AVI celebrates women, fashion and unity on International Women's Day
- Allied Voices for Israel (AVI)
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
PLUS: Celebrating the women of AVI this International Women's Day, hosting our Unity Social for UBC and SFU students in Vancouver, and more!
The lovely women of AVI at Cocoa & Couture!
On International Women's day, Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) honoured the incredible women in our community through Cocoa & Couture – a contemporary runway showcase featuring the latest Spring 2026 collections, paired with an indulgent brunch.
AVI Student Ambassadors and stakeholders modelled the latest Spring fashions, while guests enjoyed brunch selections, wine, a curated chocolate charcuterie experience, and a silent auction – all in support of AVI's educational initiatives across Canada.
Between runway sets, guests were invited to browse and shop curated pieces directly from our featured vendors. The show was hosted by our amazing AVI Stakeholder Kim Smiley, founder of The Empathy Effect. AVI's Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah Snajdman gave a powerful and empowering speech addressing the audience.
We are grateful to our very own Director of Operations Ofra Nissani for putting together such a fabulous, meaningful, and inspiring event, and to the incredible partners and silent auction sponsors who made Cocoa & Couture a success.
Thank you to our incredible partners and silent auction sponsors!
Stay tuned for more footage from what was an uplifting and inspiring event celebrating the women in our lives, as well as promoting AVI's educational initiatives across the Greater Toronto Area.
Happy International Women's Day from AVI!
On March 8th, we celebrated the strength, courage, and leadership of women everywhere.
From classrooms to boardrooms, from activism to community building, women continue to shape a more just and compassionate world.
On International Women’s Day, we honour the voices that challenge injustice, the leaders who build bridges, and the women who inspire the next generation to stand proud and stand strong.
To watch a tribute to the women of AVI, please click here.
See the tributes our AVI Social Media Interns Belle (left) and Noa (right) created for International Women's Day
In honour of International Women's Day, AVI Social Media Intern Belle decided to highlight the brave, bold, brilliant, and bright Jewish women who have inspired generations of resilient ladies after them.
Our Social Media Intern Noa also honoured some incredible and innovative Israeli women who are taking the science, entertainment, and advocacy world by storm.
Let’s learn from them and honour them and the women in our lives today and everyday.
For Belle's post, please click here.
For Noa's post, please click here.
Our University of Ottawa students tabling with Hillel Ottawa
AVI Student Ambassadors and University of Ottawa students Zach and Miriam joined AVI's Director of Quebec and Atlantic Canada Noa Peretz Benchaya and Hillel Ottawa for a Peace & Prosperity tabling, spreading a message of unity amongst their peers.
For more footage, please click here.
Click the above graphic to read Tiauna's piece in Harbinger's Daily
AVI Student Ambassador, Western University student, and Christian ally Tiauna wrote an incredible piece in Harbinger's Daily on the stark parallels between today's war in modern Iran and the events depicted in Ancient Persia through the Book of Esther.
“Haman embodies an ancient hatred, Biblically referred to as the ‘spirit of Amalek,’ a people group from which Haman descended. This bloodline of bitterness traces its roots to the children of Esau,” writes Tiauna.
“The Amalekites as a nation may be long gone, but the spirit that underpinned their wicked passions is alive and well today, demonstrated in the startling rise of antisemitism and calls to‘wipe Israel off the map.’ [...] Present-day Iran sits in the geographical location of Ancient Persia. The current Iranian regime represents an organized webbed network whose very purpose of existence centres around the genocide of the Jewish people, the obliteration of the State of Israel, and the end of democratic society.”
To read From Ancient Persia To Modern Iran: Examining Today’s War Through The Lens Of The Book Of Esther, please click here.
AVI Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren at the Toronto Prayer Breakfast with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) Canada!
AVI was proud to support our Christian friends at the Toronto Prayer Breakfast – a gathering of Christians and their allies to pray for Toronto’s leaders and our community.
Thank you to our friends at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) Canada for inviting us to this meaningful gathering.
For more photos, please click here.
Click the above flyer to register
Attention Vancouver students Join us for our Unity Social hosted by AVI Student Ambassadors and allies at University of British Columbia. A vibrant gathering that celebrates the beauty of cultures, backgrounds, and traditions coming together in one space. This event is all about connection, community, and shared experiences. Meet new people, learn about different cultures, and enjoy an evening filled with meaningful conversations, laughter, and unity.
Whether you come to represent your heritage, discover others, or simply connect with a diverse community, everyone is welcome. Let’s celebrate what makes us unique, and what brings us together.
When: March 19th
Time: 6 pm - 9 pm
Where: Vancouver – Location sent upon registration
Organized in partnership with Israel on Campus (IOC) at UBC and the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA).
To register, please click here.
AVI Alum and brilliant opera Singer Eyal Stopnicki is hosting Two Remain – A Holocaust Opera Based on Real Survivor Testimony.
This is a production of his nonprofit Jewish Voices in Music, which is committed to preserving and elevating Jewish voices through music.
Two Remain is a powerful opera drawn directly from survivor testimony - not inspired by history, but built from it. Through soaring music and raw storytelling, this production gives voice to resilience, loss, love, and the unbreakable will to survive.
Where: Meridian Arts Centre (North York)
When: April 28 & 29, 2026
This is more than a performance – it is remembrance brought to life on stage.
For tickets through the Jewish Voices in Music website, please click here.
For tickets through Ticketmaster, please click here.
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