A young student at Talmud Torah School during Read in Week innocently asked me, “What is a knish?” This annual event promotes literacy and the passion of reading by bringing special guests into schools to read to the class. It’s a highlight for me and my children when they attended Talmud Torah School. I am always honoured to return (even virtually) as a guest. I love the bursts of energy from the class palpable even through a screen!

While sharing our culture through the story, The Knish War on Rivington Street, taking place in the Lower East Side of New York, I learned something from this student and her question. Knishes are a food I grew up with. Knishes are a quintessential “Jewish” food to me. This student reminded me that while knishes are familiar to me, they are not the Jewish food that all Jews grew up eating. They are an Ashkenazi food, and I had to remember not to assume that they are familiar to everyone. There is great diversity even within our own small community, and our many food influences and traditions reflect that as well.

We are the people of the book, and we are a people who LOVE books! Jewish Federation of Edmonton is a proud to support PJ Library sending free books to homes every month. We are also planning to take the connection into the community even further with Shabbat kits to go for PJ families and seniors in our community. Although PJ is a kid-based program, we think seniors should have the fun as well. For every Shabbat kit we sell, we will gift and deliver one to a senior in our community. Crafts and games for all ages and Shabbat supplies will be in the bags. 

Whether connecting PJ parents with one another through the upcoming PJ Parents’ Paint Night or connecting our families with isolated seniors, we are constantly seeking ways to serve our community to engage with and care for one another. 

Our seniors can sign up for many classes at the Jewish Senior Citizens Centre. A Government of Alberta grant helped Jewish Federation of Edmonton fund this initiative. Partnerships are one way to create programming in our community. Speaking of partnerships, we are also proud to sponsor and support the lunches at the Bissell Centre on Thanksgiving and on Christmas, by Beth Israel and Beth Shalom synagogues. We welcome donations of new socks and hats. Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who organize, shop, shlep, and cook on behalf of our community.

With your United Jewish Appeal (UJA) support, we can directly fund programs and initiatives to benefit our community and beyond. When the canvasser calls, please give to the best of your ability, as we are Here For Good.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Stacey