JFS Uplifting Lives | Summer 2022

Uplifting Lives jfsvancouver.ca | Summer 2022

Sustainability in Four Words

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The Vancouver Jewish Community Garden will be an opportunity to teach community members of all ages about agriculture and the importance of a healthy earth, to enable volunteers to contribute to our community, and to help feed those in need.

-- Bernard Pinsky, Board Chair, Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation

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JFS, Beth Israel (BI), and Vancouver Talmud Torah (VTT) are embarking on a visionary project aimed at nourishing the Jewish community.

The generosity of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, the Diamond Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver have given life to this collective vision, and have made it possible to create a gathering place to celebrate and honour nature and its bounties, as well as Jewish teachings and values.

“Through the garden, we will be able to model and teach about food security, healthy eating, Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), and innovating

Helping new Ukrainian arrivals, p2

for a prosperous future,” says Emily Greenberg, VTT Head of School.

Years ago, the Diamond Foundation secured a long-term lease of the land above the shared BI/VTT parkade for future development. We are grateful to the Diamond Foundation for recognizing the importance of green spaces and allowing us to use this land for the Vancouver Jewish Community Garden on a temporary basis.

“I am incredibly excited to be part of the new endeavour. People will be able to gather with their friends and family to actively grow fruits and veggies while creating a community and helping others,” says Rabbi Infeld.

We are honoured that JFS is a part of the inspiring and creative movement that is committed to cultivating a healthier future.

Ilana Labow has been hired as our garden project manager. Watch for further updates and opportunities to get involved in the coming months.

Recognizing our volunteers, p3

Twice Blessed and Proud, p4

2022 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Earlier this year, JFS was honoured with the coveted “Healthy City for All” Award. The 2022 Awards recognized outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations, and businesses who are helping make this city a wonderful place to live, and those who responded to the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. With many other food banks not operating in the early stages of the pandemic, JFS recognized the vulnerability of people with food security challenges and transitioned to a delivery model and opened The Kitchen. The increased number of people experiencing food insecurity since the beginning of the pandemic, and our expanded capacity means that JFS now serves twice as many people.

Thank you to the Jewish Federation for nominating JFS for an Award of Excellence and being an amazing partner, and to our Food Security committee members.

This award also belongs to all those involved in helping us pivot our food program early in 2020 and who helped us launch The Kitchen. Thanks to all of them, we are now serving hundreds weekly with food deliveries, homemade meals, and case management support.

Left to right: Mayor Kennedy Stewart, Councilor Jean Swanson, Tanja Demajo, Jody Dales, Stan Shaw, Paul Becker, Councilor Michael Wiebe.

UKRAINIAN SETTLEMENT PROGRAM Many Ukrainians escaping the war have arrived in Vancouver with limited to no resources. The Vancouver Jewish community has been able respond and mobilize quickly because of existing frameworks to support crisis situations.

Thanks to funding provided through the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, JFS has been able to welcome 15 Ukrainian families and support them as they work through the trauma of the war and displacement.

From seniors to young families, there is a broad diversity of backgrounds and support needs. Some families have hit the ground running, whereas others will be accessing extended JFS services.

Tanya Finkelshtein, a JFS Settlement Worker, is providing case management, which includes helping newly arrived Ukrainian families access local and government services, as well as various JFS programs.

Additionally, JFS is providing some short-term emergency supports while the families find their footing.

Charlotte Katzen, former JFS Executive Director, is the lead settlement volunteer.

She will work closely with local synagogues, led by Temple Sholom, to connect individuals and families to Welcome Circles, ensuring the settlement process is as comfortable as possible.

JFS was founded to help resettle new immigrants fleeing Europe 85 years ago, and has used that experience when called on throughout the decades.

“This is what a Jewish community does,” says Rachel Shanken, JFS Director of Operations. “It is at the core of our values. When a crisis happens, we step up to provide a safety net of support.”

JFS Newsletter | Summer 2022

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION “We come together to celebrate all of you today. To acknowledge that the work you do, the time and energy you generously offer, and the ideals which you commit yourselves to, is holy and you become heroes to those who you reach out to.” -- Rabbi Susie Tendler On June 14th, we held our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event at the Jewish Community Centre. 67% of our programs and services are run with the support of volunteers, and JFS wanted to honour the time and efforts our volunteers have given to help make our community services possible.

Q&A Zoe Sorokin is new head chef at JFS The Kitchen.

Q: How did you come to work at JFS? A: I’m originally from San Diego and was involved in my local JFS throughout my childhood. When the Kitchen first opened I applied, but they had already hired someone. I was happy to get a call when they needed another chef. It’s really nice to take what I do for a living and make it meaningful to me and to give back.

Q: What is the busiest day at The Kitchen?

A: Tuesdays are the busiest day.

Volunteers come and help us a lot--it wouldn’t be the same if I had to do it alone so I really appreciate them. That day, once I finish cooking the meals, we pack them to go out to our clients.

We are also providing hot lunches that go out to the Richmond Jewish Day School and Yaffa House.

Q: What is your favourite ingredient to use in the meals?

Rabbi Susie Tendler provided the blessing and musical artists Quayside Voices provided entertainment. It was a fantastic time to highlight and celebrate all the programs our volunteers support!

JFS staff recognized the perseverance of our volunteers in stepping up during the pandemic to ensure our programs continued during unprecedented times. We are so grateful that we never felt alone during this pandemic, and we know that JFS is stronger than ever, thanks to our amazing volunteers.

Thank you to all volunteers for playing a critical role in making such a tangible contribution. You are not only the heart of what we do, you are the powerhouse.

As JFS Food Security Coordinator, Carol Hopkins summed up in her speech: “We want to thank you for your commitment and mentschlekhkeyt. Toda Raba – thank you.”

A: Our kitchen is kosher and parve but as a vegan, it’s not hard to design a menu in a way that’s going to be delicious, filling and protein rich. I like to use a lot of beans because it’s an easy one to be kosher. Also, spices are a chef’s best friend! I love to use a lot of spices, especially paprika, garlic powder, and za’atar.

Q: What do you hope that meal recipients feel when they’re eating meals you’ve planned and made?

A: I hope they feel cared for. I have taken the time to design a menu that I think people are really going to enjoy.

With a kosher kitchen there’s a bit of a stigma about food tasting a little bland.

I grew up in an orthodox community and I can agree! I really try to make my menus something that people can get excited about.

Don’t forget to order your Rosh Hashanah cards! The last day for ordering before Rosh Hashanah is September 22.

Keep an eye out for ways to participate in our annual food drive! Project Isaiah September 26 - October 6, 2022.

RESPECT, INCLUSION, AND EQUAL ACCESS JFS is dedicated to challenging ourselves to think about and remove the barriers that people face in accessing our services. As you know, this year JFS partnered with JQT Vancouver on the “Twice Blessed 2.0: LGBTQ2SIA+ Initiative” with the goal to assess the needs of those whose identities intersect with both the Jewish and LGBTQ2SIA+ communities. The survey responses reflect the diverse identities and experiences of the participants, and their relationships with the Jewish and LGBTQ2SIA+ communities. You can read the findings at www.jqtvancouver.ca/twice-blessed-2.

Thirteen “Calls to Action” were identified to begin the important work to create a more inclusive Jewish community. Our first steps are policy development and creating a training plan, in collaboration with local Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ consultants.

Carmel Tanaka, Founder and Executive Director of JQT Vancouver shares, “We are in the partnership with JFS for the long haul, and look forward to following up on each of our Calls to Action.” As part of this commitment, JFS and JQT shared a booth, and walked together under the JQT banner at the Vancouver Pride Parade in July. JFS staff were excited to be able to participate in pride as one way to publicize our stance on LGBTQ2SIA+ rights and accessibility, and our commitment to putting our words into action.

Questions? Contact the Development Department at 604.257.5151 or email development@jfsvancouver.ca.

Calling all Volunteers 55+ Did you know that the online and in-person programs of JFS’s Thriving Seniors are informed by a committee of committed senior volunteers called the Seniors Leadership Team? The Seniors Leadership Team, or SLT, meets twice a month with thoughts, ideas, and plans about past and future programming for Thriving Seniors.

“The celebration of Pride is a response to historical oppression. Visible and non-visible minorities understand the damage that suppressing oneself does to the human spirt,” says Alan Stamp, JFS Clinical Supervisor. “Ongoing work through organizations such as JQT, brings greater visibility and connection to Jewish and other communities.

Pride demonstrates that respect, inclusion, acceptance and love are far greater than oppression will ever be.”

There is still much to learn and much work to be done to truly make JFS a welcoming agency for all, but achieving that will uplift all of us.

To learn more on how to get involved, please contact Carmel Tanaka, Founder and Executive Director of JQT Vancouver, at carmel@jqtvancouver.ca.

If you have ideas you would like to share, and would like to be a part of this dynamic volunteer team, please contact Tamar Stein, Seniors Community Outreach Coordinator at 604-558-5709 or seniorsoutreach@jfsvancouver.ca jfsvancouver.ca | 604.257.5151 | info@jfsvancouver.ca