Rabbi Susan Shamash

15/08/2024

It was a perfect afternoon at the beautiful Willow Garden for the beloveds Tarryn and Kevin. It was a bit of an unusual wedding ceremony given the presence of their two year old identical twin daughters who wanted to be part of everything! What a gorgeous way to start married life. May you only know such happiness always. Mazel tov!

05/08/2024

Melissa and Shane, what a beautiful bride and groom, inside and out! Even though it poured on your wedding day (what do you expect in North Vancouver?), nothing could dampen your happiness. Many blessings for a long and happy married life together.

23/07/2024

Mazal Tov Ariel and Mikey! It was a beautiful day for these sweethearts at gorgeous Queen Elizabeth Park!!! May you only know a life together filled with laughter, love, joy, health and peace - surrounded by family & friends.

23/06/2024

Whenever I marry couple, I warn them in advance to be prepared for something to go wrong, and to trust in the professionals. For Josh and Ande, it was the rain! But this is Vancouver, so what do you expect when you plan an outdoor wedding? But the rain didn't diminish their happiness one bit.

Mazel tov to this amazing couple. Ande and Josh you are truly meant for each other. May you only know a life together filled with laughter, love, joy and peace - surrounded by family & friends.

19/06/2024

Proud to partner with as a member of their Jewish Clergy Officiation Referral Service as a resource for interfaith couples and families!

12/06/2024

It's hard to believe, but today, June 12th, is the second anniversary in the secular calendar of my beloved youngest sister Alisa's death. Her Hebrew yahrzeit is the 14th of Sivan which, this year, is June 20th.

Alisa was so incredibly important to me; it’s hard for me to imagine myself without our deep spiritual connection. Alisa was beautiful of spirit, loved life and all of her friends, created community wherever she went, was soft of voice, pure of soul, kind, and compassionate, always putting others before herself.

To honour Alisa's legacy, we set up a fund at the Jewish Community Centre to support a yearly arts workshop for the Inclusion Community there, a community that was so important to her and so much a part of her life. The inaugural workshop of Alisa's Friendship Circle was this past Sunday, June 9th. The members of JCCs Inclusion Community made mezuzahs!!

Below are several pictures of this auspicious and heartwarming event.

If you wish to donate or donate again to this amazing program, the link is in the first comment.

The world is a better place because Alisa was here. Her memory truly is for a blessing.

21/05/2024

Mazel Tov to the amazing bride & groom Brenna and Michael. A fairy tale wedding of an extraordinary couple in a beautiful venue. May you only know a life together filled with laughter, love, joy and peace - surrounded by family & friends.

07/05/2024

We welcomed Bailey into the world, his family and his people with great joy and celebration. Mazel tov to proud parents Naomi and Kristoff, and to delighted grandparents Sylvan, Margaret, Chris and Sophie!! What a blessing!

16/01/2023

I've just reached 400 followers! Thank you for continuing support. I could never have made it without each one of you. 🙏🤗🎉

08/01/2023

As we enter 2023, a somewhat belated post about my last wedding of 2022.

Eryne and Matt! It was such a joyful and deeply meaningful journey ... Spending the past several months getting to know the interior beauty of your relationship and the two of you glorious individuals allowed me the blessing of standing under the chuppah with you with authenticity and great delight. May you only know a life together filled with laughter, love, joy and peace - surrounded by family & friends.

22/12/2022

Welcoming a new baby into the Covenant is the best. It was an absolute joy to awaken the senses of baby Oren, much anticipated and deeply beloved. Mazel tov to his parents, Ben and Erin, and to his grandparents Stephen, Kathryn and Greg who glowed with pride. May Oren grow into a marvelous human being in the shelter of his amazing family. May he be blessed with a long and happy life, dedicated to love, learning and deeds of compassion. Mazel Tov!!

19/12/2022

A year and a half ago I had the honor of standing beneath the chuppah with Suzy and Amin. Recently I had the privilege of joining them for another Simcha as we welcomed baby Emil/Eliyahu into the Covenant surrounded by loving family and friends. Many blessings to all of you - May the blank canvas of life that awaits Emil be one of learning, loving and good deeds. Mazel tov!

29/09/2022

This year I am chanting the haftara on Yom Kippur, the words of the Prophet Isaiah who, in chapter 58, exhorts the people:

"Is this the fast that I desire, a day for people to afflict their bodies? ... Surely this is the fast that I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness, And untie the cords of the yoke; To let the oppressed go free, To break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry, And to take the wretched poor into your home; When you see the naked, to clothe him,
And not to ignore your own kin."

And here is the very moving call of high risk and disabled Jews exhorting Jewish communities as we re-open, about how the lack of covid equity impacts them.

To find more information and learn what YOU can do to help, visit https://www.covidresilience.org/This zoom choir video features high-risk and disabled Jews ...

23/09/2022

It’s been a year. Of love and of life. Of big and of small. Wherever you are, I send you my friendship and care. May you be healthy, may you be safe, may you and all your beloveds be blessed, together with the whole world that needs it so. In these trembling days, I send you my love and hope for a blessed and sweet new year, a Shana Tova U'metuka!

21/09/2022

An interesting and pertinent read from the perspective of the other-than-Jewish spouse.

The Minyan: Non-Jewish Spouses
A roundtable discussion about interfaith marriages, raising Jewish children, navigating Jewish and non-Jewish holidays, and where people do—and don’t—feel welcome

A roundtable discussion about interfaith marriages, raising Jewish children, navigating Jewish and non-Jewish holidays, and where people do—and don’t—feel welcome

14/09/2022

Mazel tov Nick and Ariela!! An incredibly creative and devoted couple who wanted their Kabbalat Panim/Bedekken ceremony to be a place of true blessing as they channeled their spiritual power as bride and groom on their wedding day. As you bless so are you blessed!

05/09/2022

The awesome, movie-set-like Pemberton Valley was the venue for Aaron and Madison's intimate wedding. A glorious place for a glorious couple. With the added blessing of a unique Ketubah created and caligraphed by Aaron's Uncle Howard. Mazel tov and congratulations! May you only know a life together filled with laughter, love, joy and peace- surrounded by family & friends.

29/08/2022

Mazal Tov and congratulations to Mollie and Lachlan!! Your beautiful wedding in the Botanic Gardens on the Sunshine Coast was blessed by awesome guests and perfect weather. I loved meeting your beautiful and welcoming families and friends. Many, many blessings for a long and happy married life together!