Shabbat Candlelighting 6:28 p.m.               Friday, October 3, 2014/9 Tishrei 5775
 

This message has 567 words that will take about 2.5 minutes to read.

We are mere hours from Yom Kippur. For many of us, this is a time for introspection, repentance and cleansing. A day elevated by nagging hunger and repetition of sins we may or may not have committed. It may not be the most pleasant of holidays, but it sure isn’t short on gravitas. For me this is, if not the favourite, close to the top of my favourite holiday list. Before you write me off as a masochist, let me tell you why. For the spiritual person in me, the haunting melodies lift me up; for the bleeding heart in me, I am reminded of the hunger of so many every day; and for the Federation CEO in me, the gathering of so many to continue our ancient traditions is awe-inspiring.

Over Rosh Hashanah, my wife Rachel and I journeyed from Orthodox to Humanistic, Reform to Conservative, Vancouver to Richmond and everywhere in-between, as we joined our community in the celebration of a new year filled with possibilities. We will be moving from North to West, starting our Kol Nidre with friends in West Vancouver and ending Yom Kippur with students at UBC. We look forward to seeing many of you as we spend the day-long journey to the book of life together.

Many others are also inspired during the Days of Awe. Michael Siegal, Chair, Jewish Federations of North America Board of Trustees, shares his reflections on the challenges of year 5774 and his hope for the collective strength of a united community to address those that will confront us in the New Year.

Ukraine Crisis
One of the immediate challenges facing our community is the plight of an estimated 2,200 displaced Jews from Eastern Ukraine, who have fled their homes to other cities in Ukraine, or to Russia. They are in need of emergency support, including monthly stipends for food and medication and help in locating and subsidizing short-term housing. You can help provide the support needed by donating here.

Federation Annual Campaign
To those who have already contributed to the Federation Annual Campaign, I thank you for joining us in the holy task of building and nurturing Jewish life in our community and beyond. If you haven’t yet done so, I encourage you to help us provide a safety net for our most vulnerable, and strengthen our community today and for generations to come. You can make your gift online today.

Your gift supports vital community organizations like the Vancouver Education Holocaust Centre (VHEC), which I had the pleasure of visiting earlier this week. It will open a new exhibit on Carl Lutz and the Legendary Glass House in Budapest, on October 22.

Kol Hakavod to the JFSA staff who hosted a White Elephant Sale this week to raise funds to contribute to the Federation Annual Campaign. Last year we launched our workplace campaign to find additional ways for employees working in our partner agencies to make a gift. We have compiled a list of suggested ideas that we are sending out to our agencies. I would love to hear from you if your agency is planning an activity or has a creative idea about how we can maximize participation in our campaign

Parshat Yom Kippur

We start the New Year with a Shabbat Message from Jewish Federations of North America National Young Leadership Cabinet member Shira Goodman, from Philadelphia.

G'mar Chatimah Tovah,

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

 
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