Attention, families with school-aged children (ages 5-12)!
The 2026-2027 OJC Hebrew School year begins in October. As our community changes, we hope to adapt our classes to suit our current membership. Please help us to tailor our engaging, welcoming lessons to your needs!
We invite you to complete this survey to assist us in creating Hebrew school programming that will best benefit your family. Thank you for your insight!
Follow the link below. Responses will be collected until August 10.
Dear OJC Friends and Members,
Once again, the OJC is participating in Canada Day Folkfest on July 1, 2026.
We are seeking volunteers for two different days.
First, we will need a “baking crew” of 5-6 people to produce our product in the OJC kitchen. This is a fun way to work together and provide the food sold at our booth. Time commitment will be approximately 6 hours.
July 1, we need crew to help with set up and to volunteer at our booth. We require a total of 10 people working in 3-4 hour shifts to greet the public, sell our baked goods, and answer questions that the public may have.
Please note that we are representing the cultural/ethnic group of the Okanagan Jewish Community serving a Jewish-style food. Flags and anything representing politics are NOT involved in this cultural event.
If anyone is interested and available in helping out to promote our community in either of these two ways, please notify Steven at stevenfinkleman@hotmail.com.
Thank you in advance
Everyone’s favourite community event, the Seder at the Harvest is coming up on April 1st (no, it’s not an April Fool’s Day joke!).
2 dips! 4 Questions! 10 Plagues! Unlimited Matzah!
Can we count you in this Pesach?
Dear Members and Friends of the OJC,
Our hearts are heavy as we think of the people who were injured and killed in Bondi on December 14th, the first night of Chanukah. We send our love to the families and friends who are hurting, and we keep those who are recovering in our thoughts. By caring for one another, choosing kindness, and standing together, we show our children and our community that hope, goodness, and courage are stronger than fear.
The story of Chanukah is the story of Jewish resilience; we celebrate the preservation of our identity and our historic stand against oppression. The events in Australia may have cast a dark shadow on the holiday and reminded us of the true dangers of modern antisemitism, but, like the miraculous light in the temple, a flame of hope can and will continue to burn within each of us.
This Chanukah, we encourage you to sing loudly and let your candles shine brightly! Let’s remind the world that we are here, we are strong, and we stand together as a community. Help us to share the light this season.
Wishing you warmth and love this holiday,
David Spevakow
OJC President
AM 1150’s Gary Barnes recently interviewed OJC members Jordan and David Spevakow on Early Edition. Hear about Jordan’s Bondi Beach experience on December 14th, and how the tragic events in Australia have prompted the Okanagan Jewish community to come together in solidarity.
Want to see yourself on the silver screen? A new Chanukah-themed film being shot in Kelowna is looking for background players. See below for details!
Jewish Federation has hired a new Okanagan Community Connector! Abbey Westbury has recently accepted this role, helping to coordinate and bolster Jewish programming across the region.
She’s seeking your (yes, you!) input into cultural and social Jewish programming in our region.
Please take a moment to answer a few questions so that we can tailor Jewish community activities to your needs and interests.
You do not need to be an OJC member to answer this survey!
We are hoping to improve supplementary, secular programming for all of the Okanagan’s Jews.
Thank you for taking part!
On Saturday evening, October 21, OJC hosted a poetry reading with Fern Carr. It was a delight listening to Fern’s own works, many of which come from her book, “Shards of Crystal.” Signed copies of the book were available for purchase by those in attendance. Thanks go out to Fern for her very meaningful rendition of her creations and how surprised we were to hear many on a Jewish theme, and two poems written in Yiddish!
Want to be in the know about OJC programming? Sign up for our newsletters!
OJC was pleased to host our 3rd Monthly Shabbaton weekend for our congregation. This week-end we enjoyed having out again to Kelowna, Rabbi Schachar Orenstein from Montreal. It was a lovely and well-attended Friday night dinner and service, similarly matched by the Saturday morning service. Thanks go out to all who assisted in making it possible, including Ted Wenner and Zoe Wise for hosting Rabbi in their home.
Want to be in the know about OJC programming? Sign up for our newsletters!
