P.E.I. Jewish Community Celebrates Triple Chai (54) with the GOLOD Family

by: Joanne Lebovits-Brodkin

As most of us know, "Chai" in Hebrew means life, and is symbolized by the number 18.  When the Golod family moved to P.E.I. from Buenos Aires, the Jewish community celebrated triple Chai: it grew from 50 people to 54!  How fitting that such a meaningful number is associated with this wonderful family, for they truly did bring new life, joy, and kinship to this beautiful Province.  And their new friends, in turn, brought the Golods many gifts as well: warmth, inclusiveness, and a fresh beginning.

The Golod Family

The Golod family had plans to join relatives in Toronto when they finally immigrated to Canada from Buenos Aires.  However, things did not turn out as they had originally planned.  In December of the same year a very important part of the funds they had saved up suddenly disappeared when Argentina went into complete chaos and bankruptcy.  Resilient and determined, however, the Golods still planned on living in Canada.  They wanted their children to have a brighter future and a better quality of life than Buenos Aires could offer.  As the door to Toronto closed, a new one opened.  They were advised that P.E.I. had an immigration program that was seeking skilled workers who were involved in the glass industry.

Marcela remembers it like it was yesterday.  That afternoon she sat on their white couch in their house in Buenos Aires, looked at her husband Sergio, and said, "Would you like to live on an island?"  Sergio looked at her and said, "Are you crazy?"  Marcela proceeded to tell him the truth about their situation and that they should both be open-minded.  Together, they moved from the couch to their computer and "Googled" P.E.I.  They liked what they saw.  Marcel and Sergio immediately sent a piece of their glassware - a flower vase - to the government of P.E.I.  Next thing they knew, they were nominated and accepted as skilled glass workers.  This craft and skill was needed, not only for tourism, but for business in general.

And thus, in December 2003, a new journey began.  When they arrived in Moncton, a Canadian non Jewish couple who had found the Golods on the Atlantic Jewish Council's guest book website, were standing there waiting for them.  They introduced the Golods to Prince Edward Island.  Marcela gets a little choked up when she speaks of these new friends as their kindness was truly overwhelming.  There was another family who happened to be going out of town for three months and they decided to lend the Golods their home for this time free of charge! "Sometimes you may find me crying," were Marcela's heartfelt words.  She explained that such stories happen every day.  "everyone in Canada, is so friendly and always trying to help out."

Marcela relates another story that warms her heart.  They were still in Buenos Aires and not yet nominated.  It was around Christmas 2002.  The Golods received a greeting card from the Immigration Officer in P.E.I. who had nominated them.   She was no longer working for the government.  Marcela explains that same woman now signs her emails "your friend, Beverley."  You can see that Marcela is moved by this kind gesture and shakily says, "How can I express my gratitude?"

And there are so many stories.  For example, when Sergio and Marcela found out they had been nominated and were going to move to P.E.I. Marcela sent and e-mail to Jon Goldberg, Executive Director of the Atlantic Jewish Council.  He told her that when they arrive, they should contact him.  So they did.  Goldberg sent them to a place on Main Street - Mills Brothers - a well-established, high-end department store in Halifax.  They brought their 30kgs of glass samples that they had carried from Argentina, to the store and immediately became friendly with their contact person, Janet Stern, and later were invited to her house for Rosh Hashanah.

A sample of the Golod's beautiful glassware

Since then, and in a very short time, Marcela and Sergio - sometimes more like sculptors than glass artisans - have "carved a niche" for themselves and their children, not only in P.E.I. but in many other places as well.  In P.E.I. they can be found at their beautiful studio - Royal Glass Design, which features their elegant, one-of -a-kind fused glass pieces.  As Marcela and Sergio both agree, "little by little, we are achieving our goals and we are doing it, as Frank Sinatra's famous lyrics so eloquently say 'our way!"  They started exporting to the U.S. (Massachusetts, Florida, Michigan, Washington); they also have their Judaica pieces on display  in Toronto; they have representatives in Montreal and Halifax.  Last February, as a result of a P.E.I. grant, they were invited to the Food and Beverage Show in Toronto.  Although the Golods do not have huge sales yet, people are falling in love with their pieces, wherever they are displayed, and they are getting great exposure.

With Passover coming up, I asked the Golods about Jewish life on this picturesque island.  With only 54 people, no Jewish schools, no synagogue, no Torah, and no Rabbi, does it present a challenge?  Marcela explains that the community doesn't let these obstacles stand in their way.  Her father went through the same situation during his childhood and adolescence, but with the difference that there was a Torah and a Cantor.  That Cantor was Marcela's grandfather who emigrated from Russia to Argentina and settled in a Jewish community called Lapin in the Province of Buenos Aires.  Holidays are celebrated together, wherever they can find a place to celebrate them.  Sergio admits that it is different, but he also says that everyone is so warm and helpful that in some ways they are even closer to the community than they might be in a bigger city.  "We have more Jewish-themed parties than we did in Argentina!"  They make the best of it and cherish their Jewishness and the Jewish community that much more.  Marcela is constantly overwhelmed by the warmth that everyone has shown to their family and says with such appreciation that "everyone wants to be our friend."  In Argentina they kept the traditions automatically "but here if I am a Jew" Sergio says, "I am making the decision within myself"

There is one thing that does concern Marcela and Sergio, and that is their children's future vis-à-vis their Jewish life.  They are concerned that their children will not have the opportunity to meet other young Jewish people.  Sergio shares that they are all enjoying living in P.E.I. right now and building themselves up, step by step, for the future.

Living in a small community has its advantages.  The Golods believe that had they ended up in Toronto as originally planned, they may not have achieved as much as they have so quickly.  The assistance they have received in P.E.I. has been tremendous.  The P.E.I. government, specifically P.E.I. Business Development, has been supporting them from the beginning.  As well, they have had P.E.I.'s Premier, Bat Binns, pay them a visit at their studio, accompanied by the Minister of Technology and Development.  pretty impressive for their first year in Canada!

If you are planning a trip to P.E.I. in the near future, make sure you drop in on the Golods to see their colourful, exquisite and unique glassware.  Sergio began tinkering with glass at a young age.  He and Marcela have brought their skills on a journey that began in Galicia, where Sergio's grandfather was a glazer, continued in Buenos Aires, and is now being re-born in P.E.I. 

Since they met Mila Voihanski, JIAS' Executive Director, in Buenos Aires in May 2003, the Golods have been in constant contact with the JIAS Canada Office.  They have graciously allowed us to use some of their creations for our Heritage Cook Book project and we are looking forward to receiving a delicious recipe with an Argentine flavour from them.

Be sure to check out their gorgeous creations on their website: www.royalglassdesign.ca