Mission Statement
Inspired by the Rebbe - Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory - Chabad welcomes everyone who is seeking the wisdom and warmth of Judaism, regardless of religious background, affiliation, or financial means.
Chabad enriches Jewish identity and helps ensure Jewish continuity through a variety of educational, religious and social services that increase Jewish pride, knowledge and commitment.
Chabad of Vancouver Island is dedicated to serving and reaching out to all Jews on Vancouver Island and to extend a hand with physical and spiritual support to those in need.
Rabbi Meir Kaplan
Director
Rabbi Meir was born and raised in Tzefat, Israel, where his father was the founder and director of Chabad institutions and his mother worked as a teacher of advanced Jewish studies in a women’s college in the city.
Meir studied in rabbinical colleges in Tzfat, Tel Aviv and New York for over 10 years. During those years, he served as a student intern, providing educational programs and holiday events in Eastern Europe.
Upon completion of his studies, he was ordained by leading Rabbis from America & Israel. Rabbi Kaplan was a teacher and a Rosh Yeshiva in Oak Park, MI and Queens, NY before he accepted his current position.
In the last twenty years, under his leadership, Chabad of Vancouver Island has grown from a home-based institution to a vibrant centre for Jewish life, serving hundreds of Jewish families on the island with a wide variety of religious and social programs.
Mrs. Chani Kaplan
Program Director
Mrs. Chani Kaplan grew up in Oak Park, Michigan, where her parents served as Chabad emissaries for over forty years. She studied at the local Chabad cheder and high school, completing her college years in Beth Chana of Tzefat, Israel, where she graduated with a teacher's degree majoring in Judaic Studies.
After teaching for a year at Chabad in Anchorage, Alaska, and being actively involved in developing programs for Jewish children in the community, Chani returned to her hometown to teach at the Jewish elementary school.
Upon her arrival in Victoria, driven by her passion for children and education, she immediately started a Jewish playgroup in the basement of her house. Today, Ctots Childhood Educational Centre, the only Jewish preschool on Vancouver Island, operates as a full-day childcare program for forty children based at the Chabad Centre and its adjacent expansion. Additionally, Chani directs the successful weekly Chabad Hebrew School on Sundays, Camp Gan Israel, and all children’s programs at Chabad Vancouver Island.
For full staff of Ctots Childhood Education click here https://www.ctots.com/about-us#c1rsa
Meet our staff
Chabad Staff
Leemore Arama
Special programs
Elena Senkov
Bookkeeping
Email: [email protected]
Daniella Evelikar
Office Manager
Email: [email protected]
Kineret Tamim Academy Staff
Kristen Lundgren
Principal
Email: [email protected]
Anastasia Khisamov
KTA Administrator
Email: [email protected]
For full staff of Kineret Tamim Academy click here https://www.tamimvictoria.org/staff/
Chabad of Vancouver Island gratefully acknowledges a permissive tax exemption from the City of Victoria.
