July 11, 2025

Close-up of a damaged black double door with visible burn marks and peeling paint, surrounded by a wrought iron gate.

July 11, 2025 | 15 Tammuz 5785 | Candle lighting at 8:58 p.m.

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Shabbat Shalom from the Oregon Coast. I’m on vacation, enjoying some quiet time with Rachel and a great book. If you’re looking for something meaningful to read this Shabbat, I highly recommend Radical Then, Radical Now by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. His reflections on Jewish continuity and the power of dialogue feel especially relevant this week, as leaders of the Jewish community met with the newly appointed Archbishop, Richard W. Smith, marking an important step in strengthening interfaith relations.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm shared values, promote mutual respect, and commit to ongoing dialogue between our communities.

Thank you, Shirly Berelowitz, director of external affairs at our advocacy agent, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), for bringing us together.

In times like these, strong leadership matters more than ever. That’s why we're excited to share that Yaniv, who’s been serving as our Interim Security Director since March, is officially stepping into the role permanently. Security remains a top priority for us, and Yaniv has shown the leadership and commitment we need. Today, he’s joining us as a guest writer to share his vision for the future of our security efforts.

A Message from Our New Executive Director of Security

One week ago today, in Melbourne, Australia, members of the Jewish community were gathering at the East Melbourne Synagogue to welcome Shabbat.

In the synagogue office, a 13-year-old boy noticed a suspicious individual on the security cameras trying to enter the shul. When the doorbell rang, it was the boy who made the critical decision not to open the door—relying on his awareness and training. Moments later, the individual, having been denied entry, poured flammable liquid at the entrance and set it on fire.

The boy’s quick thinking and decision-making prevented a tragedy. His calm, decisive action gave congregants time to evacuate safely before flames spread through the building. Read more here.

Stories like this are powerful reminders: we are the ones who keep us safe. Not alone, and not without support, but through the everyday awareness, preparedness, and decisions each of us makes. Safety doesn’t begin with security systems or emergency protocols. It starts with people: individuals who are informed, alert, and ready to respond.

It’s with that same mindset and deep love for the community I belong to with my own family, that I’ve taken on the role of Executive Director of Security for our Jewish communities across BC. For over thirty years, I’ve worked in advanced security environments focused on protecting people, organizations, and communities in complex and evolving situations. I’m proud to bring that experience to a community that I care for deeply.

This role is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. The safety and well-being of our community are at the heart of everything we do. I’m here to support and build on the excellent work already underway, and to help strengthen a community security culture grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

Jewish Federation launched its security program in 2018—one of the first of its kind among North American Jewish federations, thanks to the forward-thinking vision of our leadership and dedicated community volunteers.

This strong foundation has allowed us to lay critical groundwork for assessing risks, upgrading the security of our institutions and buildings, developing event security protocols, and supporting our community members through the creation of the Bitachon volunteer cohort. It also helped us forge exceptionally close and vital relationships with law enforcement.

As our community’s needs continue to grow and evolve, we are now working to restructure and strengthen our approach to meet the challenges ahead in a way that will set us up for long-term success. Our goal is to reach and train more community members across the province, tapping into new national collaborations and opportunities for resource sharing. We look forward to sharing more about this evolving structure as it continues to develop.

One of the most inspiring parts of our community is our incredible volunteer security team, Bitachon. These dedicated individuals give their time, energy, and commitment to help keep our spaces safe—from Shabbat services to community events and everyday operations. The "eyes and ears" for our community, their quiet strength is the foundation of our efforts.

With your involvement, whether by volunteering, staying informed, reporting concerns, or simply remaining alert, we can strengthen this foundation. The reality is: security is not something that happens to us or around us. It’s something we are all part of every day. Become a Bitachon volunteer here.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in this work. I look forward to building this safer, stronger future together—with you.

Looking Ahead to Our September Campaign Kickoff with Elon Gold

Summer may have just begun, but I’m already looking forward to September—and for good reason. We’re launching our campaign with none other than the brilliant and hilarious Elon Gold. It’s the perfect way for our community to reconnect, share some laughs, and spark the inspiration that will carry us into the season ahead.

Early bird tickets are on sale now. I look forward to seeing you on September 11.

Action Alert: Art Should Unite, Not Divide—Say No to Performers Who Spread Hate

While we support bringing in comedians and artists who enrich our cultural landscape, we must also draw a firm line when it comes to individuals who use their platform to promote hate or incite division. Kneecap and Bob Vylan have crossed the line between artistic expression and extremist rhetoric during their performances, raising public safety concerns.

As Jewish communities confront escalating antisemitism and security issues both locally and globally, we stand with CIJA in urging the Government of Canada to deny their entry into the country. Take action here.

Canada should remain a place where creativity thrives, but never at the expense of our shared values of peace, respect, inclusion, and safety.

We have also partnered with CIJA for a webinar on Friday, July 18, at 8:00 am to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires by Hezbollah, which killed 85 people. The conversation will feature Irwin Cotler, John Baird, former Canadian Foreign Minister, and Josefina Martinez Gramuglia, Argentine Ambassador to Canada (TBC). Nico Slobinsky, CIJA's VP for the Pacific Region, will moderate the discussion and will share a personal reflection from the Argentine Jewish community. Register here.

Opportunities to Make a Difference in the Jewish Community
And speaking of strengthening Jewish advocacy, we want to shout out to the work of students and young leaders at Hillel BC, who continue to show resilience and courage in standing up for Jewish life on campus despite the challenges they have been facing since October 7th. If you’re passionate about this work, consider joining them as Hillel BC’s Lead Advocacy Professional—a high-impact role focused on empowering students, addressing antisemitism, and building safer, more inclusive campuses across British Columbia. Apply here.

If you're considering your next career move, you can also take a moment to visit our Jobs page. You'll find job openings not only within our organization but also from our partner agencies. This is a great opportunity to make a meaningful impact and thrive within our incredible community. Visit our website to see the latest postings.

Shabbat shalom,