As the trees begin to change colour and our streets grow busier, we can all feel the familiar energy of "back to school" in the air. Earlier this week, I stopped by Talmud Torah on the first day of school with our ShinShinit, Alma, and was struck by the number of students and families beginning another year of Jewish learning, friendship, and connection.

The timing feels especially meaningful because we have entered the month of Elul, the final month of the Jewish year.

Elul is often described as a month of reflection and preparation. It is a time to pause and consider not only where we have been, but where we hope to go. It invites us to reflect on our values, our responsibilities, and the future we are building together. It is a season of renewal, one that reminds us that strong communities do not happen by accident. They are built intentionally, through care, commitment, and shared responsibility.

That is why I always look forward to this time of year, and why I am especially excited as we launch our annual United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Campaign.

For me, the UJA Campaign is about much more than fundraising. It is one of the clearest expressions of who we are as a Jewish community. Through UJA, we care for one another, respond to emerging needs, strengthen Jewish life, and invest in the next generation.

Watching children return to Jewish school this week reminded me how important those investments are.

This past year, in addition to our regular allocations toward bursaries, our Federation board had the foresight to earmark additional funding for newcomer families attending Talmud Torah and Camp BB Riback. Every time a child attends Jewish school, every time a camper experiences the joy of Jewish community, every time a newcomer family finds a place to belong, we are strengthening the long-term vitality of Jewish Edmonton.

The story in The Bridge this week featured a family who, after moving away, chose to return to Edmonton because of the quality of Jewish life available here. Their story was a powerful reminder that what we build together matters. The relationships, institutions, programs, and opportunities that define our community have a tangible impact on people's lives. They are often the reason families choose to stay, return, engage, and invest in Jewish life.

This week, I participated in an Integrated Federations gathering convened by Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), bringing together leaders from communities where Federations and Jewish Community Centres (JCCs) operate closely together to strengthen and support Jewish life. As part of the meeting, we reviewed survey results measuring the organizational health of Federations across the system's 141 communities. Like many of my colleagues, I was eager to see how Edmonton compared.

The results were heartening. Edmonton was assessed in the Strong category, based on indicators such as campaign growth, diversified revenue streams, leadership stability, and the absence of hardship requests.

Our community can take pride in that recognition because it is not accidental. It reflects years of thoughtful planning, responsible stewardship, and the dedicated efforts of professional and volunteer leaders working toward shared goals.

The truth is that the impact of UJA extends far beyond any single program.

It creates opportunities for teens to connect and grow as leaders. It supports Hillel as it expands its reach on campus. It strengthens programs for seniors and families. It helps us respond when members of our community face unexpected challenges. It enhances community security. It connects us to Jewish communities across Canada, Israel, and around the world, bringing valuable resources, expertise, and opportunities back to Edmonton.

In short, UJA helps ensure that our community remains thriving, caring, engaged, and connected: the vision that Jewish Federation and our community adopted several years ago.

In the days ahead, we will gather for our sold-out UJA Campaign launch and hear inspiring stories from members of our own community. Our volunteer canvassers have already begun their work, and they are hearing stories of generosity, resilience, connection, and impact that remind us why this campaign matters so deeply.

As we move through Elul and prepare for the High Holidays, we are reminded that Jewish tradition calls us to think not only about ourselves, but about our obligations to one another. We are part of something larger than ourselves. We inherit the work of previous generations, and we carry a responsibility to ensure that those who come after us inherit a vibrant Jewish future.

That is what the UJA Campaign makes possible.

It is how we turn our values into action. It is how we strengthen the institutions and relationships that sustain Jewish life. It is how we demonstrate that when one member of our community needs support, the entire community stands ready to help.

As this season of reflection and renewal begins, I feel tremendous gratitude for all that we have built together and great optimism for what lies ahead. Thank you for the countless ways you contribute to our community's strength, whether through volunteering, leadership, participation, advocacy, or philanthropy.

Together, we are building the Jewish Edmonton we want to see, not only for ourselves, but for generations to come.

Shabbat Shalom,

Stacey