Shalom and welcome to Chai There! A Culturally Jewish Podcast powered by Alberta Jewish News.

In Episode 11 hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by guest Elon Gilad, a columnist for Haaretz, Historian, and Linguist

Elon is also Temple B’nai Tikvah’s 2026 Moshe Yedlin Scholar-In-Residence.

Elon Gilad writes on the Hebrew language and Jewish history for Haaretz, where his etymology column has been a fixture for over a decade. He is the author of The Secret History of Judaism.

His short-form videos on Hebrew, the Bible, and Jewish history reach more than 200,000 followers across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. He speaks regularly at synagogues and Jewish institutions across North America. He lives with his family in Modi’in, Israel.

As the 2026 Moshe Yedlin Scholar-In-Residence, Elon will be leading sessions at Temple B’nai Tikvah in Calgary on November 6 and 7. For more information visit https://templebnaitikvah.org/

For more Chai There! visit our site at https://chaithere.ca/

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For the news, visit Alberta Jewish News at https://albertajewishnews.com/

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It's all about the future on this episode of Chai There!

On the tenth episode of the Chai There! Podcast, hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by the 67th Regional N'siah and the 67th Regional Gadol of the NorthWest Canada Region BBYO Chapters, Lily Ploit & Max Morin

Lily & Max are the newly elected Presidents of the International Jewish Youth Organization in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

They give us an explainer on what BBYO is all about, how it can change your life, and mould you into a future leader.

Watch out for these two, they are sure to influential and impactful leaders in the Jewish community for decades to come!

Share your favourite BBYO memories with us on Instagram! We dare you!

For more Chai There! visit our site at https://chaithere.ca/

or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/

or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

For the news, visit Alberta Jewish News at https://albertajewishnews.com/

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Be careful, it's our Fermented Episode!

On the ninth episode of the Chai There! Podcast, hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by the Creator of Picklefest Canada, Adin Wener.

That's right, we didn't misspeak, Picklefest Canada!

Picklest, a celebration of all things fermented is on it's way to Calgary and Edmonton, so we thought we better talk to Adin, and find out exactly what Picklefest is all about!

Adin give us the low-down, he keeps it sweet, crunchy, kosher, and briney! Adin and David discuss why pickles are so important, and what makes Picklefest such a hit! Everyone has a pickle story, and trust us, you are going to want to hear Adin's!

David and the Chai There! team are going to be at Picklefest! If you see them come say hi, and make sure you let them know what your favourite type of pickle is!

For tickets visit https://picklefestcanada.com/

For more Chai There! visit our site at https://chaithere.ca/

or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/

or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

For the news, visit Alberta Jewish News at https://albertajewishnews.com/

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On the eighth episode of the Chai There! Podcast, hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by Producer, Performer, Musician, and Doctor of Anthropology, Noam Osband.

Noam’s stage show, Circumscribed: A True Tall Tale of One Father, Two Sons, and Thousands of Foreskins is making its Canadian debut at the 2026 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival August 14-22.

Noam gives us a rundown of what to expect at his colorfully named show, but more than that, he discusses his unique Jewish up-brining, being the son of a Mohel, and lessons that Fatherhood has taught him, as a son and a Father.

It is a heartwarming conversation; we dare you not to kvell!

For more information on Noam visit: https://www.noamosband.com/

For more information on Circumscribed and to buy tickets visit: https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:7595/

Noam is also performing in the show Brother Love’s Good Time Gospel Hour. For more information and tickets visit: https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/event/601:7562/

For more Chai There! visit our site at https://chaithere.ca/

or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/

or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

For the news, visit Alberta Jewish News at https://albertajewishnews.com/

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On the seventh episode of the Chai There! Podcast, hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar tee up a great conversation between Chai There! Editor-in-Chief Dan Moser and Edmonton born musician Michael Felber.

Dan and Mike discuss his Jewish life in Edmonton, from Talmud Torah to Camp BB, to moving to Montreal, and focusing on music.

Over the years Mike has played in a number of groups and collaborated with musicians such as Yiddish Folk Legend Ethel Raim, Canadian rapper and producer Josh "Socalled" Dolgin, Inuit Artist Beatrice Deer, and Canadian indie folk singer-songwriter Leif Vollebekk, who Mike will be performing with at the 2026 Edmonton Folk Music Festival.

https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/ethel-raim

https://socalledmusic.com/

https://www.beatricedeerband.com/

https://www.leifvollebekk.com/

https://edmontonfolkfest.org/festival-info/performers-2/#/artist/leif-vollebekk

The following music is included in this episode with the artists permission:

"Gephilte Gekumen" - Gephilte

"Yeah You're Right" - Gephilte

"7 Menchn String Session" - Ethel Rain and the Socalled Band

"Aukkauti" - Beatrice Deer

"Hot Tears" - Leif Vollebekk

For more Chai There! visit our site at https://chaithere.ca/

or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/

or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

For the news, visit Alberta Jewish News at https://albertajewishnews.com/

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In Episode 6 of the Chai There! Podcast hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by Ezra Ben-Shalom, a JUNO nominated Singer-Songwriter.

Ezra speaks about his musical journey, songwriting, spirituality, what the job of an artist is, what happens when art becomes a way of wrestling with life’s biggest questions, how Judaism has guided him, and the known and unknown.

Ezra Ben-Shalom is a JUNO-nominated songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer based in Kelowna, British Columbia. His music lives at the intersection of ancient Jewish oral tradition and contemporary avant-folk. The sound feels both timeless and urgently modern.

Across seven previous albums and a career spanning collaborations with artists like Bif Naked and Tegan & Sara, Ezra has carved a singular artistic path. His songwriting draws from the written and oral Torah, weaving ancestral narratives into songs that resonate with universal longing and hope.

His debut solo album, Known and Unknown, co-produced with Chris Carlson (Down the Lees, Tegan & Sara, Kinney Starr), is a bold, uncompromising work - 10 tracks that bridge contemporary challenges with soul medicine.

This episode features the music of Ezra Ben-Shalom. To hear more of Ezra’s music visit www.ezrabenshalom.com or search for Ezra Ben-Shalom on your music streaming app of choice.

And read more about Ezra here: https://thecjn.ca/arts-culture/kelowna-musicians-debut-solo-album-draws-on-jewish-roots-and-reconnection/

What's coming up in your community?

For an afternoon of family fun on July 19 join Jewish Federation of Edmonton for PJ JCC Family Fest, taking place at the McQueen Community League

The Edmonton Heritage Festival is taking place August 1-3 at Hawrelak Park. Come enjoy the cultures of the world, and don’t forget to visit the Israel Pavilion!

Mazal Tov! On August 8 it’s Kehilat Shalom’s Congregational Bar Mitzvah! All are invited to celebrate they Synagogue’s 13th year in Calgary! It’s not a fundraiser, just a celebration!

On August 9 Shalom Baby Edmonton turns 5. Join the celebration with a fun filled afternoon of playground time, spray park fun, crafts, and tasty snacks.

On Thursday August 13 the Jewish Family Services Calgary 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic at the Cottonwood Golf & Country Club. Look out for the Alberta Jewish Newsies on the links!

Chai There! is a culturally Jewish podcast powered by AJN.

For more news visit https://albertajewishnews.com/

For Chai There! visit https://chaithere.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/

In Episode 5 of the Chai There! Podcast hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by Ashley Kravetsky, a nurse, drag performer, and Jewish LGBTQ Advocate.

June is Pride Month, so it's the perfect time to sit down with Ashley, discuss finding community, being true to yourself and never backing down. Ashley's story is one of Jewish empowerment, it's important and educational. Currently Ashley is the Chair of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton's Pride Committee.

Ashely also speaks about offering support to Jewish people in the queer community, and helping them find their safe place in this world.

If you are in need of help in Edmonton or Calgary, Jewish Family Services is a great place to reach out to, and will be there for you

https://www.jfse.org/

https://www.jfsc.org/

What's coming up in your community?

On June 28 Calgary Jewish Federation is hosting “Bridges of Faith: Christian-Jewish Allyship in Our Modern Day” visit https://jewishcalgary.crowdchange.co/59590

On June 28 in the HOJMI parking lot, Calgary Jewish Federation, HOJMI, and the JCC are hosting their annual Kosher Stampede Breakfast, all are welcome to attend and enjoy pancakes, a bouncy castle, pony rides, and more!

In Edmonton the Heritage Festival is coming up Saturday August 1 – Monday August 3 at Hawrelak Park. Visit booths and pavilions from countless countries. The Israel Pavilion is still seeking volunteers for several positions. Visit jewishedmonton.org for more information

Save the date on Monday September 7 for the annual Walk with Israel in Calgary. Meet the organizations that make up Jewish Calgary, a children’s carnival, Rosh Hashanah Market, and more!

Chai There! is a culturally Jewish podcast powered by AJN. For more news visit https://albertajewishnews.com/

For Chai There! visit https://chaithere.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/

In Episode 4 of the Chai There! Podcast hosts Addison Borhaven and David Sklar are joined by Professor Brian Berkowitz, a hydrology, and now urology, expert with the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Prof. Berkowitz discusses the merits of science, some of his groundbreaking work, how he is helping make the world a better place, and what the future holds.

Prof. Berkowitz’s research centres around the experimental analysis and computer modeling of fluid and chemical transport in geological formations, with emphasis on soil and groundwater systems. He and his colleagues are developing new models that realistically describe pollutant migration patterns; these models show conditions under which groundwater contamination can occur. He is also developing experimental methods for environmentally friendly chemical treatment of contaminated water and industrial effluents.

Recently, he has become involved in research related to urology and treatment of kidney stones, and to the active treatment of lymphedema and related tissue-swelling disorders, including the development of biomedical devices.

For more information on Weizmann Canada, and the Weizmann Institute of Science visit: https://www.weizmann.ca/ and http://www.weizmann.ac.il/

What's coming up in your community?

The Talmud Torah Society AGM is on June 18, for more information visit talmudtorahsociety.com

On June 21 Camp BB-Riback is hosting its Open House, for more information and to register visit campbb.com

Monday June 22 is the Calgary Jewish Federation’s AGM and Community Shem Tov Awards, celebrating Jewish Calgary’s Amazing Volunteers

On June 22, Jewish Family Services Calgary will be holding their AGM

On June 28 Calgary Jewish Federation is hosting “Bridges of Faith: Christian-Jewish Allyship in Our Modern Day” visit https://jewishcalgary.crowdchange.co/59590

On June 28 in the HOJMI parking lot, Calgary Jewish Federation, HOJMI, and the JCC are hosting their annual Kosher Stampede Breakfast, all are welcome to attend and enjoy pancakes, a bouncy castle, pony rides, and more!

Chai There! is a culturally Jewish podcast powered by AJN. For more news visit https://albertajewishnews.com/

For Chai There! visit https://chaithere.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/chaitherepod

https://www.instagram.com/chaitherepod/