Much of the work that we do is what I call “laying the groundwork” – not quite poster material (Although those will be coming too!)  but I can assure you that the idea generating, relationship building, logistical organizing and advocacy on behalf of the community is taking place every day from behind this desk and in our virtual office. 

This week I attended the Camp BB Riback's annual general meeting. The director and board have shown true leadership this past year, as this hard working group of volunteers met frequently and regularly to pull together when they easily could have shut things down and, as my colleague Adam Silver said, “turtled” to avoid the difficult road ahead. Stacy Shaikin is tenacious and is also demonstrating vision, and I truly hope our youth will be able to go to camp and reap the benefits at Pine Lake this summer. Their thanks to our community for our continued support through a COVID-19 restricted summer was also most appreciated, and made entirely possible through your United Jewish Appeal (UJA) contributions.

Our relationship with law enforcement agencies in Alberta is strong and with open lines of communication we are able to collectively keep our communities secure. With our partners at the Calgary Jewish Federation we hosted a special briefing on far-right extremism for community leadership. If you are interested in learning more about this topic yourself, there is a three-part webinar offered by the Organization for Prevention of Violence in partnership with the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Police Service, Understanding Hate & Extremism that you can register for. 

International Women’s Day is on March 8, and I think it fitting that we usher it in with a notable female speaker this Sunday as part of our Jewish Speakers Series. Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem born writer whose topic Couches and Tents: Lessons from the Struggle for Soviet Jewry will surely inform and enlighten us as she shares the question and answers that she has sought as she contemplates if the unity that was shown in the face of her parents struggle is possible today. 

I hear many ask if antisemitism is what will unite our communities the way they rallied in the struggle for Soviet Jewry. Perhaps the recognition of the pluralism within Jewish culture and the changes taking place in Israel will serve to bring us together. Either way, it is not too late to join in on the next leg of Jewish Federations of North America's Forward Focus Mission, celebrating and exploring the diversity of Jewish life in Israel taking place every Thursday. I hope that you are finding the Jewish topics that engage your mind and soul right now, as there are so many virtual offerings to explore.

Shabbat Shalom,

Stacey