A Changing of the Guard at Jewish Family Services
Leah Kinarthy steps down from the Presidency
Leah Kinarthy
Seven is a significant number in the Jewish faith. The Sabbath is the culmination of the seven-day week, the Menorah in the Temple had seven branches, the Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) are recited at Jewish weddings. And so it is only fitting that after seven years as president of Jewish Family Services of Vancouver Island (JFSVI), Leah Kinarthy has decided to step down.
Leah brought an intense passion and drive for helping others to her role at JFSVI, and did so with a generous heart, strong will, formidable leadership and boundless creativity. A great amount of effort goes into sustaining JFSVI, requiring fundraising, program development, internet and community presence, and hands-on work by many volunteers. Leah has led the way, offering an example to us all.
Joining JFSVI at a time of turmoil, since taking the helm, Leah has made JFSVI into an organization that can boast a stronger presence on Vancouver Island and nearby. Through her efforts we have grown to support more clients with greater resources, to assist Holocaust survivors in our region, and developed a thriving market, the Saanich Green Market.
The current volunteer Board at JFSVI, all of us brought aboard by her indefatigable recruitment efforts, wishes to express to Leah our deep gratitude for her leadership, her hard work and enormous efforts on behalf of our clients and community. We also wish to thank Leah’s family members – all of whom have also helped JFSVI at one time or another – all the best as they turn their attention to important and vital personal matters. To honor her efforts, JFSVI will be making a contribution to Magen David Adom on behalf of Leah and her family.
JFSVI is also saying goodbye to Phyllis Chuly who has served as our capable Treasurer for the past seven years. Working hand in hand with Leah, Phyllis has been a rock for our organization, ensuring that our finances are in order, but also going far beyond that role as an active volunteer and supporter of our clients. Her capabilities, goodwill and hard work remain a model for this board. Even after retiring from JFSVI, Phyllis has continued to assist us, and has been been kind and generous in offering advice and the fruits of her experience. We thank Phyllis and wish her great success in all of her future endeavours.
Another capable board member, Sarah McCagherty, who served as Secretary of the board, is also leaving us. Sarah’s organizational aptitude, as well as her professional presence and demeanour, have helped the board throughout her tenure. Over the past several months as we have been addressing the changing of the guard with Leah on leave and Phyllis having retired, Sarah took on an important leadership role and has helped us immensely in steadying the ship. We thank Sarah for all she has done for JFSVI and wish her only great things!
New members of our community have stepped in to take over key roles. Yariv Kohn, relatively new to Victoria and most recently Treasurer at JFSVI, is the incoming President. Leslie Garber, also a newcomer to Victoria, will take over the Treasurer role, and Sandra Novak, a recent arrival to our fair city as well, is the incoming Secretary. Professor April Nowell, Dr. Leonard Bazar and Leon Zettler round out the team on the all-volunteer JFSVI Board of Directors.
We are all excited about our current projects, providing assistance to clients throughout Vancouver Island and nearby islands, offering support to Holocaust survivors, and growing our Saanich Green Market – a community space with fresh food, music, and friends. The entire JFSVI Board is looking forward to developing and enhancing our important organization, as well as growing the range of services that we offer. Our goal, as always, is to help those who deserve our support, with dignity and respect. We invite those who wish to contribute as volunteers, board members or donors to reach out and introduce yourselves at reachout@jfsvi.ca!
Yariv Kohn
President, Jewish Family Services of Vancouver Island