Want to make a difference in the lives of Israeli teens? Consider joining Israel Connect, a program where local adult volunteers connect online, one-on-one, via Zoom, with Israeli high school students who want to improve their English conversation and reading skills. The program starts on Oct. 23 and is organized by Chabad Richmond, in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Education. It entails a small and rewarding commitment of 45 minutes once a week.
There are currently 15 local volunteers participating in the Israel Connect program as tutors/mentors, and Chabad Richmond is looking to increase that number, since the need continues to grow.
“We’re looking for volunteer retirees, seniors or any adults with flexible schedules to join the Israel Connect program. No previous tutoring or teaching experience is necessary and the curriculum is provided for tutors/mentors,” said Shelley Civkin, local program coordinator. “If you’re an adult and a fluent English speaker, you have basic computer skills and you own a computer with a camera, that’s pretty much all you need. Oh, and, of course, a strong desire to help Israeli youth.”
Volunteers do not need to speak Hebrew and can tutor from home. Basic training and technical support are available.
Time preferences of volunteer tutors/mentors will be coordinated beforehand and sessions take place in the morning between 7 and 11 a.m. Vancouver time, any day between Sunday to Thursday. “All Israel Connect asks is a minimum commitment of one school year, in order to ensure consistency for the students,” said Civkin.
“It’s a meaningful and practical way for community members to support Israel and build bridges between diaspora Jews and Israelis,” said Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman of Chabad Richmond. “You’ll be doing a mitzvah, while investing in Israel and its young people. Plus, good English skills will give them an advantage in accessing post-secondary education and getting better jobs. English proficiency is crucial to Israeli students, since it accounts for a third of their entrance exam marks for university.”
“Partnering with the Israeli Ministry of Education, the Israel Connect program targets teens from less advantaged neighbourhoods in Israel. Most volunteers really enjoy helping their Israeli students and develop a lasting bond with them. It often goes beyond simply tutoring the curriculum, and turns into friendship and mentorship,” added Civkin. “Conversations sometimes continue long after the school year is over. This kind of one-on-one tutoring makes a huge difference in their lives, both educationally and personally…. Estimating the impact of this program on Israeli youth is, of course, speculative, but we do know for certain that it helps improve their school grades. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that you’re doing something concrete to help Israeli students better their lives.”
The curriculum consists mainly of a tour of Israel, focusing on the wealth of historically, culturally and biblically significant cities and sites. It’s not uncommon for both the students and the tutors to learn something new about Israel at each lesson.
To volunteer, or for more information, contact Deborah Freedman at Chabad Richmond, 604-277-6427, or email [email protected].
For anyone who can’t participate as a tutor, Chabad Richmond welcomes financial support for the Israel Connect program, which covers overhead costs like technical support, staffing and other administrative costs. To support the program call Chabad Richmond or email [email protected].
As students prepare for the upcoming school year, supply shortages may limit the options available to shoppers – and make them more vulnerable to scams when shopping online.
“Last year, nearly one-third of scams reported by Canadians to BBB [Better Business Bureau] Scam Tracker were about online purchase scams, with a little over 73% of those targeted losing money,” said Simone Lis, president and chief executive officer of BBB, serving Mainland British Columbia.
Online purchase scams often start when scammers target shoppers with phony deals, enticing ads and attractive but fake websites. Once an order is placed, victims find they receive nothing or the items they do receive are counterfeit or inferior to what the ads promised.
To ensure you have a pleasant back-to-school shopping experience, BBB advises shoppers to keep the following tips in mind when shopping for supplies:
Shop with familiar retailers. Shop with businesses you know and trust to ensure you’re getting a quality product and good customer service.
Know what you’re shopping for. Set a budget, identify what tech (or other) capabilities will benefit your student and compare your options. Then, shop around for a reliable seller.
Avoid making quick purchases while browsing social media. Scammers advertise websites that offer great deals or hard-to-find products, but either don’t deliver the product at all or deliver counterfeit products. Do more research on those products by doing an online search for more information and reviews.
Don’t buy from impostors. Fraudsters may use the name, logo and other characteristics of brands you trust. Closely examine the website to verify that they are who they say they are. Make sure the website has “https” in the URL (the extra s is for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar.
Pay by credit card. Credit cards often provide more protection against fraud than other payment methods. Never use debit cards for online purchases.
Keep a record of what you ordered. Make a note of the website where you ordered goods. Take a screenshot of the item ordered, in case the website disappears or you receive an item that differs from what was advertised.
Approach “too good to be true prices” with caution. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Research the website before making a purchase. Some fake companies may copy the BBB seal to legitimize themselves. If it is real, clicking on the seal will lead to the company’s BBB profile. And do an internet search with the company name and the words “complaint,” “scam” and “review.” This may locate other complaints about the site or let you know if they are legitimate or not.
Scamadviser.com can often tell you how long a website has been in operation. Scammers create and close websites regularly, so a site that has only been operating for a short time could raise red flags.
Verify customer reviews. Scammers frequently post positive reviews on their websites, either copied from honest sites or created by scammers (fake profiles, bots, etc.). Look at the bad reviews first, as these are more likely to be real and can help identify scams.
If you think you’ve encountered an online shopping scam, be sure to report it to the right place and protect other unsuspecting consumers:
file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org or bbb.org/scamtracker,
report ads that violate standards, copyright or other policies to the correct source such as Facebook (facebook.com/business/help), Instagram (help.instagram.com) or Amazon, and
call the phone number on the back of the credit card to report a fraud and request your money back.
Jonathan Cohen and Mayim Bialik, co-hosts of the podcast Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, help launch the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s annual campaign on Sept. 8. (PR photo)
Television viewers watched Mayim Bialik grow up, most notably as the character Blossom Russo on the series Blossom, and in a string of other TV and movie roles, including playing the child version of Bette Midler’s character in Beaches. More recently, Bialik has been nominated four times for an Emmy Award for her role in The Big Bang Theory and it was announced last month that she and Ken Jennings will jointly fill the late Alex Trebek’s shoes as hosts of the game show Jeopardy.
But, when Bialik speaks to a Vancouver audience Sept. 8, she will not be acting or holding the cards with all the answers. She will be opening up about an issue that is close to her own experience: mental health.
Bialik is one of three headliners at the opening event of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s annual campaign. She will be beamed in live from Los Angeles, along with her podcast partner Jonathan Cohen. They co-host Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, which is described as “a quirky, informative and interactive podcast breaking down the myths and misunderstandings about mental health and emotional well-being.” While the pair will join from Los Angeles, live on stage at Congregation Beth Israel will be Fran Drescher.
Best known for her titular role in the 1990s sitcom The Nanny, Drescher is also an accomplished producer and author who has won several awards in the health field. Only recently, she has begun to open up about the traumas and major health issues she experienced earlier in her life, including those she says she never adequately dealt with at the time. At the campaign launch, she will reflect on how important mental health issues are to overall well-being.
In a recent interview with the Independent, Bialik and Cohen shared some of their vision and a little of what audiences can expect when they speak. Mental wellness is a core theme of the opening event, in part because these issues have become more pervasive due to stress, uncertainty and isolation caused by the pandemic. Bialik has been open about her own experiences with these challenges.
“I think one of the things about mental health is, depending on what you’re dealing with, there can be a lot of isolation,” Bialik said. “Talking about it, and being part of challenging the stigma, I think, makes you feel less alone. I definitely feel less alone. A lot of my fears around my challenges have definitely gotten less. I have less fear about talking openly about it. I think that’s really made an impact on me.”
On the podcast, she and Cohen discuss their personal experiences, welcome experts and also introduce a buzzy crowd of celebrities like Sarah Silverman, Dustin Hoffman, Margaret Cho and Howie Mandel. Topics include managing anxiety, overcoming trauma, alternative medicine, body positivity, grief and gratitude.
A lot of the time, Bialik said, people tell her and Cohen that the show raises questions viewers didn’t know they needed to ask, or that they didn’t have the ability to express to their medical professional – or maybe they do not have access to professional care.
“We are not doctors of that sort, we’re not looking to make diagnoses,” she said. “But, in sharing our experience, a lot of people are hearing their stories and that’s been really, really very powerful. We’ve had some incredible interactions with some of our fans. One of the reasons that we do a lot of giveaways and things like that is it creates a sense of community and it lets people know that we are real people behind our microphones.”
They hope to hear from audience members in Vancouver.
“We really want to have an interactive component to the evening because, for us, we are very interested in other people’s stories and we really enjoy that part of our podcast,” said Bialik. “So we’re excited to bring that to an audience live and be able to share, and also hear what other people want to share. We are also quite funny together – we think so, but other people have told us that as well – so it will be a way for us to show how we use our humour to interact and especially discuss difficult things like mental health.”
In addition to the podcast, the pair have pitched a few TV pilots, which have yet to get picked up, but they have more up their sleeves.
“It’s been a very fun partnership and we have lots of ideas of ways we’d like to change the world,” she said.
“We also both like to explain things,” said Cohen, “which sometimes makes us compete for airtime, but usually results in a further understanding of something.”
They both balked jokingly when asked if they were drawn together by their “nerdy” pursuits. Bialik is a neuroscientist and Cohen’s expertise is artificial intelligence.
“Neuroscientists and people in AI are the new superstars,” said Cohen.
“It’s not really nerdy,” Bialik insisted with a laugh.
But seriously, she continued: “Really, when we started talking again and connecting again, [that] was when we started realizing how much we had in common in terms of our interest in science and mind and body.”
Bialik is tough to pigeonhole. A mother, a scientist, an actor, an author, a game show host, a proud Jew, a vocal Zionist – she doesn’t feel a need to choose between her complex identities.
“I don’t know if it was ever really a question of settling for just one,” she said. “I’m a mother and I think that is the role I most enjoy personally. In terms of professional activities, I really did enjoy being a scientist and the knowledge that I acquired does not go away just because I’m not a full-time scientist. I do love advocating for causes that are important for me. I love writing. I do love writing. I guess it’s hard to pick just one.”
Hosting Jeopardy is a very different kind of job than being an actor, she acknowledged.
“I obviously have to be myself, but I have producers and judges talking in my ear the whole time, so it’s a big division of attention and that can be hard,” she said. “It’s a lot of really difficult words to pronounce, which I do get to practise a little bit that morning before we tape each set of episodes, but [it’s] very, very different and you have to be ready for anything because anything really does and can happen at Jeopardy.”
As one of Hollywood’s most visible Zionists, Bialik has been a lightning rod for anti-Zionism and antisemitism. But that’s not new, she said.
“The fact is, I’ve been dealing with antisemitism and anti-Zionism for decades in my professional presence,” Bialik said. “I will say that the climate of North America has definitely shifted.… [But] for me, it’s always been an issue. It’s one I was raised to know about and be aware of. I think I’m more touched, as many of us are, by the increase in antisemitic acts, and violent acts especially, against Jews. As someone who has been going to Israel and continues to go to Israel – I’ve been probably a dozen times – that’s always something on my radar. There’s definitely been more of this kind of hatred and activity and specifically targeting me. But it’s also been something that I’ve always had to think about.”
The Thursday, Sept. 8, Federation annual campaign launch at Beth Israel starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $18, are at jewishvancouver.ca.
Supporters join Gary Averbach as he completes his walk from Calgary to Vancouver. (photo from Instagram @bobswalkforcancer)
When Gary Averbach told friends and family he was going to raise money for cancer research by walking from Calgary to Vancouver, they asked him if he was joking or crazy. His podiatrist urged his kids to get him to rethink his scheme. But when he strolled into Vancouver Aug. 11, he was greeted with a hero’s welcome at Jack Poole Plaza by those same people and plenty more who joined his cause.
The 79-year-old Averbach was inspired to raise at least $500,000 after he suffered the loss from cancer of four people close to him in a mere seven weeks last year. First, his cousin, business partner and friend Robert (Bob) Golden passed away. Averbach decided to do the fundraising walk in Bob’s honour. He connected with the B.C. Cancer Foundation and the planning for Bob’s Walk for Cancer was set in motion. Sadly, Averbach would soon find himself walking in memory and honour of three more people – cousins Ronnie Onkin and Darlene Spevakow, as well as his longtime and beloved housekeeper, Angelita Tica.
“At that point, I said, I can’t just do this walk for Bob,” Averbach told the Independent while taking a break from his walk in British Columbia’s Shuswap region last month. “I’ve got to include them as well because they are just as worthy of being included as Bob. Although it’s called Bob’s Walk, I made it clear that I’m walking for the four of them and everybody I’ve lost and anybody that has lost loved ones to cancer. There isn’t a family that that hasn’t happened to.”
The name of the campaign caused a little confusion on the road. As he trod along highways and byways, people yelled out encouragement to “Bob.” Averbach gave up correcting well-wishers.
“For awhile there, I was maybe correcting people but I thought, let me be Bob. It doesn’t matter, as long as they’re supporting me.”
What he didn’t get used to was the outpouring of support. All along the way, from the very first day of his trek, passersby sent shouts, honks, thumbs up and words of encouragement.
The cancer foundation helped Averbach set up a fundraising and information website, where people could follow his progress. He also blogged his journey, including interesting or thoughtful reflections on what had taken place that day or things that had popped into his head during his long, solo trek across the province.
Walking has always been a favourite pastime for the Vancouver businessman and philanthropist.
Gary Averbach’s fundraising journey took him from Calgary to Vancouver over several weeks. (photo from Instagram @bobswalkforcancer)
“I love sports and I wish I could be a good athlete but I was born with one eye weaker than the other,” he said. “Because I do not have good depth perception, I cannot be a good athlete. But one thing I always knew was that I had good stamina and I could walk for hours. I walked all through Israel when I was in my 20s and I’ve always enjoyed walking as a way to keep fit.”
Padding through some of North America’s most dramatic scenery was an experience, he said. Although he had been on the route many times, it was always at 100 kilometres an hour. The majesty of the Rockies, the rivers, streams, waterfalls and wildlife led him to change the theme song of his venture from “High Hopes” to “What a Wonderful World.”
“Watching closely like you do when you’re walking, it does make you realize not just how beautiful it is – you can’t do that when you’re driving – but also how amazing it is, how everything works together, like the water starts with a glacier and ends up being a river going out to the Pacific. Everything follows its path. And the flora, the way it changes here.”
He was in Banff National Park on Canada Day, but noticed that every day seems like Canada Day in some rural areas. The maple leaf flies frequently in small towns, he said.
“I think there’s a level of patriotism in the countryside that doesn’t exist in the big city,” he remarked.
He also noticed signs of the times. The pandemic and its associated labour shortages have led even the legendary 24/7 diner Denny’s to reduce its hours, and some of the motels his team stayed at along the way were short-staffed.
On foot, Averbach was also more aware than he might have been behind the wheel that the road system is not uniformly modern.
“It is so piecemeal,” he said. “There are some sections of the Trans-Canada that would not even be rated a good country road, especially going through some of the towns. It’s a disgrace in some cases.”
He had some trepidation about wildlife he might encounter – bears, obviously, were a worry – but infrastructure, more than luck, may have prevented any interactions with Smokey or Yogi. Wildlife-protecting fences have been installed along much of the country’s highway system, with overpasses for animals to safely get from one side to the other.
“I didn’t see a single bear,” Averbach said – not even from a distance. Mosquitoes, beetles and grasshoppers, on the other hand, were plentiful.
“If I was an entomologist, it would be fascinating,” he said.
Averbach was assisted by a team of two, Bart Zych and Alex Krasniak.
“Alex primarily drives the van behind me, he follows me like a puppy dog,” joked Averbach, noting that people undertaking adventures like this are required to have a vehicle adjacent for traffic safety. The usual schedule was to walk five hours, rest for a bit and then continue for another three or four hours.
“Bart is the person who does all the logistics. He arranges the hotels before we go from one place to the other. He even does my laundry much better than I do,” Averbach said. “He meets us and he brings us sandwiches.”
Averbach is a warm weather guy – he trained for the walk in Hawaii and Palm Springs – and didn’t appreciate the cold mountain weather in the early days of the walk. Even near the end, he encountered rain, despite it being the height of summer. On the other hand, he also traipsed through Canada’s desert zone.
“If I had my druthers, I’d rather be in hot temperatures than the really crappy weather we had in the mountains,” he said.
When he first spoke with the Independent, Averbach was worried about meeting his target of $500,000.
“For awhile there, it slowed down at about $320,000, $330,000,” he recalled. “I started to think, am I going to be able to reach my goal, which is a half-million?”
As of his arrival in Vancouver, he had surpassed his minimum goal of $500,000 and now has his sights on more.
“According to commitments and some of the cheques that are in the mail, we are probably somewhere around $570,000,” he said. The campaign will continue and the website will stay active until his 80th birthday, on Oct. 10.
He offers special thanks to friends in the Jewish community – donations in multiples of $18 are a sure sign of Jewish philanthropy.
“Over two-thirds of the donors, maybe even three-quarters of the actual donors, were from the Jewish community,” Averbach said. “The Jewish community really came out and supported me.”
While he is happy to be in his own bed and will continue pushing to raise more funds until his birthday, at least, he is not resting on his laurels or basking in the accolades.
“Been there, done that,” he quipped. “My 15 minutes are over.”
He was touched, though, by the crowd of about 200 who greeted him as he completed his journey.
Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s S.O.S. – Starting Over Safely campaign is 27 hours long, beginning at 9 a.m. PT on Aug. 23. (photo by Mickey Noam Alon)
With the COVID-19 government shutdowns and mandatory quarantines, domestic violence has increased significantly across the globe over the past two years. The drastic increase in intimate partner and domestic abuse has been coined the “Shadow Pandemic” by the United Nations.
In Canada, one woman is killed in a violent act every two-and-a-half days. According to the provincial ministry for public safety and Statistics Canada, every year in British Columbia there are more than 60,000 physical or sexual assaults against women – almost all of them committed by men.
In Israel, the situation is just as critical. In the first year of the pandemic, 20,140 domestic violence complaints were lodged with police, an increase of 12% from the previous year. Twelve women were murdered in the first six months of this year.
In accordance with its mission, Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW) is working to empower women by stepping up emergency support and services at this critical time. CHW is launching the second annual S.O.S. – Starting Over Safely summer campaign, with proceeds helping empower victims of domestic violence in Canada and Israel.
One of the most frightening things about domestic abuse is that half of the women murdered by their partners never experienced physical violence before. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. This year, through a new partnership with Michal Sela Forum, CHW is also promoting an awareness campaign to help women understand the warning signs in a relationship.
S.O.S. – Starting Over Safely 2022 has three campaign priorities, including Franny’s Fund in Canada, and WIZO programs and the Michal Sela Forum in Israel. The following campaign goals are intended to empower at-risk women and children to break the cycle of violence in Canada and Israel:
Provide help for parents and families in need of an urgent response;
Provide access to critical resources such as legal counsel and counseling services;
Provide women and their children with the basic essentials to start over safely;
Empower women and their children by providing financial help, social and personal support, employment support, and access to a network of other women in similar circumstances;
Provide women and their children with specially trained canine protection; and
Fund respite summer camp experiences for at-risk youth.
“CHW strongly believes that every human being deserves the right to achieve their full potential, while living in safety and security. You have the power to empower,” said Lisa Colt-Kotler, CHW chief executive officer.
The 2022 fundraising goal is $350,000. All funds donated will be matched three more times by a community of dedicated donors recognized as “Matching Heroes” during the 27-hour campaign, which kicks off at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. During the crowdfunding period, each gift donated on the website chwsos.ca is quadrupled.
On Aug. 2, Statistics Canada released police-reported hate crime data for 2021revealing, once again, that hate crimes targeting the Black and Jewish populations remain the most common reported by police.
“We are deeply concerned that incidents of hate crime rose yet again in Canada in 2021,” said Shimon Koffler Fogel, president and chief executive officer of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).
There were 642 reported hate crimes against Black Canadians in 2021, a slight decrease from the 676 reported in 2020, but an 86% increase from the 345 incidents reported in 2019.
Overall, hate crimes targeting religious groups increased 67% from 2020, breaking a three-year downturn. Incidents targeting the Jewish community grew by 47% from 2020 to 2021. Statistically, this reflects 1.3 in 1,000 members of Canada’s Jewish community reporting having been the target of a hate crime in 2021.
Jewish Canadians remain the most targeted religious minority for hate crime and second overall. There are approximately 380,000 Jews in Canada, representing only one percent of the population, yet members of the Jewish community were victims of 14.5% of all reported hate crime in 2021.
“Statistically, Canadian Jews were more than 10 times more likely than any other Canadian religious minority to report being the target of a hate crime. This is alarming,” said Fogel.
“This report should be a call to action for all Canadians to stand against antisemitism and all forms of hate…. We are grateful that police services across the country take these incidents seriously, but more needs to be done to protect vulnerable communities,” he said. “This includes greater support for security and safety at community institutions such as houses of worship; equity, diversity and inclusion education that includes training on antisemitism; and a national strategy to target online hate and radicalization.
“Although Canada remains one of the best countries in the world in which to be Jewish, or any other minority for that matter, these numbers should concern all Canadians. One hate crime is one too many.”
For more on the Statistics Canada report, visit www150.statcan.gc.ca and click on the link for the publication Juristat.
Siblings Becky, left, and Margaux Wosk (photo from We Belong!)
The first-ever We Belong! Festival will take place Aug. 27 in Downtown Vancouver. Organized by siblings Margaux and Becky Wosk, We Belong! is a “one-of-a-kind creative arts market with a focus on giving disabled artists the opportunity to showcase and sell their art.”
Margaux Wosk is a self-taught artist, an activist and a disability rights advocate, fighting for disabled small business owners to get resources. Becky Wosk is an artist, designer, writer and musician; she and Emmalee Watts form the duo Hollow Twin.
Margaux Wosk started their business, Retrophiliac (shopretrophiliac.com), more than 10 years ago. Its focus is on visual art.
“Being an openly autistic person,” said Wosk, “I found that there was a void in the marketplace for the type of items I wanted to see and purchase.
“My business has really ramped up in the last five years,” they continued, “and I focus on autistic, neurodiversity and disability pride items, such as enamel pins, patches and stickers. I design retro-inspired pins, stickers and patches as well. I also have other items I offer and I have over 26 retailers between Canada and the United States.”
Wosk also uses their business “as a way to talk to the government about disabled small business owners” and they have gone to the provincial budget meeting two years in a row “to rally for funding and resources for other people like myself.”
They explained, “Currently, as it stands, we have no resources, and any of the funding that goes to ‘inclusive employment’ only goes to employers that hire disabled people, not disabled people who own their own business.”
Part of the mission of the We Belong! Festival is to raise awareness.
“I have been part of other markets and I do enjoy it, but none of them meet all of my needs,” said Wosk. “I find that sometimes there are financial barriers, sometimes the events are just too long and I find that it can take a toll on my mind and body. I wanted to create something with little barriers for other disabled artists and we were lucky enough to be the recipients of the Downtown Vancouver BIA’s [Public Space] Vibrancy Grant. This way, we won’t have to charge our vendors any costs and we can provide them tables, canopies and chairs. I want people to see what we’re all capable of.”
The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association helped secure the market’s space at 855 West Hastings St. (Lot 19), and it is being provided free of charge. The location, which is between Burrard and Howe streets, is close to Waterfront Station and other public transit points.
“Once the location and date were confirmed,” said Becky Wosk, “we were able to figure out how many vendors we can accommodate and, from there, we put out a call to artists/makers. We have a specific budget to work with, so we have been able to gather quotes for the supplies we will need to make this event successful.
“When working on an event,” she said, “it’s important to work backwards from the date that you have secured and determine what needs to be ordered/booked in advance of that date – for example, canopies need to be booked 30 days out etc. [There are] lots of small details to be mindful of!”
In addition to the vendors who will be selling their creations, the market will include four nonprofits: Artists Helping Artists, Curiko, the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s Art Hive, which is run by Leamore Cohen, and the BC People First Society, on whose board Margaux Wosk sits, as regional director, Lower Mainland West.
While the deadline to apply as an exhibitor has passed, the Wosks are still looking for volunteers to help with set up and tear down. Anyone interested should email [email protected].
As a new school year approaches, many parents are looking for fresh ways to rekindle their child’s spark for Jewish – and general – learning. Chabad Richmond Hebrew School has put forward a curriculum that offers children an immersive experience.
“Over the course of last year and throughout the summer, we have had moms and dads asking us for advice on how to nurture their child’s Jewish identity,” said Chana Gordon, director of Chabad Richmond Hebrew School. “We believe that … knowledge is power and if you provide a safe and inclusive environment which teaches Jewish values, history and culture, children will thrive mentally, emotionally and in many other aspects of their life.”
Chabad Richmond Hebrew School constantly works to have a curriculum with fresh, new activities and crafts. Using modern methods of teaching, including STEM, they seek to accommodate the needs of every child.
For example, the learning program includes Bereishit: The Story of My Life, which explores the history of the Jewish nation. Beginning with the story of Adam and Eve, and through the birth of the Jewish people, students are taken on an immersive journey allowing them to use their creative minds and imagination.
Through interactive storytelling, inclusive activities and a comprehensive knowledge base, students are encouraged to take an active role of leadership and to express themselves. The program’s aim: students who have a nurtured Jewish identity, a healthy self-esteem, long-lasting friendships and a sense of community.
Chabad Richmond Hebrew School is an affiliate of the Chabad Children’s Network (CKids), which has chapters in 26 countries and engages 25,000 children each year with Jewish education and experiences. To register your child(ren), visit chabadrichmond.com/hebrewschool.
Ambassadors of Light putting together more than 2,000 packages of matzah at Lubavitch BC. (photo from Chabad Lubavitch of BC)
Ambassadors of Light in Kelowna. (photo from Chabad Lubavitch of BC)
“A little light pushes away a lot of darkness” – this quote from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson) was the impetus for the creation of a new program initiated by Chabad Lubavitch of British Columbia in response to the experiences of the last few years. These have included COVID-19, war in Ukraine, poor economic conditions and political upheaval, leaving so many in loneliness, depression and despair.
Ambassadors of Light is a year-long series of campaigns in commemoration of the Rebbe’s legacy and the 120th anniversary of his birth, which was celebrated in April of this year. It is designed to combat darkness and infuse the Jewish community of British Columbia – as well as other Jewish communities – with light.
The local project is a coordinated effort of the 10 Chabad centres serving the province. It is divided into six separate campaigns that encourage love and sharing, and doing mitzvot with friends and family. Each one is infused with creative materials to enhance the experience.
The first campaign began in March and extended through April, with distribution of Shmurah matzah for Passover. Each participant received free handmade matzah, an activities package and, most importantly, a second set to hand out to a friend. True joy comes when we “pay it forward”!
The second campaign, which took place over May and June, focused on the theme of Jewish books. Every Jewish home shines when it is adorned with books of Jewish learning, faith and prayer. People received the gift of a new Jewish book for their home library and one for a friend.
The current campaign is to ensure that every Jewish home in British Columbia has kosher mezuzot affixed to the doorposts of their homes. There are two parts to this campaign:
Part 1: First-time front-door mezuzah. Be an ambassador and introduce the gift of “Mitzvah Mezuzah” to a Jewish friend, co-worker or family member who doesn’t yet have one on their front door.
Part 2: See the Scribe. For those who already have mezuzot, bring them for a check-up to one of the in-person See the Scribe events. A certified scribe will be at various Chabad centres throughout the province for a full day, and he will be checking mezuzot for authenticity or errors. You will also have the option to book a time for the rabbi to come directly to your home to install your mezuzah – or you can take instructions on how to do it yourself. Check the website ambassadorsoflight.ca for the days, times and locations of these events.
The Ambassadors of Light initiative has already had an effect.
“Thank you for this wonderful gift before Passover. You’ve made our holiday so special!” said Igor, a student in Kamloops, who himself volunteered to become an Ambassador of Light. He distributed Passover matzah and other holiday goods to more than 20 more Jewish families in Kamloops through the campaign.
Rabbi Chalom and Esti Loeub from Chabad UBC shared, “One of our students’ parents (who we had never met before) received a gift of a Jewish book from their son. They were so impressed by the concept that brought their son to share Judaism with them in a creative way … and they loved the book about fascinating Jewish concepts.”
In Okanagan, Rabbi Shmuley Hecht received the following text: “Hello Rabbi Shmuley…. I took only one of the books on Jewish living, but, on reflection, I would like to get another four, if possible – one for each of my children.”
“Now, as we begin the third of six sweeping education and sharing themed campaigns of the Ambassadors of Light program, the impact is growing and the feedback is enormous,” said Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld of Lubavitch BC, one of the team members leading the project. “People care, and people are being cared for. The circle continues to revolve, turning each recipient into a giver as well.”
Rabbi Yitzchak Wineberg, head director of Chabad Lubavitch of B.C., noted, “The sense of unity that this Ambassadors of Light program has created is incredibly heartwarming … and very telling. People are just so touched by the surprise gifts they’re receiving from their own fellow community members, and that is something that the Rebbe has been encouraging throughout the years as well.”
All in all the project has reached more than 70 cities, attracted more than 200 volunteer ambassadors and impacted thousands of people. Still to come are the shofar and lulav campaign, the menorah campaign and the Shabbat candles campaign.
To become a part of the program, contact your local Chabad. For details, visit ambassadorsoflight.ca.
מהצצה לאתר של קבוצת ישראלים בקנדה שמופיע בפייסבוק ניתן להבין מה הם רוצים, מה חסר להם, מה הם מחפשים ובמקביל מה יש להם להציע. קרוב לששת אלפי ישראלים חברים בקבוצת ישראלים בקנדה שנוסד בנובמבר אלפיים וחמש עשרה בטורונטו.
הנה לקט של שאלות, בקשות והצעות חברי הקבוצה השונים המתפרסמות באתר הקבוצה בפייסבוק:
לני מציעה למכירה גחנון קובנה במחיר שמונה דולר ליחידה. כולל תוספות של ביצה, סחוג ורסק במחיר שלושה עשרה דולר ליחידה.
שמעון שגר בישראל טס החודש לקנדה והוא קיבל שני חיסונים. הוא שואל האם הוא צריך לבצע בדיקת קוביד לפני הטיסה?
יובל שגם הוא גר בישראל שואל האם רישיון הנהיגה הישראלי שלו תופס גם בקנדה? או צריך להוציא רשיון נהיגה בינלאומי לפני שמגיעים לכאן?
רות שואלת את מי מבין אלה שעברו את הגבול לבאפלו ארה”ב עם רכבם: האם צריך לעשות בדיקות קוביד? האם מעבר הגבול פתוח כבעבר עשרים וארבע שעות ביממה?
סמדר שגרה בטורונטו מחפשת להשכרה בית שלם בן ארבעה חדרים באזור טורנהיל בטורונטו.
אלמוג שגר בישראל מציין שהוא נמצא במדינה כבר שלוש שנים, אחרי שגר בארה”ב במשך ארבע שנים. אלמוג מעוניין עתה להגר לקנדה והוא מחפש עבודה כטכנאי לתקן דלתות מתכת לחניות פרטיות, או כמנעולן, כשיש לו ניסיון רב בשני התחומים. הוא מציין עוד כי ישמח לקבל עזרה ומידע בדבר הגירה, הקהילה היהודית בקנדה, כשרות וכל מה שיש להוסיף בנושא.
סאו שגר בישראל שואל איך ואיפה מוציאים ויזת תייר לקנדה? מה העלויות וכמה זמן זה לוקח? הוא רוצה בחודשים ספטמבר ואוקטובר לטוס לקנדה עד חודש ימים, ושואל האם שבועיים יספיקו לטייל בוונקובר ובטורונטו, או שזה לחוץ מדי מבחינת הזמן? שאו מציין שראה גם את הרכבת השקופה ומדובר כנראה ברכבת נוסעת מוונקובר לבאנף שבאלבטרה וכידוע הכרטיסים שלה יקרים ביותר.
אלינה מישראל שואלת האם מישהו יודע אם צריך לתרגם את חוזה הגירושין לאנגלית ואת האישור של האבא שמאפשר לילדים להגר לקנדה?
עדי מישראל מספרת כי משפחתה שוקלת להגר לקנדה (באזור טורונטו והסביבה). מדובר בזוג הורים ושלושה ילדים בני שש, שמונה ושתיים עשרה. עדי במקצועה היא קוסמטיקאית ומניקוריסטית והיא שואלת האם היא יכולה בתחום הזה שלה לעבוד כעצמאית בטורונטו? או שהיא צריכה ללמוד את התחום מחדש?
ויקה מישראל אומרת כי היא בעלה וילדתם שוקלים להגר לקנדה. היא שואלת מי מכיר יועץ הגירה אמין בישראל, מבין אלה שבעזרתו הם היגרו לקנדה בשנים האחרונות?
אוריאל הוא אזרח קנדי המשרת בצה”ל ביחידה קרבית ועכשיו הוא משתחרר. הוא מחפש עבודה עם שכר טוב במונטריאול.
נינה הגרה בטורונטו מחפשת יועצת הגירה לקנדה.
לירון הגרה בישראל מספרת שהיא ואחותה מגיעות לקנדה למשך חודש ימים. היא מוסיפה שהן צריכות כרטיסים לסלולר לכדי להיות בקשר אחת עם השנייה, ושואלת על המלצות היכן לרכוש אותם במחירים מוזלים?
מוטי מחפש עורך דין מעולה המתמחה בהגירה לקנדה, ויש לו באמת ניסיון רב וידע בכל ההליכים.
דודו מישראל מחפש במונטריאול קייטרינג כשר במחיר סביר עבור חינה לפני החתונה.
ארינה שואלת היכן מומלץ לקחת חופשה בן עשרה ימים בקנדה? מבקשת לתת עדיפות למקומות עם חופים, מים ועגמים. היא כבר הייתה בקולונה וקמפלוס ומעדיפה לגלות מקומות חדשים.
יבול מישראל קיבל קבל שני חיסונים שפג תוקפם והוא שאול האם הוא יכול להיכנס לקנדה?
