A huge thank you to our many volunteers who worked at our casino this past week. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis casinos assist non-profit organizations in our community with much needed operating dollars, and we were fortunate to hold this rescheduled event. While it is not officially over, the end of summer is approaching. I wish to see you 5 p.m. tonight for the last of our Summer Fun Series at Talmud Torah, a pre-Shabbat gathering with fun for all ages. We made this experience possible with thanks to a Government of Alberta Social Services grant.

In case you missed it, the Election Readiness event with Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and Canadian Jewish Public Affairs Committee (CJPAC) took place this past week. Discover the issues guide on the CIJA election hub. 

Small actions can have a big jolt in assisting candidates and if you want to find out how YOU can generate an impact, please reach out to CJPAC. We continued to meet Edmonton mayoral candidates. Amarjeet Sohi and Kim Krushell met with some board members at our office. We will host a community-wide event for all contenders for October 6, so mark your calendars and save the date!

The grants we apply for, the programs we put on, and the advocacy that we do could not happen without your support. We are Here For Good, and our upcoming United Jewish Appeal (UJA) campaign ensures this. As the central organization that connects Jewish Edmonton, we have created novel programming and responses to the effects of the pandemic, particularly with the COVID relief fund. With the strategic plan in the data review stage, I am excited to take us even further. 

We will continue to make an impact with the good we can do for this community and with you as our partner. If you have not already registered, join us for the UJA launch with Yossi Klein Halevi for what will be a lively and interesting conversation about Israel affairs. Yossi is the author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor. Register before September 13 to be entered into a contest to win his book. 

If you plan on baking your honey cakes and prepping your pickles this weekend, I hope you can still enjoy the summer's sunny skies forecasted as well!

Shabbat Shalom,

Stacey