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The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, January 29, 1981 - Page 11
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By MARIANNE MOLL & LEAH GUCK
YELLOWKNIFE —
Founded in 1835.on the heels: of the great-northern gold rush, Yellowknife lies on the; north shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. l.OOO miles north of Edmonton across unspoiled an^,often frigid terrain.
For Mr. and Mrs. J. L Glick, the relative isolation of living in the far north,.in a community of about 10.000 hardy souls, has not dulled their Jewish identification whatsoever. In fact, as the -only permanent Jewish family in Yellowknife (they have lived there for 35 years), their lives and home have become the focal point for the mostly transient Jewish population.
The problem of being practicing Jews in Canada's far north are many, but the Glicli clan has learned to Overcome them throdgh advanced planning and a sense of commanal spirit.
Keeping kosher means importing meat and Pcsach food from Edmonton and Montreal.
Lighting Shabbal candles in the North can also be a problem, as the son sets, at 3 p.m.^in the winter, and at 11 p.m. in the sammer. For practical reasons, Yellowknife's small Jewish community observes the traditions following the Edmonton Jewish community's time schedules, whenever necessary^
Mr. and Mrs. Glick came to Yellowknife from Montreal in 1945. They were one of the first Jewish families to venture so far north. Jacob (Jack) first worked for Negus (Gold) Mines as a cook. In 1946, he built and operated the Veterans Cafe. The cafe-was one of the first buildings to be built in the "New Town" of Yellowknife which was situated away from the "Old Town" on Latham Island. ,
In 1956. the cafe was renamed the Gold Range Hotel and Cafe and was sold.
In 1946. after'having been discharged from military duties, their son Harold joined them in Yellowknife. In 1947. Harold left the north for a year to study radio technology at Toronto. In 1948, he returned and started Yellowknife Radio Ltd.
Harold met his wife Zelda (Vinsky) in Edmonton and they were married in 1952.
Edmonton, located .about 1,000 miles south of Yellowknife. serves as the surrogate community for the Yellowknife Jews.
Harold and Zelda set up h6use in Yellowknife and through the years they had four children — Murray. Jeffrey. Leah and Marilyn. Because hospital facilities were limited, Zelda flew south to give birth to their first three children and only the youngest daughter was born In .the Yellowknife Stant.on Hospitalin 1962.,
Having been in Yellowknife for so many years, the Glicks have become the extended family for
The Click family. Seated, from left: Marilyn, Leah and Zelda. Standing from left: Harold, Murray and Marilyn. '
the Jews who ventui^e north.
During holy days and festivals, the Glick house is "home" to at least 32 young Jewish men, women and children who live in the Northwest Territories. .
Due to the lack of a synagogue and a minyan, festivals are observed in a different manner. The Yellowknife Jewish community ind its visitors gather at the Glick home for the holidays. They bring the aperitifs, the salads, and the desserts for the meal, while Zelda provides the meat dishes.
The appropriate readings from the prayer books are read in both English and Hebrew. When' someone is present whocan read Jlebrewfluently, Hebrew tiakes precedence.   ■ :
More specifically, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated-biy the whole community at the Glick home. On Yom Ktppur. individuals remain at their own homes, fasting and praying. During Chanukah, individual families light candles in their homes and celebrate the eighth night with a supper party at the Glick home. On Purim, haniantashen are made by Zelda and again the community gathers at the Glicks.
The Glick home is the centre for both the first seder during Pesach and for the Pesach foodstuffs. Matzoh and all the necessary food' is brought in by Harold from Edmonton, and is then distributed to w;homever wants to observe the holidav.
- Last year. Harold received a telephone call from hcldon Nider in Cambridge Bay. Sheldon's Pesach order had arrived from Edmonton without haggadot. Having heard that there was a Jewish family in Yellowknife, Sheldon called Harold to sec if a Haggadah could be sent to them in time for the second night of Pesach. Sheldon received the haggadot the next day.
Despite the lack of a formal religious institution, there lis a feeling of community and togetherness in the observance of Jewish traidiitions, complete with debates over the meaning of the holiday and the correct pronunciiation of the Hebrew. -
Usually, .when the services of a rabbi are . needed, the family in question travels to Edmonton. Such was the case when'Harold's and Zeida's two sons were of age for their bar mitzvahs and when their eldest son Murray was to be married.
Recently, a rabbi was brought to Yellowknife for the first time when a son was born to David and Marianne.MoH. Also for the first time, there was a minyan-plus in Yellowknife for the bris. Rabbi Abraham Postone of Calgary came to Yellowknife on Nov. 4 and performed the bris. The occasion was also a special event for Harold and Zelda because the rabbi had performed their' marriage ceremony in 1952 as well as the bris of their two sons.
Though there are many problems in maintaining Jewish traditions in the far north, there are solutions, as shown by this Jewish community.
Yellowkriife's Jewish population hoyers around 25 individuals. They are made up of Israelis, Americans and Canadians who work mainly for the government. Without a rabbi, synagogue or a permanent minyan, Yellowknife's Jewish community has managed to keep Jewish tradition alive in Canada's far north. .
David and Marianne Moll hold son Nathaniel, the first baby circumclzed In 5 Yellowknife. Gllad Is at left. |
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