May 9, 2025

A large group of people seated at a long table with plates of food, smiling and waving, in a wooden hall with round lights.

May 9, 2025 | 11 Iyar 5785 | Candle lighting at 8:24 p.m.

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The month of May invites us to pause, reflect, and connect to our shared heritage and values. Jewish Heritage Month is a time to proudly celebrate the diverse contributions and enduring legacy of Jewish Canadians. Across BC, these values come to life through shared learning, vibrant expressions of Jewish identity, and new leadership.

That’s why I’m so pleased to introduce Jessica Kronis, who joins us as the new Director of the Jewish Community Foundation.

Jessica brings a wealth of experience from Toronto’s philanthropic sector and a deep commitment to mission-driven work. From her leadership at ACCESS Community Capital Fund to her role with Hillel at Florida International University and helping launch the Nova Exhibition in Toronto, Jessica has consistently built strong programs and meaningful connections.

The Jewish Community Foundation plays a vital role in building a strong, sustainable future for our community. Through endowments, legacy gifts, and other forms of planned giving, the Foundation ensures we can support our institutions, respond to emerging needs, and preserve our values for generations to come. It’s about more than financial support—it’s about creating a lasting impact.

We’re also proud to share that the Foundation closed the fiscal year with $108 million in assets, surpassing the $100 million milestone. This achievement reflects both the trust our fundholders place in the Foundation and the oversight of our Investment Committee, whose guidance has kept our investment strategy focused, effective, and responsibly managed. Jessica’s leadership will be key as we build on this momentum and continue strengthening our community for the long term.

With our values, story, and heritage in mind, the Wexner Speakers Series is coming to an end.

Since last September, we’ve been hosting conversations with leading Jewish scholars from across North America. These sessions have provided thought-provoking insights into our history, explored a diverse range of topics, and sparked meaningful conversations about the future of Jewish identity. It has been a deeply enriching experience, strengthening our connection to Jewish life and deepening our shared understanding.

As we come to the final session in our Our Story, Our Heritage speaker series, we invite you to join us for an insightful talk by Wexner Scholar Dr. Devin E. Naar. His presentation, “Go back to…Poland! How does the history of Middle Eastern Jews change perceptions of Israel?”, promises to offer fresh perspectives on a timely and important topic.

Join us on Sunday, May 25, at 7:00 pm for this thought-provoking conversation. Register here.

I also want to recognize a special moment of celebration as Rabbi Howard Siegel and his family were recognized for their contributions.

Rabbi Howard Siegel, Ellen Siegel, and their family were honoured this week by our partner Camp Solomon Schechter in Washington—one of three families recognized for their lasting contributions to the camp community.

Many of us know the Siegels and have experienced the warmth and wisdom they bring to Jewish life. Their lives serve as a living example of L’dor V’dor—passing on Jewish values, traditions, and love across generations. Read more here.

Israel@77 celebrations continue in Vancouver and throughout our regional communities.

I encourage you to explore what's happening and participate in the celebrations. Check the community events here.

At the heart of these celebrations, we’ve had the privilege of hosting special guests, Raz and Inbal, two survivors of the Nova Festival, in our regional communities. Their time in the community was a powerful reminder of the strength and healing that come from showing up for one another—something we’ve witnessed time and again since October 7th.

At the same time, Lihi and Yuval, two Israelis who served as Shinshinim in Toronto, travelled throughout the province, meeting with families and sharing meaningful experiences.

They joined 50 congregants of Kolot Mayim Reform Temple in Victoria to welcome Shabbat, cooked an Israeli dinner with kids in Nanaimo, connected with community members at the Philosophers Cafe in Nanoose Bay, with volunteers and allies in Comox Valley, and spent time in Squamish at the Chabad Hebrew School, where thirteen children gathered to learn about Israel.

These moments reflect our ongoing commitment to nurturing Jewish identity and building connections within our communities, near and far. We thank the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel for supporting their visit.

And speaking of ShinShinim, we’re getting ready to welcome our 2025/2026 group.
This year, things will look a little different. Instead of staying with host families, our ShinShinim will be living together in shared housing.

We’re reaching out to our community to help us find a 1–2 bedroom apartment or garden suite, furnished or unfurnished, that could be rented for the year. If you have a space available or know someone who might, or if you’d just like to learn more, please reach out to Lissa Weinberger at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Together, these efforts—large and small—demonstrate a community that shows up, cares deeply, and grows stronger through connection.

Shabbat shalom,