Josh Raizman and Sarah Troster are thinking closely about the kind of Jewish future they want for their two young boys, aged five and two. That perspective shapes how they choose to invest their time, energy, resources, and attention.
Josh’s experience living in larger Jewish centres before moving to Edmonton has influenced that outlook.
“You could be in a very large Jewish community like Toronto and still feel disconnected,” Josh says. “There are so many options, so many different networks, that it can feel fragmented. What I’ve found in Edmonton is refreshing. You feel connected because community here is more cohesive and intentional.”
That insight is central to why they chose to support the new Oshry | Kipnes Jewish Community Centre.
For them, it represents more than a building; it reflects a deliberate commitment to strengthening community connections for families like theirs.
“In a smaller community, places like the JCC matter even more,” Josh explains. “It’s a central gathering space where families can meet, build relationships, and feel part of something shared.”
For their family, it comes down to having accessible opportunities for Jewish friendships, experiences and traditions in their daily lives.
“My family is going to have a place where we can meet like-minded people, get our kids involved, and have an enriched Jewish lifestyle,” Josh says.
He adds that spaces like this reduce the friction for young families balancing work, parenting, and staying connected Jewishly.
“When you’re raising young kids, it’s not always easy to seek out community. Having a place where you know you can go, and where you’ll see familiar faces, makes a real difference,” he says. “It becomes part of your routine, not something extra you have to plan for.”
Josh’s perspective is also rooted in his family history. Growing up with grandparents who were Holocaust survivors, Josh was raised with a strong sense of continuity and responsibility to future generations.
That legacy is grounded in action and investment in the Jewish community’s future.
He says that legacy has never felt abstract. “It wasn’t just something you heard about growing up; it was something you were expected to live by,” he says. “My grandparents’ experience instilled a belief that if you have the ability to contribute to a community, you don’t wait, you act.”
That perspective now guides how he and Sarah approach their children’s upbringing and the kind of environment they want to build in Edmonton.
“Community can’t sustain itself on its own, you have to invest in it,” he says. “Supporting spaces like the Oshry | Kipnes JCC is one way to do that.”
Their decision to give is also motivated by building a life in Edmonton.
Neither Josh nor Sarah is originally from the city, which makes their connection all the more meaningful.
“We chose to be here, and we’ve built strong relationships here by being involved,” Josh says. “You don’t have to be from a place your whole life to feel responsible for helping it grow.”
Josh and Sarah are also active volunteers with local Jewish organizations. Josh is returning as co-chair of Jewish Federation of Edmonton’s United Jewish Appeal campaign, and Sarah was recently elected to the Talmud Torah Society board.
“There’s sometimes a feeling that there is always time to give back later,” he says. “But the time is really now. Young families play such a vital role in shaping what this community becomes.”
Ultimately, they view bringing the Oshry | Kipnes JCC to life as a responsibility in which each of us must share, rather than waiting for others to act on our behalf.
“You have to create spaces where relationship building can happen, and when that happens it strengthens community,” Josh says.
Strengthening community benefits all of us, and Sarah and Josh hope their involvement encourages others to contribute in their own ways.