Annual General Meeting 2025

OR SHALOM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2025

November 9, 2025

Agenda

  • Call to Order
  • Review of Agenda
  • Acceptance of Previous AGM Minutes Or Shalom 2024 AGM Minutes
  • Kavanah/Report from the Rabbi – Rabbi Arik Labowitz
  • Report from the Chair – Dalia Margalit-Faircloth
  • Financial Report – Russil Wvong
  • Report from Campaign Team – 
  • Update on 2025-2026 Board – Dalia Margalit-Faircloth
  • Status of board membership: Only one retiring Board member this year (Marty Puterman). In the last two years we have had significant transitions within the Board, and are therefore recommending stability rather than renewal. Discussions are ongoing with several members who will consider standing for election next year.
  • Motion to change number of members of the Board of Directors from 10 to 9.
  • Board members entering their second year of a two-year term:
  • Elena Banfield
  • Abby Fitch
  • Carol Ann Fried  
  • Dalia Margalit-Faircloth
  • Mira Oreck
  • Sally Thorne
  • Russil Wvong
  • Board members seeking a second term: 
  • Avril Orloff 
  • Jodie Eaton
  • Committee Reports
  • Membership (Carol Ann Fried)
  • Cemetery (Marty Puterman)
  • Family, Youth & Child (Jodie Eaton)
  • Gemilut Chesed (Pat Gill)
  • OSSRI (David Berson)
  • Tikkun Olam (Mary Adlersberg)
  • More Or/Renovation & Expansion Task Force (John Fuerst)
  • Shomrim/Security (Abby Fitch)
  • Garden (Helen Aqua)
  • Q&A (if time permits)
  • Adjournment

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • MEMBERSHIP

Committee: Kathy Brandon (Chair), Carol Ann Fried (Board Liaison), Josef Zaide, Devin Kettle (New Member Caller), Deborah Ross-Grayman, Henry Ross-Graymen, Jane Wyllychuk, Pedro de Santos (Secretary)

The mandate of the Membership Committee is to facilitate new memberships, which are then ratified by the Board and to create community engagement opportunities for all Or Shalom members. The committee meets virtually every 3 months. R’Arik and Katy (Program Coordinator) have joined us for 2 special meetings recently.

Membership: 

New Members: The membership committee’s “Caller” for 2025 has been Devin Kettle. As Caller, Devin connects with each new member applicant (single or family group) and develops a bio that is then sent to the Board for ratification. After ratification, Devin again connects with the new member(s) to welcome them and to provide detailed information about Or Shalom offerings and ways of connecting to our community. The new Welcome Package (when implemented) will be incorporated into this process.

Stats for new memberships kept by the Office do not show dates for just the calendar year 2025. So, from July 2024-July 2025 and July 2025 to present, we have facilitated 33 new members (single or family groups).

Cancelled Members: Unfortunately, in 2025, 13 members (single or family groups) have canceled or did not renew their memberships. Many of these people have been offered Exit Interviews, but few have accepted. More on Exit Interviews under “Membership Engagement”.

Membership Engagement:

Annual Picnic: The annual Community Picnic to Welcome New Members initiated by the membership committee continues to be very successful as a Kabbalat Shabbot celebration in Jericho Park. Katy now leads the organization of the picnic, with Kathy’s assistance as requested. The approximately 60 who attended this past June sang, danced, celebrated new members, and ate picnic dinners and yummy cake. 

Our committee thanks R’Arik, the Or Shalom musicians, Katy, and my thanks to all on the membership committee for their time and efforts to make this picnic a success. 

Annual Sukkot Service: New members since the June picnic are introduced to the community and celebrated during the annual Sukkot service at Or Shalom. 

Kabbalat Shabbat Community Dinners: Initiated by the membership committee and now advertised and organized by Katy (registration for dinner) has been well received by the Or Shalom community. Rather than asking people to contribute food to the community dinner, the small registration fee pays for the dinner enjoyed by many each month.

Exit Interviews: Initiated by the membership committee and working with Efrat (Executive Director), identified committee members offer an exit interview to those who have chosen to cancel or not renew their Or Shalom memberships. During the past year 6 interviews have been conducted, although several more have been invited. This writer will initiate a review of the exit interview process and intention to ensure the information obtained is of value to Or Shalom leadership, as well as call for a Lead member of the committee to continue this work, if deemed necessary. Several on the committee worked to create a data collection tool for the information obtained during exit interviews. Data continues to be uploaded to this spreadsheet. This data is available to Or Shalom leadership.

Looking Forward:

Both larger scale and more individual ideas were brought to the committee by R’Arik and Katy, including:

The New Welcome Package: Initiated and written by Efrat (Executive Director), R’Arik, and the Board, the new welcome package has been presented to the membership committee for information and feedback. The welcome package is currently being revised and will become available to new members soon. It has also been suggested that the Welcome Package be sent to every current Or Shalom member. The welcome package will naturally change the membership committee “Caller’s” protocol and procedures and be integrated into the membership welcoming process.

Buddies: Having a “buddy system” for matching new members with current Or Shalom members has long been discussed by the membership committee but has not come to fruition. With the development of the new welcome package, a buddy system has again been and will continue to be discussed and developed and could include being a spiritual buddy as well. 

Mishkan Circles: Envisioned by R’Arik and Katy, this was discussed with the membership committee, and introduced by R’Arik as well as with a beautiful poster at the JCC during High Holidays. Mishkan Circles include groups of members who already offer or who are interested in joining others offering: gabbai services, music, food, greeters, security, etc for the Or Shalom community. The intention is to offer fellowship within these circles and is not intended to create more “committees”. Work to fully develop this initiative will continue.

New Member Engagement:  which includes R’Arik developing and facilitating new members gatherings a couple times a year for orientation and a ritual using words from the Torah. On a smaller scale, having “moments of interaction/integration” during services was also discussed. 

Elders: Also touched on was revisiting stories from elders, either with in-person gatherings or using video clips.

Currently on Pause is the Getting to Know You initiative: This was paused due to security concerns. However, this important initiative will be re-energized once there is a “members only” section of the Or Shalom website. We have been informed that this can be created following the implementation of Shulcloud.

Kathy Brandon
Membership Committee Chair

  • CEMETERY

The Or Shalom Cemetery is part of the Mountain View Cemetery (MVC), owned and managed by the City of Vancouver. It is located at the southwest corner of 33rd Ave. and Fraser St. The cemetery was approved by the City after a series of consultations and was dedicated by Rabbi Hannah Dresner in October 2017. It contains 64 plots divided into a Jewish section and an interfaith section with a contiguous section containing 12 plots for those who have been cremated. 

The Or Shalom Cemetery Committee (OSCC):

  1. Implements and maintains cemetery policies;
  2. Resolves conflicts arising from their interpretation and implementation;
  3. Determines eligibility and authorizes MVC to sell interment rights;
  4. Has final authority to resolve disputes, in consultation with the Or Shalom Board of Directors.
  5. Manages the Or Shalom Auxiliary Chevra Kadisha (OSACK) through a subcommittee.

 OSCC has had an active and productive year in 2025. A summary of activities follows:  

  • Established the Or Shalom Auxiliary Chevra Kadisha:   
  • The OSCC and Or Shalom Board of Directors approved a proposal submitted by Yoni Gordis and Reena Lazar establishing the creation of OSACK.  OSACK will serve Or Shalom members excluded by the community Chevra Kadisha that is operated by the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery Board. This exclusion includes Jews by patrilineal descent, individuals who intend to be cremated, and some members of the transgender community.  
  • OSACK has entered into a contractual agreement with Koru, a local funeral home, on Kent Avenue and Fraser Street. Koru will provide funeral director services including transportation, storage and documentation, and a location at which tahara and shmira will take place. 
  • The Schara Tzedeck Cemetery Board will provide all necessary supplies including caskets.
  • OSACK members have been recruited and trained.
  • Updated Cemetery Policies: Revised policies, posted on the Or Shalom website, include the following key changes:
  • Due to limited space in the Or Shalom Cemetery, the revised policies confirmed that all plots must be SHARED—no individual may purchase a plot solely for their own use. 
  • Indicated that a purchaser must acknowledge in writing agreement with Or Shalom Cemetery policies.
  • Introduced a non-member fee for administrative and rabbinical services if Or Shalom membership has lapsed between the purchase of a plot and the death of the purchaser.  
  • Delineated the roles of OSACK and the community Chevra Kadisha.
  • Stipulated that JB Newell will supply all markers in a standard form.
  • Updated Cemetery FAQs: The FAQs on the Or Shalom website were updated to reflect revised policies.  A summary of current costs, set by the City and the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery Board, was included.
  • Formalized Processes: Efforts have progressed towards formalizing processes for interacting with families following death and prior to an unveiling. The objective is to ease the burden on bereaved families during sensitive times.
  • Landscaping Enhancements: Mt. View Cemetery staff have planted several shrubs on the east side of the Or Shalom Cemetery to improve sound-proofing and aesthetics.
  • Cemetery activities: There have been one burial and one unveiling since the last Or Shalom AGM.
  • Plot Sales Overview: To date, in the Jewish area, 13 full plots and 3 half plots have been sold. In the interfaith area, 6 full plots and 2 half plots have been sold, while in the (separate) cremation area, 2 plots have been sold.
  • Changes in Committee Membership: Marianne Rev stepped down from our committee this year. We are deeply grateful for her many contributions and steadfast dedication to the committee. Her time, energy, and commitment have made a lasting difference, and she will be greatly missed.  Rabbi Arik joined the committee in his capacity as full time Or Shalom rabbi.

Committee members: Catherine Berris, Rabbi Hannah Dresner, Pat Gill, Dodie Katzenstein, Rabbi Arik Labowitz, Reena Lazar, Marty Puterman (chair), Laura Rosenthal, Susan Shamash, Sam Znaimer.

  • FAMILY YOUTH AND CHILDREN

The FYC is working to restructure to better meet the needs of Or Shalom families. They are looking to recruit new members in the coming year. 

  • GEMILUT CHESED

Goal:  To nurture a caring community that looks after each other by providing direct temporary support to Or Shalom members for their physical, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being.

The Gemilut Chesed Working Group is a hands-on group of five committee members and numerous volunteers who help Or Shalom members in these areas:

  • Preparing and delivering meals
  • Visiting in homes, hospitals, care homes
  • Keeping in touch via email and phone calls
  • Driving to appointments and shul activities
  • Running errands/shopping
  • Caring for a pet
  • Supporting the bereaved and their families

We are always proud of the response we get when a request is made for “mitzvah doers” – whether they are called on to provide a ride to a medical appointment or to make a meal for a grieving family.  

This year our generous volunteers supported a record number of Or Shalom members.

  • Twenty-three members recovering from illness or having mobility problems received meals, rides, check-in calls and visits, get well cards, and help with errands. 
  • Ten of our members experienced the deaths of loved ones and received meals of consolation, condolence cards, memorial candles, and help with shiva and shloshim gatherings.  Nechama, an outreach program beyond shiva, provided listeners-for-a-year to grieving members.
  • Three families with new babies got “welcome to the world” cards and help with meals.
  • Numerous acknowledgement cards were sent to folks whose loved ones were   memorialized with a donation to Or Shalom.

A new survey to update our volunteer lists and recruit new volunteers was sent out to all Or Shalom members.  We now have nearly 100 Or Shalom members willing to give their time to help others with acts of chesed.  As the psalmist says, “The world was built with chesed.” So, too, is a community – our community – built with chesed.

Our focus for the coming year is to integrate our survey into the new member application process so that our volunteer lists can be updated with each new Or Shalom member.

We happily welcomed a new committee member, Elysia Tessler, who has quickly become a caring and committed volunteer co-ordinator, essential to our work.  And we are always so appreciative of our close collaboration with Rabbi Arik.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Daskal, Pat Gill, Harriett Lemer, Katy Ormiston, Elysia Tessler
gemilut.chesed@orshalom.ca

  • OR SHALOM SPECIAL RESETTLEMENT INITIATIVE (OSSRI)  

OSSRI completed its year of active support for our last sponsored family who had fled the Syrian conflict in June 2024. Our committee has worked over the past year on determining how we would prioritize the choice of new families and individuals we would like to sponsor. Over the course of last year we  continued our work with the Canadian Lutheran World Relief and are looking forward to receiving an individual and a couple in the coming months. They are all from Sudan – one from the Nuba Mountains and two from Darfur. The two men are currently located in Israel, while the wife of one of the men is currently displaced in Ethiopia. 

We are currently occupied with discussing our next undertaking and how we would like to work with our Or Shalom community to sponsor a new family. In that regard, we held a Shabbat Tisch in October to share and hear from Or Shalom members and interested community members about such a new venture. The response was very positive and we were overwhelmed by the response we received. 

OSSRI is keen to welcome and include new volunteers to support our committee and especially people interested to help lead our next sponsorship undertaking which could take place in the next 6 months.

Submitted by David Berson

  • TIKKUN OLAM

The Or Shalom spiritual community aspires to make our world a better place by raising up human dignity, compassion, community, social justice, and planetary well-being. Therefore, the mandate of the Tikkun Olam Coordinating Committee (TOCC) is to inspire and inform the Or Shalom community through promoting activities that make our world a better place. 

In 5625 (2024-2025) we initiated the following activities and were joined by many generous, curious, engaged Or Shalom members:

Tzedakah:

  • Coordinated the annual 5785 High Holidays “Empty Your Pockets” tzedakah campaign raising $10,000 that was divided evenly between Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS), RAVEN Trust,  Covenant House, JQT Vancouver, and Open House Ramle-Bayit Patuah.
    The organizations selected for the year 5786 are: Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS), Covenant House, Open House Ramle-Bayit Patuah, JQT, and Youth Climate Corps, BC.
  • Coordinated a women’s-and-children’s clothing collection for the Downtown Eastside WISH Drop-In Centre at Purim. Many bags were collected and delivered.
  • Coordinated the Hanukkah Sock Drive, which collected 400 pairs of socks that, together with notes of love and encouragement from the Or Shalom Bnei Mitzvah Class, were included in food bags for the Downtown Eastside Indigenous community.

Saturday Afternoon Talks:

  • Hosted a Pride Listening Circle focused on the issues that connected to the war in Israel/Gaza and how it has impacted members of the LGBTQ+ community, facilitated by Alycia Fridkin and attended by 40 members. The experience of this Listening Circle led the shul to develop the ongoing monthly Shamati Circles.
  • Russil Wvong and Jane Heyman, Or Shalom’s representatives to the Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA), shared information about MVA and its current focus on developing policy and advocacy for Co-op Housing. Approximately 15 Or Shalom members attended and contributed valuable information for the MVA Housing Team. 

Indigenous:

  • Hosted our second creative Tu B’shvat Seder with Indigenous and Judaic food and symbols, followed by a Tisch led by Carly Edstrom from RAVEN Trust, who shared information about Indigenous land claim initiatives. 
  • Framed the two Land Acknowledgements and set them up in the Sanctuary and near the office.
  • Reminded members about Orange and Pink Shirt Day.
  • Hosted our third Blanket Exercise led by Michael Glendale and Alycia Fridkin, who explored the history of Indigenous and Jewish experience of racism in Canada. This event was attended by approximately 60 people, including members of the Cityview Church, whom we’d invited to join us.  
  • Assisted the Bnei Mitzvah classes with packaging food for their matanot la’evyonim/ care packages. These were distributed to those in need in the Downtown Eastside at the Carnegie Centre as part of the Muslim/Jewish initiative during Ramadan, which this year coincided with Purim.

 Equity and Anti-Racism:

  • Coordinated a well-attended, inclusive Tu B’Av Pride Kabbalat Shabbat at Trout Lake. Approximately 80 members (adults and children) shared delicious food and beautiful music as the sun set. 

Other: 

  • Sent three letters of condolence to communities that have been tragically affected by acts of vandalism and hatred.
  • Updated and distributed the High Holy Days self-assessment for personal teshuvah practice.
  • Created and distributed a newsletter about Tikkun Olam opportunities. 

In-house activities:

  • Held regular monthly meetings on Zoom, as well as an in-person annual planning retreat.

Our plans for next year include: 

  • Looking for ways to expand our programs and activities to include children, youth, and families
  • Working with the Rabbi and staff to integrate our programming into Shabbat services and holiday activities
  • Integrating our work with other Or Shalom committees
  • Initiating another Sock Drive in coordination with Cityview Church
  • Participating in the Metro Vancouver Alliance Post Cards for Co-ops event
  • Follow-up on the Land Acknowledgement commitments by facilitating more connections between the Board, Or Shalom, and the Musqueam nation
  • Sponsoring another Tu B’shvat Kiddush lunch

And to do it all as magically as possible!

We thank Rabbi Arik Labowitz, the Or Shalom Board, staff, and community for their continuing warm support. 

Respectfully submitted by: Aren, Avril, Carla, Chava, Jane, Mary, Maxine, and Michal

  • MORE OR / RENOVATION AND EXPANSION TASK FORCE

MoreOR continues to move forward, guided by our shared vision of creating a welcoming, accessible, and flexible home for our community. Among other renovations, the project will add two classrooms, an elevator, and energy-efficient upgrades that reflect our commitment to sustainability and inclusion. Or Shalom’s building will serve our growing community for many years to come. 

Although construction has passed the half-way mark and the end is in sight, I want to step back to a visit I made to 710 after excavation was complete and the east yard had been brought down to the level of the social hall. While walking around the building, the general contractor’s site superintendent pointed out what a strong little building we have, with a solid foundation and strong walls. There is always a risk in a major renovation that the core building itself will need extensive work. I can report that the Scottish Highlanders built well and our core building is strong. 

Novacom Building Partners, the general contractor, expects completion no later than the end of June. We should be back home for the summer. 

On the funding side, the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, has just granted Or Shalom a US$100,000 interest free loan to support the decarbonization of our building. Or Shalom will be the first completely decarbonized synagogue in the coalition! 

The broader Vancouver Jewish community has supported this project generously. Without the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation’s major grant, the project simply would not have gone forward. The Vancouver Jewish Community Foundation’s grant helps fund the elevator we are installing in the renovated building. The Lutsky Family Foundation has given us a grant in support of expanding the kitchen. The Phyllis and Irving Snider Foundation’s grant is going towards construction of the classrooms. 

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference. Our goal is for every member of the community to take part in this project, so that when we return to our renewed home, we can all feel proud of having built it together. Achieving 100% participation demonstrates our shared commitment to Or Shalom’s future. 

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed – your generosity and belief in this project are what make it possible. And, if you haven’t made your donation to the MoreOR campaign yet, do so now. No donation is too small (or too big). We hope to be able to recognize all members of Or Shalom as contributors to our renovated and expanded bayit. 

To our volunteers, the MoreOR committee, our staff, and all members of the community – a big thank you for your patience, creativity, and belief in what’s possible. We look forward to celebrating the completion of our renewed home together. 

John Fuerst, with the assistance of Efrat Gal-Or, for the Renovation and Expansion Taskforce (Ron Einblau, Efrat Gal-Or, John Fuerst, Martin Gotfrit, Rabbi Arik Labowitz, Dalia Margalit-Faircloth, Sally Thorne, Russil Wvong)

  • SHOMRIM/SECURITY COMMITTEE

The Shomrim Committee comprises Lynn Saffery, Abby Fitch, and Regina Howard V. Esteva / Noga Erel. We began active work on October 4. Our goal is to have one or two trained volunteers at all larger events, including Shabbat and holiday services. 

We currently have one active volunteer and five individuals interested in joining, in addition to ourselves. We are in the process of developing an orientation manual.
This will include scripts to guide volunteers in handling various situations including unregistered attendees. We are constantly reviewing our protocols in case they need
to be adjusted at any moment. 

We work with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver in a variety of ways, including receiving and addressing reports of unusual activity, and offering training sessions. We strive to engage Or Shalom members and visitors in a way that helps people feel welcome and safe. 

The Committee encourages everyone at Or Shalom to take security seriously, to ensure the safety and wholeness of our community. As we share our protocols with membership we will encourage full cooperation and support with those protocols.

  • GARDEN COMMITTEE

I took on the task of gardening upkeep at Or Shalom in approximately mid-June 2024. Having been a member when Geoffrey Katz designed and implemented our landscaping, upon my return as a member, I was drawn to take care of the mature results of Geoffrey’s vision.

At first, taking care entailed regularly watering all the flowering plants, trees, shrubs and bushes. Then I expanded my interest to eradicate the morning glory (aka bindweed) and once that was accomplished, I decided it was time for the blackberries to go. The morning glory and blackberries basically strangle whatever is in their way, so both provided lots of need for pruning dead branches. 

I acquired some soaker hoses, sprinklers, and basic tools such as spades, clippers, hand saws, a large role of very handy garden Velcro, and a couple of pairs of gloves (the best -toughest – gloves were found at Walmart) and a quantity of large garbage bags. I borrowed an extendable (6 feet) pruning sheer “back” from my son. The grape vines were a challenge! 

I can report that nearly all the blackberry plants were removed. They have vicious roots which will require monitoring and removal once the new landscaping is in place. Ditto for the morning glory. With diligence, eventually both will give up trying to grow at Or Shalom. Our neighbours to the east were very willing to allow me on their property where most of the morning glory originated. Interestingly, the blackberry plants are considered invasive, so could not be put in the green bin; morning glory however is not considered invasive.

Following the Groundbreaking at Or Shalom on April 27th, Or Shalom members had a week to adopt the many plants and shrubs and bulbs that needed new homes. Many thanks to everyone who assisted.

I’m very impressed with the gardening committee in the Cityview neighbourhood; particularly the weekend they devoted to the Cityview garden. I encourage the Or Shalom gardeners who are tending our plot at Cityview to continue as a working committee when we return to our Bayit. I’ve requested there be a locked facility to store all gardening supplies. I joined the Tool Library on Commercial Street when there was a need for something like a power saw – keep the library in mind. 

The contractor and landscaper met with Efrat late last week, and so far, it seems the remaining trees have survived the upheaval. Cuttings were taken from our fig tree; I look forward to seeing the offspring join us when we return.

  • Helen Aqua