07/17/2026
Over the past two weeks, I spent countless hours on the road, traveling throughout the Okanagan and surrounding communities.
The journey took me through Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Oliver, Vernon, Armstrong, Blind Bay, Kamloops, Greenwood, Grand Forks, Nelson, and many places in between.
Some days I travelled alone, other days my family joined me.
Together we drove hundreds of kilometres, not for sightseeing, but for people.
Along the way, we met Jews of every age and background. We helped people put on tefillin, affixed mezuzahs to new homes, delivered Torah books and Jewish resources, brought Shabbat and holiday supplies, lit Shabbat candles, and shared words of Torah and encouragement.
A lot of the visits were joyful; others were very personal. We sat with people grieving loved ones, listened to those facing illness, loneliness, family struggles, and offered spiritual guidance, practical help, and wherever possible, the reassurance that no one has to face life's challenges alone.
Sometimes the greatest mitzvah was knocking on a door and reminding someone that they have not been forgotten.
Looking back over these two weeks, I'm struck by how beautifully they reflect what Chabad Okanagan has been doing every day for the past 15 years.
Our mission has always been simple: if there's a Jew anywhere, we will do everything we can to reach them with warmth, friendship, Torah, and practical support.
Whether someone lives in Kelowna or in a small town hours away, every Jewish soul matters equally.
That commitment began the moment we arrived in the Okanagan in 2011. One of our first initiatives was our annual Eight Nights, Eight Sites Chanukah campaign. Each night of Chanukah, we travel to a different community across the valley, bringing the menorah, music, warmth, and joy of the festival directly to where people live.
Throughout the year, before every major Jewish holiday, we also travel across the region delivering holiday packages with the essentials people need to celebrate.
These visits are about more than just supplies, they're about connection, encouragement, and reminding people they're a valued part of our Jewish family.
Over the years, we've been privileged to celebrate Shabbat and Yom Tov with communities throughout the region.
We've organized programs and gatherings, visited people in homes, hospitals, care facilities, and built lasting relationships with more than a thousand Jewish individuals and families, and growing, thank G-d.
This work doesn't happen from behind a desk. It happens on highways, in living rooms, in hospitals, at kitchen tables, and wherever a fellow Jew may be.
The past two weeks were not an exception. They were simply a window into what Chabad Okanagan has been doing, day after day, holiday after holiday, for 15 years.
Our sages teach us that all Jews are responsible for one another.
That responsibility doesn't end at the city limits. It reaches every community, every family, and every individual.
If this vision speaks to you, we invite you to become a partner in it. Your support enables us to continue traveling these roads, reaching more people, responding to more needs, and ensuring that every Jew throughout the Okanagan knows there is a place that cares.
Together, with Hashem's help, we can continue bringing hope, connection, and vibrant Jewish life to every inch of the Okanagan Valley.
Rabbi Shmuly Hecht
Shabbat Shalom
Candle Lighting time in Kelowna today is at 8:41pm (earliest is at 7:25pm).
