Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island

03/19/2024

The Canadian Jewish community deplores the passage of a non-binding
motion related to the current conflict in Gaza.

The removal of the unilateral recognition of Palestine is an important result of the substantial mobilization of the pro-Israel community. However, we are deeply disappointed that the
government has chosen to effectively sub-contract Canadian foreign policy to anti-Israel radicals within the NDP and the

This will result in Canada being perceived as an unreliable partner on the world stage – one that bends to the whims of political fringes.

We commend the principled stance shown by the entire
caucus that voted against the motion, along with Liberal MPs
,
,
, and independent MP

02/08/2024

https://forward.com/fast-forward/580923/israel-white-colonizers-jews-diversity/?utm_source=The+Forward+Association&utm_campaign=a43ad4806b-AfternoonEditionNL_%2A%7CDATE%3AYmd%7C%2A_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-878b15fee9-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

02/08/2024

https://conta.cc/49kjxm4

CALL TO ACTION   We applaud all the local Police Departments and the RCMP for their continued work to keep our community safe. While Law Enforcement has no information of any imminent threats to the J

02/08/2024

https://www.cija.ca/express_disappointment_in_selina_robinsons_dismissal_from_cabinet

There are several cases where BC NDP members and staff have made profoundly hurtful comments, including on International Holocaust Remembrance Day – when we honour the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust– and a staff member on Premier Eby’s team tweeted “we stand with the Muslim c...

01/29/2024

https://conta.cc/494e4ja

  JFVVI President’s Message Are you one of our community members who wonders what Federation has been doing these past weeks and months? How have we been responding to antisemitism in our communities?

01/24/2024

https://conta.cc/4b9D8a3

Mid Island Activity is Increasing   We applaud Victoria/Esquimalt and Saanich Police Departments and the RCMP for their continued work to keep our community safe. While Law Enforcement has no informat

01/22/2024

https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/statement-from-the-belfry-theatre-plenty-collective-and-the-victoria-foundation/

The Belfry Theatre, Plenty Collective, and the Victoria Foundation have mutually agreed to return the unspent portion of the grant provided in the 2023 Community...

01/12/2024

It’s time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and the rest of the Canadian government to denounce South Africa’s ridiculous claims at the International Court of Justice.

Anti-Israel activists have sunk to a new low by accusing Israel of the very thing from which the Jewish state is defending itself.

What the terrorist entity Hamas did on October 7 to innocent Israelis was in support of their founding charter that calls for the destruction of the Jewish state and annihilation of the Jewish people. Hamas leaders have since boasted that they aim to perpetrate the atrocities of October 7 "again and again."

That anyone would accuse Israel of committing genocide is nothing short of blood libel – and Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Joly need to stand up and say something about it.
They need to know it is the expectation of Canada's Jewish community that they denounce South Africa's ridiculous claims at the International Court of Justice.

Help us urge them to speak out against this, following the lead of the United States in rejecting this action, and denounce South Africa's shameful, false charge.

Please join us in sending them both a letter by clicking here. https://www.cija.ca/south_africas_icj_application_is_shameful?utm_campaign=24_01_11_icj_action_alert_2024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cija

01/04/2024

The Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island is disappointed by the decision of the Belfry Theatre to cancel its production of the acclaimed play, The Runner.
It is regrettable that the Belfry Theatre felt the need to cancel an artistic production, for the first time in its 46 years of existence, because it featured an Israeli Jewish man.
It is regrettable and disheartening that when the Belfry Theatre attempted to have an open dialogue, it was vandalized and threatened by a “pro-Palestinian” mob -- which ultimately led to a very quick decision without any meaningful consultation. The Belfry’s stated reasons for this decision were: “we believe that presenting The Runner at this particular time does not ensure the well-being of all segments of our community…this is not the time for a play which may further tensions among our community.” This decision does not reflect the wishes of the community as expressed in competing petitions: 1200 against showing the play vs 2100 wanting the play to proceed.
We fear this will lead to other cultural events being cancelled as other venues may also give in to mob mentality and bullying. This is not what we expect from our cultural institutions, nor our community. It is not too late for the Belfry Theatre to reconsider their ac􀆟ons, as we hope they will.
This does not bode well for ar􀆟s􀆟c and cultural expression in Victoria and Vancouver Island. It matters to stand up for what is right.