Burquest seeks support

CYNTHIA RAMSAY SPECIAL TO THE BULLETIN

The Burquest Jewish Community Association (BJCA) hopes to raise almost half a million dollars in its 2003 capital campaign.

While the Burquest community is relatively small – some 80 families – its membership is growing. Founded in 1973, the BJCA serves the Jewish population of Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and other outlying areas. It recently opened a new synagogue and community centre, and the community has selected the name Congregation Sha'arei Mizrah (Gates of the East).

Last week, the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) hosted the celebration of the BJCA's capital campaign.

"It's wonderful to see new centres springing up," said Gerry Zipursky, JCC executive director, who described the community centres across Canada as "one large family" that needs to "work together, more than ever."

Mark Gurvis, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, also spoke of the need to work together, in order to prevent the B.C. Jewish community from becoming fragmented as it becomes more spread out geographically. Robert Devlin, campaign chair, gave attendees an overview of Burquest, and the increasing number of religious, social, cultural and educational activities that the community provides.

The goal of the BJCA campaign is to raise $450,000. People may contribute to the mortgage, the endowment fund, an elevator, assistive listening device systems for hard-of-hearing members, a surveillance/security system, a fence, adult programming, the Hebrew school, books for the library, youth activities, a summer camp, a part-time community programmer or a theatre system.

Reesa Devlin, BJCA president, announced at the JCC reception that Rabbi Yosef Wosk has started things off by contributing a total of $20,000 to the endowment and building funds.

Donations may be made to the BJCA at P.O. Box 52552, #1136-2929 Barnet Hwy., Coquitlam, B.C., V3B 7J4. For more information, call 604-552-7221 or e-mail [email protected].

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