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December 12, 2025 | 22 Kislev 5786 | Candle lighting at 3:56 p.m.
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This message has approximately 1,001 words and will take about 3.5 minutes to read.
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| As we welcome Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, we honour the courage and determination of the Maccabees, freedom fighters who stood firm against oppression and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem. Their story reminds us of the enduring power of light in times of darkness. |
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| That same spirit calls us to shine brightly in our own way, by opening doors, extending hands, and fostering understanding across our province. When we come together, extraordinary things happen. With that in mind, we invite you to help us spread the light of Hanukkah. |
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| So, how can you be part of that light? Please join us this Sunday, December 14th, at 3:30 pm, at the Vancouver Art Gallery as we illuminate downtown with the iconic Silber Agam Menorah. Invite a community ally, colleague or friend and be part of BrightenBC. Come early to enjoy free Ferris wheel rides, music, chocolate gelt, kids' crafts, and Hanukkah swag. |
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| And don’t miss the raffle for a signed Yaacov Agam print, Homage to Hanukkah. |
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| Eight Nights, Eight Bites |
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When it comes to Hanukkah and food, it’s all about crispy latkes and sweet sufganiyot, our very own donuts! This year, we’re taking donut love to the next level with a Hanukkah Donut Contest!
Starting today and until December 21st, bakeries across Greater Vancouver will battle for the title of Best Hanukkah Donut. Your job? |
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| Visit the participating bakeries, taste, vote, and share your favourites using #BrightenBC #HanukkahDonut.
As we light the candles for Hanukkah, I invite each of you to think about how you can bring a bit more light into the world, through kindness, generosity, compassion, or by simply showing up for others.
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| We fought against the darkness, together. |
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| Since October 7, our community has shown extraordinary courage and unity. And still, antisemitism has surged to levels not seen in decades. In response, with the generous support of donors and steadfast commitment of partners, we’ve stepped forward with a shared purpose: to protect Jewish life in British Columbia and ensure our community remains strong, resilient, and connected. |
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| In a time when some are choosing to tear down, to fuel division, to bring darkness into our shared spaces, our community continues to choose the opposite path. We build. We lift. We stand with one another. And we partner with those who choose to walk beside us. This moment demands leadership, and we are delivering it together.
Strengthening Leadership to Meet the Challenge
To meet this critical challenge, we’ve strengthened our leadership team.
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| We are proud to introduce our new Director of Combatting Antisemitism, Efrat Gal-Or. She brings deep expertise and passion to this work, guiding Jewish Federation’s strategy on programs, policy development, and our community-wide response to antisemitism. |
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| We also want to share that Emet Davis has moved to a new role as director, Stakeholder Relations, Combatting Antisemitism. Emet ensures that our community leaders and donors remain informed about our work, aligning our community priorities and helping mobilize resources that drive long-term impact.
We asked Efrat to share an update with you today.
Building a Backbone for Change
A core part of our progress has been developing a strategy that resonates at multiple levels—internally within Jewish Federation, externally with partners, and regionally across the province. This approach harmonizes Jewish institutions, grassroots groups, and allies, allowing us to address antisemitism thoughtfully. Our work in the months ahead centres on three priorities.
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| First, building allyship by fostering meaningful connections through initiatives like #BringAnAlly, used during the “October 8” documentary screening and again for the upcoming #BrightenBC Hanukkah initiative, which highlights regional partnerships and aims to bring people together through cultural events and public celebrations. |
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| Second, strengthening grassroots empowerment by creating spaces for collaboration, sharing practical solutions, amplifying community-led impact, implementing standardized processes and granting pathways. Finally, because the future of our community depends on the next generation, we'll be helping more young Jews feel confident and proud by supporting programs that foster identity, leadership, and strong networks.
Jewish Federation and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) work side by side, each step of the way, to ensure the burden of this work does not fall on individuals alone. CIJA leads on advocacy work, advancing accountability through better incident reporting, improved data, strengthened codes of conduct, and targeted interventions in schools, health care, and law enforcement, while Federation strengthens people and networks by providing tools, training, workshops, resources, and regional leadership.
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| Working alongside Nico Slobinsky, vice-president of CIJA Pacific Region, whose dedication and insight have been invaluable, Emet and I have been creating a framework for collective action, so our community can thrive through uncertain times. |
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| At the same time, we’re committed to ensuring that donor dollars are utilized with maximum impact by building infrastructure, relationships, and coordinated systems.
The work we’re doing to confront antisemitism is not defence, it is offence—thoughtful, proactive, and strategic. We are not waiting for hatred to arrive at our doors. We have been organizing since day one. We educate, we empower, we build coalitions, we strengthen community resilience. We measure ourselves by the future we are shaping, by the people we reach, the partnerships we forge, and the leadership we demonstrate.
Every act of care in our community, feeding the hungry, supporting families, educating our children, ensuring our most vulnerable are seen and supported, is itself an act against antisemitism. When we live our values, we push back against those who seek to diminish them. We are choosing human connection, humility, complexity, friendship, partnership, and courage.
And that is why I find myself filled with a profound sense of pride. Pride in our community. Pride in our partners. Pride in our resilience. Pride in the way we continue to show up with humility, with honesty, and with a relentless commitment to being our best selves, even in the most difficult moments.
Looking Ahead with Light and Hope
The work we’ve shared throughout this message—combating antisemitism, strengthening partnerships, and building resilience—comes to life when we gather as a community. Brighten BC is built on that foundation, and we invite everyone to help shine light throughout BC during the eight nights of Hanukkah.
From all of us at Jewish Federation, Chag Hanukkah Sameach, may your home be filled with warmth, joy, and the sweet taste of tradition. |
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Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver |
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| Hanukkah celebrations across BC are around the corner. Learn more here. |
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| Register for the next Wexner event: From the Ottoman Empire to Auschwitz. |
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| Read the Jewish organizations' joint statement on Bill C-9 here. |
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| Join us on December 28th for a fun-filled family skate in Delta. RSVP here. |
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I had the pleasure of speaking on Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson's show. We discussed the aftermath of October 7th and how, during challenging times, we stood strong and united, praying for peace. We also addressed the rise of antisemitism and she shared her support for the Jewish community and Israel.
Watch the show here. |
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If you want to create lasting memories with your children this Hanukkah, look no further than PJ Library! It offers everything you need to celebrate the festival of lights in a meaningful and fun way. From family guides that help you navigate traditions to delicious recipes that will bring joy to your holiday meals, PJ Library has it all.
Check PJ Library's Hanukkah resources here. |
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