HAA students take part in Community Speaker Series

By Halpern Akiva Academy students: Avital S., Abigail B., Tahel R.

(Calgary) – At Halpern Akiva Academy, Junior High students took part in a community speaker series, allowing them to be introduced to many different educational experiences throughout the school year, involving a great variety of topics. Some of these topics include the importance on Jews taking part in politics, the tasks of the Chevra Kadisha, the actions to take during emergencies, and the experiences of an IDF soldier.

Emile Scheffel, from the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) program, volunteered to come to Akiva Academy to educate students from Grades 5 to 9 about the importance of Jewish people taking part in politics and making their voices heard. In our opinion, this presentation really opened our minds to all of the different positions that can be taken in politics to increase the Jewish voice in government.

Harold Lipton and Susan Dvorkin, volunteers at the Chevra Kadisha, also came to Akiva Academy to teach Grades 5 to 9 students about the cleansing and preparation of dead bodies. This helped students realize, without invading anybody’s privacy, how important it is to respect and properly treat the deceased.

A retired police dispatcher, Marcy Fialkow, whose daughter graduated from Halpern Akiva Academy, also visited the school. She explained how important it is to know how to act during emergencies.

Akiva Academy alumnus, Adeev Segal, an IDF soldier, spoke to the school through Zoom. He shared his experience in the IDF, and kept the students interested with funny stories along the way. He also showed his army uniform and badges.

Marni Bondar and Dalia Libin shared their grandparents’ experiences during the Holocaust. They helped the students find the beauty and inspiration during challenging times.

In conclusion, Akiva Academy has had many speakers with a variety of jobs volunteer to educate students about various different topics. All of them have been very interesting, informative and really enjoyed by all!