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Jewish Community Contingent Marches in Pride Parade
The annual Vancouver Pride Festival has grown to be one of the major annual civic events in our area. Falling this year in the shadow of oppressive policies and statements in Russia relating to the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, the festival took on added importance. As in past years, a Jewish community delegation marched in the festival. The participation of an organized group in the parade serves two important purposes. First, it demonstrates our own community’s recognition of the importance of the festival and of promoting inclusion of the LGBTQ community within the Jewish community and in Canadian society. Second, it provides an opportunity to highlight Israel as the only democratic society in the Middle East where an LGBTQ population can find acceptance. Thank you to the staff and leadership from Jewish Federation, Axis (our young adult program), Jewish Family Service Agency, the Jewish Community Centre, Hillel, Temple Sholom, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, who worked to coordinate this year’s Jewish community delegation.

Search for Jewish Federation CEO Underway
The Search Committee for a permenant CEO for our Jewish Federation held its first meeting in late July, working with an executive search consultant from Jewish Federations of North America. JFNA has a specialized professional unit supporting the Federation movement with executive searches for CEO’s and other key positions. With more than 150 local Federations in the network, there are a significant number of senior positions opening each year. Through this service JFNA is saving the Federation movement millions of dollars each year.

The process begins with the development of a position description, which has now been completed. JFNA and our Search Committee will be casting a wide net for potential candidates. If you are aware of anyone you think might be appropriate, please forward the position description to them. Information is provided there about how potential candidates can pursue the opportunity.

Parashat Shoftim
This week’s parasha includes the famous injunction “Tzedeck, tzedeck tirdof” – “Justice, justice, shall you pursue.” As Rabbi Daniel Fellman of Syracuse, NY writes, the rabbis have tried to understand over the years why the text includes the repetition. He argues that it serves to remind us to focus both inwardly and outwardly. Looking inward, what is our own individual truth? How do we see ourselves in relation to the world, to others, and by what standard will we judge ourselves? Looking outward, we move from the individual to the collective. How do we see ourselves as part of a group? How will we relate to others with respect to common purpose and unity, and what code of behavior amongst us will facilitate that unity?

The coincidental timing of this week’s parasha in the wake of last weekend’s Pride Festival gives us the chance to look both inwardly and collectively at how we are relating to issues of inclusion in our own community and in our broader society. It is easy to point to the brazen attitude and policy of Russia and cry “shame.” In truth, both here in Canada and in Israel, the reality and opportunities for the LGBTQ population are better – much better – than in Russia and many other places around the world. But, it is not as if our own societies – Canadian and Jewish – don’t yet have more work to do.

Shabbat shalom!