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Three Federation Leaders Presented with Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in Ottawa
Karen James, Bernard Pinsky and Ted Zacks, three Vancouver area Jewish leaders with a strong record of leadership and service to our community, were recognized in Ottawa this week as they received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In an earlier ceremony, community leader Marie Doduck was also a recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Award. The award is given to Canadian citizens who make significant contributions and achievement. Bernard and Ted have both served as past General Chairs of our Federation Annual Campaign and as past Board Chairs of the Jewish Federation, along with the service to many other community institutions, and both are still actively involved in various aspects of our work. Karen is a current officer of the Federation and a past Chair of our Women’s Philanthropy Division. Kol HaKavod to all!

Community Donors and Volunteers Put Jewish Federation Among Top 20 Charities in BC
The December 1 issue of the Vancouver Sun included a feature profiling the top 20 charities in BC. We were very pleased and proud that the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver was included on the list. And while we ranked 16th in terms of total fundraising revenue, we were among those on the list with the lowest percentage of cost for fundraising and administrative expenses. Of course the generosity of our donors accounts for our being on the list at all, but it is our volunteers who make it possible for us to run as efficiently as we do. Many thanks to all of you – donors and volunteers – who are doing your part to support our community through the Jewish Federation. Click here to read the story. It’s not too late to be counted in for our 2012 Annual Campaign. Make your gift now at www.jewishvancouver.com.

Vancouver Young Adults Take Part in National Young Leadership Conference
Last weekend, 9 young adults from Vancouver joined 130 peers from across the country in Montreal for the Canadian National Young Leadership Symposium, organized by Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA. With a roster of dynamic speakers and workshops ranging from canvassing to public speaking, the conference brought together young Jewish leaders ages 25-45 to network, gain skills and share ideas about Jewish leadership. The weekend offered an opportunity to bridge the gaps of distance and to strengthen the bonds that unite us as Canadian Jews. Armed with inspiration and greater knowledge, the conference sends back our young leaders with a renewed motivation to make an even greater impact locally. To learn more about exciting national young leadership opportunities or to get involved on a local level, please contact Dana Troster, Manager of Young Adult Initiatives at dtroster@jewishvancouver.com.

Young Adults Celebrate Chanukah
Last night 130 young adults celebrated Chanukah together at an event jointly hosted by Jewish Federation, JNF Young Professionals Network, Congregation Beth Israel and Moishe House. Held at Hycroft Manor, the evening of food, drinks and dancing was the perfect setting for networking and fun. As Federation’s new NextGen Planning Committee continues to meet and build an engaged community of young Jews, we expect to see more exciting events and programs to come. For more information, contact Dana Troster.

Parashat Miketz
In this week’s parasha, Joseph is imprisoned in Egypt when Pharaoh’s sleep is disturbed by dreams he cannot interpret. Joseph’s interpretative skills gain him an opportunity to assist Pharaoh, and as a result he helps Egypt prepare for coming famine, and ends up appointed as Pharaoh’s right hand. It was Elie Wiesel who coined the phrase “speaking truth to power” when he confronted former US President Ronald Reagan over his visit to Bitburg. Wiesel was taking Reagan to task for honouring Germany’s fallen soldiers while ignoring the memory of the victims of the Nazi holocaust.

The Jewish roots of “speaking truth to power” have their roots in the Joseph story. Throughout the Joseph narrative, he again and again speaks his truth. When he does so with his brothers, their reaction puts him at risk. When he does so with Pharaoh, it results in an extraordinary elevation of his status. But his consistency appears not to be motivated by or connected to the potential outcome. It is, instead, reflective of an inner strength or integrity.

Shabbat shalom! Chanukah Sameach!