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By the time you read this, Karen James, our Board chair; Candace Kwinter, chair of our Israel and Overseas Affairs Committee; and I will be back in Vancouver after travelling to Israel for Karen to participate in the Board of Governors’ meetings of our partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). Seeing JAFI at work bringing Israel and the diaspora closer on a macro scale is a wonderful reminder of the vibrancy of these two halves of the Jewish world. It’s been especially exciting as there is a transition in leadership taking place at JAFI, with Natan Sharansky leaving the role of chairman.

At Sunday’s plenary, the Board of Governors elected Isaac Herzog to the position of chairman, and he will begin his four-year term next month. If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you follow Israeli politics - Isaac Herzog is the leader of the opposition in the Knesset, and is the son of former Israeli President Chaim Herzog. Here is more background on him from JAFI.

Our Federation works with JAFI on a number of initiatives, one of which is the Shinshin program that matches teen emissaries from Israel with host communities in the diaspora for a year of volunteer service. While here, the local Shinshinim volunteer with the JCC, Temple Sholom Religious School, Vancouver Talmud Torah (VTT), King David High School, Richmond Jewish Day School and Beth Israel Hebrew School. Through the programs they lead and their interactions with children and teens, they help local community kids connect with Israel in new and fun ways. And that fun begins before they even arrive, because one of the first projects for new Shinshinim is their intro video; watch here to meet Ofir and Or before they arrive later this summer.

Speaking of videos, we mentioned last week that we seized the opportunity of our 30th anniversary to capture memories and stories of our history from our past and present leadership. The series of videos is now available online at jewishvancouver.com/thirty.  They don’t just tell the story of our Federation, they highlight fascinating aspects of the history of our entire community. The Greater Vancouver region has grown and changed tremendously since the 1980s, and I hope you will take the time to watch some of the in-depth interviews. Kol hakavod to Jonathan and Heather Berkowitz, Sondi Green, and Al Szajman, who worked with our marketing team on this project, and todah rabbah to everyone who gave of their time and experience to be interviewed.

While we were in Israel, I had the privilege of meeting with Deborah Lyons, Ambassador of Canada to Israel. As well, Karen and I were extremely proud to participate in the cornerstone ceremony at Tel Hai University, where Arnold and Anita Silber have funded the building of a new 1,200-seat outdoor theatre that will become a hub of activity for the university and surrounding area, including for ceremonies and performances. Located at the centre of campus, the theatre is a key component in Tel Hai’s long-term plan for development of the university.

Arnold and Anita have a deep love of our partnership region in the north of Israel, the Galilee Panhandle. They have supported numerous projects there including our beloved Beit Vancouver, and Anita has served on our Israel and Overseas Affairs Committee. It was their love of Northern Israel and their recognition of Tel Hai as the most significant economic driver in the region that led them to generously fund this project through the Arnold and Anita Silber Family Foundation.

The Silbers were not able to attend the ceremony in person, but Karen delivered heartfelt remarks on their behalf, in which they noted that “…the search for a place to carry our name was one we took very seriously. We sought something that would make us proud not only in its beauty and location, but also in the role it plays in the growth of this area we care deeply about. We appreciate the opportunity to trust Tel-Hai College with our name, to support the College in doing so and to tie our legacy with the future of the Galilee.”

Finally, I had the pleasure of visiting our partner Appleseeds Academy’s new innovation hub, designed to integrate technology and empowerment in Israel’s geographic and socioeconomic peripheries. And since I’d be remiss not to comment on our trip coinciding with the first ever visit to Israel by a member of the British Royal Family, I’ll mention that we were very excited to see that a representative from Appleseeds Academy was selected to meet Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, during this historic visit.

Shabbat shalom and happy Canada Day,

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver