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Members of the Vancouver Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture can access members-only profiles, groups, and more Peretz Centre Members' Area Log In Not a member yet? Become a member What's Here? We're working on creating new ways for members to stay connected and get involved. Currently, through your account you can: Complete your member profile Update your contact information Save your payment details View your events and program registrations Customize your notifications Please note that we automatically apply the highest privacy settings to your member profile, making your information totally private . You have the option to make your profile visible to other Peretz members by changing the settings in your account. All information that you choose to make "public" is visible only to other Peretz members. Community Updates Call for Board Members: Join the Peretz Centre's Volunteer Board of Directors in 2026 [Closed] Deadline: Jan. 25, 2026 | Elections for up to 7 new members of the Peretz Centre's Board of Directors will take place at our Annual General Meeting on January 25. 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! Dec 15, 2025 3 min read Reflections for a New Year of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir A new season of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir starts on Tuesday, September 13th! In honour of our 45th year (founded in 1980), choir members share reflections on the annual Spring Concert, "Doyres Zingen," which took place at the Peretz Centre on Sunday, June 15th, 2025. Learn more about the choir's 45 year history and how to join (all singers are welcome). Aug 19, 2025 5 min read 1 2 3 4 5 Peretz Members' Meetings Peretz Centre AGM 2026 Jan 25, 2026, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. View Event Load More Membership FAQ Read Bylaws Code of Conduct What are membership dues? As a registered charity and non-profit society, the Peretz Centre is governed by dues-paying members. Our bylaws state (https://eca153a1-3d4a-4eee-a68f-293d2b40f5ae.usrfiles.com/ugd/eca153_fd37e946a08341c7ae745d402129f2ae.pdf)that membership is (with a few exceptions) for life, but you must pay membership dues every year in order to be a member in good standing. If you do not pay your dues annually, you are still a member but no longer in good standing, meaning you lose some membership benefits like voting rights in General Meetings and board elections. Your membership dues are financial contributions to the Peretz Centre’s annual operations, helping to fund our work, subsidize participation for our essential community programs (including children and youth programs), and sustain a home for progressive Jewish community in Vancouver. How much does membership cost? Membership rates are offered in a few different categories. Members may register up to 4 adults in the same family and include children under 18 in any of the categories below. Anyone who identifies as a family and shares resources can register together. Registration for children under 18 is free! We encourage members with children to register them in order to help us plan for children's programming, including members-only programs. 2025-26 Membership Rates: How does Peretz decide membership rates? In setting membership rates, the Board of Directors aimed to: • Support Peretz programs and events while ensuring that membership is affordable for anyone who wants to be a part of our community • Recognize different family configurations and keep costs down for single parents • Encourage members with partners and/or children to register all individuals in their family, which helps us plan for programs and grow our community The base amount of $180 for an individual adult (18+), or $25 for a self-identified low-income individual, is lower than most synagogues or societies like ours because we are able to use rental revenue from our building to keep membership costs down for those who can’t afford to pay more. Rather than introduce tiers for members who are able to contribute more financially, we encourage those who can afford it to make a charitable donation in addition to renewing membership. This way, the entire amount of the donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt. Will I get a tax receipt for paying my membership dues? Payments are no longer eligible for charitable tax receipts as of September 1, 2025. For the 2025-26 membership year, the Board of Directors voted to change our membership model to provide monetary advantages (or membership benefits that have monetary value, like discounts) in order to recognize membership engagement and reduce barriers to participation. In other words, this new model allows members who frequently attend events or participate in programs to benefit from lower overall costs as a result of paying their membership dues. Because your membership dues will now directly save you money, payments are no longer considered donations. That’s part of the reason that we kept membership dues fairly low, so members who are able to contribute financially at a higher rate can do so with a charitable donation (https://www.peretz-centre.org/charitable-donation)and receive a tax receipt for 100% of that voluntary contribution. What are the new membership benefits for 2025-26? For the 2025-26 membership year, we are introducing members-only monetary advantages, including special rates and promotions on program registration, event tickets, and building rentals. Starting November 30, 2025, members will receive new benefits: • 10% off program registration (excluding members-only programs) • 10% off event ticket prices (excluding events with free/in-kind/by donation registration options like Fraytik tsu Nakht) • 15% of rental rates • Additional promotions (like promo codes or early registration) offered only to members Please note: Starting in 2026, some programs (like Pnei Mitzvah and the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir) may be restricted to members-only, as they were in previous years. Why do member discounts only start in November? Since Peretz membership has traditionally conferred only non-monetary advantages (like voting rights), payment of dues was considered a charitable donation. This is true for everyone who paid dues between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025; that’s why we issued charitable tax receipts for amounts paid (over $10). As a result, we are phasing in monetary advantages to ensure that we comply with Canada Revenue Agency Regulations for charitable contributions. The main reason to phase in these new benefits is that we open registration and ticket sales for programs and events during the changeover of the membership year (September and October are some of the busiest months!). Members who registered for programs or bought event tickets before the new membership year started on September 1st (or before they renewed their membership) cannot receive monetary advantages, and it wouldn’t be fair to give discounts to people who signed up later. To make the transition simpler, we decided that discounts will only be introduced for events and programs that start on or after November 30, 2025. How will I get members-only discounts and advance registration? Registration for programs and events starting after November 30, 2025 will have a “members-only” registration or ticket option. Please select this option to get the members discount. We may also send out special discount codes and early registration access to members via email – keep an eye out and make sure you’re subscribed to our mailing list! Why is it important to register my child(ren)? Children under the age of 18 are free to register for Peretz membership! We encourage members with children to register them in order to help us plan for children's programming, including members-only programs. Only children who are registered as members are eligible for members-only programs and discounts. To register one or more children in your family, please add their names and ages to your membership registration form.

The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture was founded in 1945 to establish and conduct a school that provides students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education. Who We Are What We Do Our Values The Peretz Centre The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture was founded in 1945 to establish and conduct a school that provides students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education. Located in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, 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, and sexual orientation. Join Our Mailing List Office & Location Who We Are The Vancouver Peretz Institute, also known as the Vancouver Peretz Shule, was founded in 1945 in response to the threat to Jewish culture and Yiddish language posed by the Holocaust and WWII. The founding families felt an urgent need to establish a school to ensure the continuity of Jewish secular humanistic culture and thought. And they opened the doors to all — Jews and non-Jews — who felt a connection to Jewish culture, history, and experience. The Peretz Institute was renamed the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture in 2001. 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. Created for the Peretz Centre by artist Rob Friedman in 2002, the stained glass windows with their Yiddish calligraphy and secular content are unique in the world. The four panels make up a vertical window 22 ft by 18 1/4 inches wide and are designed to flow into each other. Each panel on average contains over 2000 cuts and each piece was beveled to fit into the very thin detailed leadwork. "A people's memory is history; a people without a history can grow neither wiser nor better." -- Isaac Leyb Peretz (1852-1915) 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 the confines of mainstream Jewish institutions. Learn More History View Bylaws Join Our Mailing List Subscribe Become a Peretz Member Register Make a Charitable Donation Donate What We Do The Peretz School & Programs Education is the core of the Peretz mission. Through the Peretz School programs and community-run workshops, reading groups, and more, we offer students of all ages opportunities to enrich our understanding of Jewish cultural expression, history, and diversity. Explore Programs Peretz School Jewish Cultural Events The Peretz Centre offers a vibrant space for celebrations, lectures, performances, film screenings, and cultural events open to all. From our combined/condensed High Holidays to Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and more, we host Jewish holidays and shabbes dinners based in secular humanist principles, honouring our heritage, upholding the value of peace and diversity, and welcoming interfaith, inter-cultural, and LGBTQ+ members and families. See Upcoming Events Events The Kirman Yiddish Library The Paulina and Shaya Kirman Library is the largest Yiddish language library in Western Canada. The library contains over 4000 Yiddish and English books, journals, and other print media (open to the public by appointment). Learn More Our Values Secular Jewish Humanism Secular humanism emphasizes human endeavour rather than supernatural intervention. We believe that people have a kinship with all living things and that people working together creatively, adhering to ethical and democratic principles, can make the world a better place. The first secular Jewish organizations arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in both Europe and the Western Hemisphere. Those organizations defined the Jews as a people whose history, traditions, values and cultures could be researched and understood rationally, using the methods and insights of modern thought and science. The encompassing term was Yiddishkayt — Jewishness. At the Peretz Centre, we believe that Jewish continuity is best assured in a pluralistic, inclusive society where mutual dignity and respect, justice, freedom, and peace prevail. This is the lesson of Jewish history and this is why secular humanist Yiddishkayt is at the core of Peretz Centre educational and cultural programs. Learn more about humanistic and secular Judaism: The Society for Humanistic Judaism (SJH) The Cultural and Secular Jewish Organization (CSJO) Secular Jewish Holidays From our combined/condensed High Holidays to Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and more, we gather to celebrate together. See Events Monthly Shabbes for Cultural Jews Our monthly Secular Humanist Shabbes observance and potluck dinner (Fraytik tsu Nakht) is open to all. See Events Cultural Pnei Mitzvah Program A pluralistic, non-dogmatic educational program for students 10-13 to reinterpret the bar mitzvah rite of passage. Learn More Exploring Jewish Writers Each week the group reads aloud and discusses an English-language text by a Jewish writer. Learn More Yiddishkayt & Doikayt Yiddishkayt is the Jewish culture that blossomed in Europe from the late 1700s. Yiddish, the daily language of most Jews, began to be used by writers who were often rebels against the old religious establishment and who championed new ideas of social justice and human dignity. A rich literature of poetry, prose, drama, and song thrived until curtailed by antisemitic massacres in the 1930s and 40s. As an educational centre dedicated to Yiddish language and culture, secular humanistic values, and progressive and social justice-related causes, we value Doikayt (“here-ness”), a concept that stems from Ashkenazi Jewish progressive movements and states the importance of connection and commitment to local social struggles for justice, equality, and mutual liberation. Yiddish Language Courses Open up the world of Yiddish language, culture, and history with beginner and intermediate classes. Explore Zhargon: Histories of Yiddishkayt Explore the rich and fascinating history, art and culture of Yiddishkayt — the culture of Jews in Eastern Europe. Explore The Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir Learn and sing the traditional and contemporary songs of the Jewish people in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino and English. Learn More The Kirman Yiddish Library A diverse and fascinating collection of Jewish books in Yiddish and English. Open to everyone! Learn More Join Our Mailing List Given name* Surname Email* I consent to receive the Peretz Centre community update * Subscribe

See all events at the Peretz Centre in a calendar format Peretz Centre Events Calendar March 2026 Today Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 7:00 p.m. Brief Utopias in the Time of Monsters: A Purim Variety Show 15 2:00 p.m. KlezWest Monthly Klezmer Jam 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 4:00 p.m. Peretz Community Passover Seder 2026 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Explore the rich and fascinating history, art and culture of Jews in Eastern Europe in Zhargon: A Journey through the Histories of Yiddishkayt Course Overview Learning Principles Topics & Themes Zhargon: A Journey through the Histories of Yiddishkayt Explore the rich and fascinating history, art and culture of Yiddishkayt — the culture of Jews in Eastern Europe. Register Yiddish History Course Overview What was Jewish life like in Eastern Europe? How did the political and economic upheavals of the 19th and 20th centuries change Jewish Eastern European culture, and how do these changes still inform historical and cultural memory today? How did the changes in traditional Jewish life relate to gender and the place of women in society (and importantly, how do we queer these historical narratives)? Who were the Bund, and what was their relation to socialist movements of the time? What is a Shtetl , and how was it distinct from other types of communal settlement in Europe? In this course we explore these (and other) questions, focusing on the social, cultural and political changes that shaped the lives and cultures of Jews in Eastern Europe. Drawing on a wealth of literary, musical, and visual materials, as well as archival and historical documents, we will encounter poets, radicals, artists, musicians, and revolutionaries who lived, created and dreamed in Yiddish, and learn how they thought about their world and sought to change it for the better! Our course takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. In our collective study and inquiry, we are indebted to the Nations who have been caretakers, custodians, and protectors of this land since time immemorial. This course aims to critically reflect on our narratives, historical memory, and practices within a commitment to the process of reconciliation and decolonization. The Zhargon program is part of the Peretz Centre's Discovering Doikayt initiative . We acknowledge the support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada. The most enduring maskilic term of opprobrium for Yiddish was zhargon ("jargon"). Derived from an Old French word for the jabbering of birds, the term has come to mean either the inscrutable language of a closed group or a debased, uncivilized form of speech — in either case, something less than a full, proper language. [...] By the turn of the twentieth century, the use of zhargon ranged considerably in connotation, having become for some Jews, in effect, the name of the Ashkenazic vernacular . -- Jeffrey Shandler, Yiddish: Biography of a Language Tseydo-ladeyrekh / צדה-לדרך (Food/Preparation for the Journey) Khavershaft Exploring Jewish history is exciting and fascinating (and fun!), but can also confront us with difficult histories, trauma, and deep questions about personal and collective identity. Before gaining knowledge, our commitment is to each other and to our learning. Let us commit to creating a space of inquiry, critical questioning, respect for each other, and mutual support. Identity Our goal in this course is to approach the histories of the Yiddish-speaking world with curiosity, respect, and a critical mind, as well as make space for personal exploration and expression. We acknowledge that everyone is coming to this class from a different place, and we want to make space for individual learning within the space of our collective process. Knowledge We all bring different forms of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to the table, and all of these are part of our learning together. We will meet some real experts along the way, but ultimately, the processing, questioning, and knowledge creation will be up to us as a group. Topics & Themes in Yiddish History The Origins of Yiddish Where did Ashkenazi Jews come from? What did Jewish life look like in Eastern Europe? How did the different upheavals, changes, and crises shape Eastern European Jewish communities? Where was Yiddish born? We will look at the movement of Jewish communities from Central to Eastern Europe, from medieval times to the eve of WWII. Pictured: Territorial changes of Polish states and Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1635-2009) by Esemono (via Wikimedia Commons) Peretz School The Shtetl What do we really know about the Shtetl, a unique type of Jewish settlement, exclusive to Eastern Europe? How did literary, artistic and cinematic images influence our perception of shtetl life, and how do these representations differ from the daily realities? Drawing from diverse sources, we will get to know a bit about life in the shtetl across different historical periods. Pictured: My Village (1923), by Issachar Ben Ryback (via Wikimedia Commons) Events Jewish Life in Transition The life, traditions and culture of the Jewish shtetl exhibit profound richness, beauty and significance. At the same time, they were deeply embedded within broader social and political structures, both within and outside the Jewish community. We will explore stories of tradition and change, and study the radical changes faced by Jewish communities with the advent of modernity. Pictured: Icchok Lejb Perec (1939), by Władysław Wajntraub (via Wikimedia Commons) Kirman Jewish Political Movements Autonomism vs. Territorialism, Bundism vs. Zionism, Communism, Diaspora Nationalism… These are some of the political movements and ideologies that swept across Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. We will work to understand what some of these movements stood for, the complex relationships and rivalries between them, and their influence on broader social and political changes in 20th century Europe (and beyond). Pictured (edited): Election poster of the General Jewish Labour Bund in Kyiv (artist unknown) , 1917 (via Wikimedia Commons) Guest Lectures from Yiddish Scholars & Artists Since 2021 (when the first Zhargon course was offered), each Zhargon cohort extends and opens our classroom learning with a series of public, online lectures that broaden our perspectives of Yiddish history and culture. The Zhargon Speaker Series brings leading figures in Yiddish Studies and contemporary Yiddish arts and culture to share their work and engage in a live discussion with participants. Current Zhargon students get free access to the Zhargon Speaker Series, with an alumni discount for future series. Past Event Postponed: Give Alms to the Jewish King Lear: Eldercare in Yiddish Literature New date and time is TBA Online Quick View View Event Past Event Here Where We Live is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Labor Bund Sun, Dec 07 Online Quick View View Event Past Event No Pasarán! Jewish Collective Memory in the Spanish Civil War Thu, Nov 20 Online Quick View View Event Past Event Ottoman Musical Routes & Roots: Moldavian Yiddish Connections Sun, Nov 02 Online Quick View View Event Load More Upcoming Yiddish History Courses Zhargon: Histories of Yiddishkayt (2025) Ended View Course Want to hear about future programs? Sign up for our newsletter Program Creators Jess Goldman is a writer, comics artist, and amateur puppeteer based on the traditional, unceded lands of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam peoples. Their writing has been published in Maisonneuve , the CBC, and Room Magazine . Their story “Tombstone of a Tsaddik ” won the 2025 Bronwen Wallace Award for Short Fiction. A graduate of University of British Columbia’s MFA in Creative Writing Program, their writing explores that sweet spot where Yiddishkayt and queer culture joyfully collide. Itamar Manoff is co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. A PhD in Educational Studies, Itamar is a community educator, language teacher and learner, and Jewish history enthusiast. He is a graduate of the Wallis Annenberg Helix-Yiddishkayt Fellowship (2018-2019), and is a Yiddish Pedagogy Fellow at the Yiddish Book Center. Itamar is also the co-founder of This is Not an Ulpan, a grassroots, cooperative language school dedicated to the principles of critical pedagogy and emancipatory education in Palestine and Israel.

Open up the world of Yiddish language, culture, and history! We offer in-person beginners' and intermediate Yiddish language classes. Learn Yiddish Course Levels More Programs Yiddish Language Courses Learn to read, write, and speak in Yiddish at the Peretz Centre in Vancouver See Courses Learn Yiddish at the Peretz Centre "It is true that they are saying that we are a dead language already 500 years ago, but as far as I'm concerned, Yiddish is going to be a dying language for the next 2000 years." -- Yitzhak Bashvis Zinger (1904-1991) Yiddish has been the spoken language of Ashkenazi Jews in Eastern and Central Europe for a thousand years. It has served as the everyday expression of Jewish life -- secular, religious, and everything in between. Yiddish isn't just a language, it's a meeting point of different cultures, histories, and geographical locations. When we learn Yiddish vocabulary, we encounter Hebrew and Aramaic, German, and Slavic languages that shaped the unique experience of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Yiddishland isn't just the physical places where Yiddish-speaking Jews lived, it is also "a republic of letters." When we learn Yiddish, we tap into a treasure trove of stories, poetry, philosophy, history, politics, and the records of everyday life. We will draw on these texts to deepen our connection to our history and culture. By engaging with Yiddish language and culture, we locate ourselves at the threshold of Jewish modernity, encountering thinkers, rebels, revolutionaries, sages, and storytellers of our past and present. Vocabulary & Grammar We will focus on developing the building blocks of Yiddish vocabulary and grammar: sentence structure, forming questions, using descriptive language, pronunciation, and tenses. Reading & Writing We will read short poems, children's stories, biographies, Wikipedia articles, historical newspapers, contemporary online magazines and more to explore the written world of Yiddish. Conversation The best way to learn a langauge is to speak it! We will practice talking about different themes and topics ranging from cooking, daily routines, all the way to classic fables and newspapers. Yiddish Language Classes in Vancouver Beginners' Yiddish Classes Start your Yiddish language learning journey at the Peretz Centre with Beginners' Yiddish! In this introductory class, we will dive into the language and culture of Eastern European Jews, and explore the fascinating world of Yiddishkayt. Using a communicative and task-based approach, we will practice basic conversational skills, learn important verbs and adjectives to describe our daily life, and learn to read and write in Yiddish! During our classes we will also learn Yiddish folks songs and get exposed to Yiddish film, art and, culture. Go to Current Classes Yiddish for Continuing Students Deepen your understanding of Yiddish with interactive, text-based classes This course is based on a conversational, interactive and communicative approach to Yiddish. In it, we will focus on deepening our conversational and expressive skills in Yiddish, all the while deepening our grammatical to allow us to engage in authentic conversation in Yiddish. In addition, we will learn Yiddish songs, read short stories and poems, watch Yiddish films, clips, interviews and more! Go to Current Classes More Yiddish Language Programs at the Peretz Centre Online Yiddish Leyenkrayz Practice and expand your Yiddish with the intermediate or advanced Leyenkrayz (reading circle), which meet online every week! With a rotating reading list, these informal, long-running groups are great ways to dig deeper into the language. Get in touch Kirman Yiddish Library The Paulina and Shaya Kirman Library, located at the Peretz Centre, is the largest Yiddish language library in Western Canada. The library contains over 4000 Yiddish and English books, journals, and other print media (visit by appointment). Browse catalogue The Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir The Choir sings mostly Yiddish pieces ranging from traditional folk and Yiddish theatre songs to newly-composed and arranged pieces of greater complexity, plus Hanukkah and Pesach repertoires in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino, and English. Join the Choir Register for Yiddish Courses Zayt Bagrist 2026 (Welcome to Yiddish!) Open up the world of Yiddish language, culture, and history this fall! Started Jan 8 Loading availability... Loading availability... Register Continuing Yiddish 2026 / ייִדיש װײַטער Deepen your understanding of the Yiddish language with intermediate classes Started Jan 8 Loading availability... Loading availability... Register Want to hear about future programs? Sign up for our newsletter Curriculum Creator Itamar Manoff is co-executive director of the Peretz Centre. A PhD in Educational Studies, Itamar is a community educator, language teacher and learner, and Jewish history enthusiast. He is a graduate of the Wallis Annenberg Helix-Yiddishkayt Fellowship (2018-2019), and is a Yiddish Pedagogy Fellow at the Yiddish Book Center. Itamar is also the co-founder of This is Not an Ulpan, a grassroots, cooperative language school dedicated to the principles of critical pedagogy and emancipatory education in Palestine and Israel.

Learn how to contact the Peretz Centre office, directions on how to get here, and details about facility accessibility information. Contact Directions Accessibility The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture 6184 Ash Street Vancouver, BC V5Z 3G9 info@peretz-centre.org +1 (604) 325-1812 Our office is open by appointment To request a meeting, or to inquire about membership, donations, programs, events, or other questions, please contact us by email or call and leave a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Please note: Rental booking requests are only answered when submitted via the rental inquiry form . We aim to respond to requests within 5 business days. Upcoming office Closures: Apr. 1-Apr. 12, 2026 Directions How to Get Here Address The Peretz Centre is located at 6184 Ash Street in Vancouver, BC, just west of Cambie Street and between W. 45th Ave. and W. 49th Ave. Parking Information There is no designated wheelchair-accessible street parking, but there is street parking on Ash Street (in front of the building) and around the neighbourhood. Free underground parking is open for most events. Please check program descriptions or contact the office/event host. The gate is locked outside of event hours. Elevator access is available from the parkade to the ground floor and 2nd floor. There are limited accessible parking stalls located near the elevator entrance. Directions via Canada Line The Peretz Centre is located near two major Canada Line skytrain stations: • Langara-49th Station (500 metres) • Oakridge-41st Station (550 metres) Directions via bus The Peretz Centre is located on major bus routes: • #15, #17 on Cambie Street (200 metres) • #49 on W. 49th Avenue (500 metres) • #41, R4 on W. 41st Avenue (750 metres) Cycling An unsheltered bike rack is installed in front of the building. Please note: Construction for the nearby Oakridge Centre Redevelopment project is expected to be completed in 2027. Road closures, traffic, and other access issues may change without notice. Building & Accessibility Our Building Front Entrance The Peretz Centre front entrance is wheelchair accessible directly off the sidewalk (paved entrance). The standard double-door entrance is power-assisted (button located to the right of the doorway). The doors swing outwards. Ground Floor The ground floor of the Peretz Centre is accessible from the sidewalk and by elevator from the parkade. The following spaces are located on the ground floor: • Peretz Centre administrative office (not wheelchair accessible) • Kirman Library (not wheelchair accessible) • Senior's Lounge (temporary location of the Vancouver Public Library's Oakridge branch)(https://www.vpl.ca/location/oakridge-branch) • Forget Me Not Montessori Preschool (https://fmnmontessori.com/)(Schoolroom) • Vancouver Jewish Film Centre's Office (https://www.vjff.org/contact/) Washrooms are multi-stalled and gendered. Each washroom includes a wheelchair accessible stall. A baby changing station is located in the women's washroom. A water fountain is located in the hallway leading to the bathroom. 2nd Floor The second floor of the Peretz Centre is accessible by stairs or elevator. Spaces include: • The Gallia & Ben Chud Auditorium • Upstairs Foyer • Kitchen • Green Room (not wheelchair accessible) • Jewish Museum & Archives of BC (https://jewishmuseum.ca/index.html)offices Washrooms are multi-stalled and gendered. Each washroom includes a wheelchair accessible stall. A single-occupancy, non-gendered washroom is located in the Green Room on this level (locked, access provided upon request). Unfortunately, there are stairs leading up to the washroom. There is a coat room available, but we don't always use it! Please reach out to the office/event host to request opening the coat room. Elevator An elevator (106cm/42 inches wide) provides access to all three levels of the Peretz Centre (underground parking, ground floor, 2nd floor). General Information • Our building includes a mix of fluorescent, incandescent and LED lighting. • We offer free WiFi for members, students, and visitors, which may impact those with electromagnetic sensitivities. To request accessibility support or to ask questions, please contact the office. We welcome your feedback on how we communicate accessibility information and how we can improve our facilities! Send us an email

Make a donation at the Peretz Centre to support our secular Jewish educational programs, cultural and community initiatives, events, and more! Support Our Work Your contribution supports our mission to provide a progressive, modern Jewish cultural education to students of all ages. The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture is a registered Canadian charity (108167602 RR 0001). Donation receipts are given for any gift over $20. Donate Who We Are Become a Member If you experience any problems using the form above, please try directly at CanadaHelps.org Volunteering at the Peretz Center There are multitude of opportunities to get involved at the Peretz Centre, whether it's planning and setting up for events, or sitting on committees. Would you like to hear more about volunteering opportunities at the Peretz Centre? Email: info@peretz-centre.org , for more information

The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture in Vancouver, Canada, is one of dozens of schools, cultural centres, libraries, organizations, streets, and plazas, from Buenos Aires to Birobidzhan, named in honour of I. L. Peretz.​ Read Al Stein's short biography of Peretz. Who was I. L. Peretz? by Al Stein The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture in Vancouver, Canada, is one of dozens of schools, cultural centres, libraries, organizations, streets, and plazas, from Buenos Aires to Birobidzhan, named in honour of I. L. Peretz. Peretz: A Modern Yiddish Writer See 1905 map from Topographic Maps of Eastern Europe: An Atlas of the Shtetl Yitzkhok Leybush Peretz was born in 1852 in Zamość , a small city in the southeast of Poland, to a prominent Orthodox family and by six years of age had already begun to study the Talmud. Recognized as a prodigy, he was expected to become a revered Rabbi or a great Jewish scholar, but as a young teenager was given the key to a private library of masterworks of secular European literature and the social and physical sciences. He painstakingly learned Russian, German, French and some English and was forever transformed by this learning. In keeping with Orthodox Jewish custom, his parents arranged a teenage marriage for him that did not last, but did produce a son, Lucian, who Peretz took charge of. He soon remarried and that marriage, childless, endured for his lifetime. He was accepted as a law student and by age twenty-five was granted a license by the Czarist authority to practice private law, but not before the Russian court, and soon developed a respected reputation in and around Zamość. At 37 years old, he was suddenly disbarred without explanation, but presumably for his socialist sympathies. He moved to Warsaw and was offered the position of a functionary for the Jewish Community Council, in charge of burial records for the Jewish cemetery. Peretz's income was modest but he now had time to devote to writing. He had previously written a small number of works in Polish and Hebrew but now decided to write in Yiddish, the everyday language of the Jewish people. In 1888, Peretz’s first Yiddish work, “Monish”, a mock-epic verse ballad, was published in Sholem Aleichem’s journal, “Yiddish Folks-Bibliotek”. Nothing so modern in style and content had ever before been written in Yiddish. Sholem Aleichem was seven years younger than Peretz, but had started to write in Yiddish earlier; his humorous sketches and gentle satires of the ways that ordinary Jews in the Ukraine coped with everyday hardships and the many changes that were happening, had made him very popular. Peretz made it very clear in an accompanying letter that he had no intention of trying to copy Sholem Aleichem’s style and goal which he said was to amuse and comfort his readers. Peretz said he intended to appeal more to intellectuals, his goal being to enlighten his readers. Their relationship continued to be cooperative, if somewhat prickly. Read Monish in Yiddish online at the Internet Archive “Peretz was committed to one premise above all others: that it was possible, through literature, to fuse Jewish tradition with Western ideas of humanism, reason, and social justice and to show that those ideas were, in fact, implicit in Jewish tradition all along." -- Aaron Lansky, Introduction to Pakn Treger No. 72 , Peretz: Redux (Fall 2015) Peretz’s literary genius was multi-faceted and his writing styles very varied, reflecting his diverse experience and the psychological and neo-Romantic impulses found in contemporary European literature. He was always concerned about the practical questions of Jewish national and cultural identity during a period of great social and political unrest. He served as a guide and mentor to the next generation of Yiddish writers who would regularly gather at his modest home. The relevance of Peretz’s writings to issues facing Jews today is readily apparent. Examining traditional and khasidic Jewish culture through his secular intellect, he wrote stories, poems, essays and plays where earthly goodness frequently had a higher value than traditional piety and where he often scourged religious hypocrisy and exploitation of women. Although sympathetic to most socialist ideals, Peretz in his last years expressed growing anxiety and uncanny foresight about simplistic class politics that he feared would stifle individual liberty and intellectual and literary expression. He never ceased to champion Yiddish as a unifying force that would strengthen and give voice to the cultural values of the Jewish people. Peretz was active in Jewish communal affairs in Warsaw; he organized a Jewish library, a choral society and was instrumental in the founding of an orphanage for Jewish children. During the early period of World War I, thousands of Russian Jews were scapegoated for potential disloyalty and forced out by the anti-Semitic Czar, Nicholas II. They flocked to Warsaw where Peretz, among others, made every effort to provide them with food, shelter and medical attention. This huge task and the sight of all the suffering undermined his already frail heart. He died on April 3, 1915. It is said that 100 thousand mourning Jews followed the coffin of the greatest Yiddish literary artist to the cemetery. Today, he is hardly recognized by most Jews in North America. Portrait by Władysław Wajntraub, undated ( via Wikimedia Commons ) Further Reading Note: This is an informal and most definitely non-exhaustive list of the many resources available about Peretz's life, work, and impact. Ruth R. Wisse, " Peretz, Yitskhok Leybush ," in the YIVO Encycolpedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. David Mazower, "Inside the Peretz Salon: The Engine Room of Modern Yiddish Culture, with David Mazower ," lecture at the Yiddish Book Center (Feb. 8 2024). Adi Mahalel, The Radical Isaac: I. L. Peretz and the Rise of Jewish Socialism (SUNY Press, 2023) David G. Roskies, " The Small Talk of I. L. Peretz ," In Geveb: A Journal of Yiddish Studies (May 22, 2016). David Mazower, " Peretz’s Worlds: Separating the Man from the Myth ," Pakn Treger No. 72 (Fall 2015/5776).

Members are the foundation of our community. Join our mission to provide students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education, including programs, classes, lectures, holiday events, and more. Become a Member of The Peretz Centre Members are the foundation of our community. Join our mission to provide students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education, including programs, classes, lectures, holiday events, and more. Renew your Peretz Centre membership annually to maintain good standing, sustain a home for progressive Jewish community in Vancouver, and access membership benefits . Register Now Go to Members' Area Peretz Centre Membership Information The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture is a registered charity mandated to provide students of all ages with a progressive and modern Jewish cultural education since 1945. Over the past 80 years, our programs, events, and community initiatives are supported by our members, who contribute annual membership dues, volunteer, participate in our activities, and take an active role in Society governance. Read Bylaws Code of Conduct What are membership dues? As a registered charity and non-profit society, the Peretz Centre is governed by dues-paying members. Our bylaws state (https://eca153a1-3d4a-4eee-a68f-293d2b40f5ae.usrfiles.com/ugd/eca153_fd37e946a08341c7ae745d402129f2ae.pdf)that membership is (with a few exceptions) for life, but you must pay membership dues every year in order to be a member in good standing. If you do not pay your dues annually, you are still a member but no longer in good standing, meaning you lose some membership benefits like voting rights in General Meetings and board elections. Your membership dues are financial contributions to the Peretz Centre’s annual operations, helping to fund our work, subsidize participation for our essential community programs (including children and youth programs), and sustain a home for progressive Jewish community in Vancouver. How much does membership cost? Membership rates are offered in a few different categories. Members may register up to 4 adults in the same family and include children under 18 in any of the categories below. Anyone who identifies as a family and shares resources can register together. Registration for children under 18 is free! We encourage members with children to register them in order to help us plan for children's programming, including members-only programs. 2025-26 Membership Rates: How does Peretz decide membership rates? In setting membership rates, the Board of Directors aimed to: • Support Peretz programs and events while ensuring that membership is affordable for anyone who wants to be a part of our community • Recognize different family configurations and keep costs down for single parents • Encourage members with partners and/or children to register all individuals in their family, which helps us plan for programs and grow our community The base amount of $180 for an individual adult (18+), or $25 for a self-identified low-income individual, is lower than most synagogues or societies like ours because we are able to use rental revenue from our building to keep membership costs down for those who can’t afford to pay more. Rather than introduce tiers for members who are able to contribute more financially, we encourage those who can afford it to make a charitable donation in addition to renewing membership. This way, the entire amount of the donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt. Will I get a tax receipt for paying my membership dues? Payments are no longer eligible for charitable tax receipts as of September 1, 2025. For the 2025-26 membership year, the Board of Directors voted to change our membership model to provide monetary advantages (or membership benefits that have monetary value, like discounts) in order to recognize membership engagement and reduce barriers to participation. In other words, this new model allows members who frequently attend events or participate in programs to benefit from lower overall costs as a result of paying their membership dues. Because your membership dues will now directly save you money, payments are no longer considered donations. That’s part of the reason that we kept membership dues fairly low, so members who are able to contribute financially at a higher rate can do so with a charitable donation (https://www.peretz-centre.org/charitable-donation)and receive a tax receipt for 100% of that voluntary contribution. What are the new membership benefits for 2025-26? For the 2025-26 membership year, we are introducing members-only monetary advantages, including special rates and promotions on program registration, event tickets, and building rentals. Starting November 30, 2025, members will receive new benefits: • 10% off program registration (excluding members-only programs) • 10% off event ticket prices (excluding events with free/in-kind/by donation registration options like Fraytik tsu Nakht) • 15% of rental rates • Additional promotions (like promo codes or early registration) offered only to members Please note: Starting in 2026, some programs (like Pnei Mitzvah and the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir) may be restricted to members-only, as they were in previous years. Why do member discounts only start in November? Since Peretz membership has traditionally conferred only non-monetary advantages (like voting rights), payment of dues was considered a charitable donation. This is true for everyone who paid dues between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025; that’s why we issued charitable tax receipts for amounts paid (over $10). As a result, we are phasing in monetary advantages to ensure that we comply with Canada Revenue Agency Regulations for charitable contributions. The main reason to phase in these new benefits is that we open registration and ticket sales for programs and events during the changeover of the membership year (September and October are some of the busiest months!). Members who registered for programs or bought event tickets before the new membership year started on September 1st (or before they renewed their membership) cannot receive monetary advantages, and it wouldn’t be fair to give discounts to people who signed up later. To make the transition simpler, we decided that discounts will only be introduced for events and programs that start on or after November 30, 2025. How will I get members-only discounts and advance registration? Registration for programs and events starting after November 30, 2025 will have a “members-only” registration or ticket option. Please select this option to get the members discount. We may also send out special discount codes and early registration access to members via email – keep an eye out and make sure you’re subscribed to our mailing list! Why is it important to register my child(ren)? Children under the age of 18 are free to register for Peretz membership! We encourage members with children to register them in order to help us plan for children's programming, including members-only programs. Only children who are registered as members are eligible for members-only programs and discounts. To register one or more children in your family, please add their names and ages to your membership registration form. 2025-26 Membership Benefits Voting Privileges Steer the direction of the Peretz Centre by voting in General Meetings (like the AGM and board elections) and Special General Meetings Participatory Opportunities Be involved in Peretz Centre activities and governance through the Board of Directors (elected positions), committees, and working groups Advance Registration Gain priority access to registration for popular Peretz programs and events with limited seats, so you can register before they fill up! Members-Only Discounts Get 10% of program registration* and event tickets*, plus 15% off rental rates for our facilities and additional promotions sent via email to members Members-Only Forums Access members-only forums and special events around the Peretz mission and vision, plus the Members Area of the website Borrowing Privileges Check out book from the Kirman Library, the largest collection of Yiddish books in Western Canada, plus a wide variety of Jewish history and culture texts! *Events with free/in-kind/by donation ticket options are not eligible for member discounts. Registration for members-only programs is already subsidized (not eligible). Register or Renew Your Membership for 2025-26 Each new membership year begins on September 1st . Membership fees are due annually to ensure you are a member in good standing (able to vote and access benefits). Peretz Centre annual membership fees apply for adults (18+), who can register as individuals or in groups of up to four adults; children under 18 are free to register . We encourage members with children to register them in order to help us plan for children's programming, including members-only programs. Anyone who identifies as a family and shares resources can register together. Subsidized rates are available for self-identified low-income individuals and families. New members: Anyone is welcome to register for membership. Our doors are open to people of diverse cultures, beliefs, genders, sexual orientation, and abilities. Returning members : Please submit the registration form below to renew your membership. Register