April 12, 2024 / Nissan 4, 5784

Shabbat Begins 7:44 p.m. Shabbat Ends: 8:53 p.m.

THE ISRAEL TRIP WE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE - WE HAD TO TAKE

After months of hoping that the situation in Israel would return to ‘normal’, we realized that this was not to be and we had to cancel our Grade 10 Student Israel Trip. There was no alternative as the site of our sister school, Har Vagai, was closed as the majority of its students had been evacuated from their homes as Hezbollah rockets forced them further south to be safe. After more months of texting with our friends at Har Vagai, especially their Principal, Ravit Rosenthal, we knew we had to go visit. It was a long way to go to share a hug and some tears, but we could tell they needed it, and it felt the least we could do to honour 16 years of close friendship - to be there for them in their time of need.

Our students rallied around this cause as did our families. Proceeds from the RAC Benefit Concert and a special non-uniform day raised over $2600. King David raised this total to $7500 using funds we had set aside to do things with the Israeli students who could no longer visit us this year. The money was to be given to support student and staff emotional wellness - and until we were there we did not truly understand how much this support was needed.

With a main goal to share hugs, and moral and financial support with our sister school, and with equally important goals to pay our respects to our murdered alumnus, Ben Mizrachi, and to visit with every King David alumni family member we could find. Dorin Eilon-Heiber, who along with me 16 years ago started our annual Grade 8 Trip to Israel, headed to Israel with our partners, If'at Eilon-Heiber and Deborah Youngson. We had to take extra suitcases to pack all of the presents.

In the end, the trip we did not want to take was everything we hoped it would be. We shared hugs and support to so many. We were Jewish – we fed people! We felt Jewish – there were no Palestinian Flags or signs taped to lamp posts. We walked around and said “Shabbat Shalom, Boker Tov, Beseder” and we were fully welcomed everywhere. So many people thanked us for being there. Our friends up North felt our love. We shared our tears for Ben and the people of Kibbutz Be’eri and to all of the displaced Israelis. And we shared hugs and smiles with 26 alumni, 8 alumni spouses, 3 alumni children, 9 alumni parents and 2 special friends (Rabbi Berger’s son Baruch Nissim and his wife Esti). This was not our trip, not the trip of Dorin, If’at, Deborah and Russ. This was a trip for all of us from King David and Vancouver. Thank you all for being there with us.

One final thing – even though it may be clear in photos I wanted to thank every alumni who joined us – we were so uplifted to see you and we look forward to seeing you on many more trips to Israel or when you return home to us in Vancouver (spouse and children noted in brackets).

CLASS OF 2006

Nicole Grubner

(Victoria, Alma & Emmi)

CLASS of 2015

Kai Balin

Daniel Milton

(Nechama & Ahuva)

CLASS OF 2020

Romy Ashkenazy

CLASS OF 2009

Danielle Ardon

CLASS OF 2016

Hana Balshin

Aria Smordin (Dani)

CLASS of 2022

Adeena Rosenblatt

CLASS of 2012

Alex Berger (Ori)

David Rosengarten

(Nechama)

CLASS OF 2017

Josh Bugis

Karen Fichmann

Eli Friedland (Ariel)

Davina Milton (Yaakov)

Elizabeth Raichlin (Assael)

CLASS OF 2023

Eitan Belson

Yair Cohen

Yair Infeld

Max Kimel

Adam Sussman

CLASS OF 2013

Ben Ames

CLASS OF 2018

Daniela Neuman

CLASS OF 2014

Sari Pullan

CLASS OF 2019

Rebecca Laskin

MOVED TO ISRAEL BEFORE GRADUATION

Ishay Levin

Yaara Levin

Alumni Parents: Orly Ashkenazy, Myriam Freedman, Phillipa Friedland, Brenda and Reuben Grubner, Claudio Grubner, Hodie Kahn, Zena Milton, and Elena Raichlin

~ Russ Klein, Head of School

To read Russ's full reflection and to see more photos from the trip, click here

MAIMONIDES MOOT BEIT DIN IN NEW YORK CITY!

Last week, 12 students in the Grade 11 Independent Judaic Studies class travelled to New York to participate in the Moot Court Competition where we debated contemporary cases using Jewish legal wisdom. We had a blast! Our trip started by visiting the Ohel, where we visited the graves of the Lubavitcher Rebbi and his wife. Throughout the drive, we learned all about Judaism in New York. It was an enriching and meaningful experience. On the way to our lunch stop, we drove by the Jewish neighbourhood of Williamsburg. It took us a few minutes for the shock to pass after seeing how big of a Jewish community New York has.

Times Square was our next stop. We all loved walking around the big city, shopping, and of course, taking many photos. Finally, we made our way to the hotel where we met all 200 of the other Jewish students participating in the Moot competition. The next three days were extremely meaningful and educational!

On Friday, we visited the Museum of Natural History, followed by a big Shabbat dinner with everyone in the competition. Saturday consisted of Torah studies and Shabbat lessons. We had the option of attending different seminars and learning from the different Rabbis from all over North America. Finally, our Beit Din competition was on Sunday. For the first time in King David's history, we were able to bring back a trophy! Big Mazal Tov to Netanel Herman, Isabelle Levsky, Maya Bernal, and Fina Stolowic (below) for placing second! We are so proud of our class for all the hard work we put into this competition. We had so much fun in New York, we loved meeting so many new people and learning more about our Jewish culture!

~ Maayan Greif

FUN IN THE SUN

Grade 9 and 10 students enjoyed the good weather at Lynn Valley Canyon and Quarry Rock.

MAZAL TOV, MAYA!

This past weekend, Maya Koenigbaur competed at the Elite B.C. Provincial National and Western Stream Championship in Burnaby. She performed three routines and was awarded the top combined score, making her the provincial champion in her category.

Maya will now represent Aura Rhythmic Gymnastics Club at the Western Canada Stream Competition in Winnipeg. She will compete against athletes from across Western Canada.

We are proud of Maya's hard work, determination, and dedication to her sport. She has also excelled in balancing her schoolwork with intense year-round training. Kol Hakavod, Maya, and good luck at the Western Canada competition.

STRONG PLAY BY OUR SENIOR GIRLS' SOCCER TEAM!

The Senior Girls' Soccer team is now 2-0 with two games played this season! We have seen some solid play, given that we are one of the younger teams in the league. We will be vying for a chance to win LMISSGSA and our Zone Championships with the hopes of attending provincials in Kamloops in May.

The photo below shows Emma Rossman taking the ball forward. Go Lions!

KOL HAKAVOD, LIONS!

Kol Hakavod to our Senior Boys' Basketball team on another remarkable season, achieving 2nd place in the Sea to Sky Highway Zone Championships, 2nd place in the GVISAA championships, and 5th place in the BC "A" Senior Boys Provincial Championships.