Vancouver federation launches annual campaign

VANCOUVER — The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV) launched its annual campaign last week with a target of $7.35 million, up $15,000 from last year’s campaign.

“We have more people in need in our Jewish community than we’ve had in past years,” said Judi Korbin, chair of the annual federation campaign. “There are people who’ve lost their jobs, lost the ability to put their children through schooling and can no longer look after their parents the way they want to, and we’re seeing those numbers increase in the various agencies we support.”

At the campaign launch at Vancouver’s Congregation Schara Tzedeck, Korbin spoke of the importance of Jews sensitizing themselves to the different levels of need in the community.

The guest speaker was Rabbi Bradley Artson, an author and dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University. “I like people to walk away with the message that in times of financial struggle, the core values of Jewish tradition and of community are more important rather than less,” he said.

“For people whose identity is their income, many have watched their assets disappear, and it’s harder to place your faith in financial wealth and the kinds of perks that come with it. At times like this, what remains is caring for others, linking to something larger than your own story.”

Rabbi Artson referred to a culture of “genteel charity in which the perfect deign to give to the poor.

“There’s no perfect and no unworthy, just us,” he said. “This campaign is your moment to stand up and say, ‘I will not live in a hate-filled world.’ Federation is the front lines of the battle to teach us to stand together.”

The JFGV supports 27 agencies locally and abroad, among them Jewish Family Services, local Jewish day schools, agencies that help people with developmental and physical challenges and Jewish summer camps.

In an interview, Korbin emphasized that the JFGV has reduced its overhead by 15 per cent, and asked the 27 agencies with whom it collaborates to reduce their costs too. “This way, of the money we raise, more of it will actually help individuals in need,” she says.

“We want to ensure there’s a critical social safety net for our community members, that education is still accessible and that we can help Jews stay connected to our community. That’s the goal of our campaign.”