KESHER NEWSLETTER: September 1st, 2025
Kesher Coordinator
September 1st, 2025
Hello everyone!
Remember to scroll down to see all of our news! We’ve got good stuff to see in here. It’s a long one this week filled with lots to see!
Sorry that the newsletter didn’t go out last week! I came back from my trip to Montreal and got a nasty cold! Thanks for bearing with me! I'll be reopening my one-on-ones shortly!
I am looking for someone to host another social gathering this month! This could be later in the month. If I don’t hear from anyone, I may start reaching out to folks and pestering you all. Help me avoid pestering folks for offering to host at your home or in a nearby park. As a social gathering, I’m thinking of a session for us to make posters/banners for rallies or our vigils. Speaking of…
Shoshana Litman shared with me a photo to share in the newsletter. It's from an Arms Embargo vigil at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton August 24th, shared on Facebook by Sylvia Krogh of the Victoria & Edmonton Raging Grannies. Thanks Shoshana!
If you have anything you’d like to include in the newsletter, please email me, Annie at coordinat...@gmail.com. Many of our talented and passionate members (you!) deserve to have your work circulated and celebrated here.
Week At a Glance
Saturday, September 6th, will be the first service led by the new Congregation Emanu-El Rabbi, Rabbi Eli Herb. We encourage everyone, even if you’re not a member of CEE to attend and meet him. This last shabbos his drash was wonderful, and I think he is certainly someone to introduce yourself to at Kiddush.
Join us EVERY Wednesday from 4-5pm on the City Hall lawn on Douglas St. for our Vigil: Jews for a Ceasefire in Gaza.
Grandmothers Against Genocide Solidarity Witness on September 5th at the South East corner of Blanshard and Saanich Road (3490-3496 Blanshard Street.) SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFO!
EVERY Saturday at 2pm, join the ongoing rally at the BC Legislature for Palestine (not hosted by Kesher.) Although the messaging may not always align with every Kesher member's goals, some of us feel it is important to maintain a presence as Jews advocating for a ceasefire.
Future Events
We are working on an event called “Embracing the Complexity: 2 Years after October 7th.” This event is a follow up to the wildly successful antisemitism workshop hosted 2 years ago, and we wanted to put it on your radar! Registration info incoming shortly!
What - Embracing the Complexity is a unique Zoom gathering for Jews who want to explore, in the context of community, how they are feeling two years since the Oct 7th massacre.
When
Tentatively our dates are these, but we will be confirming these when the registration links go out.
Sun Oct 5th, 11am PT (2pm ET)
Tues Oct 7th, 11am PT (2pm ET)
Wed Oct 10th, 7pm PT (10pm ET)
Where - Zoom
Donation - There is no cost to attend. That said, at the end of the event, a donation request will follow with an invitation to support Kesher: Jews For A Shared Future.
Current Initiatives
We are working on an internal member impact audit of everything INNW members have accomplished! It allows us to take history of what we have done as a collective to inform future goals/benchmarks for Kesher.
Folks could provide us information and as much detail as they're willing for events & gatherings, campaigns & advocacy initiatives, educational programs and partnerships & coalition work. If you have questions, please let us know!
Community News and Highlights
As a collaborative effort of the Hindu Parishad and Cultural Centre and the Victoria Multifaith Society, artists of different faiths with share in person again this year in an arts-based multi-faith devotional at the Hindu Temple featuring diverse styles of singing, chanting, movement and instrumentals, followed by a Southeast Asian vegetarian meal.
The event will take place 4:00 pm, Sunday, 21 September 2025 at 1934 Cultra Avenue, Saanichton.
Grandmothers Against Genocide Solidarity Witness: Join them on Fridays from 12:15-1:15 on August 8th & 22nd, and September 5th and 19th on the South East corner of Blanshard and Saanich Road (3490-3496 Blanshard Street.)
Arms Embargo Now-Victoria
If it is of interest, this local group is currently focused on pressuring Victoria MP, Will Greaves, to support a full two-way arms embargo between Canada and Israel and sign the MP sign-on letter at ArmsEmbargoNow.ca. Postcard campaigns, rallies and public outreach actions across the city are being organized.
Sign up to get occasional updates and action invites: bit.ly/arms-embargo-vic
Emergency Support for Samah and her children
Recycle at: 4261 Glanford; 3961 Quadra Street; 655 Queens Ave; 2032 Idlemore Rd (Sooke)
For pick-up text: 250-885-0409; mention Samah
Organized independently by Victoria community member Laura Cross (and friends)
Right now in northern Gaza, families are enduring unimaginable hardship. Our dear friend Samah and her two young daughters, Elen, 6 years, and Salma, 3 yrs, are among those struggling to survive under siege-facing starvation, displacement and the daily threat of violence.
We are collecting bottles and cans to raise emergency funds to help Samah and her children access food, clean water and safe shelter.
Every bottle and can counts. Every small act saves lives. Your support means more now than ever.
Thank-you for standing with us and Gaza.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Annie Konstantinov