A message from Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO Jewish Federation of Edmonton

By Stacey Leavitt-Wright

(Edmonton) – For over 30 years, the Jewish Federation of Edmonton has organized and hosted the Israel Pavilion at Heritage Festival. As a newcomer, I first started volunteering when my eldest daughter began dancing with the Aviv dancers. This was a wonderful way to meet other community members.

Over the course of two days last year, we had over 10,000 people visit our pavilion, and 99.9 percent of these engagements were positive. While the festival continues to evolve, we have adjusted as well. The one constant is that we can showcase our rich cultural heritage and traditions to the wider community, fostering understanding and building bridges between different cultures.

In a time of rising antisemitism and misinformation about Israel, we have the chance to showcase through food, dance, and cultural displays our solidarity with Israel publicly. It is empowering and deeply rewarding to see how people are in awe of the dancers, show curiosity about sites depicted on our tent panels and enjoy shopping at our “mini shuk” with merchandise straight from Israel.

The Shiru HaShir dancers and Aviv dancers have been preparing their shows. Vish Edmonton has finalized a delicious menu and we will have a robust marketplace and an archaeological dig inside the tent. Security planning is well underway, and we have been planning with law enforcement and Heritage Festival leadership to ensure community concerns are being addressed.

As we approach the upcoming Heritage Festival, I urge each of you to consider volunteering at our Israel Pavilion. This event provides a unique opportunity for us to dispel misconceptions and promote unity. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and showcase the best of our community for all those who attend.

Stacey Leavitt-Wright is CEO, Jewish Federation of Edmonton.