EDMONTON NEWS Volume 29, No. 10
Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40050628
November 21, 2018
Cover art: Decorated Hanukkah Cookies, reprinted from Nosher.com
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Edmonton Jewish News
Canada puts anti-Semites in the corner By Avi Benlolo (November, 2018) - This month marked the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht – the night of broken glass. The night when Germany's prevailing anti-Semitism exploded in unprecedented violence across the land. Avi Benlolo Synagogues were destroyed and burned down, Jewish people were attacked on the street and in their homes and Germany was firmly ensconced in a movement – an ideology – the Nazi ideology that would eventually murder six million Jewish people and millions more. Months after those days of violence, many Jewish people realized the coming tsunami and began to flee for their lives. Among the trickle of Jewish people who escaped Hitler's wrath, 907 Jewish refugees took voyage on the MS St. Louis – a German ship that carried these refugees to hope. But there was no hope on the other side of the pond. Instead, they were denied entry to Cuba, America and Canada. They sailed back to Europe, and in the end about 254 women, men and children were murdered by the Nazis. Canada refused them entry because of the prevailing antiSemitism at the time. "None is too many," refugee policy makers would say about the Jews. And so, with echoes of the Pittsburgh massacre still fresh in their mind, parliamentarians apologized on behalf of Canada. "We apologize," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "to the mothers and fathers whose children we did not save, and to the daughters and sons whose parents we did not help. We apologize to the imprisoned Jewish refugees who were forced to relive their trauma next to their tormentors." It was the antisemitism then and it is the antisemitism now that Canada must confront. The Prime Minister was right to call out universities and anti-Israel activists who are victimizing Jewish Canadians once again. He said, "Jewish institutions and neighbourhoods are still being vandalized with swastikas. Jewish students still feel unwelcome and uncomfortable in some of our college and university campuses because of BDS-related intimidation. Out of the entire community of nations, it is Israel whose right to exist
November 21, 2018
BBYO well represented in YEG
is most widely and wrongly questioned." In one swoop, Prime Minister Trudeau put today's anti-Semites in the corner. Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer echoed these sentiments admitting, "antiSemitism accounts for the vast majority of religiously motivated hate crimes" and their increase. "We apologize for closing our hearts and minds and our shores," said Scheer. Perhaps, however, the most meaningful sentiments came from Mario Beaulieu of the Bloc Quebecois who gave consideration to the abnormal rate of antisemitism in his province. He admitted that Quebec was not immune to anti-Semitism, "much to our BBYO members enjoyed eating beaver tails at FallFest in Edmonton on regret." November 17.The event was sponsored by International BBYO to recruit new "Antisemitism also found members. Edmonton was well represented with 48 Edmonton Jewish teens fertile ground in Quebec, there! They are looking forward to their LTI (Leadership training institute) which was struggling under convention upcoming in Edmonton December 7-9. the heavy yoke of the church at the time," said Beaulieu. And so, the St. Louis apology was an admittance – a But while antisemitism existed then and we applaud this reconciliation – for a historical wrong. An attempt to put important recognition, Quebec is still the primary province together the broken glass. And while broken glass can never for antisemitism and intolerance. be put back together, its pieces scattered in the souls of its Quite similarly, speaking on behalf of the NDP, Mr. Guy survivors and their descendants, on this date Canada grew Caron pledged that the "NDP stands shoulder to shoulder as a nation by looking at itself in the mirror. As one with Canada's Jewish community against antisemitism…no Holocaust survivor said to me at the end of the day, after all community should face this hatred alone." While this may be was said and done, "we live in the greatest country in the a start and certainly we hope the NDP across the country world." recognizes this pledge and weighs it against the Prime Avi Benlolo is a Canadian human rights activist, Minister's observation that Israel is picked on more than president, and chief executive officer of Friends of Simon others, antisemitism has found its way into left-wing parties Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, the Canadian – and even while Elizabeth May gave an impassioned branch of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. speech, we hope her pleas filter widely.
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
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The Jewish world reacts to the Pittsburgh synagogue attack By Marcy Oster (JTA) -- The shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 people dead during Shabbat services on October 27 has been described as “horrific,” “heinous” and “devastating” by Jewish leaders, politicians and Israeli leaders. “Our hearts are broken,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh posted on Facebook, saying it was making an exception and using social media on Shabbat. The federation's president, Jeff Finkelstein, in an interview on CNN praised the quick reaction of the police and local government and said of the shooting, "This is now real. This is my worst nightmare.” Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, said in a statement: “Our thoughts, prayers and actions are with the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community at the events of today. The peace of Shabbat was shattered and lives tragically lost. All of us stand with our brothers and sisters there.” The Jewish refugee aid agency HIAS, which was named by the suspected shooter in a series of posts on social media, said in a statement: “There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh this morning. This loss is our loss, and our thoughts are with Tree of Life Congregation, our local partner Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) of Pittsburgh, the city of Pittsburgh and all those affected by this senseless act of violence. As we try to process this horrifying tragedy, we pray that the American Jewish community and the country can find healing.” David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, tweeted: “The news from #Pittsburgh is horrible, just horrible. An attack on a synagogue kills at least 8 people and wounds others. No words are adequate. A demented, bigoted mind that would destroy lives in a house of worship should leave us all speechless, united and angry as hell.” ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement that “It is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of
America in this day and age. Unfortunately, this violent attack – the deadliest antiSemitic attack in the United States since 2014 – occurs at time when ADL has reported a historic increase in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic online harassment." Greenblatt said in a tweet that the ADL was “actively engaged with law enforcement to understand In a heartfelt show of support and solidarity with the Jewish community of the extent of this antiPittsburgh and with the Edmonton Jewish community, the City of Edmonton lit Semitic attack." the High Level Bridge blue and white. "There is no room for hate in The Hillel Jewish Edmonton," said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. University Center of Pittsburgh in a post on Facebook said it is in contact with atmosphere of hate that seems endless. While we welcome staff, university officials and law enforcement to ensure the politicians’ thoughts and prayers when murderous rages of safety of students. The center said it was planning to open on hate occur, that must be followed by action on many levels. Shabbat in order to support students and community Tolerance and mutual respect, plus sensible gun control – especially for automatic weapons – are needed now.” members “when it is safe to do so.” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.,who was the Parents responded with comments thanking the center target of a recent mail bombing campaign, said in a tweet: for being available to help their children. One wrote: “So glad “Our houses of worship will never truly be safe until those in that you are there to support our children when we, as power challenge anti-Semitism and the rampant parents, are far away and cannot hug them and be with proliferation of guns. My heart goes out to Pittsburgh, its them.” Jewish community, law enforcers and all those impacted by World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder said the this tragedy on a holy day of worship.” attack was not just on the Jewish community but on America J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group, as a whole. called the shooting a “savage hate crime and an act of terror.” "We must condemn this attack at the highest levels and “This moment calls for responsible leadership. We must do everything in our power to stop such atrocities from all join together in condemning the rising tide of white happening again,” Lauder said in a statement. nationalism, racism and hatred directed at Jewish people B'nai B'rith International called it "a devastating day for and other vulnerable minorities in our country," it said in a Jews in this country and around the world." statement. "And we must call for an end to the extreme "But more than that, it’s another devastating day for rhetoric, laced with bigotry and racism, that is dominating tolerance and acceptance,” Charles Kaufman and Daniel our national discourse and breeding violence.” Mariaschin, its president and CEO, respectively, said in a statement. “We are living in an unparalleled toxic Continued on page 7
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Edmonton Jewish News
Chag Ha'Banot brings women's leadership to the community
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Kneads the Great Big Challah Bake
By Rabbi Gila Caine Temple Beth Ora Egalitarian Jewish practice usually means, women take part in spheres of our culture which traditionally belonged mostly to men. But we have now come far enough in reRabbi Gila Caine imagining what Judaism can be, for us to open the doors and invite our men to join in with practices developed in women’s spaces and find out how this informs and enriches all our lives. I would like to take one example and explore it here with you. The seventh night of Chanukah falls on Rosh Chodesh Tevet (the new month of Tevet), and brings with it a special celebration. For generations, Jewish women in North Africa named this night Eid el Bannat – the festival of the daughters and made it a holy celebration for their community of women. In some communities' women would go to the synagogue and touch the Torah – praying for their daughter’s well-being. Women would gather to light candles together, feast and tell the story of Judith/Yehudit. Some would make this a night of singing, dancing and giving gifts to daughters and brides. It was supposed to be a night of reconciliation and peace, and honoring women’s strength. In the past generation, many women’s groups and communities have revived this tradition and made it their own. You can read one article about this unique night if you go to Ritualwell.org and search for: Chag HaBanot: The Festival of the Daughters by Rabbi Jill Hammer. You will find more history and some interesting suggestions for celebrating with your female friends and family on that evening. I want us to go one step further and ask ourselves how we incorporate our male family and friends in this night. This is important since not only our daughters should learn about the different sort of power women bring into the world, and not only they should remember and honor our female ancestors. Making women and feminine values a central part of our public life, means we must share these
Jewish women from across Edmonton representing all ages and all levels of observance and affiliation came together on October 24 for a beautiful and spiritual group Challah Bake.The event was spearheaded by Devorah Kaplan, Miriam White and Rivkah Leah Glatt and sponsored by The Kollel and Menorah Academy. ideals with the whole community - regardless of sex or gender. Our tradition is great at remembering mostly male heroes, teachers and prophets, and we usually remember our female ancestors in women-centered events. The seventh night of Chanukah could be the night when our community brings forward and respects the richness and variety of our female heroes. This is a great opportunity to teach our sons and not only our daughters, about appreciating their fore-mothers, and realizing all they can learn from them. In the article I referred to, Rabbi Hammer suggests some interesting Kavanot/Intentions for each of the candles lit on that night. You might want to incorporate some of them when you light your Chanukkiah – maybe one every night (what will you say on the eighth?) or all of them on the seventh night. Or find some other way which speaks to you and your beloved ones – through games, or songs or gift giving.
Here are the Kavanot written by Rabbi Hammer, and may this Chanukah be a time of Joy and renewed power to all who are bringing light to our world. Light the first candle in honor of Judith and all Jewish women heroes throughout history. Light the second candle in honor of women heroes that you admire (name names). Light the third candle in honor of women teachers and spiritual leaders whom you know (again, name names, including relatives and friends). Light the fourth candle in honor of Jewish mothers and grandmothers, including your own. Light the fifth candle in honor of all Jewish girls. Light the sixth candle in honor of your family. (This candle can be special for daughters, or you can have the candle represent the whole family, men and women, boys and girls.) Light the seventh candle in honor of the Shekhinah, the indwelling presence of G-d that is in every person (in Jewish mystical tradition, the Shekhinah is depicted as female). Gila Caine is the Rabbi at Temple Beth Ora, a Reform Judaism synagogue in Edmonton.
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
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Edmonton mourns after the Pittsburgh shooting By Deborah Shatz (EJNews) -- On Saturday October 27, a gunman entered the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh and killed 11 people, wounding six others. It was the worst recorded antiSemitic act in American history. In killing 11 Jewish worshippers, he also struck at the heart of the world wide Jewish community – and other faith based communities as well. The Jewish world was heartbroken at the senseless racist brutality and the rest of the world shared in the loss and offered condolences, support and love. Jewish communities across North America grieved and coordinated community memorial services to pay tribute to the victims and stand in solidarity. In Edmonton, a memorial service was held at Beth Israel Synagogue that attracted close to 500 people of all backgrounds, races and religions. JFED President Steven Shafir said, “We’ve come together tonight to remember the victims of a heinous anti-Semitic attack. I want to thank all those people within our community who have offered their support and comfort. I am grateful to the Edmonton Police Service who have reached out to us and been proactive in ensuring us that there is no increased risk at this time; this has been very comforting. “I’d also like to thank the City of Edmonton for their announcement that tonight the High Level Bridge will be lit in blue and white to remember the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting. Thank you to all the dignitaries who have attended this service tonight; we are very fortunate to live in a country that gives unwavering support.” Many dignitaries were present at the service including Mayor Don Iveson, MLA Ricardo Miranda, Minister of Culture, MLA Lorne Dach, MLA Richard Feehan, Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel and others. There were also several leaders of local faith based communities in attendance. Mayor Iveson said, “Tonight Edmontonians from all walks of life and faith communities have come together to support and pray for the Jewish community. We live in a safe city but we have to recognize that we are not exempt from hate crimes. We saw swastika graffiti this past summer and 2 synagogues were targeted with hate literature in the past year. However I am comforted by how many Edmontonians have stood up. Now this memorial is an opportunity for us to draw strength and hope from one another. The Jewish community in this city has always stood up for others in need. I hope we can all find the strong and loving community that we have built here in Edmonton together. We need to choose each day, the words and actions to build a society that is inclusive, multicultural and diverse – to be an uplifting city for everyone. My friend the Mayor of Pittsburgh has said that Pittsburgh is stronger than hate and I can assure you that Edmonton is also stronger than hate. Faith is stronger than hate. Love is stronger than hate.” Minister of Culture Ricardo Miranda rose to the podium and pledged his solidarity and the provincial government’s
solidarity with the Jewish Community. He said, “Hate has no place in a civil society. We stand together, all of us from all platforms and politics.” A moving candle lighting service was held with eleven candles lit – one to honour each of the eleven victims of the shooting. Each candle was lit by a representative of a different Jewish group or institution in Edmonton, representing the coming together of the entire community. Other speakers included Beth Israel Rabbi Claman and a representative from the Edmonton Police Service – community division. Later on in the week, Minister Miranda rose in the Legislature and recited Mourners Kaddish for the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh shooting. He said, “Our The memorial included a moving candle lighting ceremony to honour the deepest condolences to the eleven Jewish worshipers who were murdered in a Pittsburgh synagogue last family, friends and to all month. Edmonton Jewish Federation president Steve Shafir is pictured above those affected by the with Beth Israel Synagogue Rabbi Zolly Claman and other leaders of faith synagogue shooting, the communities in Edmonton. (Photos courtesy of Edmonton Jewish Federation) horrific murder of eleven people in Pittsburgh over the weekend, said to be the worst attack on Jews in the history we will continue to ensure that Alberta is a place where our Jewish community, who has helped build this province, can of the United States. go about their daily lives and practice their faith in safety “Our hearts break for the Jewish community in and solidarity.” Pittsburgh and we stand united with Jewish people around The American Jewish Committee urged Jews — and nonthe world. Let it be said: No one should have to worry about Jews — to come to synagogue the following Shabbat in their security when they go to their place of worship. No response to the shooting. family should have to worry that their loved ones might not The organization called on elected officials, civic leaders make it home because of where or how they pray. and others to join Jews at services as part of the “As a father and as a member of the Jewish faith, I am #ShowUpForShabbat campaign. utterly heartbroken by this vile act. To the Jewish “What could be a more fitting response to the terror in community of Alberta, my sisters and brothers, I stand with you, our government stands with you and I know everyone in Pittsburgh?” AJC CEO David Harris said in a statement. “We are not afraid. We are not going to think twice about this house stands with you as we all grieve. “We must not allow hate and intolerance to divide us. Our affirming our identity and faith. We are not alone.” “The community of conscience must stand as one, whether government will not allow the rise of anti-Semitism, that we in the face of the hate-motivated attack against a black have seen elsewhere in the world, to flourish in Alberta. The church in Charleston, which took nine lives, or a synagogue fact that this has to be said in this day and age is deeply in Pittsburgh, which took 11 lives,” said Harris. “We are troubling. determined to ensure that love triumphs over hate, good over “All of us must continue to denounce hate. As the premier evil, unity over division. That’s our America.” said yesterday, anti-Semitism is a dark reality that must be The synagogues in Edmonton and other major Canadian confronted directly. It has no place in a civil society. We must continue to ensure that Alberta is a place of welcome for all cities joined in the #ShowUpForShabbat solidarity peoples and all faiths, where there is no room for hate. And campaign.
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Edmonton Jewish News
November 21, 2018
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Pittsburgh is where I lived. Synagogue is where I'm home By Lee Chottiner LOUISVILLE, Ky. (JTA) -- On October 27, 2018, the front line in the struggle to save and perpetuate Judaism ran through Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I know a little something about that front line. Born in Pittsburgh, raised in her suburbs, an adult living on the North Side and East End of the city, I am – with apologies to my new hometown in this city – a Pittsburgher until I die. As the editor of The Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh for 13 years, ground zero for my coverage was Squirrel Hill, the Pittsburgh neighborhood where Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha synagogue, the scene of Saturday’s deadly shootings by an anti-Semitic gunman, is located. Squirrel Hill is an upscale, multi-ethnic neighborhood. Bistros, cafes and trendy stores line Murray and Forbes avenues. Schenley Park, with its wide, shady lanes tying the universities to prewar homes, attracts cyclists and runners and picnickers. It is simply a beautiful place to live and be. But everywhere are reminders that Squirrel Hill was, and is, the heart of Pittsburgh Jewish life. Bearded men in kippot and fedoras walk briskly to their next appointments. Women
Almost 500 people, from all faiths, came together in solidarity, to the Beth Israel Synagogue in Edmonton to honour the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh shooting. push strollers heavy with kids. Fliers for this Jewish event or that are taped to
street lamps and shop windows. And there are the synagogues. Like everywhere, synagogue life is in jeopardy as Jews increasingly reject organized religion. Still, it is impossible to walk a couple blocks in Squirrel Hill without seeing a shul. They’re in old houses, stately temples with stained glass windows or buildings, like Tree of Life, constructed along modern architectural lines. One congregation, according to urban legend, started life in a mansion whose previous owner’s wish was that a Jew never own it. That was the benign anti-Semitism we were used to until Saturday’s brand left us all scarred. I know Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha very well. My great-uncle Herman Halpern, a giant in the Conservative movement of his day, was the rabbi there years ago, when it was just Tree of Life. I reported on a succession of rabbis. I covered its merger with Or L’Simcha, a new congregation that had no building. My wife, then just a student rabbi, was asked more than once to read Torah on Shabbat at Tree of Life. And today it is on the Jewish front line. So is every synagogue in Pittsburgh, Louisville, North America, the whole world.
The 11 people who died Saturday lost their lives because they chose to express their Judaism in the house of worship. Had they rejected synagogue life, as so many others have, they would probably be alive today. But they wouldn’t really be living. Part of what made them Jews, what gave their lives meaning, was what went on within those walls. During his recent visit to Louisville, Jewish scholar Avraham Infeld, in his talks about the preservation of Jewish culture, made the case for strong Jewish community centers, but not at the expense of the synagogues. He said Jews are a people with a “God-centered culture,” and he took his fellow Israelis to task for rejecting the synagogue in droves. If you go to a synagogue, if you support a synagogue – if you are on the front line – part of you is crying not only for the loss of life but for the assault on the idea of synagogue itself -- literally, as a sanctuary. You may not have given voice to it, but I bet you feel it. Synagogues are not profit makers. Far from high-tech startups, brewpubs or espresso bars, they’re a tough sell to millennials and Gen Z'ers. But they are where Judaism happens every day. And they are threatened, mostly by the choices of Jews. For those who have decided to express their Judaism in a way that does not include synagogue affiliation, OK, that’s your choice. Now is the time, though, to ask yourselves how you will express your Jewishness – now, after the worst, and perhaps the first, murder of American Jews in their own house of worship. I don’t mean to demean Jews who have chosen to walk away from their faith or simply not to affiliate. I don’t know their experiences; I can’t walk in their shoes. But as a Jew who is on the front line, like thousands of others, struggling to preserve a critical component of Jewish existence, I can say this: We need you. More than ever, we need you. Lee Chottiner, editor of the Jewish Louisville Community, served as editor of The Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh from 2001 to 2014.
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News world understands too. Antisemitism is a big deal. Not because it’s discriminatory or offensive, although it’s certainly both. Not even because it is built on belief in absurdities and outright lies. No, antisemitism is a big deal – with consequences far beyond the Jewish community – because antisemitism can become lethal. We’ve seen it time and time again – in Buenos Aires in 1994, in Mumbai in 2008, in Paris in 2015, and now in Pittsburgh in 2018. The world’s oldest hatred is on the rise globally, and that should give us pause. We are not immune in this beautiful country. In fact, according to Stats Canada, the Jewish community remains the most-targeted religious minority in the country. So, what’s the solution? First, whether it’s halfway around the world, just south of the border, or right here at home, we cannot allow antisemitism to permeate to the mainstream. That is why CIJA is advocating for a national policy for online hate that includes the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of antisemitism. And, second, we must take security seriously. We are fortunate to have politicians who speak out strongly against these hateful acts and brave law enforcement officers who willingly put their lives on the line, sometimes paying the ultimate price, to protect us. But that’s not enough. We must do more. Eleven innocent people died in the Tree of Life Synagogue
shooting. That’s far too many, and yet that number could have been much higher. Though no amount of training can possibly guarantee safety during horrendous attacks, like the one in Pittsburgh, by preparing ourselves we can mitigate some of the damage and save some lives, and that’s something. This is why CIJA has a National Community Security Program (NCSP) that provides dedicated, responsive, and sustained security support and offers free training to educate community members about how to detect and prevent threats and how to manage crisis response. I took a lot away from my visit to Washington all those years ago, but nothing stood out to me more than the inspirational strength and resilience of the Jewish community. Though previously afflicted in ways so horrible that most people – before seeing it with their own eyes, as I did that day – simply cannot imagine it, the community thrives today in countries all around the world. It is remarkable. I was reminded of that resilience again after this attack, as I witnessed thousands of community members unite in towns and cities across the country, including Edmonton, to remember the victims and their families, to mourn the senseless loss of life – and to sing. As the many voices in the crowd rang out together as one, singing Oseh Shalom Bimromav, hope woke within me. Closing my eyes, I could hear a still small voice within me. The same voice I first heard in Washington. The one I know was heard by everyone in the crowd. It was crying out, “Never Again.” Colleen Decker is the Manager of Strategic Communications at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affair.
African American worshipers at Charleston’s Mother Emmanuel Church in 2015, the killings of six Sikh worshipers at a temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in 2014, and, of course, the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963 that left four young African American girls dead. The violence in Pittsburgh follows on the heels of a string of attempted pipe bombings by a white supremacist who targeted frequent critics of President Trump. Our hearts go out to the families of the shootings.” In Israel, emergency and resilience teams left for Pittsburgh to provide psychological assistance and community rehabilitation, according to a statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a videotaped statement said that he was “heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack” on the Tree of Life synagogue. “The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh," he said. "We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded. President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement that “We are
thinking of our brothers and sisters, the whole house of Israel, in this time of trouble, as we say in the morning prayers. We are thinking of the families of those who were murdered and praying for the quick recovery of those who were injured. I am sure that the law enforcement agencies and the legal authorities in the U.S. will investigate this horrific event thoroughly and that justice will be served on the despicable murderer.” Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who also serves as the country’s Diaspora minister, left for Pittsburgh on Saturday night in Israel shortly after news of the shooting. He will visit the synagogue, meet with the local Jewish community and participate in the funerals of those killed in the attack, a statement from his office said. “When Jews are murdered in Pittsburgh, the people of Israel feel pain," Bennett said. "All Israel are responsible for one another.” He also said that “Jewish blood is not free. I am going to offer strength to the community and its leaders, and to examine how we can offer assistance.”
Following yet another anti-Semitic attack: Grief, resilience and hope By Colleen Decker CIJA Eighty years ago, on the evening of November 9, 1938, Nazis ransacked Jewish homes, shattered the storefronts of Jewish-owned businesses, and destroyed Collen Decker synagogues across Germany in a deadly attack against European Jews that marked the beginning of history’s darkest chapter: the Holocaust. Years ago, I stood in a cold, dark museum in the middle of Washington DC and took it all in. Filled with sudden profound grief, and with tears streaming, I finally began to understand the horror that had begun that dreadful November night. And, I will never forget it. Standing in the United States Holocaust Museum, surrounded by monuments and archives that depict the greatest moments in American history, I was struck by the realization that, although the atrocities of the Holocaust had not occurred in the U.S., there they were on full display in the heart of the U.S. capital. After working in the Jewish community for over a decade, I understand why. And, as witnesses to the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, I hope the rest of the
Pittsburgh
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The Republican Jewish Coalition's national chairman, Norm Coleman, said in a statement: “The level of hate in this country is out of control. Today we mourn the dead and stand in awe of the men and women who ran toward the gun fire to help the victims and stop the perpetrator. In the days ahead, we all must come together to combat this epidemic of hate. From the left, the right, and all other corners of our political spectrum, we must come together to find a better path forward.” Halie Soifer, the executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said it was clear that congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue were targeted because they were Jews. She said her organization "condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the elevated antiSemitic, hateful, and divisive rhetoric in our country that has emboldened anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and those who sympathize with these movements." Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the attack “reminds us of the slaughter of nine
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Edmonton Jewish News
Chanukah: A beautiful time of year
November 21, 2018
Youth Programs are Vital
By Rabbi Zolly Claman Beth Israel Chanukah is such a beautiful time of year. As the nights get longer and our daylight gets shorter, we kindle a flame in the inside of our homes and allow the light to emanate from inside out. We are lighting in order to remember the miracles which the Jewish people saw in our Rabbi Zolly Claman victory over the Greeks. The way we celebrate is by lighting the menorah. While one may certainly use wax candles or paraffin – the most preferred method is with olive oil. Why is that? Aside from our interest to mirror the way the kohanim, the priests, would light the menorah in the beit hamikdash, the temple, perhaps we could glean a deeper understanding why we reach to olive oil as our first choice. Chanukah is a beautiful time of year – but what is beauty? Longer nights, shorter days and colder temperatures is not what I call beautiful! In fact, historically there were two opposing world views on this topic. Full of passion and blood, the Olympic Games was the cultural highlight to the Ancient Greek calendar. For 5 days, more than 40,000 spectators would pack the stadium to watch the fights and competitions. The external perfection of the body was not only culturally significant, but seen as a religious ideal as well. On the middle day of the festival a vast number of cows were slaughtered in honour of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. “It is hard for us to exaggerate how important the Olympics were for the Greeks,” explained Paul Christesen, Professor of Ancient Greek History. To the Greeks, beauty was the external perfection.
A somber Remembrance Day service was held at the site of the cenotaph at the Jewish Cemetery in Edmonton on November 11 at 11 pm. It was a special time to honour the members of the armed forces from the Edmonton Jewish community who died in the line of duty. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. This empire came after the Jewish people and attempted to impose this ‘beauty’ on us. But we see things in a different light. To us, beauty is internal. The more complete and pure the inside is, the more beautiful. The Torah is the rule book of the Olympics that are fought internally. Reaching out to a friend in need or giving charity responsibly may not take strong biceps and triceps, but it will necessitate integrity, honesty and patience. A Jew also dreams of the podium, but the passion is turned inwards. The victory of Chanukah represents the victory of an inner essence over external appearance. Having spent almost 10 years living in Israel, I have passed by many olive trees in my day. The olive is
misleading. A raw olive looks and feels like a good for nothing dark green rock, but inside there is an ability to light a room. It is a true hidden gem. Allowing our eyes to bask in the light that emanates from olive oil awakens us to light in places we never thought it would be. That broken gas pump in -30 weather and a harsh word from a colleague before the morning coffee is an opportunity to work on that muscle called patience. The juicy piece of gossip that would feel so good to let out is a chance to train our ability to hold back. And treating our spouse and children at home with at least the same level of affection and patience as we would in public is spending time in the gym and focusing on that muscle called integrity. May the light of Chanukah shine into our lives and remind us that in every dark moment lays an internal opportunity for growth.
Edmonton Jewish News carries personal announcements and thank you notices at special discounted rates. For information call Dan at 780-421-7966 or email edmjnews@shaw.ca
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
Page 9
JNF Negev Gala will be held June 18, 2019 honouring Freya and Louis Wasel Save the date for Tuesday June 18, 2019. The Edmonton JNF Gala will honour Freya & Lewis Wasel and the proceeds will support a very important paramedic training centre in Israel. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) of Edmonton’s 2019 Negev Gala honouring Freya & Lewis will support the development of a Paramedic Training Centre in Ofakim, a municipality located in the western Negev approx. 20 Km. west of Be’er Sheva. The Training Center is a unique collaboration, allowing students to combine paramedic and military training with Torah studies. This important project is in response to the urgent need for additional Paramedics in Magen David Adom (MDA), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and to better serve and protect the lives of the Israeli population. The purpose of the program is to train Paramedic Students and other participants in the professions of
emergency medicine. This is in response to the urgent need for additional Paramedics for the IDF and Magen David Adom (MDA). Paramedics serve the functions of physicians in a wide range of emergency medicine and lifesaving situations on a regular basis – and at all hours of the day and night. In Israel's last wars, IDF paramedics in the battle zones saved the lives of many soldiers. Students volunteer regularly in MDA crews during their entire 4-year period of studies at the Yeshiva. They have been on alert at times of national crisis such as the wave of fires that hit the country last year, as well as in emergency situations at the Ben-Gurion Airport. And these students serve in the IDF in the same capacity. After completing their army service, the students continue volunteering in MDA and are preferred candidates for positions as permanent MDA employees. They can also
The 2019 JNF Negev Gala honourees are Freya & Lewis Wasel. continue on and study medicine in the various universities. For more information please contact the JNF Edmonton office at: (780) 481-7881 or edm@jnf.ca.
JNF presents: Living under fire along the Gaza Border
JNF Edmonton presented an engaging and inspiring event with Yael Raz Lachyani, spokesperson for Kibbutz Nahal Oz, held at Temple Beth Ora Synagogue on Nov. 6. Nahal Oz is a beautiful kibbutz in the Western Negev that has been disrupted by border riots and fire kites. Lachyani
gave a straightforward account of the challenges for Israelis living under the barrage of fire kites along the Gaza border, describing the resilience of the communities living on the edge of Gaza, about why they stay, and what hope they see on the horizon.
“We try to be optimistic. It’s all about resilience," Lachyani said. "We don’t complain. We don’t let them run our lives. You burn, and we plant. Our morale is high. There is something about tragedy that connects you more to the people you live with.”
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Edmonton Jewish News
Douglas and Arkin mine aging for laughs in new comedy By Curt Schleier (JTA) — “The Kominsky Method” is the wisest and saddest new comedy on television. That might be its biggest problem. The protagonist of the eight-episode Netflix series that debuted recently is Sandy Kominsky (played by Michael Douglas), a Jewish Tony Award-winning actor who landed with a thud in Hollywood. He no longer acts for a living but teaches the craft to students using the titular “method.” Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin), whose wife, Eileen (Susan Sullivan), is dying from cancer, is Kominsky’s longtime Jewish best friend and agent. Their friendship and the ways they navigate a hilarious and poignant battle against Father Time drive the show, which is moving and brave. Netflix has invested considerable effort in a series that likely will appeal to a limited demographic (Douglas, Arkin and show creator Chuck Lorre don’t come cheap). The target audience is clearly of the older variety. At one point, Newlander says, “I wake up each morning and my first thought is, ‘What part of me isn’t working?’” At another, guest star Danny DeVito, playing a urologist, snaps on rubber gloves and turns to examine a bent-over Kominsky while saying “You complete me.” Kominsky has been married three times and is finally happy about dating someone more his age. Will millennials give this show a shot? Will AARP members take a chance on a series that is so deeply rooted in their own often depressing reality? If they don’t, they will miss out on an extraordinary dramatic comedy television experience. In a season where
(JTA) — Kristin Eriko Posner recalls feeling torn right
MLAs visit Talmud Torah
most of the new sitcoms are virtually unwatchable — “Murphy Brown” isn’t quite what she used to be, and “Rel” is really bad — “The Kominsky Method” is uplifting in its intelligence. Lorre, the Dick Wolf of comedy, is best known for more traditional TV sitcoms such as “Two and a Half Men,” “Dharma & Greg” and Students and staff at Talmud Torah had an opportunity this month to meet “The Big Bang Theory.” But with MLA Lorne Dach (McLung) and Minister of Culture Ricardo Miranda. “The Kominsky Method” is different from his other shows — it’s much more personal and mature. The show’s more subtly in dialogue like Arkin's declaration: “We’re two main characters are Jewish, also a first for the prolific civilized people. We keep our shame and suffering to ourselves, where it belongs." Jewish writer and director. Douglas and Arkin’s comic timing is perfect, but their Lorre is known for including vanity cards, or short essays and observations, at the end of his shows. They flash for just chemistry shines in darker moments as well. The rest of the an instant, and hardcore fans pause the show to read them. excellent cast includes Jewish actress Lisa Edelstein In 2011, he wrote No. 327 from Israel, where he said he felt ("House") as Norman’s drug-addicted daughter Phoebe; Sarah Baker as Sandy’s level-headed daughter, Mindy; and strangely at home. “[F]or the first time in my life, I’m surrounded with DNA Nancy Travis as Lisa, Sandy’s love interest. Edelstein much like my own,” he wrote. “Until I got here … I didn’t particularly takes full advantage of every opportunity to go realize how much my double helix yearned to be around over the top. In an early episode, Norman reminisces about Ron similar strands.” Howard’s classic movie “Cocoon,” which he recently viewed At one points he wonders, “Why did I spend a lifetime again. moving away from that group? How did Chaim become “A spaceship is taking old people into space. That’s the Chuck? How did Levine become Lorre?” Except for a synagogue and shiva sequence, there isn’t happy ending for old people. I saw it 30 years ago,” he says. much outwardly Jewish about “The Kominsky Method.” But “But it’s a whole different perspective when you’re in the Lorre’s particular strain of the double helix comes through demographic.” before she finalized her conversion to Judaism. Though she felt an affinity to the religion from a young age and was eager to embrace the faith of her now husband, she worried that converting would negate another important part of her identity. "I got really scared that if I became Jewish, it would overshadow the Japanese parts of myself, and I felt a lot of guilt about that,” recalled the San Francisco-based home cook, whose mother was born in Japan and father is the
Combining cuisines from gyoza kreplach soup to mochi latkes By Josefin Dolsten
November 21, 2018
descendant of immigrants from there. But her rabbi encouraged her to continue to explore her Japanese roots and, in the end, becoming Jewish did just the opposite of what she had feared: The journey inspired Posner to create a lifestyle brand that serves as a resource for others who share her background. “I feel like becoming Jewish has enriched my Japanese life,” Posner, 33, told JTA in a phone interview earlier this month. Last year, she founded Nourish, a web-based community
Continued on page 22
Happy Chanukah from the Aviv Israeli Folk Dance Association AIFDA Performing at an Oil Kings Game January 13, 2019! Join us to watch and cheer us on! $25/ ticket aifda.edmonton@gmail.com Israeli Circle Dance Tues/Sun Contact Meirav Or at meirav-or@shaw.ca
Save the Date: March 17, 2019
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
A rabbi's message to the teens who gave the Nazi salute By Laurie Zimmerman Editor's note: Students at Baraboo High School in Wisconsin were seen in a photograph taken last spring in which they appeared to be giving the “Heil Hitler” salute. Although the photographer who took the photo said the camera caught the boys in the middle of waving goodbye, one of the boys said on Twitter that they were specifically told to make the gesture. Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman was asked to address the school on Nov. 19 and explain why the gesture is so offensive to Jews and others. The following is excerpted from her remarks. MADISON, Wis. (JTA) -- I’d like to share some thoughts with you about why an image of almost 60 boys taking part in a Nazi salute has been so disturbing. I have no wish to condemn or denounce the boys, and I assume that many of them did not understand the meaning of the Nazi salute, nor did they intend to harm anyone. The first point I’d like to make is that while seeing the image of a Nazi salute has a particular effect on Jews, this isn’t just about Jews. This is about white supremacy. White supremacy is an ugly ideology that affects us all. We are at a crossroads in this country – either we will become a country that honors and welcomes everyone in all their diversity, as we try to learn from each other and appreciate our differences, or we will become a country that even more staunchly privileges white, Christian people over everyone else; a country that even more firmly institutionalizes racism and in doing so disparages Jews, along with African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We are at a crossroads, and we must decide whether we are going to resist white supremacy or we are going to look the other way. It’s not just that the image caused great hurt in the community – it’s that the image is a manifestation of growing anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia in this country. Context matters. Hate crimes are increasing and hate groups are growing exponentially. Just a few weeks ago we witnessed the horrific killing of 11 Jews in a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Three years ago we witnessed the killing of nine African-Americans in a church in Charleston. Six years ago we witnessed the killing of six Sikh worshippers in a Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. These were the high-profile shootings, but far too many acts of intimidation and violence are being perpetrated against immigrants, Muslims, transgender people and so many others. This should concern all of us. There cannot be healing until we acknowledge and confront the political climate in which we live. The second thought I want to share is that Jews feel a particular sense of horror at seeing a Nazi salute. Our people were the primary targets of the Nazi genocide. A little over a week ago we marked the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, called the “Night of Broken Glass.” It was on this night that the Nazis destroyed 267 synagogues and over 7,000 Jewishowned stores and rounded up 36,000 Jewish men. This marked the beginning of the Holocaust, the Nazi genocide of the Jewish people. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews, including 1.5 million Jewish children. Two-thirds of the 9 million Jews who had been living in Europe were dead. Anti-Semitism is a complex phenomenon, but we cannot
Happy Chanukah
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Holocaust Research Lecture at U of A
understand the reaction to the Nazi salute without trying to learn how antiSemitism has affected Jews throughout history. For Jews, the Holocaust isn’t just distant history. Most Jews have stories about family they lost. I know that I lost several relatives. But because of the chaos and devastation, I never learned their names. I know nothing about who On November 7, Professor Jan Grabowski was guest speaker at the Annual they were or the lives they Toby and Saul Reichert Holocaust Lecture as part of Jewish Studies Week at the led – my parents have left Wirth Institute for Austria and Central European Studies at University of me only with blank spaces on Alberta. a family tree, a vague knowledge that there were carries with it the recognition that we all make mistakes. We so many loved ones who couldn’t get out of Germany. all do things we wish we hadn’t done. The third idea I want to emphasize is that the Holocaust A necessary component of teshuvah is learning. In this didn’t come out of nowhere. The Nazis drew on centuries of situation the learning needs to include the history of the Christian anti-Semitism. They were able to accuse Jews of Holocaust, but I would also argue that we should examine being the source of all problems facing the German people the experiences of other historically oppressed peoples because Jews had become an easy scapegoat. because the Nazi salute is a sign of white supremacy. So let’s Jews had been persecuted by Christians for 2,000 years. also learn about Native Americans who were massacred, or In early Christianity, the Church wielded accusations that those driven off their lands here in Wisconsin, right here in the Jews killed Christ. In the Middle Ages, Christians Sauk County, and the history of African-Americans who were destroyed Jewish communities through widespread forced into slavery so others could profit. We must help our massacres in the Crusades. For centuries, different young people develop critical thinking skills, broaden their perspectives and become engaged in their world. European rulers expelled Jews from their countries. We are at a crossroads. You can imagine how easy it was to target the Jews after so many centuries of persecution. So when Hitler accused the We can decide that it is our responsibility to learn each Jews of polluting Aryan blood, people listened. Times were other’s histories. We can decide that it is our responsibility to tough and people needed someone to blame. While Jews had get to know people who are different from ourselves. We can been living securely and were fully integrated into the decide that it is our responsibility to grapple with the societies in which they lived, the rise of Hitler led, very political context in which we live. We can decide that it is our quickly, to their displacement and widespread persecution. responsibility to become active participants in our schools So where do we go from here, given that the photo has and in our communities. angered and hurt so many people, and there is a strong Or we can look the other way, try to put this behind us desire to heal the Baraboo community? I know that you will Continued on page 15 be discussing this at future gatherings, but I’d like to offer a Jewish response. In Judaism, when one person hurts another person – regardless of whether the act was intentional – that person is required to do what is called "teshuvah." It is a process of real reconciliation. The idea is that healing is not possible until the people who have caused the harm acknowledge what they have done, take responsibility for their actions, apologize and make amends, and then commit to not doing that action again. This concept of teshuvah
This time of year is meant to be one of bright, warm and happy moments. Wishing you much joy and laughter with your loved ones.
Melissa Benjamin* B.Mgt., PFP 780-719-9506 melissa.benjamin@sunlife.com www.sunlife.ca/melissa.benjamin Whitemud Crossing #130, 4211 - 106th St Edmonton, AB T6J 6L7 *Mutual funds distributed by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2018.
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It's time to open our eyes to anti-Semitism building on the right
Edmonton Jewish News
November 21, 2018
EJHL pays tribute to the late Howard Anson z"l
By Jonathan Weisman (JTA) -- In August, when I was speaking at a synagogue in East Hampton about a rising tide of anti-Semitism and intolerance, a congregant stood to tell me that the number of right-wing anti-Semites in this country could fit in that sanctuary. The problem, he assured me, was not the neo-Nazis, "altright" white nationalists and virulent anti-immigrant voices filling my social media feeds -- but the anti-Zionists on college campuses. The massacre of Jews in Pittsburgh on Saturday October 27 came sadly as no surprise to me. I was one of dozens of Jewish journalists targeted by anti-Semites during the 2016 campaign, showered with the ugliest, most violent antiSemitic imagery imaginable, my face photoshopped on Holocaust victims, my path into Auschwitz accented by gates that read "Machen Amerika Great Again." I have spent the last two years trolling around the darker corners of 4Chan, 8Chan, Reddit and Gab. I have visited the Daily Stormer’s website so frequently I may be on an FBI watchlist. I know what’s out there. And since the publication last spring of my book "(((Semitism))): Being Jewish in America in the Age of Trump," I have traversed the country to warn of the dangers of rising nationalism, organized bigotry and anti-Semitic hate. My message: Don’t kid yourself that the most violent forms of hate have been aimed at others -- blacks, Muslims, Latino immigrants. Don’t ever think that your government’s pro-Israel policies reflect a tolerance of Jews. We are all in this together. In most places -- synagogues, Jewish community centers and independent bookstores -- that message seems to have been absorbed. But virtually everywhere I have gone, especially in Orthodox communities, there have been
Following in the the footsteps of the Edmonton Jewish Baseball League and the Norm Pollock Award, the Executive of the Edmonton Jewish Hockey League has decided to create the Howard Anson Mensch of the Year Award. The award will be handed out at the end of each season to the player that exemplifies the personification of Menschkeit on the ice. Before his passing, Howard Anson z"l had been a long-time player and friend of the Edmonton Jewish Hockey League as well as a member of the executive team. He and Norm Pollock z"l are both pictured above, sometime in the 1980s, playing for the FLG team. audience members, sometimes most of them, that have angrily rejected that message. I have been called a self-hating Jew, deluded, paranoid. President Donald Trump moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, abrogated the Iran nuclear deal, done whatever Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked of him. His Orthodox son-in-law is one of his closest advisers. His beloved daughter is a convert. His grandchildren are Jewish. No, I am told, the scattering of bigots on the fringes of his orbit are of no concern. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, targeting Israel is the threat, as are the voices on the left speaking out against Israeli policies and actions toward the Palestinians. Oh, and Louis Farrakhan. My answer has never been to dismiss those concerns, but to put them into context. The gutter bigotry of Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader, is no better than the hate spewed by right-wing racists like Richard Spencer and David Duke. It should be condemned as forthrightly. But Farrakhan, if he ever had power, peaked in 1995 with the Million Man March. It has been downhill ever since. Louis Farrakhan, from his South Side of Chicago mosque, can’t muster 100,000 fascists to the streets of Budapest like Viktor Orban can. He cannot pass a law through parliament declaring it illegal to even suggest that Poles had anything to do with the Holocaust. He cannot win a plurality of seats in the Italian parliament. And he will not be runner-up in the next French election. We have to consider where power is rising, and the Nationalist Right is a global movement, from Manila to Milan, from Warsaw to Washington -- and frankly, in Jerusalem, too. Trump disparages “globalists” -- his presidential campaign’s final, closing ad inveighed against “global special interests” as the Jewish faces of Lloyd Blankfein, the Goldman Sachs chief; George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist; and Janet Yellen, the Federal Reserve chair, crossed the screen. But the fact is, “globalist”
sentiments -- eras of international cooperation and blurred borders -- have been essential to Jewish good fortunes. In the long history of our people, Jews do not tend to do well when nationalist sentiments rise, when borders are sharply drawn and identities are crisply defined. Such times tend to leave us out -- isolated, excluded and eventually attacked. When Robert Bowers interrupted Shabbat services in Pittsburgh on Saturday and gunned down 11 people, he was self-radicalized like many others on the far right, with propaganda that convinced him that the International Jew was the threat, orchestrating and financing the invasion of this country by brown-skinned marauders intent on diminishing the stature of the white race -- his race, his identity. The item of fake news that pushed him to homicide was the Tree of Life Congregation’s involvement in a Jewish organization, HIAS, that helps resettle refugees. A gesture of Jewish altruism -- charity toward the displaced, many of them Muslims -- was seen as yet another outrage in the Jewish-orchestrated “White Genocide.” “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people,” he wrote on Gab, the social network preferred by the "alt-right." “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics. I’m going in.” I’d like to go back and find the man who told me with such confidence that right-wing anti-Semitism is not a threat. I am quite confident he may have a reason why he was right and I was wrong. I don’t mean to suggest here that anti-Semitism is somehow the fault of the Semites. But other communities in history have turned a blind eye to the threats gathering around them. It is time we open our eyes. Jonathan Weisman is deputy Washington editor at The New York Times and author of "(((Semitism))): Being Jewish in the Age of Trump."
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November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
Page 13
Courage In Motion 2018 included renowned Canadian sports figures (November 8, 2018 – Concord, ON) Over 100 Canadian cyclists participated in the recent Courage in Motion (CIM) bike ride. The fundraising ride, now in its 11th year, has grown steadily in popularity over its first decade and this year, like many before, was sold-out. This initiative of Beit Halochem Canada, Aid to Disabled Veterans of Israel (Canada) welcomed cyclists from across Canada, joined by some Americans and Israelis. From October 22-26, international cyclists rode alongside Israel’s disabled veterans on four fully supported routes taking them through southern Israel’s remarkable archaeological landmarks and breath-taking landscapes. With fundraising open until December 31, 2018, it is expected that Courage in Motion 2018 will raise approximately $850,000 (CDN). Cyclists’ efforts enabled members of Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization/Beit Halochem to participate in the ride and will also fund programming at Beit Halochem Centres in Beer She’eva, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. With thanks to the annual ride, cycling has grown to be among the Centres’ most popular activities. Lisa Levy, an avid cyclist and National Executive Director of Beit Halochem Canada, is the founder of Courage in Motion. She said, “I’m pleased that the ride was, once again, sold out. It’s evident that our cyclists embrace the aspect of riding alongside those who are directly helped by their efforts. This year, we’re incredibly proud that more than 120 wounded Israeli veterans participated due to the fundraising by our 110 Canadian riders. We are also gratified that many
of our Canadian participants feel that they get more out of the experience than the disabled veterans.” While many cyclists return year after year, several others were new to Courage in Motion 2018. Two of these first-time participants are internationally renowned sports figures and we were Former NHL centre Keith Primeau was among 100 Canadian cyclists who pleased they joined the ride. participated in the recent Courage in Motion fundraising bike ride through Toronto-born Keith Israel. (Photo by Idan Peled) Primeau was a National Hockey League (NHL) center, playing 15 seasons (1990 – 2005) with teams immigrating to Canada with his family. During his career, he including the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina represented both countries. While selected to four Olympics Hurricanes, and the Philadelphia Flyers. Among Primeau’s teams (1972 through 1984), boycotts and other conflicts premany career highlights is his scoring the game-winning goal empted his competing. D’Ornellas is a Commonwealth in the longest game in modern NHL playoff history (five Games Silver Medallist (1978); two-time Canadian national overtime periods for a total of 152 minutes and one second) champion (1985-86); and Pan American Games Silver (2000). Primeau suffered a concussion nine games into the Medallist (1979). Perhaps his most remarkable achievement 2005-2006 season. It was the last game he played. was triumphing over the world’s best amateur cyclists at the Experiencing ongoing related issues, he officially retired punishing 120 miles road race in Vimy Ridge, France (1979). from the Flyers on September 14, 2006. Knowing firsthand He has owned D’Ornellas Bike Shop in Scarborough, Ontario the damage that concussions can cause, he co-wrote a well- for 30 years. Still a highly active cyclist, he started a cycling received book, Concussed! Sports-Related Head Injuries: club over 25 years ago to promote road cycling and bicycle Prevention, Coping and Real Stories (2012). Now based in racing. In 2011, D’Ornellas, then 59-years old, suffered a New Jersey, Keith Primeau stroke during a club training ride. Like Beit Halochem is involved in Ontario members, he knows intimately the challenges in reclaiming hockey through his co- his life following serious medical trauma. ownership of both a Toronto All Courage in Motion’s participants enjoyed group hockey school as well as a activities following each day’s ride including a night walking team in the Ontario Junior tour of Jerusalem and an extraordinary evening with Israel’s Hockey League. Heroes, members of Beit Halochem, who shared their We also welcomed cycling remarkable personal stories of tragedy and triumph. champion Eon D’Ornellas. Next year’s Courage in Motion takes place in Israel from Born in Guyana, D’Ornellas October 27 – 31, 2019. Registration is expected to open in cycled competitively from March 2019. the age of 14 before
From October 22-26, international cyclists rode alongside Israel's disabled veterans taking them through southern Israel's remarkable archaelogical landmarks and breathtaking landscapes. (Photo by Idan Peled)
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Edmonton Jewish News
November 21, 2018
How a Hanukkah song made its way into the world of Harry Potter By Josefin Dolsten (JTA) — If you read the “Harry Potter” series in Hebrew you may have noticed a curious Jewish fact: Though Sirius Black isn’t Jewish, the character sings a Hanukkah song in one scene. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hebrew translator Gili Bar Hillel reveals some behind-the-scenes tidbits about her “Harry Potter” translation process. In the original English version, Black parodies a Christmas song, “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentleman,” but Bar Hillel felt that wouldn’t resonate with Israeli readers. Instead, she referenced a well-known Hanukkah song, “Mi Yimallel (Gvurot Yisrael)” so that Jewish readers would be able to relate. “There were fans who ridiculed this and said that I was trying to convert Harry to Judaism, but really the point was just to convey the cheer and festivity of making up words to a holiday song,” she said. “I don’t think any of the characters
come off as obviously Christian, other than in a vague sort of cultural way, so I didn’t feel it was a huge deal if I substituted one seasonal holiday for another!” That wasn’t Bar Hillel’s only translation dilemma. She struggled with finding the Gili Bar-Hillel with her Hebrew-language version of “Harry Potter and the right phrase for “Pensieve,” a Goblet of Fire." (David Silverman/Getty Images) container used to store memories. After weeks of thinking, she came up with the out people peddling anti-Jewish arguments. Her latest book term “Hagigit.” even includes a villain whose obsessive hatred of Zionism The phrase is “a portmanteau of ‘hagig’ — a fleeting idea turns into anti-Semitism. — and ‘gigit’ — a washtub,” Bar Hillel said. Gili Bar-Hillel with her Hebrew-language version of It doesn’t seem like author J.K. Rowling would mind the “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” one of the four Harry liberties Bar Hillel took. The British author has recently Potter books she translated, in her Tel Aviv office, June 23, become a vocal critic of anti-Semitism, using Twitter to call 2003. (David Silverman/Getty Images)
TBO event looks at the importance of the Reform Movement to Israel
On November 17, an engaging event was held at Temple Beth Ora that focused on:Why Reform Judaism is Essential for Israel.The guest speaker was Reut Noyman, acting director of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism.The event was hosted by ARZA with generous sponsorship from KKL-JNF and the World Zionist Organization.
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
Page 15
With time running out, we must engage with Holocaust survivors By Julius Berman (JTA) -- There are over 400,000 Jewish Holocaust survivors worldwide, but the survivor population is rapidly diminishing. As we prepare to celebrate the High Holidays and mark the beginning of another year, each of us needs to reflect on what we have done in the past year to support this shrinking community and commit to doing more for them in the coming year. If you have never met a survivor, you are not alone. The Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness study conducted in April in the United States revealed that U.S. adults have little personal connection to the Holocaust, and 66 percent have never met a Holocaust survivor. This is unfortunate, as meeting and engaging with survivors and learning about their experiences firsthand can significantly impact the way individuals perceive Holocaust-related issues as well as hatred and bigotry overall. Damage perpetrated during the Holocaust and the resulting grief and pain continues to this day. Consequently it is never too late to reach out to survivors, and it's always necessary. Engaging may be easier than you think. Events recognizing and celebrating survivors can be found around the globe at local synagogues, Jewish organizations and social welfare agencies that specialize in elder care. For example, Hanukkah 2017 marked the first International Holocaust Survivors’ Night – a day set aside to honor survivors. On the third night of Hanukkah, simultaneous candle-lighting ceremonies were held in New York City, Berlin and Jerusalem at the Western Wall. This year, International Holocaust Survivors’ Night events will expand to include candle-lightings in Paris, London and Moscow. Moreover, Claims Conference-sponsored Cafe Europas – local gatherings of Jewish Holocaust survivors that include entertainment, dancing and often a meal – are hosted by social welfare agencies around the world. Each Cafe Europa provides a special opportunity to hear firsthand testimony about the Holocaust and observe what it is to still have hope and a positive outlook despite having been forced to endure the darkest chapter of human history.
It's time
Cont. from page 11
without doing the hard work it would take to grow from this experience. But I believe that would be a mistake. Before I conclude, I want to speak to the young people here. You have your whole lives ahead of you. Wherever you found yourself in this incident – maybe you were in the photo with your arm up or your arm down, or you watched from the sidelines, or you spoke out about the photo, or you remained quiet, or you reached out to a friend or classmate – wherever you were, whatever you have done, you now have a choice. You can decide to be involved in solving the problems of our world. You can decide to join with others and speak up when you see injustice. You can resist white supremacy.
The 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht was commemorated in Edmonton on November 8, paying tribute to Edmonton's Holocaust survivors and their families and in remembrance of the millions who perished in the Holocaust. The guest speaker was Marnie Bondar, a second generation Holocaust and Human Rights activist. (Photo courtesy of Jewish Federation of Edmonton) The Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness study also indicated that 58 percent of Americans believe something like the Holocaust could happen again. This bleak yet sobering outlook confronts us with the knowledge that as a global community, we have not done enough to address the bigotry and hatred that paved the road to genocide more than 70 years ago. Such a finding underscores the unmistakable importance, and urgency, to “never forget.” To that end, and despite the lack of knowledge about the Holocaust revealed by the study, there was a silver lining in the survey: 93 percent of Americans agree that all students should learn about the Holocaust in school, believing that education is the key to preventing the recurrence of such a horrific tragedy. This could serve as a strong foundation for leveraging local campaigns for survivor engagement and public education. Currently, only 12 states mandate Holocaust education in their schools. While the number is small, it represents an opportunity, a serious gap that an overwhelming majority of the country agrees should be addressed. Let the plaintive cries of the shofar during these Days of Awe not only pierce that part of us that remains complacent with the way things are, let it also fortify our call to action for the new year: Find a way to engage with the survivors in your community. Invite survivors to share their experiences with your organization, synagogue or local school. Honor
survivors on Dec. 4, the third night of Hanukkah. Contact your local and state representatives and push for Holocaust education in your schools. Try to bring Holocaust-related films to your community centers or neighborhood theaters with a related panel discussion including survivors. All too soon, it will be too late. When the survivor population is gone, our opportunity to learn from them and enrich our lives passes as well. Clearly this call to action is no small ask. It requires diligence from survivor advocates and family members, innovation to develop new and creative ways to preserve survivor memories, and – most important – that we understand that whatever we do, it will never be enough. During the Holocaust, the world stood by complacently while 6 million people were murdered; not for what they did, but for who they were. Make this new year different. Make this the year you take responsibility – or additional accountability – to support our survivor population. As long as there is a single survivor left it is not too late. In the end, our call to action is quite simple: Don’t just stand by. Do something. Get engaged with the survivors in your community. Julius Berman is president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) and has headed many national Jewish organizations.
This incident will not define you if you learn from this experience and make a real commitment to move forward with curiosity, honesty and integrity. My generation is handing you a broken world in need of so much repair, full of so much hatred. For this I am so sorry. But you have a unique opportunity. You have the power to
create real social change. You can make this world more loving and more compassionate. You can be brave and stand up for justice for all people. Laurie Zimmerman is rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim in Madison.
Page 16
Edmonton Jewish News
November 21, 2018
This month's update at Talmud Torah School
It has been a busy month for the students and staff at Talmud Torah School. We take school safety very seriously at Talmud Torah School and pictured above are two students on crosswalk duty.The rest of the photos show the very successful Scholastic Book Fair that was held at the school. Proceeds will be used to enhance the library and classrooms.
Visit us at daily at edmontonjewishnews.com and sign up for our weekly enews to appear in your inbox.
November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
Page 17
Know These Hanukkah Fire Safety Tips Before you Light the Menorah By Lior Zaltzman (Kveller via JTA) - Hanukkah this year begins on Sunday, Dec. 2. And while everyone loves Hanukkah, there’s no Jewish holiday that’s as dangerous: Open flames? Check! Boiling oil? Check! Sharp graters for latke-making? Check! Of course, the safest thing to do would be not to light any candles or fry any foods, but let’s get real: We’re not giving that up. So we’ve compiled these helpful tips to help you minimize the risks and have a safe and bright Hanukkah. Menorah safety tips: Don’t leave your menorahs unattended — Never leave a room where a menorah is lit. Either wait for the candles to go out, or put them out yourself if you need to leave the room or house. Put your menorahs on a non-flammable surface — If you’re putting your menorah on a wooden window sill or any other wooden surface, make sure to lay down aluminum foil or another non-flammable material. An even better idea is to put your menorah down on a stone or marble counter. Glass and metal surfaces also work. Put your menorahs on a sturdy surface — Is your dining room table a bit wobbly? Don’t put your menorah there! Any piece of furniture with wheels is also a bad idea. Opt for a sturdy, safe surface. Keep your menorahs away from pets — This might be easier said than done, especially with adventurous cats around, but it’s better to not put that menorah anywhere your pets are known to get to. Keep your menorahs out of reach of little kids — It’s an obvious one, but make sure your menorahs are away from edges and are high enough. Don’t walk around with a lit candle — No running with scissors, no walking with fire are some basic rules to live by! Keep your candles in a contained space. Take precautions when letting children light the menorah — Make sure that when you let your children light the menorah, they are standing on a sturdy surface, are close enough and high enough to safely light it (a stable stool is good, so they can see what they’re doing). Have an adult present and there for support and intervention.
It's a boy!
Noam Per Sniderman, born November 16th. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the Edmonton Jewish community for your love and well wishes. - Faren Hochman & Ari and Noam Sniderman
Keep decorations, papers, and fabrics away from your menorah — Put up any decorations far from where you’ll be lighting your menorah. If you’re putting your menorah by the window, make sure there’s no way for the flame to touch those curtains. Keep any papers (including paper towels) away from the surface the where the menorah is placed, and out of your hands when you’re lighting candles. And when you’re lighting those candles, make sure they’re far from your clothing and hair! Don’t light your kid’s art and crafts menorah, unless you’re 100% sure they’re not flammable — Your kids’ handmade menorahs are super cute —but they can also be fire hazards. Make sure to only light menorahs you are certain are non-flammable. Keep the ones you’re not sure about away from the lit menorahs, and consider using electric candles with those instead. Frying safety tips: Make sure your fire and carbon monoxide detectors are working — This is pretty self-explanatory, but easy to forget. Do this a week before the festivities to have peace of mind. Never fill your pan with too much oil, and keep it from getting too hot — Being burned with splashing oil really, really sucks. Make sure your oil doesn’t get too hot. It’s a good idea to use an oil with a high burning point, like canola oil or olive oil. Keep your pan and pot handles facing the inside of the stove — It’s a good way to keep them from getting knocked
over. You DO NOT want that boiling pan falling on the floor. Keep young children away from the stove — Total Family Care suggests creating “a 3-foot safety zone around the stove when the latkes are frying,” or using “the further burners so children cannot reach the flames.” Keep flammable materials away from the flames — Keep your hair and shirtsleeves pulled up and away from the flame. Make sure you keep paper towels away from the flames, too. Never try to extinguish a fire with water, and keep water away from your frying pan — In case of a grease fire, turn off the stove and use a pot lid or a baking pan extinguish a grease fire. If that doesn’t work, you can douse it with lots of baking soda. Keep a good burn cream around and treat any burn right away — Let’s be real, accidents happen. If you do get burned, run your burn under cold water right away. Dispose of your oil properly — Don’t throw that oil down the drain! It will clog your pipes. Instead, let it cool and put it in a closed container, that you can throw away.
Page 18
Edmonton Jewish News
Happy Chanukah! from Dani, Jason and Iyla Uretsky Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Gordon & Darlene Bushewsky and family
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from Sam Fialkow & Marilyn Sheckter Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Howard & Esther Starkman, and Daniel, Marina, Molly and Hannah Starkman
Happy Chanukah! from Jane, Hersh, Derek, Corey and Annie Sobel from Shirley Goldberg, children and grandchildren Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Anat, Noah, Eva and Maya
from Forrest, A nna, A dina and Naomi Ziesler from Shulamit Gil & Keith Dannacker
Happy Chanukah! from Fred, Libby, Josh and Jacob Katz
from the Rosenblum Family
The Aviv Israeli Folk Dance Association thanks the Edmonton Jewish Community and the Edmonton Jewish News for supporting this fundraising project. Chag Sameach to everyone!
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from Marina, Gary and Matthew Marcus
November 21, 2018
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Nora & Lawrie Lyman and family Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from Judi Card
Happy Chanukah! from Terri Mann and Adina Dvorkin
from Debbie & Howie Sniderman
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
from Susan & Bruce Mintz
from Aubrey, Noah and Rena Uretsky and Lauren Kruper
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Tova & Uri Kondor from Grant, Lemore, Nathaniel and Ellie Vogel Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Pauline & Rick Uretsky
Happy Chanukah! from Murray & Marilyn Glick and family Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from Luba A llen
from Megan & Gabriel Mandel
Happy Chanukah!
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
from Mindy Jacobs and Eoin Kenny
from Syma, A llan and Steven Uram
from the Shlomovitch Family Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from the Merrick Family
from the Stocklin - Sagi Family
Happy Chanukah to our friends, family and the entire community from Joel, Melany, Jakob, Micah, Cas and Lev Allen
Happy Chanukah!
from Robert, Krista, Aliya and Daniel Brick from Doron, Meirav, Naama and Shira Or
Happy Chanukah!
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
from Tobey Freedman and family
from Rachmiel & Nechama Feldman
from Laurie, Chuck, Jamie, Jonah and Ben Mozeson
Best wishes to our friends and family for a Happy Chanukah,
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
from Stacey, Erin, Jordyn, Abby and Zoe Wright
from the Zwaigenbaum Family
Happy Chanukah to our friends, family and the entire community from Farrel, Cara, Wyatt and Grace Greenspan
November 21, 2018
Happy Chanukah! from Carol & Ron Ritch Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Rena Uretsky, Noah Uretsky and Shira Spring
Edmonton Jewish News
Page 19
Wishing the Jewish community a and healthy Chanukah
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
from Bluma & Jack Goldberg
from the Kondor Family
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from the Ovics Family
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
Happy Chanukah!
from Barb Mandel
from Dylan, Leah and Carter Muscat
HappyChanukah! from Shelley Weinstein and Bruce Bradley
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from the Meadowlark Pediatric Clinic
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
from Jacqui, Mettannah and Sasha Jacobson
from Natalie, Ken, Marlee and Jenna Soroka
from Esther Skolofsky and family
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
from Gary, Mira, Noah, Nathan and Leah Campbell
from Verne & Debby Karasick and family
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Erin, Paul, Maya and Ben Silverman
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Sue & Alvin Winestock
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from Paula & Eric Weil and family
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Gaylene Soifer & Jeff Rubin and family
Happy Chanukah! from Sharon Bookhalter & Jerry Glasser
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Eve & Craig Rose Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Jamie & Shauna Franks
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah
from Ron & Naomi Wolch
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah
from Dr. Sam & Eva Weisz
from the Ragoson Family
Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from Stan & Rosemary Kitay and family
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from A lan and Ruth Swerling
Happy Chanukah! from the Dance Family
from Jodi, Michael and Rebecca Zubludowski
from Faren Hochman & A ri Sniderman and Noam Wishing the Jewish community a happy and healthy Chanukah from David & Robin Marcus and family
from Dan, Josh and
Eat lots of latkes and sufganiot!
Laura Moser
from the HeAtBaGs
Chag Sameach
Best wishes to our friends and family for a happy Chanukah from Sheena & Cyril Fried Wishing the entire Jewish Community of Edmonton a Happy Hanukkah! Chag Urim Sameah! from the Massarsky Family
from the Goldsand Family
Best wishes for a joyful holiday from the staff at Edmonton Jewish News
Our very best wishes to our readers and advertisers for a wonderful Chanukah celebration, from the Edmonton Jewish News
Page 20
Chocolate Babka Doughnuts Recipe
Edmonton Jewish News
November 21, 2018
Team Watch It wins EJBL Championship
By Chaya Rappoport (The Nosher via JTA) -- Babka is nearly a weekly occurrence in my house, and I can think of few things better. But it’s not just me: Babka has really been getting the recognition it deserves all over the country, making appearances everywhere from artisanal bakeries to Jewish delis and even high-end restaurants. My babka recipe is rich, buttery and loaded with eggs, more closely related to brioche than to the old, which is what I wanted for these babka-doughnut hybrids. I increased the flour content and the eggs, making for a sturdier dough, and I reduced the amount of butter — just by a smidge so the dough would stand up better to frying. For a little crunch and to offset the sweetness of the filling and dough I added cacao nibs, which impart a slightly bitter flavor and some nice crunch, too. Cacao (or cocoa) nibs are dried, fermented pieces of coffee beans – a very pure, intense chocolaty flavor. You can find them at Whole Foods, specialty food stores (like a health food store) or on Amazon. With these doughnuts you get all the pillowy softness of babka, plus the moisture that deep-frying locks into the dough. The dark chocolate pastry cream would be lovely in a tart, cream puffs or on cake, but here, along with the cacao nib sugar, it serves to further complement the dough and turns the whole treat into something much more than just chocolate babka. Both doughnuts and babka are time-intensive kitchen projects — usually, it’d be either-or — and that choice would be pretty hard to make. But with these doughnuts both are possible at once. And if that isn’t a Hanukkah miracle, then I don’t know what is. Please note: You want to make the dough the night before you will fry, so plan accordingly. Ingredients: For the doughnut dough: 3⁄4 cup whole milk 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature, cubed 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour 1⁄2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 1 teaspoon kosher salt For the chocolate pastry cream: 4 large egg yolks 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 1 1/2 cups milk 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cubed
Another great year of the Jewish softball league is in the books. Team Watch It came out strong going 3-0 in the qualifying games. Watch It was down to Aldan after the second inning but came back to win thanks largely to spectacular play by the team captain and short stop Mike Werner. For the cacao nib sugar plus frying: 6 cups vegetable oil, for frying 2 cups sugar 4 tablespoons cacao nibs Directions: 1. To make the cacao nib sugar: In a food processor, grind the cacao nibs until fine. Combine the pulverized cacao nibs and sugar. Transfer to an airtight container until ready to use. 2. The next step is to make the pastry cream, since it needs to set before you fill the doughnuts. Whisk together yolks, vanilla, sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt. 3. In a heavy saucepan, bring milk just to a boil over moderate heat and in a stream add 1/4 cup to egg mixture, whisking until smooth. 4. Transfer the milk-and-egg mixture to the pan with the rest of the milk and bring to a boil, whisking (the mixture will look curdled but will become smooth as whisked). 5. Boil the mixture, whisking vigorously, 1 minute and remove from heat. Stir in chocolate and butter, stirring until melted and combined well. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and chill, surface covered with plastic wrap, overnight, or until ready to fill doughnuts. 6. To make the doughnut dough: Heat the milk until warm to the touch, around 110 F. Add the eggs to the warm milk mixture and whisk gently to combine. 7. Butter a medium bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the milk mixture and mix just until combined. Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough on low speed, about 3 minutes. The dough will be sticky — this is perfectly fine. 8. Increase the speed to medium and add the butter, a piece or two at a time. In the mixer, let the dough mix until completely smooth and elastic. To test the dough’s readiness,
try stretching a piece of it. It should stretch easily to a point where it becomes translucent but doesn’t rip. 9. Put the dough in a buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for minimum of 12 hours, or overnight. 10. The next day, when ready to make the doughnuts, line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Dust the paper well with flour. Tip the cold dough onto a lightly floured work surface and roll it into a 9 1/2- by 12 1 ⁄2-inch rectangle. It should be about 1/2-inch thick. 11. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 12 dough rounds and set them on the prepared sheets. Lightly cover them with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to proof for about 1 1/2 hours. After proofing, the dough should look puffy and spring back slowly when pressed gently. 12. When you’re ready to fry, line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Prepare the cacao nib sugar in a bowl nearby. Spoon the pastry cream into a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip. 13. Add the oil to a medium, heavy-bottomed pot or to a deep fryer. Heat the oil to between 350 and 365 F. 14. Carefully add 2 to 3 doughnuts to the oil and fry them until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon, put the doughnuts on the paper towels. After about 1 minute, when the doughnuts are cool enough to handle, toss them in the cacao nib sugar. Repeat with the remaining dough. 15. To fill the doughnuts, put the pastry cream in a pastry bag. Using a knife or a chopstick, poke a hole into one side of each doughnut. Be careful not to poke through the other side. Insert the tip of the pastry bag into the hole and gently squeeze to fill. Makes 12 doughnuts. (Chaya Rappoport is the blogger, baker and picture taker behind retrolillies.wordpress.com. Currently a pastry sous chef at a Brooklyn bakery, she's been blogging since 2012 and her work has been featured on The Feed Feed, Delish.com, Food and Wine, and Conde Nast Traveler.)
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November 21, 2018
Edmonton Jewish News
What’s new for kids to read at Hanukkah? By Penny Schwartz (JTA) -- Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie. The names of the five fictional sisters bring a smile to generations of Jewish Americans who grew up reading "Allof-a-Kind Family," the classic mid-century chapter book series by Sydney Taylor that followed the day-to-day doings and adventures of a Jewish-American immigrant family on New York's Lower East Side. The trailblazing series marked the first time that a children's book about a Jewish-American family found an audience in both Jewish and non-Jewish American homes. Now the beloved family comes to life in "All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah," the first fully illustrated picture book based on the series, by Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky. The dynamic writer-illustrator team will charm young readers with this delightful story that reflects the warmth and spirited character of the original and creates a new chapter for this generation. It's among eight new outstanding and engaging children’s books for Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Light that begins this year on Sunday evening, Dec. 2. All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins & Paul O. Zelinsky Schwartz & Wade Books; ages 3 to 8 Jenkins, an award-winning author, grew up reading the “All-ofa-Kind” classics -over and over, she told JTA. "As an only child, I adored books about big families and their escapades," she wrote in an email. Jenkins read the books to her children, who were just as smitten. For this illustrated book, set on the eve of Hanukkah in 1912, Jenkins focused on Gertie, the spunky 4-year-old, as the family gets ready to celebrate the holiday. Adults familiar with the chapter books will spot various references to the original -- such as the ginger snaps hidden in the bed, Ella's favorite hymn and a special library book, Jenkins revealed. Zelinsky said illustrating the Taylor classic was a chance to reconnect with the books his daughters adored. In a phone conversation, the Brooklynite, whose recognition for excellence includes the prestigious Caldecott Award for "Rapunzel," said he immersed himself in the “All-of-a-Kind” world, down to the details of what the storybook family's New York apartment looked like. Zelinsky stepped away from his well-known finer, more detailed style and embraced bolder, less polished illustrations that he said matched Gertie's passion and reflect the soul of the stories. In one spectacular double-page spread, kids get a cutaway view of the family apartment: In
the bedroom, Gertie is hiding under the bed after a tantrum while Mama and her sisters are in the adjacent kitchen joyfully
preparing potato latkes. The back pages include notes from Jenkins and Zelinsky that fill in details about Taylor and the creation of this new book. Dreidel Day by Amalia Hoffman Kar-Ben; ages 1-4 Young kids will spin, bounce and tumble their way through Hanukkah along with a lively kitty in this delightful board book that glows like the colors of a box of holiday candles. Little ones can count out loud with each double-page spread that features one word and one number and discover the corresponding number of colorful dreidels. My Family Celebrates Hanukkah by Lisa Bullard; illustrated by Constanza Basaluzzo Lerner Publications; ages 4-8 This easy-to-follow illustrated story is perfect for families and classrooms. Kids learn about the Hanukkah tale and the miracle of how a small amount of oil lasted eight days. Families celebrate, light candles, play dreidel, and receive chocolate and coins as gifts. The book's end pages explain the holiday and pose reading-based questions helpful for educators. Light the Menorah! A Hanukkah Handbook by Jacqueline Jules; illustrated by Kristina Swarner Kar-Ben; ages 4-10 In this contemporary guide to Hanukkah, families discover unique ways to celebrate Hanukkah that give deeper meaning to the ritual of lighting the menorah, as well as easy to understand explanations of the holiday. Jules, an award-winning author, offers a short verse for each of the eight nights that can be read after lighting the menorah. They reflect the holiday's themes of religious freedom, courage and miracles. Swarner's illustrations and border designs add warmth and glow. Songs, rules for playing dreidel and instructions for simple crafts such as a homemade coupon gift book make this book a welcome resource. Hannah's Hanukkah Hiccups by Shanna Silva; illustrated by Bob McMahon Apples & Honey Press; ages 4-8 Uh, oh. Or make that Uh-hic-oh! Hannah Hope Hartman, a spunky young girl who lives in a brownstone on Hester
Page 21 Street, is practicing for her religious school's Hanukkah program when she suddenly gets a case of the hiccups – and they just won't go away! Her brother Henry tries to cure her by making funny faces. The building's diverse neighbors offer their own customs: drinking pickle juice backwards; a Mexican red string cure and cardamom cookies. Kids will relate to Hannah, who doesn't want to be in the school program with the hiccups and finds a creative solution. Silva's heartwarming story -- and the play on words that begin with the letter 'h" -- is perfectly paired with McMahon's cartoon-like illustrations in this lively, laughout-loud yarn that shines with the light of a family's Hanukkah celebration. How It's Made: Hanukkah Menorah by Allison Ofanansky; Photographs by Eliyahu Alpern Apples & Honey Press; ages 7-12 Family members of all ages will gather round this engaging book, which shines a light on all things menorah. The 32 pages of Ofanansky's text, brought to life by Alpern's vibrant photographs, explain the holiday and explore the many types of menorahs -- from antiques to creative whimsical versions. Kids go behind the scenes with menorah-making artists. A fun fact reveals that one Israeli bakery fries and bakes 2,000 doughnuts for each day of Hanukkah. Gifts, songs and blessings in Hebrew, English and transliterated from Hebrew are also included along with instructions for making candles, olive oil and latkes. The Story of Hanukkah by David A. Adler, illustrated by Jill Weber Holiday House; Board book, ages 2-4 In this vibrantly illustrated board book, the awardwinning David Adler retells the story of Hanukkah in simple, straightforward prose for young readers, paired with richly colored bold illustrations by Weber, the team that wrote the original (2011) version for older kids. The end depicts a modern family celebrating Hanukkah. Light the Menorah: A Playful Action Rhyme by Tova Gitty Broide; illustrated by Patti Argoff Hachai Publishing; ages 1-4 This lively rhyming book features two young brothers and a sister from a haredi Orthodox family joyfully celebrating Hanukkah, with latkes hopping in the frying pan and the sister spinning like a dreidel.
Page 22
Edmonton Jewish News
November 21, 2018
Finding the right realtor for you A Starkman Realty Market Update (Edmonton) - At month end October 31, 2018 we were still experiencing very sluggish sales. Total residential sales dropped 13.6 percent since this time last year. Single family home sales are down 14.86 percent compared to October 2017. Edmonton recorded only 12 sales from the $550,000.00 to $575,000.00 range. Most of the October sales ranged from $250,000.00 to $387,000.00. Condominium sales are averaging at $218,000.00 with a total of 265 condos selling in the month of October 2018. On a more positive note, inventory levels, although still too high, decreased from 5536 single family dwellings available in October 2018 to 4008 available at the beginning of November 2018. This reduced inventory provides an opportunity that will help adjust “the lowest price will sell mentality” and contribute to less of a perceived “buyers only” market. The reality of our political and economic environment in Edmonton is that you and your REALTOR® together should expect a longer listing period which will likely lead to a longer realtor/client relationship. The REALTOR® you
Combining
Cont. from page 10
and lifestyle brand that celebrates Jewish and Japanese culture as well as fusions of other cultures. The site is home to a collection of recipes -- all created by Posner -- that meld Jewish and Japanese cuisines. Among the dishes, many of which are tied to Jewish holiday celebrations, are gyoza kreplach soup, mochi latkes and fish cakes that are inspired both by gefilte fish and a similar Japanese patty. Nourish has other components as well, including an online newsletter and Facebook group. Posner is also planning to sell ritual and household items made by Israeli and Japanese artisans through the site. Posner's mother immigrated from Japan, and her father is a third-generation Japanese-American. During her childhood in Los Angeles, Posner remembers growing up with Japanese culture and visiting the country every few summers. But as she grew older, she resented feeling different from her classmates and felt embarrassed by the traditional Japanese food her mom would pack in her lunch box. “I would beg her to make me sandwiches like the other kids, and I was just really painfully uncomfortable in my own skin and turned away from my heritage for a while,” Posner said. But after graduating from college and working for a few years in public relations, Posner felt she didn't know enough about her Japanese background. So she spent two years teaching English in Nichinan, a city in the south of Japan, before returning to California. While studying and later
Best wishes to all our advertisers and readers for a Happy Chanukah, from Deb Shatz, Dan Moser and Stacey Telford at Edmonton Jewish News
Edmonton Jewish News is moving! We are moving to a new office. Please take note of our new address:
102, 10155 114 Street NW Edmonton AB T5K 1R8
choose should know about the community in which your property is located, the community league, the schools, daycares, playgrounds, trails, places of worship etc. Be aware as well, that Realty fees may be negotiable but are only part of the closing costs. In addition to legal fees and disbursements you may require a real property report and of course, current interest rate hikes may impact on sales. Remember you owe it to yourself to shop around for a REALTOR®. Treat your interview with REALTORS® much like a job application for employment. You need to make an intelligent choice on the basis of who will work hardest for you to achieve your objectives. Mostly, you need to be comfortable working in interior design, Posner met her now-husband, Bryan, a secular Jew. As she got to know him, she sought to learn more about Judaism, a religion she had felt connected to ever since attending Hanukkah parties at a neighbor's house as a child. “I was super curious about his family and their traditions, and I had to dig a little bit because they didn’t do some of them anymore,” she said. As their relationship became serious, Posner realized that much of the responsibility of building a Jewish home would rest on her. “I knew I would be the person who would really need to learn about his family’s heritage and traditions, and kind of be the person who does them for our family and for our future children,” she said. In 2015, she became a Jew by choice, and the couple married the following year. Posner found that food served as one way for her to connect to both Jewish and Japanese traditions. She now incorporates Japanese influences into her observance of Jewish holidays, such as at a Passover seder dinner last year when she served matzah ball soup with Japanese chicken meatballs, brisket with Japanese barbecue sauce and cherry blossom malabi. The couple belong to Congregation Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue in San Francisco. Though Posner says the community is “very welcoming,” she sometimes feels selfconscious as one of the few people of color. “There’s definitely this slight insecurity about that and
with the REALTOR® you ultimately choose. Choosing the right REALTOR® for you matters. Treat the process with care especially during our challenging economic times. For more updates visit www.starkmanrealty.com, call Daniel Starkman at 780-863-0778 or direct an email to starkmanrealty@rogers.com. wanting to make sure that I do things correctly, or being afraid that I stand out and people are watching, so if I mess up it’s really obvious,” she said. That feeling has motivated Posner to continue engaging in Jewish learning, including by becoming a bat mitzvah this spring. She calls the experience “awesome.” Posner hopes that with Nourish she can provide a home for others who may share similar insecurities or feel pulled between cultures. Though most of the recipes on the site fuse Jewish and Japanese culture, she has received messages from couples in which the partners are navigating various cultural backgrounds. “I’m really just doing what I do best, which is Japanese and Jewish,” she said, “but if I can inspire other people, then that’s amazing.”
Kristin Eriko Posner
November 21, 2018
Book Review
God is in the Crowd: Twenty-First Century Judaism Written by Tal Keinan Published by: Signal / Mclelland & Stewart ISBN: 9780771048401 Reviewed by Deborah Shatz (EJNews) - Author Tal Keinan combines passion with pragmatism in a beautifully written and bold analysis of the future of Judaism, entitled God is in the Crowd. He asks the question: Can the religion survive? His love for Judaism and Israel is apparent in his vivid descriptions of their beauty and vitality but his prognosis for the future is stark. The concentration of world Jewry in Israel and North America represents a unique moment in Jewish history, explains Keinan. In both centres, Jewish people experience prosperity and acceptance unprecedented in Jewish history. As a community however, according to Keinan, the Jewish people have lost the tools that sustained Jewish identity in Diaspora. He suggests that although this loss poses a threat to the survival of Judaism, it could also provide a new opportunity to define the Jewish future. God is in the Crowd offers his bold proposal for discovering relevance in Judaism and ensuring its survival.
Book Review
Wild and Beautiful is the Night Written by John Miller Published by Cormorant Books: Ontario 2018 ISBN: 978 – 1 -77086 -510- 5 Reviewed by Deborah Shatz (EJNews) - Life is complicated for sex workers plying their trade on the streets of Toronto. In Wild and Beautiful is the Night, author John Miller takes the reader deep into a world of prostitution and drugs. He shows us that people aren’t always who they seem to be and that given a bad situation and a few reckless choices, anyone from any background can be sucked into a vortex of life on the streets. Addiction, desperation and pride are colour blind and they are not class or gender specific. Miller’s main characters, Paulette and Danni grew up miles apart -- Paulette in Hamilton and Danni in North Toronto -- but they might as well have been worlds apart. Paulette's family emigrated from Jamaica. Danni grew up Jewish in an affluent neighbourhood of Toronto. Now both women find themselves on the streets of Toronto, working in the sex trade. Paulette is a seasoned prostitute, working to support herself and her addiction. She acts as an unlikely and reluctant mentor and friend to Danni, who is new to the street and whose addiction has set her on a similar path to Paulette’s. Their paths intersect again and again over the course of a difficult and troubled friendship that sees Paulette begin to pull herself together while Danni manages to survive everything that comes her way. Will her luck run
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Presented through the lens of Tal Keinan’s unusual personal story, it is a sobering analysis of the threat to Jewish continuity. As the Jewish people has become concentrated in just two hubs - America and Israel - it has lost the subtle code of governance that endowed Judaism with dynamism and relevance in the age of Diaspora. This code, as Keinan explains, is derived from Francis Galton’s “wisdom of crowds,” in which a group’s collective intelligence, memory, and even spirituality can be dramatically different from, and often stronger than, that of any individual member’s. He argues that without this code, this ancient people—and the civilization that it spawned - will soon be extinct. Finally, Keinan puts forward a bold and original plan to rewrite the Jewish code, proposing a new model for Judaism and for community in general. Keinan was born to a secular Jewish family in Florida. His interest in Judaism was ignited at his New England prep school and led him down the unlikely path to enlistment in the Israel Air Force. Using his own dramatic experiences as a backdrop and applying lessons from his life as a business leader and social activist, Keinan takes the reader on a riveting adventure, weaving between past, present, and future, and fusing narrative with theory to demonstrate Judaism’s value to humanity and chart its path into the future. Keinan’s prognosis for Jewish continuity is stark within three generations if things remain unchanged – both in Israel and in North America. His prescription is radical, including among other things, a reform of the Israeli presidency and its legislative function as a lawmaker. This would include the process for determining who is a Jew for
the purposes of full citizenship in Israel, the government’s role in Jewish life in Israel and custody over Israel’s Jewish holy sites. As the office would represent the Jewish interests of Jews globally, elections would be open to all Jews in the world. Tal Keinan is an American-born entrepreneur and social activist. He is a co-founder of Clarity Capital, a global assetmanagement firm, and chairman of Koret Israel Economic Development Funds, Israel’s largest nonprofit lender to small and micro businesses. He serves on the boards of directors of the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life and the HESEG Foundation, is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and is chairman of the YPO Intercontinental Chapter. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and is a graduate of Israel’s Air Force Academy. God is in the Crowd is an excellent read. It is recommended for members of all faith communities and for anyone interested in the history of Israel and Jewish thought and values. It provides fresh ideas and a provocative plan that will stimulate debate and discourse on the future of Judaism.
out? Has Paulette learned to make her own luck? In Wild and Beautiful Miller proves himself to be a careful and thorough researcher, addressing such issues as the sex trade, drug addiction, rehabilitation, abortion, child welfare services, incest, incarceration and poverty. Over the course of the novel, he unpeels the multitude of layers that make up each of the characters in the story and uncovers their evolving relationships. He forces the reader to look carefully at the humanity of the women, beyond making superficial judgements of their dangerous lifestyles. Miller deftly tells this story using the voice of Paulette and he succeeds in taking the reader on a believable journey through the underbelly of Toronto. He is an award-winning author of two previous literary novels: The Featherbed (Dundurn, 2002) and A Sharp Intake of Breath (Dundurn, 2007), which won the 2008 Beatrice and
Martin Fischer Award in Fiction). He was born and resides in Toronto, and currently works as a freelance consultant in non-profit organizational development and in global health. Wild and Beautiful is the Night (ISBN: 978 – 1 77086 -510- 5) was published in Canada by Cormorant Books in October 2018 and is available in print and electronic formats.
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November 21, 2018