Many community events, lessons and celebrations take place in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s Wosk Auditorium. (photo from JCC)
A sense of family and community, somewhere to be physically active and mentally stimulated, a haven in which to socialize and relax, to have a nosh, a lifeline during the pandemic and a place to be with like-minded people after Oct. 7. The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver – “the J” – “is a warm and welcoming place for Jews and the community in general,” offered JCC executive director Eldad Goldfarb.
The Jewish Independent spoke with Goldfarb and others recently, to see how the centre has fared since the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, the Israel-Hamas war and the rise in antisemitism around the world, including in Metro Vancouver.
“The level of security has seen a noticeable increase,” said Goldfarb. “The initial shock had an effect on our entire community, which felt insecure and somewhat afraid to venture out and into Jewish community facilities. This fear quickly changed into a desire to congregate, be with fellow Jews in safe spaces, and the JCC is a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.”
He praised the Vancouver Police Department and its role in allowing the community to gather safely.
“The VPD is amazingly supportive of the Jewish community and the JCC,” he said. “They are doing above and beyond within their limited resources to provide both physical as well as emotional safety at this very difficult time for our community. The JCC staff team is very vigilant and pays close attention to anything out of the ordinary.”
Goldfarb has been the J’s executive director for 11 years, and was assistant executive director for the six years prior to that. He said the centre has “expanded its programs and services, providing substantially more scholarships and subsidies to families and individuals.” And he and the JCC board “have been involved in the conceptualization, visioning and creation of JWest, an exciting innovative community project for generations to come.”
“The JCC has been working diligently on expanding our capacity, we have made investments in recruiting top-notch staff, replacing and transforming our technology systems in order to improve customer experience, ease the registration process and create efficiencies in the organization,” said Goldfarb.
“We’re always trying out new programs,” Hila Olyan, senior director of programs, told the JI. “I’m especially excited about programming for new families, which ramps up this coming fall: pre- and post-natal yoga, baby sign and sing, stroller fitness, storytime in the library. We’re also trying out some new children’s programming over the summer. Music, Music for Littles and Music, Music for Babies will be offered on Sundays. I can say from personal experience that my toddler loves the program. He’s been taking it since April.”
While the programming hasn’t changed much in response to Oct. 7, Olyan said “the interest in being part of programs has increased. I think, for many people, myself and my family included, the opportunity to participate in Jewish and non-Jewish programming, but in a safe space surrounded by like-minded people, is more important than we previously realized.
“We’ve also tried to be thoughtful as we plan and host our community events like the recent Festival of Israeli Culture. We are thinking about how we can honour the challenging times we are living in, but also celebrate the beautiful culture we all know and love.”
She pointed to significant participation in events such as seniors luncheons, the J’s annual Purim Party and other activities.
“The people of our community want to be around other community members and I think it’s a great thing,” said Olyan. “The atmosphere has shifted a few times. We’ve moved from shock and devastation to strength and resilience. I think it’s a real testament to the spirit of our community.”
“The JCC has and will always be a safe place for me and my family and the entire community,” said Michael Averbach, who has been going to the J since he was a kid himself. “Oct. 7 didn’t change my frequency of visits or how I feel about being at the JCC, nor should it for any current member, but my message to those considering joining – there’s no greater feeling of family than being at the J. It’s the only place where we can truly interact with all sectors of our community, from the non-observant, to the Reform, to the Orthodox and everyone in between. Furthermore, the JCC was built on the foundation where everyone is welcome, regardless of religion or race.”
In addition to being a J member, Averbach has chaired the centre’s main fundraising event, the RBC JCC Sports Dinner, for many years. Attesting to his family’s generations of involvement with the JCC, the welcome desk everyone passes on their way into the centre is called the Betty and Louis Averbach Membership Desk, named after Averbach’s grandparents. And the next generation is also involved.
“We’ve had our kids in day camp and swimming lessons over the years and, personally, I enjoy boxing sessions with Alexei to keep me sharp and on my toes and to complement my regular fitness routine,” said Averbach. “I also try and get to the J in the later evenings up three to four times a week to enjoy the sauna and steam in the men’s spa.”
When asked what keeps him coming back to the centre all these years, Averbach said, “The warm feeling and sense of community walking through the doors.”
This is an aspect that also appeals to J member Cathy Paperny and her family, who joined the JCC in 2006 when their children began the 2-year-old program.
“I appreciate being surrounded by a Jewish community,” she said. “I have a good relationship with Eldad and we often have good talks about various topics, including the war in the Middle East. During these challenging times, it’s especially important to be surrounded by like-minded people. I feel I have that at the JCC.”
The social aspect is one of Olyan’s favourite parts of her job.
“I like the combination of interacting with members, program participants and administration. I like thinking about how we can make our programming stronger and then having the opportunity to put plans into action and see the results. Every single day I meet and talk with interesting people who are all here at the J for their own unique reason – a workout, childcare drop-off, gymnastics, music lessons, a holiday or festival.”
For Paperny, that reason was the program for 2-year-olds. She said the J was the only place that offered it. “I liked that my children were attending with other Jewish children, some of whom became lifelong friends. It was close to VTT [Vancouver Talmud Torah] for afterschool programs and convenient for me when I was working at the Holocaust Centre,” she said.
Paperny worked at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, which is on the lower level of the centre, until 2019, for about four years as the symposia coordinator and as a docent for more than 10 years.
In addition to the 2-year-old program, Paperny said, “Yaelle went to ballet classes when she was young and did Israeli dancing through Talmud Torah and then performed at the Festival Ha’Rikud events at the JCC until Grade 7. Both of my children attended Camp Shalom for a couple of years. One of my children did the leadership-in-training program at Camp Shalom. They also attended other sports camps, like soccer.
“I did personal training there for years and attended some of the fitness classes, including circuit training,” she continued. “Now, I swim, do private pilates with Camila, attend yoga twice a week and attend many fitness classes.”
She also attends Jewish Book Festival events and, often, Israeli dancing on Wednesday nights.
These types of activities are exactly what the JCC mission entails.
“For our Jewish community, we continue to be committed to our mission to provide programs to enhance positive identification with Jewish life and Israel,” said Goldfarb. “This can be seen in our children’s camps, early childhood education programs (daycare and out-of-school care) and with our Israeli dance classes – to name a few.”
Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine is also on site. A popular spot to have a coffee or lunch, it is hard not to run into fellow community members when you’re there: members of the J, people visiting the latest exhibit at the Zack Gallery or going up to the Waldman Library, staff from the various Jewish organizations housed in the centre, participants in different programs, parents picking up their kids, students from King David High School, which is located across the street from the centre, and others.
“The JCC, while not without its challenges, is a place of growth and potential,” said Averbach. “I am aware of the high staff turnover and the need for building upgrades and, together, we are actively working on raising the necessary funds to address these issues. If there’s one key area for improvement, it is staff training for those with special needs and neurodiversity. By properly implementing this training, we can ensure that all our children feel comfortable and welcome.”
And it seems that the J is committed to continually improving. For example, staff review its programming often.
“Every participant in a registered program receives an email link to a quick survey,” said Olyan. “We also look at our mission statement and consider how we can continue and better meet our mission and the needs of our community. Are we offering social, educational, recreational and cultural programs for every demographic? Finally, we consider what are the emerging trends and interests within and outside the Jewish community and is the JCC the right place for [such programs]. We really try to listen to our members and find out if there are particular programs they would like to see.”
As for her feedback, Paperny said, “During COVID, the J was a lifeline for me when virtual programs were available, and then when it opened up to in-person programs. My physical health is so integral to my emotional, mental and spiritual health. The J has always been there for me.”