Jewish High Holidays brings excitement to the JCC for what’s to come

As Jews around the world celebrate the High Holidays, the JCC welcomes everyone into their open, inclusive, and very special space. 

The JCC is one of the most diverse community centres in the region, but the rhythm it follows is distinctly Jewish. It plays a valuable role in showcasing the Jewish community as part of the cultural mosaic of Metro Vancouver, which is something we can all celebrate. With the decline in synagogue attendance across Canada, the JCC can be many families’ primary connection to traditional holidays and the customs associated with them.  

Throughout the holidays, symbols and customs of the JCC are woven into the programming and physical spaces. During Rosh Hashanah, you’ll see a basket of fresh apples at the membership desk, displayed alongside a poster that highlights the holiday traditions. You may even pass by people setting up the auditorium to welcome congregants for Yom Kippur services.  

Starting at the end of September, everyone can share meals in the community sukkah, a large, colourful outdoor tent that is traditional for the week-long festival of Sukkot. And every Friday, all year long, visitors will see challah, candles and a kiddush cup displayed, a reminder that Shabbat starts that evening. 

Downstairs, the preschool takes a unique approach; its distinctly Jewish program honours the diverse cultures and backgrounds of its families and staff. Children are just as likely to sing their favourite songs in English and Hebrew as they would in Japanese, Spanish, French and Cantonese, the languages spoken by the preschool’s students and teachers.  

"Our family has always been a JCC family,” says Mike Averbach. “We are active volunteers with many of the organizations here, we work out here, and our kids have gone to day camp here. There’s hardly a day that goes by when we aren’t in this building for one thing or another, and we want to see it fulfill its true potential—both as a centre of Jewish community life and as a beacon of diversity for the broader community. That is why we are proud to support JWest and the new JCC that is at the heart of this project.” 

With over 300,000 visits each year and having stood on the corner of 41st and Willow since 1961, the JCC will find new life as a key component of JWest. This new purpose-built community hub will expand upon the centre’s current offerings and incorporate many more. Program spaces, such as the Senior’s Centre, will have more room for the oversubscribed Shabbat lunches, holiday crafts and Jewish educational programming. The ECE, already at maximum enrollment, will be able to serve more families grounding our young people with a sense of cultural belonging.   

The new space will be a cultural bridge, a space open to everyone, regardless of background. Honouring the legacy of the current JCC, JWest will result in a distinctly Jewish hub that welcomes everyone.