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Cyber-Bullying Tragedy Highlights Issues Facing Youth
The tragedy of Amanda Todd’s suicide has triggered an outpouring of concern and discussion. To the degree that it heightens awareness about the impact bullying can have on its victims, and of internet safety issues, we can hope that this will improve or save lives.

Over the past 18 months, a committee of community professionals from our agencies, schools and synagogues has been working together on strengthening our community’s approaches and resources for at-risk youth. Last spring we provided funding for a new youth outreach position at the JCC, and, in a few weeks, a new training initiative will be launched to prepare local youth workers to respond appropriately to young people in emotional distress or who are experiencing some form of bullying.

When a teen or young adult is struggling with depression, coping with bullying or facing other issues, one of the greatest challenges is making sure they know there are places to turn for help. If you are aware of young people in our community who may need assistance, please make sure they know they can contact the JCC community outreach worker, Stephanie Rabin or JFSA’s clinical director, Alan Stamp, or one of our day school counselors who can help connect them with resources within, and beyond our community.

For more information on effective ways to respond to cyber-bullying, check out this link.

MP Don Davies Shares Recent Experience in Israel
Don Davies, MP (NDP) for the Vancouver Kingsway riding, met Sunday morning with members of our community interested in learning about his experience traveling to Israel this past summer. Davies traveled as part of a multi-party delegation of federal legislators organized by The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

As Davies served for several years as the minority critic for the NDP on immigration, citizenship and multi-cultural issues, he decided to invest time and energy in getting to know as much as possible about the broad range of diverse ethnic and religious communities in Canada. As part of that, he has worked to deepen and improve the NDP’s relationship with the Jewish community.

Davies’ comments at the beginning of his briefing, outlining his perception of the range of issues facing Israel both geopolitically and in terms of internal societal issues, was one of the most thoughtful and reflective discussions of Israel that I have heard from any political leader of any stripe.

JCC Showtime Troupe Marks 150th Performance
JCC Showtime, a volunteer performance troupe, travels around our region visiting seniors’ centres and housing facilities to entertain and to brighten the days of hundreds of seniors each year. Led by director, choreographer and producer Beryl Israel, the group sings and dances its way into the heart of every group for which they perform.

The group had its 150th performance this week at the Harrison Landing seniors’ residence in Langley. In fact, their relationship with this seniors’ centre is so positive that the centre has invited the JCC Showtime group back for all its major anniversary performances.

Celebrating Generosity
Last night marked the launch of our new Annual Campaign recognition event, ‘Celebrating Generosity’. To make sure we got it right, we turned to the amazing leadership team of Alfonso Ergas and Lianne Hayes Peretz. Together with campaign staff member Cindy Behrmann, and our event producers from DreamGroup, they put together a fantastic evening. More than 250 guests dined, schmoozed and danced at the new Ferrari-Maserati dealership on Burrard Street in Vancouver.

Special thanks go to chef Andrey Durbach of La Buca and Pied-à-Terre, and to the strong group of corporate sponsors who made it possible for us to show our appreciation to donors without adding to our campaign costs. Sponsors included Deans Knight Capital Management, AllWest Insurance, The Ergas Group, Ferrari Maserati of Vancouver, MJG Brewery and Restaurants, Bull Housser, BerTov Capital Management, Wolrige Mahon, ZLC Financial Group, Victoria Spirits and Paper Queen.

Parashat Noach
Towards the end of this week’s parasha, a scene plays out that provides interesting food for thought on cyber-bullying. Noah, having been deemed of sufficient virtue to have himself and his family saved from the destruction of the flood, is described as having become drunk on wine and falling asleep naked and uncovered in his tent – at best, an undignified moment for the greatest personality of his time. His son, Ham, coming across the spectacle, shares the news with his brothers. The brothers cover him up, averting their eyes to try to preserve his dignity. When he awakes, Noah is angry with Ham for having spilled the beans, but appreciative of Shem and Japheth, the other brothers, who sought to treat him with dignity.

One weak moment of indiscretion, and generations later we are still reading about poor Noah’s mistake. Imagine the risks and dangers today, in our world of instant communication and seemingly endless digital storage of every word and image. No wonder Amanda Todd was - and countless others still are - subjected to inescapable bullying. Today’s tools make it all too easy for the bullies.

On one hand, we need to be ever so diligent in raising our youth to be conscious of the risks posed by the digital world. On the other, we need to inculcate the values of Shem and Japheth among the widest segment of people possible. There will always be those, like Ham, who revel in the foibles and faults of others, and exploit them in hurtful ways. They need to be balanced and ultimately overcome by those who will champion the preservation of the dignity of others who are different or vulnerable in some way, and even those who may have made a mistake.

Shabbat shalom!