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Dear <<First Name>>,

Like many of you, my family has been looking forward to lighting our Hanukkah candles and bringing light into our home. While I am so grateful for sharing this time with loved ones, I am also aware that for many, this may be a time of pain. Whether darkness comes from internal suffering or external circumstances, this tiny candle light reminds us that illumination begins within ourselves.

Hanukkah is a reminder of the miracle of light and resilience, and it’s a message of hope: it doesn’t matter what you have to start with, it’s just important that you start.

In the past few weeks, we’ve observed:

  • 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (Nov 28-Dec 10);
  • National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Dec 6);
  • International Day of Persons With Disabilities (Dec 3);
  • International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide (Dec 9);
  • International Human Rights Day (Dec 10).

Each of these days is a commitment to fight for justice and equity. Standing up for what is right isn't always easy. It’s a daunting commitment and the emotional burden of witnessing human suffering can be overwhelming. Fortunately, none of us are alone in this mission; each of us brings our own small light to the work. And no matter how insignificant our light may seem on its own, it is dazzling and powerful when they’re all joined together.

In this issue of JFS Uplift, I want to share some stories that bring me hope for a brighter future.

Happy Hanukkah to you and your loved ones.

With warmest regards,

-Tanja Demajo, CEO

 

Sharing Our Voices

JFS has proudly partnered with The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) in an initiative called “Descendants of Holocaust Survivors: Sharing Our Voices.”

Starting February 6th, this six-week Zoom-based workshop will give participants the chance to share their voice and explore stories with therapeutic support. This program aims to provide a space for individuals to honour, remember, and creatively reflect on their experiences as descendants of Holocaust survivors.

The collective trauma of the Holocaust continues to impact descendants and Jewish communities. Expressing the experiences and emotions of being descendants of Holocaust survivors is one way to start healing this trauma. Working to prevent future genocides is another.

That’s why we observe International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. Furthermore, it is why it’s so important that Vancouver City Council passed a resolution adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism in order to fight the rise of antisemitism in Canada.

“Nobody should have to live in fear because of who they are.” said Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, who introduced the motion to adopt the IHRA definition.

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Abby Wener Herlin and Claire Sicherman. Both of them have a passion for expressing their experiences and emotions of being a 3rd-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors.

If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Abby Wener Herlin at abbyherlin@vhec.org. To register, please contact Josephine Enobong at counsellingintake@jfsvancouver.ca.

Learn more

Taking Action on the Climate Crisis

We are proud to announce that JFS has joined the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, a collective of Jewish community organizations who recognize the existential threat and moral urgency of climate change and are committed to taking action.

As a Coalition member, we will be developing a Climate Action Plan, detailing climate actions taken to-date and outlining our goals for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and mobilizing the broader Jewish community in climate action in the coming year. We will update and publicly share our Climate Action Plan annually.

The global climate crisis is an historic inflection point for our planet, our communities, and our people. As with all of our work, we are guided by Tikkun Olam. Joining the Coalition is one more way that we can move towards our vision of a world repaired.

We are proud to be a Coalition member and look forward to partnering with Jewish community organizations across North America to take meaningful, collective climate action.

Learn more about the Coalition

Come Imagine the Future With Us

After three years of hosting JFS Innovators Luncheons virtually, we are so excited to announce that we will be back in-person for the next one!

To celebrate the return, we've freshened up our look with a new logo. We hope that you'll join us in-person on May 10, 2023, for Imagine the Future, co-presented by Austeville Properties Ltd. and Shay (Shy) Keil.

Stay tuned as we release more details in January 2023!

16 Days of Activism

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (Nov 25- Dec 10) is an international campaign that runs between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and Human Rights Day. Here in Canada, it also encompasses National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Dec 6).

Gender-based violence increased during the pandemic--last year, 178 women and girls were killed in Canada, up from 118 killed in 2019. It is up to all of us to make sure that our post-pandemic plans include reducing this violence and making it easier for women to leave abusive relationships.

ASTEH (Alternative Short Term Emergency Housing) is a community-based housing facility available to Jewish women and their children who have experienced and are fleeing/leaving an abusive relationship. It provides women and their children a secure and supportive environment in which life decisions can be safely explored for up to 6 months.

ASTEH is operated in partnership by Jewish Women International-BC (JWI-BC) and JFS. During their stay, JFS case managers work with these women and provide advocacy, counselling, and other crisis interventions. ASTEH and the supports provided by JFS give these women a chance to move forward and be empowered to make decisions to better their lives.

To learn more about how JFS helps gender-based violence survivors, read Amy’s story, which we first shared with you in 2019.

Read Amy's story
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