East Coast Debut! 🌊
On Friday September 6, the Jerusalem Foundation of Canada launched our inaugural Atlantic Canada event, and it was fantastic!
The night before the Halifax presentation, the Jerusalem Foundation of Canada female delegation (from left to right: Donor Relations Coordinator Tania Haas, Board Member Joanna Mirsky Wexler, JLM Food Rescuers Daniella Seltzer and Executive Director Nomi Yeshua) took a stroll along the waterfront and got acquainted after long travel journeys. The next day, Board President and Chair Joel Reitman joined in the Maritime milestone.
On Shabbat, we were welcomed by almost 100 congregants to the Shaar Shalom Congregation, where community members helped to set up the room, including decorating the tables with flowers picked from the synagogue’s garden.
After the Shabbat service, we enjoyed a locally catered dinner (yes, of course, fish was served!) followed by a thought-provoking discussion on food security and Jerusalem’s diverse neighborhoods, led by Daniella and Nomi.
From left to right: Shaar Shalom Rabbi Gary Karlin, JLM Food Rescuers Co-Founder Daniella Seltzer, Board Member Joanna Mirsky Wexler, Board President Joel Reitman, Executive Director Nomi Yeshua and Donor Relations Coordinator Tania Haas pictured before Shabbat.
Food, Community, and Learning in Toronto! 🥯☕
From Halifax we flew to Toronto to attend a delightful brunch at Board Member Judi Shostack’s home on Sunday September 8. Toronto invitees enjoyed delicious food and Judi’s travel photography gallery, before sitting down and diving into the discussion.
Nomi and Daniella shared fascinating insights, statistics and case studies, which led the guests to ask hard questions about food security and equity in Jerusalem, and discuss the challenges and opportunities regarding sustainability, waste and intercultural relations in the city.
Lessons from Toronto and Canada were also considered, and many new people were exposed to the important programs, support and education offered by programs supported by the Jerusalem Foundation.
From left to right: Liora Golden, Board Member Connie Putterman, Daniella Seltzer, Board Member and hostess Judi Shostack, Nomi Yeshua and Alana Spira on Sunday September 8 in Toronto.
Discussing food security and equity in Jerusalem’s diverse neighbourhoods🐝
On Monday September 9, Beth Tzedec Congregation and Rabbi Steve Wernick hosted an enlightening event, giving Daniella the opportunity to share JLM Food Rescuers’ origin story and the current state of food security in Jerusalem’s diverse neighbourhoods.
Over 60 registrants signed up for the event in Toronto, many who were introduced for the first time to Jerusalem Foundation and its wide reach, with its 500+ projects, and its influence on the city’s civil society.
Rabbi Wernick made introductory remarks and moderated the discussion after Daniella and Nomi’s presentation. Those in attendance had the chance to ask questions and speak directly with Nomi and Daniella afterwards.
Nomi spoke to the Jerusalem Foundation’s immediate response to support the city’s most vulnerable populations immediately following the October 7 attacks, and the ongoing efforts to maintain the communal strength and shared society in the subsequent months.
In addition to learning more about JLM Food Rescuers’ projects in catering, reducing food waste and pop-up markets, attendees asked about efforts to unite varying communities in Jerusalem, and opportunities for Canadians to volunteer when in the city.
The evening also included a sweet touch and pleasing fragrance from the locally harvested honey and beeswax products for sale from the Shoresh Shuk, an organization that bridges Jewish learning with hands-on, nature-based activities and our community partner for the evening.
A big thank you to everyone involved for making these events impactful and inspiring (shout out to Board Members Joanna Mirsky Wexler, Judi Shostack and David Golden!).
Here’s to more Jerusalem Foundation of Canada events coast to coast, celebrating our mission of communal strength, creative culture, and future leadership in Jerusalem. 💪
