Call for Board Members: Join the Peretz Centre's Volunteer Board of Directors in 2026 [Closed]
- Dec 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 11
Hello Peretzniks,
The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture is home to a vibrant, caring, progressive community that is currently celebrating our 80th anniversary. We are looking for members who are passionate about our community to join our board of directors!
Elections for up to 7 new members will take place at the Annual General Meeting on January 25, 2026. Candidates are invited to submit a short bio by January 18th, which will be distributed to members in advance of the AGM.
Who We Are
Founded in 1945 to establish and conduct a school that provides students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education, we hold classes, lectures, exhibitions, concerts, holiday celebrations and similar gatherings in order to teach and advance the cause of progressive and modern Jewish learning, culture, and education and the Yiddish language. Our doors are open to people of diverse cultures, beliefs, genders, sexual orientation, and ability.
From the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir to our Pnei Mitzvah program for children 10-14, we sustain a unique space in Vancouver’s Jewish community for multicultural, interfaith, gender-inclusive, and LGBTQ+-friendly cultural education that honours and upholds a broad, inclusive understanding of Jewish culture.
With a long history of peace activism and respect for the humanity of all peoples, we strive to provide an accessible space to a wide range of progressive Jewish people, organizations, and cultural and social allies, who struggle to find a home within mainstream Jewish institutions.
Some highlights from the last year include klezmer concerts, performing arts events, guest speakers, community holiday celebrations, language and history courses, youth programs, and more:
Ira Khonen Temple & Michael Winograd in Concert 
An Evening of Poetry & Music for Tisha B'Av with Zoë Aqua, Yonatan Kunda, and Dan Kunda Thagard 
Shterna and the Lost Voice: A New Yiddish Folktale from the Magid Ensemble 
Khaveyrim Zayt Greyt! Brivele Live at the Peretz Centre (part of KlezFest 2025) 
Four Pillars of Peretz Film Project 
Peretz Peacenik Hanukkah Party 2025 
Peretz High Holidays 2025 
Zhargon: A Journey through the Histories of Yiddishkayt 
Peretz Community Seder 2025 
A 5785 Purimshpil: Hopeful Notes from the Hellscape 
Pnei Mitzvah Program: Cultural Jewish Education for Youth Ages 10-13 
Alan Bern: Zhargon Speaker Series 2025 
Amelia Glaser: Zhargon Speaker Series 2025 
Molly Crabapple: Zhargon Speaker Series 2025 
Co-Resistance in the West Bank: How Jews and Israelis are Joining the Fight for Justice 
Peretz Zumershule: Arts-based Summer Program for Youth Ages 8-15 
Yiddish in Motion: Language & Dance Summer Workshop 
Lake Burntshore: VPL Book Talk with Aaron Kreuter in conversation with Jen Sookfong Lee 
KlezWest's Monthly Klezmer Jam 
Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir's 35th Annual Spring Concert: Doyres Zingen / Generations Sing! 
Yiddish Language Courses at the Peretz Centre 
The Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir 
Adventures in Yiddish: An Introductory Workshop for Beginners 
Listening with Survivors: A Playback Theatre Event
What's Involved?
The board of directors must include between 7 and 11 members, who each serve for staggered, 2-year terms (meaning that about half of the board is elected each year). We are seeking up to 7 new board members to participate in the governance of this wonderful institution.
Today, we find ourselves in the midst of an exciting period of growth and renewal from the blossoming Yiddish cultural revival movement to the resurgence of progressive politics in the face of fascist violence, crises of loneliness and alienation, and planetary catastrophe. We need committed, enthusiastic, curious people who are willing to learn what this community is and commit their time, talent, and skills to work together.
We are a working board, meaning that you should expect to contribute 2-3 hours a week in order to support the organization, including monthly board meetings in the evenings. While this is a volunteer position and there is no remuneration, it’s a chance to get non-profit experience and more importantly, to build the present and future of Peretz as one of the only remaining Jewish progressive organizations in Canada that stands for peace, justice, and mutual liberation.
Working alongside staff and volunteers, you will have the opportunity to take part in important projects that will guide and support the next stages of our community's 80-year history, from governance and policy development to finance and fundraising to our exciting educational and cultural programming.
If you have previous experience on a board or working at a non-profit or grassroots community organization, we would love to hear from you! That being said, previous experience is not necessary. If you are passionate about Peretz and you want to help grow our community we encourage you to run! All board members will receive training on policies and procedures when they start, so everyone will feel confident and be equipped with all the necessary tools to help support Peretz.
2026 Elections for the Board of Directors
Come be a part of shaping the Peretz as a place where we work together towards a shenere un besere velt far ale -- a better and more beautiful world for all!
Elections for up to 7 board positions will take place at our Annual General Meeting on January 25, 2026 (times TBA). You must be a member in good standing to vote in the AGM.
If you are interested in running or are considering it and have questions, please contact our current President Veronika Gorlova (BoardChair@peretz-centre.org) or any other member of the board or staff.
Candidates are invited to submit a short bio by January 18th, which will be distributed to members in advance of the AGM.
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