From the Desk of Edna Levine

Across the country virtual programs remained the norm and reflected our need to continue to stay safe during the pandemic. A benefit of the virtual platform is that it enables us to expand our audience and offer programing to all in Atlantic Canada.

The 17th annual Holocaust Education Week (HEW), October 25 – November 8, presented virtual programs to challenge and encourage conversation. This year our opening program combined the film “Bogdan’s Journey” with an insightful zoom discussion about history, social issues, faith, and personal suffering, between Bogdan Bialek, Poland, and Dr. Dorota Glowacka, University of King’s College, Halifax. Bogdan’s Journey is a heartbreaking account of the pogrom that took place in the town of Kielce, Poland in July 1946, and the determination of Bialek, a Christian resident of Kielce, to bring his fellow residents to acknowledge and commemorate the atrocity 70 years later.

The search and acknowledgment of unmarked grave sites in Eastern Poland, of victims of the Holocaust, were examined in the HEW program “Speculative Cartographies Poland”. A week-long art exhibit at the Halifax Central Library featured the studio research of five mass grave sites, and an informative zoom talk hosted by the artists detailed their project. Please read the special feature on page 16 for a more in-depth exploration of this topic.

Our student program this year, in partnership with the Azrieli Foundation, attracted schools from across the province. Holocaust survivor Judy Abrams, in Montreal, spoke about her life and the Holocaust, in conversation with Elin Beaumont, Azrieli Foundation, Toronto, via a webinar. Over 1700 students participated in this program. Attendance requirements, to prepare students for this program, included a short assignment and the reading of their complimentary copy of the memoirs of Judy Abrams, “Tenuous Threads”, received from, and published by the Azrieli Foundation. Students had the opportunity to ask Judy Abrams questions after her presentation. The impact and need for Holocaust education programs for students are highlighted in the article on page 14, “The Importance of Shoah Education”.

The closing HEW program featured the Norwegian film “The Crossing”, an inspiring and deeply moving WWII family drama. The film received over 160 unique views. Holocaust Education partners this year included the University of King’s College, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax Public Libraries, and the Azrieli Foundation. Holocaust education programs are made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the Azrieli Foundation.

The 7th annual Atlantic Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) featured virtual cinema from November 19–22 in Atlantic Canada. Given the COVID-19 situation we made the leap online and screened films on the Cineplex Cinemas’ platform. Our modest festival offers us the opportunity to share our values and culture with the broader community while providing programming that would otherwise not be available in our area. Returning chair Lynn Rotin and the organizing committee, Philip Belitsky, Rosalind Belitsky, Jon Goldberg, Anna Hazankin, Linda Law, Jordan Schelew, Flint Schwartz, Ann Thaw, Howard Thaw, and Peggy Walt, worked diligently throughout the year to provide filmgoers with an engaging virtual festival. While we missed not being able to gather in-person, we were excited to include viewers from all of Atlantic Canada, and we are inspired to continue to offer virtual cinema as part of our festival. A message from AJFF chair Lynn Rotin is on page 32, along with information on our winter festival screening.

Organizing our annual event of serving up some Christmas cheer to the members of Spencer House Seniors Centre, Halifax, was challenging during this unusual year.

We closely monitored the COVID-19 situation and adhered to the NS Health guidelines by not hosting an in-person event and instead offered a delivery-only service. Nancy Cieplinski contributed a cheerfully wrapped bundle of her homemade fudge for each guest. Myrna Yazer, once again, baked a festive cake, and then on December 24th she and Schuyler Smith prepped some of the food to ensure a tasty holiday meal on the 25th. Christmas Day was warm and sunny when the volunteers personalized, packed-up, and delivered the gifts and hot meals. Photos and information on this event are on page 31.

With a few changes, due to COVID-19, we are moving forward with our annual outreach to provide hot meals to Out of the Cold, a Halifax-based community organization that provides shelter and meals during the winter months to people who are homeless or precariously housed. Meal deliveries are required to be booked in advance and if you are interested in participating please contact me: engagement@theajc.ca.

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 designed a new virtual tour entitled “Jewish Immigration to Canada”. Jewish immigrants came to Canada for many reasons and have been part of the fabric of the country since before Confederation. Many fled oppression and persecution; and while they often faced unfair treatment in Canada, they were also able to build a new life. This 45-minute virtual tour draws on memoirs, and oral history interviews in the museum’s collection to tell the story of Jewish immigration to Canada. We are excited to host this guided virtual tour, followed by a Q&A, on Thursday, February 4, at 7pm AST, open to all in Atlantc Canada. Registeration is through our AJC newsletter.

For information on our upcoming virtual Holocaust commemorative events, for Atlantic Canada, please see page 15 for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day program “The World War II Jewish Experience in Mauritius” by Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, presented in English and French on January 27; and on page 18, a feature article by filmmaker Eric Bednarski discussing his new film, “Warsaw: A City Divided”, screening as part of our Yom HaShoah program on April 11. Registration is required and details will be posted on www. HolocaustEducation.ca as well as shared in our AJC community newsletter.