From the Desk of Edna LeVine

This winter we continued to offer virtual programs in Atlantic Canada, as we “stayed safe” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we presented a virtual program in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, Saint Mary’s University, educated us on the Jewish experience in Mauritius during World War II. Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby- Murray introduced the programs, first presented in English and then in French.

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The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21’s new virtual tour “Jewish Immigration to Canada” was enthusiastically received by our community. We hosted two “sold-out” tours, attracting participants from across Canada. This 45-minute “live and interactive” tour included memoirs, oral history interviews, and a lively Q&A, to tell the story of Jewish immigration to Canada.

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In early spring the Atlantic Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) presented, virtually, the highly entertaining mini-series Shabbabniks—The New Black, an award winning Israeli dramedy. From November 18 – 21, our 8th annual AJFF will offer movie-goers in Atlantic Canada the opportunity to view international films both virtually, and at “in-person” screenings in Halifax, in accordance with the NS Health guidelines. 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.

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Yom HaShoah programs in our region were once again presented virtually and we partnered with organizations to offer three programs. On April 8, the Cross- Canada online commemoration for Yom HaShoah, coordinated by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, included

Jewish communities from across Canada. The Montreal Holocaust Museum hosted a virtual program on April 7 with candlelighting participants from coast-to-coast. On April 11 we hosted, in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, filmmaker Eric Bednarski, in conversation with Dr. Dorota Glowacka, University of King’s College, after the live-streamed screening of Bednarski’s film “Warsaw: A City Divided”. An interesting Q&A concluded the virtual program and all those who registered (450+) for the program received additional access to view the film after the program.

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COVID-19 presented a few challenges coordinating 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. We renewed our partnerships with the Shambhala Community, the Shaar Shalom Synagogue’s Tikkun Olam Group, and Spencer House Seniors Centre, to provide 150+ hot meals. Volunteers in our community home-baked desserts, and a few came together (with masks on and socially distanced) to cook. This is the fourth year Spencer House Seniors Centre has partnered with us on this initiative and we are grateful for the use of their commercial kitchen to prepare and cook the meals. Out of the Cold received additional funding to continue their services until the end of June. Meal deliveries are required to be booked in advance and if you are interested in contributing, please contact me: engagement@theajc.ca.

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This year the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) annual conference was hosted virtually with attendees and presenters from across Canada, USA, and Israel. The conference highlighted the benefits of sharing agency information and best practices, as well as addressing issues surrounding equity and balance for a growing diverse community.

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The Cumming Centre, Montreal, transitioned many of their existing programs to Zoom during the pandemic, and developed many new virtual programs for seniors. This spring they created a new virtual membership category for seniors, and we are pleased to partner with them on this new opportunity. For registration information please email: information@cummingscentre.org.

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We were delighted to partner with the Azrieli Foundation to host Holocaust survivor, Halifax, David Korn’s virtual book launch on May 2. During Holocaust Education Week, November 1-7, we will host an in-depth program with David Korn, in partnership with the Azrieli Foundation, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, information will be posted on HolocaustEducation.ca and shared in our AJC newsletter.