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If your Facebook and Twitter feeds are anything like mine, you’ve seen a lot of fiery rhetoric out there, some of it incredibly disturbing and challenging to take in. As a Federation we believe our communal endeavor is to heal the world - not just our own piece of it, but the world in totality. Our role is, in many ways, to uphold and project the positive Jewish values that have made our community such a light unto the nations.

In times like these, The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, our advocacy partner, helps us take action as a community and as individuals. They have set up a website with the tools you need to

• Call on the UN to condemn Palestinian terrorism and demand action against Palestinian incitement;
• Sign the petition asking the Government of Canada to take concrete steps to counter Palestinian incitement;
• Email messages of support to Israeli leaders as they defend Israelis and speak up in Israel’s defense;
• Watermark your Facebook profile photo with the Israeli flag to show your support; and
• Encourage your friends to do the same via social media.

This week we welcomed Nico Slobinsky as CIJA Pacific Region’s new director, and he has jumped right in with energy, enthusiasm and positivity. Nico was born and raised in Argentina, before moving to Israel where he earned a Master’s in International Law and Economics. He served in the IDF spokesperson’s unit, and spent a number of years volunteering with at-risk youth and the Jewish Agency. We are thrilled to have Nico on our team. You can connect with him at nslobinsky@cija.ca or @nicoslobinsky.

We recognize that there are a number of international issues that are of concern to community members right now, including the refugee and migrant crisis. Our Board of Directors recently voted for our Federation to act as an intermediary with the Anglican diocese and MOSAIC – both of which have extensive experience in this area - to support refugee families who have received approval to come to Canada under the family reunification program. Our Jewish community partners in this endeavor are CIJA, Jewish Family Service Agency, and several of our local synagogues.

The Board also approved $10,000 to the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to support the welfare needs of Syrian women and children who are refugees, and to provide psychological support to the front-line staff who work with them. The JDC is our trusted partner in the areas of rescue and relief, and the non-sectarian and humanitarian aspects of their work reflect who we are as people and as Jews. Such acts of compassion and righteousness are important antidotes to extremist sentiment.

Next week I will be writing to you from Israel, where I will be with Karen James, who is joining the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency For Israel. Karen serves as the chair of our Israel and Overseas Affairs Committee, and has held countless other leadership roles with our Federation, and with other local, national and international organizations. We can’t think of a better person to represent Vancouver and Canada in these very important discussions. This is the first time in memory that our community has had a representative on the JAFI Board. It is an incredible achievement for Karen, and shows the evolving stature of our deeply important Jewish community.

Every Friday I sign off by wishing you a Shabbat shalom. Periodically, there are weeks when that wish for peace feels more urgent. Many of you will gather to pray in shuls that have designated this Shabbat a “Shabbat of Solidarity” with Israel. Whether or not your shul is participating, you can do so in your home by reciting a special prayer while lighting Shabbat candles (here is an example some may wish to adopt), or by reciting a special Refuah Shlema for the victims.

However you choose to take action, be it through CIJA, by volunteering, by traveling to Israel, by helping those in need, or through prayer, you show extremists and terrorists that despite their best efforts they will not stop our ability to do good in the world.

Shabbat shalom,

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver