Celebrating Jewish & Asian Heritage Month across Canada

AVI Student Ambassadors organize dinner for Jewish & Asian Heritage Month in Calgary, speak at media bias workshop in Vancouver, and more!

Click the above graphic to read the speaker bios and register!

In honour of Jewish Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month, Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) is partnering with the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF) on a webinar series celebrating Jewish and Asian culture – highlighting our shared values as Canadians.

The events are also being sponsored by Doctors Against Racism and Antisemitism (DARA), Toronto Asian Parents Association (TAPA), and The Jewish Therapist Collective.

On Sunday, June 14th, our very own Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren will moderate a panel discussion featuring AVI Student Ambassador at the University of British Columbia Brandon Lu, Dr. Weidong Pei, and AVI friend Karen Woods of the Canadian Chinese Political Affairs Committee (CCPAC). 

Each panelist will relay their personal story of connecting wth the Jewish community and fighting antisemitism, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

To register for Why I Stand with the Jews and Israel: Chinese Canadian perspectives, please click here.

Click the above graphics to register!

On Sunday, May 31st, Dr. Jack Daniel will draw from his book A Universe Made for Two, inviting a cross-cultural exploration of Genesis as a relational, dynamic act of creation, viewed through the complementary wisdom of Jewish tradition and ancient Chinese cosmology, with a particular focus on Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

This session will highlight how the Genesis creation narrative resonates with the Chinese understanding of yin and yang, qi, balance, and the generative cycles of nature. Rather than static creation ex nihilo, both traditions describe a universe brought into being through polarity, differentiation, rhythm, and relationship. 

To register for A Universe Made for Two: Genesis Through the Lens of Chinese Cosmology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, please click here.

In honour of May being both Jewish Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month, our Common Ground Ambassador Arielle spearheaded an Asian & Jewish Heritage Dinner Party in Calgary! 

Several AVI Student Ambassadors joined the program, alongside AVI's Alberta Campus Advisor & Advocacy Associate Jean-Luc Mudingayi. Students connected over food and engaged in conversations about the beauty of both cultures and traditions.

Click the above graphic to listen to an excerpt from AVI Student Ambassador Brandon's speech at the antisemitic media bias workshop in Vancouver, organized by Upstanders Canada

On Sunday, AVI had the pleasure of supporting Upstanders Canada, which mobilizes Canadians to stand with Jewish people and Israel, on Media Bias: How Media Has Mainstreamed Antisemitism ... And What to do About It⁠ in Vancouver! ⁠

Attendees heard from Rob Roberts, editor-in-chief of the National Post, and journalist and writer Dave Gordon. ⁠

They also heard from Janet Dirks, a retired CTV National News reporter who spent six months reporting from Jerusalem, and Pat Johnson, president of Upstanders Canada, who welcomed the audience and explain the organization's work.⁠

AVI was proud of our AVI Student Ambassador Brandon Lu, who spoke about his experience as an ally at the University of British Columbia, and the importance of combating media bias by amplifying Jewish and allied voices.⁠

⁠For more photos, including excerpts from Brandon's speech, please click here.

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Interested? Send your resume to daniel@alliedvoicesforisrael.org

Are you a Vancouver local? Are you passionate about empowering Jewish students and their allies to become leaders who stand against hatred on their campuses?⁠

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated BC Campus Advisor to join our team!

This will be a part-time or full-time position based in Vancouver. It’s an exciting and rewarding opportunity to work with incredible university students and help us grow our educational initiatives on the West Coast!⁠

Send your resume to: daniel@alliedvoicesforisrael.org

Click the above flyer to apply

Applications for our Common Roots Ambassadorship for high school students ARE NOW OPEN!

We offer a wide range of ways for students to get involved, from social media campaigns and writing op-eds, to creating events, volunteer opportunities, and so much more!⁠ 

• For Grades 8-12⁠

• Runs October to May⁠

• Open to students of all backgrounds & religions

• Monthly webinars with awesome speakers⁠

To learn more and become a Common Roots Ambassador, please click here. 

Click the above flyer for tickets - be sure to use our code AVI20 for 20% off!

Join the Leah Posluns Theatre in Toronto on Wednesday, June 3rd for an intimate Live In-Theatre Podcast Experience with Jonah Platt – host of the #1-ranked podcast Being Jewish. This discussion will feature stories and moments you won’t hear anywhere else.

From entertainment and culture to identity, creativity and navigating today’s world, this promises to be a night filled with insight, humour, and meaningful dialogue. Being Jewish with Jonah Platt is a currently ranked #1 on Apple Podcasts in Judaism.

For tickets (be sure to use the code AVI20 at checkout for 20% off), please click here.