From the Promised Land to the Prairies: How one Israeli family hopes to keep Calgary their home

by Jana Zalmanowitz

(AJNews) – It’s been over two years since the horrors of October 7, 2023 shattered the lives of many Israelis. Since that time, some have made the choice to leave Israel, while rebuilding and finding an identity here in Alberta. This series examines the reasons they left and what being in Alberta has meant to their Jewish identity.

Shiri Lupovici arrived in Calgary in March 2024 with her husband and three of her four children. Shiri was born in Israel, a proud Israeli granddaughter to Holocaust survivors, and she never thought she would leave. “I raised my kids from when they were really young, that Israel is the only place for Jews and we will never ever leave it, ” she explains.

But starting even before October 7, for the first time, Shiri was feeling differently about her homeland. “I just felt it was heavy. The gaps between opinions were getting more and more noticeable. I saw the country I love so much changing before my eyes and it was not the same as the country I was born in.”

Shiri had never been to Canada before she and her husband came to Calgary for a few days in the summer of 2023. They figured they would check out the city and carry on to Toronto if it felt right. They never took that flight to Toronto. “We liked Calgary for a lot of reasons. It’s surrounded by nature. I felt before like I just couldn’t breathe so one of the things I was looking for was open spaces where I could go for walks. The mountains are just an hour away. It’s amazing. I love it.” Shiri and her husband had also heard there was a high-tech scene in Calgary which sounded promising for employment as Shiri works as a software developer and her husband, as a hardware engineer. Although it’s not as robust as Toronto and Vancouver, the idea of more affordable housing put Calgary as a front runner.

Shiri’s family did not take their move lightly. “It’s a very big move to leave everything. We didn’t have anything. No friends, no family, no jobs. We sold our house, gave everything away and came with just a few suitcases,” she explains. In addition, her oldest son had been called to the army and he stayed behind to serve. Shiri describes that her son was at first angry at his parents’ decision to leave but has come around to understand their reasons more.

Since arriving, the whole family has worked hard to build a new life and connections. It took time to find work but after a year, Shiri and her husband were both employed in their fields. Shiri’s younger children attend public school with other kids in their neighbourhood. Her older daughter has joined Hillel and made many Jewish friends. Shiri and her husband connect with other Calgarian Jews and Israelis via WhatsApp groups where they are able to help one another navigate.

The family is making every effort to embrace their life in a new country. “We came here with the state of mind that we’re going to be Canadians. Jewish Canadians.” Many might think that means the challenges of adjusting to Canadian winters.  Shiri insists she doesn’t mind the cooler temperatures. It’s the Jewish part of that statement where the family has had to put in more work. “You have to try harder to be Jewish here. You don’t really feel the holidays at all unless you put an effort into celebrating them.” This year, Shiri’s family joined a synagogue for the first time and went for Rosh Hashana. “It’s kind of funny that I never went to synagogue before but here I do. Being in Canada kind of got me closer to being Jewish,” she laughs. She describes how her daughter particularly showed her pride in being Jewish last December, decorating her school Christmas sweater with a big Star of David. “She now really emphasizes her Jewishness,” Shiri says proudly.

Shiri says her family has no regrets about the move but there looms a bigger challenge than what they faced with starting over when they came.  “Our current concerns are not with everyday life. That we’ve figured out already. We are looking forward to the future but the current issue is permanent residency.” Shiri’s family came on a three-year work permit that was granted to those leaving Israel and Gaza due to the war. Once those three years are over, they must find a way to stay. “It’s not a great situation. It seems there are Jewish communities who help Jewish families to get nomination for permanent residency, but there is no such thing here. We kind of need a miracle.” She explains that many Israelis she has connected with while living here share the same concerns. They have come to love Jewish life in Alberta and are looking for a way to stay.

When asked if there is anything she misses, there is the obvious response of missing friends and family who are still in Israel. She especially misses her son who stayed there and it’s hard to be apart. Shiri says she also misses the beach, but she’s found ways to substitute. The family moved to one of Calgary’s lake communities so they have water access. They also spend a lot of time in Fish Creek and while it’s not the same as the sea, Shiri is happy to trade it for the calm of Calgary. The first question her children asked upon seeing their new home is “Where is the shelter?”. They were shocked at the lack of security around their school and they continued to jump to action at loud sounds like a motorcycle backfiring. Shiri sees in Alberta that the calm is not something to take for granted. “I think everyone living in peace should be thankful every morning. I know I am.”

Jana Zalmanowitz is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Alberta Jewish News.