For the first time I can recall in attending our Remembrance Day ceremony, we enjoyed a military helicopter fly by towards the end of the event. The service at the Edmonton Jewish Cemetery cenotaph was dignified and continued with the traditions of prayers from each rabbi, Ben Comer playing the bugle, and BBYO teens holding flags and placing poppies on the graves of veterans. I realized as I looked around the cemetery how much I have missed seeing people from all walks of our community and representatives from many organizations gathered together. While we are not back to pre-pandemic ‘normal’, we are a resilient community and are engaging meaningfully while maintaining our safety with the pandemic.

The Edmonton Journal published our letter as an opinion piece last Saturday. Recognizing the importance of never forgetting where hate can lead us, it heartened us to have eight area high schools (1,200 teens) join or the virtual Holocaust symposium we offered with Calgary. We are piloting the display of the Stars Without A Heaven: Children of the Holocaust panel exhibit at Ross Sheppard High School this week and JP Wagner to follow. If you are keen in being involved in bringing this display to other schools or guiding future exhibits, please contact Jenn Magalnick at magalj@edjfed.org. You might recall the interview Jenn did with City TV Edmonton News about the sale of Nazi memorabilia at an Edmonton area antique store. Jenn has been in touch with the owner and is acting with her on moving the collection to a museum, where it belongs.

Ensuring the memory of the Shoah and we do not forget the lessons is a significant part of what we do at Jewish Federation. Many have been asking about the March of the Living for 2022. Across the country, we are awaiting confirmations, COVID-19 protocols, and pricing. At this point registration will be centralized through Toronto (a coast to coast program is yet to be confirmed) and if you are at all interested, we encourage you to let us know by filling out this form. We promise to keep you apprised as soon as we have more information. The Federation’s board of directors and Holocaust Education Committee are committed to ensuring that teens and young adults take part in this very important experience should it be able to run this year.

Hold on to your hats Edmonton—Chanukah is around the corner and we have many events to engage, entertain and reconnect us to one another! We are in for a treat with a Pride Chanukah and Havdallah event organized by our LGBTQ representative to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ National Council, Michelle Ausfresser, on Saturday, November 20. If you register by November 14, you can receive all the supplies to create a pride menorah. Back by popular demand, my dear friend, Chef Shawna, and tour guide Orit will bring us the delights of olive oil and some new recipes to round out your holiday table with a cooking class on Sunday, November 21.

Shalom Baby, PJ Our Way, and PJ Library will all have unique Chanukah gatherings and activities. Be sure to sign up for our PJ Chanukah in a box, complete with treats, daily mitzvot and surprises, co-sponsored by Beth Israel Synagogue, Temple Beth Ora, and Talmud Torah School. The entire community can join PJ in the fun to light menorahs on Thursday, December 2, over Zoom—no kit required!

While the kids, the BBYO teens and the Hillel students have been organizing programs and reengaging with one another, we recognized that the Next Gen young adults needed an opportunity as well! We are offering free tickets to Luminaria for a stroll in the gardens for the Next Gen (early 20s to 30s) to meet Jewish community members in this age group on Saturday, December 4, after Shabbat is over. Registration is required. We will look forward to working with this cohort to develop programming and networking opportunities in the new year. 

Typically, Chanukah is the time of celebrating together. We strive to keep the connections going through these events as it’s important for a healthy and vibrant Jewish community. We are Here for Good.

Shabbat shalom,

Stacey