30+ years
Partnership with Northern Israel
A Living Partnership with Israel
Rooted in deep relationships and long‑term investments, our work in northern Israel strengthens communities and connects Vancouver to the Galilee.
For more than three decades, our Federation has played an active role in strengthening Israel’s social fabric. Through sustained investment and shared responsibility, our work brings people together and supports vibrant, resilient communities, especially in northern Israel.
This commitment reflects a core Federation belief: when communities support one another across borders, we strengthen opportunity, continuity, and collective responsibility, particularly in moments that put resilience to the test.
5 Communities
Across the Galilee Panhandle
6 Federations
Working together through P2G
The Northern Galilee
Primarily in the communities of:
- Kiryat Shmona
- Metula
- Mevo’ot HaHermon
- Galil Elyon
- Yesod HaMa’ala
Our Connection to Northern Israel
Our relationship with Etzba HaGalil -the Galilee Panhandle - in northern Israel, is more than a partnership. Rooted in generations of shared experiences, this enduring bond connects us closely with families across the region, primarily in the communities of Kiryat Shmona, Metula, Mevo’ot HaHermon, Galil Elyon, and Yesod HaMa’ala, reminding us that distance does not diminish connection.
Together with Jewish Federations across Canada, we focus our efforts on strengthening this region through targeted philanthropy, community development, and empowerment of local, regional leadership. Over time, this work has built trust and solidarity, supporting northern communities through periods of stability and challenge alike.
Located along Israel’s northern border, far from the center of the country, this area faces geographic, economic, and security pressures. Our response balances support of regional development with human connection, aiming to strengthen local capacity while staying rooted in long‑standing relationships.
Landmark Partnerships in the Galilee
Landmark Partnership
Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee
Spanning over three decades, our community has sustained a meaningful, long-standing relationship with Tel Hai University, an anchor institution and powerful growth engine in northern Israel. As a leading centre for academics, the university advances innovative research, regional development, social responsibility, and leadership.
Today Tel Hai University serves students from across the Galilee and continues to be a major hub attracting students from throughout the north.
This partnership is visible across the campus, through plaques and signage bearing the names of Vancouverites, and through ongoing investments in scholarships and academic initiatives. Beyond these tangible markers, it reflects deep personal connections and sustained philanthropic commitment. Together, Tel-Hai and Federation share a vision for strengthening opportunity and prosperity in this important region.
In recognition of this enduring relationship, the Jewish Federation is proud to be the recipient of the 2026 Tel-Hai Dignitary Award.
Regional Partnership
Mevo’ot HaHermon Rehabilitation & Therapy Hub
Mevo’ot HaHermon Rehabilitation & Therapy Hub is a flagship regional initiative of the Mevo’ot HaHermon Regional Council in northern Israel, serving municipalities across the Eastern Galilee. The Hub provides comprehensive physical and mental rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, trauma survivors, and their families.
In the aftermath of years of conflict and displacement, the need for these services has only grown. Emerging from years of war and evacuation, the Hub continues to expand its services, delivering essential care and strengthening support systems for those in need across the region.
Mevo’ot HaHermon is a longtime partner of our community. Over the years, Federation and Vancouverites have invested in multiple initiatives across the region and remain deeply committed to its future.
The Hub stands as a cornerstone of this partnership, reflecting care and dedication to residents whose life circumstances have rendered them vulnerable and dependent on others. We are proud to stand with the leadership working to ensure that every Galilee resident, of any age or background, has access to comprehensive services and support that foster belonging and quality of life.
Community Legacy
Beit Vancouver
Established in 1980, Beit Vancouver is a cornerstone of our community's legacy in Kiryat Shmona. More than just a building, it is a key driver for a strong, resilient society, the result of transformational gifts from our community and the C2C partnership that have shaped it into a vibrant hub for youth and community life.
This relationship is a two-way street; we have welcomed Beit Vancouver’s experts into our own community in BC to share their knowledge, just as we invest strategically in theirs.
Each day, more than 1,000 children, teens, and staff participate in programs that support inclusion, creativity, leadership, and emotional well-being.
Activities range from youth leadership initiatives and inclusive movements for children with and without disabilities to therapeutic arts programs, music education, and volunteer engagement.
Beit Vancouver reflects the power of sustained investment, creating a safe, vibrant space that continues to serve generations of young people.
Flagship Initiative
Strategic Regional Leadership
GalilEast – A Strategic Vision for Regional Leadership
GalilEast is one of the most meaningful strategic investments we make in Northern Israel. Developed in collaboration with the Eastern Galilee Cluster, Tel Hai University, the Roadburg Foundation, and Beyachad – The Carasso Family Foundation, this program addresses one of the region’s most critical systemic challenges: bridging the gap between separate municipalities to create a unified, collaborative future.
By bringing together diverse cohorts of young professionals from different sectors and municipalities, GalilEast teaches “regionality” in action — moving beyond local borders to foster collaboration that is already making a visible difference on the ground.
This investment does more than enhance capacity; it creates hope and opens a new world of opportunities for a region that is stronger when its leaders collaborate strategically and creatively, rather than advancing individual agendas in silos.
The impact is already being felt across the North, from graduates leading local businesses and public initiatives to cohorts spending 10 days in British Columbia forging direct ties with our community leaders.
GalilEast's success has been so significant that the model is now expanding into a sister program, GalilWest, in the Western Galilee.
Partnership2Gether
A Singular Partnership of Connection
CTC / Etzba HaGalil Partnership2Gether
Partnership2Gether (P2G) is a collaborative framework of leadership, philanthropy and connections that enables us to work alongside the Jewish Federations of Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Winnipeg to support Etzba HaGalil. Together, we have strategically invested in the region through education and social welfare programs, capital projects, and regional development.
This shared framework is guided by a belief in Am Echad, one people, and focuses on two priorities:
Our shared priorities
- Enhancing quality of life in the Galilee Panhandle through education, youth engagement, and capacity building
- Creating deep and meaningful connections between Canadians and residents of northern Israel
Over time, this partnership has fostered shared learning and mutual understanding, connecting Vancouverites to everyday life in the Galilee.
Leadership & Strategy
IGEC – Guiding Our Work in Israel
The Israel and Global Engagement Committee (IGEC) is Federation’s lay leadership body that guides our investments in Israel and oversees the work of the professional team, both in Vancouver and in Israel.
They do far more than guide strategic investment; they are the architects of the relationships we cherish today. For decades, the members of IGEC have lived the connection to Northern Israel firsthand.
IGEC’s priorities are grounded in three strategic goals:
- Investing in the Galilee Panhandle to foster growth, resilience, and prosperity
- Fostering deep and meaningful connections between BC Jewish communities and Israel
- Supporting Jewish communities in need worldwide
Guided by the wisdom and long-standing commitment of these leaders, the initiatives and partnerships that follow are more than just programs — they are a legacy of shared strength.
Israel Emergency Response & Recovery
From Emergency Response to Renewal
Following the events of October 7, 2023, our community came together through the Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC) to support individuals, families, and communities facing unprecedented disruption. Working with trusted partners on the ground, our Federation responded quickly while remaining focused on care, dignity, and continuity.
Over two years of war, IEC provided critical support to communities across Israel, particularly in the north, where displacement and prolonged uncertainty deeply affected daily life.
That commitment now continues through Rebuilding Together, focused on rebuilding, recovery, and strengthening northern communities for the future.