Edmonton UJA campaign launches with a joyful event that celebrates Jewish culture and community

By Deborah Shatz

(AJNews) – The Edmonton 2026 UJA launch was a joyful event that celebrated Jewish culture and community. It went beyond the need for security and featured a fireside chat with Edmonton Oiler Zach Hyman, an acclaimed hockey player – an Edmonton Oiler – who is proudly Jewish. He wears the number 18 on his jersey – much to the delight of the entire Edmonton Jewish Community. There is also a coveted jersey in circulation with his Hebrew name on the back.

His delightful conversation with former sports anchor and community leader Lisa Miller was engaging and uplifting and reminded the sold-out crowd about the importance of Jewish Pride.

Replying to Lisa’s relaxed questions, Zach discussed his Jewish upbringing and his Jewish values. His demeaner was relaxed, calm and charming as he regaled stories about his family life in Toronto, attending Jewish Day School through High School, participating in Jewish community events in Toronto and the Maccabiah Games. We learned that his parents taught him to value Jewish education, family, friendships and community. He told the community that basically he was and still is a Jewish kid who plays hockey.

He’s a local hero to the Edmonton Jewish community and to most in the community at large. And he’s openly Jewish; community is important to him. Jewish culture is important to him. In his first season with the Oilers, he participated in the Edmonton Giant Menorah lighting, hosted by Chabad of Edmonton. He told the Edmonton UJA audience that his main charity event is a golf game – not because he’s great at golf but because his friends are and it’s a great activity to bring them together. The beneficiaries of his charity golf tournament are the Jewish Federation of Toronto (his home town), Sick Kids Hospital, Jewish Federation of Edmonton and the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

He told the crowd that moving to Edmonton was the best decision that he and his wife made. Sure there was the obvious draw of playing with world class NHL teammates McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins and others but he let each one of us believe that the strength of our Jewish community had something to do with it. It was like a challenge for each of us to do better and we all left the hall with a smile on our faces.

Earlier in the evening, Jewish Federation of Edmonton CEO Stacey Leavitt-Wright spoke about the anti-Israel protest and alleged knife attack that took place on the grounds of the Edmonton Heritage Festival this summer. She commended the performers and volunteers who demonstrated resilience and cultural pride by continuing to perform despite the angry crowd. Leavitt-Wright invited the dancers and volunteers to the stage, and each one was congratulated by Zach Hyman and they received a heart-felt round of applause from the audience.

UJA co-chairs Josh Raisman and Farrel Shadlyn spoke about the importance of giving to the UJA. Francie and Jon Nobleman were announced as this year’s recipients of the Kavod Award. They were awarded this honour in recognition for their decades long dedication to serving the Jewish community of Edmonton. Highlights included Francie’s outstanding contributions to Temple Beth Ora, Beth Shalom, Talmud Torah, Mitzvah Day and others and Jon’s unwavering impact to Friends of JNF Canada, TBO, Federation’s PartnershipTogether and the Jewish Free Loan Society to name a few. They are both always ready to lend a hand where it’s needed and to work hard to solicit help from others. They are true menches in our community and very deserving of the honour.

For decades, Jon and Francie have been active leaders in the Edmonton Jewish Community because they believe strongly in supporting the community and the organizations that help sustain Jewish life both locally and abroad.

“It’s up to us to support Jewish causes,” says Francie, “because nobody else is going to do it.”