Prayer Services
The Religious Services Committee (RSC) is a vital part of the heart and soul of spiritual life at Congregation Emanu-El. Our volunteers assume many responsibilities—from setting the schedule for weekly Shabbat services, to taking a leadership role in planning Jewish holiday events throughout the year.
Coordinating the High Holiday Services is a key annual function. RSC members also take an active part in leading weekly Shabbat services, e.g. davening Pesukei DeZimrah and Shaharit to Torah reading. Coordinating the light-up of the Yahrzeit Memorial Board on a regular basis is another role.
We meet monthly under the guidance of Rabbi Harry Brechner to discuss, learn, and wrestle with issues of prayer and halakhah (Jewish law), and to plan upcoming events.
In many of our efforts we benefit from the involvement of dedicated volunteers from the larger synagogue community who work hard to make Emanu-El a kehillat kodesh—a holy congregation, and dynamic and spiritual place in which to be.
All are welcome to our services. Feel free to join us on Thursday morning or Shabbat. Your Yiddishe neshama (Jewish soul) will thank you.
Bevirkat shalom – with blessings of peace,
- Aaron Severs, Gabbai
Avodah Social Action
Small & Mighty: The Inspirational Story of Avodah
Avodah volunteers provide monthly “birthday cake and ice-cream” to Our Place, the main centre for homeless and poor people in Victoria. On Jewish holidays, they make latkes and homantashen which are eagerly anticipated by the 200 people who have regular need for the services of Our Place.
Avodah also supports affordable living in Victoria through provision of rent subsidies for homeless or at-risk families with dependent children. Additionally, this committee is responsible for Congregation Emanu-El’s Out of the Rain Program, which provides weekly night shelter to homeless youth. During the coldest months of the year, volunteers produce hot meals for the youth as part of this program.
Avodah is also the force behind frequent drives to collect clothing and food for Victoria’s most vulnerable populations.
Volunteers are always welcome.
To learn more, please contact Janis Diner Brinley at 250-595-8841.
The following video clip and accompanying presenter’s guide showcases our stories to inspire and inform other communities and community groups seeking to implement their own social action initiatives.
You can stream the video in the embedded window above (it may take a few moments to load) or view it in full-screen mode.
The presentation and presenter's guide may also be downloaded. You will need to have video playing software, such as Windows Media Player, Apple QuickTime, VLC media player, or RealPlayer, on your computer.
You can stream the video in the embedded window above (it may take a few moments to load) or view it in full-screen mode.
The presentation and presenter's guide may also be downloaded. You will need to have video playing software, such as Windows Media Player, Apple QuickTime, VLC media player, or RealPlayer, on your computer.
Youth Programs
The Congregation Emanu-El Youth Programs Committee offers programs for youth in two different age groupings:
Kadima is our Middle School age program for preteens and teens in Grades 6, 7, and 8.
United Synagogue Youth (USY) is our High School age program, for youths in Grades 9 through 12.
Both programs are affiliated with the United Synagogue regional and international Youth programs.
Our programming includes local, regional, and international events that promote positive Jewish identity, support leadership growth, and foster life long friendships and connections with other Jewish youth.
Each program has at least one local event per month from October to June. Membership and participation in our USY or Kadima chapters is open to all Jewish Youth living on Vancouver Island.
Our programming includes local, regional, and international events that promote positive Jewish identity, support leadership growth, and foster life long friendships and connections with other Jewish youth.
Each program has at least one local event per month from October to June. Membership and participation in our USY or Kadima chapters is open to all Jewish Youth living on Vancouver Island.
Cemetery & Funerals
Gravesite and Funeral Costs
The cost of the funeral is $12,000 for members and $15,500 for non-members.* This includes confirmation that the next available site at the time of death will be given to you. It includes the entire funeral service, Chevra Kadisha supplies, the funeral home, hearse and all other relevant needs, as well as maintenance of the gravesite and cemetery in perpetuity. It also includes the rabbi’s services as well as all synagogue administrative services. It does not include transportation of the body beyond 40 kilometers, the head stone, or any special care required at the gravesite. The headstone unveiling ceremony, which occurs up to a year after the funeral, is also included. It is possible to make arrangements to purchase a pre-paid funeral through Sands Funeral Home.
Headstones can be ordered from:
Mortimer’s Monumental Works
709 Kings Road, Victoria, B.C. (250) 383-6421
or
Stewart Monumental Works
1403 May Street, Victoria, B.C. (250) 384-3452
Headstones are an additional $600 to $2500. They are generally put in place a year after the funeral. All headstones and grave coverings must be approved by the Congregation's Cemetery Committee. The Rabbi acts as a consultant with regard to headstone wording and proofreading.
Congregation Emanu-El has a longstanding arrangement with:
Sands Funeral Home
1803 Quadra Street
Victoria, B.C. V8T 4B8
(250) 388-5155
www.sandsfuneral.com
* As of May 20, 2021.
NEW: Cemetery Website is up and running
Leah Freedman and Amber Woods have been hard at work constructing a new, totally wonderful and fully searchable website for our historic Jewish Cemetery.
This website, which has burial information and more on every person that we are aware of that is either buried in the cemetery or noted on a gravestone, can be viewed at:
https://jewishcemeteryofvictoriabc.ca/
The process of collecting and correcting information about the people buried in our cemetery has taken many years, and we are very interested in fixing any errors that might be found in the information on the website. You can send an email to jewishcemetery@congregationemanuel.ca with comments and/or additions or corrections.
As well those buried in the cemetery, the website will also host the stories of those people remembered on the Zachor Wall:
https://jewishcemeteryofvictoriabc.ca/zachor-remembrance-wall/
The Cemetery Committee offers our deepest thanks to Leah and Amber for working to bring this amazing project to fruition.
For further information
Please refer to our Cemetery and Funerals brochure for further information. You may feel free to contact Dr. Richard Kool, Jewish Cemetery Committee Chair, if you have questions.
Other links
"Zachor" Remembrance Wall
We are offering a special opportunity to inscribe, in English and/or Hebrew, the names of loved ones who are not buried in our Cemetery into a new Zachor Remembrance Wall and in the upcoming Cemetery website.
For details, and registration, see the Zachor Remembrance Wall form (fillable PDF).
For details, and registration, see the Zachor Remembrance Wall form (fillable PDF).
With the kind support of:
Links
