Literature produced by a group of Vancouver Jews calls their city the most Jewishly active city ever to host a Winter Olympics, and many in the 30,000-strong community are gearing up for the games from Feb. 12 to 28.
Synagogues are organizing Shabbat dinners for visitors. Several events will introduce the community to the three participating Israeli athletes.
A local Jewish woman, Karen James, who competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics in swimming, will be among the last torch bearers carrying the Olympic flame on its way to B.C. Stadium for the opening ceremonies.
On Feb. 14, in a ceremony in Vancouver, James will light a candle in memory of the 11 Israelis who were killed at the hands of Palestinian terrorist at the 1972 Summer Games.
Also, the Vancouver Holocaust Centre will run an exhibit highlighting Canada’s dilemma over whether to participate in the so-called Nazi Olympics — the 1936 Games in Berlin.
The history of Jewish Vancouver dates to 1872, with the arrival of the city’s first Jewish settler, Louis Gold. Vancouver’s second mayor, David Oppenheimer, was a German-born Jew who generally is considered the city’s founding father. The first synagogue was built in 1916. Today there are 12 synagogues, in addition to six day schools, three Chabad centers and a community kollel, or subsidized religious study program for adults. — jta