Alberta Jewish News November, 2020

ALBERTA Volume 31, No. 10 Visit us online at albertajewishnews.com November 3, 2020 Jewish Calgary celebrates CommUNITY Magazine launches important anniversaries By Maxine Fischbein disproportionately to the greater community. Jews Jewish Calgary has some celebrating to do as the Jewish prospered in business, Community Foundation of Calgary (JCFC) and the Jewish academia, education, medi- Historical Society of Southern Alberta (JHSSA) mark their cine, science, art and culture, 30th anniversaries. politics, sports and virtually While the work of the JHSSA highlights the stories of every other imaginable field. the dreamers, achievers and everyday people who built a The 1970s saw a large rich Jewish presence in urban and rural Southern Alberta, influx of Jews, mainly from the JCFC devotes its efforts to economic self-sufficiency, the USSR, Israel, and giving us faith in our community’s future. eastern Canada. In addition The two organizations come of age in 2020 – a year that to local resettlement efforts, has shown us the meaning of counting blessings and the community was saving for a rainy day. maintaining and growing Hal Joffe – who served as president of the Calgary organizations and respond- Jewish Community Council (now Calgary Jewish ing to existential crises Federation) between 1987 and 1990 – has vivid facing Jews in Israel and recollections of the ferment in Jewish Calgary during the around the world through late 1980s and early 1990s that led to the establishment of the local United Jewish CommUNITY Magazine hosted its inaugural event n Calgary at Canyon both the JCFC and the JHSSA a century after the arrival Appeal campaign. Meadows Golf & Country Club on Oct 18 highlighting amazing women of Calgary’s first permanent Jewish settlers, Jacob and By the 1980s and 1990s within the Jewish Community. Pictured above: Vered Amir, Stephanie Rachel Diamond in 1889. the community had grown Berman, Alana Devlin and publisher Leanne Rzepa. But, first, some historical context. and changed. Lots of ideas Following the arrival of Jewish Calgary’s patriarch and were in the air, and some through endowment gifts, the interest from which could matriarch, pogroms in Eastern Europe brought an influx highly motivated people were ready to run with them. provide for the community in worst-case scenarios and of Jews who were escaping oppression and brutality; “We saw that looking forward into the future, we needed support charitable causes that spoke to the heart of donors others seeking economic opportunity in the new world soon to stabilize and to build a nest egg for the community,” but for which there was not always the room in followed. Jewish Calgary began to grow. recalls Hal Joffe. Community Council annual budgets. The Chevra Kadisha – by necessity the first Jewish “A charitable foundation was a way to do that… and to Joffe brought the idea to the CJCC board and what was institution in Calgary – was established. Synagogues, fund some of the extras that were want-to-have rather then known as the Calgary Jewish Heritage Foundation Jewish day schools, the Calgary Jewish Centre (now the than need-to- have.” (renamed the Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary in JCC), Calgary Jewish Community Council, Jewish Family The establishment of a charitable foundation was not a 1994) was incorporated on January 25, 1990, under the Service and a plethora of other organizations followed. new idea, says Joffe, who was attending meetings of leadership of Gertrude Cohos, beginning with 10 funds and Jewish communities sprang up in Lethbridge and Canadian Jewish Congress and the General Assembly of $80,000 in assets. Medicine Hat, while Jewish homesteaders, farmers, the Council of Jewish Federations and learning about “Donating to the Foundation is an important and ranchers, cowboys and businesspeople contributed to rural foundations that had been established in Montreal, affordable way of ensuring a community for your children life throughout Southern Alberta. Toronto and communities across the United States. and grandchildren,” says Gertrude Cohos, who recalls By the sweat of their brows and with great generosity “This was something whose time had come for us,” said strong support for establishment of a community (despite often modest means) Jewish pioneers and later Joffe. foundation by Harry Shatz z“l, CJCC’s inaugural executive immigrants built up their institutions and contributed Such a foundation could help maintain the community director, though the foundation was founded and Continued on page 2 Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40050628 servicing our educational needs," stated Rabbi Edmonton Menorah Academy Zolly Claman, the spiritual leader at the Edmonton Beth Israel Synagogue whose young to close its doors in June 2021 children have been attending Menorah. The academy’s stated mission is to provide a By Deborah Shatz “We wish you and your families the very best balance of outstanding general studies as you seek alternative educational curriculum under Alberta Education, along The landscape of Jewish education in opportunities for your children for the with an extraordinary Judaic program, Edmonton will be changing very soon with the 2021/2022 school year.” incorporating Torah values and skills with recent announcement that the Edmonton Menorah Academy was formed over 30 years middot tovot (good character) in an Menorah Academy will be closing its doors at ago as an independent school to provide an environment that welcomes and is comfortable the end of this school year. educational alternative for Jewish families, to for Jews across the spectrum of religious observance, preparing and inspiring our On October 28, 2020 David Ghermezian, Edmonton Public Schools and to Talmud Torah children for life. Chairman of the Universal Educational School which operates as an EPSB school. It is Institute of Canada, sent a letter home to all accredited under Alberta Education as a The school’s mission statement included that families with children attending Menorah private funded school at the highest level. The “every Jewish child deserves a genuine Torah Academy. pre-school and day care programs have been education, regardless of financial means. Scholarships were made available for families In the letter Ghermezian writes, “With much licensed under Alberta Early Childhood Services. The school has been open to families whose financial need might otherwise prevent regret, Menorah Academy will be permanently them from attending.” closing at the end of the 2020/2021 school year of any level of Jewish observance but was due to financial constraints. particularly popular with families who were The recent announcement has caused a wave of concern and discussion among families in the “We are sympathetic to the difficulties this seeking a higher level of Jewish religious programming as part of their school day. Edmonton Jewish community. Alberta Jewish will cause students, parents and community, News will follow this story to see how the but unfortunately, there is no viable option to "As a community we are filled with gratitude community can accommodate the closure. keep the school open. for all the years Menorah Academy was Page 2 Alberta Jewish News November, 2020 Jewish Calgary celebrates Cont. from page 1 incorporated many years later during the tenure of his successor, Drew Staffenberg. “[The Foundation] was something that needed to happen,” recalls Joffe. “People who were very active in the community were not going to be around forever. We wanted to give them an opportunity to leave a legacy.” Meanwhile, another idea was brought to Hal Joffe by his cousin, Jay Joffe z”l – the establishment of a Jewish historical society. Having previously attended a meeting of the Southern Jay Joffe z"l Hal Joffe Saundra Lipton Stuart Myron Alberta Pioneers and their Descendants, Jay had been surprised and pleased to see a photo of Jacob Diamond on the wall of that organization’s log cabin and to learn that Milton Bogoch, who served as president of the knowing that they will be stored and cared for with the this Jewish man – his own Grandfather – was considered Foundation between 2001 and 2011, can attest to that. highest archival standards. a pioneer. “I am immensely proud of how it’s grown,” said Bogoch “Jay’s dream has grown into a professional institution,” Jay took a deep dive into that organization, ascending to who recalls that JCFC assets doubled from $3 million to Romer Segal says. its presidency. $6 million dollars during his presidency. That kind of good stewardship also goes to the very “Jay never joined an organization that he didn’t “In the process of listening to donors, we made ourselves heart of the Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary’s plunge into after the second meeting,” recalls his widow, more worthy,” Bogoch said. mandate… a critical thing when it comes to dealing with Barb Joffe. “It really bothered him that Jews didn’t think Like Cohos, Bogoch lauds the work of those who what Milton Bogoch calls “OPM -- other people’s money.” of themselves as pioneers.” succeeded them. “Those who have come later have done a “I take pride in the trust that community members have “Jay was absolutely crazy about the institution of a fantastic job of raising the standards higher and higher,” placed in the JCFC,” echoes current Chair Stuart Myron. historical society,” recalls Hal Joffe, adding that for Bogoch said. “That trust has led to the increased generosity of a anything good to happen, you need the people who are JCFC leaders have included chairs Donna Riback z”l, growing number of fund holders and their passion to “meshugah l’davar” – crazy for the idea.” Robert Kalef, Sam Switzer, Bettina Liverant Zeisler and ensure a strong and vibrant Calgary Jewish community.” “He was relentless,” Hal Joffe said. “If you look at our Stuart Myron and executive director Morris Bleviss. “Our total assets under management now exceed institutions, nothing ever got built without people being Similarly, the JHSSA has raised its bar.

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