Prince Edward Island

PEI NEWS

BY JOSEPH B. GLASS

On August 9th, the PEIJC took advantage of the beautiful Island summer weather to have a small community picnic and to hold its Annual General Meeting. Following provincial public health recommendations, the event was held in an outdoor setting, precautions were taken to ensure social distancing and efforts were made to limit contact. The number of participants was capped, and attendance required RSVPs.

The picnic was held along the banks of the Hillsborough River, with a panoramic view of Charlottetown in the background. Ayelet and Larry Stewart graciously hosted the event. The picnic afforded community members the opportunity to catch with each other and, as expected, to share their COVID-19 experiences. The highlight of gathering was the participation of six-month-old Felix Fleischmann, one of the youngest members of the community, seen here with his mother Shamara Baidoobonso. Members of the community were delighted to see how much Felix had grown. We last saw Felix at his Brit Milah, which was shortly before the COVID-19 outbreak. Felix with his jovial and curious personality brought smiles to everyone. (Photos of the PEIJC picnic, courtesy of Nadav Clyde).

The picnic was an opportunity to hold the PEIJC Annual General Meeting. The President, Leo Mednick, reported on the PEIJC activities during the past year and shared details of the arrangements for the 5781 High Holidays. To ensure proper social distancing, the venue for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur community services has been moved to a large community hall. Attendance numbers will be limited as per provincial public health directives. Because of the potential of the release of dangerous levels of aerosols in the act of Shofar blowing, the PEIJC will holding the Shofar blowing outdoors. Regretfully, the annual Rosh Hashanah potluck lunch, a much-enjoyed event on the community’s social calendar, cannot be held this year.

Elections for the PEIJC executive were held. Leo Mednick was the re-elected President for a two-year term as were other members of the executive: Past President— Winston MacGregor, Vice President—Leslee Sack, Treasurer—Shamara Baidoobonso, Atlantic Jewish Council Representative— Joseph Glass, and Summer Resident Representative—Michal Goldman.

A young community member, Elijah Opps, was recently featured on the local

CBC evening news broadcast—Compass. His parents Marina Silva-Opps and Sheldon Opps discussed their decision to home school their son. They explained that after schools closed in March, both parents began to teach their son, dividing his day into a schedule comprised of Hebrew lessons, math, literacy, hands-on science projects, and coding. They decided to continue home schooling for the 2020-21 school year. The news item included a clip of Elijah singing Hatikvah. His Hebrew teacher, Ilana Clyde, is very proud of her student’s achievement. Elijah’s performance may have been the fi rst time Hatikvah was sung by an Islander on Island television. S

In response to Shalom Magazine’s request, two members of the Island Jewish community shared their experiences during the first months of COVID-19.

ERICA POWERS WROTE:

The US/Canada border closure has been tough, since I’m originally from New York and haven’t gotten to see family. In May my parents were going to drive from New York to celebrate my two-year old’s birthday. Unfortunately, that trip never took place and my father has yet to meet my youngest who was born in December. We usually go to New York to celebrate Yom Kippur with family and attend synagogue there. The Atlantic bubble has made me so grateful to be in P.E.I. I miss my family and yearn to celebrate the New Year or Yom Kippur in person and not on a Zoom meeting.

HENRY SREBRNIK COMMUNICATED:

We are among the lucky ones during this pandemic. Pat is retired, and as a professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, I continue to receive my salary.

We no longer go to the gym, but I take long walks, weather permitting—fortunately it’s been a beautiful summer. Amazon Prime and Netfl ix are our main entertainment venues. I keep in touch with my relatives via Facetime phone calls and e-mail.

We do have our eleven cats to keep us company. They are pleased that we are home so much more than we used to be. In response, they have become both more affectionate and more demanding. Indeed, a few of them are becoming too emotionally dependent.

UPEI will be teaching online this fall, and I am learning to use all the various tools, since I will be doing so from my home computer. Even with video platforms like Zoom, there will not be the give-and-take between myself and the students, and they with each other; spontaneity will be lost. Much learning goes on in the hallways, student lounges, and other places on campus, as well.