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As Jews living in modern times, we have the pleasure of enjoying twice the opportunity to look back and forward. As we look back on the past year, here at the Jewish Federation, we do so with a great deal of pride for what our community has accomplished. It was a year that challenged us with the falling of rockets on Israel and the political unrest in Ukraine, while through the National Household Survey confirming for us that our community is growing and thriving. For each of these and many other situations, we gathered as a community and achieved greatness, sending much needed support to people in need, while continuing to educate each other about what more we can do in the future.

2015 holds limitless opportunities for our community including our continued work on our Federation visioning process, the launch of a new PJ Library program and the Jewish education action plan. We will seek to strengthen our partnership region in Israel by exploring the development of medical foods and organic agriculture industries, bringing improved opportunities for those living on the other side of our gesher (bridge) in Northern Israel. It is you, our involved community members, who will fill the rooms and drive the development of great things.

For all that and more, we take this moment to say thank you for all you do and all you represent. We also invite everyone who has not walked through the Federation doors, sat around a committee table nor made a commitment to the collective community in 2014, to make a resolution in 2015 to change that. We in turn commit to being there with the light on and providing opportunities for you to make an impact both near and far.

Federation Annual Campaign
While 2014 has ended, we continue to strive to get every donation for the 2014 Federation Annual Campaign. It is looking very promising that we will meet our $8 million goal, but we need everyone’s gift to get us there! If you have made your gift to the campaign, thank you. If you have not made your gift, please do. Every dollar makes a difference in our community, touching countless lives and keeping us strong together.

Thank you so much for your support, every gift touches our community in many ways, and keeps us strong.

Parshat Vayechi
We enter the secular New Year and move into uncharted territory. Similarily, in this week's parsha we read that the Israelites also face an uncertain future, with the death of Jacob and Joseph, and leaving them in a very hostile land. Joseph assures the Israelites that G-d will not forget the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and will not forget them. Today, the work that we do together reaffirms our connection to our fellow Jews and reminds us to look into the future with hope and strength.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver