Meet the People of
Greater Vancouver

Amram and Diana Larviv are Israelis from Haifa, but they have lived in North America since 2003. The Larviv family first moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where Diana’s parents were living. Despite the weather, the family had a great time, but several years later, pursuing a milder climate and an immigration process that was easier than in the United States, they moved to Canada.

Together with their three daughters: Lior, born in 1996, Roni, born in 1998 and Ariel, born in 2000, the family moved to Richmond, BC, this time, to stay.
“I really enjoy the weather here. It’s not too cold and not too hot, it’s just perfect!”, says Diana. “I feel that Canada is a fair country, with an egalitarian society. I feel safe here too—I never ever experienced antisemitism, which I consider important for a Jew when looking for a place to live”, she says.

Nonetheless, what really makes them feel at home is the community: “I love my community, I love my rabbi [R. Levi Varnai], I like the diversity here, having Jews from all around the world. I don’t have enough words to express how happy I am with our community. The people are really helpful. It’s an embracing community—I feel very connected, and part of the Jewish community”, enthuses Diana.

While Diana works in retail, Amram, who is also the gabbai of his shul, The Bayit, works on a recycling site, and their oldest daughter, Lior, is a nutritionist.

If you want to connect with the Larviv family, send an email to: aron@torahwest.com

Yehoshua and Carmela Ben Saadon are originally from Panama City, Panama and in 2016 they moved to Vancouver, where Carmela works as a teacher and Yehoshua is a security manager and licensed paramedic.

They have three boys, Alberto, born in 2011, Daniel, born in 2015 and Gavriel, born in 2021.
As a family, the couple decided to move to Canada to raise their children, and they specifically chose Vancouver because of the weather: “The beauty of nature and the weather are our favorite aspects of living here. There are so many beautiful places to explore in BC!”, explains Carmela.

According to them, the Jewish community in Vancouver is “amazing and unique”. This uniqueness is one of the community’s most notable characteristics: “People here are really kind, no matter what synagogue or shul you attend. We feel that we are all part of one large family”, Carmela observes. “The community is always willing to help and is concerned about everyone’s well-being.”

If you want to connect with the Ben Saadon family, send an email to: aron@torahwest.com

If you want to connect with the Larviv family, send an email to: aron@torahwest.com

Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Laen Avraham Dov Hershler was raised in Vancouver, where he currently works as an educator, researcher and theatre artist. His family is originally from South Africa.

His wife, Tutsi Shefa Hershler, an HR manager, was born in Harare Zimbabwe, and grew up in Waterloo, ON and Johannesburg, South Africa.

The young couple chose Vancouver as their home, where they are raising their children Maya, born in 2018, and Elijah, born in 2020.

Their favorite aspect of Vancouver is the abundance of open spaces, parks, and forests for walking and playing with the kids. “We love the diversity of the neighbourhoods and the architecture. We love taking hour-long walks and noticing the changing styles and colours in the homes”, enthuses Hershler.

Their choice of this city over all others was also influenced by the unity of its Jewish community: “It’s the fact that boundaries between shuls are so porous here, and you will often see Rabbis and teachers teaching at shuls other than their own.” He concludes, “It does give the impression of being like a big family.”

If you want to connect with the Hershlers, send an email to aron@torahwest.com

Deborah and Aron Csaplaros recently tied the knot in 2021. He is a Vancouverite, while Deborah moved here from France after they got married. He is a lawyer and Deborah works as a
humanitarian aid.

The couple couldn’t be happier with the city that they chose to start their family: “If you like hiking, kayaking, biking, skiing, swimming, or camping, Vancouver is the place to be! We just love walking by the ocean to spot seals or watch the sunset. It’s a really clean and beautiful city. And people are very, very friendly here,” said the couple.

The Vancouver Jewish community plays a big role in Deborah’s feeling of being home: “From the moment I moved here, I immediately felt welcome. I found my place in the community very quickly, made a group of friends and started getting involved in our Shul’s activities. Now I’m even giving women’s classes. The community is small compared to some other places in Canada, but everybody knows each other and supports each other in many ways,” says Deborah.

If you want to connect with the Csaplaros family, send an email to:
aron@torahwest.com

Originally from London, UK, Rabbi Shlomo Gabay and his wife Rachel moved to Vancouver five years ago when Rabbi Shlomo was appointed rabbi of Beth Hamidrash synagogue. Rachel is a graphic designer and they are blessed with four girls: Miri, born in 2010, Shifra born in 2011, Chaya born in 2014 and Michal, born in 2022.

The Gabays definitely enjoy the slow-paced rhythm of life here. “Vancouver is beautiful, and the relaxed vibe of the city is one of our favorite things. It’s a safe and relaxed place to bring up the kids”, explains Rachel.
For the couple, the Jewish community here is beyond amazing. “No matter what level of religion, everyone is so warm and accepting of each other. We love that it’s a small community, as we all feel a part of a family. Bringing up the kids in this warm tight-knit community is everything!”

If you want to connect with the Gabay family, send an email to aron@torahwest.com

Rabbi Shmuel “Shmulik” Yeshayahu was born in Israel and received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinate of Israel. Since moving to Vancouver in 2000 he has been providing mentoring, counseling, religious services, classes, and tutorials, as well as developing and leading Jewish programming for unaffiliated young adults.

Rivki Feigelstock Yeshayahu grew up in Vancouver and attended schools in Chicago and Israel before returning to Vancouver in 1999.

Together, they have seven children and are also the young grandparents to Ruvi, born in 2021.

The couple love the mountains and enjoy hiking during the spring, summer, and fall in the beautiful trails and forests of British Columbia.

The family looks forward to the Vancouver Jewish Community expanding and are excited to be part of the growth. “The West Coast vibe is perfect for anyone that loves nature, appreciates a quiet, private lifestyle, and a laid-back community. If you have a pioneering spirit and want to have a positive impact on our Jewish community, while living in a city ranked one of the top places for quality of life in the world, Vancouver may be the place for you,” says the couple.

If you want to connect with the Yeshayahu family, send an email to aron@torahwest.com

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Binyamin Gordon met Chana, while living in the US. The couple got married in New York and lived in Brooklyn until 2018, when they decided to move to Canada, settling on Richmond, BC as the place to raise their young family.

Born and raised in Surrey, BC, Chana knew Richmond could offer a great quality of life to her family, which includes their four children: Miriam, born in 2014, Shternie, born in 2015, Ovadia, born in 2016, and Mendel, born in 2018.
Binyamin works as a Field Rabbi and Factory Inspector at Kosher Check, while Chana is the Director and Teacher at Chabad Richmond Hebrew School. She also serves as a mikvah attendant at the Richmond women’s mivkah, Mei Chaya.

Having moved from a fast-paced city like New York, the family enjoys the beautiful views of the mountains and the laid-back lifestyle Richmond offers. “We love being surrounded by mountains, oceans, and so much green and nature everywhere we go”, they say.

Moving from New York to Richmond also means a more comfortable lifestyle. “It is great to live in a more spacious home here, with a trampoline for the kids to play on in a big yard, and many great playgrounds within walking distance from home”, enthuses the couple.

It is the Jewish community where Chana grew up that they see as the perfect place to build and contribute their skills to. “We have a lot of opportunities here to serve the community and feel needed”, explains Binyamin. Chana is devoted to teaching women about taharat hamishpacha, the Jewish law of family purity and the mikvah. “This is the foundation of the Jewish home and a lot of women are amazed at the beauty of this mitzvah when they hear it for the first time”, she says.

During his travels around BC for Kosher Check, Binyamin loves meeting Jews and connecting them to nearby Jewish communities. Their house is always open for guests for Shabbat and holidays.

If you want to contact the Gordon family, send an email to aron@torahwest.com

Chaya and Dovid Rosenfeld have lived in Vancouver since 2014. Dovid is from New York and Chaya is from Vancouver. They have four children: Tema, born in 2012, Malka, born in 2014, Mendel, born in 2015, and Zev, born in 2018.

The Rosenfelds run the Jewish Camp Gan Israel BC and the BC Regional Hebrew Schools, bringing Judaism to hundreds of Jewish kids around Vancouver. Some of their favorite things about the city are the beautiful views, the clean living, the open green spaces, and the ease of living in it.

In their opinion, the Jewish community here has deep-rooted faith and tradition. “The synagogues offer so many programs during each holiday, and there are so many opportunities for people to celebrate and be a part of a community”, says Chaya.
“We are also proud of Chabad’s almost 50 years of continuous presence in British Columbia which grows every year and continues to provide social, emotional and physical support to thousands of BC Jews”, she says.

If you want to connect with the Rosenfelds, send an email to aron@torahwest.com

Stanley Radomsky was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, while his wife Shira was born in Mexico City, Mexico. But it was in Vancouver that their life as a couple started in 1998, after they got married.

Stanley, who is a dentist, was already living here when they met, and they decided that Vancouver would be the perfect place for their future children. Today, Shira calls Vancouver home and she works for the government of Canada as a research analyst.

Together with their two boys, David, born in 2010, and Avi, born in 2013, they enjoy the outdoors: “We like biking, hiking and skiing. We love the proximity to nature that Vancouver allows us, we love the mountains, the fresh air,” they say.

For them, the Jewish community that they found in Vancouver is something unique: “We are members of a beautiful congregation, Beth Hamidrash, with a warm friendly environment. They focus on both kids and adults programs to build strong Torah values through educational and social activities”, he says. Shira adds: “Rabbi Gabay is passionate about teaching Torah and inspiring others to becoming closer to Judaism”.

If you want to connect with the Radomskys, email Amanda at aron@torahwest.com

While Tamir Ofri came from Kedumim, Israel, Sary Coba is from Bogota, Colombia. Vancouver was the place where they met almost two decades ago, and where they chose to raise their three beautiful daughters: Ariela, born in 2010, Elianna, born in 2015, and Emmanuella, born in 2018.

Tamir works in the real estate management industry and Sary is the owner of Bglobal Studies, an agency that specializes in bringing international students to Canada.
Both are passionate about the lifestyle in Vancouver: “We enjoy the accessibility for outdoor activities. We love the spring and the summer here because we enjoy cycling, hiking, exploring the beaches and the Coast of Vancouver which is very beautiful.”

In their opinion, the community is very supportive and strong. “We see many people committed to building a stronger community, with more kosher dining options each year”, observes Tamir.
“We love the many Jewish cultural events in the city as well”, adds Sary, who works directly with international students and has noticed an increase in the younger generation looking to connect with the local Jewish community. “There are many international Jewish students moving to Vancouver, because it’s a vibrant city in Canada”, she concludes.

If you want to connect with the Ofri family, send an email to: aron@torahwest.com

While both Jessica Ketchum and Daniel Tsimerman are Canadians, they come from different
cities: Jessica is a Vancouverite, while Daniel was born in Toronto.

The couple, who recently married, chose Vancouver as the place to
call home: Daniel moved here in 2020. The two work here in sales, Jessica at a tech company
and Daniel at a medical supply company.

Their favorite thing about Vancouver is its nature: “The scenic mountains and the ocean. We enjoy walking along the beaches both in the winter and in the summer” – and it is only in British Columbia that one can visit a beach in the winter in Canada.

Another asset found in Vancouver in their view is the road trips within a short distance: “We
love the ability to easily take trips to the gorgeous Okanagan Valley, the many cool cocktail bars
and exploring the trails in the University Endowment Lands,” they explain.

And when it comes to the Jewish Community, Jessica and Daniel are proud to call Vancouver their family: “The Jewish community in Vancouver may be smaller than a city like Toronto, but it is mighty.
The first time we ever came to Schara Tzedeck, multiple people came up to us at kiddush and
invited us for lunch” remembers Jessica.

“It’s friendly, tight-knit, and there are always lots of classes, social events, and fun opportunities to get together. It is a great place to meet new people and quickly build a community!” finalize the couple.

If you want to connect with Jessica and Daniel, email aron@torahwest.com