JWI-BC honors women

ELIZABETH NIDER

“Giving liberates the soul of the giver," African-American poet, Maya Angelou once said. Perhaps that is what brought three outstanding women to the Rainbow Lunch at the Marine Drive Golf Club on Sunday, June 14. Organized by Jewish Women International-British Columbia (JWI-BC), the event honored Lana Marks Pulver and Naomi Frankenburg, and featured keynote speaker Shelley Rivkin, who spoke about empowering women to overcome domestic violence.

JWI-BC works with the city to create shelters for women, educates teens about dating abuse and works on numerous other projects to help women in both Vancouver and Israel. The proceeds of the Rainbow Lunch went to the Residential Treatment Centre in Israel and the Noah's Ark Rear-Facing Infant Car Seat Project, a service that provides car seats, strollers, infant wear and other items to 11 health-related agencies, for parents who are unemployed or considered "working poor."

Rivkin has 25 years of experience in designing and delivering training programs and community education projects to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women and children. "Despite our desire to believe that [the Jewish community is] different, our families struggle with the same [issues] of abuse," said Rivkin, who, in 1986, travelled to almost every city in the province to help educate those involved in outreach. "One of the greatest barriers [to helping] women is the belief, which even the women themselves believe, that [abuse should] remain a private matter, between two people intimately involved," she said. Her advice was that "education and awareness are critical. We need to find ways to make programs pertinent to each woman," so that they can manage their own lives in their way.

Marks Pulver holds a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor of arts degree in both commerce and economics. She and her sister, Kerri Marks Chetner, co-authored Dollars and Centsored: Your Money. Your Values. Your Stress Relief, which covers a variety of topics, including investing wisely and educating children about money. Marks Pulver's specialty is assisting individuals to clarify their values and goals and establish financial plans based on what is important to them. Her connection to JWI-BC began years ago, when she participated in its Connect Card program, which provides women who have been abused with a support system of professionals. Her name was added to the card, and she has since been providing women in need with financial advice. Recently, she became the JWI liaison to Vancouver Talmud Torah (VTT) to implement its program to help teens build healthy and respectful relationships.

When Marks Pulver was first told that she would be honored by JWI-BC, she said, "I felt that there must be someone else that deserves this [more]." When she heard that Frankenburg would also be honored, Marks Pulver said she felt truly privileged and accepted the offer with gratitude. Her mother-in-law was very close with Frankenburg (who spoke at Marks Pulver's wedding) as they worked closely together at Hadassah-WIZO.

Frankenburg is a life member of JWI-BC and is one of the few local members to have visited the Residential Treatment Centre in Jerusalem. She has held a number of top leadership positions in the community, has been an outstanding volunteer and Israeli advocate and is devoted to her husband, five children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Frankenburg's daughter, Ruth Becker, said, "I never realized quite how much she had accomplished because she never made a big deal about what she was doing. When I read her biography in the souvenir [program] I was very, very impressed. I was in awe. Mother, how did you do all this? You should feel so proud for all that you have done. You were also doing an excellent job of taking care of all of us at home. You are a wonderful mother and an inspiration to all of us."

Frankenburg said the happiness her family brought her pushed her to do more for families in Canada and Israel who were "not as lucky."

"Why do volunteers do what we do? What inspires us?" Marks Pulver asked. "I believe it comes down to two things: a strong value for philanthropy and an inability to say no.... Start with the end in mind. What would you like said about you at your funeral? When I am gone I want to be remembered for caring and [doing] for the community."

Frankenburg summed it up perfectly: "Girls, it's up to you: get involved and be active. Every person, especially children, needs a chance to be bright."

Elizabeth Nider is a freelance writer living in Richmond.

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