Edmonton Jewish Senior Citizen’s Centre: Friendship, fun and fabulous programs

By Svetlana Pavlenko and Elaine Salkie

(AJNews) – What do you know about our Jewish Senior Citizen’s Centre?

Have you heard about our delicious lunches and take-out food options or about our amazing fitness classes? Do you know about our amazing range of intellectually stimulating classes and lectures, friendly atmosphere and trips.

You are not too young to join. Our members range in age from 52 to 100 and it is time to break the stereotype that the Centre is only for old people because we offer fun, friendship and unique programs and activities for people of all ages to enjoy. Why not ask us for a copy of our bi-monthly newsletter or better still join us for lunch one day and see for yourself what we have to offer?

Our International Women’s Day celebration was a great success! We would like to thank our amazing guest speaker Sarah Amato and the beautiful Royal Canadian Artillery Band that made this holiday very special. Our wonderful volunteers set the room and tables in a very festive way!

Purim at the Centre is always fun! This year Rabbi Mendy started our celebration by sharing insights about the holiday, followed by our funny and original Purimspiel, produced by long-time member Beryl Nahornick and then a delicious Purim lunch complete with Hamantaschen produced by our chef Daniella Drisdell.

Interested in travel? From time to time, you can join our experienced travellers who will share with you their experiences in and tips about countries they visited. You have a chance to join Lynnette and travel through Asia on Tuesdays, April 8 and May 13 at 1 p.m. Come early, at noon, because before these talks we will serve an Asian lunch (kosher of course) to complete the experience.

Perhaps, you know people who want to practice their Yiddish or Russian languages. Join our Zoom Mamaloshen Club every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. or come and participate in Russian language programming every Wednesday at noon.

Our Not Boring Book Club facilitated by talented Edmonton writer Debby Waldman meets on Zoom every second Wednesday of the month. Debby often arranges for special guest writers to speak at these meetings. On April 9 at 10 a.m. Israeli writer Ayelet Tsabari, author of “Song for the Brokenhearted” will join. Please note that in order to join our Book Club, you need to be a member of our Centre.

We have been collaborating with the Edmonton Indigenous community through the project From Survival to Thrival: Shared Historical Experiences since 2017. We hosted many interesting events such as “Growing Up in Edmonton” – historical panels, a number of poetry presentations with talented Indigenous writers, special gathering at the kihcihkaw askî – Sacred Land – the place of “Spirit of Peace, Friendship, and Respect.” We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Canadian Heritage the Government of Canada, which made it possible for us to develop, organize, and implement experiences that foster learning, sharing and mutual understanding of each other.

On April 28 and 29 we will welcome to the Centre a very special guest, Professor Dessa Sadovnick from the University of British Columbia to deliver two lectures focusing on Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. Please sign up and join us for lunch at 12 p.m. followed by the lectures at 1 p.m.

Are you a big movie fan?  We will host a new five-week course “Hitchcock’s Masterpieces” with George Melnyk, Professor Emeritus of the University of Calgary, this May. You will have a chance to see the Hitchcock movies, enjoy lunch and join a Zoom lecture-discussion afterwards. Also, you can join us and enjoy Afternoon Movies (with popcorn) at the Centre, then participate in discussions facilitated by our President Sam Koplowicz.

On Sunday, April 27 at 10 a.m. we will be screening “Origin” (2 hours 21 minutes), a 2023 biographical drama film based on the life of Isabel Wilkerson. The film, written and directed by Ava DuVernay (Oskar Nominee) looks at the caste system in the USA, Germany and India. The President of Congress of Black Women of Canada: Edmonton Chapter Shirley Allder will facilitate a discussion after.

Our membership is only $35 per year (September 1 till August 31) but it can change your life! Bring your children, friends or foes to the Centre – every person will find something special!

Just try our programs and lunches and meet caring and loving people at the Centre who will boost your energy and lighten your day! We are very grateful for our amazing volunteers who make your time at the Centre very enjoyable and memorable!

Please call us 780-488-4241 or email programmer@jdicseniors.ca for more information. See you at the Centre!