Beth Israel Congregation celebrates silver anniversary in Edmonton

By Regan Lipes

(AJNews) – A shul is the foundation for any Jewish community. It is a place to worship, to celebrate simchot, to comfort one another, to mark the significant dates of the Jewish calendar year, and sometimes just to gather with friends and mingle. In Edmonton, Beth Israel Synagogue, like any house of prayer, felt its rooms and spaces emptier during COVID. The term ‘new normal’ saturated media as students returned to schools and the world attempted desperately to revitalize a form of human interaction not dependent on virtual platforms. Even still, people got very used to staying at home, and living a more isolated existence became less extraordinary. Congregants who prior to COVID attended sporadically may not have renewed their memberships right away, and it took a while to reinvigorate the shul and bring back congregants. Regardless of the reason the community is still situating itself into its ‘new normal.’

No two community members have done more to revitalize the sense of togetherness and shul-family than Rhonda Eidelman and Philip Kirman. Beth Israel is proud to honour these two exceptional people at their gala on August 17. “The last three years now, Philip and Rhonda have been spearheading the kiddush lunches. We can always count on Philip and Rhonda being here on Thursday night and Friday morning to prepare the kiddush and also put it out Shabbat morning. We wanted to thank them and also honour their volunteer commitment,” explained Beth Israel’s President, Shane Asbell during an in-person meeting at the shul. “I could go on at length about Philip as a VP and all he does here for every aspect of the shul’s operations,” he smiled. “A couple of years ago Dr. Rabbi Hartley Perlmutter gave the Yom Kippur appeal address, and he spoke so well about the importance of a synagogue for the community and that it’s not called Beit Tefillah a house of prayer, or Beit Midrash a house of study, it’s Beit Knesset which means a house of gathering. Really the shul is about socialization, it’s about connections, about building relationships. Especially coming out of COVID a few years ago to have the weekly kiddush, a very nice kiddush, tasty, lots of food, that has really helped to grow the shul,” Asbell elaborated. “If you feed them, they will come,” Eidelman interjected musingly.

On average the dynamic Eidelman-Kirman duo feed approximately one hundred shulgoers each Shabbos. “If the weather is good, or if there’s a simcha then there might be two hundred or more,” calculated Eidelman. “Nobody goes hungry,” she added emphatically. Eidelman, who was honoured for her career of service to Jewish Family Services of Edmonton in a luncheon in September of 2024, has spent her life feeding and caring for those around her. “My mom did kosher catering from home, and I had uncles who owned delicatessens, so whenever I’m cooking, I always count things out. I need to know that if I used however many packages of egg roll wrappers to make a hundred rolls, then I’ll need to double it for next time.” Eidelman explained that it is less about a recipe and more about the process of cooking. “If you can stand the wooden spoon up in the latka batter then it’s good; if the spoon falls over then you need to add more flour.”

For Kirman, a mild-mannered lawyer by day, and superhero kitchen star by the latter half of the week, recipes play a special role. “I was born and raised in Edmonton, and I remember going to Beth Israel as a child at the old location,” explained Kirman. After his mother, Barbara (OBM) passed away, Kirman found himself going through her cookbooks. He admits to not being anything close to a culinary aficionado prior to this, but after he began to try to recreate some of the dishes his mother had served to fill hungry bellies and satiate salivating mouths, he found he had inherited her flare for flavour. Kirman had not been a regular shulgoer, but began to reconnect with the congregation of his childhood, and before long he was given the keys to the kingdom – quite literally. “I may not have the key to the cabinet where we keep the good stuff,” said Eidelman with a mischievous smile, “but I know who does!”

Jokes aside, Eidelman and Kirman coordinate nothing short of spectacular each week, and after everyone goes home for a Shabbos schluf, they are already beginning to think of doing it all again. Food brings people together, and what better locale to gather than in a place where traditions and heritage unite as prayer and worship sooth the soul. This year also marks the twenty-fifth birthday of the current Beth Israel building. As Asbell explained, no matter how glorious the building is, after a certain amount of time maintenance is necessary. This year, the funds raised by the gala will go towards essential facilities renovations. In phone interview with AJNews, Past-President, Dr. Eric Schloss remembered all the hours of planning and debating that went into the designs for the current Beth Israel location. Dr. Schloss’ late wife, Elexis (OBM), was the visionary behind the interior and exterior designs for the building. Dr. Schloss still remembers a planning meeting that was hosted at their home. “We have a wonderful picture of it. Elexis had made T-shirts for everyone with the word ‘if you build it, they will come’ across the front,” he recalled. “I’m pretty sure that pictures is hanging in the shul somewhere.” And build it they did – just as Elexis Schloss imagined it. A woman who touched so many lives with generosity and kindness, also leaves behind a vital structure to unite the Jewish community of Edmonton. “It’s a really magnificent synagogue,” concluded Dr. Schloss. “Elexis did an incredible job.”

Eidelman and Kirman will not be expected to cook for their own gala. “We will have full catering for the event prepared by Eddie. It’s going to be delicious and there will be variety to satisfy all guests,” said Asbell. “And of course there will be wine.” He added quickly. “And maybe something a little stronger too,” interjected Eidelman with a chuckle. Thanks to catering powerhouse Eddie Yedgarov, both Eidelman and Kirman can fully take the night off and bask in the celebration. No gala would be complete without entertainment, and the planning committee found a truly unique performer for the occasion. Saskatoon-based magician extraordinaire Matt Gore will be the feature performer for the evening’s proceedings. Dubbed ‘The Ginger Ninja’ his brand of whimsey is sure to spark joy as he circulates through the dining room throughout the meal and then takes to the bimah turned stage for a full act!

Volunteers are working hard to make this year’s Beth Israel Synagogue Gala an unforgettable affair. What better reasons to buy a ticket and come out for a delicious meal and hearty laughs than to celebrate two exceptional community members while contributing to revitalizing the durability of the shul building? Anyone who takes a quick nosh or a heartier helping during kiddush knows what it is that Eidelman and Kirman give to the community each week. It is not just their time, and it is not only their energy – it is their soul. If the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, as the old adage claims, then Rhonda Eidelman and Philip Kirman have certainly captured the hearts of the Edmonton Jewish community.

The Gala Celebration for the Beth Israel Building’s Silver Anniversary will be held on August 17.  Click here for ticket and sponsorship information. 

Regan Lipes is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter in Edmonton.