HALIFAX — The theme of the biennial conference of the Atlantic Jewish Council – What Will Our Future Hold – is a dilemma facing every small community in Canada. The answers coming from panellists and almost 100 delegates from the four Atlantic provinces at the Nov. 20-21 event echoed every discussion.
Mila Voihansky, executive director of JIAS Canada [Joel Jacobson photo]
Representatives from St. John’s, Nfld. to Fredericton and from Charlottetown to Halifax all stated the same mantra.
“We need more people in our communities. We need more programming. Camp Kadimah plays a major role in keeping our youth together and connected to Judaism. We have to get along with our [non-Jewish] neighbours. We have to get along with ourselves.”
Arnold Bennett of St. John’s, who emigrated from the United States 15 years ago, told how he and fellow Jews in his city have worked with leaders of various other church groups for a common cause – to stamp out poverty and lessen the gap between rich and poor. The combination of religious backgrounds has tightened the sense of good feeling between all communities on the island.
Jerry Costa of Annapolis Royal, N.S., who emigrated from New York 40 years ago, discovered “major differences between New York City with eight million people and thousands of Jews, and Annapolis Royal with 900 people and nary a Jewish person,” has worked to bring Jewish knowledge and understanding to the community and many people in surrounding towns by hosting them at Chanukah, Passover and Rosh Hashanah celebrations to explain Jewish tradition.
“We want everyone to learn everyone else’s culture so we won’t look so different to each other,” she said, stressing the importance of “getting along with our neighbours.”
However, there were concerns that smaller numbers in both small and large communities is in major need of attention. Even Halifax has its problems despite having the largest Jewish population in the region at about 2,500 synagogue members and countless unaffiliated Jews, plus at least 1,000 Jewish students attending local universities, 800 at Dalhousie University alone.
In his final report to the community, outgoing Atlantic Jewish Council president Howard Conter of Halifax talked of divisions in both Halifax and St. John’s.
“Halifax rallies around its two synagogues [Orthodox and Conservative] and has not come together as a strong unified Jewish community or voice. If it cannot be a strong beacon, there will not be much left for our children and grandchildren. A committee trying to unify the Jews of Halifax into a community first and a place of religious choice second is hard at work, and I applaud it.”
He said a division between groups in St. John’s “makes moving forward on initiatives as one community almost impossible.” Yet, Bennett, part of Jewish Community Havura of Newfoundland and Labrador, stressed the co-operation between that congregation and the Conservative Beth-El Synagogue in many initiatives, including a Holocaust Yom Hashoah ceremony each year.
Immigration of Israeli families with Russian backgrounds to Halifax, Fredericton and Moncton, with new expansion to Saint John, N.B. has generated enthusiasm and hope. There was discussion of lack of integration of these families into Jewish life, but Nana Steinberg, a newcomer to Halifax two years ago, emphasized the concern for her family initially was finding living quarters, furniture, food and work, while trying to master English. Integrating into the community was a lesser concern.
Mila Voihansky from Toronto is executive director of JIAS Canada. She is a Russian immigrant from a few decades ago, and asked the communities to be patient in seeking immediate congregational, and even community, involvement.
“Immigrants suffer a loss – of family, familiar surroundings, comfort – when they move here. Their culture is different. We have to allow time and be patient for them to get settled in new communities.”
Rabbi Josef Goldman of Frederiction, a member of that community’s immigration committee, said working with newcomers is an obligation for Jews. “It’s a positive opportunity for us to give back as people did when our grandparents and parents came to Canada.”
Another highlight of the event was the recognition of four individuals with the AJC Community Service Award.
Bennett, Shirley Burnstein of Halifax, Arnold Chippin of Frederiction and Francis Weil from Moncton, were honoured for their lifelong commitment to both Jewish life and the work they have done in the broader communities.
At a Sunday brunch sponsored by United Jewish Appeal Canada, CEO Linda Kislowicz praised Atlantic community leaders for what has been accomplished in the last two years, including the proactive immigration effort, the development of the Simon and Reva Spatz Chair in Jewish Studies at Dalhousie University, the continued strength of Camp Kadimah and the volunteerism of young people to the newly-elected board of AJC.
Dov Harris, retiring after 35 years as a fundraising executive with UJA, including 25 years of concentration in Atlantic Canada, was honoured for his special connection and affinity to the region.
In an emotional thank you, Harris said, “I don’t see donors in front of me today. I see friends. What a community! You have so much to be proud of, your sense of vitality, the strong campaigns you’ve had. This vitality is you,” he emphasized.
Shulamith Medjuck of Halifax, left was elected president of the Atlantic Jewish Council at the organization’s biennial conference Nov. 21. To read story, please go to cjnews.com
