Dear Community Members,

I would like to wish you a Shana Tova, may 5778 bring you and your families good health and happiness.

We have so much to be thankful for.  We live in a welcoming and safe place where we can raise our families and enjoy a wonderful life of culture and freedom.

CJA Update

This month we launched the 2017 CJA campaign chaired by Steve Kroft and the Campaign team of:

·  Women’s Philanthropy Co-Chairs Ellen Kroft and Paula Parks

·  Young Adult Division (25-45 years of age) Co-Chairs Jason Gisser and Lindsey Leipsic

·  Top Donor ($18,000+) Co-Chairs Steve Kroft and Murray Palay

·  Lion Of Judah ($5,000+ women donors) Chair Daniela Jacobsohn

·  Ben Gurion Society ($1,000+ YAD donors) Co-Chairs Jared and Leanne Akman and David and Sarah Carr

Click here view Steve Kroft’s video campaign message and to learn more about this year’s campaign.

Local Updates

The building is once again buzzing with the activity of Gray Academy, the Junior Kindergarten-Grade 12 Jewish community day school. Gray Academy is the largest beneficiary agency as we support their mission to educate the Jewish leaders of tomorrow. We applaud them for graduating the largest class in their history last spring (45 students) and for having the largest Junior Kindergarten full-day program since it began. We would like to congratulate 2 students from the 2017 graduating class, Dov Raphael Spivak Corne,  who received the Isabel Auld Entrance Scholarship to the University of Manitoba. The U of M awards this scholarship to the Manitoba high school student graduating with the highest average in the province. Micah Grubert Van Iderstine was the recipient of Queen’s University Chancellor’s scholarship, a four-year scholarship given to 50 students annually. Many members of the graduating class have gone on to universities across Canada (including Carleton, Ryerson & Queens) with entrance and leadership scholarships. There are also a few who are embarking on different journeys such as attending University in Israel and entering the IDF. Mazel Tov to the whole class!

Israel and Overseas

Your dollars at work
Did you know that March of the Living and Birthright Israel are subsidized by dollars raised through the annual campaign? Click here for more information on these programs.

News:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) delegation to Mexico update from JFC-UIA

"At this time the IDF Search and Rescue delegation continued its efforts to locate and extract trapped civilians and to provide engineering assistance in coordination with local authorities. One of the IDF's main goals is to assist in the effort to return civilians to buildings that were evacuated following the earthquake. As part of these efforts the IDF surveyed and evaluated a civilian hospital in the area. The delegation will continue to survey approximately 1,000 evacuated structure. 

The search and rescue efforts are being focused on two main sites, one of which is a collapsed six-story building. There are an estimated 50 civilians trapped in the rubble. At this time the soldiers and officers are advancing towards the center of the building after having cleared the top two floors. 

Please see photos and video from the delegation's activity.

Additionally, Commander of the Home Front Command, Major General Tamir Yadai departed to the disaster area in Mexico City. Upon his arrival, he will meet with the Israeli ambassador to Mexico, Mr. Jonathan Peled, and with the IDF delegation currently in Mexico. Three additional officers will be accompanying Major General Yadai."

I also received an email from Ambassador Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Ambassador to Israel with an update on the relationship between Canada and Israel.

Planning Forward as a Community

I am so pleased that we as a community have shown such dedication and passion to ongoing growth and improvement within our community. Please click here to be directed to the Planning Forward Committee’s Report. I encourage you to contact our Planning Chair Carol Duboff or Planning Director Faye Rosenberg-Cohen to play an active role on a committee as we move this process forward.

We welcome your attendance at any of the events below:

·  Women’s Philanthropy Opening Event  | Monday, October 2

·  Sukkot Family Funday | Sunday, October 8

·  Simchat Torah Celebration | Thursday, October 12

·  CJA Telethon | Monday, October 16

·  Family Challah Bake | Sunday, October 22

·  StandWithUs Canada Event | Tuesday, October 24

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