Short TakW^
Feeding the community souio a success Jewisli Love Day in July
=3 CD
6
Volunteers at ttie Jewisli Food Bank, wtiich tias recently relocated to the Peretz Centre.
Food bank is now operating from the Peretz Centre.
The Jewish Food Bank, sponsored by Jewish Family Service Agency (JFSA) and Jewish Women International, recently moved to its new temporary location at the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture. The need for anonymity and renovations to the Wosk Auditorium at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver were cited by organizers as reasons for the move, which should not affect the food bank's operations.
"It is not well-known that almost 20 per cent of our community members live below the poverty line; that Jews turning to JFSA for help finding jobs has risen 300 per cent in the past six months," commented Joseph Tietz, JFSA executive director.
JFSA provides food through the food bank to 1,100 individuals each year. Volimtcers at the food bank try to make the groceiy items as nutritious as possible. They also try to meet the needs of vegetarians or those with specific medical requirements.
"Volunteers are an integral part of any food bank, and ours is no exception," commented one volunteer. "We are fortimate to have such a wonderful group, many who have worked with the food bank since its inception."
The JFSA also provides Kosher Meals on Wheels for isolated individuals, nourishes 50 people per month through commimity kitchens and offers hot lunch programs providing comraderie for 65 people per month. This year's Stay-at-Home Dinner Campaign, whidi raises funds for food- and htmger-related programs, including Kosher Meals on Wheels and commimity kitchens, will also raise funds for the Jewish Food Bank.
"Consider sponsoring a family in need by joining our Mitzvah a Month Club or supporting our campaign," said Tietz. Call 604-257-5151 for more information. □
- Courtesy of the Jewish Family Service Agency
JNF lias new president
The Jewish National Fund, Pacific Region, welcomed new president Jerry Adler at its installation dinner June 25.
During the dinner, held at the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, outgoing president Bonnie Belzberg gave a briefing on her three-year term and explained her priorities. Committee chairs and members of the executive were thanked and recognized for their hard work and dedication to the organization.
Adler also presented his point of view of the organization and areas to be emphasized over the coming three years. He discussed working with school-aged children to help them develop a love and appreciation for Israel.
In his last act as immediate past president. Bill Gruenthal presented Belzberg with a framed certificate of appreciation from the board. Irving Sirlin, also a past president, spoke to the attendees about his recent trip to Israel and the importance of goingto Israel at this time of crisis.
The Jewish National Fund of Canada is planning a mission to Israel this fall and everyone is encouraged to take part. For more in-' formation on the mission, please call 604-257-5155. □
1 .4 .
Past president Bonnie Belztierg, left, and new president Jerry Adler at the 2002 JNF installation dinner.
'Symposium tiears about needs of single parents.
Almost 40 parents and children came together for the Soul-0 Parenting Symposium event for ' single parents last month. This first of what will hopefully become an armual event was well received and, from it, a clear ' need for future programming was expressed.
At the symposium, Dr. Su-: san Gamache gave a timely : keynote address about families
■ and invited the community to ; embrace the reality that fami-; ly arrangements are different . than they were 50 years ago.
■ The challenge is to create more inclusion and a shift in attitude, she said. Language such as "broken homes" and "failed
i marriages" helps perpetuate the myth that single-parent families are somehow defective, : explained Gamache, who is in-I volved in the Collaborative Law : Model, a model where lawyers j and coaches work together to ; help separating couples make ; decisions that will be best for their families.
There was much discussion throu^out the symposium, re-. sources were plentifiil and lots ; of feedback was given about ' how this community can bet-; ter serve the needs of single parents. While the Soul-0 parents were learning, network-* ing and having a day without : kid responsibilities, the chil-; dren enjoyed the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) facilities and a pizza limch.
The J\me 23 event came together through the generous efforts and donations of many individuals and oi::ganizations. Community partners included the JCC, which contributed woikshop and child-care space, the Jewish Family Service Agency, whidi OMjrdjnated the event and facilitated workshops, and Temple Sholom, Beth Is-: rael, Eitz Chaim, Yad BTad and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, which all helped with the plaiming and carrying out of the day. Funding was granted through the Women's Endownment Fund and B.C. Kosher donated refreshments. Linda Frimer donated artwork for the poster and PacBlue offered discounted the printing costs.
If anyone would like to be included in future mailouts for events for single parents, contact Azima Buell at the JFSA, 604-257-5151.
- Courtesy of the Jewish Family Service Agency
In honor of Tu B'Av (also called, Yom Tov Shel Tubiav or Jewish Love Day) there will be a Jewish Love Day celebration at Schara Tzedeck July 24 at 7:30 p.m. The event, whidi is expected to go imtil midnight, is sponsored by the Ohel Ya'akov Community Kol-lel of Greater Vancouver, Congregation Schara Tzedeck and Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Speakers will include Rabbi Avra-ham Feigelstock, Barbara Madani, M.Sc., and Michael Elterman, PhD.
Feigelstock is the rabbi of Eitz Chaim Synagogue in Richmond. He was instrumental in foimding the Orthodox Rabbinical Coxmcil of B.C. and the Beth Din of the province, where he serves as av Beth Din and supervising rabbi of B.C. Kosher.
Madani is a registered psychologist with more than 25 years experience in personal, career and relationship consulting and therapy.
Elterman is a consulting psychologist at Family Court Centre and, for the past 20 years, has been in private practice as a family therapist.
The July 24 event takes place in the Wosk Auditorium at 3476 Oak St. Admission is $5. For more information, visit www.commu-nitykpllel.org. □
Get a taste of yeshivah
If you've ever had an inkling to try out yeshivah-style learning, Lubavitch B.C. is offering just the thing. Running Monday evenings, until Aug. 26, Lubavitch is presenting A Taste of Yeshiv^ for the Summer, an authentic yeshivah program, where students will take part in traditional chavrusa (study-partner)-style learning.
■ Study topics wiU include Talmud, Bible, kabbalah and Jewish philosophy. A full staff of local and visiting rabbis will be on hand throughout the program, teaching and studying one-on-one with the students. The opportvmity is open to men and women of any Jewish backgroimd and skill level.
A Taste ofYeshivah is coKJrdinated by Rabbi Lipa Dubrawslq'^ and will be held at the new Lubavitch Centre at 41st and Oak from 8-9:30 p.m. The program started July 8 but students can join in anytime, even for one evening. There are no charges for admission or for materials. Call 604-266-1313 for information. □
Gotta see Gotta Sing!
Show has an original script and 84 performers.
To finish up its eighth year at the Jewish Commimity Centre of Greater Vancouver, the Gotta Sing! Gotta Djmce! musical theatre program invites the entire community to its season finale: TV or not TV.
Eighty singers and dancers (age eight to 19) from throughout British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, plus four teenagers from northern Israel, will perform this original script by Perry Ehrlich and David Hudgins. The repertoire mcludes songs from Broadway and movie musicals such as The Producers, Thoroughly Modem Millie, Annie and Mamma Mia?
Helping to put the production together were Tony-award winning choreographer David Connolly, from Los Angeles, together with a team of instructors including Valerie Easton (currently choreo-. graphing Kiss Me Kate for Theatre Under the Stars and My Fair Lady for the Stanley Theatre), Chris McGregor (co-artistic director of Carousel Theatre), musical directors Wendy Stuart and Spencer Bach, TV and play director Susan Lehmann, choregrapher Isabelle Maheux, Rebekka Sorcnsen (set designer and costume coK)rdinator) and Itai Erdal (lighting designer).
Productions of TV or not TV, involving all 84 pcuticipants in the program, will take place at the Norman Rothstcin Theatre on July 24 at 7:30 p.m. and July 25 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 and are available at the front desk of the JCC or by contacting 604-257-511LD