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Friday, April 24, 2026 | 8 Iyar 5786 | Candle lighting at 8:01 p.m.
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This message has approximately 1,107 words and will take about 3.5 minutes to read.
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I want to begin by looking ahead. This week, our Federation Today and Tomorrow webinar series continued to open a window into the work your Federation does every day—how we steward resources, make decisions, and translate community generosity into real impact. These conversations help bring clarity and alignment between vision, strategy, and the real‑world difference we make together.
Yesterday, we hosted the second briefing, featuring Angus Richardson, our Chief Financial Officer, who shared insights into our five‑year financial performance and benchmarking. Watch the webinar now and understand how we're doing in relation to other Federations. I'll give a hint, we're surpassing most!
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| Our next session will focus on the evolution of Federation from serving Greater Vancouver to advancing a province‑wide vision across British Columbia. We invite you to join Mijal Ben‑Dori, Chief Planning Officer, and Caryl Dolinko, Director of Communications and Marketing, for this forward‑looking conversation about how our work and reach continue to grow. Register here. |
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Campaign Results
This clarity of purpose is reflected in our annual campaign, where we continue to see extraordinary engagement and generosity across our community. |
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| As we close this year’s campaign, we are proud to share that we not only met our goal but exceeded it, raising $9.92 million in unrestricted funding. This achievement was driven by more than 2,630 donors, including 198 Canvassers, with 230 leadership donors contributing over $7.9 million. This is a testament of The Power of Together. |
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Thanks to the collective generosity of our community and valued corporate partners, this year’s Annual Campaign, together with initiatives to combat antisemitism, generated a total of $12.6 million. These results are more than numbers; they reflect trust, shared responsibility, and the collective commitment that fuels the programs, partnerships, and services strengthening Jewish life locally, nationally, and in Israel, especially during challenging times. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped move this work forward.
Marking Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut as a Community
That same spirit of shared commitment was deeply felt as our community came together to experience two moments that define the emotional arc of the Jewish calendar, Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, moving from remembrance and reflection into celebration and pride.
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| On Yom HaZikaron, we gathered to honour Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Over 350 people joined in person and online, creating a shared space of memory and meaning. I extend my sincere gratitude to the bereaved families who entrusted us with their stories, to Geoffrey Druker and the Yom HaZikaron Committee for guiding such a thoughtful program. |
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| From there, we transitioned into celebrating 78 years of Israel’s independence. And what followed was a powerful expression of community spirit. Hundreds of community members attended our Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, filling the room with energy, warmth, and connection. The evening was brought to life by HaOptziot's music, whose Israeli rock classics had the crowd on its feet and reminded us of the joy of getting together. |
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| Our young people were the true essence of the celebration. Sixty students participated overall, including 50 students from Vancouver Talmud Torah, Richmond Jewish Day School, Orr Chadash, and Orr Yeladim who sang and danced as part of the program, alongside King David High School students on stage and volunteering throughout the evening. One especially meaningful highlight was seeing, for the first time, two school choirs perform together as one, a beautiful and visible symbol of unity. |
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| We were honoured to welcome Ben Golan from our partnership region, who took part in both Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Through his music and presence, Ben helped carry us from remembrance into celebration, strengthening the connection between our community and our partners in Israel. |
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Events like these are truly a collective effort. Thank you to our donors, Garry Zlotnick and his staff at ZLC for supporting our pre-reception, our partner schools, teachers, parent chaperones, and volunteers, and to the Federation staff members who supported the event in countless ways. A heartfelt shoutout to our incredible Federation staff members, Omer Gigi and Ruvena Buslovich, for organizing both events.
Together, these two days reminded us of who we are: a community that remembers with compassion, celebrates with joy, and shows up for one another, always.
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Stories That Bring Us Closer
That same sense of connection, across experiences, identities, and histories, is also at the heart of the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival, now entering its 37th year. At a time when the world can feel fragmented and uncertain, film has a remarkable way of opening windows into one another’s lives, inviting reflection, empathy, and conversation.
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This year’s festival brings together 27 award-winning films over nine days, offering not only extraordinary cinema but meaningful space for reflection, dialogue, and connection. Several screenings will feature renowned filmmakers and creators in attendance, including One Thread, Sheitel: Beauty in the Hidden, Son of a Seeker, The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, and Through the Darkness: Two Peoples, One Future. These stories invite us to listen deeply, honour complexity, and remember our shared humanity. Tickets and passes are available now at VJFF.org.
Being Counted Matters: The 2026 Census and Our Community
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| Beginning May 4, Canadian households will receive a letter inviting them to complete the 2026 Census. One in four households will receive the long‑form census, which includes questions about ethnicity and religion. While filling out a census form may feel routine, for our Jewish community, it carries real and lasting significance. |
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In recent years, census data have significantly underrepresented Jewish Canadians. That gap had real consequences. When we are undercounted, we are underrepresented at the policy table, in funding decisions, and in the allocation of critical resources. Thanks to coordinated efforts in 2021 by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and Jewish Federations across the country, participation increased, and census results returned to more accurate, normative numbers.
Given the serious challenges we face today, including rising antisemitism and the need for strong community security, it is essential that we continue this trend. Jewish Canadians are encouraged to indicate “Jewish” in Question 23 (ethnicity), Question 30 (religion), or both, depending on how they identify. Each response is confidential, and each response matters. Being counted is an act of communal responsibility.
Together, our participation helps ensure that our community is recognized, supported, and protected, today and for generations to come. Filling out the census is a small act with a meaningful impact.
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Before I close my message, I would like to share that Israel Ellis, author of The Wake Up Call: Global Jihad and the Rise of Antisemitism in a World Gone MAD and host of The Unfiltered View podcast, will be signing books at Indigo Granville on Wednesday, April 29.
It’s an excellent opportunity to stand behind Jewish authors and support Indigo, especially considering the hate they have faced simply for being owned by a Jewish businesswoman. Let’s show our solidarity and make our voices heard.
Shabbat shalom,
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Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver |
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| RSVP here for a cross-community women’s challah bake. |
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| Israeli choreographers Schraiber & Smith at Ballet BC. Learn more here. |
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| In this week's Vancouver Sun, I reflect on the importance of gathering safely and proudly. At a time of rising threats, Jewish life in BC continues because our community has made security a priority, taking meaningful steps to protect one another, while also relying on the partnership and support of allies and law enforcement. Read more here. |
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| David Decolongon reflects on his journey as a Filipino‑Canadian ally to the Jewish community, shaped by relationships formed through travel to Israel, shared experiences of confronting hate, and mutual support during crises. He highlights advocacy work, community resilience after Oct. 7, and solidarity following the Lapu‑Lapu festival attack, affirming that communities are stronger when they stand together. Read more here. |
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