Connecting our community into an eventful weekend

ברוכים הבאים  

Welcome to Lilach and Gilad, two emissaries from the Jewish Agency for Israel, visiting with us in Edmonton. Last night they connected 33 young adults from our Genesis and Hillel cohorts with the work of JAFI and were in conversations about current realities in Israel. They will be travelling around the community this weekend, please say Shalom if you see them.  

Our emissaries will be enjoying a Kabbalat Shabbat with the Talmud Torah students today as well with the PJ library families, accompanied by Debby Waldman, at Laurier Park at 5:30. Please join us, whether you are a child or a child at heart! Big shout out to Jenn Magalnick, who was mentioned in the Harold Grinspoon PJ professional's newsletter this week as a model for community engagement programs!  

Connecting our community – whether with one another, with Israel, or with the greater Jewish world is a large part of our vision for Jewish Edmonton and crucial for a community on the Canadian periphery. Keeping our community connected is also important to strengthen our collective efforts to combat antisemitism. The Shine a Light on Antisemitism mosaic project was initiated through a JFNA grant, and planning is underway for it to tour high school classrooms with teaching resources. This award-winning project is one part of the task ahead. Another is to continue to be vigilant about the issues and advocate for our community.  

We hope that you factor a trip to Ottawa into your travel plans this October. Antisemitism: Face it, Fight it is an in-person conference, organized and convened by CIJA, with notable speakers and a robust program that will strengthen our nationwide, communal efforts to combat antisemitism. Meeting on Parliament Hill, we will also have the opportunity to demonstrate to elected officials how important this issue is to Jewish Canadians. Please join us for this momentous event. Travel subsidies for young professionals and student subsidies are available. You can find more information and registration here.  

Do you have weekend plans? We are honored to support the Chevra Kadisha in the consecration of the new cemetery this Sunday, June 4 at 11 a.m. Truly a once in a lifetime moment, the consecration is a rare event seldom experienced by most Jewish people. Whether you stay for the opening remarks or walk the perimeter, you will be a part of history in the making. The original cemetery was established in 1907 and the new cemetery is expected to serve the needs of the community well into the future. To Dave Marcus, Chevra Kadisha President, Rhoda Freeman, Chevra Kadisha Past President, and all the Chevra board and volunteers, a tremendous thank you for your vision, efforts, and all that you continuously do for our community.    

  

Shabbat Shalom  

  

Stacey