October 2020 Permission from the Publisher
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ALBERTA Volume 31, No. 9 Visit us online at albertajewishnews.com October 5, 2020 Calgary’s first virtual Jewish Film Fest brings the ‘reel’ thing to your screen By Maxine Fischbein The Israeli Academy of Film & Television recently announced the nominations for this year's Ophir awards, Israel’s equivalent to the Academy Awards. The highly anticipated list confirms that Calgary’s upcoming Jewish Film Festival has significant star power in store. Local film lovers should double-check their popcorn inventory and get ready to log on for the first-ever virtual Calgary Jewish Film Fest, beginning Saturday, November 7 and running through Sunday November 19. The feature film Asia (pronounced ah-see-ah), starring acclaimed Israeli actress Shira Haas, garnered an astonishing 13 nominations including best picture, director, screenplay, actress and supporting actress which bodes well for a Schitt’s Creek-style sweep when the actual awards are announced. It has been an incredible year for Haas who won a best actress award at the Tribeca Film Festival and scored an Emmy nomination for her breathtaking performance in the acclaimed Netflix series Unorthodox. The closing night selection, Here we Are netted 10 Ophir nominations, including best picture, director, screenplay, Calgary's first ever Virtual Jewish Film Fest will be held from November 7-19, 2020. The festival will actor and supporting actor. The film was selected as this feature award nominated and highly acclaimed films including (top row) 'Asia' and 'Aulcie Locker year’s Dr. Martha Cohen screening thanks to a generous Room' and bottom row 'Thou Shalt Not Hate' and 'Incitement.' For more information see Film Fest bequest from the estate of the late Martha Cohen z”l who Schedule on pages 10 and 11 or visit calgaryjewishfilmfestival.com for all the details. was known as Calgary’s first lady of the arts. Golda, a documentary providing fresh insights into the that do not come to movie theatres or streaming platforms many people as possible, especially during a time when leadership of Israel’s first and only woman to lead as like Netflix. many people are feeling isolated and in need of Prime Minister, netted an Ophir nomination for best This year’s virtual Film Festival will feature 12 movies, entertaining diversions and have experienced job loss or documentary. split evenly between feature films and documentaries. The other economic burdens,” said Cyngiser. None of the foregoing should come as a surprise. all-inclusive season pass, deeply discounted in light of Households where more than one adult is logging in are Beth Tzedec Congregation Jewish Film Festival COVID-19, is $36 per adult, providing access to all 12 films asked to consider an additional pass purchase or donation founder and director Harvey Cyngiser and his committee as well as Zoom talks with special guests. if they are able. Sponsorships – the life blood of the festival have a proven track record for bringing top notch “We want to make the Film Festival accessible to as – are always welcome and will help to defray costs films from Israel and around the globe, including many Continued on page 9 Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40050628 JFED hires Stacey Leavitt-Wright as new CEO (AJNews) – Jewish Federation of Edmonton, Debby the best in her retirement.” Jewish Community Centre of Edmonton and Stacey grew up in Montreal, Quebec and has Edmonton Jewish Community Charitable been active in the Jewish community wherever Foundation are pleased to announce that she has lived. In 1994, she earned her Bachelor Stacey Leavitt-Wright has been hired as the of Commerce from McGill University, and in new CEO. 1998 she earned a Master of Arts from “We are excited to announce that after an Concordia University. Stacey and her husband exhaustive search, the Jewish Federation of Erin began their family in London, Ontario Edmonton, Jewish Community Centre of where she was an active lay leader. In 2007 Edmonton and Edmonton Jewish Community they moved to Edmonton with their three Charitable Foundation have hired Stacey daughters Jordyn, Abby and Zoe. Since that Leavitt-Wright as our new Chief Executive time, Stacey has been heavily involved as a Officer,” stated the Jewish Federation of volunteer throughout our community and has Edmonton Board of Directors. devoted her time to many different community organizations, including the Talmud Torah “Stacey will be joining the organizations in Society, Congregation Beth Shalom, the Aviv the autumn, after Simchat Torah, in order to Israeli Folk Dance Association and the Jewish Stacey Leavitt-Wright further familiarize herself with day to day Federation of Edmonton. In addition to her operations, before fully taking over from Debby volunteer work, Stacey has been a college “Stacey brings with her an infectious Shoctor, who is retiring, on January 2, 2021. instructor, she has acted as a consultant for enthusiasm to strengthen and grow our “We would like to thank Debby for her leadership development and for the last 10 community, We look forward to introducing her dedication to our community over the past 6 ½ years has served as the Managing Editor of a formally to the community in the coming years as our CEO and for her decades of medical journal. months.” professional and volunteer work. We wish Page 2 Alberta Jewish News October, 2020 years. Partner agencies Calgary UJA starts include Calgary Commun- ity Kollel, Calgary JCC, strong despite Camp BB-Riback, The Calgary Jewish Academy, Halpern Akiva Academy COVID challenge and Jewish Family Service Calgary. By Maxine Fischbein Some North American communities raised Calgary Jewish Federation leaders are optimistic about emergency dollars this past this year’s United Jewish Appeal (UJA) campaign, spring in response to welcome news given the backdrop of Alberta’s long- COVID-19 or started their standing economic woes and challenges posed by the UJA campaigns early, COVID-19 pandemic. running two-line cam- UJA 2020 Chair Nelson Halpern told AJNews he does paigns. In Toronto, fund- not anticipate a drop in donations this year, despite the raising by other organi- Calgary Jewish Federation Calgary Jewish Federation fact that some individuals and families are struggling due zations was curtailed 2020 UJA Chair Nelson Halpern Director of Development Diana Kalef to job losses or diminished income related to COVID. during the spring months According to Federation Director of Development Diana as their Federations raised Kalef, the UJA direct mail campaign launched in August millions of dollars, Kalef said. advantage of matching dollars from charitable programs has been well received with 20 to 25% of this year’s In some cases, communities cut funding of some like Shaw Birdies for Kids. campaign already pledged and paid. programs in order to provide emergency support Still, says Halpern, “It’s the last dollars that are hard to A new initiative – the Jewish Together Fund – will be elsewhere. collect.” funded using 50% of the increased portion of every UJA Federation leaders in Calgary chose to continuously Halpern sees hope for the future in the growing support donation over and above donors’ 2019 gifts. This resiliency assess the situation in consultation with their partner of UJA by members of JAC, the Federation-supported fund will directly benefit local Jewish organizations agencies, stick with the fall UJA campaign and maintain program for Jewish Calgarians between the ages of 20 and through a grant application process that is open to all allocations at pre-COVID levels, allowing partner agencies 40. In recent years, an increasing number have become organizations whether or not they are UJA partner to continue serving the community free of fear that relied- members of the Ben Gurion Society, a top gifts category agencies. upon resources would be curtailed. (minimum $1000) for their age cohort. As these words are written, Federation staffers are “We remain dedicated to calm leadership,” says While UJA raises funds annually, Halpern is proud that finalizing the grant application forms. An initial $50,000 Federation CEO Adam Silver. “Assuming that the Federation also takes the longer view, having joined with will be divided among organizations whose applications necessary funds are raised, we will continue helping our the Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary in bringing are accepted. partner agencies to weather the storm.” the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY “We are seeing a broad range of needs that didn’t exist “The continued strength of our community will depend program – now in its second year – to Calgary. Federation before COVID,” says Kalef adding that grants can be used on our collective commitment to tzedakah,” Diana Kalef and JCFC have partnered with 10 major community as emergency top-ups for previously existing programs and said. organizations to raise after-lifetime endowment gifts. services or to defray costs for initiatives created because of UJA dollars help to ensure that core community To date, over $13 million has been raised across COVID. programs and services – including some that aren’t on the participating local organizations. Many donors have This year’s UJA goal is $2.5 million, down from the radar of donors – are sustained. Examples include the named Calgary Jewish Federation as beneficiaries of their all-time high of $3 million in 2013. Last year’s campaign “community living room” at the JCC that provides cultural LIFE & LEGACY gifts, some of them providing came in at $2.65 million thanks, in part, to matching