THANK YOU! to all our unsung heroes who stepped up and made a difference in the lives of many during the pandemic.
We are as great as the challenges we have the courage to undertake. - Rabbi Dr. Lord Jonathan Sacks
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS heart Our generous donors heart Our loyal sponsors heart Our devoted volunteers heart Our committed campaign cabinet and team of canvassers heart Our dedicated impact partners heart All professionals and staff from Federation CJA, the Jewish Community Foundation, agencies, partner organizations, camps, synagogues, schools and more
We owe you a debt of gratitude for your ongoing commitment. 2
THIS IS THE STORY WE
WILL TELL FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. Federation CJA has been the pillar of our community for over 103 years and our partner, the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal, has been a pillar for 50 years. In times of need and in times of joy, we are a source of support, strength, security, funding, and unity for the community at large. The last 24 months presented unprecedented circumstances for the entire world, including the Montreal Jewish community. The pandemic has challenged and tested humanity. As we look at what was accomplished as a community, we can say that we passed the test with certainty and pride and we continue to be vigilant and ready for whatever the future brings. The pandemic affected everyone. We knew that to address the growing needs of food and financial insecurity, isolation, and mental health crises, we would have to rely on one another. We needed to think strategically to support the emerging and growing needs of our community. And so, we devised a plan. We partnered and provided support and funding to over 170 organizations. This allowed us to optimize the number and reach of services, programs, and assistance to the entire community. This publication tells the story of how our community came together to preserve and protect one another, which, in turn, demonstrates the true meaning of resilience. Thanks to the help of volunteers, leaders, donors, front-line workers, staff, synagogues, grassroots organizations, schools, camps, agencies, and foundations – WE rose above and worked TOGETHER to protect and keep our community whole, and we will continue to do so through any future waves of the pandemic. May we see a swift end to the current wave, and continue to go from strength to strength. With deep appreciation,
Yair Szlak, LL.B.
Kathy R. Assayag
Chief Executive Officer Federation CJA
Executive Director The Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal
Gail Adelson-Marcovitz
Danny Ritter, CA, CPA, CFA
President 2019-2021 Federation CJA
President 2019-2021 The Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal 3
No one could have fully predicted all the ways in which the global pandemic is impacting the community. COVID-19 and the economic downturn that followed affected every single agency and organization across greater Montreal. Life as we knew it came to a halt and social distancing, stay-at-home orders, curfews, working from home, online service delivery, virtual schooling, and mask-wearing became the “new normal”. When the crisis hit Montreal, Federation CJA, in partnership with the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal (JCF), pivoted to meet our community’s most urgent needs and set up the COVID-19 Relief Fund. From the very beginning, our key focus was to support our community’s most vulnerable, to ensure that members of our community did not retreat from participating in Jewish life and to address mental health and isolation concerns that emerged. The COVID-19 Relief Fund
has allocated:
$
We have been through something significant together, but we have also accomplished so much together.
17
MILLION to address the immediate needs of the community, impacting
Sort-Down
Sort-Down
ORGANIZATIONS
PROGRAMS
100 & 120+
From March 2020 through November 2021 4
While we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and that it is still affecting our community in different ways, we feel it is nonetheless vital to recognize how far we have come since March 2020. This report reflects an enormous and inspiring amount of work, dedication and support of countless individuals, groups and organizations. With your incredible generosity as donors, together we were able to trace a silver lining of hope. Even in our darkest moments, we must find ways to celebrate our progress as well as our accomplishments in order to chart the course forward. We are keeping abreast of all COVID-related news and staying informed, so that we can continue to serve our community and offer the support, guidance and reassurance it needs in these challenging times.
CO-CHAIRS’ LETTER At a time in our lives when the very fabric of our community has changed and the needs of our community were growing in ways we could never have imagined, your exceptional support has allowed us to be able to help the thousands of community members who have been counting on us during this pandemic. As co-chairs of the first-ever two-year campaign, we were given an ambitious goal of collectively raising $100 million. Our community stepped up to the challenge like no other community in North America. Thanks to the support and generosity of the Montreal Jewish Community, we surpassed our goal and raised over $125 million*. We could not have done this alone. You can be proud of yourselves. You have indeed made a difference. To each and every single one of you who are helping Federation CJA meet the challenges of these extraordinary times, “THANK YOU”. Thank you for helping to provide stability to those struggling with financial and food insecurity during the pandemic. Thank you for helping ensure that our community’s institutions, Jewish day schools and camps remain financially strong. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who packed and delivered food, pharmaceuticals, and care packages or made friendly phone calls to check in on community members. Thank you to our dedicated team of more than 400 volunteers who went out and canvassed on behalf of Federation CJA. To each one of you who donated generously and helped us surpass our $100M goal- “THANK YOU”. Thank you for saying Hineni – here I am – for going above and beyond to support our community, and for ensuring that no one was left behind. When our children and grandchildren ask what we did during this pandemic, we can proudly say that WE were there for OUR community. You helped ensure that we emerge stronger than ever.
With our deepest gratitude,
Mitch Garber and Jonathan Wener Co-Chairs, Community Recovery & Resilience Campaign
*Includes annual, supplemental and legacy gifts over 24 months M E RCI - TODA - T HA NK YO U
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THE
COVID -19 RELIEF FUND set up by Federation CJA and the JCF had three main objectives:
1 To immediately respond to the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
1,300 VOLUNTEERS
2
3
To ensure every member of our community could continue to participate in Jewish life and partake in Jewish experiences
To offer essential mental health and wellness services across a wide spectrum of needs
24
$
MONTHS
17
MILLION RAISED
175
1
30
53
125
2
MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERS
2
JEWISH LIFE & IDENTITY PARTNERS
PARTNERS & BENEFICIARIES
SOCIAL SERVICE PARTNERS
¹ Includes 56 recipients of PPE and/or goods in kind | ² Includes partners that received support for more than one category 6
$
IMPACT CHART March 2020 - November 2021
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MILLION TOTAL
$3.3 M vulnerable families $3.3 M food security $4.3 M Jewish schools $1.7 M summer camps $985 K mental health initiatives
$330 K
small business loans
$900 K
Jewish life and continuity
$2.19 M future investments in building community resilience
BREAKDOWN THE VULNERABLE:
When the pandemic hit, it became clear that those who were already vulnerable were the most severely affected. Others experienced vulnerability for the first time overnight. Domestic violence surged during the pandemic, as did the need for food support. When schools and services moved online, the need for tablets and computers rose. Emergency funds were needed by families who experienced the unexpected loss of income. That’s why we provided emergency loans for small businesses, created the Gesher program, provided funds for food security, secured tablets and computers to stay connected and keep learning, and so much more. Our aim was to ensure that those who were either already vulnerable or newly vulnerable received the support they needed.
JEWISH IDENTITY:
Creating meaningful opportunities for Jewish life and connection when we could not be together in person was critical during the pandemic. Ensuring that our Jewish overnight camps were able to sustain the financial pressures of having to cancel the summer in 2020 was essential, and when they reopened for summer 2021, ensuring they were able to abide by the required health measures to safely run was key. Guaranteeing that no student had to leave the Jewish Day School system due to financial constraints, despite the increased demand for tuition assistance, was essential. By preserving Jewish identity and encouraging traditions to continue, we ensured that our connection to the community was maintained.
MENTAL HEALTH:
The mental health and well-being of our community members were front and center right from the outset of the pandemic. This is why we set up a helpline, engaged volunteers and staff to make friendly calls to seniors isolated at home, supported front-line workers with care kits and thank you cards, and rushed to assemble inclusion activity kits for children living with disabilities who were missing out on therapies when schools closed. The pandemic led to a secondary epidemic of loneliness that had devastating effects on our community’s mental health. By prioritizing the mental health of our community, we ensured that members continued to thrive and live healthy and fulfilling lives.
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2020
The JCF deploys $1.5 M within days of the lockdown to support the most pressing needs identified by Federation CJA. Federation CJA volunteers rush to complete furniture set-up for 12 apartments in Kehilla for families about to move in. 250+ volunteers and staff mobilized to respond to the community’s needs. Federation CJA, Ometz and Cummings Centre launch a helpline.
By the end of July 2021, the helpline receives
5,345
calls.
Phone-alt
Volunteers and staff deliver food, groceries and gift cards directly to community members in need: •
$125,000 is allocated to cover the cost of food support.
•
1,978 prepared meals and 710 soups are purchased and delivered.
•
495 grocery orders are completed for seniors.
•
100 gift cards are delivered to vulnerable individuals.
Volunteers call community members (aged 60+) to check in on their well-being. By the end of September 2020, 25,000+ calls are made. Emergency Crisis Response Fund Campaign is launched. In 90 days, $1.1+ million is raised and $492,800 is distributed to 39 community partners.
8
•
5,633 individuals are provided with food and basic essentials.
•
1,476 households receive financial support.
APRIL
Federation CJA consults with experts in Montreal and Israel to assess risks to the Tov Mission group returning from Israel.
MARCH
FEBRUARY THE FIRST COVID-19 CHALLENGE FOR FEDERATION CJA
Federation CJA sets up a Center of Operation to strategize and make decisions quickly.
The Front-Line Worker Care Kits Initiative launches, a joint initiative between Federation CJA and Project Feel the Love.
16,437 care kits are delivered to 25 healthcare facilities, impacting 2,600+ healthcare workers. Volunteers help Zera Café produce and deliver 2,500+ ready-to-eat entrées and 500 liters of soup for vulnerable community members.
8,870 individuals receive Passover baskets
Volunteers assemble and deliver 1,608 isolation and activity kits to seniors. Jewish Community Small Business Emergency Loan Program launches - a joint initiative between the JCF, Federation CJA and the Hebrew Free Loan Association.
$
332,500 43 allocated
Store-Alt
hotel building
businesses supported
150+ volunteers bake thousands of baked goods for care kits to support front-line workers.
83,602 SEPTEMBER
MAY-AUGUST
Federation CJA procures 362,000+ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and redistributes to 19 organizations and Jewish day schools around Montreal.
carrot PIZZA-SLICE
meals, groceries and food vouchers
Children create cards as part of the PJ Cards For Caring initiative, to include in various deliveries to isolated seniors and front-line workers.
$2.4 M is allocated to our Jewish day schools to help offset the cost of emergency tuition relief and additional expenses incurred due to COVID-19.
Volunteers organize the Caldwell Residence Balcony Summer Concert Series. 200+ donated tablets and computers are distributed to students and the vulnerable.
•
Volunteers assemble and deliver 325 Inclusion Activity Kits to families with children who attend the Donald Berman Yaldei Developmental Center and the Friendship Circle of Montreal.
All 5,451 students remain enrolled in our 13 Jewish day schools.
•
450+ elementary and high school students receive new school supplies.
Jewish Day Camp Relief Grants provide $719,441 to 13 summer day camp programs and 4 overnight camps. 1,000+ children aged 5-12 participate in alternative summer day camps. Federation CJA launches the two-year $100 million Community Recovery and Resilience Campaign to address urgent needs.
By the end of September, a combined 83,602 meals, groceries and food vouchers are provided to community members in need. M E RCI - TODA - T HA NK YO U
9
2021
Federation CJA launches Warm Hands - 170 volunteers knit hundreds of items for the elderly and the homeless.
$
2
+
million is allocated to support vulnerable families to bridge the financial gap.
170+ children and teenagers create PJ Library Kindness Boards, which are delivered to seniors’ residences, touching the lives of
850
seniors during Chanukah. Volunteers pack and deliver 1,302 gift and meal baskets to Holocaust survivors, seniors, and community members in need.
organizations
Volunteers pack and deliver 120 personalized shopping bags, filled with clothing and winter gear, for vulnerable families.
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JANUARY -MARCH
By September 2021, 480+ individuals have received support from Gesher.
DECEMBER
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 10 10
Gesher is created to help bridge the financial gap for families who suffered from job loss or a short-term reduction in work hours.
SNOWFLAKE
THERMOMETER-EMPTY
receive grants, totaling $480,039 to run dozens of programs over the winter months.
Federation CJA, in partnership with the JCF, funds mental health and isolation reduction projects. By the end of March, $2.6+ M for food security is allocated by Federation CJA to 50 Jewish organizations.
Federation CJA collaborates with 7 West Island synagogues to package and deliver 2,500 honey cakes to area homes.
$380,000 is allocated for high holiday food security support. PJ Library delivers 200 Rosh Hashanah kits to families across the Jewish community. M E RCI - TODA -
LONG-ARROW-ALT-LEFT
receive support for summer 2021, impacting 3,000+ children.
Federation CJA commits $1.9 M to ensure that no child is forced to leave the Jewish Day School system in the 2021-2022 academic year.
DECEMBER
moon overnight camps
students enrolled in our 13 Jewish day schools.
TO THE PRESENT
day camps
5,510
18 11
Sun
SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER
Volunteers prepare 150 Mother’s Day baskets for clients at Ometz, Chai Lifeline, Auberge Shalom and Kehilla families.
JUNE-AUGUST
APRIL- MAY 350 children create PJ Library Kindness Boards, brightening up the day for 3,175+ residents of assisted-living homes, seniors’ homes and organizations that support persons living with disabilities and their families.
Federation CJA allocates $980,559 to Jewish summer camps.
scroll Pen-alt
17
$
million raised for COVID-19 RELIEF.
HEADSET With the 5th COVID-19 wave, Federation CJA relaunches the helpline and continues to address community needs as they T HA NK YO U arise. 11
175 BENEFICIARY &
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Académie Yéchiva Yavné
Camp Chaya
Chabad Dollard
Adath
Camp de jour Mishpaha
Chabad Lifeline
Agence Ometz
Camp Gan Israel
Chabad of Kirkland
Ahavas Chesed
Camp Geula
Chabad of Nun’s Island
Akiva School
Camp Kadima
Alink Foundation
Camp Kavod
Chabad of Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships
AMCAL Family Services
Camp Kinneret
Association Chabad sur le Campus à Québec
Camp Lifeline Montreal
Auberge Shalom pour femmes Avreichim Torah Institute Azrieli Schools Talmud Torah|Herzliah
Camp Mishiwaka Camp Nearim Camp Noam
Chabad South Shore Chabad Westmount Chai Lifeline Canada Inc. Chaya Mushka Seminary Chez Doris CHSLD Bussey Nursing Home
B’nai Brith House
Camp Ohr Menachem
BANAV Achievement Center
Camp Pardes Chanah
BBYO
Camp Sheves Achim
CHSLD Château sur le lac de SteGeneviève
Belz Community High School
Camp Simcha
CHSLD Du Manoir De L’Ouest
Benjamin and Vanda Treiser Maison Shalom
Camp Vélo
CHSLD Floralies-De-Lasalle
Centraide of Greater Montreal
Beth Chabad C.S.L.
CHSLD Herron
Beth Jacob School
Centre Communautaire Chabad de Saint-Lazare
CHSLD Vigi Pierrefonds
Beth Jacob Seminary of Montreal
Centre d’hébergement de LaSalle
CHSLD Vigi Santé Dollard-desOrmeaux
Beth Rivkah Academy for Girls
Centre d’Étude Talmudique Côte Saint Luc
City of Côte Saint-Luc
Beth Rivkah Academy for Girls Kindergarten Summer Camp Beth Zion Congregation Caisse Beth Yossef Caldwell Residences Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa Camp Benyamin Camp Bnos Shoshana 12
Camp Massad
Chabad of the Town of Mount Royal
CHSLD Centre Bayview
Centre d’hébergement de Lachine
Communauté Chabad Montréal Ouest
Centre d’hébergement DenisBenjamin-Viger
Communauté Chabad Zichron Kedoshim
Centre d’hébergement Foyer Dorval
Communauté Sépharade de Ville St-Laurent
Centre d’hébergement Nazaire Piché
Congregation Beth Israel Beth Aaron
Chabad Chai Center
Congregation Beth Ora
Chabad de l’Université de Montréal / Chabad des Étudiants
Congregation Beth Tikvah
Congregation Chevra Kadisha B’nai Jacob Congregation Dorshei Emet Congregation Or Shalom Congrégation Sepharade Or Hahayim Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (TBDJ) Côte Saint-Luc Men’s Club CPE du Centre Communautaire Juif CPE Sepharade de Montréal Ville St. Laurent CSUQ - Hessed Fund Cummings Centre Dans la rue Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Centre Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre Dr. Clown Foundation École Maïmonide École Première Mesifta-Canada Father Dowd Residential Centre Foundation of Greater Montréal Free Hebrew for Juniors Free Hebrew for Juniors - Day Camp
Hebrew Foundation School
ROHR Chabad NDG
Henri Bradet Residential Centre
Saint Andrew Residential Centre
JEM Workshop Inc.
Saint Margaret Residential Centre
Jewish Community of Lower Laurentians
Segal Centre Academy Day Camp
Jewish People’s and Peretz Schools (JPPS) / Bialik High School Jewish People’s and Peretz Schools (JPPS) / Bialik High School - Summer Sports Program Jewish Public Library Kehilla Montréal Residential Programs Knesses Bnai Hagolah Kollel Avreichim Le King David Les Anges D’Esther Limmud Centre Logifem Machane Kayitz MADA Maison Belfield Manoir Beaconsfield Mesifta Day Camp
Segal Centre for Performing Arts Shaare Zedek Congregation Shaare Zion Congregation Single Jewish Mom Groups Solomon Schechter Academy Ste. Anne’s Hospital Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA – Y City Camp Temple Emanu-El-Beth Shalom The Donald Berman Bikur Cholim The Donald Berman Yaldei Developmental Center The Donald Berman Yaldei Developmental Center – Adventure Day Camp The Donald Berman Yaldei Developmental Center – Sleep Away Summer Camp The Family Store
Mile End Chavurah
The Rocking Rabbi of Chai West Island
Miriam Home
The Shulounge
Moissan Montréal
Friendship Circle of Quebec
Montreal Community Kollel
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal
Friendship Circle of Quebec Summer Camp
Montreal Holocaust Museum
Tomchei Shabbos / Yad V’Ezer
Montreal Open Shul
Tous Ensemble
Grace Dart Extended Care Centre
Montreal Torah Center
Grand Rabbinat du Québec
Mount Sinai Hospital Montreal
Unité d’hébergement de l’Hôpital de LaSalle
Gutnick Mazal Jewish Center
Nahar Shalom
Vigi Santé Dollard-des-Ormeaux (siège social)
Harry Bronfman Y Country Camp
Penimi
Waldorf Residence
Hatzoloh Montreal (EMS D&W Division)
Project Genesis
Westmount One
Promo 21
Yeshiva Gedola Merkaz Hatorah de Montréal
Hebrew Academy Hebrew Academy Afternoon School (Beth Tikvah) Hebrew Day Daycare
Rassemblement B’nai Hagolah Refuah V’Chesed
Zera Café
Résidence Les Floralies Lachine
M E RCI - TODA - T HA NK YO U
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SPOTLIGHTS OVERVIEW
The following stories shared by different community agencies and partner organizations spotlight three significant areas that were greatly impacted by your support to Federation CJA and the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal: caring for the vulnerable, Jewish life and identity, and mental health and wellness. There are many stories to share. Here are just a few examples of how the community worked together to overcome the numerous challenges we have faced during the pandemic.
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VULNERABLE OVERVIEW
Many individuals and families in the Jewish community experienced limited access to health and social services, tenuous housing, lack of food security, or difficulty in adopting physical distancing and safety measures to offset the effects of COVID-19. To be vulnerable often feels to be without hope. Below are some of the organizations Federation CJA supported that provided essential services to the Jewish community of Montreal to ensure that no one was left behind during the pandemic.
PROVIDING A AUBERGE SHALOM POUR FEMMES
Knowing Federation CJA was there and working with us – that there was a bigger body organizing at a large scale and actively looking for ways to support the community – was a relief. It was a real moment of gratitude for us. - A team member at Auberge Shalom pour femmes
SAFE HAVEN FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly harrowing for women and children impacted by domestic abuse during the lockdown. Auberge Shalom pour femmes provides emergency shelter and counseling for those in need, as well as domestic violence prevention and education to the broader community. When the pandemic hit, Auberge Shalom quickly responded to the intensifying needs of their clients and the ever-changing safety measures. Auberge Shalom reorganized the space of their two locations to create a quarantine zone, allow for social distancing in the shelter, and moved their vital counselling services online. Federation CJA identified the critical need for domestic violence services and allocated $18,690 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help cover the increased costs required to sustain these services. These funds provided PPE and other emergency expenses to ensure the health of clients and staff; helped Auberge Shalom pour femmes update their technology enabling them to offer remote counselling services; and provided food security through prepaid grocery gift cards and helped support women with other basic and security needs. With support from Federation CJA and the JCF, Auberge Shalom continued to be a vital resource and safe haven for women and children during these challenging times.
M E RCI - TODA - T HA NK YO U
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SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY
COMMUNAUTÉ SÉPHARADE UNIFIÉE DU QUÉBEC (CSUQ)
The Communauté Sépharade Unifiée du Québec (CSUQ) supports the needs, interests and development of the Sephardic community in Montreal. Like many community organizations during the pandemic, the CSUQ had two options: to put all programs on hold or to try to pivot and find new ways to support their community. Determined to make the latter work, the CSUQ adapted its programs by shifting everything online. The CSUQ was able to offer virtual programming through conferences, shows, concerts and more as well as provide more financial support to their community. The CSUQ offered extra financial support to community members through its Hessed Program. With $306,000 from the Federation CJA COVID-19 Relief Fund, Hessed was able to help 373 families – more than 1,000 people – offset the cost of food and have funds for other unexpected emergencies. In addition, the CSUQ retained the services of a volunteer accountant to help families with their taxes during a very difficult year. With an additional $53,500, Federation CJA and the JCF helped support the CSUQ’s summer camps in 2020 and 2021. Ensuring day camps were operational was a stress reliever for both children and parents alike. In 2021, using a portion of these additional funds, the CSUQ was also able to launch a new day camp, Camp Vélo, where children biked to different areas of the city and together took part in various outdoor activities. The CSUQ was able to continue its services, adapt to its community’s needs and maintain Jewish life in the Sephardic community thanks to its generous donors, sponsors and help from Federation CJA.
heart
users 16
families impacted
12,000 COMBATTING
nutritious meals delivered each week
MADA COMMUNITY CENTER
FOOD SECURITY ONE MEAL AT A TIME
Imagine being terrified to leave your home to shop for food. Imagine worrying about how to pay for food. Helping society’s most vulnerable individuals and families living below the poverty line to preserve their dignity is no small task. But this is what MADA does for more than 5,000 families. Early in the pandemic when the demand for food support soared, MADA launched the Meals À Partager program to complement their other social service initiatives. If people could no longer come to them, MADA had to find a way to deliver food to them. With $1,045,000 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, MADA was able to prepare and deliver 12,000 nutritious meals a week to families across the island of Montreal and beyond. In addition, Federation CJA helped MADA to mobilize a team of volunteers to pack and deliver food, all of whom were vital to the success of Meals À Partager. “MADA gave me a way to reach out during a difficult time,” says one volunteer of their experience working at MADA during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Helping at MADA has been a beautiful way to connect with others: not only on a physical level – by packing boxes and assembling meals, but also on a more intangible level, by hopefully letting someone out there know that they are cared for and help them feel less alone.”
The Federation CJA and the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal partnership and financial assistance provided to MADA was very important for our community and gave security during COVID-19, especially for the beginning stages of our newest service, Meals à Partager, which was a huge new undertaking for our organization as well as elevating our other services. It helped MADA fulfill our mission of providing three meals a day every day, totalling 12,000 meals each week, to the most vulnerable during this time. - Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, Executive Director, MADA Community Center
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THE FAMILY STORE
PROVIDING
FOOD SECURITY
FOR FAMILIES IN NEED “With agencies at ‘the front’, Federation CJA ensured supply and support. The Family Store was able to pivot and provide thanks to the backing of Federation.” Those are the words of Rabbi Getzy, Director of Development for The Family Store (TFS) – a subsidized grocery warehouse that offers affordable kosher food and household essentials to over 600 working-class and low-income families. Almost overnight, food shortages prevented access to healthy, affordable food, destabilizing the lives of so many families who were then suddenly left to figure out how to put nutritious meals on the table. For many people who lost their jobs, keeping healthy food on the table for their families became a huge challenge and due to the higher cost of kosher foods, it became difficult for the more vulnerable members of the community to fulfill their Jewish lives and maintain their kosher diets. TFS experienced a dramatic increase in demand and dependency while also having to source quality food and continue its operations in the face of lockdowns and restrictions. Compounding the challenges, as an organization dependent on volunteers to help out at the store, the fear of contracting COVID-19 led many volunteers to stay at home. Necessity is the mother of invention and TFS came up with a solution and pivoted to online shopping. TFS implemented a digital ordering system that uses state-ofthe-art software. Thanks to $675,000 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, The Family Store was able to maintain and increase supply for strategic purchasing to further subsidize families in need. Federation CJA helped to mobilize a network of volunteers who prepared and processed orders. The store has now doubled in size, and today two-thirds of TFS customers use the digital pantry to shop. With the immense support from Federation CJA, food security was guaranteed for hundreds of families in need and TFS was able to scale up its operations to become an anchor for its community.
Check
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Food security guaranteed for hundreds of families in need
5,000
Calendar-Alt
meals made in 7 weeks
SUPPORTING THE
NEURODIVERSE COMMUNITY
ZERA CAFÉ
In March 2020, Zera Café was preparing to cater its first event when Quebec declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight, all in-person events were canceled, and it seemed as though Zera Café would not be able to sustain itself. “Federation CJA gave us the opportunity to get started in a time when it would otherwise have been impossible to do so,” says Eve Rochman, founder of Zera Café – a not-for-profit social enterprise catering business that employs individuals with disabilities and who are neurodiverse. By the first week of April 2020, Zera Café was mobilized by Federation CJA for its Emergency Food Relief Initiative to prepare ready-to-eat meals for vulnerable members of the community – making approximately 5,000 meals in a mere seven weeks! With $15,500 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund and the help from a team of volunteers, the Café rose to the challenge and found a new opportunity for their business to fulfill its mission. When the Emergency Food Relief Initiative ended, Zera Café was able to hire its first employee and since the start of the pandemic, the business has hired 12 young adults living with disabilities who are now feeling more confident, more capable, and more fulfilled by being able to work and give back to their community in meaningful ways. Zera Café is now able to continue and grow its operations, explains Eve Rochman, “Federation CJA entrusted us and strongly supported us with a task that would not only benefit the community, but that would give us a fighting chance to prove that our model could work.”
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KEEPING
THE CALDWELL RESIDENCES
SENIOR CITIZENS ENGAGED After months of isolation, Caldwell Residences knew it was crucial to find ways for their residents to communicate with family and engage with their community. Offering subsidized apartments for independent seniors with low to middle incomes, the Caldwell Residences aims to increase the quality of life of their residents. Throughout the pandemic, and with the support of volunteers from Federation CJA, Caldwell made daily phone calls to their 650 tenants, delivered ready-to-eat meals and groceries on a regular basis, and assisted the most vulnerable members living alone. A big challenge was connecting residents with their loved ones using technology, as many seniors were unfamiliar with how to use laptops or iPads, let alone Zoom. To help keep spirits up, Federation CJA volunteers designed and delivered hundreds of “Boredom Buster” kits with fun and stimulating activities for every resident. In the summer, Federation CJA’s volunteers helped to coordinate a Summer Balcony Concert Series, bringing music, snacks, and joy to the residents.
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The food was so helpful, especially for our residents who have difficulty cooking or those living with food insecurity. The activities added structure to their days while also providing respite from worrying about the pandemic. Our residents often expressed to us that they felt so relieved to know they have a community that cares for them in a crisis. The teamwork of the Caldwell Staff in partnership with Federation CJA assured our seniors that even though they had to stay in their apartments, they were not alone. - A Caldwell staff member
HELPING JEWISH STUDENTS TO FEEL AT HOME
CHABAD DES ÉTUDIANTS
Imagine being over 5,000 km away from home when the world announces a global pandemic is halting all travel, and that the safest thing for everyone to do is to self-isolate. This is what Jewish students from out of the country studying at the Université de Montréal experienced at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – forced into isolation, far away from home, disconnected from loved ones, and unable to see friends. Fortunately, these students were also members of Chabad des Étudiants – part of a network of more than 350 Chabad Centers on campuses across North America whose mission is to help Jewish students from abroad feel at home and able to participate in Jewish life on campus. Normally, students can enjoy subsidized kosher meals at La Caf – the Chabad des Étudiants cafeteria on campus – but during the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to find another way to help students feel connected. In order to foster a stronger sense of community for students who could not return home to visit their families, Chabad des Étudiants delivered weekly kosher meals. With $11,450 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, Chabad des Étudiants was able to provide holiday meals and deliver shabbat dinners each week. During a time filled with isolation and uncertainty, Chabad des Étudiants became a lifeline for these young men and women.
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SUPPORTING
LONG-TERM ELDERCARE
DONALD BERMAN MAIMONIDES FOUNDATION & DONALD BERMAN JEWISH ELDERCARE FOUNDATION
“The impact of these donations goes well beyond the physical comfort, conveniences, and much needed sugar rushes they provided; knowing that there are groups of people appreciating the long and heart-wrenching hours of work we are doing was very gratifying - especially on the days when we felt like we were waging a losing battle.” Those are the words of a Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Centre staff member who spent the pandemic working 14-hour days, caring for very sick people with seemingly no end in sight. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eldercare staff found themselves on the brink of burnout, which is why they turned to the Donald Berman Maimonides Foundation and the Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Foundation. These two foundations provide financial resources and leadership programs to improve the quality of life for senior residents residing at their long-term care facilities. During the pandemic, they connected with Federation CJA to meet the growing needs of front-line staff: safety, health and food. With support from volunteers, Project Feel the Love was created to help support the front-line staff who were working diligently If you haven’t been through it firsthand, to meet the challenging demands of tending the idea of getting something small such to seniors during lockdown. The project supported seven long-term care sites part as homemade cookies may seem like a silly of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, little comfort but when you’re working providing meals to front-line workers, around the clock to help incredibly groceries, compression socks, masks, hand vulnerable people, they are so much more sanitizers and other necessities for them than that. They are symbols telling us those to do their job in relative comfort and people who are not with us physically are security. The community came together with us in spirit – and that helped us to get to make thousands of baked goods for staff to feel appreciated. Federation CJA through those tough days. supported logistics, storage, distribution, and leveraged their network to help the - A Donald Berman Maimonides staff member Foundations to fully support their staff – and by extension, their vulnerable seniors. 22
JEWISH IDENTITY OVERVIEW
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a threat to many Jewish families who might have had to withdraw from core Jewish experiences, like attending Jewish day schools and camps, were it not for the support from Federation CJA. Working together with humility, grace and a desire to maintain Jewish life is essential. This is why Federation CJA supported the many organizations, schools and camps that are vital to preserving Jewish identity. Below is an overview of how Federation CJA collaborated with our Jewish day schools and a number of summer camps to ensure individuals and families could continue participating in important Jewish experiences throughout the pandemic.
JEWISH EDUCATION
JEWISH DAY SCHOOLS
When the pandemic’s stay-at-home order came into effect, all schools had to close their doors with next to no notice, and schools found themselves having to come up with an immediate plan to ensure students could continue learning. At the same time, a new challenge emerged - schools received dozens of calls daily and experienced a surge in requests for financial assistance as this new reality created a major financial burden for parents who lost their jobs or had their hours at work reduced. To stay up to date on the challenges schools and their families were facing, Federation CJA maintained daily communication with each school. When needs emerged, Federation CJA provided support. In 2020, the COVID-19 Relief Fund allocated $2.4 M to the 13 Jewish day schools on a per capita basis benefiting all 5,451 students enrolled in our Jewish day schools for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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These funds went to support the increased costs online learning support, additional teachers and to cover the significant losses in fundraising revenue for the schools and increasing tuition assistance for families in need. In addition, to guarantee students’ and staff’s safety, Federation CJA distributed over 362,000 personal protective equipment items donated and redistributed to 19 organizations and the Jewish Day Schools. Federation CJA also procured tablets and other devices for families who did not have the technology required to connect online and continue learning via Zoom. For the 2021-2022 academic year, $1.9 M has been allocated to Jewish day schools from the COVID-19 Relief Fund ensuring that none of the 5,510 students enrolled this year are forced to leave the Jewish day school system.
When COVID-19 hit us back in 2020, and our schools were shut down, we all got to work to get our entire academic process online so that we could continue teaching, and children could keep learning. While all schools had different needs, from the get-go, we knew that the pandemic was going to have an impact on schools for more than one year. To know that Federation CJA had the foresight to not only plan for immediate needs, but that financial support would be needed for the longer term was huge. - Glen Eisenberg, Interim Head of School, Hebrew Foundation School
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Montreal Jewish Day schools are in a unique position in North America, benefiting from an incredible, involved, hands-on organization that cares deeply not only about the community, but about Jewish education. Federation CJA is a pillar of Montreal’s Jewish community in the best of times, but their support during the COVID-19 pandemic has been unparalleled. From invaluable initiatives to financial support, including the Gesher COVID-19 relief program, the leadership of Federation CJA worked tirelessly to ensure that every member of the Montreal Jewish Community is cared for. Whether that meant helping families put food on their table or ensuring that children could continue their Jewish education and everything in between, Federation was always there and continues to answer the call, not just for today but for the future of the Montreal Jewish Community. We at Hebrew Academy are truly blessed to have such incredible support for our school, our families and our children. May you go from strength to strength. - Linda Lehrer, Executive Director, Hebrew Academy & Dr. Laura Segall, Head of School, Hebrew Academy
DAY 13 JEWISH SCHOOLS pencil-alt BOOK
SUPPORTED DURING COVID-19:
Académie Yéchiva Yavné
École Première Mesifta du Canada
Akiva School
Hebrew Academy
Azrieli Schools Talmud Torah / Herzliah
Hebrew Foundation School
Belz Community School Beth Jacob School
Jewish People’s and Peretz Schools (JPPS) / Bialik High School
Beth Rivkah Academy
Solomon Schechter Academy
École Maïmonide
Yeshiva Gedola Merkaz Hatorah de Montréal
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GIVING KIDS BACK THEIR SUMMER
JEWISH CAMPS
Camp is something every child daydreams about during the school year – a special time when they get to play outside, spend all day with friends, and just be kids. But in 2020 when all overnight camps were canceled at the last minute, those daydreams were shattered. For overnight camps, this meant furloughing staff and returning campership fees while still being obligated to pay for camp costs – a significant financial burden. Day camps that did operate in 2020 had to do so with many restrictions and faced financial challenges due to reduced capacity. In 2020, Federation CJA and the JCF, through the Jewish Day Camp Relief Grants, a COVID-19 relief initiative, provided a total of $227,775 to 13 different community organizations, enabling over 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 12 to participate in alternative summer day camps. An additional $491,666 went to help our Jewish overnight camps sustain the financial pressures of having to cancel the summer. When all camps were given the green light to operate in 2021– whether day, overnight or hybrid Federation CJA was committed to ensuring that there was an abundance of camping opportunities available to meet Jewish Montrealers’ needs and interests, all in accordance with safety protocols and standards put in place by the government. The Jewish Day Camp Relief Grants provided almost $1,000,000 to 29 overnight and day camps, enabling more than 3,000 children to have a summer to remember. Jewish overnight camps were provided with PPE, additional funds to cover COVID-19
1,700,000
$
provided to
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overnight and day camps Cloud-sunmoon
expenses, support to help international staff quarantine in advance of camp and increased dollars to provide additional support for camp tuition assistance. Funds also enabled day camps to hire more staff to meet required camper-staff ratios, opened additional spots for children living with disabilities and provided camp tuition assistance to more families.
The importance of Jewish summer camp is well known, however summer 2021 the importance was paramount. Our kids needed once again the ability to be free, enjoy the wonders of nature, learn to socialize once again and allow themselves to grow after the isolation of the pandemic. The importance of camp for parents this year was also immeasurable. Thanks to Federation CJA, camp was able to be all that and more for our kids, young adults and parents. There would have been no 100th summer at Camp B’nai Brith had it not been for Federation CJA. Because of this support there will be 100 more. - Josh Pepin, Executive Director, Camp B’nai Brith
After spending every single moment with my boys for the last 16 months, it was hard to say goodbye on their first day of camp. Although I missed them terribly, I am eternally grateful that they had the opportunity to finally be kids again… playing and laughing together with friends. As an alumnus of CBB myself, I can remember getting off the bus on the first day of camp filled with excitement about the summer to come. I know that my boys experienced this same feeling and would make memories that would last a lifetime. - A parent of two boys who attended Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal in summer 2021
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OVERNIGHT CAMPS SUPPORTED DURING COVID-19: Beth Rivkah Summer Camp
Camp Noam
Camp Benyamin
Camp Orh Menachem
Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal
Camp Pardas Chana
Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa
Camp Sheves Achim
Camp Bnos Shoshana
Camp Simcha
Camp Chaya
Camp Vélo
Camp Gan Israel
Free Hebrew Day Camp
Camp Geula
Friendship Circle Summer Camp
Camp Kadima
Harry Bronfman Y Country Camp
Camp Kavod
JPPS-Bialik Summer Sports Program
Camp Kinneret
Mesifta Day Camp
Camp Lifeline Montreal
Machane Kayitz
Camp Massad
Segal Centre Day Camp
Camp Mishiwaka
Yaldei Summer Adventure Day Camp
Camp Mishpaha
Yaldei Sleep Away Summer Camp
Camp Nearim
Y City Camp
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MENTAL HEALTH OVERVIEW
The mental health toll of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt worldwide. People from all walks of life were impacted by lockdowns, fear of infection, isolation, and feelings of total uncertainty. Recognizing the toll that extended lockdowns and social distancing were having on mental health, Federation CJA, in partnership with the JCF, awarded Mental Health and Isolation Reduction grants to thirty organizations to fund innovative programs and projects aimed at alleviating pandemic-induced stress, mental health concerns, and isolation over the winter months of 2021. In total $480,039 was allocated to run dozens of programs, impacting thousands of community members. The following are examples of some of the organizations and their initiatives that received funding.
The Federation CJA CEO made daily calls to the [agency] Executive Directors, and he was very transparent, clear and supportive of what the agencies needed to do in order to ensure the most vulnerable will be taken care of no matter what. - Dominique McCaughey, CEO of Agence Omet
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HOW EVERYONE
PULLED TOGETHER
AGENCE OMETZ
As a Jewish human services agency that reaches more than 13,000 people annually, Agence Ometz is a vital support system for its clients. Ometz offers social, employment, counseling, and immigration services to help individuals, families, and young adults fulfill their potential. As early as January 2020, when the news that a novel coronavirus was spreading quickly overseas, Ometz began to take action. The agency sat down with the Cummings Centre to ponder the what-ifs and what this could potentially mean for their most vulnerable clients. Uncertainty about whether all systems would go down, whether all services and amenities would have to close, whether people would be able to secure essentials and whether their clients would be able to access in-person services were top of mind. With memories of what it was like during the Ice Storm of 1998, Ometz, began by looking at a map of Montreal and strategically considered the different scenarios and how they would meet clients’ needs as they emerged.
brain
111% increase in demand for mental health services
When COVID-19 took hold in Montreal and Quebec in March 2020, Ometz, in conjunction with the Cummings Centre and Federation CJA, began to meet daily to plan how to handle the different challenges. The first issues to emerge were food security, the need for information and concerns about isolation. Together a Community Helpline was quickly set up; a crew of staff and Federation CJA volunteers was put together to help shop and deliver groceries and other essentials to those affected by the stay-home orders; food vouchers were delivered to those in need and frequent phone calls were made to the most vulnerable, ensuring all were safe. With support from their IT team, Ometz pivoted quickly to providing support online to those in need, not missing one day of service. This was crucial for clients to receive the support they so desperately needed, and to stay in regular contact with someone who cared about their well-being. By working closely with Federation CJA, Ometz was able to provide services throughout the pandemic more efficiently and effectively, so no one felt forgotten. Within the first few months of the pandemic, Ometz experienced a steep 111% increase in demand for mental health services from both existing and new clients. Federation CJA, the JCF and social service agencies, including Ometz helped to develop the Gesher program, an initiative to ensure that newly vulnerable families got the financial support they needed to cope through the crisis. As feelings of isolation and overwhelming stress rose, mental health took a toll, Federation CJA, the JCF, with agency executive directors, also including Ometz, devised a new program to address mental health and isolation over winter 2021 months. Agence Ometz received $183,760 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund. With this financial support Ometz was able to add additional resources to help with the case overload and develop additional programming in three key areas: Mental Health Support Services, School and Group Services and Counseling Services. All of these services aimed to reduce social isolation and address mental health challenges, which positively impacted the lives of parents, children and young adults.
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SUPPORTING
OUR SENIORS
THE CUMMINGS CENTRE
The Cummings Centre, a community organization that enhances the quality of life of adults aged 50 and over, went into planning mode well before public health directives led to the closing of their physical doors in March 2020. Working alongside Federation CJA and Ometz, the Cummings Centre began strategizing how they would provide emergency services for seniors at large and continue to provide support to the seniors in the community that they serve should the city go into lockdown. When the pandemic was declared, the Cummings Centre was front and center, working side by side with Federation CJA to determine what the immediate needs of our seniors were. Ensuring vulnerable seniors received groceries and other necessities, making friendly check-in calls, assessing client needs, delivering isolation activity kits, and continuing to deliver social services virtually were top priorities. The Cummings Centre was a key partner with Federation CJA and Ometz in creating the Community Helpline, an emergency response to the pandemic. For the 50+ community, the pandemic felt especially challenging and it was, therefore, no surprise that most callers to the helpline were older adults. Recognizing that mental health and isolation were being impacted by the pandemic, Federation CJA, the JCF and select agencies, including the Cummings Centre, devised a new program to address mental health and isolation over the winter 2021 months. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Cummings Centre has been experiencing significant increases in demand for services from members of the community, in particular those aged 55+ who live with a mental health diagnosis. This led to longer wait times and increased waitlists for these community members to gain access to services. With $72,000 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, the Cummings Centre was able to hire an additional Mental Health Case Manager. This enabled the Centre to reduce the number of clients on their waitlist, to take on more urgent cases and to offer remote mental health support including one-on-one and virtual group sessions, wellness tools and community support groups. In January 2021 there were 43 individuals on the waitlist and today all who were on the waitlist
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have been assessed and assigned to a Case Worker. With the addition of a new Case Manager, the Cummings Centre was also able to add an additional art therapy group in partnership with Concordia University and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. According to one community member who received support, “All of the group activities were very helpful in dealing with social isolation, which is a feature of the pandemic. The opportunity to interact with others, to express myself creatively, all of that was stimulating and even vital at times. Overall, this was a very positive experience since I joined the community mental health program. It was a great addition to my week.”
The financial assistance provided by Federation CJA this past year, which left so many older adults and seniors vulnerable, allowed the Cummings Centre to eliminate obstacles and wait lists for community mental health services. Through online support groups, case management and essential services delivery, Cummings Centre’s Social Services team and staff worked tirelessly to help reduce social isolation and made a significant impact on the lives of so many individuals. - Pauline Grunberg, Executive Director, Cummings Centre.
SUPPORTING
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
JEM WORKSHOP INC.
For individuals living with disabilities, the COVID-19 pandemic felt filled with setbacks – emotionally, physically and mentally. There were days when many people felt they were on the brink of crisis. For the 80 adults with different abilities employed by JEM Workshop Inc. (JEM), COVID-19 restrictions were beyond challenging. JEM is an adapted workplace that provides training, meaningful employment and vocational support to adults living with intellectual, physical and mental health challenges. Throughout
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the COVID-19 pandemic, JEM had to overcome numerous hurdles including a two-month forced shut down, which led to a significant loss in revenue and to many workers feeling devastated at the loss of meaningful work. This loss was compounded by the fact that sudden, extreme isolation was especially difficult for employees who live alone. Due to the strict health and safety measures required upon reopening, JEM lost 26% of its workforce to retirement, illness, and the inability to cope with the new protocols. JEM had to adapt its schedule and adhere to the constantly shifting COVID-19 rules while witnessing their employees steadily lose their morale. It was clear that more intense mental health supports were required for their team. With support from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, $42,489 was allocated to JEM to create a Winter Wellness Program and hire an Assistant Social Counsellor. The Winter Wellness program provided employees with activities and special gifts that brought joy and positivity back to the workplace and appreciation for their hard work. The Assistant Social Counsellor has much needed additional psychosocial support to all employees. Workshop volunteer Rhonda Friedman experienced the impact of Winter Wellness firsthand: “The social isolation felt throughout the pandemic has been so significant for the world, but more so for this clientele. I was here for most of it, and it was a dark place. Winter Wellness really gave light to each of the workers. It gave them something to enjoy and to celebrate because nothing was going on. You could feel their excitement. Everybody was so happy!”
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No one could have imagined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our workers. Reopening was the only option, as JEM is literally a lifeline for them. Thankfully, the support we received from Federation CJA helped us manage the crisis, navigate through some very difficult and uncertain times, and support our workers every step of the way. - Maia Cooper, Executive Director, JEM Workshop Inc.
SUPPORTING
THE SEGAL CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS
YOUTH PROGRAMS IN THE ARTS
The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to nurturing, producing and presenting world-class English-language theatre and to showcasing the best professional artists from Montreal and beyond. In addition to live theatre, the Segal Centre also offers performing arts classes for children. Like all live event venues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Segal Centre stopped all programs and closed its doors for most of 2020 and 2021. However, during the winter months of 2021, to alleviate the strain on parents and their young children who were essentially trapped at home, the Segal Centre came up with a plan: have two performers lead an online dance party for preschoolers. This is how “Hoppin’ and Poppin’” started: a 15-minute virtual dance party hosted by professional actors, which occurred every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on YouTube Live at 5 PM. Once the program started, parents joined their children for 15 minutes to let loose, dance, and laugh all together with their online community. The Segal Centre received $18,000 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, of which $10,000 helped them hire professional actors to lead the “Hoppin’ and Poppin’ segment. The Segal Centre was able to expand its reach and help families reduce stress and enjoy themselves through a lively activity on a regular basis during the winter months. Parents were appreciative of having a program like this for children stuck at home.
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SUPPORTING
CHABAD LIFELINE
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed another ongoing and devastating epidemic of substance addiction, which grew exponentially and wreaked havoc on individuals and families already experiencing trying times. Inevitably, the need for support for those afflicted with addiction rose dramatically. This was the experience of Chabad Lifeline – a non-sectarian agency dedicated to helping anyone affected by addiction. With the increase in demand for
services and wait times, Chabad Lifeline needed to hire additional counselors. Parents also expressed a growing concern that their children were becoming addicted to technology in the absence of being able to participate in social or sporting activities. To combat the rising dependency on technology for children, Chabad Lifeline received $37,500 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund to implement a 10-week workshop to facilitate communication between parents and their children through different types of exercises ranging from counseling to creative arts. The funds also helped Chabad hire a specialist to work with children in the workshops, as well as a counselor to train staff on how to deal with COVID-19-related issues. With this additional support, Chabad Lifeline was able to provide essential services for vulnerable community members while preventing their valuable staff members from burning out.
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50 ENGAGING THE
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AVREICHIM TORAH INSTITUTE
JEWISH COMMUNITY For some Orthodox families who do not have internet or television, finding new outlets for their children to expend their energy and occupy their time while confined to the inside during the winter months of 2021 was a challenge. This is where Avreichim Torah Institute came up with a plan. Reaching out to over 200 families, Avreichim Torah asked how they could help support parents to keep their children engaged and feel less isolated. The solution – provide guitars and piano keyboards to families to keep children busy. With $12,600 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, one of the initiatives that Avreichim Torah Institute launched was the Musical Instruments for Youth Program, which provided 50 electric keyboards and guitars to families so children could learn a new skill and keep them occupied. A parent shared the following “This winter a guitar came to our house, went quickly from one child to another, everybody trying a note here and there. One of my children installed an app to learn music and we followed the instructions till very late at night. We gratefully received a second guitar. The practice never stopped. I cannot describe the joy and pride those two guitars brought to our home.”
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BRINGING
WARMTH AND TOGETHERNESS
CHABAD
TO THE COMMUNITY
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 Relief Fund has allocated $1,846,360 to 31 Chabad organizations across the island of Montreal, from Saint-Lazare to Quebec City, and to Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships. Here is but one example of how ROHR Chabad of NDG brought some warmth to residents of NDG.
Just when you think that you cannot stand it anymore… you need warmth, care, hugs – a hot soup from Chabad arrives at your door! Just like that. - A recipient of soup
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When the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the community, ROHR Chabad of NDG had to stop all its traditional in-person events and figure out what its role would be in helping people out during such a difficult time. They quickly realized that they could enter people’s hearts by going to them. With a portion of the $12,350 ROHR Chabad NDG received from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, ROHR Chabad NDG was able to expand its innovative, yet soul comforting, Soup Me Up Program. Each week during the winter months, volunteers prepared delicious and healthy soups in the synagogue kitchen and delivered them to community members in the neighbourhood. Soups were delivered to dozens of households. The Soup Me Up Program is an example of how a small act can have such a large impact on a community, reducing feelings of isolation and filling the sense of spiritual void with love, warmth, and positivity.
MAINTAINING A
SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DORSHEI EMET
When Dorshei Emet community members were unable to meet in person and socialize, many began to feel isolated and lonely. In light of this, Dorshei Emet ramped up its efforts to reduce this growing sense of isolation and ran a series of virtual programs for their congregation members. With a portion of the $14,450 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, one of the programs Dorshei Emet was able to launch was the Winter Wellness Series, a blend of 13 different virtual programs to help break up the monotony of being at home over the winter months. Their series not only attracted synagogue members, but friends from abroad also partook in some of the virtual sessions. The most popular session “Brunch in Paris”, which featured a virtual tour of Jewish Paris, had more than 450 attendees from Montreal and around the world. Not only did this lighten participants’ moods, but it also enabled participants to “get away” during a time when it was impossible to travel. The series had a wonderful impact on the community who now wish to continue with these types of programs.
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virtual programs
I so appreciate being able to join in these Zoom sessions. They help in so many ways, as we navigate through COVID-19. The added bonus is hearing from people around our world. - One participant
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REDUCING STIGMAS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH TBDJ SHABBATON
To take care of others, we need to take care of ourselves. The symposium reminded me of the importance of being mindful of my own well-being so I can be there for my community. - A participant of her experience participating in the TBDJ Shabbaton
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Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (TBDJ) in Montreal runs an annual Shabbaton – a community event that brings together synagogues, schools and community mental health organizations across North America - to learn about and discuss relevant issues related to mental health. This event took on greater meaning when the pandemic was sweeping through the city in 2020, and again in 2021, forcing the annual Shabbaton to go virtual. With a grant of $6,000 in 2021, the TBDJ was able to engage more participants both from the local community and from abroad. The Shabbaton began with a Thursday evening Mental Health Symposium with speakers from OMETZ, Ami-Quebec and the TBDJ’s own Rabbi Freundlich. More than 1,000 students from 20 high schools and members from 50 synagogues across North America participated. Students benefited enormously from the Shabbaton as it opened up the conversation around different aspects of mental health during a period of intense isolation and provided a safe way for everyone to express themselves, connect and communicate freely with each other in a caring and supportive virtual environment.
Participants included:
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students from 20 high schools and members from 50 synagogues across North America.
FOSTERING FRIENDSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY
For youth living with disabilities, the pandemic meant a total loss of routine, access to educational programs and important therapies. Leading up to the winter months this intensified as many children living with disabilities did not have the opportunity to socialize and have fun like other children. The Friendship Circle, a non-profit organization that provides assistance and support to young people with special needs and their families, knew they had to find a new way to counteract the isolation the center’s children were experiencing and get them engaged in activities again. With $34,400 from the COVID-19 Relief Fund, $10,000 was used to subsidize the cost of the FriendshipMobile, an idea on wheels, over the winter months. The program, Friends in the Neighborhood, brings together teen volunteers and children of the Friendship Circle to socialize and engage in fun and safe activities. Inside the FriendshipMobile together they do arts and crafts, play games and enjoy music. The FriendshipMobile also made a special effort to visit children on their birthdays, and in doing so, brought excitement and normalcy to otherwise trying times. The incredible positive impact of this program was felt by everyone but especially the participants. The FriendshipMobile helped to fight isolation, lift spirits and improve the overall mental and emotional wellbeing of youth during these challenging times.
THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
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FEDERATION CJA VOLUNTEERS heart heart
Our volunteers came together in the most incredible ways to support and care for one another.
hand-holding-heart Our community is extremely special. It was about staying connected while doing something impactful. - Ruth Bensimon Choueke
Throughout the pandemic, almost 1,000 volunteers were mobilized, putting the needs of others before their own and their own safety aside for the greater good. Volunteers gathered to pack and deliver groceries and food baskets; others dropped off food vouchers and essentials directly to community members’ homes. Volunteers were dispatched to Zera Café, MADA, and The Family Store to help on the front lines. Others made friendly phone calls to our seniors to check in on their well-being. Our youth were also involved in creating cards of encouragement for front-line workers and kindness boards for seniors’ residences. With a desire to make an impact, and to provide an outlet to help with their own feelings of isolation, it was our volunteers who brainstormed ideas to bring a little light and support to Montrealers. The Baking It Forward project involved dozens of volunteers who baked thousands of treats for front-line workers. Activity and Boredom Buster Kits were developed and delivered by volunteers to our seniors and children living with a disability. The Balcony Summer Concert and Warm Hands involved volunteers, bringing joy to recipients while creating stronger connections to the community. For many, this was their first time volunteering, experiencing first-hand the impact that a friendly visit with a food box or gift card during an extraordinary time would have on individuals. As one volunteer shared, it’s about “paying it forward”. “Community is so much richer by volunteering. When you get involved, you understand the impact you are making.” Gilles Elhadad “Making calls to check in on seniors from our community made me feel better. Everyone that I spoke to was so grateful and appreciative for the calls. I think that I got more out of making those calls than the recipients – they lifted up my spirits and made me feel as though I had a purpose during the early days of the pandemic!” Cheryl Brownstein 42
M E RCI - TODA - T HA NK YO U
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THANK YOU TO OUR
CORPORATE SPONSORS
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