What Emotions Can Tell Us About the Hebrew Revival

Tuesday, December 2

7:30pm | Paperny Family JCC

Join Ofer Idels as he traces the history and evolution of the Hebrew revival through scenes from the opera hall, the sports stadium, and intimate personal stories. Discover how Hebrew became not only a language but a lived experience. By exploring this emotional dimension, the lecture offers a fresh perspective on Jewish identity and memory—one that moves beyond the familiar narratives of coercion or continuity. Register online. Presented in partnership with the Calgary Council of Christians and Jews.

Shalom Baby

Wednesdays

12:30pm | Paperny Family JCC

Join us with your baby/infant (under two years old) as we share the joys and oys of parenting. Registration is no longer required; we look forward to seeing you! Email Sydney Truax or call 403-537-8592 for more information.

Jews & Brews Winter Wind-Down

Wednesday, December 3

6:30pm | Paperny Family JCC Student Lounge

Take a break before exams and join us for a special Rest & Reset edition of Jews & Brews! Enjoy drinks, food, cozy vibes, games, and relaxing crafts to help you unwind before the study grind. Want even more fun? Join our optional white elephant gift exchange (max $15). Come chill, reset, and connect with friends before finals hit! Register online for this free event.

Shine Bright - A Chanukah Celebration

Wednesday, December 17: 6:00pm | UCalgary
Thursday, December 18: 6:00pm | MRU

This Chanukah, come together to Shine Bright—a joyful campus celebration of light, unity, and belonging. Create your own holiday crafts, decorate cookies, spin the dreidel, dance with friends, and enjoy warm latkes straight from the pan. Let's fill the room with light, laughter, and community spirit! Register online for the UCalgary and MRU events.

Jewdo - Festivus for the Rest of Us

Wednesday, December 24

9:00 - 11:00pm | Bill's Peking House

Whether you're home for the holidays, new to Calgary, or just looking for somewhere to be on Christmas, this is the place for Jewish students to unwind and celebrate being together. Enjoy the classic "Jews do Christmas" tradition — this time, we're bringing the Chinese takeout vibes straight to you. Open to students 18+. Tickets are $10 if purchased online before noon on December 22, otherwise, $15 at the door.

Tot Shabbat

Friday, December 5

10:00 - 10:30am | Paperny Family JCC

PJ Library® Tot Shabbat celebrates the joy of Shabbat and holidays with stories, songs and brachot (blessings) with infants to preschoolers, their parents, and grandparents. Join us for our free, interactive half-hour of Shabbat fun! Email Sydney Truax or call 403-537-8592 for more information.

Simcha Series – Chanukah

Sunday, December 7 | Paperny Family JCC

9:00 - 10:00am – Ages three and under (along with their siblings)

10:15 - 11:15am – Smaller group session for participants who thrive in a more intimate setting

11:30am - 12:30pm – Open to all PJ families

Join us for our special Chanukah celebration as part of our Simcha Series – designed to celebrate Jewish holidays in a welcoming, neurodiversity-affirming environment. PJ Library participants are invited to immerse themselves in play-based holiday themed learning. The thoughtfully designed spaces will encourage exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning experiences. The series will be led by Special Educator, Andrea Scharfstein. Register online.

PJ Moms Learn to Play Mahjong

Thursday, December 11

7:00 - 9:00pm | Paperny Family JCC

Join PJ Moms and learn to play mahjong! Register online for $5 each. For more information contact Sydney Truax.

PJ Our Way® Chanukah Party

Sunday, December 7

5:00 - 7:00pm | Paperny Family JCC

If you're in grade 4, 5, 6 or 7, join PJ Our Way® for a special Chanukah celebration! Bring a gift worth $15 for our gift exchange and you’ll go home with one too! Dinner will be provided. Online registration is required.

Neonukah - A Chanukah Celebration - Sold Out

Saturday, December 13

6:00pm | Paperny Family JCC

Get ready to glow at our annual Chanukah party! PJ Library and the Paperny Family JCC invite you to join us for a night filled with neon lights, music, dancing, and festive fun for all ages. Enjoy a live DJ, crafts, treats, and more! Come dressed in your brightest neon and let's light up the night together! This event is sold out but you can join the waitlist.

Downtown Latke Lunch

Monday, December 15

11:30am - 1:00pm | BD&P Law Office

Do you work in the downtown core? Then join us for a latke (or two!), nosh, and schmooze as Calgary Jewish Federation partners with BD&P to celebrate Chanukah. Food will be provided by Karen’s Café and Catering. Register online for this free event.

Momentum 2026 Kickoff Party – Save the Date
Saturday, January 17

Following the success of our 2025 pilot, we’re proud to launch Momentum—a year-long journey of growth, learning, and connection for Jewish mothers with a child 18 or under. The program includes a transformative trip to Israel in May 2026 and monthly gatherings. Applications open at the kickoff party. Ready to invest in yourself, your family, and our community? Complete our short interest form.

Seeking Submissions for Phase II of the Rededication of the Holocaust Memorial Park

We are collecting names of those who perished in the Holocaust with a connection to Calgary. Please send names to Amy Glassman-Boiko by April 30, 2026. Special thanks to all our donors. The Holocaust Memorial Park and sculpture, Ashes to Life, was donated to the Jewish community of Calgary in 1986 by William (Bill) Schwartz and Alyse Schwartz, each of blessed memory, in memory of their parents Louis & Regina Schwartz and Isaac & Celia Schwartzpel.

Winter Program Registration

Now open for members

Opens Wednesday, December 3 for the public

View our program guide to discover all the ways you can stay fit, celebrate holidays, learn something new, and stay connected and engaged. Register online, in person at the JCC Customer Service Desk or by phone at 403-253-8600 x0.

Shine Your Light Chanukiah Contest

December 7 - 21

Get crafty and celebrate the Festival of Lights your way! Create a unique Chanukiah at home using any materials — LEGO, recyclables, clay, pasta, wood, wire, anything goes. All ages are welcome to enter individually or as a family/group. Submissions will be displayed at the JCC and eligible for fun prizes. Drop off your creation at the Customer Service Desk. Email Yanina Rabinovich for information.

Chanukah Party for Adults 55+ 
Tuesday, December 16

11:45am - 2:00pm | Paperny Family JCC

Celebrate this festive holiday and enjoy a tasty Chanukah lunch, music, and try your luck with our raffle draw! Register online or at the Customer Service Desk at 403-253-8600 x0 by Tuesday, December 9. Tickets are $15 for members and $18 for the public.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Until Sunday, December 7

7:00 - 8:30pm Saturday/Sunday

7:30 - 9:00pm Tuesday to Thursday

Temple B'nai Tikvah

Chai Life Productions is proud to present this debut production!  Come celebrate the beginning of something special with a musical that promises heart, spectacle, and unforgettable performances. Book your tickets today to be part of the Chai Life story from the very beginning! Tickets and information here.

CHW Calgary Centre Toy Drive

Now through December 19

Drop-off Locations: Paperny Family JCC, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Bracko Home Furniture & Mattresses

Support CHW Calgary’s annual Toy Drive, providing holiday gifts to at-risk children through Franny’s Fund, JFSC (Jewish Family Service Calgary), and Alberta Children’s Hospital. Donate new, unwrapped toys or give online to help brighten a child’s holiday. More information and donations.

Healing Young Minds: CHW’s 2025 End of Year Campaign

Matching opened Tuesday, November 25

Online | Across Canada and Israel

Youth in Israel and Canada are carrying trauma no child should face. CHW’s Healing Young Minds Campaign delivers critical therapy, safe environments, and hope for those most at risk. Your gift can change their trajectory. Donate online to have your impact quadrupled during the week-long Giving Tuesday campaign, or reach out to Malka-Deena or call the office at 403-253-4612.

Join CHW as a Volunteer

Ongoing Opportunity

Flexible Hours | Calgary & Virtual

Looking to make a difference? CHW is seeking volunteers to help with events, admin, outreach, and more. Whether you have an hour or a day, your time makes a big impact. Perfect for students or anyone wanting to give back. Contact Malka-Deena or join our WhatsApp group!

Family Shabbat Dinner

Friday, December 5

4:30 - 6:30pm | Beth Tzedec Congregation

Bring your family together for an unforgettable Friday night filled with music, laughter, and community spirit! We'll start with an interactive Shabbat service with singing, games, and stories that will have everyone smiling from ear to ear. Then we'll gather around the table for a mouthwatering, shul-cooked dinner – because Shabbat tastes better when we share it together. Register here.

Seudah Shelishit: Exploring Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

Saturdays, continuing December 6

4:30 - 6:30pm | Beth Tzedec Congregation

Join Rabbi Russell Jayne for a fascinating journey through Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer. This inventive work reshapes familiar biblical narratives, connects them to enduring Jewish values, and invites us to see Torah through a lens of creativity and wonder. Each session will combine close reading with lively discussion, making the class accessible to both newcomers and seasoned learners. Register here.

Family Hanukkah Party

Sunday, December 14

10:00am - 12:00pm | Beth Tzedec Congregation

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with our annual Family Hanukkah Party! Gather your loved ones and join us for a joyful morning filled with music, crafts, games, and the warm spirit of community. We'll mark the holiday with festive activities for all ages, delicious Hanukkah treats, and plenty of opportunities to create special memories together. Register here.

In Conversation with Noa Tishby

Sunday, December 7

1:00pm | Beth Tzedec Congregation

B'nai Brith Calgary is pleased to welcome Noa Tishby – a globally recognized, two-time New York Times bestselling author, and Israel's former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism – in conversation with Amanda Eskenasi, former National Director for the B'nai Brith League for Human Rights and current Director of Education for HonestReporting Canada. Noa's work in the media and on US university campuses has helped expose the lies and propaganda being spread by Hamas. Tickets are $72 (students: $36). Purchase tickets online. For sponsorships call 403-255-6554.

December Drop-in Caregiver Discussions Groups

All Caregivers: Wed. Dec. 10 | 10:30 – 11:30am

Adult Children Caring for Parents: Mon. Dec. 15 | 10:00 - 11:30am

Spouses/Partners Caring for Spouses/Partners: Tues. Dec. 16 | 10:00 – 11:30am

JFSC offices

Facilitated by a registered social worker from JFSC's Caregiver Support Program, this is a space for caregivers of seniors and/or persons living with dementia to exchange caregiving and coping strategies and resources. More information here. There is no charge for these groups. Pre-Registration for each session is required – please call 403-287-3510 to register.

37th Annual Community Menorah Lighting at City Hall - Save the Date

Monday, December 15

5:30pm | Calgary City Hall Atrium

Join the community to celebrate Chanukah as we welcome our new Mayor, Jeromy Farkas to light the Shamesh candle. Live music, choirs, soup bar, latkes and snacks. Dignitaries and officials. Amazing kids' program with Chanukah gelt!

Upgrade Yourself with a New Women's Course: "Lift Your Life!"

A seven-part course, (once a month) examining sleep, emotional mastery, food, and happiness, to communication, faith, and personal growth according to kabbalistic teachings. Evening and morning classes available. Soup bar/light breakfast will be served. Led by Rebbetzin Matusof. Visit our website for more information.