Dear Community Members,

December 16th marks the beginning of a month full of festivities for Winnipeg’s Jewish community. I would like to personally invite you to join Federation, along with our many communal partners, at a special celebration to light the first Chanukah candle as a community at the Asper Community Campus in the Kanee Foyer. The event begins at 4:00 pm and includes activities for all ages including free sufganiot and olive oil tasting followed by the lighting of the giant chanukiah (Chanukah candelabra) at 5:00 pm.

December is also the time when Federation’s Combined Jewish Appeal team is hard at work contacting members of the community with respect to the annual CJA campaign. As most of you already know, the campaign raises funds for local, national, Israeli and overseas needs, with most of the funds staying right here in Winnipeg, helping people through our partner agencies to connect to community and Jewish Life. This year in particular we should all find inspiration in the growing number of new donors to the annual campaign. For the first time in a few years, we have a positive net number of new donors – over 130! Even more encouraging is the participation that we have seen in the 25-45 age group, with a record 76 new Young Adult Division donors to date. We feel very good about achieving the objective of increased participation in our community.

The campaign, however, cannot meet its financial goal without your support. As a donor to the Combined Jewish Appeal you are sending an important message to those around you that community is important! To ensure you receive a 2014 tax receipt, please make your donation to the CJA before December 31 at noon by calling 204.477.7428 or donating online here. 

December is also a busy month for our partner agencies, with a wide range of activities for all ages. Below is a ‘taste’ of what the Chanukah season is bringing us in Winnipeg:

• Camp Massad Winter Camp | Dec. 21-23 | Camp Assiniboia | Register today at campmassad.ca or call 204-477-7487 | Winter sports, adventures, schtick and the ruach of Camp Massad!
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• Rady JCC’s Annual Chanukah Celebration: Chanukah Fever Family Concert with the Mama Doni Band | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 11:00 am in the Berney Theatre | Asper Jewish Community Campus, followed by the ‘Going Green for Chanukah Family Celebration’ including latkes for sale and Dreidle making!
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• Rady JCC’s Strictly Tweens - Iron Chef | Saturday, Nov. 29 | 6:30-9:00 pm at the Rady JCC
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• Rady JCC’s BBYO Connect Pre-Chanukah Shabbat Dinner for teens grades 7-8 | Friday, Dec. 12 | 5:30-7:30pm, at Rady JCC (Multipurpose room)
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• Rady JCC’s Anakhnu Chanukah Dinner and Party | Friday, Dec. 19 | 6:30pm

• The Simcha Program at Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre | Dec. 17 | 1:30pm The North Kildonan Community Players will present Fiddler on the Roof. All are welcome to come for lunch ($10) | reservation required by 4pm on Monday, Dec. 15.

Finally, before I sign-off, I want to thank Matthew Liebl for interviewing me for the Jewish Radio hour, which will air on Sunday, December 14 at 1:30 pm, on CKJS 810 (and online at ckjs.com).  I encourage people to tune in and catch the interview – and take in a bit of Jewish culture on a Sunday afternoon!

Happy Chanukah to everyone,
Adam Bronstone
Chief Executive Officer