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March 20, 2026 | 2 Nissan 5786 | Candle lighting at 7:08 p.m.
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This message has approximately 1,060 words and will take about 3.5 minutes to read.
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| As many of you know, the North of Israel has been absorbing relentless attacks from Hezbollah and Iranian missiles and drones. Since the start of the conflict, the protection of the Iron Dome and Or Eitan systems has saved countless lives. |
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| But even the strongest shield has its limits, and yesterday was a heartbreaking reminder of that. A missile struck a street and an apartment building in Kiryat Shemona, injuring an elderly couple and two young men in their 20s, just metres from the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinic, our satellite youth mental health facility. |
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| Inside that small, courageous centre, health professionals have been caring for young people who already carry more than their share of burdens. In her note to us, Sarah Mali, director general of JFC‑UIA Canada in Israel, reflected on why our steady and responsible planning proved so vital when we invested in a safe room for this facility.
The Safe Room That Saved Lives
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| When the attack occurred, this dedicated team of health professionals did exactly what they had been trained to do: they moved into the safe room built with funds from our community, allocated through the 2024 Israel Emergency Campaign. Sarah wrote, “Aric and his team were perfectly safe and protected in the safe room you built.” They sent us a photo of the staff safe and sound, faces filled with relief and gratitude. |
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| It is impossible not to feel the weight and wonder of that contrast.
How do we hold a moment like this? Pride, sorrow, anger, and gratitude, all at once. It is overwhelming and humbling, and also profoundly clarifying. Because this moment shows, without question, that the work we lead and your support are not abstract. It is immediate, practical, and life‑saving. As Sarah so perfectly put it, “Sometimes we get a glimpse into the material effects of those investments on the lives of the people we care about deeply.”
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| In this moment, many are asking how to support those under threat. Our Northern Galilee Regeneration Fund is one of the most immediate and meaningful ways to do so. While not an emergency fund, it is making a real difference in the North as communities face ongoing attacks and uncertainty. Your support helps ensure they have the resilience, infrastructure, and care they need today. Click here. |
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| While moments like these weigh heavily on us, our work supporting our community and the professionals who sustain it never stops. They remind us why investing in strong, well-supported communal systems, both in Israel and here at home, is so essential.
Learning Day for Community Professionals
Strengthening and supporting our partner agencies is central to our mission. We refocused an existing position into Partner Relations to understand each agency’s work and challenges, share insights with Federation to inform strategy, and help agencies access funding, resources, and opportunities beyond ongoing allocations.
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| Through Aluma Zweifler Reicher, associate director, Community Planning & Engagement, we’ve seen the importance of creating more opportunities for knowledge exchange and skill-building across our community’s Jewish organizations. |
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| Last week, we hosted a Community Professionals Learning Day at Hillel UBC, bringing together professionals from across Jewish Organizations for a day focused on connection and shared learning. It was an energizing step toward strengthening how we work together. To share more about this initiative and the impact of the day, I’m pleased to turn it over to Aluma, who offers the following reflection.
Learning Together, Growing Stronger
Behind every program, gathering, and initiative in our community are dedicated professionals and lay leaders working every day to strengthen Jewish life—designing meaningful programs, supporting individuals and families, building partnerships, and responding to evolving needs. Often behind the scenes, their creativity and commitment help our community thrive.
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| In the fast pace of community work, professionals rarely have the opportunity to pause, invest in their own growth, and connect with peers. Our recent professional development day offered exactly that: a space for connection, shared learning, and collective impact and brought expertise from across Federation to support our partner agencies. |
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| Mijal Ben Dori, chief planning officer, introduced Federation, while Dafna Silberstein, director, planning & engagement, and Ines Cindra from the Jewish Community Foundation outlined grants and funding opportunities. Caryl Dolinko, Director of Communications and Marketing, shared marketing and social media best practices, followed by a workshop on telling an organization’s story. The day highlighted our team’s commitment to strengthening agencies and leveraging Federation resources for professional growth.
As Ellie Sherman, director of Student Life at Hillel BC, shared, “There aren’t many opportunities where professionals from community organizations can come together to share their challenges and successes, learn from one another, and discover new ways to support each other as resources. Having this opportunity was a huge benefit.”
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| Investing in the growth of our professionals is essential. Each organization brings unique strengths, but together they form the fabric of a thriving and resilient Jewish community. When our professionals come together to learn, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships, it strengthens not only their own work but our entire community. |
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Early Bird Registration for the Summit Closes Soon
Creating spaces for shared learning is part of a much larger ongoing effort to build a vibrant, interconnected Jewish community across British Columbia. With that in mind, we want to remind you that the early-bird registration for the 2026 Community Engagement Summit closes on March 31, 2026. |
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| The Summit is an inspiring and restorative weekend gathering designed for community members of all ages and backgrounds. This province-wide event will take place from May 29 to May 31, 2026, in Whistler. It includes accommodations, childcare, age-appropriate programming, and all kosher meals, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the experience. To learn more, click here. |
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Strengthening Our Team
As we continue to grow and evolve as a Federation, it is equally important to recognize and celebrate the people who help drive our work. We are pleased to formally introduce Caryl Dolinko, our Director of Communications and Marketing. |
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| While many in our community may already know Caryl, she has spent the past year quietly behind the scenes making a meaningful difference at Federation. In this role, she has already strengthened how we share the work, impact, and priorities of our community, ensuring that the stories of Jewish Vancouver are communicated with clarity, purpose, and pride. |
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| Caryl brings extensive experience from leading high‑impact communications and marketing initiatives across the nonprofit sector locally, nationally, and internationally. She holds a master’s degree in intercultural communications and global leadership and is also a published author whose travel books inspire curiosity and a love of discovery. Welcome Caryl! |
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| As Passover approaches, many of us are beginning to think about how we will gather, celebrate, and create meaningful moments with the people we love. To make it easier to find what’s happening across our community, we’ve put together a simple one‑page guide to local Passover events and resources. Click here to learn more. |
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Ezra S. Shanken
CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver |
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| On this blog, Todd Berman reflects on the impact of the study hall before the AI. As algorithms simplify the requirements for scholarship, traditional Jewish textual analysis and argumentation may provide a path back to deeper understanding. He suggests that the Passover seder serves as an effective model for this approach. Learn more here. |
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| PJ Library's Passover Hub is a great place for holiday resources, games, checklists, and printable Passover goodness. It's worthwhile pointing out that the beautifully illustrated PJ Library Haggadah has now been supplemented with a number of new resources to make your holiday experience more family-friendly, whether you’re a guest or a host. Learn more here. |
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