Welcome to the site of
The Jewish Chaplanicy Society
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“The Jewish Chaplaincy Society believes in supporting the many Jews and their families who may wish to express their Jewishness in a non-synagogue setting.”
How can we help you?
Our Clergy
Rabbi Dina-Hasida Mercy
I am an independent, liberal Rabbi living in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Currently, I serve as one of the Clergy at The Jewish Chaplaincy Society
I am available for life cycle ceremonies, teaching, and spiritual counselling. I believe that everyone should have access to their traditions regardless of the directions our lives sometimes take.
Welcoming the Shabbat
You may ask why the first mitzvah of Shabbat is the kindling of lights. That is because Shabbat is actually a celebration of the Creator and His Creation. G‑d’s creation of the world follows a seven-day cycle, which peaks each Shabbat and begins anew. At Creation, the first thing that was brought into being was light. Therefore, it is appropriate to kindle lights at the start of Shabbat in commemoration of the first light that was created.
ONLINE CALENDAR OF SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING, READINGS, HOLIDAYS, AND FAST HERE
Important Upcoming Holidays
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Purim
Evening of Mon, Mar 2, 2026 – Tue, Mar 3, 2026
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people by Queen Esther from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther. According to the Book of Esther, Haman was the royal vizier to the Persian king Ahasuerus.