Celebrating 80 years ...

JWB 1930 masthead

The first issue of the Jewish Western Bulletin came out Oct. 9, 1930. Though the newspaper’s name changed to the Jewish Independent in 2005 and its design has varied over the years, many things have remained the same. The paper has served the B.C. Jewish community for 80 years now and it continues to publish stories, milestones, event listings, obituaries, advertisements and other items that keep local Jewish community members informed and connected.

As we celebrate our 80th birthday year, we will be looking back through our archives each week. Among the stories making the news in the inaugural Bulletin was Schara Tzedeck’s annual meeting – in addition to the election of officers, the finances were in “excellent condition,” the rabbi and his choir had conducted the High Holy Day services in an “excellent manner” and the dues were actually decreased! The Jewish Community Centre was soliciting community members for “extra bulbs that they do not plan to use in their own gardens” for use in the centre’s garden, while the Hebrew Aid and Immigrant Society of Vancouver, “which has done more to alleviate misery and unhappiness in the past than any other group,” was soliciting community members because it was in the “bewildering” predicament of having a “shortage of possible leaders.”

All three of these organizations – Schara Tzedeck, the JCC and the aid society, now the Jewish Family Service Agency – are still integral parts of our community, as is the newspaper. There’s a lot to be proud of as we enter 2010 – and a lot more to do!

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