Community Crisis Response Fund
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Federation CJA and the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) have launched an emergency fund to support our most at-risk community members, with all money raised going to the agencies and community partners who are on the frontlines of this crisis.

Source: Federation CJA

This week's 360 includes coverage of local Yom Hashoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut events. Plus a beautiful video of Montreal Jews singing "Hatikvah" on their balconies and porches, and more. Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat Candlelight May 1 | 7:44 PM

One community. One anthem. One voice.
Thank you to everyone who participated in Federation CJA's Yom Ha'atzmaut initiative and filmed themselves singing "Hatikvah" on their balconies and porches Wednesday morning to celebrate Israel's 72^nd birthday.

Source: Federation CJA

Montrealers commemorate Yom Hashoah virtually
The Suburban covers the annual ceremony run by the Montreal Holocaust Museum (an affiliated agency of Federation CJA).

Source: The Suburban

Montrealers remember Israel's fallen virtually
During the ceremony, Federation CJA's CEO Yair Szlak said the community "remembers and mourns the lives lost... the men, women, children, the fathers, mothers, the brothers and sisters who laid down their lives so that we, the Jewish people, can live freely whether in Israel or in the diaspora. These lives were not lost in vain."

Source: Federation CJA

Yom Ha'atzmaut message from Canadian leaders [video in English and French]
Enjoy this video of Israel's Canadian friends from Coast to Coast, from all levels of government, multi-partisan and bilingual, wishing Israel a Happy Independence Day.

Source: Israel in Montreal

Intel Israel engineers alleviate elderly loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic
The newly-developed product, dubbed "Mechubarim" (Hebrew for "connected"), may be described as a "smart intercom" that connects older people to their family at the push of a button.

Source: Daron Calo (YouTube)

NYC Mayor de Blasio criticized for tweet calling out 'Jewish community'
De Blasio was responding to a funeral that had drawn hundreds of Orthodox Jews to the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to mourn a rabbi who died of the coronavirus.

Source: The Jerusalem Post

Coronavirus-free South African nursing home says Kaddish, names babies for those under lockdown
Read about how elderly Jewish residents in Johannesburg have been able to continue gathering together as a quorum to say prayers on behalf of Jews worldwide who cannot recite them themselves due to quarantine.

Source: The Times of Israel

7 Female Jewish doctors who changed history
At a time when medical professionals are at the forefront of confronting a global health crisis, an especially inspiring list of pioneering female Jewish doctors, who served as leaders in fields including neurobiology, pharmacy and biochemistry.

Source: Alma

Baron de Hirsch Cemetery: Pre-paid floral arrangements
In order to guarantee your request, all orders must be in by May 15, 2020. Click here for more information.

Source: Baron de Hirsch- Back River Cemeteries

Source: Federation CJA

Federation CJA and the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) together have funded and collaborated with over 41 different agencies and community partners in order to provide immediate support for vulnerable members of the Jewish community. To date, we have deployed upwards of $1,000,000 to our agencies and community partners in order to accomplish the following.

To address the growing needs of our most vulnerable, we:

• Purchased over $600,000 in food cards to distribute to clients of our agencies, specifically to address the 52% increase in individuals who identified as newly vulnerable due to the crisis when calling our hotline.
  
• Provided 8,000 people with basic necessities including groceries and kosher meals.
  
• Made 16,000+ calls to community members (AGE 60+) to ensure their well-being, including 5,500 individuals who have been called at least 3 times and matched with a volunteer buddy.

Click here to see more about the impact of the Community Crisis Response Fund.

But there is still so much to do! Click here if you would like to volunteer.