Young Girl Inspired by Visit to Northern Israel’s Beit Vancouver
Within our Jewish Federation’s partnership region of the Upper Galilee Panhandle, the city of Kiryat Shemona has an extremely active and successful hub for youth activity — Beit Vancouver Youth Centre. Many of our community members have visited Beit Vancouver on recent missions to Israel and describe feeling deeply moved by the positive impact this centre has had—and continues to have—on at-risk youth in Northern Israel. Often, they return home committed to supporting Beit Vancouver philanthropically, as is the case with Emma Silber. What’s remarkable about Emma is that she is only 11 years old.
Experiencing Beit Vancouver Firsthand
Emma travelled to Israel for the first time with her extended family last year. Our Jewish Federation arranged for a tour of the centre, which also highlights the opportunities and challenges of the region. Emma was so impacted and inspired by her experience that she donated half of the money she received from her recent birthday to support Beit Vancouver’s work with youth.
Emma’s vividly remembers her time at Beit Vancouver and the young people she met there. “When we first walked in, there was a huge group of kids cheering and yelling our names. There was singing and dancing, and a costume party because it was around Purim. It was really fun.” Emma found many ways to connect with the friends she met. “There was a huge computer room with people working on Hebrew. It was really cool because we have been learning Hebrew in school. They were learning advanced Hebrew—it was very different! But they were also learning English, so being able to communicate with them was really cool because we got their perspective on what it’s like to live there.”
Already committed to sharing her birthday money this year, that special connection gave Emma the certainty of where her gift should go. “This was my first year giving birthday money. I thought it was a good idea because instead of having a present just for me, it’s like a present for someone else too. But I never knew where I wanted to donate. Once we went to Israel and saw everything at the centre, it was automatically the choice. I can say I’ve been there, not just that I’ve heard about it, and I wanted to do something so more people would get involved.”
Beit Vancouver’s Impact
Opened just after the Second Lebanon War in 2006 in a geographically, economically and politically isolated area of Israel, Beit Vancouver engages hundreds of at-risk youth on a weekly basis in a wide range of social, educational, cultural, and leadership activities. The centre has emerged as a crown jewel in the region, keeping young people off the streets and engaging them in a well-rounded spectrum of opportunities that help them reach their potential.
Jewish Vancouver’s Impact
Beit Vancouver continues to make a positive impact on the Kiryat Shemona community—particularly the youth—thanks in large part to the Jewish Federation donors who helped build it and continue to support it both through our Annual Campaign and through special gifts. Last October, a “Friends of Beit Vancouver” recognition wall was unveiled at the youth centre, honouring those who have given so much to build and maintain this important community asset.
Like Emma, many of our community members consider their visit to Beit Vancouver to be a highlight of their trip to Israel. Click here to learn more about our work in Israel, or contact us to arrange a tour of Beit Vancouver on your next Israel trip.
