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As a Jewish organization based in the diaspora, we always maintain a dual focus on our home and on our homeland. For the past several months we have watched as rockets and incendiary devices were launched from Gaza to target Israeli civilians, and this week we saw the situation escalate. As we write this message, a ceasefire seems to be holding after an intense period of conflict. By the time we send this that may have changed or it may still be holding. These things can shift so quickly.

Our partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s (JAFI) Fund for the Victims of Terror has reached out to families whose houses were struck by rockets, and is providing immediate emergency assistance. A number of the dwellings that were hit are no longer habitable, and residents have been taken to hotels.

Alongside JAFI, Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) other partners (including the Joint Distribution Committee, the Israel Trauma Coalition, and World ORT) are active on the ground responding to the emergency situation and addressing urgent needs.

Our advocacy partner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), happens to be in Israel supporting an innovation mission this week. The British Columbia Technology and Innovation Trade Mission is being led by Bill Tam, the Chair of Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster, and is seeking opportunities for trade, collaboration, investment and understanding. Guests include BC’s Innovation Commissioner, Dr. Alan Winter. The program focuses on engagement with the Israeli innovation and technology eco-system, from universities, incubators, and accelerators to government agencies such as the Israeli Innovation Authority.

Trade missions are deeply immersive experiences that are instrumental in cementing relationships, creating partnerships, and developing new opportunities between companies and organizations in British Columbia and in Israel.

An opportunity to become more immersed in our work and in the issues affecting Jews in Israel and around the world is by participating on our Board Chair’s Mission in May, 2019. Led by our Board chair, Karen James, participants will enjoy an insider’s view of Israel and Ukraine for 10 days. Karen brings extensive knowledge of issues facing both countries, gained through her role with Jewish Federation and her position as a member on the Board of Governors of JAFI. This mission is a wonderful way to deepen your connections to Israel and world Jewry. Email us for more information.

We only have to look to children and teens to see the lasting impact of immersive Jewish experiences. We’re referring, of course, to the experiences they have at Jewish overnight summer camps - experiences that are directly linked to future involvement in the Jewish community. Your gift to the Federation Annual Campaign provides camperships for local kids to attend any of a variety of overnight camps: Camp Hatikvah, Camp Kalsman, Camp Solomon Schecter, Habonim Dror Camp Miriam, and Sephardic Adventure Camp. Camperships are becoming ever more important as the cost of living continues to take its toll on families. More families are applying for camperships, and more families are in need of bigger camperships than ever before in order to send their kids to camp.

And for families who live far from Jewish programs and services, an immersive camp experience may be the only opportunity for their children to connect fully with the Jewish community. Camp Hatikvah has expanded their outreach capabilities to our regional communities with the establishment of the “Laskin Outreach Fund.” This initiative, created and generously financed by Elliot and Megan Laskin, fully covers the cost for first-time campers from British Columbia living outside of Vancouver and Richmond with little or no Jewish communal engagement to attend second session. Campers currently enrolled in grade two to grade eight are eligible for this program. This initiative is not based on financial need and the application does not require any personal financial information. This exciting program falls directly in line with Jewish Federation’s ongoing commitment to connecting children in outlying communities with other Jewish youth and to their Jewish identity. For more information, please contact the Camp Hatikvah office at 604.263.1200.

There is a wide range of camps to choose from, so to help families get to know them we are planning a Camp Day at the JCC on BC Family Day (February 18, 2019). Families who attend will have a chance to participate in activities run by each of the camps and to meet staff from each camp. Stay tuned for more information.

Finally, one last note on community security - a topic that has been on everyone’s minds lately and is on our minds all the time. Yesterday, 30 people representing eight communal agencies attended a workshop organized by our Community Security Advisory Committee and presented by the Vancouver Police Department on increasing security through greater situational awareness, appropriately handling suspicious packages, and responding to hate mail and phone calls. While we have received amazing support from our local law enforcement after the tragedy in Pittsburgh, being proactive by training community members and volunteers to take preventive action is critically important. We hope to have further training opportunities available to our communal agencies over the next few months.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver