February 1, 2019 | 26 Sh'vat 5779

Did you know that February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) ? Federation has organized an information session for parents and caregivers: Achieving Quality Inclusive Education on Tuesday, February 5 from 6:30 to 9:00pm at Temple B'nai Tikvah . Guest speaker, Donna Barret has vast experience in leading inclusive education a s a superintendent, school principal, teacher, and consultant. She will be addressing what a quality inclusive education looks like including adapting curriculum and instruction, facilitating friendships at school, knowing your rights, and how funding works. In partnership with Inclusion Alberta and Temple B'nai Tikvah. Please email Karina Szulc or call 403-444-3158 to register for this free information session.

A special ceremony was held on January 27 to rename Akiva Academy , the Halpern Akiva Academy . Siblings Shelley Zimmerman, Nelson Halpern, and Jackie Halpern have ensured the school will continue to be financially stable. In addition, Nelson and Debbie Halpern are leaving an endowment fund to the school as part of Calgary Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY initiative. If you would like more information about how you can leave a legacy in Jewish Calgary, please email Diana Kalef .

In mid-January, the Azrieli Foundation and the Claims Conference released an alarming report that found, among other things, that 54% of Canadians did not know that six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust . Ilana Krygier Lapides , Director of Programming for Holocaust and Human Rights Education at Calgary Jewish Federation , was called upon to conduct multiple interviews following the release of this disconcerting study. Tune in to CBC Radio1 and listen to Ilana and Doug Dirks of the Homestretch talk about the results of the study , the critical gaps in Canadians' knowledge, and a compelling call to action.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day came into being when the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 2005 which, at the time, marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz . Federation commemorated the event this year with programming during the day and evening, as well as participation in the #We Remember campaign in partnership with World Jewish Congress and The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs . Photos from the day were posted on social media and trended internationally.  Learn more about the We Remember initiative.