See below for Society information:

1. Air Conditioning Fundraiser – WE NEED YOUR HELP!
2. Lunchroom renovations begin July 1st!
3. Kindergarten Open House Video

WITH YOUR HELP

Talmud Torah’s Early Learning Centre Will Have

AIR CONDITIONING This Summer! – May 2022

Summers, even in Alberta, can really heat up a building and the Talmud Torah Early Learning Centre (TTELC), located inside the Talmud Torah School building, is not immune to the effects of summer heat. Each summer, educators do their very best to keep the classrooms comfortable for the children. Last summer, temperatures increased to the point where some families chose to keep their children home out of concern for their well being. ELC administration and the ELC committee don’t want another summer to go by without dealing with this health and safety issue. This is why the ELC is hoping to install air conditioners in all 6 classrooms this summer! With help from ELC families, and the broader Jewish community, we want to create rooms with regulated temperatures which allows for optimal learning and participation in daily activities. “As we enhance our learning environment, we continue to create safe spaces for our children, families, and educators”, expressed Irene St. Savard, Director of the TTELC.

The cost of the A/C project is ambitious, with $42,000 needed to complete 6 rooftop mounted A/C units in the classrooms, including construction and wiring. The A/C fundraiser runs for 6 weeks from mid May to the end of June. Irene and the ELC Committee have brainstormed some great fundraising ideas, such as a bottle drive, carnival, car wash, fun run, family movie night, Mabel’s Labels, t-shirts sales, etc. Irene is hoping that the broader Jewish community will support the initiative as well. “We expect that this project will succeed with the support of the broader Jewish community, with everyone coming together to make a difference in the lives of our youngest citizens”, Irene suggested.

Talmud Torah Society’s recent strategic plan initiative outlines “Community”, “Safe Spaces” and “Stewardship” as some of its values. Noga Vaisblat, Chair of the ELC Committee, as well as the TT Society’s Communications and Marketing Chair, commented that these values directly relate to the A/C enhancement project for the TT Early Learning Centre. Community: coming together to make a difference in the lives of our youngest citizens. Safe Spaces: enhancing the physical space will also benefit the emotional and learning spaces for the children who attend the program. Stewardship: By investing into our building, we are providing the opportunity for future generations to enjoy the space.

From our humble beginnings as a morning preschool program about 17 years ago, we have grown into a full-time early learning program, and more recently a full-time out of school care program. The ELC’s reputation of offering quality childcare and learning, in a Jewish themed environment, is well known. Families often register their child before they are even born, and there are few spaces each year available to new families. Knowing that families will be sending their children, during the hotter days of summer, to a healthy learning environment is a very comforting notion.

“The TT ELC is such a kind, supportive and caring place to send our children. I love that they are prioritizing my children’s health, safety and comfort, along with their learning and development needs. Last year the school’s temperature reached over 30 degrees and there were days I had to keep my 2-year-old home – I am so happy to see the A/C initiative move forward and I know it will improve the children’s care experience, thank you for making our little ones a priority in our Jewish community!” Arielle S. ELC Parent

Irene and Noga are appealing to the community to help them create an optimal learning environment for our young ones and their educators. You can feel pride in knowing your contributions will leave an indelible impact for years to come. Your donation is critical to our success.

LUNCHROOM ANNOUNCEMENT – January 25, 2022

Last August Myrna and Don Silverberg, of Netanya, Israel, reached out to Talmud Torah expressing their wish to make a gift to this school that still holds a very special place in their memories and hearts. How does it happen that a family living in Israel since 1976 reaches out to Talmud Torah to make such a transformational gift? Here lies a story not to be missed.

Myrna and Don moved to Edmonton in 1968 and stayed until 1976 when Don had an opportunity to take a Sabbatical year in Israel at the Tel HaShomer Hospital’s Kidney Department. They loved that year so much that they extended their stay for another few years until they reached the realization that Israel, indeed, was their new home.

The years in Edmonton were filled with activity for their three children, Monte born in 1964, Danny in 1966 and Tzvia (born Harriet) in 1969. Both Myrna and Don became very involved with Talmud Torah, Don being on the Board and serving as President the year the school joined EPSB. Myrna was an active member of Mothers Auxiliary, even serving as the Editor of the Edmonton Jewish Phone Book project.

By the time the family left for Israel Monte had finished Gr. 6, Danny Gr. 4 and Tzvia Gr. 1. Upon arriving in Israel, they were extremely proud of their kid’s TT education. All the kids adapted to their new life, easily mastering the Hebrew language and already having an appreciation of the country through their knowledge of Israel taught at TT. In Myrna’s words, “…because they had been taught by wonderful Israeli teachers (and of course very good English ones as well!”).

So why a donation to Talmud Torah now? The Silverberg’s shared with the Board that when Myrna’s younger brother, Dr. Larry Wine, passed away he left her some money.  Wanting to make a gift back in Canada, Talmud Torah felt like the perfect place to make a gift that would mean the most to their family.

With the idea of creating a lunchroom/communal space for today’s students to gather to share lunch, prayers and create a stronger community, it was apparent that the perfect match for their donation had been found. After decades of students being isolated during lunch time, the addition of a lunchroom/communal space will greatly enhance the pride and feeling of Ruach (life force) in the school and bring back a venue that has left indelible memories for TT children for decades.

The Talmud Torah Society is currently gathering tenders for the construction of the lunchroom. Two rooms in the southwest corner of the building (the Slawsky multi-purpose room and Hardin music room) will be combined, allowing our students to eat, pray and gather together. Truly a game-changer for our students!

Kol HaKavod כול הכבוד to Myrna, Don and the entire Silverberg family for making this transformational gift to Talmud Torah. The impact of this gift will last a lifetime!