Alberta News
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ALBERTA NEWS Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40050628 Volume 31, No. 3 Calgary Edition March 30, 2020 Best wishes for a happy, healthy Passover Page 2 Alberta Jewish News March, 2020 113 years and growing strong By Susan Dvorkin and Harold Lipton On March 3, corresponding to the 7th of Adar, the traditional yahrzeit for Mosesz”l, the Calgary Chevra Kadisha held its 105th annual dinner honouring its volunteers. Approximately, seventy people, almost all volunteers or their partners, were in attendance as the Chevra thanked its volunteers and honoured two individuals for their service. William Aizanman was recognized for his 25 years of service as president, and he was honoured by being named Honourary Life President. Mr. Aizanman thanked all of the people he has worked with over the years. He assured everyone the Chevra will always be close to his heart, and he will remain close to the Chevra. Louis Bracey, who is retiring as Executive Director, was recognized for his compassionate efforts over the past nine years. Mr. Bracey will take over as President of the Chevra Kadisha of Calgary — Annual Volunteer Dinner — Adar 7, 5780 — March 3, 2020. Society. Left to Right: Daniel Shiminow, Sam Gutman, Darlene Switzer-Foster, Louis Bracey (President), This was the first event for incoming Executive Director, Rick Pollick (Executive Director), Harold Lipton, William Aizanman, Ted Switzer, Darryl Gurevitch, Rick Pollick, who took over January 1st. Mr. Pollick is Susan Dvorkin, Laurence Davis, Rochel Matusof, Halley Girvitz, Harvey Rabin. Absent: Herb transitioning into his new role, and he is expected to Rosenberg, Izak Paul, Bernard Magidson, Labie Doctor. continue with the same compassion for bereaved families that has been the hallmark of the Society for the past number of years. shrouds. The volunteers come together as a community, additional practices may be implemented. regardless of their personal beliefs or levels of observance, The Chevra seeks to reassure the community that Rabbi Binyomin Halpern was guest speaker at the to maintain the centuries old tradition of preparing the dinner. Central to his presentation was encouragement to every effort is being made to keep current with deceased for their final journey with the utmost respect growing knowledge about the current health concern. individuals to make end of life preparations, including and dignity. Unlike most other larger Jewish creating personal directives, to ensure that one’s wishes Readers are encouraged to access the Alberta Health communities, the Calgary Chevra provides preparation Website at https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for- are known and surviving family members are relieved and burial services to the entire Jewish community from having to make many decisions in their time of grief. albertans.aspx for up to date accurate information on the regardless of religious affiliation. corona virus and strategies for prevention and treatment. A new executive and board was recently voted into Over the past number of years, the Chevra has office, and most appear in the photo alongside this article. The services of the Chevra are considered chesed shel progressed in the modernization of its operations and in its emet, deeds of true kindness, in that they are freely given The Chevra Kadisha, now in its 113th year of service, succession planning. Currently, it is facing the corona with no expectation of repayment. Public recognition is remains one of the few such organizations in North virus concern by maintaining and increasing its safety usually not sought, and the annual dinner is the sole America whose services are provided almost exclusively by standards for the protection of its volunteers. It has access occasion where its volunteers are recognized for their volunteers, including the manufacture of hand sewn to medical consultation and education to identify where selfless contributions. recommended, to close for the crisis.” Conservative movement leaders say Under traditional understandings of Jewish law, a minyan requires the presence of ten adult Jews in one virtual minyans are permissible physical place. The CJLS itself upheld that standard by overwhelming majority in a 2001 paper authored by Rabbi By Ben Harris public health crisis it’s permitted to constitute a prayer Avram Israel Reisner. quorum, or minyan, with individuals connected by But the Dorff and Barmash letter, while not a formal videoconference. (JTA) — The leaders of the Conservative movement’s committee responsum, nevertheless argues that the Jewish law committee issued a crisis declaration allowing “This permission of constituting a minyan solely online, current coronavirus pandemic constitutes an the recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish with a virtual whether for all prayers requiring a minyan or only for extraordinary situation in which this particular limitation online prayer quorum. Mourner’s Kaddish, is limited to this ‘sha’at hadehak’ of Jewish law may be suspended. Their opinion does (crisis situation), where for weeks at a time, gathering a In a statement issued this month, Rabbis Elliot Dorff impose certain limits, including requiring participants to minyan is not possible without risk to human life,” the and Pamela Barmash, the co-chairs of the Committee on see and hear one another and to respond with the Hebrew rabbis wrote. “This permission is also limited to an area Jewish Law and Standards, said that given the current Continued on next page where most of the synagogues have been ordered, or March, 2020 Alberta Jewish News Page 3 Stay informed: Calgary Jewish Purim fun at the JCC on March 6 Federation update (Calgary) – On Friday March 27, 2020, Yanni Segal, service that might need to be President of Calgary Jewish Federation and CEO Adam filled. Please be sure to look Silver sent this community update. for Inclusion, PJ Library®, Good morning: Jewish Adult Calgary (JAC), We hope you have been keeping safe and feeling well, as Hillel, Holocaust Education our community (and the broader world) continues to programming and more. Our grapple with the current reality of COVID-19, along with social media channels and the health fears and financial impact it is bringing with it. website are good places to start. As shared in other correspondence with you, we continue to be inspired by the work and dedication of our Participated in a provin- community’s agencies, and we have been moved by the cial town hall teleconfer-ence numerous phone calls and emails from community focused on COVID-19 and its members offering to help in whatever ways are most impact on faith communities. needed. Participated in a federal Calgary Jewish Federation is focused on community and teleconference organized by remains committed to ensuring we continue to have a our advocacy partner The vibrant, connected, and safe Jewish Calgary. Centre for Jewish and Israel Affairs (CIJA), with The What we have done/are doing: Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Fami-lies, Convened our community’s synagogues, schools, JFSC, Children and Social Calgary JCC, Chevra Kadisha, and Camp BB Riback by Development. The featured profits across the country to lobby for more and varied video conference to discuss challenges and solutions, as topic was Assisting Non-Profits Provide Essential Services types of government support. well as share best practices related to the current crisis. to Canadians During this Crisis. Continuing to place a focus on community security, These virtual meetings will continue, enabling our Ongoing assessment (with partners) about pressing liaising with agencies, and with Calgary Police Services. community to quickly respond to changes in COVID-19 emergency needs due to COVID-19 and its impact on our measures. community. Creating a virtual online hub and e-newsletter to share Reached out directly to leaders in our community’s program offerings, contact information for help, and agencies to discuss the specific impact on their operations What we are working on: opportunities for volunteering or assisting with other and to services provided to their constituents. needs. Enhanced programming, learning, and community Ensuring that when we are able to resume our typical Spoke with Calgary Police Service, noting the reduced building online. hours of operation of our agencies, and requesting more lives, our community is once again ready to be the envy of frequent patrols and parking lot visits by their officers. Consultation with our community’s agencies as they many – that we emerge from this as strong as ever. navigate internal challenges, as well as the needs of their Wishing you strength, good health and a restful Continued planning with the core Federation team to constituents, during these difficult times. ensure programs and other initiatives are offered through Shabbat. different virtual modalities, and to identify new gaps in Working with peer Federations, as well as charities/non- For community updates, visit jewishcalgary.org Among the many ways the coronavirus pandemic has particularly for a prolonged period, and rabbis must Virtual minyans upended Jewish life, the recitation of the Mourner’s reassure mourners that they are fulfilling their Jewish Cont. from page 2 Kaddish is among the most emotionally weighty. Mourners legal obligations under the circumstances and should feel traditionally recite the prayer daily for 11 months after the no guilt whatsoever in remembering and honoring the word “amen” at the appropriate times. death of a parent, and for 30 days after the death of other deceased