Pacific

CONTACT INFORMATION:

David Schwartz, Regional Chair

Romy Ritter, Regional Director

Phone: 604-622-4240

Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region (CJC-PR) plays an important and unique role for the Jewish community in British Columbia. Since its inception in 1949, CJC-PR has played a leadership role in addressing a variety of issues on behalf of our community including fighting the ongoing battle against antisemitism, racism, and discrimination; promoting anti-racism education; advancing the safety and security of the Jewish community; and entering into dialogue with other faith groups and ethnic communities in an effort to build a pluralistic and multicultural society. CJC-PR identifies and presents issues of concern to all levels of government, and works with intergovernmental and crown agencies, law enforcement agencies, and the NGO sector on those issues. Through the efforts and contribution of a dedicated regional Board of Directors, together with a staff of professionals, CJC-PR acts on regional issues and the implementation of national policies at a regional level.

CJC-PR has ensured that CJC continues its legacy of being at the forefront of advocating for the welfare of the Jewish community, promoting social justice, and ensuring that antisemitism, racism, and discrimination do not go unchallenged.

Combating Antisemitism and Hate Crimes

Fighting antisemitism is a core objective of Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region. CJC-PR regularly assists members of the Jewish community who experience antisemitism and works to combat all forms of hate and bias crime in order to protect not only our community but other vulnerable communities as well. CJC-PR works closely with law enforcement agencies and community groups in recognition of the importance of partnerships in combating hate and bias crime in BC.

Security

Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region assists our communal institutions address their security responsibilities and issues security alerts in response to specific or potential threats. CJC-PR facilitates the coordination of the security arrangements for Jewish institutions throughout the year between law enforcement agencies and various local Jewish organizations and synagogues. CJC-PR works closely and cooperatively with the police, the RCMP, and the BC Hate Crime Team to ensure a safe and secure environment for our community and institutions.

Inter-Ethnic/Inter-Group Relations

Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region has continued its long standing tradition of promoting social justice, human rights and multiculturalism. We have worked closely with other NGOs and multicultural organizations on a variety of initiatives ranging from the provision of affordable housing to organizing mayoral and federal candidates forums that advocate for social justice and inclusive approaches within our community and the community at large. CJCPR also provides advice to smaller and/or emerging ethno-cultural communities in the province on a wide range of matters, such as how to create an appropriate community organization that supports their needs, or information on how to deal with hate crimes when they occur in their communities.

Political Liaison

Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region establishes an ongoing and active political liaison with B.C.’s municipal representatives, MLAs and MPs to raise issues of concern to our community and ensure that the voice of the Jewish community is heard.

Social Policy

Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region provides support to Jewish Family Service Agency, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Tikvah Housing Society efforts to advocate for the provision of safe and secure affordable housing for all residents of British Columbia

Israel-Related

Canadian Jewish Congress – Pacific Region works closely with and provides assistance to CIC, Federation and Hillel on various matters pertaining to Israel. CJC-PR has been a participant in CJC’s national opposition to the strategy of boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel.

Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee Pacific Region

Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee – Pacific Region (CJCCC-PR) strives to educate both the Jewish and non-Jewish community about the manifestations of antisemitism and hate through various education programs. For more information on the work undertaken by the Pacific arm of the CJC Charities Committee, including inter-group relations and antisemitism and racism education, click here.

Fighting Anti-Semitism Together (FAST) – BC

Through CJCCC-PR, we promote and distribute Fighting Anti-Semitism Together’s flagship anti-racism program, Choose Your Voice, to elementary schools throughout BC. Choose Your Voice is an educational program aimed at providing elementary students with an understanding of antisemitism and racism and tools to help them stand up for minority rights and foster togetherness. For more information, visit http://www.fightingantisemitism.com/.

Anti-Racism Education

CJCCC- PR’s Anti-Racism Education Outreach Program, Triumph Over Adversity, provides high school students and educators throughout BC with first-hand eyewitness accounts from Holocaust, Rwandan genocide and Residential School survivors. This highly effective program has reached thousands of students, educators, teachers, and community members and provides a powerful basis for education concerning questions of morality, social justice and human behaviour. It assists students develop an understanding of the consequences of prejudice and racism and conveys a message of acceptance for others and against silence and indifference.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration

CJCCC-PR, in conjunction with the Provincial Government, the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and the Victoria Holocaust and Remembrance Society, organizes the annual commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, in the BC Legislature in Victoria.

Inter-Faith Dialogue

CJCCC-PR is the primary liaison with other ethno-cultural and religious communities. Promoting open dialogue with other faith groups is an important piece of our Region’s work. In 2002, CJCCC-PR reached out to Clergy and leadership of various Christian denominations in the hope of establishing new relations, and strengthening existing ones. These meetings evolved into a fully committed Jewish-Christian Dialogue Committee, comprised of Lower Mainland pastors, rabbis, and teachers who have been meeting monthly for the past six years. We plan to grow the Dialogue Group to other faith communities, particularly the Muslim community.

REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS

Here is a selected list of Reports and Documents from Pacific Region:

How to Confront Antisemitism

Response to Hate Crimes

Human Rights and Discriminatory Publications

Promoting Equality in the Information Age

Fundamentally Canadian – Questions on Multiculturalism and Diversity

Guide to Jewish Customs and Practices for the Employer and Educator

NEWSLETTERS

Tzedeck Spring 2009