OUR FINAL WEEK IN THE PROMISED LAND! | |
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We certainly made the most of our final week in Israel!
Sunday began with sharing time with our Israeli friends. Then, together 58 students (Canadians and Israelis) boarded a bus and headed for an exhilarating Kfar Blum Kayak river rafting experience followed by a stroll around the stunning acreage of Har Vagai.
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Monday began on an emotional note as we met at school for our final goodbyes. The rest of our trip was wonderful but this is the emotional core of why we go to Israel: to bond our students to the wonderful people who live here. There were hugs and tears and laughter and we are so truly grateful to our Israeli host families and to our Israeli School Team.
Tel Aviv was our first stop on Monday for an hour’s walk and lunch at the Carmel Market. After that we hit the road to the Judaean Desert to Kfar Hanokdim (KH) to experience some Bedouin culture. We had to reach KH before dark and we had a date with a camel, actually 21 camels. It was a fun bumpy camel ride as the sun dropped behind the mountains and the quarter moon became clearer and clearer in the night sky. After that, we had tea with a Bedouin woman who shared her culture and history with us. For dinner, we sat on the floor on thick mats for a Bedouin feast of salads, pitas, dips, kebabs, chicken and fruit. Students sat in a circle drumming and singing song after song before heading to bed in the Bedouin tent.
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The next day, students woke up early to climb Masada and watch the sunrise. A few students, both male and female took time to pray, with some boys putting on tefillin, watching it felt special. We then headed for a dip and mud bath in the Dead Sea. Floating in these waters is always an incredible experience. We ended the day in Jerusalem. Many students had visitors during the evening and a few staff gathered for dinner with King David Alumni who are currently in Israel. |  | On Wednesday, we visited Yad Vashem where we spent a full two and a half hours walking through the thoughtful displays, and meaningfully designed structure and reflecting on the Holocaust. Finally, it was time for one of the most meaningful and anticipated moments of our Israel trip, visiting the Kotel. For many of our students it was their first time there and we could feel the impact of this magical place. Our students visited the wall with notes and moments for prayers. We made sure to give everyone ample time to pray or simply visit the wall. Our final day in Israel ended with a light show in the Old City. | |
This was an incredible trip and are so proud of how our students handled the bumps and enjoyed the unique experiences only Israel has to offer. We’re grateful to all who made this trip possible: the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Gesher Chai Committee, our host families in Israel, Har Vagai, Neal Chark, and our dedicated King David team, Russ Klein, Debbie Appelbaum, Dorin Eilon-Heiber, Corin Bailey, Jodi Cristall, and Alex Klein. | |
ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION ABOUT ANTISEMITISM | |
Rabbi Stephen Berger (pictured above with our new part-time Judaics teacher, Ishai Gottlieb) shares ways King David is discussing recent incidents of antisemtism in the world: The Kanye West story became too hard to ignore. Our responsibility as Jewish educators is to use this moment in time to provide foundations and teachable moments for our students. For the last two weeks, King David Judaic teachers have been providing our young people with knowledge and education on the history of antisemitism and why we should never allow ourselves to be defined by how haters view us. We leveraged the Kanye story to help our students be able to identify antisemitism and when and how to respond. We want our students to feel proud of their identities, and to never let anyone have the power to convince them something isn’t antisemitic when it is, and remind us that it is a foundational problem that has never gone away. | |
JAZZ COMBO BRINGING MUSIC INTO THE COMMUNITY | |
The King David Jazz Combo is busy this season! They visited Louis Brier to play for residents for the High Holidays and look forward to performing there again in December in celebration of Hanukkah. Look forward to their public performance in Beth Israel’s Hanukkah party at Science World on December 10. More details about that event can be found in the Community Events section of the newsletter. | PREPARING FOR KRISTALLNACHT | |
The last couple of weeks, students in Ms. Wiesenthal’s Holocaust and Genocide Studies class have been busy planning for our King David Kristallnacht Azoombly which will be held on Wednesday, November 9th. They are pictured above planning activities for students to engage in after the Azoombly and painting at Kristallnacht display including a broken window. | |
A BIG WEEK FOR OUR LIONS! | |
A group of Lions is called a Pride and we are so proud of our Senior Boys Soccer Team for their achievements this week! They won the bronze medal game on Friday November 4, with a final score of 3-0. This is the first time in history the Senior Boys Soccer Team has played in Provincials and the first time King David has won a medal at Provincials in any sport! | |
Team photo left to right, top to bottom: Coach, Mr. Amram, Sharon Dorfman, Bar Perry, Harlow Holmes, Hannah Merkur, Davina Kallner, Tessa Wasel, Arlo Foxman, Mr. McDonald, Ayla Greenberg, Nora Forman (missing from the photo:Sarah Perez and Ms. V) | We are also equally proud of our Bantam Girls Volleyball Gold Team who won the 2022-2023 GVISAA Championships on Thursday! They won our first-ever King David volleyball banner and took home the award for the most sportsmanlike team. | |
KING DAVID IS COLLECTING COATS WITH BI! | |
For the next two weeks, we are collecting gently used coats, jackets and sleeping bags at King David for those in need to support BI’s Coat Drive initiative. If you are able to help sort coats on November 13 at Beth Israel, email Fai at [email protected]. | |
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The Chutzpah! Festival
November 3-24
The Lisa Nemetz Festival of International Jewish Performing Arts is an annual festival of world-renowned dance, music, theatre, and comedy, through a lens of Jewish experiences, stories, and values in all their richness and diversity, creating unforgettable and unique
experiences for audiences.
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BBYO Parent Info Nights
November 5, 7:00 p.m. (JCC Board Room)
November 6, 6:00 p.m. (North Shore, location share upon registration)
This is a great opportunity for those who don’t know much about BBYO to come learn from other parents, alumni, and staff what the movement is all about.
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Spa & Movie Night at the JCC Teen Lounge (free!)
BBYO
November 5
Join BBYO teens for a super chill night of fun spa activities, nail painting, friendship bracelet making and a movie! Everyone is welcome to come hang out no matter how you identify!
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Games Night (free!)
BBYO
November 6
It may be rainy, but there is so much more summer fun to be had!! Darts, card games and board games, oh my! Compete with your friends and have a fun time making memories! Stay for live music and campfire s’mores!
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Aardvark Info Session
November 7 at 7:30 p.m.
BBYO AZA invites teens in grade 8 – 12 to bring a friend, bring their homework, and come hang out to watch the Vancouver Canucks take on the Montreal Canadiens.
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Hockey & Homework: Canucks vs. Canadiens
BBYO
November 9
BBYO AZA invites teens in grade 8 – 12 to bring a friend, bring their homework, and come hang out to watch the Vancouver Canucks take on the Montreal Canadiens.
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Kristallnacht Commemoration
Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
Wednesday, November 9
7:00 p.m.
Join in-person at Beth Israel or from home with a livestream.
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The Comedy of Joel Chasnoff
Chutzpah! Festival
November 16 at 8:00 p.m.
This is special evening for Jewish communal professionals at the Norman Rothstein Theatre. They have set aside 50 tickets at the discounted rate of $18 (regular price is $40).
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Eureka! It’s Hanukkah
Saturday, December 10
6:00- 8:00 p.m.
Beth Israel invites you to Hanukkah at Science World. We will begin with Havdalah followed by complete access to Science World’s Eureka World. Sufganiyot, gelt and latkes for all! Listen to amazing music played by King David’s Jazz Combo and sing a long with King David’s singers. KDHS students can register using the member rate for children.
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VTT Tours
Come see Vancouver Talmud Torah. One-on-one tours are now open for admission to the 2023/2024 school year.
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King David High School acknowledges we teach, learn and live on the traditional and
ancestral lands of the Coast Salish nations of Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), the
Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), and the Tsleil-Waututh (səl̀ilwətaʔ),
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