Farband of Lithuania Society

Beth Emeth is proud to be the home of the

Farband of Lithuanian Jews 

(also known as the Burial Associations of Lithuanian Jews in the GTA)

For inquiries please email farband@beby.org

The Farband was established around 1910 by a group of "landsmen" who came to Canada from Vilna and surrounding areas. Their mandate was to assist community members by providing interest-free loans, assistance finding employment and housing. Members in good standing were ensured a burial plot at the time of need. 

After the establishment of the State of Israel, the Farband worked tirelessly to support resettlement and integration of the Jewish people in Israel. Today that support is extended to social service programs, educational projects and hospitals.

Bat Yam Nursing Scholarship Program 

UJA provides robust vocational study scholarship opportunities for olim (immigrant) families to fully integrate into Israeli society, and to ensure bright futures for younger generations. The initiative, first piloted in 2014, is a collaboration between the Israeli Ministry of Health, Municipality of Bat Yam, Wolfson Medical Center, and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

 The program is an intensive two-and-a-half-year vocational course for qualifying olim in Bat Yam who are interested in a nursing accreditation. Students are expected to attend classes 4-5 times a week and the program is offered through the Wolfson Medical Center. The nursing program accredits new immigrants between the ages of 25 and 45 from Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Russia, who are in the field of nursing. Scholarship recipients from Bat Yam join other Israeli students also pursuing the nursing accreditation.

 Each scholarship recipient is assigned an advisor by the Municipality of Bat Yam to ensure they receive assistance, navigating their way successfully through their studies and into employment. Specifically, advisors are available to assist with résumé preparation, interview skills, and explanations of local employees’ rights and benefits. The program also provides modest stipends to help cover the cost of living during the time the scholar recipients are pursuing the nursing accreditation.

 The nursing scholarship program in Bat Yam continues to provide new olim with an opportunity to better integrate into Israeli society, and ultimately attain economic independence. Current recipients describe the program as a source of empowerment that enables them to develop essential and employable skills. An equally powerful outcome of the program is helping the new olim to become role models for their family, peers, and community, while strengthening Israel’s healthcare system.

Holocaust Survivor’s Emergency Fund 

Currently, there are an estimated 2,500 Holocaust survivors in our community who are living in poverty. As they age, these survivors – who have already suffered unimaginable losses and indignities – experience more intense health needs and require greater and more expensive supports. 

Since 1952, The Claims Conference has allocated millions of dollars in financial restitution directly to 800,000 survivors in 80 countries worldwide, including Toronto’s Holocaust survivors.  In order to access the full amount of funds for which they are eligible, communities must provide 5% of the total allocated to them in matching funds. 

Over the next 8 – 10 years, our community must raise $20 Million in matching funds for home care and to provide emergency medical and dental care to those who have suffered so much and deserve to live out their days with dignity.  To date, just over $8 Million has been committed.

This vital funding ensures that that Toronto’s survivor population has access to a wide variety of essential support programs via two of UJA’s partner agencies, Circle of Care and Jewish Family and Child Service.  These services include:

• Regular home visits and the creation of customized care plans
• Personal care support such as grooming, bathing, dressing and toileting
• Basic health care items (walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids, eyeglasses)
• Medicine and Dental care
• Transportation and Food Delivery
• Counselling and support to individuals and their families
• Crisis intervention and prevention
• Programs for seniors with dementia
• Financial assistance (to qualifying survivors living in the GTA)
• Grants for rent and utilities
• Assistance completing Claims Conference grant applications
• Support accessing government services & additional community resources