By Ben Sale

TEL AVIV (JTA) -- Israel's government has approved acompromise to expand the non-Orthodox Jewish prayersection of the Western Wall, putting to rest the decades-longfight between Women of the Wall and Israel's harediOrthodox religious establishment.

The deal achieves what had been an elusive goal: aninterdenominational consensus on Judaism's holiest sitewith official recognition. The non-Orthodox prayer sectionwill become much larger and more accessible. But haredicontrol of the Orthodox section will also be solidified, thoughnon-Orthodox leaders have long protested that monopoly.

The deal still contains a few unknowns. It is unclear howlong construction will take. It does not say whether clearsignage will direct visitors to the non-Orthodox section. Nordoes it say exactly when Women of the Wall, an embattledwomen’s prayer group, will move its monthly services fromthe Orthodox Jewish main prayer section to the non-Orthodox one.

Still, the Conservative and Reform movements candeclare victory. The size of the non-Orthodox section of theWestern Wall will double to nearly 10,000 square feet -- halfthe size of the Orthodox main section just to its north. Acommittee of non-Orthodox leaders and government officialswill manage the non-Orthodox section. And a single entrancewill lead to both sections.

The Western Wall’s haredi Orthodox management, calledthe Western Wall Heritage Foundation, also safeguarded itsinterests. Non-Orthodox leaders had campaigned for a shareof control of the Orthodox section of the wall, but theHeritage Foundation will retain full authority over it and thelarger plaza behind the prayer sections. And when the planis implemented, Women of the Wall will move to the non-Orthodox section, one of the Heritage Foundation’s long-standing demands.

“They all came to the conclusion that they must makeserious compromisesbecause they want it toremain one Kotel for onepeople,” Jewish Agency forIsrael Chairman he toldJTA. "Its the place thatmust unite us more thananything else, and it turned

into the most ugly war."

Plans for the non-Orthodox section’s expansion,spearheaded by Sharansky, began in December 2012. InOctober of that year, police had arrested the Women of theWall's chairwoman, Anat Hoffman, for wearing a tallitduring the group’s monthly service -- an act that at the timewas illegal at the site.

Talks on a plan to expand the non-Orthodox section of thewall, located in an archaeological park known as Robinson’sArch, began in April 2013. Sharansky and outgoing IsraeliCabinet secretary Avichai Mandelblit led the negotiations,which included representatives of the Reform andConservative movements, the Heritage Foundation andWomen of the Wall.

Nearly three years later, the deal enacted Jan. 31 calls forthe creation of an “official and respected,” 9,700-square footprayer space in the non-Orthodox section of the WesternWall, running along a 31-foot segment of the wall, that

Sharansky said will fit approximately 1,200 people. It willhave a government-funded staff, Torah scrolls and otherritual objects, and be open to all forms of Jewish prayer.Sharansky estimated its construction could take up to twoyears.

Even after it is completed, the non-Orthodox section willremain smaller than its Orthodox counterpart. TheOrthodox section measures some 21,500 square feet,adjacent to a nearly 200-foot segment of the wall, and hassome 27,000 visitors on an average day.

The area is divided into two sections: a larger one for menand a smaller one for women. The rules prohibit women fromreading from Torah scrolls in the Orthodox section.

The new agreement reads: “This contains the hope thatthe Western Wall will no longer be an arena for disputes, andwill regain the uniting character that befits its special placefor the entire Jewish people...May this also bring peaceamong us.”

February 9, 2016

EDMONTON

Kotel fight ends withhistoric compromise

Publication MailAgreement Number:40050628

Visit us online at edmontonjewishnews.com Volume 27, No. 2

Festival Hatzafon returns to Edmonton next month

Join the Talmud Torah grade 9 students for a fundraiser on Feb. 20 at Lee Gardens restaurant, 8404-82 Streetat 7 pm for Karaoke and a Silent Auction. Proceeds will go toward their class trip to Israel.

by Deborah Shatz

(EJNews) - The fifth annual FestivalHatzafon will be held on March 16 and March 20in Edmonton with the theme - Dancing with theStars of David. Over the past five years, FestivalHatzafon has become a major cultural event forEdmonton and surrounding areas. As the onlyIsraeli dance festival of its kind in Alberta,Festival Hatzafon will feature over 100 dancersand reach thousands of people from our localcommunities and abroad.

The initial launch of Festival Hatzafon“Festival of the North” took place in 2012 and theevent has continued to grow ever since.    TheFestival has become an anticipated celebrationof Israeli dance and culture, engaging audiencesbeyond a single dance performance.

“Once again, we are thrilled to partner withEdmonton Jewish Film Festival and EricksenInfiniti to screen the movie Hava Nagila at theCINEPLEX SCOTIABANK WEM on March 16,2016,” announced Stacey Leavitt-Wright,

Festival Chair. "The film is a 'toe-tapping,entertaining celebration' of Jewish culture - aperfect prelude to our dance performance onMarch 20.  Hava Nagila features celebrities suchas Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis, LeonardNimoy and the Klezmatics so it emulates ourstar studded theme."

This year’s theme Dancing with the Stars ofDavid will feature new choreographies andbeautiful costuming with a 3 pm performance atthe ATB Financial Arts Barn, Westbury Theatreon March 20.  Performers will include the AvivDancers, teen groups Mayim and Shemesh andRikud Academy childrens groups. It is also goingto include some talented singers: Sean Sonegoand Rachel Kondor.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary ofthe Aviv Israeli Folk Dance Association (AIFDA)in Edmonton. "It has been a wonderful 10 yearsand it's going to be a fabulous afternoon of danceand culture," added artistic director SariUretsky Leung."We have many returning Avivdancers and choreographers with fresh andinnovative dances. We also have some new

dancers this year as well as some new dancesfrom a well known choreographer that webrought in from Israel, Ohad Atia."

The ATB Arts Barns will come alive with akosher style deli and concessions that will bemanned as a joint fundraiser for ShemeshDancers and NCSY. The lobby will be decoratedto reflect a celebratory atmosphere, conducive tovisiting with friends. There will also be aninteractive Israeli Circle Dance before theperformance so visitors have an opportunity toexperience the joy of Israeli dance which is theheart and soul of this festival.

Tickets are availableat  festivalhatzafon.com  or the Talmud TorahSchool office.  Movie night tickets are $10 anddance performance tickets are $20 or you maypurchase a package for both the movie and danceperformance for $25. Professionally recordedDVDs of the event can be pre purchased for $15.

For more information direct an emailto festivalhatzafon@gmail.com.

Talmud Torah students gear up for Israel trip

Page 2 Edmonton Jewish News February 9, 2016

(EJNews) - On Shabbat, Jan. 30th, a large group of youngprofessionals in our community got together at the FantasyLand Hotel for an incredible weekend run by The EDJGE.The highlight was our guest speaker Boruch Cohen, anaccomplished L.A. attorney who addressed us many timesover the course of Shabbat.

After a delicious Shabbat dinner produced by Catering byEd, we all gathered in one of the conference rooms for theopening speech. Mr. Cohen captivated the audience bysharing his own personal experiences of what it is like toopenly demonstrate his Judaism in a secular workplace.Possessing no shortage of Jewish pride, he delivered apowerful message that we should be proud of our heritage,and our contributions to this society in which we live.

With meticulous planning, the staff had every detailworked out to ensure the participants could maximize theirShabbat experience. There was babysitting provided forthose who wanted to put their younger kids to bed, as well askids' groups for the older children. Completelyunencumbered, parents were able to enjoy every aspect ofthe program.

After Shul and Kiddush Shabbat morning, we convened

in the conference room onceagain for a second talk byour guest speaker. Thesubject was the epic, famous battle between David andGoliath, a confrontation so shocking in its conclusion, itpropelled David into the national spotlight, and a legacy wasborn. Mr. Cohen, having done extensive research on thesubject, was able to highlight certain nuances in the text thatprovided a fascinating layer to the story that is not wellknown. In addition to allowing us to access a level of clarityin the storyline, our guest also encouraged the audience to doour own analysis on these Torah portions, to see whatnuggets we could extract that are lurking beneath thesurface.

A traditional Shabbat lunch followed, with all thetrappings. Having all been put up in the hotel for theduration of the weekend, many spent a leisurely afternoonresting and socializing. The Mincha prayer was followed bySeudat Shelishit, and a powerful, gripping story was givenover by Boruch. The story was interspersed with meaningfulJewish songs, and the overall atmosphere was quite moving.We ushered Shabbat out with a musical Havdalah service,

complete with singing, dancing, and musical instruments.

Such a fantastic Shabbat would not be complete withouta fitting sendoff, and we certainly had one. On MotzeiShabbat, we were addressed one final time, with Mr. Cohenproviding through a PowerPoint presentation differentperspectives on how to cope with the challenges of life. Itwas a serious lecture, but one that offered extremelyvaluable insights, and the listeners walked away withstrategies that will no doubt help navigate the hardshipsthat life often throws our way. After the presentation,everyone enjoyed wine and hors d'oeuvres.

The overall consensus of those who were fortunate enoughto attend was that it was simply a surreal weekend. Everydetail was accounted for, and the entire experience was onefilled with growth and friendship. From the sleepingarrangements, to the exceptional food, to the inspirationalwords we received throughout the weekend, it was amemorable experience. Stay tuned for more great events foryoung Jewish professionals coming soon in our greatcommunity!

The Daughter Who Got Away

by Leora FreedmanYotzeret Publishing, St. Paul MN, 2016

Review by Deborah Shatz

The Daughter Who Got Away is a multi-layered coming ofage story by author Leora Freedman soon to be published byby Yotzeret, a small Jewish publishing house based in St.Paul Minnesota.

Set in the 1980s the central characters of the book areCelia Rosenbloom, a 70 year old, New York Jewish artist andher daughter Sharon who escapes her family's New Yorkartsy lifestyle by moving to the bush in the interior of BritishColumbia.

Celia laments her daughter's self imposed exile and therest of the family paints her with an irresponsible anddisrespectful brush and dissuades Celia from going to visither in the middle of nowhere. However when Celiaexperiences a crisis in her own life, she makes the trip tovisit her daughter and embarks on a life altering journey ofher own.

During her visit to BC, Celia reflects on her own Jewish

heritage ranging from czarist Russia to family time inPalestine in the 1930s. She forges new friendships in themountains while reminiscing about her youthful escapadesin Israel. She confronts her own demons and insecurities andemerges stronger and ready to begin a new chapter in herlife.

In The Daughter Who Got Away, the author skillfullytakes us on a compelling journey of self-discovery and as thestory unfolds, both mother and daughter evolve and theironce estranged relationship emerges strengthened andhealed.

Book Review

The Young Professionals Shabbaton ended on January 31st with a lecture fromguest speaker Baruch Cohen (Superlawyer™). Over 70 community membersof all ages took in the lecture on bereavement, a subject close to Cohen’s hearthaving lost his own daughter at a young age. The event was sponsored by theGhermezian, Goldford, Asbell and Pokroy families.

Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050628Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Circulation Department:Suite A 10632 124 Street NW Edmonton AB T5N 1S3E-mail: ejnews@telus.netTel: (780) 421-7966 Fax: (780) 424-3951

Volume 26, Number 2, February, 2016

PUBLISHER / EDITOR: Deborah ShatzADVERTISING: Daniel MoserFOUNDING PUBLISHER: Barry Slawsky

All rights reserved. No part ofthis newspaper may bereproduced without writtenpermission from thepublisher. The opinionsexpressed herein are notnecessarily those of theEditor. Edmonton JewishNews is published by320754 Alberta Ltd.

edmontonjewishnews.com

The EDJGE hosts inspirationalShabbaton

Continued on page 4

by Sharon Marcus

Jewish National Fund of Edmonton and CanadianFriends of Hebrew University in Edmonton are teaming upto honour Dr. James Shapiro at the Negev Gala on June 23,2016. His groundbreaking work in diabetes research andtransplantation is saving lives in Edmonton and around theworld. Kol Hakavod to JNF and CFHU for focusing ourattention on transplantation research and for choosing sucha deserving honouree for the Negev Gala.

Ben was just 17 when it was discovered that he had lost70% of his kidney function. Shock went through all of us but,ever optimistic, we thought it would be decades before wewere faced with the prospect of him having to undergo akidney transplant… so life went on.

Unfortunately for Ben, end-stage renal disease came just4 years later. In January 2011 his nephrologist gave him thenews no one wants to hear, Ben’s renal function was just12%. We were told that if Ben could find a living donor beforehis function decreased to 10% he could avoid the hardship ofdaily dialysis along with waiting years for a deceased kidneydonor. In the years that should have been the prime of hislife, Ben’s life deteriorated to a point where he had becometoo sick to attend school or work and was forced to move backhome to Edmonton. While comforted that Ben was home,watching his quality of life so severely compromised wasboth challenging and heartbreaking.

The ensuing months were filled with both angst andblessings. The first hurdle was to find a donor but how do youask someone for such an extraordinary gift? Knowing thatdonations must be given freely, we were careful to avoid anypotential ethical conflicts when discussing his need withothers. When we emailed our extended family to informthem of Ben’s situation we included information on how theycould contact the living donor coordinator at the hospitaldirectly, should anyone be interested in being tested as apotential donor.

In Ben’s case, it wasalmost an embarrassmentof riches as five people cameforward to be tested. Benwas blessed that his father

was a ‘near-perfect’ match and he received his kidney in May2012. This miracle of modern medicine has given Ben a newlease on life, an opportunity to resume a normal life filledwith socializing, hockey, golf and continuing his education.Having received his kidney from a living donor is an addedplus as it means that Ben will hopefully not require a neworgan for 15 – 20 years. The fact that all transplanted organshave a ‘shelf life’, and that all transplant recipients requirea life-time on immune suppression drugs with theirassociated risks, speaks volumes about the need forcontinued research.

A huge blessing in all of this has been the knowledge thatEdmonton is a centre of excellence in transplantation inCanada. Edmonton is the home to several world-classtransplant clinician-scientists who are pushing theboundaries of transplantation in their respective fields. Dr.James Shapiro is an outstanding example of such. Aftercompleting his medical training in England he came toEdmonton to train in liver transplantation and complete hisPhD. During this time Dr. Shapiro helped develop theEdmonton Protocol, the transplantation of pancreatic isletcells to reverse diabetes for those suffering from the mostsevere form of the disease. His work was published in theNew England Journal of Medicine in 2000 and has becomethe accepted treatment protocol worldwide.

Dr. Shapiro continues to investigate techniques toimprove the survival rate of islet transplants. Otherinvestigations include his current work in early stage clinicaltrial where special devices that secrete insulin are implantedunder the skin, potentially reversing the need for insulininjections and removing the need for life-long immunesuppression medication. Additionally, as part of aninternational clinical trial for the OrganOx Metra liver ex-vivo perfusion device, last March Dr. Shapiro was the first inNorth America tosuccessfully transplant aliver using this device thatkeeps the liver “alive”

during transport between the donor and recipient. Thedevice pumps oxygenated blood and nutrients through theorgan, significantly reducing injury to the organ andincreasing the window of viability for transplantation from8-10 hours up to 24 hours. (The current standard fortransporting organs is an ice chest.)

The ex-vivo perfusion liver research is hoping to showthat marginal livers cannot just be maintained but alsorepaired on this device. Such success would be a huge win fordeceased donation where 1 in 3 liver patients on the waitlistwill die before an organ becomes available. With 1 out of 4organs donated currently not of high enough quality to beused for transplantation, this technology could betransformative.

Doctors like Dr. Shapiro give all of us touched bytransplantation hope that the road ahead will be easier forour loved ones. Our family, for one, is very thankful for theirdedication to continuing to improve transplant medicine.

Sharon Marcus is co-founder of the Alberta Donates LIFECoalition and an advocate for organ transplantation anddonation.

February 9, 2016 Edmonton Jewish News Page 3

Edmonton Negev Gala to honour Dr. James Shapiro: June 23

Students Nathaniel Vogel, Sarah Lallouz andReuben Soibelman led the 2016 Talmud Torah TuB'shvat campaign, raising funds for JNF.

For those of us living in a small Jewish community, thestory takes on a special significance. We understand Celia'strepidation about Sharon's move to the bush and can identify

with her feeling that Sharon has abandoned all thingsJewish in her new lifestyle. But when circumstances leadCelia to go visit Sharon, we see that her Jewish values haveremained intact and that she is inextricably tied to herJewish heritage and sense of community. Both Celia andSharon come to realize that small Jewish communities -though quirky and unique in their observances and politics -are none-the-less strong in heart, spirit and togetherness.

Born in New York and raised in Connecticut, Freedmancompleted a Masters Degree in Fiction writing at Universityof Arizona. She is a citizen of the US, Canada and Israel andhas spent much time in each of these countries. Her workexperience includes a decade of teaching English at theHebrew University in Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University.

For the past 10 years she has worked as an Englishinstructor and consultant at the University of Toronto.

The Daughter Who Got Away is Freedman's third novel.The first, The Ivory Pomegranate, focuses on universitystudents who confront their own Jewish identities amidst ananti-Semitic uprising on campus. The second, Parachuting,explores the world of suburban Jews in the 1970s throughthe lives of several high school students caught up in boththe counterculture and a deep dramatic involvement withthe Israelis living in their community.

Yotzeret Publishing is a family owned publishing housebased in St. Paul Minnesota dedicated to publishing booksthat reflect the diversity of Jews and Jewish practice. Theirbooks are accessible to readers of all backgrounds and beliefsand their mission is to publish books written from a Jewishperspective, with a specialty in those written by womenauthors. In this way they are facilitating the representationof women in Jewish literature. For more information visityotzeret.com.

Page 4 Edmonton Jewish News February 9, 2016

Book Review Cont. from page 2

Celebrated chef Laura Frankel has brought together aninspiring collection of kosher recipes—from the simple to thesublime - all created with the slow cooker.

In Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes, the encore to her classicbook,  Jewish Cooking For All Seasons, Laura Frankel, arespected chef and mother of three teenagers, shares morethan 120 easy, delicious recipes for everyday and holidaymeals - all conveniently prepared in the slow cooker - astaple of Sabbath cooking which Frankel affectionately callsher "Shabbat miracle machine."

In this delicious collection, you'll find a wonderful range ofdishes, from the traditional Sabbath Cholent (a hearty beefand potato stew) to Dafina (the savory Moroccan answer tocholent), as well as Vegetarian Chili, Spicy ChickenMeatballs, Olive Oil Poached Halibut, Maple-Pecan BreadPudding, and Key Lime Cheesecake. Frankel shares hersignature blending of flavor, convenience, and world-spanning influences. This tantalizing collection of mouth-watering recipes includes appetizers and soups, main dishes,sides, and even desserts and breakfast.

Taking familiar favorites, international specialties, andholiday classics to a whole new level, Jewish Slow CookerRecipes is for every home cook - kosher or not - longing fortime-saving, family-pleasing slow cooker meals using thefreshest, high-quality ingredients available in your localsupermarket and food community. Whether you need alittle nosh or a full-on fress, this cookbook has the recipe foryou.

The following recipe is from Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes,by Laura Frankel, published by Agate Publishing inpaperback August 2015 (ISBN-13: 978-1-57284-180-2).

Falling-Off-The-Bone Short Ribs Makes 8-10 servingsThis versatile, tasty cut of beef gives us everything you

can ask for in beef. You get marbled beef and bones forflavour. This recipe is especially succulent. Ask your butcherfor "English cut" short ribs. This cut tends to be tender,

makes a better presentation and is very economical. (Theother common cut for short ribs is `flanken cut` which isgreat in soups and stews.)

Ingredients:5 pounds beef short ribsKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper3 TBLS dried thyme2 TBLS dried rosemary1/4 cup dried Porcini mushrooms, processed to a powder

and sifted1/4 cup all-purpose flourOlive oil3 celery stalks2 large Spanish onions, chopped3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed, cored and chopped6 garlic cloves, chopped2 cups red wine such as cabernet sauvignon3 TBLS tomato paste3 cups chicken stockBouquet garni of 1 bay leaf, 6 thyme sprigs, 1 small

rosemary sprig - tied together with kitchen twineDirections:Place the short ribs in a large stockpot filled with water

and bring to a boil. Boil the short ribs for 5 min. Drain anddiscard the water. (This helps remove the fat.)

Pat dry the ribs thoroughly with a paper towel. Seasonthe ribs with salt and pepper.

Combine the dried thyme, dried rosemary, porcini dustand flour in a bowl.

Place a large sauté pan over medium heat. Lightly coatthe bottom of the pan with olive oil. Dredge the ribs in theporcini mixture. Brown the ribs in batches until the ribs arebrowned on all sides - about 15 min. Transfer the ribs to theinsert of a 6 1/2 quart slow cooker.

Pour off most of the fat from the sauté pan. Brown thecelery, onions, carrots and fennel in batches, about 7 min per

batch. Season each batch with salt and pepper. Add thegarlic to the last batch and cook for 3 min more until thegarlic is very fragrant and slightly softened. Do notoverbrown the garlic.

Transfer the browned vegetables to the insert. Add thewine and tomato paste to the sauté pan. Stir together with awooden spoon or spatula to break up the tomato paste.Gently scrape the pan to gather up the browned bits.

Transfer the wine to the insert. Add the stock and bouquetgarni. Cover and cook on Low for 10 hours.

Remove the short ribs from the insert and piece them in aplatter. Tent loosely with foil to keep them warm. Pour thebraising liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a saucepan.Discard the vegetables and bouquet garni. Skim the fat offthe liquid. Reduce over high heat by one half or until theliquid is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 10 min.Pour the sauce over the ribs.

Serve with your choice of accompaniment.

Delicious Jewish slow cooker recipes are worth waiting for

February 9, 2016 Edmonton Jewish News Page 5

by Regan Treewater

On an uncharacteristically warm January day inEdmonton, Talmud Torah School was honoured to host someextremely special VIPs. Familiar faces -- transformed byyears of academic success and countless adventures -- gazednostalgically down the brightly adorned corridors, but thistime with the confident smiles of young adults. Theatmosphere felt less like an alumni luncheon, and more likea big boisterous family reunion. Alumni were met with hugsfrom teachers and students alike -- and it was obvious thateveryone was eager to catch up – stories of travel, first jobs,and dreams for the future.

As University admissions become more selective, choicesabout high school and even junior high have taken on thesame formidable importance of postsecondary applications.Now students as young as grade-five must begin to thinkabout their futures -- a sizable burden for youngsters thathave not yet celebrated their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs. But thisis the reality of our times, and in the true spirit TalmudTorah School and the Talmud Torah Society found a way tohelp kids make informed decisions about junior high andhigh school – relieving at least some of the stress andanxiety. Students in grades five and above were invited tocome and spend an afternoon of pizza and knishes withTalmud Torah’s pride and joy – their past grads.

“It was my choice to stay at TT for junior high,”commented third year university student Jaime Sorokin,“and the teachers really prepared us for transitioning to highschool.” Sorokin who was home visiting from her yearabroad at the prestigious Hebrew University of Jerusalem,cited her spectacular experience on her grade-nine trip toIsrael as her motivation for going back to live there. Shedescribed how positive her time at TT was for “it was reallyimportant for me to feel connected and be a part of theJewish community,” Sorokin explained while also outliningher extensive work with Camp BB, “choosing to stay at TTfor junior high was definitely the right choice.”

Some alumni feel so at home at Talmud Torah that theyhave returned to teach in some of the very same classroomsthey themselves once learned in. Marit Abrams -- a leadteacher in one of the four-year-old classrooms -- was once a

kindergartener at TT. She attended tillher graduation from grade-nine in 2005and says that she still remains in closecontact with everyone from her graduatingclass. “By the time we all went off to highschool they were all more like my brothersand sisters,” Abrams explained. Agraduate of the University of Alberta,Abrams is an energetic and creativeeducator, and her passion and enthusiasmfor giving back to the school that oncenurtured her is inspiring.

Weaving through clusters of joyfulreunions there was no question -- TT’ssense of community is something thatendures the test of time and distance. Butwhat about the academic angle? With somuch competition out there, how do TTstudents measure up in high school?According to grade-eleven student EthanZwaigenbaum, TT students are wellprepared for the challenges of high school.“It wasn’t a big deal; high school was justbigger, and I figured out pretty fast howthe teachers wanted things done,” said Zwaigenbaum, aconfident young man who even found time in his busyacademic schedule to play on his high school’s football teamwhile also participating in a highly selective and rigorousInternational Baccalaureate program (IB). Upon furtherinvestigation I found that almost all of TT’s former graduateswere admitted to IB programs in high school – certainly nosmall feat.

Freshly graduated alums Gabriella Tankel and AlizaAsbell (both grade-ten IB students) described how their fearsabout “being just another number” in high school werequickly put to rest. Both girls admit that they had serioustrepidations about the sheer size of their high school’spopulation.

“At first I was worried about being alone,” said Tankel,“but I had my TT friends there so it really wasn’t that scary.”Tankel, who attended TT from kindergarten on, says thatone of the biggest changes that she has noticed is the

multiculturalism of her new school. “Yeah, there are allkinds of people from so many different places,” agrees Asbell.“I still hang out with my TT friends, but I have my newfriends too,” she explained “I mean, I’ve known Gabby sinceI started here in grade-one.”

With a harmonious balance of academics and community,TT has most certainly produced confident graduates, readyto meet the many challenges of the world -- both at home andabroad. All of the alumni commented on the connection theyfelt between TT’s intimate supportive environment and theirincreased scholastic achievement. Not only had these alumsmade lifelong friends, but they also gained the buildingblocks for future academic and professional accomplishment.In addition to great memories of their grade-six Shabbatonand their unforgettable grade-nine trip to Israel -- theseyoung adults were left with intellect, poise and maturity --not to mention a sense of security from the support of theirextended Talmud Torah family.

Coming home to Talmud Torah

Recent alumni returned to Talmud Torah as VIPs for a speciallunch program to discuss their experiences in High School andbeyond, with current students - grade 5 and up.

by Daniel Moser

(EJNews) - McClung is home to many of the Jewishinstitutions in the City of Edmonton, from Chabad, to theBeth Israel Synagogue, to Talmud Torah School, and now itis home to another Jewish resident who will be able to give aJewish perspective to the MLA’s office, Brandon Jacoby.

Jacoby was recently hired by MLA Lorne Dach as his newConstituency Manager, which means on a day-to-day basisBrandon will have his fingers on the pulse of the communityand the entire McClung constituency. Jacoby’s background

in politics at every level,and experience withimmigration issues madehis hire an easy one, andthe fact that he is Jewish

and therefore able to help MLA Dach better understand thecommunity as a whole is a cherry on top.

Born in Thornhill, Brandon’s family history includes bothIsraeli Independence Day War veterans, and Holocaustsurvivors. After briefly flirting with the idea of teaching,Brandon transitioned into the world of politics, completing aBachelors of Arts Degree in Geographic Analysis with aMinor in Politics and then earning a Master’s Degree inImmigration and Settlement Studies. After showing hisresearch and thesis on voting patterns of ethnic and visibleminority groups to Olivia Chow in Toronto, Brandon washired and his political career began.

After securing a few contracts with the NDP and workingon a mayoral campaign in St. Catharines, Ontario,Brandon’s foray into Alberta politics began during the mostrecent provincial election. With the New Democrat’s OrangeCrush performing strong in early polls Brandon was hired ascampaign manager for the McCuaig-Boyd campaign wherehe helped her win on election day in her Northern Alberta

riding. Brandon says working with the NDP was an easychoice for him because social democracy plays a huge role inhis life, and what he believes in.

Now that he has moved to Edmonton, Brandon is lookingforward to the future and continuing to help keep McClungstrong and make sure that MLA Dach is well informed andeducated on community matters.

When asked about his initial perceptions on the Jewishcommunity in Edmonton Brandon said he found thecommunity to be very “accepting, accommodating, andwelcoming to him as a newcomer.” It’s a smaller, communitythan the one he grew up around in Toronto, but the size ofour community has made it closer and more tight nit. Heeven quipped that upon being introduced to him during a TuB’Shvat celebration, a few members of the community werequick to say in Fiddler style “we have just the girl for you!”His response was “I’m already engaged to a lovely Jewishgirl from Toronto, who will be joining me in Edmonton inMay.” Brandon’s fiancé Racelle is currently completing herMaster’s Degree of Social Work i in Toronto, but she islookingforward to making the move herself and joining thecommunity as well. Welcome to the community BrandonJacoby!

MLA Lorne Dach welcomesBrandon Jacoby

Page 6 Edmonton Jewish News February 9, 2016

Students attending the Talmud Torah Early Learning Centre have a great time of fun and learning both indoors and outside.

The Talmud Torah basketball team is having a great season of competition and team work.

Talmud Torah students celebrated Tu B'Shvat with a wonderful indoor picnic.

This month's update from Talmud Torah School

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(MyJewishLearning,com) - One of the greatestopportunities for creativity at a Jewish wedding is with thechuppah design. But what are the hard and fast rules?

MJL spoke with  Rabbi Micah Peltz  of Temple BethShalom in Cherry Hill, NJ, about what a chuppah needs. Hisverdict: it has to be open on four sides, and it needs to becovered on top. That’s it! A slanted or sloped chuppah is noproblem at all.

You might be wondering how there could be so fewrequirements for a chuppah. Jewish law is usually veryexacting and heavy on the details – this is certainly the casewhen it comes to the rules of building a sukkah, the otherreligiously-mandated structure that Jews construct. But thechuppah that we are familiar with today is a fairly modern

adaptation of an ancient concept, and this is probably thereason that it is not subject to many rules.

The chuppah symbolizes the new home that the bride andgroom will soon be starting together, and it is mentioned asfar back as the Bible, notably in Psalms 19:6, where the sunis compared to, “a groom coming forth from his huppah.” Butoriginally, the chuppah was, literally, the groom’s home, oroften a room attached to the groom’s family’s home, wherethe bride and groom would live and consummate themarriage.

Medieval scholars considered the chuppah a component ofthe wedding ceremony, not a physical entity. Still, there weredisagreements about whichcomponent exactly, with

some rabbinic authorities (such as the Tosafists) assertingthat the  veiling ceremony  constituted the chuppah, andothers (such as Maimonides) holding that it wasn’t until the

couple was alone together after the ceremony that thechuppah took place.

By the 16th century, though, the chuppah was understoodto be what we know it as today: some kind of fabric orcovering supported by four poles under which the Jewishwedding ceremony (erusin andnissuin) takes place.

Today, you can buy a chuppah online, commission onefrom a local artist, use one that’s owned by your synagogueor florist, or even make your own. There are plenty ofoptions, so make sure to choose something that will bespecial to you and your spouse-to-be. Mazel tov!

What are the rules for building a chuppah?

February 9, 2016 Edmonton Jewish News Page 7

Urban Retreat Body and Skincare Centre was recentlythe winner of a Top Choice Award for Best Beauty Spa inEdmonton for 2016! The accolade comes as no surprisebecause this wonderful day spa nestled in the heart of WolfWillow Shopping Centre in West Edmonton is truly one ofour city's gems. It was established in 2003 by owner anddirector Anita Prysko and was beautifully renovated andexpanded in 2007.

This Edmonton day spa offers a little piece of heaven onearth as a getaway from the hectic realities of daily life. Itmeasures over 3000 square feet and features  spaservices  and  spa packages  including: laser hair removaltreatments, manicure & pedicure nail treatments, massagetherapy, facials, waxing, lashes & brows,microdermabrasion, body treatments, makeup application,sublative skin rejuvenation, botox & fillers and spapackages.

They also carry dermalogica and other skincare products.The full team of professionals includes estheticians,registered massage therapists and laser technicians.

"We are happy to be part of this wonderful neighbourhoodand welcome our beloved regular customers as well as firsttime visitors to our spa," notes Prysko. "Urban Retreat

prides itself on a high level of expertise in all services and allstaff work together to achieve the very best experience forour clients."

If you want to make sure you have beautiful skin for yourspecial occasion, here are some tips you can follow to helprelieve the dry skin that comes from life in our harsh Albertaclimate. Bathe or shower using warm not hot water. Usefragrance-free body wash (without detergents) andmoisturizers.

Use ointment or cream instead of a lotion. Greatingredients to look for are shea butter, jojoba oil, lactic acid,urea and hyaluronic acid. Always carry hand cream andapply after handwashing, plus carry an effective lip balm,and apply it often. Wear gloves to protect your hands fromcold elements, water and harsh chemicals. Make sure yourhumidifier is working and sleep with a portable in yourroom.

Hydrate from the inside out, drink plenty of waterthroughout the day - at least eight glasses. Eat a diet rich inproteins, high in sulfur, vitamin A and vitamin C. Limitconsumption of alcohol and caffeine, as they zap the skin offluids and leads to dry skin.

If you are looking for a spa experience with a group offriends or for a special occasion - look no further. Well-located in Edmonton’s west end, Urban Retreat Spa is easilyaccessible for all clients. The spa welcomes individuals forservices and is also able to accommodate large parties forspecial occasions. The pedicure area has six shiatsu massagepedicure chairs with air jet tubs. The spa has a  fabuloussteam room available at your request and the lounge area iscomfortable for serving food and drinks or just relaxing.

"Come and see for yourself," invited Prysko. "We welcomeyour interest and will happily show you around! Please call780-481-2414  or come visit us in person at 6841- 170thStreet."

Welcome to Urban Retreat Day Spa

By Shoshanna Lockshin

(MyJewishLearning) - Of all the symbolic acts of a Jewishwedding, perhaps the most well-known and well-loved isbreaking the glass. After a series of blessings, the weddingceremony’s serious mood lifts when the groom stomps on a

glass - or, in some communities both bride and groom stomptogether. Then boom, shouts of mazel tov, the ceremony isover, and it’s time to get this party started!

As with many symbolic acts in Judaism, a host of reasonsare offered to explain why we break a glass (or two) at a

Jewish wedding. Here is a collection of some moderninterpretations. All of these are variants, in some way, of theidea that joy must always be tempered.

In planning their wedding ceremony, couples can asktheir officiant to mention, just before the breaking of the

glass, an interpretationthat resonates with them.Or they can write abouttheir interpretation ofchoice in a weddingprogram.

A common explanationis that breaking the glassis a symbol of thedestruction of the Templein Jerusalem. In keepingwith this interpretation,some couples recite the line

“If I forget thee o Jerusalem” just before the stomp. Thisbiblical line includes a pledge to “set Jerusalem above myhighest joy.”

Breaking the glass can remind a marrying couple that lifeholds sorrow as well as joy. Standing under their marriagecanopy a bride and groom are at the pinnacle of happiness;breaking the glass reminds them of their commitment toeach other also in future hard times.

A broken glass can symbolize what is broken in society. Atthis point in the ceremony, some couples choose to focus theirenergies and prayers on a specific kind of brokenness theywish to repair, for example social and economic inequality, ormarriage inequality.

A more mystical explanation is that the glass representsthe couple and that just as the glass, when it is broken,enters a state from which it will never emerge, it is the hopeof the community that this couple will never emerge fromtheir married state.

Similarly, this custom can be a reminder to the couple ofthe fragility of relationships – a cue to treat their marriagewith special care.

Shoshanna Lockshin is a former editor ofMyJewishLearning.com.

Breaking the glassat a Jewish wedding

by Valerie S. Thayer

(MyJewishLearning.com) - The symbols of the Jewishwedding ceremony are familiar to many North AmericanJews, regardless of their level of observance.The  chuppah  (bridal canopy),  ketubah  (Jewish marriagecontract), simple wedding band(s), and breaking of glass,among other things, distinguish a Jewish wedding from itsnon-Jewish counterpart. Add to these the presence of bothparents in the processional, klezmer or other Jewish music,and lifting the bride and groom high in the air on chairs, andour sense of simcha (festive celebration) becomes even moretangible.

Less familiar to many Jews, however, are the many“updates” of traditional Jewish wedding rituals that havebecome increasingly popular among brides and grooms. Anengaged Jewish couple has many options to choose from asthey plan their ceremony, some of which would have beenunheard of just 25 to 35 years ago.

At the core of these innovations is the advent of feminism,which has had a tremendous influence on Jewish lifecyclerituals. The wedding is no exception. The traditional notionof a groom “acquiring” his bride is particularly antithetical to

the ideals of more liberalJews, who champion anegalitarian mindset. As aresult, the last generation ofJewish newlyweds has

launched a re-visioning of certain symbols and rituals thatreflect this contemporary perspective.

While Orthodox and other traditional Jews generallyshun innovations in Jewish rituals, some modern weddingcustoms – such as adding a clause into the ketubah – arewithin the bounds of traditional Jewish law. Otheregalitarian innovations – such as transforming the ketubahinto a statement of love and commitment – are not.

The ketubah is a good place to start a survey of theseinnovations. The text of the traditional ketubah, which hasstayed largely the same for centuries, is entirely legalistic.There is no mention of G-d, love, or romance. Signed by twowitnesses, the contract verifies that the groom has acquiredthe bride and agrees to provide for her, and includes a lien tobe paid by the groom in the case of a divorce. The brideaccepts the arrangement.

Since the 1970s, Jewish couples have dealt with theselimitations on the woman’s role in a variety of ways. Somemaintain the traditional Aramaic ketubah text but add aclause that uses financial incentives to encourage thehusband to grant the wife a religious divorce in the eventthat the marriage ends. Others maintain the Aramaic textbut choose their own English text that describes the home

they want tobuild together orthe nature of thelove they share.Still othercouples composetheir ownketubot inEnglish andHebrew inaccordance withthe values theywant to governtheir marriage.

M u l t i p l eoptions alsoexist for thosecouples whochoose not to follow the traditional requirement thatwitnesses be Jewish men.

Today’s ketubot also differ from those of [immediately]past generations in regard to their artistry. Many modern-day brides and grooms choose their ketubot from “galleries,”both real and virtual. Some design their own ketubot withtreasured symbols, or commission a Jewish artist to do it forthem. Far from a piece of paper kept in a drawer forsafekeeping, today’s ketubot are typically adorned, framed,and prominently displayed in Jewish homes.

Ketubah: Legal contract or adeclaration of love?

Page 8 Edmonton Jewish News February 9, 2016

February 9, 2016 Edmonton Jewish News Page 9

By Beth Ain

(Kveller via JTA) — I took my first baby steps into batmitzvah planning this week, and I had a lot of feelings — butmostly a twinge of nostalgia. Somehow a girl who was once atoddler with a furrowed brow, a desperate love of Little Bear,and a staying asleep problem is going to lead an entireweekend of Shabbat services and later, an entire evening ofhors d’oeuvres and hora dancing. 

Did I mention I am — ahem — planning for a weekendthat is a year and a half in the future? I know. I’ve got time.This is all insane.

What I do not have, and which I very much expected tohave, are mixed feelings about throwing a big party tocelebrate the occasion. A quick Google search about b’neimitzvah planning reveals comment sections so fierce (anddefensive and judgmental), I thought for a moment I hadaccidentally time traveled back to 2005, when Urban Babyposts and the anonymous moms whose persistent debatesabout nursing versus formula haunted my every thought.

This is something else, though. This is not formula orbreast milk, work at home or stay at home. This is about asimcha — a celebration. And you know what? We just don’tget that many of those.

Lately, I’ve heard a lot of bad news. Lately, very youngmothers are getting breast cancer diagnoses. Lately, I lost anuncle far too soon. Lately, a wonderful 40-somethinghusband and father in my town dropped dead — smack inthe middle of his life. So lately, I’ve been thinking we shouldgather together more often, in large groups, and hoist peopleup on chairs just so we can make our faces hurt with smilesand feel the pinches of our aunts and our uncles.

Lately I’ve also been missing childhood and the thingsabout it that stand out for me. One of those things is my ownbat mitzvah party. I suppose for 1980s semi-ruralPennsylvania, having a Saturday night affair was maybe alittle bit extravagant, my mom’s party planning prowess put

to the test by the advent oftacky '80s things —managing the balloons-inside-balloons trend withgreat sense and style.

I also remember ridingmy bike to the cantor’shouse, his wife fumblingaround in the kitchen whilehe and I went over and over"Song of Songs" and wherehe taught me not just thewords and the tune but themeaning. To me, this manand his thick Yiddish accentactually embodied meaningand Torah and the history that no balloon-inside-ballooncenterpieces could ever take that away — but OK, theymight just add to it.

Because I also remember having all of my relatives therefor the service and later for the party, all of them — dancingand smiling and smelling like themselves — cologne andmaybe hints of cigar on some, vodka and red lipstick onothers. So many of them are gone. My grandparents, mygreat-aunts and -uncles and now, even my own maternaluncle, who played his guitar on the bimah after theHavdalah service was over, and whose presence that day andlater at my various graduations and my wedding wasimportant and the memories lasting.

We can debate what a party is worth, what it should cost,if you should take a trip to Israel instead, have a littlekiddush luncheon and call it a day. It’s all good. It’s allwonderful. There are so many ways to mark an importantmilestone — klezmer music and high heels is only one ofthem. What bothers me is when one’s values are called intoquestion because you want the whole shebang.

I’m guilty of it myself. It’s a wedding for a 13-year-old,people might say. Well, sure. The same way a wedding is forthe bride and the groom, I suppose that’s true. But how canwe say that the wedding isn’t also for the parents of the brideand the groom, the grandparents, the college friends andcamp friends who only get to be all in one place so manytimes in life — and let’s be honest, as we get a little older, not

all of those times are good times. Every other day in life is aseries of piecing people together — a dinner date here, abirthday brunch there, a holiday card sent to the farawaypeople and places when you wish you could send for theminstead.

The truth is, I don’t know yet what kind of party I willthrow for my daughter’s bat mitzvah. I’m feeling it out. I onlywant it to be a moment where we live in the present and inmemory at once — preserving the smell of people and the feelof them pinching your cheeks, and squeezing your hand andmaybe drinking too much, opening up too much. (Perhapsyour uncle will even hook up with your cousin on the otherside of the family — I’m not saying that did happen; I’m justsaying it could.) It’s OK to throw a party. It’s OK not to. Justlet people have their simchas, however they want to havethem. No comments.

One last thing about my bat mitzvah, though. Most ofwhat you need to know about my mother is that she quotedboth Robert F. Kennedy and “Ferris Bueller” on the bimahthat day, and the latter is the one that stays with me: Lifemoves pretty fast — if you don’t stop and look around once ina while, you might miss it.

Beth Ain is a children's book author and creator of the"Starring Jules" chapter book series published by Scholastic.Learn more about Beth and her books at bethain.com. Kvelleris a thriving community of women and parents who conveneonline to share, celebrate and commiserate their experiencesof raising kids through a Jewish lens. Visit Kveller.com.

In defense of the bigBar/Bat Mitzvah party

Whether it's for a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah, professional photos reallyadd to the celebration. Photo by Fred Katz Fine Art Photography

by Jared Paull

Never let a wedding videographer`s confidence fool you.The service itself is relatively very young, and we areconstantly inventing the medium as we go. Furthermore,folks don't always know what they are seeking from this typeof service. One thing is certain, the expectations are high.Couples want the events properly documented, and with theaccessibility of inexpensive HD equipment, there is noreason why it can't have the look of a Hollywood movie. I cantell you one thing; there is no tougher Executive Producerthan a Bride, and no tougher shoot than a wedding.

The exciting thing from an artistic perspective is that

before the videographerseven arrive, there havebeen tens of thousands ofbudget dollars put towardsset design, props, makeup

and wardrobe to create a sensational world to capture. Also,there is no need for contrived emotion, because all of our keyplayers are experiencing something genuine and exciting.

When our company began creating wedding videos, weneeded a way to separate ourselves stylistically, so thatpotential shoppers would see our work, and need to have it.Our company is very versatile. In a normal week, it is verypossible that we will be working on a television commercialat the same time as a safety and orientation video, or a musicvideo, or webcasting events around the world.

Style has always been a derivative of the function of ourwork. So when creating a style for our product `weddingvideo`, we created the term `romantic, cinematic,

documentary`. This term has driven the style of our weddingvideos for the past 5 years. The ̀ romance` is derived from thesubject matter, so that our narrative is always about love.Our `look` is cinematic, meaning the shots are alwayscarefully composed, with broadcast quality cameras, andmovement tools such as stabilizers and dollys- the very sameequipment used in our TV commercials. The `documentary`aspect is our capture style. Our shooters act as flies on thewall, not interfering with the event, but documenting it. Wedon’t create beautiful moments; we skillfully capture them,and present them romantically and cinematically.

The biggest trick to succeeding in this industry is rightthere in our company name - you`ve got to be a Mensch. Ioften remind couples when choosing photographers andvideographers that the most important thing is to picksomebody you wouldn’t mind having around you on the mostimportant day of your life.

We are five years into this business, which has taken on alife of its own by now, but it wouldn’t have without a lot ofsupport from our community, many of whom gave us a shotbefore we had much professional experience. It is not lost onme that the Editor of this newspaper, Deb Shatz gave me myfirst videography gig at the age of 9. I haven’t put the cameradown since. Go to reelmensch.com to keep tabs on our workor like Reel Mensch Productions on facebook.

Jared Paull is president of Reel Mensch Productions.

Reel Mensch: Event videographywith documentary sensibility

Page 10 Edmonton Jewish News February 9, 2016

February 9, 2016 Edmonton Jewish News Page 11

by Deborah Shatz

(EJNews) - Ben Gurion said that in order to be a realistyou have to believe in miracles. That is true for the story ofIsrael and it is particularly true for the story of the Arava,explained Hanni Arnon, Director of the Arava InternationalCentre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) situated in thesouthern part of Israel. Arnon and her agronomist husbandMoti were guests at a JNF (Jewish National Fund)sponsored event in Edmonton on January 31 as part of across Canada tour.

The reality and the miracle of the Arava is that throughhard work, innovation and the pioneer spirit, AICAT hasmade the desert a viable centre of agriculture.  Thirty yearsago, the mission of the Arava was to make the desert bloom.Today, thanks to a JNF partnership with Arava and thegovernment of Israel, the region provides 60 percent of thecountry's exportable produce - including peppers, eggplants,melons, dates, flowers and grapes.

The Arava is located 80 miles from Eilat right in the heartof the desert. It became the centre of Israel's drip irrigationinnovation that was the foundation of the agriculturalphenomenon. "We saw a difficulty in our location,"emphasized Arnon, "and we thought of it as a challenge andturned it into an opportunity and a solution."

“We then decided that sharing our knowledge would be of

utmost importance,”continued Arnon. “Nearly1/2 of the world's population- some 3 billion people - livein poverty and we have theknowhow to help.  In 1994we decided to open a schooland AICAT was establishedwith a mission of bringing instudents fromunderdeveloped regions.”

Today the program hasflourished and more than 14000 students have graduated –from countries that include Thailand, Miramar, India,Nepal, Tibet and Vietnam. Each year, under a single roof,with a multitude of cultures and shared human attributes,students receive professional agricultural training and live aunique experience that enables them to discover theircapabilities and the means for fulfilling their potential.

Each student is assigned to a farmer from the area andthe farmers become more than bosses – they are teachers,mentors and new family members.

“Students arrive in Israel from all over the world and thefarmers become their mentors, their inspiration, their familyaway from home,” noted Arnon. “As the plants grow anddevelop, so do the students.”

Part of their journey is to work with the farmers and theyare paid for their work. They also learn how to think outsidethe box and how to apply the information they are learningto their home communities. The experience istransformational, said Arnon. "They arrive as students butthey go back as entrepreneurs."

The students are taught to think critically, not just toaccept the way things have always been done but to lookwith fresh eyes using modern technology, as to how thingscould be better.

Each student returns to his or her home community with$2000 US and a business plan they can implement at home.

This sharing of knowledge, inspiration and innovation isTikkun Olam, said Arnon, which translates to healing the

world. "We are inspiring our students to make a difference intheir own communities and our results have beenoverwhelmingly positive."

The AICAT program has expanded to include researchand development into Bio-Bee technology and pharmacologyresearch with regard to plants that grow in the desert. Theyare also currently expanding to include a Masters Degreeprogram in Plant Sciences at Tel Aviv University specializingin Food Safety and Food Security. This program will play animportant role in ensuring the safety and security of worldfood production.

During the Q and A following Arnon's presentation, amember of the audience voiced his opinion that it was sadthat AICAT was passing on so much knowledge andinnovation to people who were not Jewish, not Israeli andeven with some countries who do not have diplomatic ties toIsrael.

Arnon however, strongly disagreed with the remark. Shesaid, "No I don't find it sad at all! We graduate 1200 studentsfrom around the world each year and they have becomewonderful ambassadors for Israel and in some cases haveeven prompted the establishment of diplomatic ties.

"Through our work and our school we are helping manypeople and many countries and also helping to improve theworld's opinion of Israel. More and more people are learningabout all the good work that is being done in Israel - andArava and JNF are an important part of it."

For more information about JNF, visit jnfedmonton.ca orcall Jay Cairns at 780-481-7881.

Israel: Feeding the world through JNF and AICAT

Hanni Arnon, Director of AICAT (centre) with husband agronomist Moti Arnonand Jeff Rubin, President of JNF Edmonton Board of Directors.

Hannah Pollock with Hanni Arnon

Page 12 Edmonton Jewish News February 9, 2016

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