We had a very nice Chanukah celebration at Anita and Aiden's new place in southwest Calgary. We had a good turnout considering the weather. Those present included: Anita, Aiden, Art and Judy, Nelson, Maya and Bruce, Betty and Yvelle, Miriam, Loretta, Anna, and myself. Thanks Anita for being such a good hostess and opening your home to us, for the very tasty chicken schnitzel, and all the work you went to to make a very cosy and warm atmosphere (the Chanukah decorations, etc.) Thanks also to Loretta for organizing the music, and to Aiden for playing the guitar. Finally, thank you to Art for staying up until 2 a.m. the previous night to make the potato latkes! They were very tasty and most appreciated.

Jack Switzer will be our guest speaker. His topic is: Calgary's secular Yiddishists, 1910- 1950: Chaim Zhitlovsky - his life and influence on Canadian Yiddishists; Calgary's Yiddish/Hebrew rift; Calgary's Jewish radicals - a review.

Maya Fishkis will discuss "The Origin of Life."
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Dr. Maya Fishkis is actively involved in studying decisive steps in the sequence of events leading to the origin of life. She investigates the very transition from nonliving organic molecules to a precursor of the cellular life, a so-called "protocell," capable of biological evolution. In her short talk, Maya will give a wide perspective of development of life in the Universe. She will describe the established scientific facts that lead her, as well as many other scientists in the field, to conclude that life is much more common beyond the Earth than previously believed.

Agnes Romer Segal will discuss "Yiddish Literature."
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Agnes Segal works with the Southern Alberta Historical Society.

This will be the Passover celebration and will be on Friday, April 10 6 PM. It will be a pot-luck supper. Jackie will prepare chicken and potatoes.

Please let Jackie know whether you will come and what you will be bring.

June Agenda

1. Welcome
2. New & Good
3. Beginning Declaration
4. Our Circle - where we are at and where are we going
5. CCHJ and Jewish Community:
a) Shalom Calgary
b) Public Relations
6. 2009/10 Programming:
a) September - Rosh Hashonah (Ira Chernus)?
b) October - Mussar (Alan Morinis/Calgary Kollel)?
c) Theme Centered Interaction focus to our monthly meetings - e.g Jewish values
7. Reinstating Membership Fees
8. Tasks
a) Tenets - Please review our present statements located on our website - http://calgaryhumanist.ca/cchj
b) Brochure
c) Website
d) Other?
9. Issues to contemplate for future consideration
a) Future Chairperson
b) Society?
c) Affiliation?
10. Next Meeting (progress) - Sunday Sept. 13th.

This will be the Rosh Hashonah Celebration and will be on Sunday, September 20 at 5:30 PM. It will be a potluck supper and Art will be conducting the service.

Also, please let me know whether you will be able to make it for Rosh Hashanah and what dish you will be bringing. I will make one meat dish and one vegetable dish. We will probably need a few main courses, a couple of appetizers, a salad, and a couple of desserts. - Jackie

Miriam will be reviewing Martin Buber's series of essays "On Judaism."

Art will be talking on "The humanistic thought of Erich Fromm". Fromm has been one of the major figures in the evolution of humanism in the 20th Century. Art believes that we, as a group, would do well to understand his ideas, emanating initially from his Jewish roots.