Canadian Jewish Communities stay true to their Northern Israel partnership, while supporting Taglit-BRI’s Respite program
Staff Writer
It has been over a year since Israel was forced into a war against Hamas and Hezbollah, following the massacre of October 7. The trauma and hardship that has ensued is still not completely understood but the pain is raw and Israelis have been forced into predicaments not ever experienced before. One of the many effects is significant displacement of communities in Israel’s periphery. Communities in both the South and the North were essentially evacuated in a matter of hours as targeted bombings by Hamas and Hezbollah began and continue today.
Within weeks of this, Taglit-Birthright Israel (BRI) began a respite program for communities that were not within the evacuation area but were still just kilometers away from the danger zone. The idea was to offer four to seven days of a retreat for those who did not qualify for government support. The program was so appreciated and necessary that it was offered several more times up until August 2024.
The Jewish Federation of Vancouver, and then later, the remaining Coast-to-Coast communities from Canada that are part of a collective paired with the Galilee Panhandle (namely; the Atlantic Jewish Council, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Windsor, and Winnipeg) designated funds from their Emergency campaigns (in the wake of October 7th) to support Taglit-BRI’s respite program.
“Birthright Israel has a long-standing relationship with Jewish federations from across Canada. They have been contributing collective funds to the Birthright Israel program for over two decades,” explained Chaia Berkowitz, BRIFC President and CEO. “When the Jewish Federation of Vancouver and, later, the remaining Coast-to-Coast communities, elected to support Taglit Birthright Israel’s respite program, it reinforced that strong connection,” she added.
Not only is the effort a testament to the strong ties between Canada’s Jewish community and Israel, it also provided much needed relief for many who would have otherwise not been able to arrange a respite for themselves.
Noam Guvil, a resident of the northern kibbutz Lehavot HaBashan and a kindergarten teacher in Kiriyat Shmona, expressed immense gratitude for the temporary reprieve. The trauma of the constant barrage of rocket attacks was so severe that Guvril’s husband suffered a heart attack. He is recovering.
“After experiencing the war with such intensity and proximity, with weekly sirens and gunshots being fired daily, thanks to [the communities] donations, we were able to sleep out of our homes and out of the environment we grew accustomed to, and for a few days, heard sounds other than rockets, sirens, and explosions,” Guvril shared. “You allowed us a moment of sanity, a moment of tranquility, to remember what is serenity.”
