funds.”

Initially, the primary shift will be in how support is delivered, she said. “Rather than coordinating remotely with a program manager based in Vancouver, community members will now have a direct link to their local Community Connector. This localized approach ensures our team is deeply connected to the ground, allowing us to provide more responsive, personalized and relevant support.”

Currently, there are 11 connectors, who reside in 10 communities, with additional volunteers in additional communities that work closely with Federation, said Ben-Dori. “Our connectors are based in Victoria (two), Salt Spring Island, Comox Valley, Whistler, Squamish, Delta, South Surrey/White Rock, Tri-Cities/Burnaby, Langley, Kelowna. Each of the connectors serves the adjacent communities as well. For example, our connector in Kelowna serves the entire Okanagan and beyond, and our connector in Langley services Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, etc. We also have very strong lay leaders who lead communities in Prince George, Revelstoke, Kamloops, Nanoose Bay and others.”

The long-term vision is for the regional communities to become self-sustainable.

“Research consistently demonstrates that true resilience is built from within, rather than through prolonged dependency; strong communities are those equipped to meet their own evolving needs,” said Ben-Dori. “By plugging into our broader network, regional communities can significantly lower their operational costs through shared resources, collective expertise and ongoing grant opportunities. Ultimately, our goal is to help build local capacity from the ground up. We are fully committed to providing the training, mentorship and foundational support necessary to pave the way toward that independent future.”

Federation has already integrated more regional voices into its various committees, as well as its board of directors.

“Regarding our operational model, we believe that local leadership and community members know their unique needs best,” Ben-Dori said. “We are not here to dictate identity or leadership styles; we deeply respect local autonomy. True community sustainability is built from the ground up, allowing each region to develop its own distinct character, culture and governance. Communities will always remain independent entities with full decision-making authority.

“While our Community Connectors are always available to provide guidance and support, there are natural operational boundaries,” she added. “Connectors cannot facilitate events, nor can the Federation’s name or resources be lent to initiatives that fall outside our charitable mandate or diverge from our core organization values. However, local communities retain full independence to host and fund these distinct events on their own.”

According to Ben-Dori, JFBC employs approximately 50 people (full and part time) and has an operational budget of more than $30 million, which includes the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Vancouver, all grants, allocations, flowthroughs, etc.

“We are now in the process of figuring out the exact back-office support required,” she said of the anticipated staffing and annual financial requirements for the provincial organization. “It is in flux because we are currently introducing various systems to Federation in general that would create organizational efficiency. In principle, we are looking at an admin position and a manager position to support the 11 connectors (all are already in place). The total operational budget for our work at the regions is approximately $1 million. We have been working with the same budget for the past two years and do not expect to increase the budget in the year ahead or as a result of the change. If anything, we are hoping to find more back-office support efficiencies.”

Regarding how the success of the expansion will be measured, Ben-Dori said, “We will evaluate the success and growth of our regional communities through several key quantitative and qualitative metrics:

“Community engagement: we will track the number of local events and gatherings relative to community size, alongside the depth of the local volunteer base.

“Leadership and governance: we will look for indicators of sustainable leadership, including individuals stepping into leadership roles, participation in our training programs and the formal establishment of local boards or committees.

“Resource development: we will assess financial capacity, measuring a community’s ability to conduct local fundraising or generate independent revenue streams.

“Network integration: we will monitor how deeply a community plugs into the broader ecosystem by tracking metrics such as youth participation in summer camps and Israel travel, the mobilization of local community security volunteers, and regional members joining the boards of other organizations across our network.

“Qualitative impact: finally, we will measure the deeper, qualitative shifts within these communities, specifically looking for an increased sense of community resilience and Jewish identity.”

The overarching benefit of this provincial model, said Ben-Dori, “is the profound strengthening of Jewish identity, the enrichment of community life and the cementing of a vibrant Jewish presence across the province for generations to come.”

The main risks associated with the expansion are financial sustainability and navigating the centre-periphery power dynamic, she said.

“This initiative is currently made possible through the strategic and generous support of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation. However, relying heavily on a single funding source presents long-term vulnerabilities,” she explained. “Our strategic priority is to develop localized capacity as efficiently as possible to diversify and secure our financial baseline.”

About the possible struggles that can develop between an urban centre and smaller regional hubs, even when local independence is explicitly prioritized, Ben-Dori said, “Balancing central support with local autonomy is a continuous, collective learning process. We are committed to maintaining deep self-awareness and open, ongoing dialogue among all partners to successfully navigate this relationship.”

And what happens when a larger urban centre starts working more closely with a smaller urban centre? One of the yet-to-be-determined aspects of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s evolution into the Jewish Federation of British Columbia is its impacts on the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island, the only other federation in British Columbia.

“Because a standalone federation requires a critical mass of residents to sustain a fundraising model, fund local agencies, cover operational overhead and maintain a consistent pipeline of volunteer leadership, this institutional model has historically only been viable in BC’s two largest Jewish centres,” explained Ben-Dori. “Vancouver holds a population of roughly 24,000, Victoria stands at 6,000, and Kelowna follows at just under 2,000.

“Over the past few years,” she said, “our two federations have actively deepened our collaboration on key priorities, including community security and advocacy. Last year, we partnered to launch two Community Connectors based directly in Victoria. Today, with Victoria’s Jewish population growing at an incredible rate of 67% – making it the fastest-growing Jewish community in the country – both organizations are actively redefining our relationship. We are focused on designing a new structure that maximizes cost efficiency while delivering the most effective support possible to this rapidly expanding community.”

More about the Federation can be found at jewishbc.ca.

A campaign to engage

(image from Jewish Federation of British Columbia)

In anticipation of the FIFA World Cup, a series of billboards has been put up across the Greater Vancouver Regional District – across both Canada and Millennium lines, on billboards spanning from Vancouver to Surrey,

Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows, and at transit hubs from Richmond to North and West Vancouver.

The billboards feature messages including:

• Supporting Jews shouldn’t require a PR campaign, but here we are.

• You don’t have to be a Jew to protect Jews.

• Can a billboard end antisemitism? No. But you’re not a billboard.

• Whether you call it football or soccer, antisemitism is a foul.

• You don’t need a whistle to call out antisemitism.

The campaign is designed to be impossible to ignore.

“Antisemitism is rising not only globally, but right here in British Columbia,” said Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of British Columbia. “Jewish people are experiencing increased harassment, vandalism, exclusion and threats in everyday spaces. Too often, that reality is minimized or misunderstood.”

The aim of the campaign is to encourage reflection and dialogue on shared responsibility in addressing hate and exclusion. The billboards are not about provocation for its own sake; they’re about breaking through the silence.

The campaign launched June 8, for its run to coincide with the FIFA World Cup. Sport is intended to reflect fairness, respect and belonging. However, real sportsmanship isn’t passive. It requires active participation, including speaking up and calling out harmful behaviour and supporting one another when it occurs. The campaign asks audiences to consider questions of inclusion and belonging in public life. It asks: Who feels safe, welcome and included in our city – and who does not? The messages are intended to encourage dialogue in homes, workplaces, educational settings and community spaces.

“We are asking for honest engagement with what responsibility looks like when hate is not abstract,” Shanken said.

The billboard initiative was made possible through a strategic partnership with the nonprofit JewBelong and PATTISON Outdoor Advertising and is a direct response to the rise of antisemitism. Following Oct. 7, 2023, Jewish communities in British Columbia and across Canada have experienced increasing incidents of harassment, exclusion and vandalism in public and institutional spaces.

In 2025, Federation, in partnership with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, conducted a community survey to assess the lived experience of antisemitism in British Columbia. Key findings included:

• 85% of respondents reported that antisemitism has “increased a lot,”

• 93% reported feeling less secure than they did prior to Oct. 7, 2023,

• 62% reported experiencing at least one antisemitic incident, and

• 46% reported experiencing multiple incidents.

These findings reflect a widespread perception within the community that antisemitism has intensified in both frequency and impact. Jewish Federation of British Columbia invites the public to engage with the campaign and consider the role of civic responsibility in addressing hate and exclusion. Learn more at jewishvancouver.com/combatting-antisemitism.

– Courtesy Jewish Federation of British Columbia

Encouraging young voices

Larry Barzelai addresses those gathered for the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Public Speaking Contest on March 5. (photo from JFGV)

On March 5, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s annual Public Speaking Contest took place at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Students in Grade 4 through Grade 7, from a range of schools, participated.

The contest, which was created more than 35 years ago by Larry Barzelai, with his wife, Rhona Gordon, is jointly presented by Federation, the JCC and Israel Bonds.

“It provides young people with a meaningful platform to express their ideas,” wrote Jewish Federation chief executive officer Ezra Shanken in his weekly email message.

“Their confidence and creativity reflect the strength and promise of the next generation,” noted Shanken, who also spoke at the event.

Federation’s Lissa Weinberger is a key organizer, wrangling both student participants and their parents, as well as volunteer judges and moderators from the community.

Suggested topics ranged from “What is your favourite Jewish holiday and why?” to “From a Jewish perspective, should leaders be held accountable for mistakes they made in the past?” The 10 suggestions included talking about the Jewish values gained from a favourite picture book, the importance of food in Jewish culture, and the ethics of using ChatGPT; the 11th suggestion was a topic of the student’s choosing.

In each category, there were three winners.

In Grade 7, they were Shiran Cohen (1st), Shael Singerman (2nd) and Meah Corea Reyes (3rd).

In Grade 6, Group 1, it was David Herlin (1st), Olivia White (2nd) and Nogah Goldenberg (3rd).

Grade 6, Group 2, saw Liz Sinderman (1st), Gilad Shortt (2nd) and Miriam Gordon (3rd) take home the top prizes.

In Grade 5, it was Ella Zack (1st), Ben Kupfer (2nd) and Josie Prokosh (3rd).

In Grade 4, it was Levi Wenner (1st), Olivia Bregman (2nd) and Amelia Silverman (3rd).

– Courtesy Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

Survivor urges vigilance

Resilience and determination were the themes at an International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration at the Bayit synagogue in Richmond Jan. 27. It was the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Marie Doduck, a child survivor who was the youngest Jewish orphan admitted to Canada after the war, spoke of her survival story, as well as her life in Canada, and she urged vigilance in the face of rising contemporary antisemitism.

Doduck was born Mariette Rozen in Brussels, Belgium, in 1935, the youngest of 11 children. She was 5 years old when the Nazis invaded her hometown in 1940. She and her siblings were scattered across the city and countryside, hiding with non-Jewish families, in convents and orphanages, and at times assisting the resistance. While her parents and three of her siblings were killed, eight survived, a remarkable number given that an estimated 85% of Belgian Jewish children were murdered.

In 1947, she immigrated to Canada as a war orphan and, with three of her surviving siblings, was brought to Vancouver. Her memoir, A Childhood Unspoken, was published in 2023. (See the Independent’s review of the book at jewishindependent.ca/an-intense-urgent-read.)

Doduck spent the war years being shuffled from one place to another, even serving as a messenger between her siblings and for the resistance, because of her photographic memory.

“I lived mostly in darkness, literally in hiding places where the Nazis could not find me,” she recounted. “When I returned to Brussels years later, I could not recognize the city in the daylight, for my Brussels was a place of darkness.”

Her survival – and that of seven other siblings – is a result of series of near-miracles and near-misses.

“At one of the orphanages, the mother superior hid me in a rat-infested sewer after one of her nuns found out that I was a Jewish child and reported me to the Gestapo,” she said.

After liberation, Doduck was one of 1,123 orphans sponsored by Canadian Jewish Congress to migrate to Canada. Her adaptation to life in Vancouver, while smoother than many of the children, was very difficult.

“When I first tried to tell people what happened to me, they said, ‘Forget the past,’” she recalled. “We all find our own ways of dealing with pain. I became more resilient and learned from life’s harsh lessons to depend only on myself. I, as a child, had a strength to go on despite the mistrust, fear and pain that I then felt. I went on. I went on because I would not consider the alternative. Those lessons are, in a significant way, responsible for whom I am today.”

Doduck explained that the word “holocaust,” which came into the use in 1950s, originally meant a sacrifice burnt entirely on the altar. She contrasted her own experience with that nihilistic image.

“The person you see before you tonight, Marie Doduck, is a happy Jewish mother, a successful businesswoman, an author, a grandmother, a great-grandmother,” she said. “I’ve also been president of my synagogue and on the board of many Jewish organizations in our community.”

photo - Marie Doduck mingled with attendees after the International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration at the Bayit — Marie Doduck mingled with attendees after the International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration at the Bayit. *(photo by Pat Johnson)*

She is a co-founder of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC).

Doduck’s personal story of success and happiness is replicated among countless survivors of the trauma of that time.

“Although our childhood was ripped away from us, we survived and continued and we thrived,” she said. “We have achieved so much for ourselves, our families, and for our community. And I and many others will continue to speak about our stories and to remember, to acknowledge those who perished, who cannot speak for themselves. It is estimated that only 11% of Jewish children who were alive in Europe in 1939 lived to see 1945. As many as 1.5 million of the six million Jews cruelly murdered by the Nazis were children under the age of 18.”

Doduck said the world needs to learn from the past.

“No society is immune to the danger of prejudice, antisemitism and racism, and we must work together to stand up when we see injustice in the world around us,” she said.

She explained that the vision of the VHEC is a world free of antisemitism, discrimination and genocide, with social justice and human rights for all.

“This noble idea can only be achieved when governments, schools, educators and organizations work together hand-in-hand to teach future generations about the danger of racism and discrimination,” Doduck said. “Together, we must remember the past and pass on the teaching of the Holocaust together.… We must make ‘never again’ a reality, not just an ideal.”

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, took exception to the term “survivor” to describe people like Doduck.

“They’re not survivors. They’re thrivers,” he said. “Survivors just get by. Survivors are what they thought we would have as a Jewish people after the Shoah. They thought we would have a group of survivors who could not make it in the world beyond the Shoah.”

The lives of these individuals defied expectations, he said.

“We have thrivers that not only found meaningful relationships, not only built families, not only had kids, but cured diseases and became artists and won Nobel Prizes,” said Shanken. “They did for the world, but the world didn’t do for them.”

The countries where survivors made their homes and contributed so much have become rampant with antisemitism, he said.

Shanken called on those in the room, especially elected officials, to demonstrate clear leadership.

“It is critical that people understand what is in bounds and what is out of bounds within our society…. I know it’s hard as politicians to get that done,” he said. “But I have to tell you, please, on our behalf, keep doing as much as you can because we need you.”

Parm Bains, member of Parliament for Steveston-Richmond East, sent greetings from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Kelly Greene, member of the BC Legislature for Richmond-Steveston and minister for emergency management and climate readiness, brought greetings from Premier David Eby. Also in attendance were fellow MLAs Hon Chan (Richmond Centre), Steve Kooner (Richmond-Queensborough) and Teresa Wat (Richmond-Bridgeport).

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, in attendance with city councilors Laura Gillanders, Kash Heed, Andy Hobbs, Alexa Loo and Bill McNulty, read a proclamation from the city. He noted that there are fewer Jews in the world now than there were in 1939.

Doduck was joined in lighting memorial candles by three fellow survivors, Amalia Boe-Fishman, Miriam Dattel and Regine Fefer. Brodie and Dave Chauhan, chief superintendent of the Richmond RCMP, also participated in the candlelighting.

Sherri Barkoff, vice-president of the Bayit, emceed the event, which was presented by the Richmond Kehila Society, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre, the VHEC, the Bayit, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.

Rabbi Levi Varnai welcomed guests to the event, Cantor Yaakov Orzech chanted El Moleh Rachamim, Café McMullen, program officer at the VHEC, spoke of the organization’s work, and violinist Lior Perry played before and during the ceremony, including a piece from the film Schindler’s List.

What should governments do?

Left to right at the Jewish Seniors Alliance of BC Fall Symposium Nov. 23: Jeff Moss, Joyce Murray, Anthony Kupferschmidt, Dan Levitt and Isobel Mackenzie. (photo by Alex Roque Photography)

The Jewish Seniors Alliance of British Columbia’s fall symposium featured a panel discussion on the responsibilities of governments for seniors. The panelists discussed housing, transportation and healthcare services. They explored challenges in funding, staffing and service delivery, while also touching on topics such as the potential for community involvement in shaping senior support systems.

The Nov. 23 gathering, which took place at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, opened with Jeff Moss, executive director of JSABC. He said provincial advocacy is “at the heart” of what JSA does, “and bringing together politicians in this space is really important, because the conversations that we have when we meet with the provincial government, or when we’re meeting with the opposition, [are] where we are advocating strongly for universal free home support for seniors in British Columbia.”

JSA’s partners in this campaign are Council of Senior Citizens’ Organization (COSCO), the BC Health Coalition, the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC, Family Caregivers of British Columbia and the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA), whose chief executive officer, Mary Polak, addressed those gathered.

Polak shared that her father, who’s 96 years old, is in long-term care. He has some dementia issues and needs to have some specialized care, she said. “But in the time that he was at home with us and we were trying to give him the best quality of life we could in our own home, it was a real challenge to try and support that with home health services. And we were in a better place than many because at least we had some of the financial capacity to do that, and we had the family around us. But, for an increasing number of people, that’s becoming impossible, and it shouldn’t be that way.”

Ezra Shanken, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, which also is a partner and supporter of JSABC, introduced Shay Keil, who sponsored the event with the BCCPA and JSA, along with Michael and Sally Geller, and the Zalkow Foundation.

“Seniors are the foundation of who we are,” said Keil. “You’ve built our families, our traditions and our values, and you deserve to be honoured, supported and celebrated. We often speak of m’dor l’dor, from generation to generation, and that idea is very close to my heart. I strongly believe in the connection between seniors and children and everyone in between. That belief is why I’m here today, and why I’m deeply committed to community through volunteering, supporting and staying actively involved in the organizations that strengthen the lives of those around us, including JSA.”

Keil introduced the emcee of the panel, Isobel Mackenzie, “who served as British Columbia’s seniors advocate from 2014 to 2024, and has spent her career championing the well-being, safety and dignity of our seniors.”

Mackenzie asked each panelist to come to the stage: Anthony Kupferschmidt, strategic lead for aging and older persons with the City of Vancouver, who has worked in similar capacities with other cities and groups, and is also a gerontologist; Joyce Murray, who has served both as a member of the Legislative Assembly and as a member of Parliament; and Dan Levitt, a gerontologist who has worked 30-plus years in seniors care, and is the current seniors advocate for the province.

Each panelist gave an overview of their opinions, starting with Kupferschmidt, who noted that much of what a municipality can do for the aging population requires financial support from other orders of government. However, a city can impact seniors in such areas as “zoning and related development charges, making sure that we have the right type of housing and the right mix of housing across the city.”

Municipalities can work with the provincial government, for example, on where care homes are located and support their development. Transportation is another key area, as are sidewalks and other “elements of an age-friendly city.” Cities have a role with respect to public libraries and the accessible services they offer, community centres, senior centres, pools, arenas, etc.

Levitt was the next to speak. “Currently, there are 5.5 million people living in our province, 1.1 million people are over 65,” he said. “Today, there’s one in five – 20% of all people are seniors. Fast forward just a decade from now and it’ll be one in four, 25%…. We have more people who are living longer and more people who are seniors, so 400,000 more seniors in the next decade.”

Levitt’s office monitors five areas: health care, transportation, housing, income and community services.

“The general trend,” he said, “is that there are more seniors and there are more investments, but there’s less available per senior.”

As an example, he said, a quarter of all seniors are living on $23,000 a year, or less than $2,000 a month. “And it’s not that hard to go find people living in the West End in affordable housing living on less than $1,000 a month, so they really need that income support from all levels of government, they need those subsidies.”

Levitt said there were 13,000 people on the waitlist for affordable housing last year. “How many of them got a space?” he asked. “Six percent, just under 800 people have got a space for affordable seniors housing in our province. We haven’t built enough, and there is a call right now to build more, but we’re not keeping pace with that demand.”

As well, he said, the province has been taking money away from long-term care homes, no longer funding overtime and agency nurses, for example, and this affects places like the Louis Brier Home and Hospital.

“It means that an already very thin margin is now almost impossible to operate without that government subsidy,” said Levitt.

“We haven’t invested enough either in seniors care,” he added. “We did a report in July, and our July report identifies that over 16,000 people are going to be short long-term care because we’re not building enough beds. There are 7,200 people on the waitlist today.” The burden of care, he said, is being transferred to families.

Murray took the conversation in a different direction.

“I was looking at the budget numbers about this when I was thinking about what I would be saying,” she said, “and the total new spending on OAS [Old Age Security] and medical care for seniors alone in the 2023 budget was $110 billion of new money…. Now, that’s going to tie into some of the demographics, for sure, but, when you break that down, that’s $4,300 per retiree 65 and older in new money in the 2023 federal budget versus $755 for younger Canadian under 45 in new money.”

She wondered about how well younger people were being supported. She also spoke of environmental concerns.

“What does it mean to be a good ancestor?” she asked. “And what do we think our society, our province, our country needs to do so that we collectively are good ancestors?”

“To govern is to choose,” said Mackenzie, noting that governments must make decisions about how “to allocate our finite resources to our infinite demands.”

The panelists talked more about that, as well as the way in which different levels of government work with one another. Murray said governments make policies they hope will attract voters, and seniors tend to vote more than younger people, so, for example, “a family with two members can earn up to $180,000 a year and still get their full OAS,” she said, asking, “Is that a good allocation of money?”

Mackenzie asked a variant of Murray’s question, considering how maximum monthly payments for public long-term care work.

“The person whose income is $200,000 a year is going to pay the same for their publicly funded long-term care plan as the person whose income is $70,000 a year,” said Mackenzie. “And so, if, on the one hand, we say, well, the people who have more should get less, which is the OAS argument, to what extent should we flip that and say, well, the people who have more should pay more when it comes to publicly subsidized long-term care? That’s, I think, missing from the discussion…. I think there are very uncomfortable conversations … that governments are going to have to have with their electorate and, as elected officials, you don’t like to have those uncomfortable conversations, for obvious reasons.”

Levitt thought the situation could be improved if governments helped people understand how much money they need to save to age well, what supports there would be for them as they age, and what people could do to support themselves.

Murray suggested, “Maybe what we need is like a citizens’ assembly, to start out by identifying what are the key things that are maybe broken or need improvement so that we can be good ancestors. And then have a citizens’ assembly that looks at what are the best solutions in other countries … and then create a proposal on that. I think we have to crowdsource the solutions here…. We need citizens to help us solve this.”

Kupferschmidt brought up Better at Home, a basket of non-medical services that seniors can access. “There has been public engagement into what those services should be…. However, there are examples of the service that is offered in one neighbourhood in the city is different than another,” he said, explaining that a “model with all the best intentions can sometimes create some disparities as well.”

Mackenzie stressed the complexities, both because everyone’s needs and everyone’s solutions are different. “And, in the end, in those environments, generally, we try to come up with solutions that meet the greatest good for the greatest number, but that certainly doesn’t meet the need for everybody all the time and that is, I think, the political challenge at all levels of government, whether they be the local, the provincial or the federal.”

Tolerating intolerance

It was mayhem outside the BC Provincial Court, near Main and Hastings, Aug. 20, as anti-Israel protesters screamed, chanted and shouted into megaphones to drown out the words of Dallas Brodie, member of the BC Legislature for Vancouver-Quilchena and leader of the upstart OneBC party.

Brodie attempted a media conference outside the courthouse before filing a “private prosecution” against Charlotte Kates, the Vancouver woman who is international coordinator for Samidoun, a group the government of Canada has designated a terrorist entity.

Kates was arrested by Vancouver police in April 2024 under suspicion of public incitement of hatred and wilful promotion of hatred, a criminal offence in Canada, after a public rally where she led a crowd in a chant of “Long live Oct. 7,” called the Hamas attack “heroic and brave” and described designated terrorists as “heroes.”

She was released on condition that she refrain from participating in any protest activities. Those conditions expired Oct. 8, 2024, when the BC Prosecution Service and the assistant deputy attorney general had not approved the charges recommended by police. It was a week later that her organization, Samidoun, was officially designated as a terrorist entity by the government of Canada.

Brodie’s prosecution – an obscure legal move similar to a citizen’s arrest – is unlikely to have a direct impact on the case, though it might refocus the spotlight on the failure of authorities to follow through on a criminal prosecution.

In a statement, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs noted that a report to Crown counsel has been sitting on the desks of relevant officials for more than a year.

“Every day they do not press charges,” said CIJA’s Pacific region vice-president Nico Slobinsky in a statement, “she acts with increasing impunity, including by flying to Iran to receive a ‘human rights’ award from its government and attending the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Our legal system must send a clear message: antisemitism and hate have no place in British Columbia or anywhere else in Canada. Charges must be pressed without delay.”

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, observed that more than two-thirds of the BC Jewish community have reported experiencing an antisemitic hate incident.

“Individuals and organizations like Charlotte Kates and Samidoun have exacerbated this dramatic wave of antisemitism, which is why our community has been calling for accountability since her despicable remarks on April 26, 2024, on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery,” Shanken said. “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

We wrote in this space recently about an incident at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver that clearly violated existing laws banning political protests at locations where official school functions are taking place. Police did not recommend charges in that instance.

The inner workings of the Crown prosecutors’ office and other components of the judicial process are not entirely transparent, the sensitivity of the issues they address necessitating a degree of privacy. However, some observers have suggested that there is a systemic problem up the ladder of the process. Police often do not pursue instances of apparent offences because they have seen prosecutors decline to charge. Prosecutors are said to hesitate to lay charges because they have seen courts throw out cases they presented.

There has been a great deal of hand-wringing about a massive spike in antisemitism, including violent incidents. There are many remediative and preventive opportunities that do not involve criminal charges – public awareness campaigns and restorative justice and diversion programs among them. But, at some point, the laws on the books to prevent the spreading of hatred and incitement to violence must be tested. If they do not stand up in court, then we as a society need a dialogue about what we will tolerate.

We may find that we need new laws that courts will uphold, so that Crown prosecutors will be empowered to lay charges, so that police will know that enforcement is not a waste of energy, and so that Canadians will recognize what is acceptable and what is not in our country.

What is not tolerable is doing nothing.

Jews support Filipinos

Solidarity with and support for Vancouver’s Filipino community have suffused Jewish community events since the tragic deaths at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver April 26.

Eleven people were killed and many more injured, several critically, after a car rammed through crowds at the outdoor festival, which commemorates the historic victory of Datu Lapu Lapu over the Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan, on April 27, 1521.

Lapu Lapu is celebrated as the first Filipino hero who resisted foreign colonization and the Battle of Mactan marked the first recorded instance of indigenous resistance against European colonizers in the Pacific island archipelago.

A fund has been created by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver to support affected families and Federation has seconded three staff members to assist the Filipino community with logistical and other supports. Jewish clergy and other leaders, including Jewish Family Services, have been on the scene with support. Vancouver Talmud Torah, Vancouver Hebrew Academy, Richmond Jewish Day School and King David High School have organized a group blood donation campaign. Synagogues have held services.

“This has been an incredibly tough week for our friends in the Filipino community,” Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, said at the Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) ceremony April 30.

photo - Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, which has created a fund to support affected families — Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, which has created a fund to support affected families. *(photo from Jewish Federation)*

He spoke of the many close personal connections between members of the Filipino and Jewish communities.

“We have come together to support our Filipino community from day one and we will continue to do that as long as it takes to ensure that they are secure, safe and thriving,” he said.

The night before, at the Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Remembrance Day) ceremony, Geoffrey Druker also spoke of the tragedy.

“We send our sympathies and condolences to the individuals, families and the Filipino community who suffered horrific losses and pain this past weekend,” he said.

Rabbi Philip Bregman, who is engaged in multicultural and interfaith dialogue, told the Independent that he was among many Jews at several Filipino vigils and solidarity events recently.

“I’m here in support and solidarity for this tragedy,” he told them, “but you’ve got to know how important you are to the centrality of the Jewish community.”

Bregman noted that members of the Filipino community hold crucial roles in the Jewish community. He gave as examples the operational support Filipino community members provide to synagogues, as workers at the Louis Brier Home and Hospital, the Weinberg Residence, as individuals caring for the youngest and eldest in the Jewish community. He added that tens of thousands of Filipino foreign workers in Israel provide support to Jews there, especially the elderly.

Funds raised by the Jewish community and others will assist in the vast challenges facing the Filipino community individually and collectively. There are funeral expenses to be covered, Bregman said, including for those families who are sending their lost loved ones for burial in the Philippines. Many of the deceased were the family’s primary breadwinners and many of the injured will experience damaging loss of income. There will be ongoing rehabilitation and other expenses.

Donations are welcomed at jewishvancouver.com.

Students are resilient

A Night of Resilience, held at UBC Hillel House March 27, was emceed by students Samantha Schwenger and Izaiah Isaac. (photo from Hillel BC)

Jewish students, allies and community members packed the second-floor social hall at the University of British Columbia’s Hillel House March 27 for A Night of Resilience. It was a celebration of the determination and tenacity of students since the Oct. 7 terror attacks and the spike in antisemitism on campuses.

The evening was emceed by Izaiah Isaac, a third-year student studying forest biology, and Samantha Schwenger, a third-year cellular and molecular neuroscience student. They expressed solidarity with the hostages and the broader Israeli population.

“Tonight, we gather here at Hillel to honour more than just achievements,” said Isaac. “We are here to pay tribute to something far deeper – to the resilience of Jewish students, their unwavering courage and their relentless pursuit of justice in a world that has felt, at times, unbearably heavy.”

“In the past year-and-a-half, Jewish students across British Columbia have been faced with an unimaginable reality,” Schwenger said. “The war in Israel, beginning on Oct. 7, brought with it a wave of violence and sorrow that impacted not only our families, but our very sense of security. And, in its wake, antisemitism surged, leaving Jewish students on campuses everywhere to bear the brunt of hatred, fear and division.”

Rabbi Kylynn Cohen, Hillel’s senior Jewish educator, spoke of the strength she has seen among students.

“We are always living Torah and our students have truly exemplified that in the past 17 months,” she said. “I have watched you grieve, pray, teach, love, protest, rally and get up every day … to fight the violence, gaslighting and antisemitism which has been coming at you from all sides. It is truly an honour to celebrate you tonight.”

Ohad Gavrieli, executive director of Hillel BC, spoke of the changed climate on campuses after Oct. 7, 2023.

“One by one, students started showing up at Hillel, some in tears, some shaken, all looking for support,” he said. “They came not only because of the violence and devastation in Israel, but because the atmosphere on campus was already starting to change. Their [teaching assistants] were praising the massacre, their classmates were posting support for Hamas. The shift was fast and it wasn’t subtle. Now, it’s almost 18 months later and we’re still in it. It’s not over.”

photo - Ohad Gavrieli, executive director of Hillel BC, was one of the speakers during the March 27 event — Ohad Gavrieli, executive director of Hillel BC, was one of the speakers during the March 27 event. (photo from Hillel BC)

He noted that the UBC student union had endorsed a student strike for Palestine, part of a larger trend that, he said, has “left Jewish and Zionist students feeling unsafe and unwelcome.”

“Despite all of it, our students didn’t back down,” said Gavrieli. “They continue to speak up. The strength and resilience of our students should make everyone in this room proud. We have leaders here, we have a future in students who are brave, grounded and unwilling to be pushed aside. At Hillel, we do everything we can to stand with them, to be their Jewish home away from home, a place of strength, a place of safety and a place they are never alone. Tonight is about them. It’s about all of you who made this evening possible, as well, and those who stood with Hillel and our students through it all.”

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, lauded students, as well as the staff and lay leadership of Hillel.

“This is such an incredible evening that I wish we didn’t have to do,” he said. “I wish that you, as students, were not going through what you’re going through. The hostile environment that’s being created for you here on this campus and on campuses across BC is unacceptable and your courage is incredibly, incredibly inspiring.”

The event featured the presentation of Maccabee Awards to students from campuses throughout the province.

Shanken presented a Maccabee to Simon Fraser University student Yael Toyber, who Shanken noted is also the recipient of Federation’s 2024 Young Leadership Award.

“This student fights for justice not through confrontation, but through education – using their creativity and insight to create educational materials that are accessible and compelling,” he said.

Toyber’s work with StandWithUs and their leadership of the Jewish Students’ Association, Shanken said, has made her instrumental in strengthening the Jewish community at SFU.

Gavrieli presented the award to UBC student Rachel Seguin, who he credited for her contributions to the Israel on Campus group, and as “a bold voice for Jewish students, ensuring that our community stands proud.”

“This student has bravely stepped into conversations with UBC administration to address antisemitism, ensuring that Jewish students feel heard and valued,” said Gavrieli.

Gordon Brandt, president of the board of Hillel BC, recognized University of Victoria student Audrey Gaulin, who he called “a force to be reckoned with.”

“Beyond Hillel,” Brandt said, Gaulin has “stepped into leadership roles as a Common Ground Ambassador with Allied Voices for Israel and as a director-at-large with the University of Victoria Student Society.”

Ellie Sherman, Hillel BC’s director of student life, presented an award to Langara College student Ethan Doctor.

Doctor is a Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) Fellow, an active member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, and “a champion for the Jewish community,” said Sherman. In his role as the Western Canada representative for the J7 Working Group on Campus Antisemitism, he has “amplified student voices, pushing for meaningful change at both local and national levels.”

Ishmaeli Goldstein, Hillel’s campus advocacy specialist, recognized Roman Chelyuk with an award for allyship. Chelyuk is a senior fellow with CJPAC and an Emerson Fellow with StandWithUs, treasurer of Israel on Campus (IOC) and a past executive of the Ukrainian Club, who has “shown a deep commitment to standing with the Jewish community.”

Andy Gitelson, campus support director from Hillel International, attended the event from Portland, Ore., and presented the second Allyship Award to UBC student Zara Nybo.

“As the president of IOC, a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, a CJPAC Fellow and a Campus Media Fellow with Allied Voices for Israel and Honest Reporting Canada, this person has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to using their voice to advocate for the Jewish community,” said Gitelson, who credited Nybo with being a powerful voice on social media, raising awareness, sparking important conversations, “and defend[ing] the Jewish community time and time again.”

photo - Jewish students, allies and community members packed the second-floor social hall at the University of British Columbia’s Hillel House March 27 for A Night of Resilience — Jewish students, allies and community members packed the second-floor social hall at the University of British Columbia’s Hillel House March 27 for A Night of Resilience. *(photo from Hillel BC)*

Yael Segal, a UBC alumna and co-founder of the Justin and Yael Segal Family Fund, presented the Kehilah Award to Jacoba Moscovitz. The award celebrates students who demonstrate leadership and dedication to the Jewish community by going above and beyond to support their fellow students, foster a sense of belonging and contribute to building a home for Jewish students on campus.

Segal credited Moscovitz as “a familiar and welcoming presence at UBC – somebody who helps others feel at ease and contributes to an inclusive atmosphere.… In many ways, this student has acted as the glue, bringing people together. As a member of the Jewish Students’ Association executive team and [as] a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, they’ve also taken on leadership roles that strengthen Jewish life on campus. This student also bravely stepped up to be in ongoing conversations about antisemitism with UBC administration, and continues to work hard to ensure Jewish students are welcome and safe at UBC.”

Talia Chivo, Hillel’s lead campus professional at the University of Victoria, presented a second Kehilah Award to Bea Banack Tapia.

“This individual has a gentle way of listening to those around them,” said Chivo. “They take the time to connect one-on-one with so many members of our community and offer support and genuine friendship. Behind the scenes, they’ve put countless hours into making sure things run smoothly. Their dedication isn’t always loud, but it’s felt by everyone around them.”

Tina Malka, director of antisemitism research and education at Hillel International, traveled to the event from San Diego.

A Night of Resilience took place as the academic term concluded, marking the second year of unparalleled anti-Israel activism and antisemitic agitation on campuses. Speakers repeatedly credited students with the courage to confront the challenges facing them.

Positive about future

Left to right are Rachel and Ezra Shanken with their children, Vancouver city councilors Sarah Kirby-Yung and Mike Klassen, and Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver board chair Lana Marks Pulver. The City of Vancouver proclamation designated June 25, 2024, as Ezra Shanken Day, in honour of Shanken’s 10th anniversary as head of Federation. (photo from Jewish Federation)

On June 25, Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, celebrated his 10th anniversary at the job and was presented with a proclamation from the City of Vancouver by councilors Sarah Kirby-Yung and Mike Klassen declaring that day “Ezra Shanken Day.” The event took place at Federation’s annual general meeting.

Earlier this month, Shanken spoke with the Independent about the past decade, and his enthusiasm looking ahead.

The Teaneck, NJ, native, who arrived in Vancouver in his early 30s, remains one of the youngest CEOs within the 140-strong network of Jewish federations. He is quick to credit those who have helped him get to where he is today.

“A lot of it has to do with fantastic people who were around, who believed and supported me,” Shanken said. “It helped me bring my unique self to the work and the journey. They took a chance on me 10 years ago, and I have felt incredibly privileged and thankful for the confidence that people put in me at a young age.”

Shanken is equally thankful to have tremendous people around him at the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and feels “lucky to have incredibly talented staff at a senior level who allow for a two-speed operation. We have levels in which people are able to dig deeper into issues in a substantive way,” he said.

Shanken represents the third generation in his family to have a career in the Jewish community: his father worked for Jewish organizations and his grandfather was a Conservative rabbi. Before arriving in Vancouver, Shanken spent several years at the federation in Denver, Colo., and the UJA Federation of New York.

He likens the job of Federation CEO to that of a mayor of a small town, one that requires dealing with diverse opportunities and crises, which are presented or emerge at different times. Not to mention the myriad daily tasks he performs in his position. His work stretches through many different organizations and extends across several time zones.

A day might see him connecting with partners in Israel and others overseas in the morning, then with national colleagues. He’ll spend a portion of the day building up the community’s organizational culture, delivering what, he hopes, is a collective vision for vibrancy and care to more than two dozen partner agencies throughout Greater Vancouver and the province. He meets with community members who contribute to this vision and he engages, on behalf of the community, with allies in the public and private sectors, individuals, institutions and organizations, who work with Federation.

Looking back, he said some of his favourite memories come from Shabbat dinners over the past 10 years in which he has met with everyone from law enforcement to premiers, and countless others from various backgrounds, who have had a chance to experience and understand “who we are and, more importantly, who we are not.

“That for me has been a real blessing, now more than ever,” he said.

As it has with so many people, the post-Oct. 7 period has been a pivotal time in Shanken’s tenure at the helm of Federation. Since that tragic day, he has made three trips to Israel with public officials, parliamentarians and leaders of the local community. He plans to make a fourth trip in November.

“This has been a deeply personal journey for me and so many in my office,” he said. “I think that Oct. 7 has fundamentally changed every one of us, me included, on the soul-based level. It is part of my core responsibility to keep Ben Mizrachi’s name on the community [mind] for time immemorial. His heroic loss is one we will never forget,” he said.

Mizrachi was killed while trying to save others during the Nova music festival.

In his 20 years of working in the federation system, Shanken has been through a hurricane that knocked out power in New York and had people climbing the stairs of 40-floor apartment buildings to save the lives of elderly Jews by getting water and other supplies to them. He helped close the campaign in Seattle after the federation there was attacked in 2006. And, in the two decades, there have been multiple attacks on Israel and, of course, the pandemic.

Yet, none of his previous experiences prepared him for Oct. 7, he said.

“The sheer brutality of it and the images of it, which I have had the unenviable task of bearing witness to, has changed me fundamentally as a human being and has reinforced the need of centrality in community,” he said.

“It also reinforced for me why I am here and what we are doing,” he added. “It could not be more clear as to why Jewish community is not just important but precious. We are going to show strength, continue to do good and put light out into the world.”

Shanken believes the next decade, in many ways, will be defined by more opportunities for engagement in Jewish community, regardless of where someone might live in the province.

“I am hoping that, as we move through the next 10 years, we will be able to look back and see a much more vibrant provincial Jewish community, as opposed to a Jewish community that is set in Victoria, Richmond and Vancouver,” he said.

Among the key things he envisages in the coming years, as Federation enters a campaign season, are coming together to push back against those who would cause harm, and creating a stronger foundation for the Jewish community.

“This is going to be about how we can be positively proud Jews,” Shanken said.

Tied to this vision, he explained, is ensuring, among other goals, that people in the community have different ways to connect, that vibrancy is built into the community, that schools are as accessible as they can be and that new people feel welcomed into the community.

The JWest project is a major part of the future. The planned 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art community centre, the largest infrastructure project in Vancouver’s Jewish history, will serve as a hub for more than 20 organizations, including the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and King David High School, as well as provide housing and child-care spaces.

As Shanken describes it, JWest will be “the physical manifestation of our community’s vibrancy in the core of Vancouver’s second town centre. It is a monument of who we are projecting onto the street.”

More broadly, he added, the growth the community will see in the next decade will be game-changing. “The next 10 years will make the last 10 years seem as though were standing still,” he predicted.

Kicking off the next decade is Federation’s annual campaign launch Sept. 12. For more information and tickets ($36), visit jewishvancouver.com.

Sam Margolis has written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC.

Vigil marks nine months

The weekly rally at Vancouver Art Gallery marked nine months since the pogrom of Oct. 7. (photo by Anna-Mae Wiesenthal)

Selina Robinson, the former BC cabinet minister whose planned speech at Vancouver’s weekly rally for the hostages was canceled over security concerns earlier this year, was the surprise speaker Sunday at the vigil marking nine months since the pogrom of Oct. 7.

“I was out here nine months ago, representing government and the Jewish community … as we mourned together the slaughter of young people, the rape of women, the death of so many innocent people perpetrated by Hamas,” Robinson said. “I took it upon myself to make sure that we did right by the Jewish community and I took that honour with great reverence and commitment. I did so at the request of [then-premier] John Horgan and then I did it at the request of [current premier] David Eby and I did it diligently, as best I could. And we watched as a government what happens when hate goes unchecked. I never thought in my life, really, that I would see this level of hatred directed toward Jews.”

photo - Selina Robinson speaks at the July 7 vigil — Selina Robinson speaks at the July 7 vigil. *(photo by Anna-Mae Wiesenthal)*

She lauded fellow elected officials who stand with the Jewish community and said there should be unanimity.

“On this issue, we should not be divided,” said Robinson, a former minister of finance who was minister of postsecondary education when Eby, the premier, demanded her resignation after comments she made on a webinar calling pre-state Israel a “crappy piece of land.”

She credited Jewish organizations and allies for the work they are doing, but warned of a steep road ahead.

“We have a lot of work to do, my friends,” she said. “The antisemitism that has been unleashed is going to be hard to put back in the bottle.”

Congregation Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jonathan Infeld had harsh words for Robinson’s treatment at the hands of colleagues.

“Let’s tell the truth of why Selina was kicked out of cabinet,” Infeld said. “The reason is because Selina was the one representative of the Jewish people in cabinet. Selina was the one person in cabinet, in our government, willing to stand up not for some people’s human rights but for all of our human rights. Selina was kicked out of cabinet because she was a strong woman who stood for all that our province is supposed to stand for and she was kicked out of cabinet because she is a Jewish hero.”

BC Conservative Party leader John Rustad spoke, and was joined at the rally by fellow Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko and a number of Conservative candidates standing in October’s provincial election.

“I am proud to say that I stand here with you,” said Rustad. “I stand against terrorism. I stand against Hamas and what they have done.”

The government in British Columbia needs to do more to counter antisemitism, he said.

“People who come to this province, to live here, come here with the expectation that they will live in peace,” Rustad said. “They come with the expectation to be able to raise a family, to be able to build the future, and what we are seeing today, with the antisemitism that is happening throughout our communities, I just find completely wrong.”

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, expressed pride in the community he serves. He urged elected officials to stand with the community.

“We remember who was there on day one and we see who’s there now and that’s something that we have to stand up for here in our province and in our country,” he said. “We need them side-by-side by us and you need to be the ones to continue to tell them at all levels of government that we need them now more than ever.”

photo - Approximately 120 hostages are still being held in Gaza, more than nine months after the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 — Approximately 120 hostages are still being held in Gaza, more than nine months after the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7. *(photo by Anna-Mae Wiesenthal)*

Lior Noyman, an Israeli-Canadian educator and filmmaker, expressed sorrow for victims of violence in Israel and Gaza. He warned the audience to be vigilant against expanding antisemitism.

“Leaders, teachers, parents, Canadians, I am calling to you all,” he said. “Don’t let them walk us back in time.”

Dov (David) Rosengarten, a Vancouverite who is chief of staff for donor communications at United Hatzalah, Israel’s network of 7,000 volunteer first responders, brought greetings and gratitude from Israel.

“Your display of unwavering solidarity every weekend here continues to give us strength through this difficult period,” he said.

Noting the nine-month period since Oct. 7, Rosengarten drew parallels with the human pregnancy term, except that these past 40 weeks have been a time of unprecedented trauma. He sees hope in news of a ceasefire plan and hopes that “these painful birth pangs will end and the citizens of Israel and the Jewish people at large, including here in Vancouver, will be reborn again. After these many painful months, these cries of sorrow will be transformed to jubilation and we will finally hold our beloved hostages and loved ones again and celebrate the victory of unity and, like with a newborn child, we will shape for ourselves a bright future full of new dreams and possibilities.”