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Limmud FSU Labs Atlantic Canada: Building Community Leaders: Shabbat
BY YULIA ELGIN, PROJECT COORDINATOR, PHOTOS BY ILGAR GRACIE
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As part of the Limmud FSU Labs Atlantic Canada program, my goal is to develop local Jewish community life and enrich the Jewish knowledge of Russian-speaking Jews in the Atlantic Canadian region.
Since the beginning of my program, I was challenged by the ongoing restrictions following the evolving situation with the pandemic. Having said that; all the events I organized this year, until now, have been a great “virtual” success.
Luckily, this summer the opportunity appeared to host an event offline in one of our local Halifax synagogues, in accordance with Nova Scotia Health guidelines. It was Shaar Shalom Congregation that opened its doors to accommodate my event, and the community, with the support of the AJC.
25 participants had a chance to explore the different parts of the synagogue by playing the game “Selfie Scavenger Hunt”, this part of the program was voluntarily organized by Joanna Mirsky Wexler, chair, of the Shaar Shalom Synagogue. Partakers received a list of the different rooms in the synagogue and were required to take selfies in each room. It was a fun, warm, and friendly game that everyone enjoyed.
After the game we were delighted and inspired by the emotionally driven rendition of Joanna’s singing and playing on the guitar “Shalom Aleichem”, something she usually does with family every Shabbat.
This program initiative was about Shabbat, the hosting and preparation. Participants were pleased to meet with Rabbi Gary Karlin, Shaar Shalom Synagogue, as he introduced the Shabbat services and explained how to maintain Jewish traditions and customs. Rabbi Karlin also described the process of how he could help a child to have a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah within the framework of the services that Shaar Shalom provides to community members.
The “zimes”, highlight, of the event was making the dough, braiding the loaves, and baking the challah bread, taught to us by the very passionate professional Jewish-Russian chef Evgeniya Grande.
At the closing of the event each person took home their delicious creations to fill their home with the magical smell of two challahs and all the warm feelings that fill Jewish hearts in anticipation of Shabbat evening. To complete their Shabbat bundle, candles and kosher grape juice were supplied to all to accomplish my goal of making a beautiful Shabbat for my community members.
This event was captured by professional photographer Ilgar Gracie.
ABOUT LIMMUD FSU LABS ATLANTIC CANADA:
Limmud FSU Labs is a grassroots initiative that contributes to helping develop Jewish community life and enriching the Jewish knowledge of young Russian-speaking Jews.
Yulia Elgin, Halifax, proposed and received a grant to host a Limmud FSU (Former Soviet Union) Labs program in Atlantic Canada. Yulia was inspired to initiate a program to help grow and strengthen the interaction with the local established Jewish community, to build a richer Jewish life, and instill a deeper sense of Jewish identity as well as a connection to Israel, in our local Russian speaking Jewish population.
FOR PROGRAM INFORMATION:
On Facebook: Atlantic Canada-Limmud FSU Labs. Contact project organizer Yulia Elgin with any questions: Yulia.elgin@gmail.com
Yulia Elgin immigrated to Canada in 2012. She works at Scotiabank, Customer Experience Lead, and teaches, since 2012, at the Halifax Joint Hebrew School, Halifax, NS.
