fundraising – Page 3

Music’s healing power

The annual Music Heals gala raises funds and awareness of the therapeutic use of music. This year’s event takes place Oct. 23 at the Commodore Ballroom. (photo from David Barnett)

Vancouver’s business and entertainment communities are combining their philanthropic forces at the Commodore Ballroom Oct. 23 for a gala to support Music Heals, the charitable foundation that raises awareness and funds for the therapeutic use of music in physical and mental health processes.

David Barnett founded Music Heals in 2012. (photo from David Barnett)

David Barnett, who founded Music Heals in 2012 and currently serves as board president, said tickets will be available after Labour Day and are expected to sell out quickly. Still, the event, which is already fully booked from an artist standpoint, always has room for sponsorship opportunities, according to Barnett.

“It is a great group at Music Heals,” he said. “We bring in all types of artists from all over, including Grammy Award winners, and produce a fun variety show. We don’t reveal any of the artists. We keep everything a surprise.

“It is a super-fun event to produce and it brings the downtown business community and the music industry together for one night to celebrate the power of music.”

Since its beginning, Music Heals has distributed more than $5 million to help vulnerable Canadians gain access to music therapy. That translates to more than 65,000 funded music therapy hours in 85 different facilities, from children’s hospitals to senior centres to burn units, to hospices and rehabilitation centres. The funds have gone towards helping at-risk youth, cancer patients, those needing bereavement support and many others.

The 2024 gala raised more than $450,000, with sponsors such as RBC, BMO, ZLC Financial, Colliers International and Westbridge Capital, among numerous other organizations. DJ All Good, bbno$, CeeLo Green, Jack Thomas, Bif Naked and the Delta Police Pipe Band were some of the performers that appeared.

photo - “We always try to bring in something eclectic. The event itself is a little bit rowdy, and we try to keep the volume up,” says Music Heals founder and board president David Barnett about the organization’s annual gala — “We always try to bring in something eclectic. The event itself is a little bit rowdy, and we try to keep the volume up,” says Music Heals founder and board president David Barnett about the organization’s annual gala. (photo from David Barnett)

As for the upcoming event, Barnett, who calls Music Heals one of his “passion projects,” said, “We always try to bring in something eclectic. The event itself is a little bit rowdy, and we try to keep the volume up. We feature a story that is happening in the community and have a video of how we spent the money in the previous year.

“It is an opportunity for us to build a community of friends, business associates and music industry people to have some fun and raise some money for a very cool kind of cause to support facilities that use music as medicine in their healing for mental and physical health.”

In 2025, Music Heals gave more than $520,000 to 45 music therapy programs that included Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, BC Cancer Foundation and the Pacific Autism Family Centre.

Countless studies have been conducted on the healing power of music. The overwhelming conclusion is that listening to or playing music has a beneficial effect on overall human health and can mitigate various physical and mental ailments. Music, various research has shown, can lower stress, lift moods, bolster energy and lower pain levels.

Music therapy can benefit people in all age groups, from children with developmental disabilities to older adults with Alzheimer’s. For young people, music can help improve their cognitive and social development, allowing for better communication and emotional expression. For adults, music therapy can be a means of managing stress, anxiety and depression while boosting self-esteem.

For seniors, music therapy can have positive implications for recollection and cognitive function. The Louis Brier Home and Hospital, for example, offers one-on-one individualized and small-to-large group music therapy programs that are supported by Music Heals.

Among the types of music used at the Brier are beat boxing, drum circles and movement to music, as well as the singing of the Brier Choir. Louis Brier states on its website that music therapy for individuals in long-term care can maintain memory recall and reminiscing, fine motor coordination and range of motion, and increase creative expression.

On the power of music, the late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician David Crosby said in an interview done with Music Heals in 2017, “Music is a lifting force in the universe. Just as war drags the human race down and draws out the worst in people, music is a lifting force. It brings out the best in us; it lifts us up. Any time you can do music, it lifts the human race.”

In March, around the time of International Women’s Day, Music Heals hosts Let Her Sing, an annual event meant to provide women with access to music therapy programs in support of their physical and mental health. This year’s event raised $120,000.

Philanthropic causes, whether through Music Heals or other charitable ventures, have played an important role for Barnett throughout his life.

“I grew up in a family that gives back to the community and giving back was a large part of my upbringing,” said Barnett, whose business ventures have included music venues in the city.

“As I was getting older and found myself having kids and trying to get out of the music industry and nightclub space,” he said, “we were looking for an opportunity to get back and give back, and fell into the music therapy world.”

For more information, visit musicheals.ca.

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

Harper speaks at gala

Dr. Robert Krell will be honoured at the Sept. 7 gala of the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation’s Western region. (photo from CSZHF, Western region)

Ilan Pilo had recently arrived in Canada from Israel in 2013 when he attended a Jewish National Fund gala in Toronto honouring Stephen Harper, Canada’s then-prime minister. Pilo thinks it may have been the largest kosher dinner ever on Canadian soil – but what struck him most was the rapturous enthusiasm among attendees for the country’s head of government.

“Harper was, and has been, one of the most genuine and strong allies and voices on behalf of Canadian Jewry and Israel,” said Pilo, now Western Canada executive for the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation.

Pilo will dine again with Harper, when the former prime minister is the keynote speaker at the first-ever gala of the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation’s Western region, which takes place Sept. 7.

“In these challenging times, we all deserve to get some hope and strength by having a strong ally like him speaking in front of us,” said Pilo. “We all were astonished and so proud to hear his great support, his genuine support for Israel, and just now we need it more than ever.”

The gala, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation, will see the Kurt and Edith Rothschild Humanitarian Award bestowed upon Dr. Robert Krell.

The founding president of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, Krell is a child survivor of the Shoah and a renowned Vancouver-based psychiatrist, academic, author and educator, who has devoted his life to supporting survivors, educating on genocide and combating intolerance. In 2020, he was inducted into the Order of Canada.

The Kurt and Edith Rothschild Humanitarian Award is named in memory of the late Kurt Rothschild, a Canadian philanthropist, Jewish community leader and co-founder of the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation. Along with his wife Edith, Rothschild devoted his life to strengthening the Jewish people, the state of Israel and institutions like Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem; he also served as president of the World Mizrachi movement. The award recognizes exceptional individuals whose integrity, leadership and service have left a meaningful impact both locally and globally.

Krell told the Independent that he has felt a special connection with Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem since he read Dr. Gisella Perl’s 1948 memoir, I Was a Doctor in Auschwitz.

Imprisoned in the death camp, Perl, a gynecologist, was forced to work under the notorious Dr. Josef Mengele in the camp’s women’s infirmary. She performed countless life-saving – but excruciating – procedures without anesthesia, including secretly conducting abortions to save pregnant women from certain execution. Later, while serving in the maternity ward at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre, she would say a silent prayer before every delivery, “God, you owe me a life.”

“So, Shaare Zedek has been on my mind for a long time and, therefore, to be asked to be an honouree of that particular hospital talked to me,” Krell said.

The hospital’s maternity ward delivers 20,000 babies annually – by comparison, that’s three times as many as Vancouver’s BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. About 1,000 of those newborns are premature and the Sept. 7 gala is the culmination of a campaign to generate revenue to purchase five new $50,000 incubators for the Jerusalem hospital.

Krell is especially honoured, he said, to receive the award in the presence of Harper.

“It’s a great honour to be with someone who is truly admired for their statesmanship,” he said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a statesman in Canada.”

Pilo noted that Krell’s selection for the award was unanimously supported by the award committee, which was chaired by Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt, and included Dr. Arthur Dodek, Marie Doduck, Shannon Gorski-Averbach and Dr. Jonathon Leipsic, as well as Pilo.

“We were aiming to find the right person to be awarded for the first time ever with the Kurt and Edith Rothschild Humanitarian Award in the Western region,” Pilo said. “The committee agreed, without any hesitation, that our award recipient should be Rob Krell, since he is renowned for support of Canadian Jewry and Israel. His lifelong efforts at preserving the memory of the Holocaust and his dedication for children, which aligns with our incubator drive, [made it] so natural that he is the right person to receive this award.”

Pilo credited the foundation’s national executive director, Rafi Yablonsky, for securing the former prime minister’s presence at the celebration, which will be emceed by Dr. Marla Gordon. Dinner co-chairs are Yael Segal and Carol Segal. Community partners for the event are the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, Congregation Schara Tzedeck, the Jewish Medical Association of British Columbia and the Jewish Independent. Tickets are at hospitalwithaheart.ca.

Broadway for a good cause

(photo from omershaish.com)

Omer Shaish brings My Broadway Shpiel to Vancouver Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m., at Temple Sholom. In addition to offering a night of Broadway tunes, popular Hebrew songs and his own original music, the performance will raise money for Temple Sholom’s campership program. To read more, see jewishindependent.ca/enjoy-the-best-of-broadway.

For tickets, visit tickettailor.com/events/templesholom/1702794. Buy now to make sure you don’t miss out on this fun evening for a good cause. Won’t be in town? Consider buying a ticket or two for someone who can’t afford it.

– Courtesy Temple Sholom

Enjoy the best of Broadway

“It may sound like a cliché, but I really believe that music is a unique language. You don’t have to know how to read it, you might not understand the lyrics, but it can still touch your heart and soul,” Omer Shaish told the Independent. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what genre you listen to, it will always make you feel something. That’s what I always hope to do when I get on stage – use the music to touch people’s hearts and souls.”

photo - Omer Shaish brings My Broadway Shpiel – stories, Broadway tunes, popular Hebrew songs and original music – to Vancouver Aug. 21 — Omer Shaish brings My Broadway Shpiel – stories, Broadway tunes, popular Hebrew songs and original music – to Vancouver Aug. 21. *(photo from omershaish.com)*

Shaish brings My Broadway Shpiel to Vancouver Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m., at Temple Sholom. In addition to offering a night of Broadway tunes, popular Hebrew songs and his own original music, the performance will raise money for Temple Sholom’s campership program.

While Shaish never attended summer camp growing up, he did talk about growing up in the Jewish community.

“We’re one big family and I love that about us,” said the singer, who was born and raised in Rishon LeZion, which is about 20 minutes south of Tel Aviv.

“I spent most of my teenage years and my early 20s in Tel Aviv, where I was surrounded by great art, amazing people and incredible food!” said Shaish, who knew from a young age that he was going to be a singer.

“My parents say that, as a toddler, I’d pick up anything that could resemble a microphone and sing at the top of my lungs – everywhere. I always loved having an audience,” he said. “Even though, in real life, I sometimes come across as a bit shy and introverted, having an audience to sing for always made me feel at home. Up until today, having an audience, no matter how big or small, brings me to life.”

Shaish started his career as a vocalist in the Israeli Air Force Band, performing on military bases and in Jewish communities in Europe and Canada. He also is an actor, performing in Israel before moving to New York City in 2007 and graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He has numerous theatre, vocalist and soloist credits to his name, but mainly has been touring internationally as part of the classical vocal trio Kol Esperanza and with his self-produced, one-person show My Broadway Shpiel.

“Even though I love acting, I’ve been focusing on singing in the past few years,” he told the Independent. “I realized, throughout the years, that I feel more at home just being myself on stage. I enjoy sharing these moments with the audience and it makes every show feel different and so alive. Playing a character can be interesting, too, but, for me, there’s nothing better than simply being myself.”

At the moment, Shaish calls Baltimore, Md., home. Previously, he toured the United States for many years, and lived a few years in Los Angeles and in Miami.

“I absolutely love traveling, seeing the world and meeting lovely, interesting people,” he said. “My friends always make fun of me and say that they never know where I’m at, to which I reply with, ‘neither do I.’ It can be exhausting at times, but it’s always worth it. I feel very lucky to do what I love and that gives me a lot of energy to keep at it.”

He’s looking forward to performing here.

“I love Vancouver!” said Shaish. “I’ve been there many times and I think it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. The last time was only a few months ago, for rehearsals and a recording session. I’ve performed in Vancouver before and I can’t wait to be back and enjoy the views, the fresh air and, of course, the wonderful people!”

About the show he’s bringing with him, My Broadway Shpiel, he said, “As I tell my story and share some anecdotes about the Jewish story of Broadway, I sing some classics from Fiddler on the Roof and West Side Story, and all the way to some surprises by ABBA and Elvis Presley!”

One of his favourite moments in the performance is when he shares the experience of living in the United States with a foreign name.

“I have heard so many variations of my name from so many people that I have met,” he said. “‘Omer’ apparently isn’t very easy to pronounce. So, one day, I thought, why not write a song about it? I took Liza Minelli’s ‘Liza with a Z’ and turned it into ‘Omer with an E.’ At first, I wanted that to be the name of my show, but My Broadway Shpiel felt more fitting.”

As for the importance of music, he said, “This brings me back to how I see music as a language. It has superpowers. It can take us away from one reality and bring us to a completely different one within a split second. It triggers our emotions in such a powerful way. When people talk to me after a show and say that I made them laugh, made them cry, or made them forget about their day, I know I did something right.”

For tickets to My Broadway Shpiel, visit tickettailor.com/events/templesholom/1702794.

Harper to speak here

photo - Stephen J. Harper — Stephen J. Harper *(photo from internet)*

On Sept. 7, the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation, Western Region, presents A Special Evening Marking 50 Years of Supporting Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem, featuring former prime minister Stephen J. Harper.

The event, moderated by Gordon Campbell, raises funds for Shaare Zedek Medical Centre’s Incubators Drive.

In 2024, more than 20,000 babies were born at Shaare Zedek’s Wilf Woman and Infant Centre – three times that of BC Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Of those, 1,100 required intensive care in the neonatal intensive care unit. The NICU operates 70 state-of-the-art infant stations, offering 24/7 care with specialized staff and cutting-edge equipment. The goal of the campaign is to raise enough money to purchase additional Giraffe Incubator Carestations, each costing $50,000, to meet growing demand and save more lives. Thanks to a matching donor, every dollar donated will be matched up to $118,000.

Marla Gordon and Justin Segal are emcees of the Sept. 7 event. Herb Silber and Eli Konorti are corporate committee chairs, while Carol Segal and Yael Segal are dinner chairs. The Jewish Medical Association of BC is the evening’s educational sponsor and the Dr. Harry and Ruth Frackson Speaker Series has contributed to the event. Community partners are the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Congregation Schara Tzedeck and the Jewish Independent.

Tickets for the VIP meet-and-greet are a minimum gift of $1,800, which includes tickets for two guests. Admission to the VIP cocktail dinner is $250 per person, and the price to only attend the moderated presentation is $36 per person. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Ilan Pilo, Western Canada director of CSZHF, at [email protected] or 778-858-8748.

– Courtesy Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation, Western Region

Event raises spirit, support

photos - Richmond Jewish Day School and ORT Canada’s first-ever Pickleball & Pastrami fundraising event was held June 23 — Richmond Jewish Day School and ORT Canada’s first-ever Pickleball & Pastrami fundraising event was held June 23. *(photos from RJDS)*

On June 23, the gymnasium of Richmond’s Belvedere Club was filled with the sounds of laughter, cheers and paddles in motion as Richmond Jewish Day School (RJDS), in partnership with ORT Canada, hosted its first-ever Pickleball & Pastrami fundraising event. What began as a simple idea to bring families and community members together through sport evolved into a high-energy, heartwarming event that raised critical funds to enhance student access to technology.

The event began at 9:30 a.m. as guests arrived and checked in before heading onto the eight indoor courts. Players scanned QR codes posted throughout the venue to view the game schedule, locate their assigned courts, and meet their doubles partners. For those not playing, there was plenty to enjoy, including student STEM displays created in partnership with ORT, a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction.

The auction raised more than $1,000, and many donors stepped up with pledges towards the purchase of a class set of iPads, which will allow for enriched learning experiences in coding, research, presentation and creative expression in both general and Judaic studies classrooms.

Following two hours of pickleball, guests gathered for a deli-style pastrami lunch. The room buzzed with conversation as people enjoyed food and connected with fellow parents.

Members of the organizing committee – including Marie Doduck, Jeff Topp, Mindy Zimmering, Beverly Pinsky, Mary Tobin, Jordan Sukkau and Sabrina Bhojani – spoke, expressing gratitude to attendees, sponsors and volunteers. Winners of the auction and 50/50 draw were announced, bringing a close to the formal portion of the day.

“This event truly captured everything RJDS stands for, including joyful learning, meaningful connection and community support,” said Bhojani, principal of RJDS. “We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make this day such a success, from our committee and volunteers to every person who donated, played or simply showed up in support of our students.”

The fundraiser was not only a financial success but also a reminder of what’s possible when community comes together around a shared purpose. RJDS is still accepting contributions toward its iPad initiative. Donations can be sent via etransfer to [email protected] with “iPad” in the message.

To learn more about RJDS and its programs, visit rjds.ca or follow the school on Facebook and Instagram.

– Courtesy Richmond Jewish Day School

Na’amat Canada marks 100

Susan Inhaber, president, Na’amat Canada (left), with Dalia Margalit-Faircloth, president, Na’amat Vancouver. (photo by Heather Freed)

Na’amat Canada and NA’AMAT USA came together last month to celebrate a milestone: 100 years of community work.

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’amat International leaders. Together, participants honoured a century of activism and achievement while charting the course for the work ahead.

Na’amat was “the first and last women’s organization for which I ever worked,” said the late Golda Meir, national secretary (president) of Na’amat in the 1930s, decades before she became Israel’s prime minister.

Founded in 1925, Na’amat 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.

“From 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,” said event co-chairs Jan Gurvitch (NA’AMAT USA) and Susan Inhaber (Na’amat Canada). “This 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.”

The weekend began with welcomes and candlelighting, continued with performances and storytelling, and culminated in a tribute to Na’amat’s past national presidents, women who helped shape the organization’s direction for generations. Attendees also heard from Na’amat Israel leaders Hagit Pe’er and Shirli Shavit, who shared updates on urgent needs and inspiring progress on the ground.

“Today, 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,” said Pe’er, president of Na’amat Israel and Na’amat International. “Together, we have built a legacy of resilience, compassion and progress that will inspire future generations.”

The event captured the deep sense of community that defines Na’amat: from singing and dancing, to laughter and reflection, to sharing dreams for the next 100 years.

Kanot Youth Village

After wrapping up the centennial, the occasion served as the launchpad for Na’amat Canada’s 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.

“We help children cross the bridge – 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,” 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.

Founded by Na’amat in 1952, Kanot today serves 700 students, many of whom face poverty, trauma or loss. The new building – a collaborative project between Na’amat Canada, donors and Israel’s Ministry of Education – is nearly complete but, to open its doors in September 2025, it must be fully furnished and equipped.

Na’amat 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.

To learn more about Na’amat’s impact or to support the Kanot campaign, visit naamat.com or call 1-888-278-0792.

– Courtesy Na’amat Canada

JWest questions answered

A drawing of the new Jewish campus at Oak Street and 41st Avenue. (image from Jewish Federation)

With construction of the new Jewish campus at Oak Street and 41st Avenue set to begin in spring 2026, many in our community still have questions. What exactly is JWest? Is it replacing the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver? What about King David High School? Here are some answers to those questions.

JWest is the name of the redevelopment project and the campaign behind it. It is not a new name for the JCC, which will continue to serve as a hub for wellness, learning, culture and community connection. JWest is the vision, planning and fundraising effort driving the creation of a new, integrated Jewish campus that includes a new, expanded JCC and KDHS, and two residential rental towers.

Inside the new JCC

The new JCC will be a six-storey, 200,000-square-foot facility designed with inclusion, flexibility and sustainability at its core. Among its many features, it will include an eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool and significantly expanded fitness and wellness spaces to support active living for all ages.

Families will benefit from a much larger childcare centre, complete with a rooftop outdoor play area. The facility will also house two full gymnasiums, universal changerooms with private cubicles for added comfort and accessibility, and a multi-function theatre with retractable seating and full wheelchair access – ideal for performances, films and community events.

At the heart of the building, a larger welcoming café will serve as a natural gathering space, while a new, purpose-built home for the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre will provide enhanced opportunities for learning and remembrance.

image - A drawing of part of the interior of the new Jewish campus — A drawing of part of the interior of the new Jewish campus. (image from Jewish Federation)

The JCC has long been a home for a wide range of Jewish organizations – and that legacy will continue in the new campus. In fact, the new facility is designed to foster even greater collaboration and increased programming for all ages and interests.

While the list is still being finalized, most of the community partners and organizations currently housed in the JCC will move into the new building, joined by some new partners who will bring fresh energy and offerings to the campus.

Why a new KDHS

KDHS has been a vital part of Jewish life in Vancouver for decades, but, like the current JCC, the school has outgrown its space. The existing building cannot support further enrolment growth or accommodate the full scope of programs and facilities that today’s students – and tomorrow’s – need to thrive.

Also, the current school and the JCC are separated by a big parking lot and a busy street, which makes it hard to have shared programs, casual interactions, or really feel like part of one community. The new campus changes that. By bringing the school and the JCC right next to each other, it will become a true shared space. With students spending time at the JCC every day, the whole place will be filled with energy, laughter and activity. This kind of daily connection will open the door for more collaboration between teachers, families and community members, and help everyone feel like they belong. It won’t be just a campus but a place where Jewish life can grow and be shared across generations.

The phased approach to construction ensures that both the JCC and KDHS will remain fully operational in their current buildings throughout the project. Each organization will only move once its new home is ready, minimizing disruption and allowing continuity in programs, services and learning.

The residential towers

The two planned residential rental towers are an essential part of the long-term sustainability of the new campus. They are designed to generate stable, ongoing revenue that will help support the operations and maintenance of the entire site. In addition to strengthening the financial foundation of the project, the towers will contribute to addressing Vancouver’s broader need for rental housing. They will include below-market rental units, providing much-needed affordable housing options for members of the Jewish community and others in need.

During construction?

Construction will begin in spring 2026, starting in the current JCC parking lot. Once the new JCC is complete – estimated at about three years – the current building will be removed to make space for the new KDHS, outdoor areas, residential towers and long-term parking. Throughout construction, the current JCC will remain open, and all programs and services will continue.

JWest is working closely with Grosvenor, the developer behind the Mayfair West project across 41st Avenue, to coordinate temporary parking for JCC members, staff and visitors. While final details are still being confirmed, this location is expected to be the primary parking option during construction. At the same time, drop-off and pick up zones will be provided at the current JCC building for the childcare centre and for people with limited mobility.

Funding for JWest

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of donors – and major support from the governments of British Columbia and Canada – more than 90% of the required funds have already been raised. As the project prepares to break ground, the final phase of the campaign will soon launch. This next stage is a chance for everyone in the community to take part and help shape the future.

Why this matters

“I truly believe that, together, we’re creating something special – a vibrant new Jewish campus that brings out the best of our community and our city. This is what we do,” said Alex Cristall, chair of the JWest Foundation. “We come together and we invest in our future because we care deeply about it. This new campus isn’t just about buildings – it’s about building a home for Jewish life, culture and values in British Columbia that will last for generations.”

JWest will continue to share updates – including construction timelines, additional parking details and news about the public phase of the campaign – in the months ahead. Visit JWestNow.com.

– Courtesy Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

JNF Negev Event raises funds for health centre

An artist’s rendering of the new Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre for which the 2025 Negev Event is raising funds. (photo from jnf.ca/PacificNegev2025)

Hosted by Jewish National Fund of Canada Pacific Region and Israel Magen Fund of Canada, the June 19 Negev Event in Vancouver will feature rescued hostage and speaker Noa Argamani, Australian actor and advocate for Israel Nate Buzz, and editor-in-chief of the National Post Rob Roberts. Funds raised will help build the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre, providing increased levels of care for trauma victims, children with disabilities and children with cancer.

As the name indicates, the new centre will be located in Ashdod, which is about 50 kilometres north of the border with Gaza. With almost 250,000 residents, it is Israel’s sixth largest city. “It is home to the largest Moroccan and Karaite Jewish communities in Israel, and the largest Georgian Jewish population in the world,” notes the JNF.

However, there is a shortage of rehabilitation services in southern Israel, a shortage that has worsened since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks and the ensuing war.

photo - The June 19 Negev Event raises funds to help build the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre, thereby increasing levels of care for trauma victims — The June 19 Negev Event raises funds to help build the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre, thereby increasing levels of care for trauma victims, children with disabilities and children with cancer. (photos from jnf.ca/PacificNegev2025)

“Thirty percent of wounded patients and most of the war victims are residents of the south,” according to JNF. “Fourteen thousand residents were treated in hospitals following Oct. 7, with 42% coming with injured limbs and 35% seeking support with emotional trauma. The system cannot support the hundreds of thousands of children, adolescents and adults who were physically injured and emotionally crushed by horrific traumas that left deep scars.”

There are only 11 rehabilitation centres in Israel’s periphery communities, while central Israel has 43, says JNF. “Currently, wait times for rehabilitation in the south are at least one year…. Southern residents, including recovering patients and children, must travel about an hour-and-a-half to Israel’s centre for care.”

photo - The June 19 Negev Event raises funds to help build the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre, thereby increasing levels of care for children with cancer — (photo from jnf.ca/PacificNegev2025)

Among the services the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre will expand upon is the range of care and support that Rachashei Lev, which was established in 1989, provides in other medical centres. (Rachashei Lev roughly translates as Whispers of the Heart, or Heart of Compassion.)

“I visited Rachashei Lev in July [last year] as part of JNF’s resilience task force, a group consisting of professional leaders and lay leadership from across Canada,” David Greaves, executive director of JNF Manitoba/Saskatchewan and Vancouver/Pacific region, told the Independent. “I was there with Harvey Dales and we were all touched by what this organization did. As well, while touring the facility, we were surprised when Noa Argamani joined us and shared her story and how much support she and her family received from Rachashei Lev after her rescue and repatriation. This is, of course, why we chose this particular project, as Noa will be one of our special guests on June 19.” (Argamani was chosen by TIME magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2025.)

Greaves will be here for the event, working out of the Vancouver office with the local JNF team and Megan Laskin, the event chair. He took on the additional role of Vancouver/Pacific region head after Michael Sachs left the position to become the director for Western Canada of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre.

“My first official meeting with the board was mid-December,” said Greaves. “They were so welcoming, I felt like I had been here for months.”

Greaves gave the JI an update on the Canada Revenue Agency’s revocation of JNF Canada’s charitable status.

“We have two pending court dates,” he said. “We have a judicial review scheduled for May 28 [after the JI went to press]. We are calling on the court to overturn our revocation, as we had a commitment from the CRA that our revocation would not be published, which finalizes the revocation process, until we exhausted our legal options. We assert that a pillar of Canadian justice is the presumption of innocence, so taking action to revoke us before the opportunity to appeal to the courts is fundamentally unjust. Our underlying appeal, which will focus on the merits of our case, does not yet have a date set. We have called upon the CRA to settle this matter before we litigate, as this is a waste of time and resources for both the taxpayer and JNF. Disappointingly, the CRA has rejected our offer to settle.”

JNF Canada is partnering with the charity Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC) for all the Negev events across the country.

“We are sharing the responsibilities in executing these campaigns and galas,” Greaves said. “Both organizations have signed agreements outlining the nature of the collaboration. The IMFoC has an agency agreement with the two organizations in Israel at which these projects will be realized, the Parenthood Home in Sderot and the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre. We have the same passion for Zionism and supporting vulnerable Israelis from all walks of life, so it was sensible to work together as, through this collaboration, we can achieve more.”

Intergenerational support

JNF Pacific board president Shannon Gorski is excited about the Rachashei Lev project. She knows firsthand the impact that JNF initiatives can have.

“In 2017, our family supported the Tzofei Tzamid (Israeli Scouts) centre in Ra’anana,” she said. “The project raised money to remodel the centre to ensure that it was inclusive to all the scouts who participated. This meant providing resources and equipment that made it possible for all teens to be able to participate in the outdoor excursions regardless of physical or mental limitations.”

She visited the centre that same year and saw how the money raised here positively affected the participants in Israel. “It was quite emotional,” she said.

Gorski is in her third year as board president; she was vice-president from 2019 to 2023.

“I began my service on the JNF board in 2017,” she said, “following the 2017 Negev, in which my father [Gary Averbach] was honoured with the support of my brother, Michael [Averbach], and me.”

It truly has been a lifelong endeavour for Gorski.

“My father was JNF president from 1991 to 1992, and I remember many occasions that I spent time at the home of the residing shaliach’s [emissary’s] residence,” said Gorski. “Of course, our home always had a JNF box, which I believe I took trick or treating with me in place of the UNICEF box. Purchasing trees to forest Israel became a gift that I either gave or received to commemorate many Jewish milestones.”

Board vice-president Howard Jampolsky also grew up with JNF.

“As a child,” he said, “I first became involved in JNF raising money for trees and driving around with my uncle, John Eskin, z”l, picking up blue boxes in the 1970s. Uncle Johnny was a tireless worker for JNF and was honoured in 1976 with a Negev Dinner.

“My father, Abe Jampolsky, z”l, was also involved in JNF as a regional president. He, too, was honoured by JNF in 1987 with a Negev Dinner, during which the guest speaker was Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu, who, at the time, was Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations.”

In 2015, then-executive director of JNF’s regional office, Ilan Pilo, asked Jampolsky to join the executive committee of the local board, and he has been involved ever since, becoming vice-president in 2023. Jampolsky has been on the JNF national board since 2022.

For Jampolsky, helping fund projects like the Ashdod Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre is what we, as Jews, do.

“We value life, and part of valuing life is to ensure that each life is fulfilled in every possible way,” he said. “On Oct. 7, 2023, that fulfillment for thousands of Israelis was dashed when Hamas attacked us. I say ‘us’ because when one of our people is attacked, we are all attacked.

“This centre provides life-saving health care for young cancer victims, but it also provides vital health care for many who were impacted by the terrible events of Oct. 7. Both those with physical injuries and emotional trauma will benefit from this important place.”

For tickets to the June 19 Negev Event in Vancouver, go to imfoc.org/pacific-negev.

Helping bring JWest to life

A sketch of the new Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, by Acton Ostry Architects. (© Acton Ostry Architects)

The JWest capital campaign’s goal of raising $161 million is only possible with the generous spirit and foresight of community members who rally to this generationally important project. Daniella Givon and Bernard Pinsky’s gift is an example of bringing the future JWest campus closer to reality.

photo - Bernard Pinsky and Daniella Givon — Bernard Pinsky and Daniella Givon’s gift is an example of bringing the future JWest campus closer to reality. *(photo from Bernard Pinsky and Daniella Givon)*

Both joined the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) immediately after settling in Vancouver in 1979. Givon, who grew up in Israel, found friendship and community by joining Israeli folk dancing and becoming involved with Canadian Hadassah-WIZO. Pinsky, a lawyer who grew up in Winnipeg, got to know the JCC by working out in its gym. He noticed how JCC activities and just being around the JCC brought community members together in meaningful ways that sparked and fostered increased community participation.

“I realized that the JCC is a critical connector and gateway to deeper involvement in the Jewish community,” he said.

Pinsky began his local volunteer work with the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1981 and, over the ensuing 44 years, served in leadership roles for many Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ national board and Beth Israel Synagogue. Today, he is board chair and director of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, one of the lead donors to JWest.

Givon served as Vancouver regional president for Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and took leadership roles in the Jewish Museum & Archives of British Columbia and the Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival.

Pinsky and Givon, children of Holocaust survivors, continue a legacy of community involvement in their respective families. Givon was inspired by her mother’s many years of leadership in the parent-teacher association of her Israeli school and her grandfather’s participation as a board chair of his moshav’s governing council. Pinsky recalled how his grandfather headed the Zionist Federation of Manitoba, among other leadership positions.

“It’s inconceivable to me to imagine our community without a JCC, and our building is tired,” Givon noted. “A tired, crowded building attracts a limited number of people.”

Pinsky agreed that the JCC is in need of replacement.

“Right now, things are squeezed into pre-set spaces that restrain increased participation,” he noted. “The new JWest will have more space for Jewish organizations, flex spaces for more programming and an expanded daycare. We’ll be able to offer more programs that attract young families, which is a crucial way to build for the future.

“And it’s not just the Jewish community that uses and will continue to use this important facility,” he said. “Former BC premier Christie Clark sent her son to the JCC daycare. I became friends with Terry Yung, who is a current MLA, and his wife, Sarah Kirby-Yung, a city councilor, because we met at the JCC. They’ve been very connected to and helpful for the Jewish community.”

With just $19 million left to raise to achieve the $161 million target, JWest is poised to break ground in early 2026.

JWest recently submitted its development permit application with a new JCC as pictured here. In line with the guiding principle of responsibly using community funds, the design maximizes efficiency, with an increased number of multi-purpose spaces. For example, the JCC auditorium and theatre have been combined and will feature a state-of-the-art, automated, retractable seating system. Operating as a campus, the JCC and King David High School will be more integrated, with greater cross-sharing of spaces.

Visit JWestnow.com to learn more and share the link to get others excited about the project. The newly updated site includes a detailed look at the project and construction timeline, fresh renderings of the JCC, a list of the donors to date, news articles and information on the project team.

– Courtesy Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver