Ilene-Jo Bellas currently is a retired high school teacher who taught English and Theatre Arts for 32 years in the Delta School District. She directed more than 100 popular plays and musicals at Delta Secondary School in Ladner.  She was also instrumental in procuring funding, and governmental support and in the designing of Genesis Theatre in Ladner.

Ilene-Jo was born and raised in Vancouver. She attended Sir Winston Churchill High School and Schara Tzedeck synagogue religious school. She developed her strong community commitment through youth activities in Young Judea, Camp Hatikvah, Camp Biluim and working as a camp counsellor. In University she was involved in Student Zionist Organization and held leadership roles in Hillel. She became a charter member and eventually President of Atid Chapter of Hadassah-Wizo; and she served as the Vancouver Council Vice President.

Since her early retirement in 2003, Ilene-Jo has used her many talents and skills to serve her community: three years as secretary of the Jewish Seniors Alliance, four years on the Board of the Louis Brier Home and Hospital for the Aged and President of the Ladies Executive of the Richmond Country Club. She also directed musical shows for the Vancouver Talmud Torah, produced souvenir books, and chaired and worked on dinner committees for Congregation Schara Tzedeck, Vancouver Talmud Torah, Israel Bonds and JNF. In 2013, Ilene-Jo and her husband, Joel z’l were awarded the Betzalel Award at the Schara Tzedeck. Most recently she chaired a very successful fund-raising gala for RAPS (Regional Animal Protection Society).

Ilene-Jo served as President of the JNF Pacific Region from 2012 – 2015. In 2018 Ilene-Jo received the JNF National Bloomfield Award for her work.

She remains very active to this day continuing as a Board Member, chairing and co-chairing Negev dinner committees, and producing the souvenir books. Ilene-Jo is on the National Board of the JNF. Ilene-Jo attributes the success of her stellar volunteer career to the loving support and encouragement she received from her beloved husband Joel z’l.

Joel Bellas z’l and Ilene-Jo met when they were very young and attended the JCC on 11th Ave and Oak Street. Joel’s great-grandfather was Rabbi Belasoff who was the first Rabbi in Vancouver. The Rabbi came to Vancouver came to Vancouver in 1911 and was the Rabbi until 1918. The Son’s of Israel Synagogue was built in 1911-1912 and the Schara Tzedeck synagogue was built in 1920 on the same site on Heatley St.
In 1918 Rabbi Belasoff left Vancouver for Saskatoon and Rabbi Pastinsky became the Rabbi in 1918. Being a Hassidic Jew, he didn’t feel that Vancouver was a good fit since most the Jews were Orthodox.

Wayne Greenberg
Wayne worked for Glenayre Technologies for 6 years until he was transferred to Atlanta Georgia where he currently resides with his wife, Lee. When Wayne left Quincy, he was given the keys to the city.
Wayne is now retired and involved in the Hebrew Order of David. Occasionally he teaches product management around the states. He is a talented leader and organizer and holds degrees in Electrical Engineering, from UBC, Masters in Biomedical Engineering from U of Toronto and a Masters also in Business Administration. He is married to Lee Levy from Atlanta.

Their parents, Sid and Sara Greenberg are from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Sara’s family came from Cherson, Russia when she was 4 years old. Sid was born in Winnipeg and his family came from Baku, Romania.

Sid and Sara were married in 1941 in Winnipeg and moved to Vancouver in 1942 where Sid served as a radar specialist during World War 2. Sid who died in January 1997, was active in B’nai Brith, Schara Tzedeck Synagogue where he served on the Executive Boards and he served in the Canadian Legion.

Sara was involved in Hadassah-Wizo, B’nai Brith Women, and the Schara Tzedeck Sisterhood.

Their children Wayne and Ilene-Jo were both born in Vancouver.