July 4, 2025

Two women smiling together in front of a wooden wall. One wears a yellow blazer over a black top, and the other wears a blue and white checkered shirt.

July 4, 2025 | 8 Tammuz 5785 | Candle lighting at 9:02 p.m.

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As camps across our community dive into another exciting summer, we're reminded of how special the Jewish summer camp experience is. These experiences aren’t just about fun (though there’s plenty of that!)—they’re about shaping identity, building a strong sense of community, and passing down the values that matter most to us as Jewish families. They leave a lasting impact, and we’re honoured to be part of that journey. Here's to a summer full of ruach, growth, and unforgettable memories!

Connecting with Jewish communities around the province.
This June, thanks to the coordination of our community engagement team and dedicated connectors, Emet Davis, director, community organizing against antisemitism, and former BC NDP Cabinet Minister Selina Robinson hit the road for a provincial listening and speaking tour. Together, they met with Jewish community members and allies to hear directly about what matters most to them. We’ve invited them to share their reflections as guest contributors in this week’s Shabbat Message.

If you’d asked us when we met back in 2017—Selina, then a Cabinet Minister under the BC NDP government, and Emet a director with one of western Canada’s largest unions—we never could have imagined ourselves, eight years later, touring the province together—speaking with and hearing from our extended Jewish mishpacha about how our lives have been impacted by the rise in antisemitism since October 7th 2023.

In the last few weeks, we visited three communities. On Vancouver Island, we engaged with more than 30 Jewish residents from Nanoose Bay and nearly 40 Jewish and allied residents from the Comox Valley.

In Prince George, we were welcomed by 40 participants, Jews and allies, including supporters from all levels of government, community business leaders, and the local news outlet. The Prince George Citizen attended the event and interviewed Selina; read the article here. The publication had previously published an editorial on the recent surge of antisemitism; local media can play an important role in educating the public on sensitive issues.

As a small ethnocultural community, Jews living outside of major urban centers can feel particularly isolated, especially during a time of rising antisemitism. So, there was a strong sense of community connection felt in these meetings.

Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to come together and hear about Selina’s experiences with antisemitism during her time in office, as well as learn from Emet about Jewish Federation-supported resources and initiatives.

The most common refrain we heard at these gatherings was: What can we do? And we have some suggestions:

Be the “Jew in the Crew”: Selina spoke about undertaking this informal role while in government.

Especially in small communities, sometimes we are the only person who can demystify our history, culture, religion, traditions, and values. We don’t have to be experts, but this can be a genuine opportunity for engagement, promoting understanding and empathy. Step up!

Be a good neighbour: Never underestimate the power of relationships to open minds to new ideas and hearts to compassion. Selina shared a story of making a giant batch of latkes and inviting her neighbourhood for a Hanukkah celebration. She’d crossed paths with many neighbours for decades, but they had never been explicitly aware that she was Jewish. Sharing the story of Hannukah and our traditions was an opportunity for people to learn and to create new relationships or deepen existing ones. Cultivate relationships!

Be a change agent: Jews across BC are organizing to support one another and push back against anti-Jewish hate.

Provincial grassroots networks of Jewish K-12 teachers, parents, post-secondary students, faculty, staff, and administrators, healthcare workers, union members, artists and arts administrators are active and thriving, with hundreds of members and growing daily.

If you work in one of these sectors and are looking to connect with like-minded colleagues, consider joining a network. Contact us at [email protected], and we will connect you with the appropriate group.

Our thanks to Jewish Federation’s engagement department staff, community connectors, and grassroots leaders for their work promoting and hosting gatherings so that Jewish community members in these remote communities could hear and share with one another strategies to strengthen their resilience, take action, and access programs and that can help in our collective fight against antisemitism.

Welcome investment in BC hate crimes unit
Today, the province announced the allocation of new funding to expand the RCMP's hate crimes unit. Our community has made it a longstanding priority to work with the Government of British Columbia on ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary resources to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

This investment by the provincial government will not just help instill confidence that justice will be served, but also provide an essential foundation for healing and a sense of safety. We thank our advocacy agency, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), for their work on this.
Read our statement here.

Support for Those Facing Antisemitism: Access Pro Bono’s Legal Helpline
If you or someone you know is experiencing antisemitism, Access Pro Bono’s Antisemitism Legal Helpline is here to help.

This free and confidential service connects people in BC with volunteer lawyers who can offer guidance, explain legal rights, and explore possible next steps.
You can reach the helpline at 778-800-8917, by email at [email protected], or through the online intake form.

If you're a legal professional, consider joining the volunteer roster to help make a difference. And don’t forget to check out our Community Toolkit for helpful resources and support materials to become your own best advocate.

Take Action: Join CIJA's Action Hub

CIJA invites you to step up and join the movement of Jewish community advocates and dedicated allies. Consider doing something bold, but simple: Pick up the phone. Call your Member of Parliament. Tell them what matters most to you.
Go to http://ActionHub.ca to make the call.

Chai and Drive: More Than Just a Day on the Green
Before we head into Shabbat, I want to reflect on a recent young adult golf event. More than just a fun afternoon, it showed what’s possible when Jewish young adults come together with shared purpose and pride.

This sold-out event sparked meaningful conversations, shared laughter, and a renewed sense of belonging. Moments like these bring our mission to life—strengthening Jewish identity and building vibrant, connected communities.

And we’re keeping the momentum going! To all our young adult readers (ages 20–33)—and anyone with a young adult in their life—registration is now open for our Summer Social on August 14. Early Bird Deal: Buy one ticket and get two drinks (valid until July 24). Purchase your tickets here.

Shabbat shalom,