Ottawa jewish bulletin 2009 05 11(inaccessible)

Plant A Tree For All Reasons

Jewish National Fund of Ottawa Tel: (613) 798-2411 Fax: (613) 798-0462

✡

ottawa jewish

To Remember • To Congratulate • To Honour • To Say “I Care” •

Rabbi Garten’s ‘Bar Mitzvah’ page 17

www.ottawajewishbulletin.com Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd. •

bulletin volume 73, no. 14

may 11, 2009

21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1R9

•

Ottawa celebrates Yom Ha’Atzmaut

There were activities for all ages at Ottawa’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration at the Civic Centre April 29 marking the 61st anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and the centennial of the city of Tel Aviv. The children pictured here eagerly anticipate one of the kids’ shows. A full report on the big party and more photos will be published in the May 25 issue of the Bulletin.

(Photo: Peter Waiser)

National leaders honour the memory of six million lost in the Holocaust

By Diane Koven Neither inclement weather nor a huge demonstration by Tamils on Parliament Hill could dampen the resolve of hundreds of people to remember and pay tribute to those who perished in the Holocaust.

Organizers of the National Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony made a hasty decision to move the April 21 event to LeBreton Flats, opposite the Canadian War Museum. Then, as storm

clouds hovered, the event was moved inside the museum.

Sitting in a huge hall, surrounded by tanks, with a fighter plane overhead, nearly 1,000 people, including Holocaust survivors and their families, politicians, diplomats and church representatives, some who had arrived in the nation’s capital on buses from Montreal and Toronto, assembled to pay tribute and to remember those who perished.

The commitment of the Gov-

ernment of Canada to fight antiSemitism and to support Israel’s right to exist was affirmed by Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney.

“When speaking of the Holocaust and the history of hatred that made it possible, truly words fail us,” said Kenney. “While hatred begins in hearts, it is spread in words. We must withdraw public support from those who promote (Continued on page 2)

Publisher: Mitchell Bellman

•

iyar 17, 5769

Editor: Michael Regenstreif $2.00

Niemoeller speaks at Yom HaShoah commemoration

By Diane Koven An overflow crowd of more than 500 people were present in the Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building April 20 on the eve of Yom HaShoah to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, to pay tribute to those who survived and to hear the inspirational message of the keynote speaker Sarah Niemoeller.

Mina Cohn, chair of the Shoah Committee of Ottawa, welcomed those assembled by reminding them that we have an obligation to tell the stories, to pass them on from generation to generation.

“Yom HaShoah is the one day each year when we make a special effort to remember, zachor, those who survived, those who suffered, those who perished,” she said.

Cohn’s words were echoed by Israeli Ambassador Miriam Ziv, who added that we must also remember “the few, too few, the courageous gentiles who helped save the lives of others while risking their own.”

One such courageous gentile, now a committed Jew, was keynote speaker Sarah Niemoeller, widow of Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoeller whose post-war poem about the Holocaust has become famous.

The poem is so familiar, yet, to many, the author and the circumstances under which it was written are unknown. Pastor Niemoeller spent a year in prison and seven

Sarah Niemoeller speaks during the Ottawa Yom HaShoah commemoration April 20.

(Photo: Peter Waiser)

more years in concentration camps for his opposition to the Nazis in his native Germany. In speeches he made after the war, he often recited his poem.

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist; (Continued on page 2)

World Class Outsourcing ... and more!

744-6444

Publications Mail Registration No. 07519

Providing quality service to the National Capital Region since 1947!

744-5767

244-7225

244-4444

www.boydgroup.on.ca

Page 2 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

‘We will carry the memory of the Holocaust within us always’ (Continued from page 1)

hatred or defend terror.”

Event chair Joel Dimitry praised Canada for its lead in refusing to attend the Durban Review Conference in Geneva.

“Canada was the first country to pull out of the Durban II conference and, if you saw it on television, you know they were not wrong,” he said. “For taking a stand against anti-Semitism, we owe this government our great gratitude.”

His sentiments were echoed by Israeli Ambassador Miriam Ziv. “Canada should be commended for its decision to pull out of this conference,” she said.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff spoke of the six million victims of the Holocaust as individuals who must always be remembered. He also paid tribute to the Canadian military.

“We also remember those who fought for freedom. Every single member of this audience is honoured, as I am, by the presence of our heroic veterans.”

As they had the evening before at the Ottawa Yom HaShoah commemoration, members of the Ottawa Jewish War Veterans opened and closed the ceremony with the March on the Colours and March off the Colours.

Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Québécois, said, “Each

Cantor Moshe Kraus, a Holocaust survivor, recites Kaddish at the National Yom HaShoah Commemoration, April 21, at the Canadian War Museum. Standing behind him (left to right) are NDP leader Jack Layton, Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, Supreme Court Justice Louis LeBel, Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney, event chair Joel Dimitry, Canadian Society for Yad (Photo: Elliott Sylman) Vashem national chair Fran Sonshine and Israeli Ambassador Miriam Ziv.

member of the human community is responsible and has a duty to remember.”

He spoke about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and said the Palestinian people must have their own state.

“Even in a century with so much tragedy, nothing comes close to the Holocaust of six million Jews,” said NDP leader Jack Layton. “It taught us the brutality

and the evil of which humanity is capable. You wouldn’t have thought it was possible.”

Wreaths were laid by survivors and their families, accompanied by various politicians.

Fran Sonshine, national chair of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, which, with the Canadian government, sponsored the event, expressed appreciation to all who attended the ceremony, from the

children to the politicians.

“We are so fortunate to live in such an amazing country. I cannot tell you how I felt as I was watching the wreath-laying and heard the names of all the representatives of government. We should all be grateful that they gave their time to us today,” Sonshine said.

“Together, we can and we will carry the memory of the Holocaust within us always, and from

those ashes forge a better world of tolerance and humanity for the sake of all.”

Cantor Moshe Kraus chanted Kel Maleh Rachamim and led audience members in reciting Kaddish.

With the sounds of children giving hope for the future, the Netivot HaTorah Day School Choir from Toronto sang and blew shofars from around the hall

Niemoeller calls for eternal vigilance against anti-Semitism (Continued from page 1)

When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.

Sarah Niemoeller told her own compelling story, her late husband’s story and the fascinating way in which they intersected.

Now a dedicated Holocaust educator, she was encouraged to speak of her experiences by close friend

Elie Wiesel.

Niemoeller began life in Berlin in 1923 as Sibylla Augusta Sophia Baroness von Sell, a member of an aristocratic Prussian family.

Her parents had strong moral convictions and were engaged in anti-Nazi activity from the beginning of Hitler’s rise to power.

“My childhood ended when I was 11,” she said in telling the story of that time.

“From my parents I learned the most elementary

rules of conspirative behaviour.

“They believed that a small group of dedicated people can change the world.

“They taught me when to compromise and when not.

They instilled in me the importance of assuming responsibility for those who could not fend for themselves, even risking your life,” she said.

Her family set up an “underground railroad” that saved the lives of many

German Jews and was involved in the failed Valkyrie plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944. Two cousins were executed by the Nazis for their roles in the attempt.

“The Gestapo came for me, then for my father,” she said.

While she was ultimately released, her father was imprisoned.

After the war, Niemoeller moved to the United States where she married and worked at NBC. Her first

husband left her and, in 1968, when former family pastor Martin Niemoeller, by then a widower, spoke in the United States, she went to see him.

They fell in love, married and returned to Germany to live.

“God gave us 16 wonderful years. My husband dedicated his life to peace, preaching the importance of confessing guilt and of remembering,” she said.

After her husband’s death in 1984, Niemoeller began to study Judaism, converting in 1990 and changing her first name to Sarah.

Niemoeller stressed that anti-Semitism is not dead. The “new anti-Semitism” is just as dangerous.

“Eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay. We must remember,” she said.

Six memorial candles, each representing one million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, were lit by Holocaust

survivors Rosa Lang, Cantor Moshe Kraus, Anna Czajezncky, Penny Bar-NoyRoodman, Nick Steinmetz and Lea Kalin. As they lit the candles, their individual stories of survival were read

by Elly Bollegraaf, herself a child Holocaust survivor.

The 2008-2009 Arie Van Mansum Award was presented to Jaden Lairson, a Woodroffe High School teacher. Van Mansum, recognized by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Gentile for his efforts to save Jews during the Holocaust, settled in Ottawa after the Second World War. The annual award is presented to an Ottawa educator for excellence in Holocaust education.

A DVD of the Ottawa Yom HaShoah event, including Sarah Niemoeller’s keynote address, is available at the Greenberg Families Library at the Soloway JCC.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 3

Page 4 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 5

Emotional impact for MP on March of the Living

By Benita Baker Pierre Poilievre, parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MP for Nepean Carleton, fortified an emotional connection with the Jewish people and the State of Israel in April when he represented Canada at the Conference Against Racism, Discrimination and Persecution in Geneva, and participated in the March of the Living in Poland.

“My views are reinforced and strengthened by this experience,” Poilievre told the Bulletin on his return from Europe. “It reminded me of the historical reasons for Israel’s existence and the need for us to lock arms with Israel in defence of freedom, human rights and western civilization.”

Although Poilievre had read about and studied the Holocaust for years, he was not prepared for the emotional impact of touring Auschwitz. It was particularly moving for him when the guide told the story about the building where the Nazis stored the valuable plunder they had taken from the Polish prisoners. The inmates called it Canada House be-

MP Pierre Poilievre pauses outside of Birkenau last month during the March of the Living.

cause, to them, Canada was a land of freedom, opportunity and plenty.

“At that moment, I thought about all the people in the camp who died dreaming about coming to Canada,” he said. “It made me realize how blessed we are to live here.”

The highlight for March of the Living participants is the walk, arms linked, from Auschwitz to Birkenau.

Poilievre and a group of community leaders led the

Harry Kitzemian

Athens Rugs Ltd. Carpet • Vinyl • Ceramics

1365 Cyrville Road Gloucester, Ontario K1B 3L7 Tel: 613-741-4261 Fax: 613-741-2944

procession of 8,000 people from all over the world. As the marchers entered the gates of Birkenau, they were greeted by a group of young adults proudly carrying the Israeli flag.

“There was something beautifully defiant about that moment,” he said.

Poilievre attended the Conference Against Racism, Discrimination and Persecution after leaving Poland.

The conference was held at the same time as the controversial UN Durban Review Conference (Durban II), which Canada boycotted because of the unacceptable anti-Semitic rhetoric that has saturated the Durban process.

Also attending the event were human rights activists Alan Dershowitz, Natan Sharansky and fellow MP Irwin Cotler, a former minister of justice, as well as representatives of other coun-

tries boycotting Durban II including Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel and the U.S. Poilievre said other countries boycotting Durban II told him they might not have done so had Canada not taken the lead.

“Sometimes we don’t know if these things are rec-

ognized outside of our borders,” he said. “I learned that people are watching and observing what Canada does.”

Poilievre said his presentation at the conference was designed to show Canada’s support for Israel and to reiterate Canada’s precedent-setting actions as the first country to pull out of Durban II and as the first country to cut off funding to the Hamas government, as well as Canada’s blocking of antiIsrael resolutions at the Francophonie.

According to Poilievre, a major achievement of the conference was that it brought together the countries that walked out of the Durban process and reinforced their conviction to stand up against bigotry and extremism. Five hundred people stood in front of the UN building during the Durban meetings and held a proIsrael rally.

“There was a real sense of triumph,” said Poilievre.

“Unlike the first Durban conference, where there was a

sense of humiliation for the western world.”

Poilievre believes that the world is starting to stand up to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and that the Iranian President is slowly becoming more and more isolated. The conference participants discussed strategies on how to keep this momentum going and how to encourage more countries to participate in a boycott the next time.

They determined that assertive diplomacy with likeminded countries is essential and that individuals in democratic countries must be constantly reminding their elected representatives to take strong, principled stands against the forces of extremism.

Allan Taylor ■ GROUP PLANS ■ LIFE INSURANCE ■ DISABILITY INSURANCE ■ PENSION and RRIFs 613-244-9073

Page 6 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Hillel Lodge doesn’t meet Ministry standards, we exceed them We have a great community here in Ottawa.

The Soloway JCC is a top-notch facility with a plethora of excellent programs.

Our schools provide quality education as evidenced by the great success our graduates have when they join the public school systems in either high school or post-secondary educational institutions. The lives of many members of our community are enriched by the exceptional work done by Tamir and by Jewish Family Services as well as other beneficiary agencies.

And then there is the Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge providing 100 long-term care beds for the frail elderly of our community.

As a provincially-funded institution, the Lodge is subject to Ministry of Health long-term care guidelines and regular inspections. Our community should be filled with pride in knowing the Lodge doesn’t simply meet the Ministry standards, we exceed them and are constantly praised by the inspectors for the quality of services we provide.

The Lodge is an accredited facility and underwent an accreditation review in 2008. We recently received the accreditation report, which noted that we met over 97 per cent of the more than 470 stan-

Federation Report Jeffrey Miller, CA Hillel Lodge dards. While praise is nice, we recognize that we can and need to improve and that there is always more we can and need to do for our residents and their families.

Like so many other agencies, a challenge we are facing in the current economic climate is generating sufficient revenues to meet the needs and provide the quality services our residents deserve.

A particular challenge we face that no other agency has is that the Ministry sets the guidelines for both what we can charge and what they will pay. We are prohibited from adding a surcharge for providing services exceeding Ministry levels or the fact that we are a kosher facility and the cost of feeding the residents is substantially more than what the Ministry provides.

Our board recognizes that, in these times, we need to actively pursue additional revenues to ensure we can meet our

obligations. At no time do we want to reduce the quality of care and service we provide. Our residents, your parents and grandparents, deserve our best efforts.

Another serious challenge we face is a growing waiting list.

This is a result of both an aging population and a shortage of long-term care beds. Another contributing factor is the severe shortage of hospital beds that has been well documented in the press. As a result of this crisis, the Ministry has prioritized patients coming from hospital over people on our waiting list.

We are fortunate that, when the Lodge was built, consideration was given to the need for future expansion and a shelled-in space was included in the Lodge’s construction.

One of the issues we have to deal with is the fact that we have no control over

the waiting list and that, when there is a vacancy, it is up to the Ministry to decide if that vacancy will be filled from the waiting list or a hospital admission.

Rest assured that we continue to advocate as best we can on behalf of our community members on the waiting list.

In an effort to address the growing waiting list, we have actively pursued having the Ministry grant us licences for 21 new long-term care beds. We are fortunate that, when the Lodge was built, consideration was given to the need for future expansion and a shelled-in space was included in the Lodge’s construction.

When we get approval for these beds, we will only have to raise the funds necessary to complete the fit-ups and purchase the furniture and equipment rather than having to build an entire new structure.

I want to thank Federation and the Bulletin for allowing me to write this article to update you on the affairs of the Lodge.

At the Lodge, we truly appreciate the excellent relationship we have developed with the Federation and other agencies.

We are truly grateful for the support we get from the Federation and the community-at-large.

Modern Orthodoxy’s moment of truth Modern Orthodoxy, as a movement today, must be proactive in promoting its program of synthesizing Torah values, study and practice with the wisdom of the secular world.

While congregations in our community such as Beit Tikvah and Machzikei Hadas espouse Modern Orthodoxy as a way of life that is fully in consonance with Halacha, it remains for its adherents in Ottawa to promulgate that same vision in our schools in our community today.

We, as Modern Orthodox Jews, are indeed proud of Ottawa’s Jewish day schools, high schools, yeshiva and afternoon school programs.

Although there is no specific Modern Orthodox day school network in Ottawa similar to the Hebrew Academy model in Montreal, our students have attended and continue to be represented in the various institutions of learning that make up the Ottawa Jewish educational framework.

In light of this fact, it is necessary to state clearly and unequivocally what Modern Orthodoxy represents for its constituents from an educational point of view: Modern Orthodoxy places its primary focus on the mastery of texts such as Torah and Talmud, and the observance of Halacha. At the same time, it recognizes that the disciplines of the sciences, the social sciences as well as the arts, are Divine gifts the Jew has the responsibility to study and internalize;

From the pulpit Rabbi Howard Finkelstein Beit Tikvah Modern Orthodox Jews do not sit in judgment on any other Jews, but relate with respect and acceptance of all members of our faith who all figuratively stand at Sinai, receiving the Torah anew on a daily basis; The Modern Orthodox Jew recognizes the sanctity of all human beings, and adheres to the belief that all people are created in the image of God; The Modern Orthodox Jew recognizes the importance of living according to the ethical and moral standards set down by our Torah and Halacha. There is no tolerance for immorality or unethical behaviour in our community; The Modern Orthodox Jew recognizes the centrality and sanctity of the State of Israel in Jewish life. We are indeed privileged to be witnesses to this modern day miracle of Jewish independence in our ancient land; Modern Orthodoxy recognizes the importance of the knowledge of the Hebrew language, not simply as a means to understand ancient texts, but as a living language, the study of which should not be

abandoned; Modern Orthodoxy does not recognize or accept the compartmentalization of subjects into separate Judaic and secular subject areas. We must integrate our studies to demonstrate specifically how Judaism impacts on all areas of life and study. Thus, our schools should be teaching ethics as solutions to issues that arise in the world of medicine, business, etc. The failure to inculcate ethical values in children of this generation and previous ones has led to the

immoral debacles we have witnessed in recent history affecting the Jewish and nonJewish communities.

As members of Ottawa’s Jewish community, we have continued to support our community institutions, and will continue to do so. As part of that community, we dare not compromise on our principles as enunciated above. Our children’s spiritual lives are at stake. We have supported our educational institutions, and shall continue to do so.

Owned by The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd., 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, K2A 1R9.

Tel: (613) 798-4696. Fax: (613) 798-4730. Email: bulletin@ottawajewishbulletin.com. Published 19 times a year. © copyright may 11, 2009 PUBLISHER: The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd. EDITOR: Michael Regenstreif EDITOR EMERITUS: Barry Fishman PRODUCTION MANAGER: Brenda Van Vliet BUSINESS MANAGER: Rhoda Saslove-Miller ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Seymour Diener, chair; Anna Bilsky; Stephen Bindman; Mark Buckshon; Jack Cramer; Diane Koven; Louise Rachlis; Michael Wollock.

The Bulletin cannot vouch for the kashrut of the products or establishments advertised in this publication unless they have the certification of the Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut or other rabbinic authority recognized by the Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut.

Local subscription $30.00. Out-of-town $36.00. International $50.00. $2.00 per issue.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.

ISSN: 1196-1929

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40018822 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 07519 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: OTTAWA JEWISH BULLETIN 21 NADOLNY SACHS PRIVATE, OTTAWA, ON K2A 1R9 email: bulletin@ottawajewishbulletin.com

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 7

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa at 75 Since arriving in Ottawa in 2007 to work at the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, I’ve spent my working days – and many of my evenings – immersed in the ongoing activities of the city’s diverse Jewish community.

I’ve attended events, written articles and edited many more. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know many of the great volunteers, lay leaders and professionals who make the Jewish community of Ottawa the dynamic community it is.

Working on a newspaper generally means your focus is almost always squarely on the present, the recent past and the immediate future. On a daily newspaper that means yesterday, today and, maybe, the next couple of days. On a community paper like the Bulletin, it’s the past couple of weeks, this week and what might be coming up in the next few weeks.

Every time I have a conversation with someone in the community, certainly every time I do an interview or attend an event, every time I do some research for an article I’m writing, or verify facts in an article I’m editing, I learn something new about this community. For the most part, though, I’ve been learning about the contemporary community and the relatively recent past.

But, while we’ve worked on this issue’s special section marking the 75th anniver-

Editor Michael Regenstreif sary of the founding of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir, the community’s umbrella organization now known as the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, I’ve had the opportunity to learn so much about the history of the Vaad and Federation, about the history of Ottawa’s Jewish community and about so many of the people who have contributed to making this community what it is – from the visionary leaders who founded the Vaad 75 years ago to the 75 contemporary volunteers whose contributions are noted in the special section and who will be honoured on Wednesday, May 20 when the Federation officially marks the 75th anniversary.

Following the timeline of the Vaad and Federation, reading the articles about the history of the organization and about some of its major figures over the years has been fascinating. The Hy Hochberg Community Boardroom is down the hall from the

Bulletin office in the Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building. I’ve attended many meetings in that boardroom without really knowing very much about Hy Hochberg and how important a figure he was to the Vaad and to Ottawa’s Jewish community. I now know much more about him and about so many of the other people so important to our community’s history.

It may take a couple of years of finding a few extra minutes at a time, but I’m going to go back and slowly work my way through the 70 years of Ottawa Jewish Bulletins that were published before I arrived. I’m going to do that partly because my interest in learning more about the history of the Ottawa Jewish community has been piqued, and partly because I’m already anticipating the 75th anniversary of the Bulletin coming up in 2012.

Today’s Jewish Federation of Ottawa is the central communal organization of a community that is religiously and culturally diverse. And, while there is so much diversity in the community and while so many people work on so many different aspects of Jewish life in Ottawa, the Federation is at the heart and soul of Ottawa’s Jewish public collectivity.

Planning for the special section marking the 75th anniversary of the Jewish Federa-

tion of Ottawa started several months ago when we began discussing the very idea of a special section and what it should include. A tremendous amount of work was involved in pulling it all together and I’d like to give my special thanks to a number of people who worked many extra hours above and beyond their normal calls of duty.

From the Bulletin staff, Business Manager Rhoda Saslove-Miller sold the advertising that made the special section possible, while Production Manager Brenda Van Vliet did great work setting up and laying out the section and designing the ads that did not come in camera-ready.

Kristina Yovcheva, the Federation’s graphics and web co-ordinator, did a fabulous job designing the section cover and the timeline. Laurie Dougherty of the Ottawa Jewish Archives verified the historical data and found the photos from decades past.

Laurie and Cindy Engel researched and wrote the articles and Benita Siemiatycki of the Jewish Ottawa InfoCentre compiled the volunteer biographies.

And working with us through the entire process were Federation President Mitchell Bellman and Communications Director Francie Greenspoon.

Thanks to all involved.

The legend of Iggy the Liberal A long, long time ago, not far from a river, close to a park, in a great big house called Stornoway, there lived a tall, thin man named Stéphane. He was the leader of the Liberals.

It was a nice big house.

It had a beautiful yard for his dog, Kyoto, and lots of closet space, and a cook.

But Stéphane wanted to live down the road, in an even bigger house, with an even bigger yard, even closer to the river.

So he asked the people of the land to vote for his party. And for something called a Green Shift. And, if all went according to plan and, if enough people liked him and his shift, and voted for his party, Stéphane would soon be packing up his bags and his dog, and maybe even his cook. And he’d be heading down to that bigger house by the river.

But the people didn’t really understand Stéphane’s Green Shift. Truth be told, they didn’t always really understand Stéphane himself. Not nearly enough people liked him and his party. And not nearly enough people voted for him.

So he called a press conference and announced he was leaving his house for a different, smaller house, and he would let someone else from his party come live in Stornoway. But not for a long, long time.

Soon enough, though, Stéphane made one last risky bid for a move into the big house by the river.

Alan Echenberg With the help of a shorter, balder, smiling man named Jack, and the support of another tall man named Gilles, Stéphane made an unexpected grab for power. And, if it wasn’t for that meddling Governor General and a wonky video camera, it just might have worked.

But it didn’t work, and the people weren’t happy with Stéphane. They told the pollsters of the land that they liked his party even less than before. And the Liberals weren’t happy with Stéphane, and they convinced him to take his dog and banish himself from Stornoway forever.

The cook stayed behind to make meals for Stéphane’s replacement. It was another tall, thin man who hoped to move into the bigger house down by the road near the river. The new man was called Iggy.

Everyone knew that Iggy had wanted Stéphane’s job for a long time. He had been the runner-up to Stéphane in the last contest for the leadership of his party. But, back then, Iggy was seen as too new, too divisive, too prone to gaffes, too snooty and too

unfamiliar with the land he wanted to lead because he had lived for many years in another kingdom far, far away over the sea.

But times had changed and, maybe, Iggy had too. He had developed a more common touch. He had become more adept at playing the games of politics. He had tasted a lot of rubber chicken and shaken a lot of hands in every fiefdom across the land.

Rivals for the succession – a sandyhaired man named Bob and a stocky young man named Dominic – stepped aside and gave Iggy a clear path to the leadership, not to mention the front door keys to Stornoway, with its vast closet space, and its big yard, and its short distance from that bigger house down the road.

Soon, it grew darker across the land.

Tradesmen began losing their jobs. Commerce became more difficult to practice.

The treasuries faced great challenges. The prime minister of the land – who lived in that bigger house so coveted by Stéphane and Iggy – grew more and more unpopular.

The people told the pollsters of the land that they liked Iggy more and more. Soon he was just as popular as the prime minister himself.

But questions remained.

Was Iggy’s party really a national party anymore? Did people all across the land support it enough, or was it only popular in select fiefdoms?

Were Iggy’s leadership and the prime

Michael Ignatieff applauds Stéphane Dion in the House of Commons in 2008.

minister’s fumbles enough for the party to rebuild, or was the prospect of power preventing the Liberals from conducting serious reflection about what they stood for?

What did Iggy stand for?

His critics said he stood for whatever the last voter he spoke to wanted him to stand for. And then he stood for other things when he spoke to other voters.

The people across the land reserved judgment. The Liberals remained hopeful.

And Iggy sat in Stornoway, plotting his next moves, and keeping his eye on the bigger house down the road by the river.

Alan Echenberg is TVOntario’s Parliamentary bureau chief.

Page 8 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Jewish War Veterans of Canada, Ottawa Post, is offering four $1,000 AND one $500 cash awards/ scholarship to deserving students a) The Jewish War Veterans of Canada Ottawa Post Student Award ($1000) b) The Abe Carlofsky Student Scholarship ($1000) c) The Saul and Edna Goldfarb Award (2 x $1000) d) The Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Student Award ($500)

Prerequisites 1) the student must live in the Ottawa/National Capital Region, be graduating high school in 2009 and pursuing a post secondary education 2) the student must provide a copy of his/her’s academic transcript 3) the student must show evidence of superior qualities of leadership, citizenship,sportsmanship and voluntary work at school, within the Jewish community and the community at large 4) the student is eligible for any of these awards but can only receive one 5) the student must send in their application for this award no later than June 30/09

Send Submissions to: Mrs. Freda Lithwick 512-100 Isabella St. Ottawa, ON K1S 1V5 Phone- 613-232-5504

In Memoriam Jack Smith

Ottawa’s ‘larger-than-life’ kosher caterer remembered

By Benita Baker Is there anyone in Ottawa who does not have a Jack Smith story? Whether you were a client, a neighbour, a friend, a relative or the person standing next to him in the check-out line, you walked away with a memory.

Jack Smith, Ottawa’s larger-than-life kosher caterer, restaurateur, philanthropist, friend and family man died April 7 at the age of 77.

Jack’s compassion, generosity and good humour are legendary in Ottawa. If you were needy, he gave you money (no questions asked). If an organization needed money, he spearheaded the fundraising. He gave without being asked. If he had $10, he gave away nine.

Rather than reduce a bank overdraft that threatened the financial security of his business, he gave the money to a stranger whose house had burned down. To the struggling widow with a Bar Mitzvah-age son, he gave a kiddush luncheon.

When a man walked into Jack’s restaurant and asked him for money to go to his mother’s funeral in Paris, Jack gave him $650, all the cash in his pocket.

Some businessmen who witnessed this exchange thought he was crazy, and told him so.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t have $5,000 in your pocket,” they reproached him.

He loved life, he loved people, he loved food, he loved his community and he loved to help. He always had a smile, a funny anecdote and a genuine interest in what you had to say. He made you feel good just by being in the same room with him.

A father of 10, he himself came from a family of

13, nine boys and four girls.

Born in Ottawa during the Great Depression, Jack quit school and started to work when he was just 12.

At 13, he was driving a truck and making meat deliveries for Cantor’s butcher.

His father Louis was a shoemaker who travelled from Russia via Norway and Montreal, where he met Jack’s mother, to set up shop on St. Patrick Street in Ottawa.

The shop was a hub of activity. There was an everpresent pot of soup on the stove for anyone who stopped by, Jewish newspapers to read and stories to be told. Peddlers would come to the shop early Monday morning and borrow from Jack’s father the few dollars they needed to buy their goods for the week.

Jack’s mother Annie was a fortune teller who read tea leaves and tarot cards. She also made herbal medicines and salves that cured skin problems.

She raised money for the shul and would literally give you the coat off her back, as Jack witnessed one cold winter day when she encountered a woman not wearing one.

Jack beat the odds many times in his life. He was given just a slim chance of surviving when he was born prematurely. He made and lost, or gave away, fortunes.

He tragically lost his first wife, Inez, to a car accident in 1975, but later found Linda Rosen, whom he married in 1983.

After suffering a massive heart attack and stroke 11 years ago, he was not expected to live.

Jack was not the first kosher caterer in Ottawa.

But his Creative Kosher Catering was the first one to cater events in the city’s hotels, or to open a kosher

restaurant, Yankele’s.

He owned the Melting Pot Restaurant in the Embassy West Hotel for 20 years and was a partner, with siblings Freda and Dave, in Nate’s Delicatessen.

Jack was a consummate fundraiser and community volunteer. He worked tirelessly for the Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds and the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

He served on the executive board of Congregation Machzikei Hadas for 35 years, where he famously introduced the Rolls Royce giveaway fund raising event that lasted almost 20 years.

Jack’s commitment to B’nai Brith was all-embracing. He was vice-president and president of Ottawa Lodge 885, chairman of Camp B’nai Brith for three years and belonged to the two other local lodges, Parliament and Bytown.

Raising money came as easy to Jack as giving it away. He was the driving force behind B’nai Brith’s highly successful fundraising events – Millionaire’s Night and Man of the Year Dinner.

Who else but Jack could use his renowned girth as the source of fundraising dollars, challenging comers to sponsor his weight loss, dollar for pound?

During the shiva, a rabbi from Montreal, whom the family had never met, drove to Ottawa just to tell them stories of Jack’s largesse, which obviously extended beyond this city.

“He truly was a tzadik,” said the rabbi.

Jack received many honours for his fundraising work, but he was most proud of being the honouree for the Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner in 1988. Ironically, he once at(Continued on page 9)

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 9 Advertorial

Smith was a consummate fundraiser and Jewish community volunteer

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Brian Pearl president

KKL-JNF inaugurates new Jerusalem metropolitan park By the time this reaches you, our May 11 program at the Soloway JCC, Colours of My Father: A Portrait of Sam Borenstein, will be taking place. I know it will be a very interesting and entertaining program. On behalf of JNF Ottawa, I would like to thank Carol Greenberg for once again, generously agreeing to sponsor the evening, and to Oliver Javanpour for chairing this event. Kudos all around!

For this month’s column, since we have just finished Pesach, I want to focus on a JNF project that is different than the others, because it isn’t rural or agricultural, but more urban in character and not in the Galilee or the Negev, but right in the heart of the country, in the area surrounding Jerusalem itself. Together with the Jerusalem Municipality and other green organizations, KKL-JNF is creating a new metropolitan park that will extend over 3,700 acres, surrounding the capital on the west, north and south. Arazim Park, the first link in this chain located west of Jerusalem, was inaugurated earlier this year.

Arazim is the first step in the creation of a metropolitan park that will someday encompass Jerusalem and answer the city’s need for an easily accessible area for recreation in nature. It includes four regional parks and, depending on their ability to raise Left to right: Yigal Yasinow, MK Yuli Tamir the funds for and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat at the dedid e v e l o p - cation of Arazim Park. ment, the city and its partners, including KKL-JNF hope to dedicate a link in this chain every few years. The parks will include a sports centre, access roads, hiking and cycling trails, playgrounds, forests and historical sites.

At the dedication, Moshe Leon of the Jerusalem Development Authority said that the park would be a catalyst for Jerusalem’s future growth. “In 2008, a strategic agreement to create ecological parks around Jerusalem was signed by the Jerusalem Development Authority and KKL-JNF. This will be our flagship project over the next five years. The level of cooperation with KKL-JNF and other organizations working on the park has been extraordinary and it is especially heartwarming to know that KKL-JNF’s friends worldwide will also be partners to this enterprise.”

In closing, Ottawa JNF extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Jack Smith (z”l). Jack was a Negev Dinner Honouree and a dedicated long-standing member of the Board of Ottawa JNF. He was always willing to lend a hand or an ear, or whatever we needed, and Jack’s enthusiastic presence will be deeply missed by Ottawa JNF and the entire community.

On a daily basis you can plant trees for all occasions. An attractive card is sent to the recipient.

To order, call the JNF office (613.798.2411).

tempted to become a professional fundraiser but no one would hire him because he did not have the educational background.

The legend of Jack Smith begins with his remarkable family – his wife and best friend, Linda; 10 children; 12 grandchildren, ranging from four to 31; and one great-grandchild.

“Our Zaidie was not just a symbol of love and happiness and fun and family – he was the actual reason for those things,” said grandson Aaron at Jack’s funeral on April 12.

Even the grandchildren have their Jack stories. The ready smile, hug, big kiss and high five whenever he saw them, the stop at every berry stand and chip truck on the drive up to camp, being taken out of school early to go to a movie matinee, the time he rented a private box at the Corel Centre and took them all to a wrestling match.

“It is family that drove my Zaidie to be great,” said Aaron. “And it is family that will carry his memory on.”

The late Jack Smith with wife Linda.

Wherever he went, Jack was surrounded by admirers.

“People always come up to me to hug me and kiss me and reminisce about a simcha I did,” he said in a 2001 interview with the Ottawa

r e ti r e

Jewish Historical Society.

“Wherever I go, I hold court.”

After recovering from his stroke in 1998, there were so many well-wishers stopping to greet him in the shul lobby on Kol Nidre

night that the service was forced to start late.

“I am one of the fortunate ones,” he said in the 2001 interview.

No, Jack. We are the fortunate ones for having been touched by you.

in style

Discover an independent lifestyle which is enhanced by our superb service.

We do the work, so you can have the leisure time to enjoy everything Central Park Lodge has to offer.

OTT1&2-031A

More than trees 613.798.2411

(Continued from page 8)

2370 & 2374 Carling Avenue (613)820-7333 www.reveraliving.com

Page 10 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Walkathon ‘a great entry into summer and a great cause’

By Pamela Rosenberg for Soloway JCC Chances are, if you’re Jewish and live in Ottawa, you’ve been to the Soloway Jewish Community Centre (JCC).

Perhaps you drop off your children at Ganon Preschool or at Summer Camp. Maybe you take advantage of the fitness centre, swim laps in the saltwater pool or play basketball in the gym. You may have attended a lecture, taken a class or participated in celebration organized by the Soloway JCC or the many other Jewish organizations that use our amazing facilities.

“The Soloway JCC is the heart of the Jewish community,” says Gustavo Rymberg, the Soloway JCC’s director of marketing. “The community has gathered here for events for the past 10 years, and we are proud of our JCC. Everything Jewish happens at the Soloway JCC.” Since opening its doors more than 10 years ago, the Soloway JCC has literally been the centre of our community, a constant hub of activity.

In order to grow and evolve and to continue offering first rate

programs, lectures and classes and to maintain and improve our facilities, it is imperative that the entire community pull together and pitch in.

And, could there be an easier and better way to help our community than by taking part in the Walkathon on Sunday, June 7 and spending a beautiful morning walking as a family by the picturesque Ottawa River Parkway?

The Walkathon, a long-standing Ottawa tradition, is presented by the Soloway JCC and the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the city’s central Jewish communal organization.

Mark Thaw has been involved with the Walkathon for many years as a volunteer, as co-chair of the event and, of course, as a

walker. This year, he is chair of the Chai Walkers, a group committed both to raising a large sum of money and to helping promote the event throughout the community.

“The Walkathon is a great entry into summer and a great cause,” says Thaw. “It’s always been a good way to get out and support the community. It’s a great family day and an opportunity to show our solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community.”

According to Thaw, who is always on the lookout for new Chai Walkers, many of the Chai Walkers are the same people who do it year after year. He is hoping that the new Chai Walkers format with three different categories will attract broader participation.

Chai Walkers at the Chai

Bronze level raise $500. The Chai Silver level is $1,000 and the Chai Gold level is $1,800.

Adam Moscoe, who will be rounding-up as many Youth Walkers as he can, says he has loved the Walkathon since he was a student at Hillel Academy. This year, together with Benjamin Kershman, he is working to create a team of teen walkers. They’re reaching out to young people at the Jewish Culture Clubs, Torah High and Yitzhak Rabin High School.

“It is essential that every single initiative the Jewish community takes on be inclusive and attractive to young people. Engaging high school and university students with our community is the key for ensuring the stability of Jewish life in Ottawa,” says Moscoe, who is also co-chair of the Youth Planning Committee for the Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards 2009.

“It’s fun, it’s outside, it’s physical, it’s low-key,” says Moscoe of Walkathon. “We are lucky to have an event like this each year.

Walkathon and Mitzvah Day are two of the most important events each year, but they won’t last long without the key involvement of

The Seventh Annual Passover Lunch was a definite success.

ISRAELI WINE EVENING You are invited to our inaugural Israeli wine evening including a sommeliere-led wine tasting, cocktail reception and auction.

Our special guest speaker is

The Hon. Irwin Cotler, MP Maccabi Canada’s “Team Ottawa” is pleased to invite you to this special community event, graciously hosted by David Smith of Creative Kosher Catering. The evening will feature tastings of world-class kosher wines led by local sommelière and entrepreneur Debbie Trenholm, hors d’oeuvres, Israeli food and dessert bar, and an exciting silent and live auction with fabulous items led by auctioneer and philanthropist extraordinaire Dave Smith.

Our special guest speaker, The Hon. Mr. Irwin Cotler, MP has been described as being at the forefront of the struggle for justice, peace and human rights.

Former Minister of Justice, he is currently a Member of Parliament, serving as official Opposition Critic for Human Rights. Mr. Cotler is also a good friend of Maccabi Canada, and competed in the 2005 Maccabiah Games in the Masters table tennis competition.

6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 Agudath Israel Synagogue 1400 Coldrey Avenue, Ottawa It is anticipated that this event will sell out quickly.

Please call to reserve your ticket early!

Event Sponsor

$36 per person For reservations or for more information contact maccabiwineevening@rogers.com or Ellen at 613-820-7714.

All proceeds go towards the costs of sending Ottawa-area athletes to the 18th Maccabiah Games in Israel in July 2009.

young people.”

Registration for Walkathon gets underway Sunday, June 7 at 8:30 am in the Soloway JCC gym with a stretch and warm-up class offered by one of the Soloway JCC fitness pros at 9:00.

For the first time this year, Walkathon will start in the back parking lot of the Soloway JCC at 9:30 am.

The finish line to the Walkathon route will also be in the lot. And, beginning at 11:30, a delicious and nutritious lunch prepared by Creative Kosher Catering will be ready for participants on their return to the Soloway JCC. There’ll also be live music, tai chi and yoga classes and massage therapy. Walkathon participants are invited to spend the rest of the day lounging by, or splashing in, the Soloway JCC indoor or outdoor pools.

For more information on Walkathon, contact Soloway JCC membership manager Patrice Berdowski at 613-798-9818, ext.

233 or pberdowski@jccottawa.com.

You can pick up registration packages at the Soloway JCC or register on-line at jccottawa.com or jewishottawa.com.

The Ottawa Chapter of CFHU would like to thank the Sponsors and Patrons whose support makes this event possible.

Our Passover Lunch Event Sponsor SPONSORS Ambico Limited Myrna & Norman Barwin Martin Z. Black, Barrister & Solicitor B’nai Brith Parliament Lodge Cohen & Lord Insurance Deloitte Leanne & Jeff Greenberg & Family

PATRONS Joe Benmergui Bemac Auto Body Shop Leonard Cogan Beverly Cogan-Gluzman Susannah Dalfen Abe Feinstein Jeffrey Fine Rabbi Steve Garten Carol Greenberg John Holzman

Jacques Shore / Gowlings Ketlleman’s Bagel Company (Carling & Woodroffe) Logan Katz LLP Merivale Fish Market & Seafood Grill Merovitz Potechin Osgoode Properties Saslove’s Meat Market Westboro Flooring & Décor

Laizer Kaminsky David Kardish Edie Landau Claire Miller Henry Molot Maureen Molot Linda Nadolny-Cogan Gerald Posen Josee Posen Ernie Potechin Shelley Rothman Art Saper

Jeff Shuster Linda Slotin Judith Stoler Joel Taller Sunny Tavel Neil Teitelbaum Sheelagh Teitelbaum Arnie Vered Eric Weisbloom Debbie Weiss Norman Zagerman

Special Thanks to the Organizing Committee Art Saper and Linda Slotin – co-chairs Myrna Barwin, Marty Black, Judah Silverman, Judith Stoler.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 11

Mark Your Calendar!

Purchase your copy of the

2009 Ottawa Jewish Telephone Directory at the Soloway JCC for $22.00 during the following sale dates: Sunday, May 31: Monday, June 1:

Thursday, June 4:

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm 8:30 am - 11:30 am & 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm 8:30 am - 11:30 am & 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm noon - 2:00 pm

Sunday, June 7:

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Wednesday, June 3: Rabbi Menachem Blum in the Ottawa Torah Center’s new facility at 111 Lamplighters Drive.

OTC moves to its own site in Barrhaven

By Diane Koven for Ottawa Torah Center Chabad Like the story of the Jewish people, Ottawa Torah Center Chabad (OTC) comes from humble beginnings, the perfect recipe for sustained, long-term growth. More than 3,000 years ago, our ancestors began as slaves and desert nomads with a vision of a bright future, a destiny that would illuminate all of humanity.

Twelve years ago, Rabbi Menachem and Dina Blum started OTC in the basement of their townhome in Barrhaven, a makeshift centre with a dream of cultivating a bright Jewish future for our community and for our children. The vision was to create a social centre that provides Jewish activities geared to young families living in the greater Nepean and Kanata areas. Kosher cooking classes, barbecues, holiday programs, adult classes and a youth club were some of the first programs offered.

“By making people feel loved and accepted for who they are, regardless of their affiliation and commitment, we started reaching dozens of families, touching their Jewish soul and igniting their interest to get more involved,” explains Rabbi Blum.

OTC’s reputation of having an open door policy and its non-judgmental approach quickly spread and OTC programs continued growing and thriving throughout the city.

Today, OTC programs include the Chabad Hebrew School with 50 students enrolled; regular, well-attended Shabbat and holiday services; JLI courses; and holiday events. Thousands of children, both in the Jewish and public school system, have participated in OTC’s series of hands-on workshops and special niche social programs.

With OTC moving from one basement to a second, from one storefront to another, the community quickly realized that OTC would

need a permanent home to establish a little Jewish hub of social and educational activity for Jewish families living in Ottawa’s western suburbs. A 1.4 acre site was secured at 111 Lamplighters Drive and a capital campaign was launched to build OTC’s synagogue and outreach centre.

Following its trend to grow in a very systematic and steady path, OTC serviced the site and set up a prefab building to operate from as it continues with its capital fundraising efforts. The new 3,000 square foot building includes a synagogue/social hall, OTC’s offices and classrooms for the Chabad Hebrew School.

“It was a natural next step, establishing our presence on our own site while we continue working on our permanent building,” says Rabbi Blum. “It will allow us to continue reaching out to many more people now that we are in our own facility.”

All the work done on the land and the parking lot was done the way it will be when the permanent building is built, while allowing OTC to operate on site during construction.

Services were held there during Pesach and programming has begun to take place at the new facility.

“Please join us for a Shabbat service this month and come check out our new home while enjoying a delicious cholent and L’chaims” says the Rabbi. “In our new facility, we will maintain OTC’s wonderful warmth and family atmosphere as we bring our spiritual and uplifting approach to an expanding circle of participants who will experience the joy of Jewish life at OTC.” The new facility is located at 111 Lamplighters Drive at the corner of Kennevale Drive in Barrhaven in the new housing development between Cedarview Road and Strandherd. For more information contact OTC at 613-823-0866.

Home copies distributed after the above dates will be $25.00 each (includes a $3.00 handling fee).

Keep your address up-to-date by advising us of any changes you may have during the year.

Are you new to Ottawa? Call our office at 613.722.2932 to include your listing in the 2010 Directory.

The Ottawa Jewish Telephone Directory is published annually by Na’amat Ottawa

WHEN YOU CALL DUNN’S IT’S DUNN RIGHT!

ish w e J Style

* Party Platters * Shiva Meals * Bris/Pidyon Ha’ben * Baby Naming * Anniversary * Sweet 16

LOTS OF FOOD – REASONABLE PRICES All Your Favourites Including: Chopped Liver; Kasha & Bows; Kinishes; Noodle Pudding; Cooked Briskets; Blintzes; Smoked Salmon; Varenekas; And of Course Our Famous Cheesecake

HOST YOUR NEXT BRUNCH AT OUR SITE 220 Elgin Street

CALL 613-230-6444

Ask for Stanley

OPEN 24 HOURS – FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS

Page 12 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Comedy night to benefit CHEO Foundation and SJCC programs

By Pamela Rosenberg for Soloway JCC Three of Canada’s funniest and fastest-rising comedy stars will come together Monday, May 25, 8:00 pm, at Centrepointe Theatre for Big Laughs for Little People, the first annual comedy night in support of the Soloway Jewish Community Centre (JCC) and the CHEO Foundation.

The event, which raises funds for children in need, promises to be a hilarious evening of sidesplitting stand-up with comedians Phil Shuchat, Pete Zedlacher and Scott Faulconbridge, all of whom have garnered rave reviews.

Phil Shuchat has been a hit at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, on the Comedy Network’s Comedy at Club 54 and at shows across Canada and the U.S. Pete Zedlacher has taken his show all around the world over the past 11 years.

His performance on Comedy Now aired on CTV and the Comedy Network and had the show’s second highest rating ever. Zedlacher has appeared at the Just for Laughs Festival, on Open Mike with Mike Bullard and is a frequent guest on TSN’s Off the

Record and co-host of Much Music’s heavy metal show, LOUD. Scott Faulconbridge’s improvisational and observational style has had audiences in hysterics all over North America and the UK. Montreal Gazette columnist Bill Brownstein said Faulconbridge was “among the funniest comics on this entire continent.”

Comedy night chair Mitch Miller is hoping for a full house at Centrepointe Theatre as “the event does support two worthwhile charitable organizations, and it’s always good to go out with your friends and have a good laugh.”

The CHEO Foundation was founded in 1974 with the sole purpose of raising funds to help support the work of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

The Foundation website states their mission is “to further the physical, mental and social wellbeing of children and their families in eastern Ontario and western Quebec by raising, managing and disbursing funds” and that “donations help the hospital provide a wide variety of paediatric programs, research, state-of-the-art equipment, medical and nursing

education and assistance for families in crises.

For more than 50 years, the JCC has provided the community with educational, social, recreational and cultural programs and services.

The Soloway JCC, as noted in our mission statement, provides “a full spectrum of life-enriching

programs and services for Jews and non-Jews, members and nonmembers.”

Funds raised by the comedy night will help provide scholarships for Soloway JCC membership, send children to Soloway JCC summer camps and support the Soloway JCC Special Needs Aquatics Program, which teaches

children who are hard of hearing, deaf or autistic how to swim and stay safe in and around water.

Tickets are available now at centrepointetheatre.com.

For more information, contact Una Folkson Singh, Soloway JCC revenue development manager, at 613-798-9818, ext. 225 or ufolksonsingh@jccottawa.com.

Volunteer at Hillel Lodge

By Joel Diener, Debi Shore and Marilyn Adler for Hillel Lodge In today’s fast-paced world we often miss what’s really important. We strive for material things like bigger cars and better televisions.

It seems that a lot of us have forgotten why we are really here.

Yes, we are here to enjoy life, but, at the same time, we are also here to enrich the lives of those around us thus making the world a better place to live.

We have many places and opportunities to enrich the lives of others in our community. One that stands out in particular is Hillel Lodge.

Volunteering at the Lodge is so

Hostesses MRS. IRIT BECK MRS. IRIS BEER MRS. TRACY BIELAK MRS. MINDY CHEIN MRS. NIKI COLMAN MRS. MEIRA DACHEVSKI MRS. BONNIE FAINER MS. IDA FIRESTONE

rewarding – both for the volunteers and the residents.

By filling a resident’s time with quality and meaningful interaction, you can add years to their life and life to their years. Particularly for the Lodge residents who do not have family in Ottawa.

Yes, the Lodge provides many programs and recreational activities, but there are never enough hands to go around. Your hands, and your smile, are needed.

Volunteering at Hillel Lodge is not just rewarding, it’s also very easy and enjoyable.

Lodge volunteers visit with residents, assist them on outings, help at bingo, porter residents to their activities, help them get to their appointments and even help

them navigate the latest technology.

If you have a special talent, share it with the residents. One thing is sure – you will have an audience that appreciates you.

Becoming a Hillel Lodge volunteer is easy. Just call Marilyn Adler at 613-728-3900 and she’ll get you started in becoming a member of the Hillel Lodge’s extended family. You’ll be happy to see how big a difference you can make.

Think about what is really important in today’s world. Think about how good your bubbies and zaidas were to you. Remember how they taught you that the simple things in life were best. Think about volunteering!

The Ladies Auxiliary of Kollel of Ottawa Together with the Soloway JCC & Our Hostesses Invite you to join us for a women's evening with

MRS. SAMANTHA FREEDMAN MRS. MIRIAM GAL-TAUB MRS. AGNETA GIBSON MRS. LAURIE GORDON MRS. MARY GORDON

LORI PALATNIK Author, Lecturer & Director of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project

MRS. ALICIA GREEN DR. ESTHER GUIOT MRS. CALLY KARDASH MRS. BELLA KRAITBERG

The Gift of Life Why I gave a kidney to a woman I never met

DR. VERA LANTOS MRS. SARA LEVINSON MRS. CATHY MARON MRS. ROSE-ANNE PRIZANT MRS. NOGA REISS MRS. ALICE RETIK DR. ALTI RODAL

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 6:30 p.m.

Soloway Jewish Community Centre 21 Nadolny Sachs Private

MRS. SHIRLEY SCHILDKRAUT MRS. LAUREN SHAPS

Elegant Buffet

MRS. SHARON SHOLZBERG-GRAY MRS.NILI SZILAGYI MRS. SUSAN VERED MRS. ESTHER WILLIAMS

Couvert $18

No solicitation

To reserve tickets please call 613.729.2803 / 613.761.6725

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 13

CICF to celebrate Ottawa’s Jewish authors

By Jane Gordon for CICF Who would have thought that Ottawa is a treasure trove of published Jewish authors or their families?

The Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation (CICF) has discovered that it is and will present A Celebration of Jewish Authors over two evenings on Sunday, May 17 and Sunday, June 7. The authors, or in some cases a family member, will present the background and context of their books and read several of their favourite passages. A dessert reception will follow each event.

The May 17 event is True Stories and Beyond and will focus on Holocaust-related literature with authors Gabriela Goliger, Erwin Koranyi, Morris Schnitzer, Barbara Fradkin will be featured June 7.

Tibor Shatteles, Gretl Fisher and Eliezer Kalter (presented by Mina The moderator for both evenings will be Randall Ware, a book panelist for the past 15 Cohen).

The second evening, June 7, will be a years on CBC Radio’s All in a Day. He is medley of narratives called From Mystery to also a founder of Books in Canada magazine Diplomacy. The featured authors will be and his reviews have appeared in newspaBarbara Fradkin, Tova Clark, Leon Levitt pers across the country. Before retiring, he (presented by Ruth Miller), Morris Miller was manager of cultural programs at Library (presented by Claire Miller), Jacques Shore, and Archives Canada. and Helen Levine and Oonagh Berry.

Both events begin at 7:00 pm in Room A at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street. There is no charge, but donations to further the work being done by the CICF will be accepted.

CICF plays a distinct role in Ottawa’s Jewish community serving as a cultural bridge between Canada and Israel.

With the Embassy of Israel, CICF seeks to present to Canadians Israeli cultural activities and to provide a forum for Canadian artists to present their work to the IsDo you know any newcomers to Ottawa? rael community.

It supports music, literaThe Ladies’ Reception Committee would like to ture, graphic and performing welcome new women at our semi-annual tea arts, and provides funds and Sunday, May 24, 2009 scholarships to enable young people to study in Israel, the 2:30 - 4:30 pm U.S. and Canada. We also at the home of Cayla Baylin offer a variety of programs 2341 Georgina Drive in Ottawa.

A wonderful way of meeting others in our community.

For more information If you are a newcomer to the Ottawa Jewish community, about CICF, or to RSVP for or if you know someone who is, please call either or both evenings, conAudrey Kreisman at 613-727-1917 tact Tova Clark at 613-7224645 or Ruth Calof at 613Social get-together • No solicitation 523-1600.

Newcomers’ Tea

Page 14 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

SAY IT WITH TREES 613-798-2411

●

To remember

●

To congratulate

●

To honour

●

To say I care

TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED Condolences to: Dr. Eleonora Altman in memory of your mother

by Eva & Viktor Eichler & family Charon Baray in memory of your father by Diane Koven David & Leslee Balsam in memory of your father Morris Balsam by Cheryl & Brian Levitan & family Michael Baylin in memory of your mother Caroline Baylin by Carol & Mark Froimovitch, by Chuck & Susannah Dalfen Suzanne Bregman in memory of your father Albert Schaefer by Diane Koven Felice Caliestro & family in memory of your father Norman Klitenick by Barbara & Pinchas Pleet Mr. & Mrs. Eli Berens in memory of Yolanda Berens, by Tom and Alannah Grossman Cheryl Cohen & family in memory of Helen Marshall by Debbie & Lloyd Rossman & family David Cohen in memory of Anne Cohen by Elly & Al Bruner & family Stephen Cotsman & family in memory of Terry Schwarzfeld by David & Annie Garmaise, by Linda Rossman, by Tom & Alannah Grossman, Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg, Art & Marsha Saper & the boys The Farovitch Family in memory of Uncle Myer

by Maureen & Mark, Stephanie & Dave Mrs. Shmuel Feig in memory of Shmuel Feig by Sara & Les Breiner Sam & Susan Firestone in memory of Tania Firestone by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Jeff Gould in memory of your mother Rachel Gould by Rochelle & David Greenberg Estelle Huniu in memory of your sister Eileen Baron by Yitzhak & Lea Kalin Dorothy Karp in memory of Maurie Karp by Lori Loeb Ruth Kavesh in memory of Irwin Kavesh by Tom & Alannah Grossman Shoshanah Kagedan in memory of your beloved parents by Marion Silver, Alan Brass & family Linda Kerzner in memory of your mother Bernice Hochberg by Tom & Alannah Grossman, by Lori Loeb, Joan Kronick in memory of your mother Rachel Gould by the Froimovitches, by Susaannah & Chuck Dalfen Linda Lauer & family in memory of your father Norman Speevak by Susan & Charles Schwartzman Judi Fish Levitt & family in memory of Anne Fish

by Larry & Anna Rubenstein Martin van Lierop in memory of your father Peter van Lierop by Geoffrey Sedlezky & family John Lunn in memory of your father by Brian & Rochelle Pearl Elliot Marshall & family in memory of Helen Marshall by Rose & Morrie Konick Sheldon & Rita Margolis in memory of your mother Ida Margolis by Miriam & Mario Burke & family Alex Menzies in memory of your father Dr. Thomas Taylor Menzies by Lori & John Sylvia Monson in memory of your brother Cyril Torontow by Art & Marsha Saper & family The Family of the late Ben Prossin by Carol & Laurie Pascoe, & by Marcia & Stephen Aronson Joan Schwarzfeld Robern in memory of your sister Terry Schwarzfeld by Lea & Yitzhak Kalin, by Meyer, Rena & Zev Kalin Helen Scott in memory of Ken Scott by Lori Loeb Michael Rogov & family in memory of your father Micha Rogov by Harold & Deborah Stocker

Dr. John Rowling in memory of Elizabeth Rowling

by Renate Beare Larry & Julie Schwartz & family in memory of Joel Schwartz by Debbie & Lloyd Rossman & family Martha Segal in memory of Joshua Isaac Segal by Hanna Kelly Mrs. Shereneta in memory of your husband Mike Shereneta by Yitzhak & Leah Kalin Judah & Margo Silverman in memory of Gloria Silverman by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Mindy Mazur Slotnick in memory of your brother Billy by Susan & Charles Schwartzman & family The Family of the late Isidore “Scott” Smith by Tom & Alannah Grossman The Family of the late Jack Smith by Roz & Steve Fremeth, Gladys & John Greenberg, Marcia & Barry Cantor, Lori Loeb, Susan & Charles Schwartzman, Tom & Alannah Grossman, Marion Silver & Alan Brass & family, by Reisa & Allan Glenns & family Lorna Smith in memory of Grandpa Bill Smith by Fern, Arielle & Elie Goldman Sunny Tavel in memory of your mother Bertha Palmer by Lori Loeb, by Tom & Alannah Grossman, by Chuck & Susannah Dalfen The Family of the late Pearl Thaw by Susan & Charles Schwartzman, and by Brenda & Marvin Segal Norma Torontow in memory of Cy Torontow by Rose & Morrie Konick Jennifer Tyler in memory of David Tyler by Tom & Alannah Grossman Dr. Norman Wolfish in memory of your brother Dr. Martin G. Wolfish by Graham & Ricarda Smith, by Chuck & Susannah Dalfen Refuah Shleima: Yitzhak Kalin by Leah, Meyer, Rina & Zev Kalin Rhoda Levitan by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Stacey Seller by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Srayah Sobel by Marcia & Barry Cantor Ethel Taylor by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Wishing Good Health : Annie Fortman by Sandy Brisebois Ingrid Levitz by Marcia Cantor Ethel Taylor by Vivian Caplan Noam Mendelson by Diane Crouse & Oliver Javanpour & family Esther Weinstein by Arnold & Fay Tennenhouse Wishing a Speedy Recovery to: Murray Allice by Cheryl & Brian Levitan & family Jasmine, daughter of Jennifer & Sean Clancy by Cheryl, Brian, Elana, Tyler & Ian Levitan Leslie Dubinsky by Marcia & Stephen Aronson Lester Greenam by Cheryl-Kardish Levitan Donna Hicks by Cheryl Kardish-Levitan, Brian Levitan & family Frances Ross by Marcia & Barry Cantor Corinne Zagerman by Ethel & Irving Taylor In Honour of: Leslie Abernethy-Beckoff on your 50th birthday

by Patti Lascelles & Floralove Katz Sylvia Blitzer on your birthday by Debbie, David, Gillit, Neeman, Betzalel & Yedidya Fischman L. Col. Susan Beharriell on being inducted as an officer in the Order of Military Merit by Leah, Yitzhak, Meyer, Rena & Zev Kalin Jordan & Nathan Jason-Byerley on your 10th

birthdays by Madison Pate-Green, by Nicholas Dolcetti-Koros, & by James Moreira Barry Cantor on your special birthday by Sheryl, Harvey, Mallory & Ryan Kardish, by Susan & Charles Schwartzman, by Ketty & Morris Samel Cheryl & David Dubrofsky on your anniversary

by Marcia & Barry Cantor Jack Edelson on your birthday by Vivian Caplan Rabbi Howard & Mrs. Rivka Finkelstein with best wishes for a Happy Passover by Ketty & Morris Samel Patti Flesher on your special birthday by Margo, David, Aaron & Gail Kardish Judith Foster on your retirement by Esther & Abe Tarasofsky Melissa Freeman on your birthday by Sylvia Freeman Pam Garner with thanks by Ann Bernick Abigail Greenberg on your Bat Mitzvah by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Mervin Greenberg on your birthday by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Dr. Tom Harle in recognition of donation of time & dental services to needy by Arnold & Fay Tennenhouse Dr. Paul Johnson & Staff with thanks by Ann Bernick Howard Kaplan on your special birthday by Joy, Eric & Becky Weisbloom Nancy Kaplan on your special birthday by Joy, Eric & Becky Weisbloom David & Joy Kardish on the birth of your grandson Benjamin Jacob by Cheryl, Brian, Elana, Tyler & Ian Levitan, & by Marcia & Barry Cantor Josh & Ann Kardish on the birth of your son Benjamin Jacob by Cheryl, Brian, Elana, Tyler & Ian Levitan Liat Leon on your Bat Mitzvah by Cousins Diane, Jeremy & Zahava Cathy & Stanley Levine with thanks by Ethel & Irving Taylor Sharon Letovsky on beginning Cantorial Studies

by Serena Williamson Norina Malandra with thanks by Ann Bernick David Matas, Newest Member of the Order of Canada by Floralove, Ruth & Leon Katz Max Mosion on your birthday by Cheryl, Brian, Elana, Tyler, Ian Levitan Barbara & Alec Okun on your 30th anniversary

by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Brian Pearl on special birthday by Rosalie, Harold, Leah, Josh & Naomi Schwartz, by Deana & Jacob Schildkraut Elaine Rokowski on your 60th birthday by Toby & Joel Yan Shirley & Hymie Schildkraut with best wishes on your move to Toronto by Marion Silver, Allan Brass, Lawrence, Rafi & Shira Susan & Charles Schwartzman with best wishes for a Happy Purim by Florence Antecol Morgan Haley Seuss Segal on your first birthday

by Nana and Papa Norma Shugar on your 90th birthday by Chris & Steve, Michael, Amy, Daniel, Kathleen Mr. & Mrs. Ian Sutherland on your 1st anniversary by Ethel & Abe Murray Karen & Lloyd Tataryn on the birth of your grandson, Coleman Bram Joseph Taylor on your Bar Mitzvah by Ray & Ellen Fathi & family Jerry Torontow on your birthday by Bea Torontow Michael Walsh & Lisa Rosenkrantz on your 30th

wedding anniversary by Barbara Crook & Dan Greenberg Isadore Widerman on your 84th birthday by Esther Klein Corinne & Herb Zagerman with best wishes for a Happy Passover by Ethel & Irving Taylor Mazel Tov to: Gary Berezin on your special birthday by Diane, Jeremy & Zahava Dr. Bert & Rhoda Blevis on your 50th anniversary

by Leon & Doris Bronstein, by Ricki & Barry Baker Yossi Bokhaut & Julia on your engagement by Imma, Charlie & Michael Bryna & Murray Cohen on the birth of your grandson Dylan by Cheryl & Brian Levitan & family Dayra & John Diener on your new home by Diane, Jeremy & Zahava Fern Doctoroff & Steffan Hammonds on the births of Hailey Rachel & Oliver Saul by Ruth Shane George & Vera Gara on your 50th anniversary by Rochelle & Brian Pearl, by Lea & Yitzhak Kalin, by Meyer, Rena & Zev Kalin Amanda Greenberg & Trevor Smith on your engagement by Linda & Murray Greenberg Carol Greenberg on the occasion of Abby’s Bat Mitzvah by Miriam & Mario Burke & family Jeff & Leanne Greenberg on the occasion of Abigail’s Bat Mitzvah by Lea & Yitzhak Kalin Michael Herzig on your very special day by Fern, Arielle & Elie Goldman Molly Hirsch & Erik Elkin on Neima being a “kale” by the Yiddish Class Avi & Elissa Iny on the birth of your grandson Jakob by Marcia & Barry Cantor Anita Leighton on your 85th birthday by Rochelle & Brian Pearl Faigy & Zach Muroff on the birth of your granddaughter by Susan, Charles, Jaclyn & Paul Schwartzman Arlene Rosen on the marriage of Lindsay and Andrew by Susan & Charles Schwartzman & family Edie Nyveen on the birth of your grandson Ted Tripp Biltis by Susan & Charles Schwartzman & family Dr. Barry Schwartz on your 58th birthday by Rosalie & Harold Schwartz & family Martha Segal on your retirement by Fern, Arielle & Elie Goldman Carol Silcoff & Gene Swimmer on the birth of your grandson Jack by Ruth Shane Dr. Dean Spaner on your fantastic accomplishment

by The Bellacks Rowena Rachel Tolson on your achievement by Jackie & Lucian Sitwell, & by Janet Agulnik Penny Torontow & Glenn Wolff on the opening of your new business by Diane Koven Muriel & Michael Wexler on the birth of your grandson Xander by Marcia & Barry Cantor Joel Yan on your retirement by Fern, Arielle & Elie Goldman

Tree purchases are $18 and are fully tax receiptable.

JNF thanks you for your generous contribution.

Please accept our apologies if we misspelled or omitted anyone’s name or contribution.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 15

Hadassah-WIZO tea to honour Gina and Howard Grant

By Myra McFarlane for Ottawa Hadassah-WIZO Gina and Howard Grant will be honoured when the Amit, Mollie Betcherman and Ina McCarthy Chapters of Ottawa HadassahWIZO hold our annual tea on Sunday, May 24, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at the home of Robin Chernick and Norm Leckie, 667 Highland Avenue.

Gina and Howard have been tireless supporters, leaders and benefactors to the Ottawa Jewish community, and to the larger Ottawa community, for many years. Gina has served Hadassah-WIZO in many leadership roles at the chapter, council and national levels and has been instrumental in raising funds for important Hadassah-WIZO projects in Israel.

Howard has supported Gina in her endeavours and has provided his own brand of leadership to such local charities as the Variety Club of Ottawa. Currently, he is serving as a founding member of Ottawa’s newly created Leadership Board to End Homelessness. Howard and Gina personify the values of giving back to our community in Ottawa and to our extended community in Israel.

The Grants have chosen the Terry Schwarzfeld Ottawa Daycare Centre, in Acco, Israel as be the beneficiary of donations collected at the tea. The daycare centre has been renamed in memory of Terry, our beloved friend and former national president of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO, who passed

away recently.

The children served by the Terry Schwarzfeld Ottawa Daycare Centre need our help. The good news is that the Israeli government will match your donations dollar for dollar. And that’s a good thing, because the centre is falling apart. Not only does the centre need money for programming and staff salaries, but also for infrastructure, including a new kitchen and new washrooms.

This year, as we honour Gina and Howard, we are thinking about community – about our community in Ottawa, our community in Israel and about the daycare centre in Acco that needs our help.

We celebrate community this year in one of the oldest and most traditional ways we know. We drink tea together. Tea represents community. It represents the comfort of ritual, the comfort of being together in the present moment. We will be serving a delightful buffet of international teas, in our favourite teapots, along with our usual array of delectable dainties. As always, you will be able to buy interesting objects from artisans and our amazing baked goods.

Join us as we celebrate our community, drink tea together, honour Gina and Howard and share our wealth with the Terry Schwarzfeld Ottawa Day Care Centre.

For more information, contact Sophie Frenkel at 613-726-1538.

JFS launches Friends campaign

By Geremy Miller Jewish Family Services of Ottawa Jewish Family Services of Ottawa (JFS) has launched our annual Friends of JFS campaign, which funds several innovative programs that help connect members of our community to vital services.

“This year brings its own set of challenges,” said Mark Zarecki, JFS executive director. “Our clients are the most important thing to us. Despite the economic crisis and the loss of approximately $50,000 of funding from the Jewish community, we are committed to maintaining the quality of service that we provide to our clients.

“Now is not the time to cut our budget and scale back on our services,” Zarecki stated.

“Our clients and the community need us more than ever. From counselling to crisis intervention, from Miriam’s Well and the Tikvah Program, to our employment workshops and resources, JFS is seeing a record number of new and returning clients. Now is not the time to reduce our ability to meet the needs of our community.”

Funds from the Friends of JFS campaign provide essential and innovative programs that engage and assist our clients in strengthening their Jewish identities as well as strengthening communal life in both the Jewish and greater Ottawa communities.

Two programs funded by last year’s Friends campaign are JOLT (Jewish Immi-

grant Aid Service Opportunity Leadership Training) and Jewish Connection. JOLT has had a successful start with more than a dozen Russia immigrants beginning to connect with Ottawa’s Jewish community and to their Jewish heritage.

The Jewish Connection Program, funded solely by JFS, offers innovative opportunities for people to connect to the Jewish community.

“The Jewish community has grown a lot from when I grew up here,” said Erica Bregman, the new program’s co-ordinator. “If we can build connections with these new people in our city we will be able to create a stronger and more vibrant Jewish community.”

Zarecki makes it a point to acknowledge all the donors and funders who have supported JFS throughout the years.

“It is reassuring to the board, professionals and clients of our agency that our donors care enough about the work we do and financially support it. It is because of this trust that we have been able to grow and expand and become the premier social service agency in Ottawa.”

Despite the economic forecasts, Jewish Family Services is optimistic that donors will recognize the importance of the services and programs that are provided to the community and support the Friends of JFS campaign.

To make a donation, call our office at 613722-2225 or visit jfsottawa.com.

B.S.D.

Jewish Youth Library is proud to announce a new program:

Mazeltots!

A drop-in for nursing moms, their babies and toddlers.

This program will provide a venue for moms to socialize, network, and meet new moms while offering valuable playtime and friendship for their children.

Healthy snacks, lots of drinks, comfy chairs for nursing moms and safe toys will be provided.

An informal lending library of topical interests will be available.

Dina Schneider, Elana Aptowitzer, Nili Szilagyi and Liora Shapiro are the creative and hard-working organizers.

Join us on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 from 9 am - 11 am and on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 from 9 am - 11 am Location: 185 Switzer Ave. (side entrance) For more information or to get involved call the Jewish Youth Library 613. 729. 1619 Director Devora Caytak www.jylofottawa.org

75th Annual General Meeting The Chair and President of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Invite you to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Wednesday, June 3, 2009 7:00 pm Social Hall Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building 21 Nadolny Sachs Private

Refreshments to follow

Community Awards Presentation Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award • Ingrid Levitz Freiman Family Young Leadership Award • Jennifer Kardash Shem Tov Community Volunteer Award • Estelle Gunner

Page 16 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

In support of the Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge In the Joseph and Inez Zelikovitz Long Term Care Centre Card Donations Card donations go a long way to improving the quality of life for our residents. Thank you for considering their needs and contributing to their wellbeing.

On behalf of the residents and their families, we extend sincere appreciation to the following individuals and families who made card donations to the Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care Foundation between April 7 and 22, 2009 inclusive.

HONOUR FUNDS Unlike a bequest or gift of life insurance, which are realized some time in the future, a named Honour Fund (i.e., endowment fund) is established during your lifetime.

By making a contribution of $1,000 or more, you can create a permanent remembrance for a loved one, honour a family member, declare what the Lodge has meant to you and/or support a cause that you believe in.

A Hillel Lodge Honour Fund is a permanent pool of capital that earns interest or income each year. This income then supports the priorities designated by you, the donor.

Bill and Leona Adler Memorial Fund In Memory of: Anne Cohen by Marilyn Adler Lillian Silverberg by Marilyn Adler Jack Smith by Elayne Adler and Farley Stenzler and family In Honour of: Mera Goldstein Wishing you a very happy special birthday by Elayne Adler and Farley Stenzler and family Esther Guiot, David Lenet and the Zuckerbrodt family Wishing you mazal tov on the birth of your son by Elayne Adler and Farley Stenzler and family Mindelle Snider Happy special birthday by Elayne Adler, Farley, Jordan and Benjamin Stenzler

Thea and Martin Ginsburg Memorial Fund In Memory of: Harry Witenoff by Janet and Eric Cohen Malcolm and Vera Glube Endowment Fund In Memory of: Bertha Palmer by Vera and Malcolm Glube Nell Gluck Memorial Fund In Honour of: Shirley and Hymie Schildkraut Mazal tov on the birth of your grandson and may you have much nachas from your growing family by Maureen and Henry Molot Moe Greenberg and Elissa Greenberg Iny Fund In Honour of: Marcia and Barry Cantor Wishing a happy and healthy Passover to you and your family by Elissa and Avraham Iny Kathy Kovacs and Irwin Schweitzer Wishing a happy and healthy Passover to you and your family by Elissa and Avraham Iny Rabbi Zischa and Lauren Shaps Wishing a happy and healthy Passover to you and your family by Elissa and Avraham Iny Zelaine and Sol Shinder Wishing a happy and healthy Passover to you and your family by Elissa and Avraham Iny Doris and Richard Stern Wishing a happy and healthy Passover to you and your family by Elissa and Avraham Iny Dorothy and Maurie Karp Endowment Fund In Memory of: Henry Bloom by Etta Karp Maurie Karp by The Central Canada Exhibition Board and Staff

Auxiliary of Hillel Lodge Fund In Memory of: Bernice Hochberg by Carolyn and Sid Katz Jack Smith by Carolyn and Sid Katz

Morris and Lillian Kimmel Family Fund In Memory of: Henry Bloom by Morris Kimmel

Friedberg and Dale Families Fund In Memory of: Shirley Dombrofsky by Elaine Friedberg and Bob Dale In Honour of: Ben Gailor Happy 60th Birthday by Elaine Friedberg and Bob Dale Shirley and Hymie Schildkraut Mazal tov on the birth of your newest grandson by Elaine Friedberg and Bob Dale

Joan and Russell Kronick Family Fund In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Joan and Russell Kronick Dennis Newton Memorial Fund In Honour of: Dr. Gary Newton Congratulations on your appointment as head of the Division of Cardiology at the University Health Network and Mount Sinai

Hospital by Wendy and Jack Klein and family; and Golda Feig and Ned Steinman and family

Cooperberg to Lauren Silver by Fuzzy and Morty Teitelbaum

Abe and Bertha Palmer Endowment Fund In Memory of: Bertha Palmer by Ruth and Irving Aaron; Libby and Stan Katz; Cally and Sid Kardash; Jane and Bill James; Beverly Friedman; Candy and Judy Burstein; Jean Naemark; Lillian Philipp; Goldie and Jimmy Burstein; Leonora, Gordon, Sandy and Pam Allen and family; Lily Feig; Barbara, Len, Steven and Michael Farber; Carol, Stanley, Zev and Kayla Kershman; Marilyn Waserman; Francoise and Ron Vexler; Star Top Developments; Sandra Freeman; Lionel Metrick; Anna and Ronny Cantor and family; Cushman Wakefield Lepage; Sue and Jon Fisher; and Auntie Bert, Kathryn, John and Anne Palmer

Eric Weiner and Arlene Godfrey Family Fund In Memory of: Jack Smith by Arlene Godfrey and Eric Weiner

Sam and Ruth Rothman Memorial Fund In Memory of: Jack Smith by Sue and Steve Rothman and family In Honour of: Mary Farber Wishing you a happy special birthday by Sue and Steve Rothman and family

IN MEMORY OF: Caroline Baylin by Ruth and Irving Aaron; Cally and Sid Kardash; Lily Feig; Francoise and Ron Vexler; Claire and Irving Bercovitch; Marion Vexler; and Anna and Ronny Cantor Anne Cohen by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge; and Cally and Sid Kardash Sarah Finn by Jan and Jerome Cohen Lyons Mickey Levine by Jan and Jerome Cohen Lyons; Deborah Cohen; and David Cohen Lillian Silverberg by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Jack Smith by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge; Rhonda and Danny Levine; Anna Bilsky; Anna and Ronny Cantor; Carla, Mark, Jason and Corey Gencher; and Betty and Ed Rose Scotty Smith by Ruth and Irving Aaron Harry Witenoff by Laurie and Bill Chochinov

Stephen and Debra Schneiderman Family Fund In Memory of: Jack Smith by Debra and Stephen Schneiderman Ralph and Anne Sternberg Memorial Fund In Memory of: Jack Smith by Laya and Ted Jacobsen In Honour of: Sam Ages, Chevra Kadisha In appreciation for going beyond the normal call of duty, with heartfelt gratitude by Laya and Ted Jacobsen Shari Saunders Happy birthday to a dear friend, warmest wishes by Laya and Ted Jacobsen Judith and Harvey Slipacoff In appreciation for a memorable Passover Seder, Chag Sameach

by Laya and Ted Jacobsen David Smith,” Creative Kosher Catering” In appreciation for going beyond the normal call of duty, with heartfelt gratitude by Laya and Ted Jacobsen Sarah and Arnie Swedler Family Fund In Memory of: Caroline Baylin by Sarah and Arnie Swedler Bertha Palmer by Sarah and Arnie Swedler Edith Teitelbaum and Eddie Zinman Memorial Fund In Memory of: Caroline Baylin by Fuzzy and Max Teitelbaum Bertha Palmer by Fuzzy and Max Teitelbaum Jack Smith by Fuzzy and Max Teitelbaum In Honour of: Chava and Ingie Respitz Congratulations on the upcoming marriage of your grandson Lorne

Anna and Samuel Wex Family Fund In Memory of: Caroline Baylin by Anna and Sam Wex Bertha Palmer by Anna and Sam Wex Feeding Program In Memory of: Jack Smith by Irma and Harold Sachs ***********

IN HONOUR OF: Michael Baylin Wishing you a very happy birthday by Hannah and Gerald Halpern Pauline and Robert Bodnoff Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Chag Sameach by Esty and Fern Bybelezer Seth Cwinn Happy 50th Birthday. Wishing you many more happy and healthy years by Marilyn and Howard Borts Roz and Steve Fremeth Mazal tov on the engagement of your son Adam by Ingrid and Gerry Levitz Mara and Isaac Muzikansky Wishing you a double mazal tov on the birth of the twins and a Chag Sameach by Esty and Fern Bybelezer Sarah and Leonard Kerzner Mazal tov on the birth of your grandson by Leah and Issie Scarowsky Carol Tolchinsky Wishing you a happy birthday and the best for a great year by Laurie and Bill Chochinov Mark Tolchinsky Best (belated) wishes for a very happy year by Laurie and Bill Chochinov R’FUAH SHLEMA: Walter Klebe by Claire and Irving Bercovitch

THE LODGE EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR KIND SUPPORT AND APOLOGIZES FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, THE WORDING APPEARING IN THE BULLETIN IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WORDING WHICH APPEARED ON THE CARD. GIVING IS RECEIVING – ATTRACTIVE CARDS AVAILABLE FOR ALL OCCASIONS Here’s a good opportunity to recognize an event or convey the appropriate sentiment to someone important to you and at the same time support the Lodge. Card orders may be given to Debra or Rhonda at 613-728-3900, extension 111, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Friday. You may also e-mail your orders to donations@hillel-ltc.com. E-mail orders must include name, address, postal code, and any message to person receiving the card; and, amount of donation, name, address and postal code of the person making the donation. Cards may be paid for by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Cheque or Cash. Contributions are tax deductible.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 17

Temple Israel celebrates Rabbi Garten’s ‘Bar Mitzvah’ year

By Leonard Stern for Temple Israel One day about 15 years ago, at a Reform Jewish school in Los Angeles where Rabbi Steven Garten was teaching, a Grade 5 student brought her Europeanborn grandfather to class.

“This is my Zaida Saul,” said the girl.

“What’s a Zaida?” asked the other children.

That’s when Rabbi Garten knew it was time to find a new community. He still identified with Reform, but he wanted a Reform Judaism that valued Jewish tradition and continuity, and that demanded serious Jewish literacy.

Today, the Bronx-born rabbi is spiritual leader of Temple Israel, Ottawa’s Reform congregation. This year marks his 13th anniversary in Ottawa – his “Bar Mitzvah year,” as Temple members are calling it. The occasion is one of celebration for Temple Israel, because among Rabbi Garten’s achievements is securing Temple’s place as an important and serious Jewish institution in the city.

The congregation was founded in 1967, a time when many Reform Jews knew the burden of secondclass status. Especially in cities like Ottawa, where Orthodox expressions of Judaism were always dominant, Reform Jews felt marginalized, even up to the time of Rabbi Garten’s arrival in the mid-1990s.

“I wanted Temple to develop pride in itself,” Rabbi Garten, 60, recalls. “I thought the Temple wasn’t forthright about making itself an option of Jewish life.

It was a bit cowed by the [Orthodox] tradition of the city.”

He says that for a long time, Temple members avoided working in the Jewish community, for fear of being judged by other Jews.

It wasn’t an irrational fear. If Temple members were worried that the larger community deemed them inauthentic, one reason was that Temple Israel rabbis endured all manner of humiliations.

Rabbi Steven Garten

“There would be community meetings to which the Temple rabbi would not be invited,” says Rabbi Garten. “There would be community events in which Temple rabbis would not have an equivalent role.”

For example, every local rabbi would be asked to read a Hebrew text, except the Reform rabbi, who if asked to participate at all, might be assigned an English poem.

During Rabbi Garten’s tenure, Temple Israel has come into its own. Lay Temple members have assumed roles of community-wide leadership. There are community events in which Rabbi Garten is the designated rabbinic speaker, an acknowledgement, he says, that the “Temple rabbi can be a communal spokesperson.”

Garten smiles and says he knew that Reform Judaism had finally achieved full legitimacy in Ottawa when the United Jewish Appeal asked him to be in charge of soliciting contributions from area rabbis.

“When I came [to Ottawa], no one even called me, as though the Reform rabbi wouldn’t participate.”

Just as representatives of traditional Judaism in Ottawa have grown more comfortable with Reform, the Reform community has become more comfortable with tradition.

Rabbi Garten came to Temple Israel determined to foster a more self-consciously Jewish environment than is sometimes found at other Reform congregations, such as the one in Los Angeles where, as he put it, children are named “Tiffany” and have never heard the word “Zaida.”

And so Rabbi Garten went to work. When he arrived, Temple Israel’s Friday night service started at 8:15 pm. Rabbi Garten felt this was too late to usher in Shabbat and that congregants were shortchanging themselves some of the joy of the weekly celebration.

Services were switched to 6:15 pm.

Rabbi Garten encouraged the study of classic Jewish texts. Reform Jews are permitted to make individual choices about Jewish practice, but Rabbi Garten taught that choices should never be made out of ignorance. To make informed choices, he told his congregation, Reform Jews must be familiar with the tradition.

Soon, the wearing of kippot and tallit were becoming part of the mainstream at Temple Israel. People noticed more Hebrew in the services. Some congregants even began incorporating the mikvah into their observance.

This evolution was, ad-

mittedly, a little disorienting for some old-school Reformers, who grew up in the days when no self-respecting liberal Jew would wear a kippah or other supposed symbol of obsolescence.

The first time Rabbi Garten appeared at the High Holidays in a traditional white kittel, a number of congregants made clear that – ahem – it had not escaped their notice.

“I don’t feel I have to hide my choices,” he says.

For example, some nonOrthodox Jews in Ottawa are unsettled by the rapid expansion of the ultra-Orthodox community with their base of operations at the Kollel on Carling Avenue. Rabbi Garten, for his part, can be spotted, on occasion, studying Torah at the Kollel.

Still, Rabbi Garten warns

that the Ottawa Jewish community must be vigilant that it doesn’t move backward rather than forward. It’s been gratifying, he says, that, in the 13 years since his arrival, the Jewish community has adopted some of the values that, as a Reform leader, he has always promoted.

He says that Jewish women in Ottawa have a more influential role in community life than they ever did; that the place of converts, including Reform converts, is no longer questioned; that Jews of all denominations are beginning to recognize that families come in a variety of constellations. Rabbi Garten even sees the existence of the Soloway Jewish Community Centre as a kind of enlightened statement, a recognition that “not everyone is

Treat yourself to comfort and security in an environment where you can enjoy all the attentions for which Jardins Rideau Gardens is known.

• Guaranteed rate for life available • Respite, convalescent and trial stays • Link to library • Studio, 1 and 2 bedroom Open house every Saturday and Sunday,11:00 am - 3:00 pm 240 Friel Street, Ottawa (at the corner of Rideau)

For more information, call 613-789-7137

going to join a synagogue.”

As the city’s most prominent voice of liberal Judaism, Rabbi Garten is determined to defend these progressive developments.

The rising influence of ultra-Orthodoxy, he says, “has challenged the growing definition of pluralism and Jewish acceptance, and has challenged the values that the community had begun to express.

“We need to stand up for our communal values and, if one of them is the inclusion of women in public expressions of Judaism, we should not cede that to a part of the community that doesn’t believe in it.”

Temple Israel will be celebrating Rabbi Steven Garten’s “Bar Mitzvah” year with a special Shabbat service Saturday, May 16 at 10:15 am.

Page 18 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Classmate’s father remembered with good deeds

By Monday Torah High Students Michael Rogov, our Torah High classmate, recently lost his father following a five-year battle with ALS. Many of us attended the funeral and visited Michael and his family during the shiva. But we wanted to show our support for Michael and his family and help comfort them after such a tragic loss.

After a brainstorming session in class, we decided that we would each commit to performing one act of kindness every day for a month and that the good deed would be something we normally would not undertake.

Our sages teach us that, when someone passes away,

they not only receive rewards for all of the mitzvot (good deeds) they have done during their lifetime, but that they can still benefit and receive rewards for good deeds done by others in their memory.

With 18 students in the class, each doing one extra act of kindness per day over a 30-day period, more than 500 mitzvot would be done in memory of Michael’s dad.

We felt this project would be another way that Michael’s dad could live on through our actions.

To help inspire one another, we decided to inform each other every day, via Facebook, of our additional acts of kindness.

We started a thread of messages on Facebook

where each student could write about the act of kindness he or she performed that day and instantly share it with the rest of us.

Getting 18 messages with acts of kindness dedicated to Michael’s dad every single day in our Facebook inboxes was so inspiring.

We decided to wait until after the 30-day period had passed to inform Michael and his family about the project. Then, when the time came, we presented Michael with a list of hundreds of good deeds done in memory of his dad.

Some of the mitzvot on the list included visiting the residents at Hillel Lodge for the first time, doing the dishes after dinner, helping an elderly lady carry her

Some of the Torah High students who performed mitzvot in memory of a classmate’s father. Torah High is an after-school Jewish studies program for public high school students.

groceries and sharing lunch with someone who forgot to bring one.

Others included spending time with someone who is hard to get along with, walking the extra steps it takes to say thanks to the bus driver and helping a girl with a broken arm carry her books at school.

Michael was presented

with the booklet of good deeds in memory of his father at the beginning of a Torah High class. The presentation was emotional and full of impact. Some of us have since mentioned that we’ve noticed that the additional acts of kindness have become a part of our everyday routine.

“We can’t imagine the

pain that Michael and his family are going through at this time,” said Gavriel Scarowsky, the Torah High teacher who oversaw the project.

“The fact that Michael’s friends and classmates have come together to try and comfort the family at their time of need is truly heartwarming.”

Men’s hockey champs Abi Gezunt performance, Sunday, May 31, 2 pm, at Soloway JCC.

Be ready to laugh at Folkshpieler production of Abi Gezunt

By David Michaelson for Die Folkshpieler You are invited to Abi Gezunt, the seventh annual conference of the Farband fun Farhitendik Medetsin (Organization of Preventative Medicine).

No kidding, you really are, by Die Folkshpieler, the Soloway Jewish Community Centre (JCC) Yiddish-speaking players.

“Oh no,” you say, “not more nagging about how I should live a healthy life.”

Definitely not! Do you really think that the Farband – a.k.a. Die Folkshpieler – will actually be serious? Even about new ways of healing as introduced by our allegedly renowned keynote speaker, Dr. Federov?

Since when has Die Folkshpieler ever been serious about anything?

Can you imagine the comedic possibilities of Tranz Tantz (Ecstatic Dance), attempted by those with jelly bellies and creaky knees? Or Der Sichiater (The Psychiatrist), where a

feisty Yid addicted to tomatoes and herring thinks that Sigmund Freud is the meschugene?

These are just some examples of healing in this seventh Farband conference. There will be more, including a lively session of music therapy in which the audience takes part.

Nor can we forget those delicious aftershow refreshments.

Der Sichiater was written by Dzigan and Schumacher, Israel’s well-known Yiddish comedy team. We, the Farband (actually Die Folkshpieler), wrote the rest. Our creative souls include Shirley Steinberg, our founder and director; Rubin Friedman, who writes the humour column for the Bulletin; plus any other Farbandnik blessed with the very Jewish habit of inserting his or her two cents worth.

Abi Gezunt will be performed Sunday, May 31, 2:00 pm, at the Soloway JCC. For information, contact Roslyn Wollock, Soloway JCC adult program manager, at 613-798-9818, ext. 254, or rwollock@jccottawa.com.

Team Irving Rivers defeated Eric Zunder’s Black Hawks to win the 2008-2009 JCC Men’s Hockey League Championship.

Celebrating their victory are (front) Arie Cherun; (kneeling, left to right) Harold Feder, Mike Takefman, Scott Miller, Manny Olszynko; (standing) Mitchell Bellman, Andrew Roden, Michael Gertsman, Zak Cantor, Mitch Koffman, Dave Pivnick and Michael Osterer. Missing from the photo: Louis Kardish, Adam Grieves and Jon Gilboa.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 19

Page 20 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

KlezKanada offers a week-long immersion in Jewish music and Yiddish culture

By Michael Regenstreif Hy Goldman, a highly regarded pediatrician at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, had already had a longtime love affair with klezmer music when he started bringing klezmer bands to Montreal almost three decades ago in the early years of the modern klezmer revival.

But producing occasional concerts was just part of Goldman’s dream. He wanted to get people involved in the music.

He dreamt of an annual, endof-summer retreat in the Laurentian Mountains where the contemporary masters of klezmer music would come and pass the music on to new generations of musicians.

In 1996, Goldman’s dream came to fruition when he and wife Sandy founded KlezKanada and held their first retreat at (Montreal’s) Camp B’nai Brith in the Laurentians near Ste. Agathe with a few musicians and a small group

of students.

KlezKanada took off and, over the years, has become a major force on the international klezmer and Yiddish culture scenes. Its faculty has included world renowned musicians like Hankus Netsky, Margot Leverett, Jeff Warschauer and Frank London; singers like Adrienne Cooper and Theodore Bikel; and Yiddish cultural figures like Michael Wex, who based parts of his bestselling Just Say Nu on routines he performed hosting the late-night concerts and cabarets at KlezKanada.

Every year, generations of aspiring musicians – and many others interested in various, or all, aspects of Yiddish culture, from young kids to seniors – take up a week’s residence at the camp to learn from the pros and from each other.

KlezKanada has had more than its share of success stories.

Shtreiml, now Montreal’s leading

Legendary folksinger and actor Theodore Bikel (left) at KlezKanada with klezmer musicians Danny Rubinstein (centre) and Arkady Gendler.

(Photo: Josh Dolgin)

klezmer band, first got together at KlezKanada when pianist Jason Rosenblatt discovered he could

play innovative klezmer music on the harmonica. Beyond the Pale, Toronto’s top klezmer outfit, came

together after leader Eric Stein attended KlezKanada.

Another major KlezKanada success story is Ottawa’s native son Josh Dolgin who discovered klezmer music at KlezKanada and, as Socalled, has forged a new fusion of klezmer and hip hop music.

Rosenblatt, Stein and Dolgin have all moved from the ranks of KlezKanada students to its faculty.

The 2009 edition of the KlezKanada Summer Institute will take place from August 24 to 30 at Camp B’nai Brith, a one-hour ride north of Montreal. Registration fees include on-site accommodations and kosher meals.

KlezKanada offers a number of scholarships for students aged 10 to 35. Although the scholarship application deadline was May 1, there may be some leeway for Bulletin readers who act right away.

Visit klezkanada.org for more information.

Friendship Circle treats its moms to a night out

By Cynthia Nyman Engel for Friendship Circle Seventeen special moms were recently treated to a special Mom’s Night Out sponsored by Friendship Circle under the auspices of the Jewish Youth Library.

The moms, whose special needs children enjoy regular visits from Friendship Circle’s stable of teenage volunteers, watched the prepara-

tion of a Moroccan-style dinner, then sat down to savour the results. Chabad Centrepointe volunteered its building for the event and a wonderful time was had by all.

Friendship Circle was founded in 1994 by the Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan, a branch of Chabad Lubavitch, to match teens with special needs children. Under the Friendship

Universal life from your perspective Standard Life introduces Perspecta, a versatile universal life insurance concept for both individuals and businesses.

This innovative financial vehicle, combining guaranteed insurance protection and a tax-sheltered investment component, can be customized to your needs with four coverage options and nine investment funds.

Circle initiative, teen volunteers visit and play with special needs children in the comfort and familiarity of their home environment, providing temporary childcare relief to parents and welcome playful interaction by the special needs children embraced by the program. In Ottawa, Friendship Circle functions under the umbrella of the Jewish Youth Library.

Helen Eskina’s special needs daughter, Gabrielle Leviant, 10, adores her teen volunteer.

“Every second Sunday, Gabrielle’s volunteer, Cassandra, comes over to play with her,” says Eskina. “She stays for an hour and they play. Sometimes Cassandra reads to her or they watch shows. She makes Gabrielle

very happy. The last time Cassandra came over, Gabrielle was so happy she was singing.”

Eskina feels strongly that special needs children need to meet and interact with others.

“Not just the people at home or at school or at therapy,” she says. “I’d like the kids on the street to play with Gabrielle, but they don’t know how to relate to her.

Cassandra is a very important part of Gabrielle’s life.

We are so grateful that Friendship Circle brought her to us.”

Eskina always tries to attend Friendship Circle’s mom’s evenings.

“They’re very relaxing,” says the busy software designer who spends most

evenings at home with Gabrielle. “They take you out of yourself. It’s not work, it’s not home, it’s not shopping. It’s an evening just for you. It’s a way to be with people who are in the same shoes as you are and who understand you very well.”

Moroccan cooking mavens Orly Aaron, Joelle Elbaz and Sigal Baray made and served matbucha (cooked tomato salad), couscous, Moroccan-style salmon, desserts and tea.

“Moroccan cooking can take a very long time to prepare, but I use short cuts that don’t change the taste but speed up the process,” Aaron chuckles.

Not only can Sigal Baray cook, she is also the co-ordinator of Friendship Circle

Ottawa.

“Women with special needs children don’t get out a lot,” she explains. “For us to have an evening out is a treat because we’re all in the same situation. We’re a support group for each other.

“Friendship Circle has about 33 teenage volunteers from various high schools.

Everyone benefits: the special needs child, the parents who get a much-needed break, and the volunteers who see what they can accomplish.

“I know the evening has been a success when the moms ask me, “When is the next one?” she smiles. “And they always do.”

For more information on Friendship Circle, call 613729-1619 or 613-282-0565.

And every Perspecta policy is backed with Standard Life’s $33.1 billion in assets and an exclusive 6-month satisfaction guarantee.

Joseph Shabsove, Consultant

Driven.

To exceed your needs.

B. Comm., CFP, CLU, CH.F.C.

www.standardlife.ca

(613) 792-3385, ext 107

Mark S. Borts

Please contact me for a complimentary financial review Suite 150-40 Hines Road, Ottawa, ON Office: 613-591-7693 • Cell: 613-864-2898 Joseph.Shabsove@investorsgroup.com Finding the solution that is right for you

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 21

Page 22 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

What comes first among competing priorities?

There’s a common line in eulogies that has been troubling me.

How often have you heard “his (or her) family always came first” when discussing the merits of the deceased?

I realize that the main responsibility of grieving friends and family is to try to cope with the loss of their loved one.

I also realize that this usually entails highlighting their positive qualities and downplaying – or sometimes finding humour in – their weaknesses. Far be it from me to question the truthfulness of these claims in such emotion-laden settings.

But the phrase itself – whether or not it is true in particular cases – sends a troubling message to the rest of us.

Enough pressure exists in our society that we don’t need to think of our various commitments as existing in a zero-sum

relationship. That is, the gain of one priority is the loss of another. The more energy devoted to work, the less to family.

The more attention we give to physical welfare, the less to family; and so on.

I recently left my crying child with our caregiver while I retreated to my room to help a friend cope with a life crisis over the phone. Does this mean that I fundamentally place my friends above my family? As I draft this column, my son is at preschool and my daughter is home on a school holiday with her caregiver. Is my working today a sign of my family coming second? What’s more, I’m actually typing this in a medical lab while I wait to have my cholesterol checked. Is this a sign that I value my health more than my family?

The social scientist in me asks how we can possibly measure this anyway. Again, at our funeral, it doesn’t really matter whether or not it’s true. (This discussion recalls the old bumper-sticker saying, “Whoever has the most toys when he dies wins.”) But perpetuating this message leaves the rest of us worse off, since we more likely end up doubting our own choices. Unless we never leave our children’s side – something that many would deem problematic for their development anyway – how will we ever really know if we “put our family first?”

This particular point speaks, of course, to the larger issue of work-life balance. This issue is never far from the mind of most other parents I know. Should we lessen our career pace? Stay at home altogether? Work long hours at a high-income career so our kids have the maximum material opportunities? Work part time so we’re home more? How to fit in personal time – not to mention time for one’s partner?

As my family doctor describes it, to stay mentally and physically healthy, one The Board of Directors must view each priority segof the Jewish Federation of Ottawa ment as a distinct circle that cordially invites the community must coexist with the others. to attend the If you say “I will exercise only once all my work is

75th Anniversary Volunteer Award Ceremony Wednesday, May 20, 2009 7:00 pm Nathan, David and Max Zelikovitz Families Social Hall 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa

Values, Ethics, Community Mira Sucharov

done,” your fitness will suffer – since many of us feel that our work is never done. We all differ in how many such life circles each of us juggles. Some view investing in one’s marriage as part of family time, while others think it deserves its own circle. But, thinking of all these priorities as competing – rather than complementary – demands sets us up for failure.

Perhaps the phrase “work-life balance” is not that helpful either. Aside from implying that there are only two segments of life – work and everything else – it implies that the two can be perfectly balanced like the proverbial Libra scale. When we’re talking about non-material goods like relationships, career satisfaction and family, does balance mean equivalence?

So, beyond critiquing the problematic messages imparted by certain ubiquitous phrases, how can we address these important questions? I suggest that we revisit another trendy phrase, but one that’s arguably more helpful and less judgmental, that new-age term, “checking in.” We should regularly be “checking in” with our kids, our spouse, our colleagues and ourselves. How are our actions affecting others?

How can we be more in tune? Are we healthy? Are we achieving professional satisfaction? How can we feel more spiritual if that is a priority? How can we simply feel less stretched among competing demands?

Operating inductively – seeing what feels right and what doesn’t, and adjusting our routines when necessary – sets us up for success. Hopefully, upon our passing, the authority of any of those “circles” – our closest friends, our colleagues, our children and our spouse – will privately feel that we put them first. But, by that time, it won’t really matter.

So, let’s aim for serenity and satisfaction in harmonizing our multiple pressures, rather than setting them up for a fight that shouldn’t be won.

What’s happening at

Congregation Beth Shalom Thursday, May 14

Thursday, June 4

Pete Seeger Movie Night 6.45 pm • $10 per person Call to reserve your spot!

Kibbitz Club Seniors’ Lunch in partnership with Jewish Family Services

Light refreshments to follow RSVP to Dawn Paterson, 613-798-4696 ext 236 or dpaterson@jewishottawa.com The list of Award winners can be found on our website www.jewishottawa.com

Friday, June 5

Shabbat Dinner Series

Watch for more upcoming events.

Everyone is Welcome!

For more information, please contact the synagogue at 613-789-3501, ext. 223 or audrey@bethshalom.ca www.bethshalom.ca

Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advertisement in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 23

Page 24 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Did you know that Did You Know? is a column that’s all about us?

Welcome to the debut of Did You Know? – the column that’s all about us, Ottawa’s Jewish community.

This is not a gossip column. I won’t print rumours, scandals or unfounded information and I will certainly not invade anyone’s privacy. What I will do is tell you about things that are happening with members of our community – milestone birthdays, accomplishments, comings and goings and events worth noting.

I know many of you read the donations pages to find out what’s going on. Well, now you have a new information source! But I can’t do it alone. I need your help. Please let me know when someone you know celebrates a special event, wins an award or has something to brag about. My email address is didyouknowottawa@gmail.com.

Tell me ‌ so I can tell the community.

! !

Executive Worldwide Travel/American Express Dedicated to exceeding your travel expectations Welcome to a World of Possibilities!

Business Travel * Groups and Conventions Vacation Travel * Cultural Tours

Executive Worldwide Travel Call us today! 613-236-5555 www.executive-trvl.com

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MAKE THINGS SIMPLER

Yes, that was Rob Krantzberg on the front page of the Ottawa Citizen. ‘Shoeman,’ who owns 1,000 pairs of sneakers, was proclaimed Sneaker Champion at Sneaker Wars, held last summer. This is a year of milestones for Krantzberg. His Kiddie Kobbler store – recently relocated from St. Laurent Shopping Centre to across the street on St. Laurent Boulevard – is celebrating 25 years in business.

Queens’ University student Davina Finn co-directed the play Anne Frank, which ran for three nights in March at the Wellington Street Theatre in Kingston. As part of her role as president of SHOUT Queens (Students Helping Others Understand Tolerance), Finn also produced the play.

Dr. Hillel Finestone is putting the final touches on a book that will be released this summer. The Pain Detective, Every Ache Tells a Story: Understanding how stress and emotional hurt cause chronic physical pain is a series of stories culled from Finestone’s specialized medical practice as a physiatrist (a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation).

Ottawa is sending a record-setting 11 athletes to the upcoming Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer. Spencer Asch-Jones, 16, Michael Calof, 16, Jonathan Cohen, 14, Elizabeth Foody, 16, Mitchell Huberman, 17, and Anna Nativ, 16, will be on the soccer field while Eytan Fiszman, 18, and Russell Garber, 19 will be playing rugby. Jeremy Izso and Adam Wolff, both 17, will be on the baseball diamond while swimmer Naomi Kirshenblatt, 13, will be in the pool. Fund-raising efforts are currently ongoing to help underwrite the participation costs of the athletes ($7500 each). Contact Bill Izso, chair of Team Ottawa, at billizso@rogers.com for more information.

Dr. Ron Weiss, dubbed “The Vasectomy King� in a recent Ottawa Citizen story highlighting his 25,000th vasectomy, has another triumph to celebrate. His docweissband performed its second public concert of original “acoustic, funky, folky, Latin and rhythmic material� at a local Glebe club. Ron, a singer and songwriter, plays acoustic guitar and piano. Although not a band member, Ron’s daughter Lauren shared the stage and the vocals with him.

Cousins Elie and Michael Vered, both 15, will play on one of two Canadian teams in a junior hockey tournament this summer in Metulla, Israel. The Canadian teams will be coached by former NHL players Steve Thomas and Jeff Beukeboom.

Deborah Davis created, produced and is co-starring in A Musical Taste of Our Canadian Heritage, a multilingual musical production about the history of music in Canada.

One stop shopping for all your insurance and investment needs.

I can help.

Š Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2008

Benita Baker

Tickets for the Sunday, June 14 performance at the Canadian Museum of Civilization are still available. Visit odysseyshowcase.org for more information.

Rabbi Steven Garten is celebrating his Bar Mitzvah – 13 years as spiritual leader of Temple Israel. The congregation is throwing him a big party on May 16 and has established The Rabbi Steven Garten Fund for Jewish Living and Learning. Contact the Temple at 613-224-1802 or execdir@templeisraelottawa.ca for more information.

Canadian Press journalist Stephanie Levitz, who completed two stints reporting from Afghanistan and was also based in Beijing, is now living in Vancouver and covering the 2010 Olympics. She is a featured speaker at the Canadian Association of Journalists conference, May 22-24 in Vancouver.

The Firestones – Bob, Ida, Sam, Phil and Noah – hosted another successful fundraiser for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The Heart of Glass wine and food event, held at Stella Osteria restaurant, raised $61,000.

After 16 years in business, Mark Spergel handed over the keys of Midas Muffler on Carling Avenue to a new owner. Spergel will now focus on his real estate career.

Ottawa’s own Ellen Cherney strutted down the runway as a model on episode five of Project Runway Canada.

Quality Care Quality Supervision for Seniors Assistance in all daily activities Experienced, references available Reasonable rates Speak English, Hungarian and Russian

Suzanna Jonas

Sensational Sandwiches

by Janis

Diane Koven B.A. (Hons.) CFP CDFA 613-728-1223 ext 2235 diane.koven@sunlife.com www.sunlife.ca/diane.koven 600 - 1525 Carling Ave. Ottawa K1Z 8R9

Did you know?

specializing in party sandwiches

613-263-7708

Winner of “The Consumer’s Choice� Award for 11 consecutive years!

Voted Best Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer in the Ottawa Region For all your kitchen and vanity design needs, contact

(minimum order 4 dozen pieces)

Aviva Ben-Choreen

lunches, meetings, shivas, office parties, clubs, showers, conferences

at 613-836-5353 ext. 321

Janis King

(613) 237-9494

2415 Carp Road

www.laurysenkitchens.com

SUBSCRIPTION LAPSED? MOVING? Don’t miss one issue! Call in to subscribe or with your change of address TODAY!

613-798-4696, ext. 256

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 25

Todah chaverim!

Many thanks to our 2008 Tamir Members!

Medico Dental Pharmacy Carling Realty Ltd. SYD-MYR Investments Inc. Hildy & Steven Lesh Family Fund 5LFK¿HOG 6HUYLFHV 0U 6KDZQ $DURQ DQG 'U .DUHQ :RO¿VK Mr. Alan D. Abelson Mr. and Mrs. Allen Abramson Mr. Stephen Adler and Ms. Fay Turner Ms. Deborah Ages Mr. Samuel Ages Mrs. Esther Ages Manny and Paula Agulnik Mrs. Annette Albert Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Allan Mr. Murray Allice Mr. Ralph Anzarouth Mr. Barry Appel Mr. and Mrs. David A. Appotive Ms. Sharon Appotive Mr. Jeffrey Appotive Mr. and Mrs. David Appotive Mr. and Mrs. Gary Arkin Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Aronson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Aronson Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Arron Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Arron Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Asherman Mr. and Mrs. Mark Astroff Mr. and Mrs. Irving Atkins Mr. and Mrs. Earl Atnikov Mr. Lewis Auerbach Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Azuelos Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Backman Mr. and Mrs. Eric Bahar Mr. Melvyn Baker Mr. and Mrs. Allan Baker Mr. and Mrs. Barry Baker Mr. Henri Balter Ms. Paula Bar-Noy-Roodman Mr. George Barchechat Dr. and Mrs. Norman Barwin Mr. and Ms. Morton Baslaw Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bassett Mrs. Debbie Baylin Mr. and Mrs. Michael Baylin Ms. Sheila Beck Mr. and Mrs. Jaymore Bell Dr. and Mrs. Allan Bellack Mrs. Lois Bellman Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Belsey Ms. Arlene Ben- Zur Dr. and Mrs. Peter Benedek Mr. Reg Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bentley Mrs. Jeannette Berlin Mrs. Ann Bernick Ms. Anna Bilsky Dr. and Mrs. David Binder Mr. Stephen Bindman and Ms. Dahlia Stein Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Blackstein Dr. Arthur M. Blank Dr. and Mrs. Bert C. Blevis Ms. Hilda Bleyer Mr. William Bloom Ms. Sonya Bodnoff Ms. Cathy Bodnoff Mrs. Gladys Bodnoff Ms. Elly Bollegraaf Dr. and Mrs. Gary Bonn Mrs. Betsy Borden Mr. Milton Borenstein Dr. and Dr. James Borovay Mr. Donald Borts Mr. and Mrs. Syd Bosloy Mr. and Mrs. Hyman Braiter Mrs. Rose Bregman Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brewer Dr. and Mrs. Irwin Brodo Mr. and Mrs. Marten Brodsky Mr. and Mrs. Phil Bronsther Mr. and Mrs. Bert Bronsther Mr. and Mrs. David Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Saul Brottman Mr. and Mrs. Herb Brown Dr. and Ms. Carl Brownstein Dr. Allan Bultz Mrs. Marlene Burack Mr. Hal Burnham Mr. Hyman Burshtyn Mr. and Mrs. Fernand Bybelezer Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Cammy Mr. and Mrs. Barry Cantor Ms. Sue Caplan Mr and Mrs. Usher Caplan Mrs. Vivian Caplan Mr. and Mrs. Michael Caplan

Mrs. Lillian Cardash Ms. Ann Carmichael Mr. and Mrs. Ben Caspi Mr. Gilbert Cavill Mrs. Jacob Cepelinski Mr. and Dr. Zave Chad Mahemud Charania Ms. Anna Chiprout Dr.and Mrs. George Citrome Mr. Martin Scheinberg and Ms. Sharon Clark Mrs. Judy Cleiman Rabbi and Mrs. Boruch Clinton Mr. and Mrs. Barry Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Avrum Cohen Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Cohen Dr. and Mrs. Howard R. Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Sid Cohen Mrs. Claire Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Alan Cohen Mr. and Mrs. J. Shannon Conway Mrs. Evelyn Cooperstein Dr. and Mrs. Allan Cracower Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cramer Mr. and Ms. Lorne Cutler Mr. Henri Dahan Mr. Saul Davidson Mr. Louis Davis Mr. Chris Desjardins Mr. and Mrs. Evan Diamond Mrs. Bluma Dieks-Goldenberg Mrs. Reba Diener Ms. Carol Dobrinsky Shein Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Dolansky Mrs. Betty Dover Mr. Howard Dover Dr. and Mrs. Mark Dover Mr. and Mrs. Robin Dow Mrs. Shirley Dubinsky Mrs. Beatrice Dubinsky Mr. and Mrs. David Dubrofsky Ms. Eileen Dubrovsky Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Dunkelman Mrs. Helen Eisen Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Eisenberg Dr. Eric Elkin and Mrs. Molly Hirsh Mr. and Mrs. Dan Elmose Mrs. Rita Engels Mrs. Frances English Mrs. Eva Esrock Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fainer Mr. and Mrs. Barry Farber Mr. and Mrs. Irving Farber Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fathi Mr. Paul Faynwachs Mr. Sidney Featherman Mrs. Lily Feig Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Feinstein Mr. and Mrs. Jack Feldberg Mr. and Mrs. Mark Feldstein Mrs. Shirley M. Feller Mr. and Mrs. Norm Ferkin Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fiksel Mr. and Mrs. Ed Fine Rabbi and Mrs. Arnold Fine Mr. and Mrs. Howard Finestone Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Finkelman Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Finkelstein Mr. Josh Finn Mr. and Mrs. Paul Finn Mr. Lawrence Finsten Mrs. Lisa Fischer Dr. Gretl Fischer Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Fisher Mrs. Lois Flansbury Dr. George Fodor Mr. Martin Fortus Mrs. Heather Fraser Mr. Alan Freed Dr. and Mrs. Charles Freedman Mr. and Mrs. Jack Freedman Mrs. Lianne Freedman Mrs. Sylvia Freeman Mr. and Mrs. David Freeman Dr. and Mrs. Steven Fremeth Ms. Sylvia Friedman Mr. and Ms. Harry Froman Ms. Nancy Fryer Dr. and Mrs. Dale S. Fyman Mr. and Mrs. George Gara Dr. and Mrs. Gary Garber Mr and Mrs. Howard Geller Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gencher Mr. and Mrs. Sid Gershberg Mr. and Mrs. Irving Gershkovitch Ms. Tal Gilboa

Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Gilboa Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Ginsburg Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gladstone Mrs. Dora Glatt Mr. Allan Glenns Mr. and Mrs. Malcom Glube Mr. and Mrs. Norman Glube Mr. Brian Gold Mr. Lewis Goldberg Ms. Linda Goldberg Mrs. Gloria Goldberg 0U 0RUOH\ *ROG¿HOG Mr. and Mrs. Sol Goldmaker Mr. and Mrs. Sam Goldmaker Mr. and Mrs. Louis Goldmaker Dr. and Mrs. William Goldstein Mrs. Geraldine Goldstein Mr. and Mrs. David Good Mr. A.D. Gordon Mrs. Jane Gordon Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gosewich Mr. and Mrs. Howard Grant Mr. Herb Gray and Mrs. Sharon Gray Mr. and Mrs. Ben Greenberg Mr. Roger Greenberg and Ms. Cindy Feingold Mr. and Mrs. Peter Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Greenberg Mrs. Evelyn Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. John Greenberg Mrs. Carol Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. Max Greenberg Ms. Reesa Greenberg Mr. Jeffrey Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. Joel Greenberg Ms. Lynn Greenblatt Mr. Ira Greenblatt and Ms. Danielle Dugas Dr. and Mrs. I.G. Gross Mr. Thomas Grossman Dr. and Mrs. Sol Gunner Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gussman Mrs. Patricia Guthrie Mr. Alan Halpren and Ms. Lynda Conway Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Harris Mr. and Ms. Mel Hartman Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hartman Mrs. Elaine Hauptman Mrs. Anna Heilman Mr. Sye Mincoff and Ms. Susan Heisel Dr. and Mrs. Walter Hendelman Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hershorn Dr. and Mrs. Roger Herz-Fischler Mr. and Mrs. Robin Hill Mrs. Pauline Hochberg Dr. Ronald Hoffenberg Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Hoffman Mr. Irvin Hoffman Mrs. Jacquelin Holzman Ms. Lisa Horwitz Mr. Murray Beare and Mrs. Leslie Horwitz-Beare Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Hotz Ms. Sheila M. Howard Mr. and Mrs. Irving Huss Mr. and Mrs. Hy Hymes Mrs. Zina Iny Mr. and Mrs. Avraham Iny Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Isserlin Mr. John Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Jacobsen Ms. Cheryl Jaffee Mrs. Claire Johnston Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Kader Mr. and Mrs. Ian Kagedan Mr. and Mrs. Steven Kaiman Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Kaiman Dr. and Mrs. Murray Kaiserman Dr. and Mrs. David Kalin Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Kalin Mr. Egon Kalman Dr. and Mrs. Nordau Kanigsberg Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Kardash Mrs. Cindy Kardash-Lalonde Mr. and Mrs. David Kardish Mr. and Mrs. David Kardish Mr. Moses Kardish Dr. A.L. Kassirer Ms. Elizabeth Katz Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Katz Mr and Mrs. Leon Katz Mrs. Mona Kaufmann Mr. and Mrs. Roger Keen Mr. and Mrs. M. Brian Keller Mr. David Kent and Mrs. Lynn McFarlane Dr. Ora Kendall Mrs. H. Kershman

Dr. John Kershman and Ms. Sabina Wasserlauf Mr. and Mrs. Steven Kerzner Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kerzner Mrs. Bernice Kerzner Ms. Rhonda Kerzner Mrs. Christine Kessler Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kimmel Mr. and Mrs. Milton Kimmel Ms. Edith Kizell Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Klein Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz and Dr. Howard Schwartz Mrs. Freda Klug Mr. Bert Knoll Mr. and Mrs. Bert Koenig Mrs. Fay Koffman Mr. Joel Koffman Mr. and Mrs. Morris Konick Mrs. Mary Kovats Mrs. Evelyn Krane Dr. and Mrs. Sam Krane Mrs. Clair Krantzberg Mr. Phil Kretzmar Mr. Lloyd Krichew Mr. and Mrs. David Kriger Mr. and Mrs. Akiva Kriger Mrs. Gail Krochmalnek Ms. Tracey Kronick Dr. Sydney Kronick Mrs. and Mr. Gloria Krugel Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Krym Mr. and Mrs. Irving Kulik Dr. and Mrs. David Kwavnick Mr. and Mrs. Guy Labossiere Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Laks Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Laks Mrs. Edith Landau Dr. Michael Landau and Dr. Faye Goldman Mr. and Mrs. Dan Landen Mr. Morris Lang Mr. and Mrs. Donald Langdon Mr. and Mrs. Philip Lazear Dr. & Mrs. Art Leader Mr. Norman Leckie and Ms. Robin Chernick Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lederman Mrs. Doris Leibovitch Ms. Annetta Leighton Mrs. Ida Lesh Mr. and Mrs. Norman Lesh Mr. George Lesh Mr. and Mrs. Morey Lesser Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Levin Ms. Marlene Levine Mr. and Mrs. Jacie Levinson Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Levitan Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Levitan Mr. and Mrs. L. Gerald Levitz Dr. and Mrs. Isra Levy Dr. and Mrs Samuel Lewinshtein Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lichtenstein Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lieff Mrs. Dorothy Lieff Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Liff Mr. and Mrs. Morrie Lightman Dr. and Mrs. David Lipnowski Mr. Larry Lithwick Mrs. Freda Lithwick Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lithwick Mr. Moe Litwack Ms. Hannah London Mrs. Birdie Lubert Mr. Johnathan H. Lunn Mr. and Mrs. Murray Macy Dr. and Mrs. Michael Malek Mr. and Mrs. Al Malomet Mr. Robert Marcus and Mrs. Barbara Nathan-Marcus Dr. and Mrs. George Marcus Ms. Frances Markson Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Marshall Mr. Arthur Max Ms. Ruth Mayost Mr. and Mrs. Eric McCully Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Mendell Mr. and Mrs. Steven Mendelsohn Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Merovitz Dr. Lionel Metrick Mr. and Mrs. David Michaelson Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Miller Mrs. Minnie Milson Ms. Shayla Mindell Dr. and Mrs. Ken Mintz Mr. and Mrs. Jack Minuk Mr. and Mrs. Stephan Mirsky

Mr. and Dr. Henry L. Molot Mrs. Sylvia Monson Mrs. Margot Montgomery Mr. and Dr. Robert Moon Mr. and Mrs. Joel K. Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Barry Muroff Mr. and Mrs. Abe Murray Mr. and Mrs. Joe Murray Judge and Mrs. Jack Nadelle Mrs. Dorothy Nadolny Mrs. Jean Naemark Mr. and Mrs. Eric Naor Dr. and Dr. Howard Nathan Mr. and Mrs. Tedd Nathanson Mrs. Daphne Noonan Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Novick Dr. David Nozick Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Nudelman Mr. and Mrs. Doron Nussbaum Mr. and Mrs. Aleksander Odinocki Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Osterer Mrs. Miriam Paghis Ms. Kathryn Palmer Mr. Mark Palmer & Ms. Elly Nadorp Mrs. Bert G. Palmer Dr. Ralph Paroli Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Pascoe Mr. and Mrs. Amnon Pasher Mr. and Mrs. Brian Pearl Mr. Sandy Pearl and Ms. Susan Marcovitch Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Pencer Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Penso Ms. Marsha Permut Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Pernica Mrs. Lilyan Philipp Mr. Allan Phomin Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pinkus Mr. and Mrs Philip Pinkus Mrs. Janice Pleet Mr. Lawrence Pleet Mrs. Miriam Pleet Mr. and Mrs. Pinchas Pleet Mr. and Mrs. Morton P. Pleet Mrs. Sheila Pollock Mrs. Roberta Pollock Mr. and Mrs. Charles S Polowin Mr. and Mrs. Alex Polowin Mr. and Mrs. Norman Potechin Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Potechin Mr. Allan Pressman Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Pulvermacher Mr. Eric Rabin Dr. Victor Rabinovitch and Ms. Miriam Bloom Mr. and Mrs. Alan Rackow Ms. Leslie Ram Mr. Ian Raskin Mr. and Mrs. Carl Raskin Mr. and Mrs. Sol Rauch Ms. Blossom Read Mr. and Mrs. Hyman Reichstein Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Reichstein Mr. and Mrs. Neal A. Reid Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Resnick Dr. Lazer Resnick Mrs. Sarah Resnick Mrs. Goldie Rivers Ms. Jean Rivier Ms. Shelley Rivier Mr. and Mrs. Andy Robert Mrs. Luisa Rogoff Mr. and Mrs. Michael Roodman Mr. and Mrs. David Rooney Mr. and Mrs. Frank Roseman Mr. and Mrs Frank Rosen Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Rosenblatt Mr. and Mrs. Gdalyah Rosenfeld Dr. and Mrs. Saul Ross Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd Rossman Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Roston Mrs. Shelley Rothman Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Rowat Dr. and Mrs. George Royer Dr. and Mrs. Steven Rubin Mrs. Hannah Ryan Dr. and Mrs. Harold Sachs Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sachs Mrs. Helen Saipe Mr. Ted Miller and Ms. Marcia Saipe Mr. and Mrs. Howard Sandler Mr. and Mrs. Morris Schachnow Mr. Charles Schachnow 0UV 0LOOLFHQW 6FKDHQ¿HOG Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schildkraut Mr. and Mrs. David Schlesinger Dr. Barry Schneider

Dr. and Mrs. Henry Schneider Ms. Barbara Schulman Ms. Esther Schvan Mr. and Ms. Macey Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schwartz Mrs. Devora Schwartzburg Mr. Don Segall Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Segall Ms. Cheryl A. Seville Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Shabsove Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Shaffer Mr. Bernie Shaffer Mr. Israel Shames Rabbi and Mrs. Zischa Shaps Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shaver 0U DQG 0UV $UWKXU 6KHI¿HOG 0U DQG 0UV (GZDUG 7 6KHLQ¿HOG Mr. and Mrs. Ian Sherman Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Shiff Mr. Harold Shizgal Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Shore Mrs. Rosalie G. Shore Mr. and Mrs. David Shore Mr. Jeffrey Shousterman and Ms. Arlene Babins Mrs. Fay Shulman Mr. and Mrs. Louis Silver Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Silver Dr. and Mrs. Saul N. Silverman Mr. and Mrs. Irving Singer Mr and Mrs. Lucien Sitwell Mr. and Mrs. David Slipacoff Mr. and Mrs. Irving Slone Mr. and Mrs. Isser Smith Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Spergel Mr. Ron Stein Mrs. Shirley Steinberg Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stern Mrs. W. Sternberg Mr. Jonathan Stokes and Ms. Mary Macleod Mr. and Mrs. Leo Strawczynski Mrs. Barbara Sugarman Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Swedler Mrs. Bess Swedlove Ms. Celia Switacz Mr. Michael Takefman and Ms. Mona Klinger Mrs. Sally Taller Mr. Myles Taller Mrs. Loretta Tannenbaum Mrs. Gittel Tatz Mr. and Ms. Hillel Taub Mr. and Mrs. Charles Taub Mr. and Mrs Charles Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Irving Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Brent Taylor Dr. Hershel Teitelbaum Dr. Peter Teitelbaum Dr. and Mrs. Norman Tenenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Tennenhouse Ms. Susan Tessier Mr. Gaston Jorre and Ms. Rona Tietolman Mrs. Carol Tradburks Mr. Gerard Van Blokland Dr. and Mrs. Max Vechter Mr. and Mrs. Arnon Vered Mrs. Ruth Victor Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Viner Mrs. Irene Waxman Mr. and Mrs. Louis Weiner Mr. and Mrs. Evan Weiner Mr. Eric Weiner and Ms. Arlene Godfrey Mr. and Mrs. Ted Weinstein Mrs. Mildred Weinstein Mr. and Mrs. Jay Weiss Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wexler Mr. and Mrs. Albert Winer Mr. Jules Winstan Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Winthrop Mr. Charles S. Wiseman Mrs. Brenda Wolf 'U DQG 0UV 1RUPDQ :RO¿VK Mr. and Mrs. Howard Yegendorf Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Young Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Zador Mr. and Mrs Herbert Zagerman Mr. and Mrs. Norman Zagerman Ms. Sandra Zagon Ms. Lorraine Zides Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Ziegler Mr. and Mrs. Richard Zuker

Page 26 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 27

Page 28 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 29

Page 30 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Leonard Cohen’s mesmerising London concert Leonard Cohen Live In London Columbia leonardcohen.com As noted recently in this column, Leonard Cohen, the masterful Montreal-born singer-songwriter, will be performing two Ottawa concerts at the National Arts Centre May 25 and 26.

Unless you’re willing to pay scalper prices, you can pretty much forget about getting tickets. They sold out here, like everywhere else on Cohen’s world tour, almost instantly at up to $250 (plus service charges).

The concerts Cohen will perform here will vary little from the concerts he’s given throughout his worldwide tour over the past year.

The repertoire, down to each of the planned encores, has been essentially the same as Cohen moves from city to city and from concert halls here to arenas there.

That doesn’t really matter though. From all reports, and from the evidence of his London, England concert last July

I’m Jerry of Jerry’s Hobby Reg’d And I can take “memories out of a box” Think of all your old photos, slides, 8mm & 16mm home movies in boxes in your basement.

“Memories in a box”.

I can capture “your memories” on DVD. Just sit back and enjoy watching “your memories” on your TV screen For more information, I can be reached at 613-301-4919, or at jerryathome@sympatico.ca

Music Michael Regenstreif 17, it’s an amazing, meticulously planned and executed show.

That London concert is now available in both DVD and 2-CD packages. The concert is mesmerising. When I sat down to watch the DVD, I did not get up again until I’d seen every minute of its two-and-a-half hours. I didn’t take the intermission that stretches a Cohen concert past three hours in person.

And what, you may ask, kept me glued to the set for 150 minutes?

Let’s start with the songs.

Cohen is one of the greatest songwriters of our age who is known for working endlessly on a song until every line, indeed every word, is perfect. Nothing in a Cohen song is wasted, even in an eight-minute song. And almost every song clocks in at least five minutes. Only “Suzanne,” an early masterpiece, is within the typical length of most pop songs. Cohen is one of those very rare songwriters whose work continues to reveal nuance and deeper levels of understanding, even in songs like “Suzanne,” or the biblically inspired “Hallelujah,” or the classic “Bird on a Wire,” which I’ve heard countless times over many decades.

Then there is Cohen himself.

At 74, he is singing with such obvious commitment to both himself and his audience. And there seems to be some kind of wisdom-with-age dynamic that Cohen brings to the interpretation of each of these songs whether they were written recently, 20 years ago in middle age or 40 years ago as a relatively young man.

Finally, there is the quality of the nine world class musicians and singers with whom Cohen surrounds himself on stage and uses to bring the great songs to life.

The arrangements are highly creative. While I particularly appreciate the work of Javier Mas, a Spanish master of the guitar and a variety of exotic stringed instruments, and harmony vocalists Sharon Robinson, and sisters Charley and Hattie Webb, each of the other musicians is excellent.

Klezmer Juice Klezmer Juice 2: Yiddish Lidele Arc klezmerjuice.com Klezmer Juice is a Los Angeles-based klezmer band fronted by clarinetist Gustavo Bulgach who learned the klezmer tradition from his musical family growing up in Argentina. He is also well versed in such other genres as tango, bolero, Indian ragas, jazz and rock and roll and fuses all of those styles, and more, with the traditional Eastern European klezmer sounds.

Among the highlights are “Erev Shel Shoshanim,” which incorporates Israeli and Middle Eastern influences; “Ani Ole Y’erushalaim,” which features a klezmer clarinet versus surf guitar duel on top of a rollicking rhythm section; and the light-hearted “Happy Nigun,” which takes on a decidedly South American feel.

Members of Amit, Mollie Betcherman and Ina McCarthy Chapters of Ottawa Hadassah-WIZO are pleased to invite you to a Tea in honour of

Gina and Howard Grant Sunday, May 24, 2009 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the home of Robin Chernick and Norm Leckie 667 Highland Avenue, Ottawa For more information, please contact Sophie Frenkel at 613-726-1538

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 31

The link between how we talk and who we are Resurrecting Hebrew

By Ilan Stavans Schocken 2008 Hardcover 240 pages

Book Review

When my daughter was nine months old, I decided to speak only Hebrew to her. Four years later, it’s the only language she hears from me directly. Her younger brother has heard me speak only Hebrew to him from the moment he was born. I reasoned that should they want to spend time in Israel or attend the Hebrew immersion Camp Massad in Winnipeg Beach, at which I spent a decade of summers, they would have a built-in entrée to grabbing a dose of Israeli culture from the inside or at least to choice parts in camp plays.

There’s something about language that is fundamental to our sense of collective identity. It is this imagined selfhood that Ilan Stavans explores in his unusual and charming history (part of the excellent Nextbook series) of the resurrection of Hebrew from its Biblical roots to the living language of the State of Israel.

The episodic book opens with a dream the author had, in which, surrounded by rabbis, a naked woman speaks to him about some sort of mythical creature, in words he doesn’t recognize. The next day, one friend suggests to him that maybe it was unintelligible Hebrew she was speaking, and that maybe Stavans was concerned about losing his proficiency with the language. A Mexican Jew who now writes and teaches at Amherst College in the United States, he studied it as a child in school, and later

Designs by Sharron Custom designed Kippahs and Jewellery for women For all occasions Minor Jewellery repairs Knotting of pearls

Sharron Weinberger, designer #602-100 Medhurst Drive Ottawa, ON K2G 5W7 613-422-3537 by appointment only

The GISHUR CENTER Rabbi Ely M. Braun, M.S. Psychotherapist, Mediator, Coach Churchill Professional Building 613-721-1262 725 Churchill Avenue N Suite 200 Insurance receipts Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 5G7

embraun@gishurcenter.org

available

“ ... Bridging Heaven and Earth ...” Zohar

TA X I S E R V I C E EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE

Mira Sucharov used it on an extended visit to Israel in his 20s. Losing his Hebrew, it was suggested to him, would feel akin to “losing his soul.”

From this, Stavans decides to travel to Israel and, through interviews with experts and his own research, chronicles a number of themes: the role that Hebrew revivalist Eliezer Ben-Yehuda holds in the contemporary Israeli imagination (myth has it that he did not let his son hear the chirping of birds so that no foreign sounds save Hebrew would penetrate his young mind); the relationship between Hebrew and other Jewish languages such as Yiddish; the practicalities of reviving a Biblical language in the modern age; and the relationship between language and identity – particularly in a Jewish democratic state that retains an Arab minority for whom Hebrew is a foreign tongue.

Like Stavans, I related to the power of Hebrew – and its contemporary manifestation as a living and breathing language in modern Israel – as helping define my personal identity. Like Stavans, I too experienced a crush on a young Israeli when I was living there in my 20s. Though, in my case, that his name meant “ploughed field” certainly added to his muscular kibbutznik allure and reinforced the evocative power of the language.

Upon arrival in Israel, Stavans sets out to poll the first stranger he encounters, a woman selling newspapers in Tel Aviv, about Ben-Yehuda. She did know Ben-Yehuda was a street name, but, when pressed as to who the person was, she goes blank. “How should I know? Am I an encyclopedia,” she asks.

This presumed ignorance bookends a very different reflection Stavans encounters about Ben-Yehuda from a young Israeli graduate student who serves as his one-time guide. The student seems to have no patience for BenYehuda, who, he says, was a “phony,” someone who just made “lists.” Hayim Nahman Bialik, one of Israel’s revered Hebrew poets, on the other hand, “was a master at coining beautiful neologisms while building a bridge with the biblical past” (in Stavans’ paraphrasing).

Neither is the ongoing maintenance of Hebrew a simple task. In a visit to the Israeli Academy of the Hebrew Language, the author learns that many contemporary words introduced by the academy simply didn’t stick. For example, Israelis often use the term “cornflakes” to mean cereal, whether they’re Corn Flakes or not.

I seized on this tiny anecdote, as I, too, have never quite known what to call cereal when I ask my daughter each morning if she prefers dysah (oatmeal) or regular cereal.

My summer camp said “dysah” for both hot and cold varieties, and I recall an Israeli relative some years ago in-

Competitive Rates

Mark W. Freedman B.A., M.A., CFP Insurance, Investments, Financial Planning

Focusing on YOUR needs Jacob Schildkraut • 762-2465 Prearranged Pickups All major Credit Cards & government credit cards accepted

Goldstein Brothers Limited Repairs, Installations, Electrical Maintenance

Fruit Basket

Rapid Service Reasonable Rates Master Electrician Lic #7001419 Tel: 613-737-9722 Cell: 613-229-5685

Call Frank anytime

Beautifully designed, delicious-tasting

Starting at

$39.99

order online ottawafreshfruitbaskets.com or call

613-244-6000 Kosher Baskets Available 51 York Street in the Byward Market

Canadian Friends of Peace Now and Temple Israel present

Col. (ret.) Shaul Arieli speaking on

Israel's New Government and Prospects for Peace Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 7:30 pm Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Dr. Shaul Arieli: high-ranking IDF military officer (ret.), peace negotiator, expert on peace and security matters including Israel's security barrier.

For more information: peacenowottawa@rogers.com 613-523-8969

www.freedmanfinancialsolutions.com

Courteous Dependable Prompt Service Exclusively Luxury Sedans

structing me to say “d’ganim.” When I polled my Facebook friends for this review, I received a different answer from everyone, Israeli and not, who replied including dysah, d’ganim, cornflakes and, simply, cereal.

Surely English does not engender so much confusion about what to call daily foodstuffs, which adds to the fascination of reviving an ancient language for modern use.

In its mix of the personal with the nostalgic and intellectual, Resurrecting Hebrew is a worthwhile read for anyone looking to contemplate the link between how we talk and who we are.

Mention you saw this ad in the Jewish Bulletin to receive a reduced financial consultation fee.

613.614.5650

NOT A SUBSCRIBER? Don’t miss one more issue!

CALL IN TO SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 613-798-4696, ext. 256

Page 32 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 Grilled Salmon with Almond Vinaigrette This recipe comes from the May/June issue of Cook’s Illustrated.

If you neglected to clean the grates of your gas barbecue before you put it away for the winter (like I did), don’t despair. I just learned a quick and easy way to clean the grates. Cover the cooking grate with a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Leave spaces at both sides for ventilation. Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until very hot, about 15 minutes.

Remove foil with tongs and discard. Use grill brush to scrape cooking grate clean.

If you are using skinless salmon fillets, treat the skinned side of each as if it were the skin side. If you’re unsure of which side had the skin, look for the side with the slightly greyish colour. That’s where the skin was peeled from.

4 salmon fillets (skin on or skinless, your choice), 3/4- to 1-inch thick Vegetable oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Place fillets skin-side up on rimmed baking sheet or large plate lined with clean kitchen towel. Place second clean kitchen towel on top of fillets and press down to blot liquid. Refrigerate fish, wrapped in towels at least 20 minutes.

Preheat gas grill on high for at least 10 minutes.

Lightly dip wad of paper towels in oil. Holding wad with tongs, wipe grate. Continue to wipe grate with oiled paper towels, redipping towels in oil between applications, until grate is black and glossy, 5 to 10 times. This will help to prevent the fish from sticking.

Brush both sides of fish with thin coat of oil and season with salt and pepper. Place fish skin-side down on grill diagonal to grate, reduce heat to medium, cover grill, and cook without moving until skin side is brown, well marked, and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. (Try lifting fish gently with spatula after 3 minutes; if it doesn’t cleanly lift off grill, continue to cook, checking at 30-second intervals until it releases.) Using 2 spatulas, flip fish to second side and cook, covered, until centres of fillets are opaque and register 125 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 2 to 6 minutes longer. Serve immediately with Almond Vinaigrette.

The flavours of spring

Made with Love

Most winters, I can be found hibernating in my bedroom office. I am not much of an outdoor enthusiast. I blame my mother for this. I am one of six children and my mom had the first four of us in less than six years. It was just so difficult to get us all dressed in our snowsuits, hats, mitts and boots to send us outside to play, so she would put a sweater on us and stand us beside an open window for our ration of fresh air for the day. We would happily play Barbie all winter long, beside the open window.

I do make an exception and spend some time outside in the winter to barbecue. I keep the barbecue just outside my kitchen door and I will venture out there at least once a week during the cold weather. This winter, though, I didn’t barbecue once. It was just too cold and snowy. Finally, last week, when I could see some buds on the trees, I ventured out of my bedroom office and out the kitchen door and fired up the grill. Some of the first local produce to hit the market over the next few weeks will be asparagus and rhubarb.

With the addition of some grilled salmon, I can’t think of a better way to welcome spring

Cindy Feingold

Asparagus, Peas and Basil Serves 4 This recipe comes from the April 2008 issue of Gourmet.

Local asparagus will be in the markets very soon, so try to use it in this recipe. Local fresh peas don’t usually appear in Ottawa until late July, but frozen peas are just as delicious in this recipe.

1/8 cup finely chopped shallots (about 1) 4 teaspoons unsalted butter 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 1/4 cups thawed frozen peas 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Handful of torn basil leaves (about 1/4 cup) Cook shallots in butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 4 minutes.

Stir in asparagus, peas, sea salt, and pepper, then seal skillet with foil. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender but still slightly al dente, about 6 minutes. Stir in basil. Serve.

1/3 cup almonds, toasted 2 teaspoons honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 4 teaspoons white wine vinegar 1 medium shallot, minced 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon cold water 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon (optional) Salt and freshly ground black pepper Place almonds in zip-lock bag and, using rolling pin, pound until no pieces larger than 1/2 inch remain.

Combine pounded almonds, honey, mustard, vinegar, and shallot in medium bowl.

Whisking constantly, drizzle in olive oil until emulsion forms.

Add water and tarragon and whisk to combine, then season with salt and pepper. Serve.

Marla’s Rhubarb Cake Serves 6 This recipe was created by my friend Marla. She made it for us at the cottage and it was devoured very quickly. When buying rhubarb, try to buy stalks that are not much wider than celery ribs. If they are much thicker, you should peel them. To tame the tartness of rhubarb, try this trick. Soak raw, cut rhubarb in cold water for about 30 minutes before cooking it.

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 4 eggs 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 cups chopped rhubarb 1 3/4 cups light brown sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until well creamed. Add eggs, one at a time and mix well. Add vanilla and mix. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just combined. Set batter aside.

Butter a glass pie plate or 9 x 9 inch Pyrex glass baking dish. Combine rhubarb and brown sugar in baking dish. Cover fruit with batter. Bake for about 40 minutes, until cake is golden brown.

Let cool for at least 20 minutes and then serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

SHAYNA SHUSTER Sales Representative

613-596-4133 www.shaynashuster.com

Specializing in your neighbourhood

ARLINGTON WOODS High-end custom-built 4 bedroom, 4 bath (3 ensuites), executive single family – just constructed and ready to occupy. Luxurious open-concept design features hardwood floors, coffered ceiling, crown moldings, granite and cultured stone. A must see!

Almond Vinaigrette

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd. collects and uses your personal information primarily for the purpose of providing you with the products and services you have requested from us.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin may also contact you from time to time to ask about

your account or to conduct market research and surveys in an effort to continually improve our product service offerings.

To enable us to more efficiently provide the products and services you have requested from us, the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin may share your personal information

with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation and the Soloway Jewish Community Centre.

If you would like more information, or to speak to the Privacy Officer, please call 613-798-4696 ext. 256.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 33

Simple text and colourful pictures to delight young children Reviewing books for very young children is no easy task. Usually they are board books with so few pages that there is little to say about them. Portraying major concepts simply is also no easy task.

Fortunately, the following books, including two board books, are an exception. They succeed in conveying important concepts and their associated moods simply, graciously and with full respect for their young audience. Yasher Koach to the authors and illustrators!

Where Shabbat Lives

By Jan Goldin Fabiyi Illustrated by Sue Rama Kar-Ben Publishing 2008 12 pages. Ages 1-4.

Where Shabbat Lives is a board book. It tells the story of a Jewish family observing Shabbat from the start of the holiday with candles, wine and a covered braided challah, to the dressed-up walk to synagogue, to Shabbat’s ending with Havdalah and the family’s anticipation of next Shabbat.

Although older children are shown in the bright, colourful illustrations, there is a sense of inclusiveness that will charm and delight younger children. Tots will easily relate to the simple words and holistic concept of Shabbat’s spirit being in everything we do. This is a terrific reminder for all of us of Where Shabbat Lives.

Kid Lit Deanna Silverman on different parts of the body.” While I don’t usually recommend obviously didactic books, All About Us is so well written and illustrated that I found it interesting and entertaining.

Why did God create people? Why give them feet, hands, a head, ears, a mouth, eyes and a heart? The answers here are specifically Jewish. They are also delightful, easy to understand and emulate even if your family and friends are not as obviously Orthodox as the children and adults portrayed in the joyous, action-packed pictures.

Who doesn’t like dancing on Simchat Torah, hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, smiling at friends, opening the door for guests and the many other small and large activities that enhance our Jewishness on holidays and every day of the week? All About Us is, quite simply, lots of fun.

Goodnight Sh’ma

By Jacqueline Jules Illustrated by Melanie Hall Kar-Ben Publishing 2008 12 pages. Ages 1-4.

Written in simple, rhyming text, Goodnight Sh’ma, also a board book, is a charming invitation to join a little boy in the comfort and security of his bedtime ritual. He settles into bed with his teddy bear and a book. His mother reads him a bedtime story. And “I say the Sh’ma and feel God’s light, shining on me all through the night.” The Sh’ma is written in transliterated Hebrew and in translation.

Bright, quiet pastel colours cast a calming tone even as the child’s imagination soars to pictures of animals and stars in a beautiful, active universe. A word of caution for my Orthodox readers: the little boy is not wearing a kippah when he recites the Sh’ma.

All About Us

By Dina Rosenfeld Illustrated by Patti Argoff Hachai Publishing 2009 Unpaged. Ages 3 - 6 First published in 1989, this second edition of the Orthodox book, All About Us, has been reissued with the same text but with new, joyous illustrations that feature both girls and boys having a great time doing mitzvot, celebrating holidays and enjoying their families and friends.

According to the blurb that accompanied the book, its purpose is to give “children of all ages, a new perspective

ENGLISH BULLDOGS FOR SALE AT $490 PER PUP. They are adorable pups, have strong bloodlines, in great health condition and their shots and vaccinations are up to date.

Email me at dougwarner19101@live.com if interested

5 EASY WAYS TO PURCHASE TICKETS: MAIL: Rambam Day School, 31 Nadolny Sachs Private • Ottawa, ON K2A 1R9 PHONE: 613.820.9484 • FAX: 613.820.0029 EMAIL: rabbiyw@rambam.ca ONLINE: www.chineseauctiononline.org/rambam

Page 34 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Campus year marked by headline-making events and issues The 2008-2009 academic year, along with my career as a student, is finally over, as I am about to graduate from Carleton University’s journalism program. Having been involved with the Jewish students association, Hillel Ottawa, for the past four years, I can honestly say that this year has been the most eventful I have experienced.

When I initially agreed to write a column about the Jewish campus milieu, I doubted whether there would be enough going on that would be worth writing about. Thankfully, though, there was plenty of material for me to draw on.

Besides an extensive line-up of social programs and holiday celebrations, Jewish post-secondary students in Ottawa had the opportunity to hear a wide range of speakers, from local university professors to visiting Israelis, and even a Jewish community leader who came all the way from Uganda to share his people’s story.

For those with a special interest in Israel advocacy, much of the local campus buzz stemmed from events that made worldwide headlines. As the news reports came in from Israel and Gaza this past winter, during and after Operation Cast Lead, governmental and public reaction here in Canada brought freedom of speech issues and threats of anti-Israel boycotts to the fore.

At the University of Ottawa, a student-funded public interest research group refused to endorse or promote Hillelsponsored events, citing the Jewish student organization’s support for “apartheid Israel” and “Zionist ideology.”

Controversy arose at both Ottawa universities when ad-

Sol and Zelaine Shinder congratulate the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on the occasion of its 75th anniversary and the worthy 75 recipients of the 75th Anniversary Volunteer Award

ministrators removed posters promoting Israel Apartheid Week, which featured an inflammatory anti-Israel image. A new counter-event, Israel: A Partner Week, highlighted the Jewish state’s positive contributions in many fields.

Though my own unforgiving academic workload kept me from attending every event, Ottawa’s Jewish student leaders managed to fulfil their roles and still keep up with their schoolwork. A prime example is Raphael Szajnfarber, a fourth-year public affairs and policy management student at Carleton, who filled the weighty position of Hillel Ottawa’s city-wide president during his graduating year.

While he admits balancing priorities was often a challenge, he says, “Every day was an adventure. It was an unbelievable learning experience and I’m very thankful for it.”

Szajnfarber co-ordinated campus activity for Jewish students on the Carleton, uOttawa and Algonquin College campuses while serving as spokesperson and handling students’ concerns as they arose.

He cites the sharp rise in anti-Israel activity on campus as one of the biggest unanticipated concerns he faced during the year. He succeeded by staying calm, not overreacting, and putting matters in context while working on a consensus.

Campus Life Liana Shlien Szajnfarber says he enjoyed helping create new outreach programs, “seeing so many new faces and seeing those people keep coming back.” Overwhelmingly successful events like the bring-a-friend Shabbat dinner boosted overall attendance and Hillel membership by at least 50 per cent.

For next fall, Hillel Ottawa will have a new executive board and a new look. Mark Friedman will take on the new position of city-wide chair for the Jewish students association, sharing leadership with returning Carleton president Chelsea Sauvé and uOttawa’s Hillel president Jennifer Hadad. The growing Israel Awareness Committee will have its own city-wide president, Laura Grosman.

As for me, I have certainly enjoyed writing this column and especially appreciated hearing feedback. Keeping Ottawa Jewish Bulletin readers informed about what is happening on campus is something that I hope will continue next school year.

Editor’s note: The Bulletin thanks Liana for being our first Campus Life columnist. We do, indeed, plan to continue the column during the next academic year.

My name is Rubin and I am a technoholic I have a confession. I have become addicted to technology.

Today’s technology allows me to speak to my son in New York through video conferencing. It allows me to be part of chat groups on the web, which spill over into real life when I meet chat group members in person and we carry on our continuing conversation.

In short, today’s technology is a marvel – when it works.

It’s another matter, though, when things don’t work.

Now part of me thinks all these technological wonders have spoiled us. We are like children who have learned to expect instant gratification.

“What do you mean the fax isn’t working? How can our server be down? I have important messages to send and to receive. What do you mean my e-mail never arrived and you aren’t coming to the meeting?”

When I started working for the government, the marvel was the IBM Selectric typewriter. Then there were self-correcting typewriters with a bit of memory. Then we had MICOM and word processing. That was huge. Instead of a turnaround of a day or more, the boss expected to see changes made in a few hours so they could review the whole text again. With e-mail and file sharing, the expectation is almost-immediate turnaround. This is like giving a baby constant access to a bottle. Soon you have one big baby! I liked to think of bosses in the same way.

But, somehow, this stuff is seductive. I now have two cell phones, one for work and one for personal use. So I have two different ring tones and double the equipment to lose or forget. My plan is to get a belt with two holsters so that I can pretend to be a gunslinger.

The thing is, if you use it, you come to depend on it.

At a recent conference, a bizarre confluence of events made my life more challenging. The conference was at Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston, Ontario. The inn is in the bowl of a little valley surrounded by the Caledon Hills. The signal from my cell phone provider is deflected high overhead

Humour me, please RubinFriedman when it comes over the hills, so it was impossible to receive calls in the lobby of the hotel or lower – which was where the conference was. Well, I could go up to my room on the third floor!

In my room, my voice mail informed me that I had several messages from work, one of which required me to look at my e-mail. So I tried to connect to the hotel’s wireless network. Surprise! It would not give me an IP address, so I could not use it even though I could connect to it. I phoned down to the front desk and learned that the only place computers were connecting was in the lobby. You may have guessed what that meant. I ran up and down between the lobby and my room to get all my messages and answer them. And what happened to the people trying to reach me?

They usually phoned when I was in the lobby and sent email when I was in my room.

When I checked my e-mail, I could never catch up. I was always 100 messages behind.

I felt a little like a guy imprisoned in a rubber room bouncing up and down. At least I got a lot of exercise!

When I got home, my e-mail wasn’t working either and I chased my tail for a good few hours before figuring it out.

The router was unplugged.

And what was the first message I got? Susan Boyle had had a makeover!

So, please, do not get hooked on technology before it is too late. My name is Rubin and I am a technoholic.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 35

FOUNDATION DONATIONS A gift forever

Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation Donations To make a donation and/or send a tribute card, call Carolene Preap (613-798-4696 ext. 232) e-mail: cpreap@jewishottawa.com • website: www.OJCF.ca

Join us in building our community by supporting these local agencies AJA 50+ ENDOWMENT FUND In appreciation to: Ricarda Smith by AJA 50+.

GREENBERG FAMILIES LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Roger Greenberg and Cindy Feingold.

HILLEL LODGE LEGACY FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Sally and Elliott Levitan; by Barbara and Stanley Plotnick; by Sandi and Eddy Cook; by Bernie and Donna Dolansky.

SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by The Morahs at the Ganon Preschool.

AKIVA EVENING HIGH SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND SHIRLEY AND SHIER BERMAN FUND FOR OTTAWA JEWISH ARCHIVES HILLEL ACADEMY ENDOWMENT FUND ROSE AND LOUIS ARCHBAR MEMORIAL FUND MENDEL AND VALERIE GOOD HOLOCAUST CONTINUING EDUCATION FUND HY HOCHBERG MEMORIAL LECTURE FUND JEWISH COMMUNITY CEMETERY HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES ENDOWMENT FUND JEWISH STUDENTS ASSOCIATION - HILLEL JEWISH YOUTH LIBRARY OF OTTAWA ENDOWMENT FUND DAVID “THE BEAR” KARDASH CAMP B’NAI BRITH MEMORIAL FUND ADINA BEN PORAT MACHON SARAH TORAH EDUCATION FUND OTTAWA JEWISH CEMETERIES ZICHARON FUND OTTAWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FUND OTTAWA MODERN JEWISH SCHOOL FUND OTTAWA POST JEWISH WAR VETERANS FUND DORIS BRONSTEIN TALMUD TORAH AFTERNOON SCHOOL FUND OTTAWA TORAH INSTITUTE TORAH EDUCATION FUND MARTIN GLATT PARLIAMENT LODGE B’NAI BRITH PAST PRESIDENTS’ FUND RAMBAM MAIMONIDES JEWISH CONTINUITY FUND GABY SASSOON FOR VICTIMS OF TERROR IN ISRAEL MEMORIAL FUND JEWISH MEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE FUND SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP FUND SARA AND ZEEV VERED ISRAEL CULTURAL PROGRAM FUND SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE ENDOWMENT FUND SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE YOUTH SERVICES FUND TORAH ACADEMY OF OTTAWA TORAH EDUCATION FUND YITZHAK RABIN HIGH SCHOOL FUND IN MEMORY OF EVA WINTHROP

The Board of Directors of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation acknowledges with thanks contributions to the following funds as of April 21, 2009.

Freeman Family Young Leadership Award by Bernie and Donna Dolansky.

Estelle Gunner on being the recipient of the Shem Tov Award by Bernie and Donna Dolansky.

ROSE AND LOUIS ACHBAR MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Zelda Greenberg by Zelda Freedman.

Bertha Palmer by Zelda Freedman.

Jack Smith by Zelda Freedman.

Mazel Tov to: Phyllis and Marvin Silverman on the birth of their twin granddaughters by Zelda Freedman.

Anniversary wishes to: Rhoda and Bert Blevis by Zelda Freedman.

Good health to: Ethel Taylor by Zelda Freedman.

Jackie Levinson by Zelda Freedman.

Warm wishes to Henry Bloom by Zelda Freedman.

Riva and David Rotenberg by Zelda Freedman.

Birthday wishes to: Ben Achbar by Zelda Freedman.

MORRIE AND HELEN EISEN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Helen Eisen.

FRANCEEN AND STANLEY AGES ENDOWMENT FUND Best wishes to: Faigel and Len Shapiro in their new home by Fran and Stan Ages.

APPOTIVE FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Sharon and David Appotive and family; by Sharon Appotive; by Edith and David Appotive; and by Jeffrey Appotive.

ANNE AND LOUIS ARRON MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Daphne and Stanley Arron.

CAYLA AND MICHAEL BAYLIN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Abe and Beverley Feinstein; by Sol and Zelaine Shinder; by Marilyn and William Newman; by Barbara and Len Farber.

Mazel Tov to: Kayla and Michael Baylin on the birth of their granddaughter Charlie by Steve, Joss, Lee, Jess and Emma Greenberg.

CYNTHIA AND DAVID BLUMENTHAL ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Rachel Gould by Cynthia and David Blumenthal.

Jack Smith by Cynthia and David Blumenthal.

RONALD BODNOFF MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Rhoda Banff.

Bertha Palmer by Rhoda Banff.

JACOB AARON AND ESTHER MALKA BRUNER MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: The six millions Jews that died as well as the Israeli people and soldier by Ally and Al Bruner.

SANDI AND EDDY COOK ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Sandi and Eddy Cook.

ABIGAIL GREENBERG MITZVAH FUND Mazel Tov to: Abigail Greenberg on her Bat Mitzvah by Cynthia and Max Weinstein; by Jerry Slack; and by Cally and Sid Kardash.

DOLANSKY FAMILY FUND Mazel Tov to: Ingrid Levitz for being the recipient of the Gilbert Greenberg Award by Bernie and Donna Dolansky.

Jennifer Kardash on being the recipient of the

CYNTHIA AND ABE ENGEL ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Cynthia Engel.

MARJORIE AND MICHAEL FELDMAN FAMILY FUND In memory of: Rachel Gould by Marjorie and Michael Feldman.

Bertha Palmer by Marjorie and Michael Feldman.

SHARON AND PAUL FINN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Sharon and Paul Finn.

Jack Smith by Sharon and Paul Finn.

SAM AND SUSAN FIRESTONE ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Sam and Susan Firestone.

FLORENCE FAMILY MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by A.L., Ann and Leanne Smith.

ROZ AND STEVEN FREMETH FAMILY FUND Mazel Tov to: Roz and Steven Fremeth on the engagement of Adam to Rachel by Jack and Sherri Trojman; and by Marjorie and Michael Feldman.

ALFRED AND KAYSA FRIEDMAN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Alfred and Kaysa Friedman.

FRAN AND SID GERSHBERG FAMILY FUND In memory of: Nat Ivies by Fran and Sid Gershberg.

GILBOA/MAOZ FAMILY FUND In memory of: Israel Rosenfeld by Tal Gilboa.

Jack Smith by Tal Gilboa, Paz, Eitan and Hadar Maoz.

GEORGE AND MARY GOLDBERG ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Mary Goldberg by Jane and Robert Erskine.

EVA, DIANE AND JACK GOLDFIELD MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Anita and Ed Landis.

Zelda Greenberg by Anita and Ed Landis.

Birthday wishes to: Barbara Goldfield by Anita and Ed Landis.

Eva-Lyn Goldfield by Anita and Ed Landis.

Ethel and Irving Taylor by Anita and Ed Landis.

Arthur Kaminker by Anita, Ed, Richard and Terry Landis.

VICTOR AND RACHEL GOULD ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Rachel Gould by Barbara and Len Farber.

BEATRICE AND SAMUEL GREENBERG FAMILY FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Bea, Janice and Arlene Greenberg.

Continued on page 36

Page 36 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

FOUNDATION DONATIONS LOUIS AND HELEN GREENBERG MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Issie Rose by David and Karen Greenberg.

ZELDA AND JOHN GREENBERG ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Zelda Greenberg by Marilyn and William Newman.

EMMA HAMER B’NAI MITZVAH FUND Mazel Tov to: Emma Hamer on her Bat Mitzvah by Teena and Walter Hendelman.

HY AND PAULINE HOCHBERG ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Pauline Hochberg.

Jack Smith by Pauline Hochberg.

Rachel Gould by Sandra Zagon.

Get well soon to: Murray Allice by Sandra Zagon.

RUTH AND RON LEVITAN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Ron and Ruth Levitan.

KRANTZBERG KRANE FAMILY FUND In memory of Marguerite Cleinge-Green and Sara Green by Myra and Sam Krane and family.

SALLY AND ELLIOTT LEVITAN ENDOWMENT FUND Mazel Tov to: Molly Hirsch and Eric Elkin on the engagement of Nina to Jason Taller by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Mendy Taller on the engagement of Jason to Nina Elkin

by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Ethel Kerzner on the engagement of Jason to Nina by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

In memory of: Mary Goldberg by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Caroline Bayline by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Issie Rose by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

SUSAN AND DAVID KRIGER ENDOWMENT FUND Mazel Tov to: Robert and Sheila Smolkin on becoming grandparents by Susan, David, Sarah and Debra Kriger.

ANNICE AND SYDNEY KRONICK FAMILY FUND Anniversary wishes to: Debi and Neil Zaret by Adam, Josh and Jennifer Zaret.

DOROTHY AND HY HYMES ENDOWMENT FUND Happy and healthy Passover to: Mr. and Mrs. Sam Kotzer by Dorothy and Hy Hymes.

Birthday wishes to: Moe Sobcuff by Dorothy and Hy Hymes.

ARTHUR AND SARAH KIMMEL MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Norman and Isabel Lesh.

JOAN AND RUSSELL KRONICK FAMILY FUND In memory of: Rachel Gould by Blossom Read.

ISSIE AND EDITH LANDAU ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Harry Witenoff by Edie Landau.

In observance of the Yahrzeit of: Ethel Goldberg, a beloved mother by Edie Landau.

PHILLIP AND ETTIE KIMMEL MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Stan Kimmel and Carol Spiro.

HARRY AND ZENA LEIKIN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Stan and Libby Katz.

SHARON KOFFMAN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Sandra Zagon.

Zelda Greenberg by Sandra Zagon.

NORMAN AND ISABEL LESH ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Norman and Isabel Lesh.

Maurie Karp by Norman and Isabel Lesh.

The Chair, Officers and Board of Directors of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation cordially invites all fund holders and members of the Community to attend the

35th Annual General Meeting being held on

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 Doors Open: 7:00 pm

Call to Order: 7:30 pm

Dessert Reception to follow proceedings

G.J. Cooper Scholarship Award presentation to Davina Finn Zelikovitz Family Social Hall of The Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building 21 Nadolny Sachs Private Please RSVP prior to May 25th, 2009 to Francine Paulin at 613-798-4696 ext 252 or at fpaulin@jewishottawa.com A copy of the meeting materials and By-law amendment will be available on our website. www.OJCF.ca

“We Owe It To Our Future”

ERNEST AND IDA LEVITZ MEMORIAL FUND Mazel Tov to: Mark Levitz on receiving the Q. C. designation by Gerry, Ingrid, Naomi, Stephanie and Allan.

JOHN AND ESTELLE LIBERMAN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Anne Biber by John and Estelle Liberman.

ARNOLD AND ROSE LITHWICK MEMORIAL FUND Birthday wishes to: Barry Lithwick by Yvonne and Harvey Lithwick and family.

DAVID LOEB FAMILY FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Adele and David Loeb.

SAMUEL AND LEEMA MAGIDSON ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel.

Caroline Baylin by Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel.

Zelda Greenberg by Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel.

BONNIE AND CHUCK MEROVITZ FAMILY FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Bonnie and Chuck Merovitz.

Rachel Gould by Bonnie and Chuck Merovitz.

Mazel Tov to: Roz and Steve Fremeth on the engagement of their son Adam to Rachel Maya by Bonnie and Chuck Merovitz.

DAVE, LOUIS AND LAZ MIRSKY ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Debbie and Herb Cosman.

NORMAN AND ANNE MIRSKY MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Millie and Steve Mirsky.

Jack Smith by Millie and Steve Mirsky.

Mazel Tov to: Wendy and Michael Green on the birth of their grandson

by Millie and Steve Mirsky.

JACK AND HONEY MONSON ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Morris Balsam by Jack and Honey Baylin.

ABE AND BERTHA PALMER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Mitchell Bellman and Nicola Hamer; and by Sol and Zelaine Shinder.

PHYLLIS AND ALAN RACKOW ENDOWMENT FUND In appreciation to: Joan Kisluk by Phyllis and Alan Rackow.

David Mazer and Karen Chisvin by Phyllis and Alan Rackow.

R’fuah Sh’lemah to: Jack Morris by Phyllis and Alan Rackow.

ALTI AND BEREL RODAL FAMILY FUND Mazal Tov Chezky and Rivki Rodal on the birth of Chana Mushka

by Alti and Berel Rodal.

Rabbi and Mrs. David Hayes on the marriage of Schneur and Chana by Alti and Berel Rodal.

Rt. Hon Herb Gray on his installation of Chancellor of Carleton University by Alti and Berel Rodal.

In Memory of: Levi Yitzchak by Alti and Berel Rodal.

Phyllis and Sidney White by Alti and Berel Rodal.

Caroline Baylin by Alti and Berel Rodal.

David Lunn by Alti and Berel Rodal.

Jack Smith by Alti and Berel Rodal.

Bertha Palmer by Alti and Berel Rodal.

HARRY AND FRIEDA ROSENTHAL MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Rachel Gould by Barbara and David Slipacoff and family.

Jack Smith by Barbara and David Slipacoff and family.

Condolences to: Faigie and Phil Stubina on the loss of their son-in-law Avi

by Barbara and David Slipacoff and family.

RICHARD ROTH AND RIVA LEVITAN FAMILY FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Richard Roth and Riva Levitan.

Terry Schwarzfeld by Riva Levitan, Richard, Jared and Aaron Roth SHELLEY AND SID ROTHMAN FAMILY FUND Mazel Tov to: Roz and Steve Fremeth on the engagement of their son Adam to Rachel Maya by Shelley Rothman and family.

Continued on page 37

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 37

FOUNDATION DONATIONS RICKIE AND MARTIN SASLOVE FAMILY FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Rhoda and Jeffery Miller and family.

ELAYNE AND WESLEY SCHACTER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Elayne and Wesley Schacter.

SYLVIA AND HARRY SHERMAN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Jack and Julie Sherman.

SOL AND ZELAINE SHINDER ENDOWMENT FUND R’fuah Sh’lemah to: Minnie Greenberg by Sol and Zelaine Shinder.

FAY AND JOSEPH SHULMAN ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Mary Farber by Brian and Nadine Mordfield.

In memory of: Jack Smith by Brian and Nadine Mordfield; and by Fay Shulman.

LORNE AND LAURIE SHUSTERMAN FAMILY FUND In memory of: Henry Bloom by Lorne, Laurie, Zak and Ben Shusterman.

SAM AND SUE SLACK ENDOWMENT FUND Happy and healthy Passover to: Sharon and David Appotive by Sue Slack.

Joy and Seymour Mender by Sue Slack.

In memory of: Bertha Palmer by David and Sharon Appotive.

JACK AND LINDA SMITH ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Jerry and Morrie Krantzberg; by Eli Krantzberg; by Leon and Jodi Krantzberg; by Mitchell Bellman and Nicola Hamer; by James and Janet McNeil; by Joy, Eric and Becky Weisbloom; by Susan and Molly Greenberg; by Phil and Sue Bronsther; Haze Wainberg and Merv Blostein; Sara Vered; by Ingrid and Gerry Levitz and family; by Monique Archambault-Dupuis; by Benita, Steven, Alexander and Ryan Baker; by Dan and Marilyn Kimmel; by Randy Graham; by Bentall LP and Sun Life Financial Centre;

by Ian and Shoshana Kagedan; by Shelley Rothman & family; by Ellen, Marty and Sharon Cardash; by Edie Landau; by Rona and Ron Eisenberg; by Cally and Sid Kardash; by Libby and Stan Katz; by John Jussup, Sandy Goldberg and Izzy Goldberg-Jussup; by David and Sara Lipnowski; by Mitch Moss and family; by Terry Dorfman; by Judi Switzer; by Peggy Kleinplatz; by Norman and Sandra Slover; by Gina and Talal Camel-Toueg; by Clair Krantzberg;

by Gail Krantzberg; by Ginsburg, Gluzman, Fage & Levitz;

by Jack and Sherri Torjman; by Evelyn Greenberg and family; by Barbara, Len, Steven and Michael Farber, by Janet

and Steve Rosen; by Steve Nicoletti; by Diane Billyard, Marilyn Bruner, Jeff Johnson and Jennifer Billyard; by Pamela Molot-Berman and Family; by Philip Rimer; by Simone Brightstein; by Broccolini Construction Inc.; by Kayla Estrin and Wayne Moore; by Walter, Karen, Steven and Mitchell Fogel; by Gary Kugler; by Eleanor Scharf, Andre Pierzchala , Dora and Beatrice Scharf-Pierzchala; by Miriam Markel; by Sunny and John Tavel; by Heidi and Stephen Polowin; by Lynne Oreck-Wener and Bob Wener; by Elissa and Avraham Iny; by Jack and Sarah Silverstein; by Murray Citron; by Sarah and Steven Morgan; by RARCF and TEPB;

by Donna and Bernie Dolansky; by Dora and Sam Litwack;

by Norma and Phil Lazear; by Ian and Melissa Shabinsky and family; by Ross Tavel; by Chaim and Helen Gilboa; by Irving and Ann Atkins; by Maureen and Clary Ottman; by Brazeau Seller LLP; by Cole Funeral Services; by Alan and Lynda Halpren; by Colin McIIwain; and by Laura Logan, Mark Dennis and Logan Ingold.

DORIS AND RICHARD STERN FAMILY FUND In memory of: Bertha Palmer by Doris and Richard Stern.

Anne Biber by Doris and Richard Stern.

RUTH TALLER MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Jason Taller and Nina Elkin.

CLAIRE AND SAM TANNER MEMORIAL FUND Mazel Tov to: Stephen Waxman on the engagement of his daughter Ellen to Adam Caron by Lana and Stephen Tanner and family.

THE TARANTOUR FAMILY FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Ann Lazear and family.

CHARLES AND RAE TAVEL MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Lilyan Philipp.

CHARLES AND ROSE TAYLOR ENDOWMENT FUND Healthy and happy Passover to: Chick and Rose Taylor by Ellen, Marty and Sharon Cardash.

JOSH TAYLOR MITZVAH FUND Mazel Tov to: Leanne, Jeff and Elizabeth Greenberg on Abby’s Bat Mitzvah by Susie, Jeff, Josh, Bram and Dani Taylor.

BARBARA AND GERALD THAW ENDOWMENT FUND Speedy recovery to: Archie Cogan by Barbara and Gerald Thaw.

In memory of: Jack Smith by Barbara and Gerald Thaw.

Henry Bloom by Barbara and Gerald Thaw.

THE SAUL AND EDNA GOLDFARB B’NAI MITZVAH PROGRAM

LISE AND MARK THAW FAMILY FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Lise and Mark Thaw and family.

MARA BOSLOY B’NAI MITZVAH FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by George and Vera Gara; and by Judy, Jonathan, Mara and Rebecca Bosloy.

MIRIAM AND LOUIS WEINER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Caroline Weiner by Miriam and Louis Weiner.

Bertha Palmer by Miriam and Louis Weiner.

Jack Smith by Miriam and Louis Weiner.

REBECCA BOSLOY MITZVAH FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Judy, Jonathan, Mara and Rebecca Bosloy.

SAMUEL JOSEPH LESH B’NAI MITZVAH FUND In memory of: Jack Smith by Liz, Sarah and Sammy Lesh.

IRVING AND DIANE WEXLER FAMILY FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Diane Wexler and family.

ZIPES KARANOFSKY FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND Mazel Tov to: Roz and Steve Fremeth on the engagement of their son Adam to Rachel Maya by Rick and Helen Zipes and family.

In memory of: Jack Smith by Rick and Helen Zipes.

PINCHAS ZUKERMAN MUSICAL EDUCATION FUND In memory of: Harry Witenoff by the Shiru Lach Choir.

ZACHARY SILBER B’NAI MITZVAH FUND In memory of: Caroline Baylin by Lawrence and Shari Silber.

Mazel Tov to: Cayla and Michael Baylin on the birth of their granddaughter by Lawrence and Shari Silber.

Contributions may be made online at www.OJCF.ca or by contacting Carolene Preap at 613-798-4696 extension 232, Monday to Friday. We have voice mail. Our e-mail address is donation@ojcf.ca. Attractive cards are sent to convey the appropriate sentiments. All donations are acknowledged with an official receipt for income tax purposes. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Amex.

Notice to OJCF Members The OJCF will accept nominations in writing up to seven days (i.e. no later than June 3rd, 2009) prior to the election of the Directors at the 35th Annual General Meeting on June 10th, 2009.

To submit a nomination, please forward correspondence to: Attn: Secretary of the OJCF c/o Francine Paulin 21 Nadolny Sachs Private Ottawa, ON K2A 1R9

CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL SPECIAL 2009 GROUP DEPARTURES May 25-30

CANYON RANCH SPA GETAWAY 5-day package includes transportation, spa plan and much more!

June 29-July 13

BALTIC CRUISE ON OCEANIA REGATTA - 14 DAYS Free air from Toronto included! Starts in Stockholm, ends in Dover (London).

Special features: 2 days in Stockholm, 3 days in St. Petersburg and 7 other exciting ports of call.

October 3-17

VISIT WARSAW, BUDAPEST, VIENNA, PRAGUE

November 1-10

EXOTIC MOROCCO WITH CANTOR DANIEL BENLOLO

Please call Chris Calder (ext. 2229) or Nancy Borer (ext. 2232) for further information.

Sandra Granatstein sgranatstein@carlsonwagonlit.com 130 Albert St. Suite 714, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5G4

613-238-4040

& # #

! "

# $%

!"#$% &'(#)$%

'%*+ !#",-$%

Page 38 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

Staying connected has never been more affordable 19 issues of community news Local: $30.00 Out-of town: $36.00 Out-of-country: $50.00 Order online at: www.ottawajewishbulletin.com or send a cheque to: Ottawa Jewish Bulletin 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa ON K2A 1R9 or call 613-798-4696, ext. 256.

We take VISA or MasterCard

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009 – Page 39

Page 40 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – May 11, 2009

WHAT’S GOING ON May 11 to 24, 2009 WEEKLY EVENTS TUESDAYS Israeli Folkdancing, learn dances, have fun, no experience necessary. Hillel Academy, 31 Nadolny Sachs Private, 6:30 pm.

Info: 613-722-9323.

FRIDAYS Shabbat Shalom, sponsored

by Ganon Preschool, learn about Shabbat through crafts, stories, games and songs. Drop-in program for ages 5 and under. Parent/ caregiver must accompany, 9:30 am. Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 280.

MONDAY, MAY 11 A Portrait of Sam Borenstein, sponsored by the Jewish National Fund of Canada. Joyce Borenstein, daughter of Canada’s foremost expressionist painter, presents the Oscar-nominated and GenieAward-winning film and slide show about her father behind the canvas, 7:00 pm. Info: 613-798-2411.

Lecture with Dr. Henri Habib of Concordia University, sponsored by the Vered Israel Cultural Centre: “The Fragmentation of Leadership in the Middle East,” 7:30 pm. Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 243.

CANDLELIGHTING BEFORE

TUESDAY, MAY 12 Schwartz’s Hebrew Delicatessen: The Story, book-signing with author Bill Brownstein, sponsored by McGill University Ottawa Alumni Branch, Nicholas Hoare Books, 419 Sussex Drive, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Info: 613-222-7260.

May 15 ✡ May 22 ✡

8:08 pm 8:15 pm

SUNDAY, MAY 17 A Celebration of Jewish Au-

thors, sponsored by Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation: authors or their families present their works. This first of two evenings, entitled “True Stories and Beyond” focusing on Holocaust-related literature, authors discuss the background and context of their books and read passages; CBC radio book reviewer Randall Ware moderates, National Library and Archives Canada, Room A, 395 Wellington Street, 7:00 pm. Info: 613-721-0615.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 The Kibbitz Club, sponsored

by Jewish Family Services and Congregation Agudath Israel, luncheon and entertainment. “The Klezmer Cruise” with A.C. and Marc Dolgin, 1400 Coldrey Avenue, 12:00 pm. Info: 613-728-3501.

JFO 75th Anniversary Volunteer Awards Presentation: the community is invited to attend the commemoration of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s 75th anniver-

For more community listings, visit ottawa.planitjewish.com

sary as it honours community volunteers, 7:00 pm. Info: 613-7984696, ext. 236.

SUNDAY, MAY 24 Hadassah-WIZO Annual Tea, in honour of Gina and Howard Grant, sponsored by the Amit, Mollie Betcherman and Ina McCarthy Chapters, 667 Highland Avenue, 2:00 pm. Info: 613-726-1538.

Snapshots of the Jewish Canadian Experience, a community day sponsored by University of Ottawa’s Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program and the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies.

Lectures on the Canadian Jewish experience: Yiddish politics, Jewish Canadiana, ethnicity and intercultural relations, the Holocaust, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm; banquet featuring kosher dinner, awarding of ACJS Louis Rosenberg Distinguished Service Award, concert-lecture by Ottawa songwriter-performer Shelley Posen, “A Jewish Songwriter’s Dilemma: Jewish, Too Jewish, Not

Jewish Enough.” 6:00 pm. Info: 613-562-5800, ext. 2955.

Shalom Ottawa, our community program on Rogers 22, noon (repeated May 28 at 6:00 pm and May 30 at noon).

Newcomers’ Spring Tea,

sponsored by the Ladies Reception Committee. Please call if you are new to Ottawa, or know someone who is. This is a wonderful way to make friends in your new city. Location to be announced, 2:30 pm.

Info: 613-727-1917.

COMING SOON TUESDAY, MAY 26 Israeli Wine Evening includes a sommelière-led wine-tasting, cocktail reception and auction, hosted by Creative Kosher Catering in support of Maccabi Canada’s Team Ottawa. Special guest speaker The Hon. Irwin Cotler, MP. Congregation Agudath Israel, 1400 Coldrey Avenue, 6:30 pm.

Info: 613-820-7714.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge Annual

General Meeting, 10 Nadolny Sachs Private, 7:00 pm.

Info: 613-728-3900, ext. 122.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 Jewish Federation of Ottawa Annual General Meeting, 7:00 pm.

Info: 613-798-4696, ext. 236.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7 2009 Walkathon in support of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and the Soloway Jewish Community Centre.

Starts at the SJCC, 9:30 am.

Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 233.

Unless otherwise noted, activities take place at The Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private.

This information is taken from the community calendar maintained by the Jewish Ottawa InfoCentre. Organizations which would like their events to be listed, no matter where they are to be held, should send the information to InfoCentre coordinator Benita Siemiatycki via e-mail at bsiemiatycki@jewishottawa.com or fax at 613-798-4695. She can also be reached by telephone at 613-798-4644. Accurate details must be provided and all events must be open to the Jewish public.

Solid Returns in Good Times and Bad. The founding principals of Romspen Investment Corporation, Sheldon Esbin

10% 8%

and Arthur Resnick, have been managing first mortgages on behalf of

6%

investors for over 40 years including several economic downturns and

4%

recessions. Yet while stock markets crashed in 2008, the Romspen

2% 0%

Mortgage Investment Fund delivered another solid year yielding 9.9% to Q1

2006

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

2007

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

2008

Q2

Q3

Q4

Romspen Mortgage Investment Fund Performance Annualized Compounded Return at Quarter End Income distribution to investors is on the 15th of every month.

The Fund is RRSP and RRIF eligible and is audited by KPMG.

its 1800 investors. Solid, reliable returns are generated because of solid and reliable management. Find out why this $500,000,000 Fund has been consistently successful, month after month, year after year. Call us for an information package and/or visit our new website.

Condolences Condolences are extended to the families of: Eric Bahar Fania Ingber Sally Maser Betty Miller Ruth Pencer

May their memory be a blessing always.

The CONDOLENCE COLUMN is offered as a public service to the community.

There is no charge.

For a listing in this column, please call Carolene Preap, 613-798-4696, ext. 232.

Voice mail is available.

BULLETIN DEADLINES MAY 27 FOR JUNE 15 JUNE 30 FOR JULY 20 JULY 29 FOR AUGUST 17 AUGUST 12 SEPTEMBER 7* SEPTEMBER 2 FOR SEPTEMBER 21 SEPTEMBER 16 FOR OCTOBER 5 SEPTEMBER 30 FOR OCTOBER 19 * Community-wide Issue (all dates subject to change)

162 Cumberland Street, Suite 300 Toronto, Ontario M5R 3N5 Tel: 416.966.1100 Toll Free: 1.800.494.0389 www.romspen.com

Would you like to advertise in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin?

Contact Rhoda Saslove-Miller 613-798-4696, ext. 256

Page JFO2 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO3

Page JFO4 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

The Federation at 75:

Mazal Tov to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on its 75th Anniversary from

Active Jewish Adults (AJA) 50+ advocating on behalf of the mature adult population of our community providing cultural, health, recreational, educational and social programming creating connections and community

Our community is strong

By Mitchell Bellman, President and CEO Jewish Federation of Ottawa As we prepared for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, we reflected on the history of our organization and our community.

The Jewish community of Ottawa is the envy of many. Outside of Israel, there are very few growing Jewish communities, but Ottawa has witnessed strong growth for decades. Many Jewish communities face internal disputes that tear them apart, but Ottawa has a proud history of community unity. Small Jewish communities often feel that they do not measure up, but Ottawa produces many prominent national leaders and our community’s influence far outweighs our relative numbers.

For 75 years, the Federation has been helping our community be more than just the sum of its parts. Under our umbrella, our community has grown and prospered and we have succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of our founders.

We decided to commemorate this special moment by honouring 75 volunteers. It is our volunteers who are the strength behind our success. As we read the biographies of the award recipients, we were in awe of the incredible scope and the breadth of activities that people do to help Jewish life in Ottawa.

When one looks at the contribution of all 75 recipients together, it shows the greatness of our community and the treasure we get from having so many people committed to helping Jewish life thrive.

At this milestone, one cannot help but think what the future holds for our community. We certainly have great challenges, but we also have a tremendous foundation for continued success.

We are privileged to live in the greatest era ever for the Jewish people. We are free, and we have moved millions of other Jews from captivity to freedom. We have a strong Israel.

We have become leaders in many fields.

Our community has great wealth and an outstandingly generous spirit to use that wealth to help others. While anti-Semitism still rears its ugly head, the society in which we live and our government are our partners in the battle against hatred. We have the great power of armies of volunteers and strong leadership. We have organizations committed to serving our community and enhancing and enriching Jewish life. We have everything that we need to achieve all of our dreams.

On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, we thank our entire community for helping us to reach this milestone and we hope you will continue to work on building a strong future together.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO5

The founding of the Vaad Ha’Ir

By Cynthia Nyman Engel Caspar Caplan and Thomas Sachs were smiling broadly the day A.J. Freiman was acclaimed first president of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir. It was the sunny Sunday morning of April 29, 1934, and Caplan and Sachs, two of the prime movers behind the formation of the Vaad, had plenty to smile about. All through the planning stages they were well aware, if the community was to accept the newly constituted Council, there was only one man, Archibald Jacob Freiman, better known as ‘A.J. Freiman,’ who could ensure its success.

Freiman was the indisputable choice.

The esteemed department store owner was Ottawa’s leading Jewish citizen. A philanthropist and devout Jew, he was already head of the Zionist Organization of Canada, a position he held between 1919 and 1944.

It took a little arm twisting and some lengthy discussions between Caplan and his good friend. But, finally, when Freiman relented and said, “I’ll talk it over with Lilly,” Caplan knew they’d get their man.

Lillian Freiman would deliver her husband.

And deliver him she did. A. J. Freiman presided over the Vaad for a full decade and greatly influenced its mandate and direction.

Also elected by acclamation that same day were Thomas Sachs, vice-president; Abraham Dworkin, treasurer; Benjamin Pearl, honorary secretary; and L.H. (Harry) Goldman, secretary.

Samuel Mirsky and Caspar Caplan headed the two most influential committees, the Talmud Torah Board and the Vaad HaKashrut. Lillian Freiman, long a leader in her own right, was the sole woman representative. She was appointed to both the Executive Committee and the Charities Committee.

The Executive Committee comprised the executive, the presidents of the four synagogues and the chairmen of the Vaad HaKashrut, Talmud Torah, Benevolent Society, Public Relations Committee and Youth Organizations Committee.

The Vaad membership was composed of a total of 34 representatives of the four synagogues; and two delegates from any organization with a membership of at least 50 (ages 21 and over). Vaad committees and bodies included the Vaad HaKashrut, Talmud Torah, Hebrew Benevolent Society, Organized Charities Campaigns Committee, Burial Committee, Arbitration Committee, Youth Organizations Committee and Public Relations Committee.

Regular meetings were held quarterly on the last Sunday of every third month, executive committee meetings once per month and special meetings as deemed necessary by the president. Committee reports were presented in writing at the regular quarterly meetings. The annual meeting was held on

A.J. Freiman, founding president of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/ Vaad Ha’Ir. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives)

the last Sunday of October.

During the summer of 1934, the various committees met and learned to function under the umbrella of the Vaad. In August, they were asked to submit reports of their committees to the Executive Committee.

On October 7, 1934, the Vaad Ha’Ir held a community-wide meeting to explain to the extended Jewish population what had transpired over the past several months.

“With the sincere co-operation of the Jewish citizens, the Vaad Ha’Ir would be recognized as the official body, and speak authoritatively for Ottawa’s Jewish community,” said President Freiman in his address to the gathering.

He also explained that the Authorization and Audit Committee was charged with the responsibility of approving all fundraising carried out by Jewish organizations. Each of the Vaad HaKashrut, Talmud Torah, Cemetery, Spiritual Enhancement, Authorization and Audit and Federated Charities presented brief reports.

Only two questions were posed to the Council. The Ottawa Jewish community gave the Vaad Ha’Ir its full approval.

Freiman would serve as Vaad president for a decade until his death in 1944.

Archibald Jacob Freiman was born in Lithuania in 1880. Soon after his Bar Mitzvah in 1893, he arrived in Hamilton to join his father who had immigrated to Canada several years earlier. He completed the elementary school curriculum in two years and then, at 17, graduated from Hamilton Business College.

Freiman apprenticed in a cousin’s business in Massachusetts, briefly considered establishing a business in Kingston, then chose to settle in Ottawa, which he thought was a beautiful city. Here he embarked on an entrepreneurial career that led to his (Continued on page 6)

On behalf of Arnon Corporation and the Vered family, congratulations to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on reaching its 75th Anniversary!

Arnon Corporation 1801 Woodward Drive Ottawa, ON K2C 0R3 Tel: 613-226-2000 Fax: 613-225-6737 www.arnon.ca

Page JFO6 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

A.J. Freiman led the Vaad for its first decade (Continued from page 5)

opening the A.J. Freiman Department Store in 1918.

The store was eventually bought by The Bay in 1972.

In every sense of the word, A. J. and his wife Lillian – the daughter of Moses Bilsky, the first Jew to settle in Ottawa in 1857 – were a power couple in the Jewish community, both here in Ottawa and across the country.

Lillian was revered across Canada for her commitment to both Jewish and general communal causes and was national president of Canadian HadassahWIZO from 1919 until her death in 1940. A.J., successful businessman, noted philanthropist and national president of the Zionist Organization of Canada for 25 years, was one of the most respected Jews in Canada.

Although it took some convincing to get the busy man to take the Vaad presidency, he gave it his all. He presided over the Vaad for a decade, giving the fledgling

organization the direction and distinction it needed to succeed. And succeed it did.

When A. J. Freiman died in June 1944, he left a community that was strong and ready to move forward.

The following excerpt from After Fifty Years, an Optimist by Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman, which appeared in the December 1979 issue of the American Jewish Historical Society Quarterly, provides some insight into the workings of the Vaad Ha’Ir in its early years. Rabbi Fasman served as spiritual leader of the Ottawa Jewish Community between 1940 and 1946.

When I accepted the call of Ottawa, Canada, in 1940, I found a remarkable community.

There were five congregations, four with a women’s gallery and one with a mechitzah to separate the women’s section. Neither a Reform nor a Conservative temple existed.

The five synagogues were organized into a Vaad

Lillian Freiman was the sole woman representative on the newly formed Vaad in 1934.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives)

Ha’Ir that included delegates from the major organizations – B’nai B’rith,

Zionist groups, etc. – and that controlled all aspects of public Jewish life. As the

rabbi elected by the Vaad, I was the spiritual leader of the entire community.

In complete control of kashrut, the Vaad collected 10 cents on every fowl slaughtered and one cent on every pound of meat, with the income accruing to the benefit of the city Talmud Torah.

Every campaign for Hadassah, Labor Zionists, Jewish National Fund, yeshivot or Holy Land institutions had to receive authorization and an approved date from the Vaad Ha’Ir. Perhaps the most striking manifestation of the strong traditional climate was the closing of all Jewish stores in the city both days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Since the largest department store in Ottawa, A.J. Freiman, observed the three days, all the other Jewish merchants followed the pattern. And, of 800 Jewish families, 780 bought kosher meat.

Lillian Freiman of Ottawa, the most highly

respected Jewish woman in the Dominion, observed the Sabbath strictly and maintained kashrut on the highest level in her home.

At her funeral in November, 1940, the prime minister and a number of his cabinet members were in attendance, and several thousand veterans of the royal Canadian Army, Navy and Air force marched in the cortege.

Even more amazing, the prime minister came to the funeral of A.J. Freiman in Adas Jeshurun Synagogue on June 6, 1944, the day of the invasion of Europe; and while his office had arranged with me to have him pay his respects at the bier and then return to his desk without remaining for the service, he did wait standing at attention during my one-minute prayer for victory.

Did any other head of a participating nation of DDay appear in a house of worship and turn his plea heavenward?

Wishing the Federation a Hearty Mazel Tov on 75 years.

Lawrence Pleet Norman Zagerman 303 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7E8 613-562-6415

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO7

25 years of community rabbis in Ottawa

By Laurie Dougherty Ottawa Jewish Archives Hire a rabbi to be shared by all the Jewish congregations in Ottawa. It seemed like a workable solution to the serious financial problems facing Ottawa’s Jewish community in the 1920s and early-‘30s.

That was the plan put into action by a committee known as the Associated Synagogues of Ottawa. After several years of searching and negotiation, Rabbi Abraham Hirsh Freedman of Montreal accepted the committee’s offer, in August 1931, to serve as Ottawa’s first spiritual leader. The Ottawa Jewish community had finally found a young, Orthodox, English-speaking rabbi to its liking. The committee immediately drew up a High Holiday speaking itinerary for the new rabbi and then went about soliciting pledges for the Rabbi Fund.

Rabbi Freedman soon settled in to his new home and began to teach at the Talmud Torah. Other responsibilities included making decisions on religious matters such as Kashrut and providing moral guidance to the community.

By June 1934, the Vaad Ha’Ir (Community Council) had been formed bringing together the four Ottawa congregations – Agudath Achim (Rideau Street), Adath Jeshurun (King Edward Avenue), Machzikei Hadas (Murray Street) and the newly constructed B’nai Jacob (James Street) – and various community groups in the city.

The goal of the Vaad Ha’Ir was to supervise and direct the religious, cultural, philanthropic and national life of the Jewish community and the consequent welfare and unification of Ottawa Jewry. As the community rabbi, Rabbi Freedman was now an employee of the Vaad, and became its religious spokesman.

Rev. J. Mirsky, Rev. Samuel Schreiber, Rev. Joseph Rabin and Rev. Abraham Baker continued to conduct marriages, perform circumcisions and serve their

Accounting For Your Future®

The partners and staff of Rabbi and Mrs. William Margolis circa 1938.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives)

congregations, but they were not employed by the Ottawa Vaad Ha’Ir. The Vaad was able to pay the community rabbi’s salary through annual contributions divided proportionally among the four congregations, and, later, five congregations with the addition of Agudath Israel in 1939.

Rabbi Freedman stayed on until 1936 before leaving for Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor, Maine. He later returned to Ottawa as guest speaker at the opening of the Jewish Community Centre library in 1955.

After Rabbi Freedman’s departure, a search for a new community rabbi was launched and Rabbi William Margolis was hired in 1937.

“Elaborate preparations are being made for the Induction Ceremonies of Rabbi William Margolis, recently elected spiritual leader of the United Jewish Community of Ottawa,” reported the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin in October 1937.

Rabbi Margolis brought Friday night Oneg Shabbats and a weekly lecture series to Ottawa. The entire community was “urged to set aside Friday evenings for spiritual and intellectual enjoyment.”

Rabbi Margolis contributed numerous columns to the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin over the three years he was in

Ottawa. In 1938, he wrote “Liberalism and Liberty,” in which he implored parents to “Save our children from the slavery of ignorance, from the floundering, blundering, pseudo-liberalisms. Let them hear less about Jews – more about Judaism. Educate them, liberalize them, liberate them!”

Rabbi Margolis, a passionate Zionist, went on a speaking tour for the United Palestine Appeal in 1938. More than 600 women at the Hadassah Convention in Montreal heard his speech, “When Jews Gather for Palestine,” that year. Rabbi Margolis was credited with reviving Jewish activities in Ottawa, including a breakfast club for boys at Adath Jeshurun and Talmud classes for men.

In March 1940, Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman arrived on the scene from Tulsa, Oklahoma bringing “a combination of scholarship and progressive ideology” to the nation’s capital.

From his new office in the Talmud Torah building, Rabbi Fasman managed several new projects including the creation of a communal registry of births, Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. He also started a girls club for girls aged 12 to 15 and the Morning Minyan Club at the Talmud Torah for young men.

(Continued on page 8)

Ginsberg Gluzman Fage & Levitz, LLP would like to congratulate the

Jewish Federation of Ottawa on this great milestone.

May the community continue to grow and strengthen from generation to generation.

An Independent Member Firm of DFK Canada Inc. and DFK International

www.ggfl.ca

Page JFO8 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

By 1956, congregations had their own rabbis (Continued from page 7)

Rabbi Fasman was very busy throughout the war years speaking to various groups in and around Ottawa. “Is Conscience Doomed?” was the question posed to members of the Rotary Club of Smith’s Falls in 1941.

Rabbi Fasman enlisted the B’nai Brith youth organization, Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) to help with his census of Jewish children in the community aged 5 to 15. His goal was to have every child in Ottawa receive an intensive Jewish education.

Rabbi Fasman became a chaplain with the honorary rank of captain in December 1941 and tended to the religious needs of Jewish men at Petawawa, Landsdowne, Rockliffe and Uplands.

In January 1946, Rabbi Fasman asked the executive of the Vaad Ha’Ir to release him from his duties so that he could take a position as the new vice-president of the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago.

The next community rabbi to serve in Ottawa was from New York. Rabbi Emmanuel L. Lifshutz had served as a chaplain in the U. S. Navy and at the West Side Institu-

Dedication of Congregation Beth Shalom and Installation of Rabbi Simon L. Eckstein took place September 17, 1957. Photographed prior to the commencement of the service are (front row, from left to right): Cantor Hyman Gertler, Rabbi Simon L. Eckstein, Rabbi Dr. Oscar Z. Fasman, guest speaker, Rabbi Samuel M. Burstein and Rev. Joseph Rabin; (standing) Michael Greenberg, chair, Dedication Committee; Bernard M. Alexandor, Q.C., president; Isidore Stone, treasurer; Myer N. Drazin, parnass; Alex Butcherman, vice(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives) president and Rev. Jacob Yechiel Cement.

tional Synagogue of New York before moving to Canada. He was interested in interfaith work and the advancement of a rich Jewish youth program. He immediately recommended the establishment of a Youth Department to run under the auspices of the Ottawa Vaad Ha’Ir and urged the re-activation of the Youth Committee in 1947. He spent

over $900 on a motion picture projector, slide machine, tape recorder and records for youth groups meeting in the Talmud Torah building.

Rabbi Lifshutz strongly supported the establishment of a day school program for Ottawa. He felt that “attending religious classes after the regular school day is a burden to the children, interfering with the

normalcy of happy living, and allowing insufficient time for play and other activities.”

He also continued with the program of regular Friday night Oneg Shabbats started by Rabbi Margolis 10 years earlier.

By the time Rabbi Simon L. Eckstein arrived in February 1952, the Jewish population of Ottawa

had grown to approximately 4,500, enough to support a new Jewish Community Centre on Chapel Street.

In 1956, two congregations, Adath Jeshurun and Agudath Achim, amalgamated creating Congregation Beth Shalom with Rabbi Eckstein as spiritual leader.

By this time, Ottawa’s first Conservative congregation, Agudath Israel, had been established, and all of the congregations now had their own rabbis. A community rabbi in the employ of the Vaad was no longer necessary.

In a recent telephone interview, Rabbi Eckstein explained that, while he was still considered the “senior man in Ottawa after 1956,” his role was more or less that of a national spokesman for the Jewish community.

“When there was a national function and they wanted a Jewish representative, they called on me,” he said.

What began as a cost-saving measure in 1931 proved to be a particularly sound investment by the Ottawa Vaad Ha’Ir. The community rabbis were an integral part of the fabric of Ottawa during their 25 years of service to the community.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO9

Casper Caplan: Father of the Vaad Ha’Ir

By Cynthia Nyman Engel By 1933, the Ottawa Jewish community had four congregations. There was also a variety of community organizations, schools and agencies including the Vaad HaKashrut, a B’nai Brith lodge, Talmud Torah and Folkshule, Hebrew Sick Benefit Society, Hebrew Free Loan Association, Zionist Organization, Ottawa Hebrew Benevolent Society, Hadassah Council, Young Judea, a Yiddish Literary Society, Young Peoples League and Judean Symphony Orchestra.

These individual organizations functioned loosely under the umbrella of the well-intentioned, but often unwieldy, Associated Synagogues of Ottawa.

At the August 28, 1933 meeting of the Associated Synagogues of Ottawa, Caspar Caplan made a motion that would change everything.

Caplan moved, “That the executives of the Associated Synagogues of Ottawa recommend that a Vaad Ha’Ir of 26 members be appointed by the congregations … and that this body administer the various branches of Jewish activities in the city, principally kashsruth, Jewish education and spiritual guidance, with powers to act for the congregations in the advancement of Judaism in our city.”

The motion passed, and an organized Ottawa Jewish community was on its way.

A decade later, after Caplan passed away on June 6, 1943 at age 73, the headline on the front page of the June 24 issue of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin said, “Father of Vaad Ha’Ir Dies.”

Caplan was born in Lithuania and was 22 when he arrived in Ottawa in 1893. He had 63 cents in his pocket and couldn’t speak or understand either English or French. He began to earn his living by peddling small wares in the countryside and wound up opening Caplan’s, a department store that served generations of Ottawans.

A founding member of Congregation Adath Jeshurun, he took an active part in the development of the Ottawa Jewish community, particularly in the building of the Ottawa Talmud Torah, the Vaad HaKashrut and the Hebrew Free Loan Association.

But, the crowning work of his life was the Vaad Ha’Ir. Not only did he make the motion that saw the creation of the Jewish Community Council but, along with Thomas Sachs, he strong-armed Ottawa’s foremost Jewish citizen, his good friend A. J. Freiman, into accepting the first presidency of the Vaad.

COMPLIMENTS OF

50 Bayswater Avenue Ottawa, ON K1Y 2E9 Telephone: 613-759-8383 Fax: 613-759-8448 Email: district@districtrealty.com Web: www.districtrealty.com

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Sol Shinder, Jason Shinder, Steve Ramphos

Jewish Family Services of Ottawa would like to extend its congratulations to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on the momentous occasion of its 75th Anniversary.

May we all continue to grow from strength to strength!

The board and staff of Jewish Family Services of Ottawa

Page JFO10 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Hy Hochberg guided the Vaad for almost 40 years

By Cynthia Nyman Engel 1946. The war was over, the boys were back and life was returning to normal when community balabos Alex Betcherman approached the young man. Would he be interested in a job as executive secretary of the Vaad Ha’Ir? Hy Hochberg was 23, recently discharged from the Air Force and at loose ends. “Yes,” he said, and the die was cast.

Hochberg would administer the Ottawa Jewish Community Council wisely and well for the next four decades.

From 1946 to 1985, Hochberg’s steady hand executed the decisions taken by 19 successive Vaad presidents, their executives and councils. Under his watchful eye and skillful direction, the community evolved into an efficient, organized and universally admired entity.

The community grew significantly during Hochberg’s watch. The Hillel Academy Hebrew Day School, Jewish Community Centre and Hillel Lodge Jewish Home for the Aged came into being during his tenure and the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation was established.

Hochberg lived long enough to play a central part in initiating the second phase of the community’s growth. Sadly, though, he did not live to see it come to full fruition. In 1983, two years before his death, the community purchased St. Joseph High School at 881 Broadview Avenue in the heart of West Ottawa. It became the new home of Hillel

Hy Hochberg and Israeli counselor Sinai Rome with members of the Jewish community at the Ottawa opening of the art exhibit, Views of Jerusalem, in November 1968. Left to right: Marietta Woolfson, Sadie Craft, Mollie Sadinsky, Nathan Schecter, Caroline Baylin, Sinai Rome, Lea Cheshin, Barbara Greenberg, Gladys Greenberg (Photo: Ottawa Jewish Archives) and Hy Hochberg.

Academy. The 7.8 acre site on which the school was situated was destined to become the Jewish Community Campus, the hub of the Ottawa’s Jewish community.

As the community changed and grew, Hochberg’s titles changed until, in 1976, he was named executive vice-president of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir. He carried that title with pride until his untimely passing in 1985.

Mazel Tov to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on achieving this milestone of 75 years.

Hochberg was at the helm of the Ottawa Jewish community for 39 years, a dignified, steady presence who served his constituents with utmost respect and represented them with great distinction. His meticulous attention to detail, considered wisdom and gentle guidance are indelibly woven into the fabric of the Ottawa Jewish Community. His death, on February 21,1985, at 62, left a void that was not easily filled.

Hy Hochberg, seen here circa 1980, was at the helm of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir from 1946 (Photo: Ottawa Jewish Archives) to 1985.

Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa is a vibrant, Zionist Modern Orthodox synagogue, welcoming and respectful of people of all levels of observance.

We offer a full range of services and programs for all ages in an atmosphere of community and friendship.

If you are new to our congregation or have recently moved to Ottawa west, please contact the shul office for information about how you can become part of this wonderful community.

Wishing the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Va’ad Ha’Ir a Happy 75th Anniversary!

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO11

Ottawa Hebrew Benefit Society celebrates 50th anniversary

The 50th anniversary of the Ottawa Hebrew Benefit Society was celebrated in August 1962. In 1980, the society was reorganized as the Jewish Social Services Agency and is now known as Jewish Family Services of Ottawa. Seated (left to right): Ben Greenberg, Ben Bodnoff and Al Segal. Standing: David Ginsberg, Nathan Lang, Max Bordelay, Gus Solman, Max Kaplan and Ben Friendly.

(Photo: Ottawa Jewish Archives)

Mazel Tov on 75 Years of Serving Our Community From the Participants, Families, Board and Staff of Tamir

Page JFO12 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin tells the community’s stories for 72 years The Board and Executive of Agudath Israel Congregation wish the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Mazel Tov on this milestone.

“...Culture is Israel’s bridge to the world, never permitting us to be isolated.”

(Aura Herzog)

OBJECTIVES OF C.I.C.F. To build a cultural bridge between Israel and Canada by bringing Israel performers

and artistic exhibitions to Canada and experts to visit Israel.

by encouraging Canadian artists and

To provide scholarships for the study of the Arts, to assist programs which draw youth closer to the Arts, and to support major cultural institutions.

To encourage gifts of art and musical instruments, as well as grants to specific cultural institutions and projects.

C.I.C.F. provides a unique opportunity for members to enjoy local programs embracing the Art of Israel.

C.I.C.F. fosters the growth of cultural and artistic activities in Israel. Acting as Israel’s cultural ambassador in Canada, C.I.C.F.promotes a mutual respect for the universal values shared by both countries.

To donate or join, please contact Solange Smith at 613-733-8116.

A charitable institute.

MAZEL-TOV ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OTTAWA!

By Cynthia Nyman Engel Former Editor – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Did you know? is the name of Benita Baker’s new column in the Bulletin that talks about comings and goings in Ottawa’s Jewish community. You can find the new column in the regular section of the paper.

But, did you know…

Morton Baslaw celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Adath Jeshurun on October 9, 1937.

Melvin Baker, Esther Betcherman, Joan Caplan, Martin Cardash, Daniel Cherm, Avrom Drazin, Avis Fasman, Tully Friedgut, Tilly Gally, Lily Greenberg, Stanley Hock, Gita Kizell, Helen Levinson, Miriam Lieff, Mark Molot, Simon Morin, Bernard Pearl, Paul Rosman, Sol Shmelzer, Joseph Silver, Elaine Slone, Earl Slonemsky, Zelda Soloway, Abe Tenenbaum, Harold Zelikovitz, Marlene Zelikovitz and Sheila Zelikovitz won Talmud Torah awards of excellence at the Hebrew school’s 1945 Chanukah party.

Rabbi Oscar Fasman’s participation in the VE Day exercises on Parliament Hill in June 1945 was the first time in the history of Canada that a rabbi figured in a public affair on the Hill.

The Talmud Torah School moved from George Street to the former Rideau Street Public School at 253 Rideau Street in 1949.

Dorothy Arron and Herbert Nadolny were married December 14, 1952, at Congregation Adath Jeshurun.

The Jewish Boys Softball League was reorganized in 1953. Serving on the executive were President Norman Torontow, Secretary Joseph Lieff and Treasurer Irving Shapero.

Under the auspices of the Labour Zionist Council and the Jewish Community Centre, the hilarious Yiddish comedy Travels of Benjamin the Third, was presented at the Jewish Community Centre on May 13, 1964. The ticket price was $2.99.

These and countless other precious nuggets from the past can be found in the pages of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, which has been telling the story of Ottawa’s Jewish community since 1937.

Two years ago, in 2007, the 70th

anniversary of the Bulletin slipped by unheralded.

The first Ottawa Jewish Bulletin hit the stands in 1937 under the auspices of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/ Vaad Ha’Ir. For 72 years, a series of editors has ground out this stalwart little publication and kept Ottawa Jewry apprised of the entire range of communal activities, news of local interest, updates on Israel and the Diaspora, as well as informed, challenged and entertained us with columns, book reviews, recipes and much more.

In the 1970s, the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin merged with the Ottawa Jewish Digest & Review – which was published in April 1974 by members of the Young Israel Congregation – and was renamed the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin & Review. In recent years, & Review was dropped in favour of the shorter masthead.

Until modern computer technology was introduced in the 1990s, the editor – working out of the Vaad offices – was responsible not only for collecting, editing and proofreading the copy, and writing a column, but also for putting together by hand, page by page, the ‘dummy’ for each and every issue. I can tell you, from personal experience, that it was a challenging task.

But, as current editor Michael Regenstreif, and every single former editor, me included, will readily admit, editing the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin is a labour of love.

For the past 14 years, harried editors – editors are, by their very nature, harried! – Myra Aronson, Barry Fishman, and now, Michael, have been aided and abetted by production manager Brenda Van Vliet, who takes the edited copy and photos, lays them out on the pages and then, once they’ve been proofread, transfers them to the presses at Performance Printing. Brenda also creates the ads that don’t come in cameraready from advertisers. It’s Rhoda SasloveMiller who sells the ads that make publishing the Bulletin possible.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin is the thread that runs through the community and ties it together. Digitized copies of past issues can be enjoyed in the Ottawa Jewish Archives.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin congratulates the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on its 75th anniversary milestone.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO13

Page JFO14 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

The Ottawa Vaad Ha’Ir becomes the Federation Temple Israel 1301 Prince of Wales Drive Ottawa, Ontario K2C 1N2

extends its best wishes on the 75th Anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa

Mazel Tov!

The Board of Directors and staff of Canadian Jewish Congress extend a hearty Mazel Tov to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on the joyous occasion of its 75th anniversary.

By Cynthia Nyman Engel The Ottawa Jewish community chose the 2005 annual general meeting to officially change its structure and system of governance. The Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir became the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

The result: a lean, clean governing machine that’s a slimmer, trimmer, more effective way of getting things done.

Now, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vaad, we also celebrate the fourth successful year as a Federation. Just as the Vaad Ha’Ir was right for the community 75 years ago, so is the Federation right for today.

The changes to the organization came as a result of a lengthy strategic planning process. The community leadership recognized that the community could not be preserved on nostalgia alone. Jewish consumers will only support an excellent organization. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa aims to be a great organization serving a great Jewish community.

It was determined that the governance and decision-making structures of the Vaad Ha’Ir were becoming less relevant as the community grew. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is led by a board of nine people and three ex-officio members. They are respon-

sible for decision-making on behalf of the community and are accountable to the community through a members’ committee that is representative of Ottawa’s broader Jewish community.

The board also has five policy committees that deal with everything from Jewish identity and planning to revenue development and administration and members of the community are invited to get involved in the committee and sub-committee work that will assist the board of directors in fulfilling their roles.

And as the structure of Vaad gave way to the Federation, the titles of the volunteers and professionals also changed to better reflect their new roles.

The senior volunteer leader is the Federation chair and the senior professional is the president and CEO. The current chair, since 2007, is Jonathan Freedman.

Donna Dolansky will begin a two-year term as Federation chair at the annual general meeting on June 3. Mitchell Bellman is Federation president and CEO. The leadership hopes that members of the community will become involved in the community and work together to ensure the success of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

Mazel Tov to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on your 75th anniversary

Ottawa Jewish Historical Society

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO15

Vaad Ha’Ir celebrates 50th anniversary in 1984

The Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’ir celebrated its 50th anniversary year with a Jubilee Dinner on June 18, 1984 at which the 20 past presidents of the Vaad were inducted into the Fellowship of Past Presidents. Hy Hochberg delivered a moving tribute to each of these community leaders. Seated, left to right: Israeli Ambassador Eliashev Ben-Choreen, Hy Gould, Alex Betcherman, Lawrence Freiman, Thomas Sachs, Harvey Lithwick and Hyman Soloway. Standing, left to right: Norman Zagerman, Jules (Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives) Loeb, Sol Shiner, Joseph Lieff, Jacie Horowitz, Abe Palmer, Harvey Lithwick, David Loeb and Hy Hochberg.

Mazel-tov to the Federation on turning 75!

750-55 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario ~ 613-237-4000 www.brazeauseller.com

Page JFO16 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Over the years with the Ottawa Jewish community

Photos courtesy of the Ottawa Jewish Archives

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO17

Mazal Tov to the recipients of the 75th anniversary volunteer award

75 community volunteers receive award It’s hard to believe that 75 years have passed since the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/ Vaad Ha’Ir, now the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, was formed in 1934. We have accomplished a tremendous amount in that time, largely because of the dedicated work of our many volunteers.

To mark this significant milestone in our history, the Federation decided to honour the community’s greatest asset – its remarkable volunteers. To do so, the Federation created the 75th Anniversary Volunteer Award and invited nominations from the community.

From the many nominees submitted, the awards committee chose 75 individuals not previously recognized by the Jewish community, who have devoted their time and energy to assisting the Federation in its efforts to fulfil its mission and achieve its goals. In many cases, these volunteers work without public recognition and their contribution helps ensure a strong and vibrant Jewish life in Ottawa.

The Federation understands that this award could not possibly

recognize the countless volunteers in our community who are worthy of acknowledgment. However, it is our hope that we have identified individuals who represent a crosssection of all the wonderful people who serve our community and contribute to the wide range of work in which the Federation is engaged.

Beginning on page 21, are brief profiles – compiled by Benita Siemiatycki of the Jewish Ottawa InfoCentre – of the 75 remarkable individuals we have chosen to honour.

Their extensive volunteerism covers the gamut of volunteer activities. Everything from chairing community events like Walkathon, Choices, Mitzvah Day and the annual Golf Tournament; to working with the Young Women’s Leadership Council, Ottawa Jewish Archives, Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut and Partnership 2000; to serving on committees including Shoah, Multiple Appeals, Jewish Outreach and Education, Tikvah Fund, Campus Property Management, Financial Management, Communications

and Community Relations, Resource Development and Planning and Allocations; to canvassing for the Annual Campaign; to leading a Mission to Israel; to working with our community agencies.

The list of volunteers and their contributions is very impressive.

The community’s strength lies in its volunteers. They are the very heart of all that is done to ensure that the community thrives. However, the need for volunteers continues to grow. If you have never volunteered, or have volunteered in the past but are not involved now, the Federation needs you, your time, energy, ideas and support.

To get involved, or for more information on volunteering, contact Benita Siemiatycki, the Jewish Ottawa InfoCentre co-ordinator, at 613-798-4696, ext. 227.

She’ll be happy to connect you to all that the community has to offer.

Congratulations to the 75 volunteer award recipients. You are integral to the community’s success! Yasher Koach to one and all!

(More photos on pages 18 and 19)

Tal Gilboa

Dorothy Nadolny

Alan Cracower

Rhoda Levitan

Cally Kardash

Morris Kimmel

Sandra Zagon

Sunny Tavel

Sid Kardash

Phil Kretzmar

Ethel Taylor

Marion Silver

Page JFO18 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Mazal Tov to the recipients of the 75th anniversary volunteer award

Left to right: Joe Levitan, Benita Baker, Elaine Friedberg, Roz Fremeth, Bob Dale, Marjorie Feldman.

Left to right: Harold Schwartz., Rosalie Schwartz, Barbara Crook, Jacqueline Levy, Linda Kerzner, Jennifer Kardash.

Left to right: Charles Wiseman, Norman Barwin, Reverend Tom Sherwood, Maureen Molot, Michael Landau, Ruth Aaron, Ron Weiss.

Left to right: Marlene Rivier, Leon Bronstein, Steven Fremeth, Joel Diener, Shelley Rivier.

Left to right: Lenora Zelikovitz, Evan Zelikovitz, Margo Rosen, Ingrid Levitz, Jackie Luffman.

Left to right: Elly Bollegraaf, Rabbi Arnold Fine, Ellen Cherney, Vera Gara, Pat Binder, (Photos: Howard Sandler) Florine Morgan.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO19

Mazal Tov to the recipients of the 75th anniversary volunteer award

Left to right: Linda Melamed, Sharon Finn, Annette Paquin, Esther Kwavnick, Hyman Reichstein, Rabbi Micah Shotkin.

Left to right: Chuck Merovitz, Mark Thaw, Bonnie Merovitz, Linda Nadolny-Cogan, Jeffrey Miller, Elissa Iny, Jonathan Calof.

Left to right: Lawrence Zinman, Estelle Gunner, Elaine Singer, Irwin Singer, Josee M. Posen.

Left to right: Gerald Stone, Martin Gordon, Jane Gordon, Rabbi Steven Garten.

Left to right: Deborah Saginur, David Shentow, Sarah Silverstein, Sara Breiner, Steven (Photos: Howard Sandler) Kimmel, Ariella Kimmel.

Page JFO20 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Mitchell Bellman: an enthusiastic Federation CEO

By Cynthia Nyman Engel After a dozen years at the helm of the community, Mitchell Bellman still waxes enthusiastically about his job.

“It’s a great job because you get to spend your day helping to work on the future of the Jewish people,” says the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. “Then there are the wonderful moments where you meet some of the best minds in the Jewish world, and some of the most generous people.

“And,” he chuckles, “seeing the miracle of what our community can accomplish far outweighs any shtick that I might have to deal with.”

Bellman was named executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir in 1997. At 30, he was one of the youngest community executive directors in North America, and change, major change, was in the Ottawa air. Bellman was up to the

challenge.

The year he took the reins of the community, the Jewish population of Ottawa numbered approximately 12,000, almost triple what it was in 1951.

The generation of youngsters who were raised in Sandy Hill and Centretown had grown up and married and were now bringing up their own children in the city’s burgeoning west end. Newcomers to the community were also settling in Ottawa’s west end.

The Chapel Street Jewish Community Centre, the pride of the community, which had served as the central meeting place for Ottawa’s Jewish community for decades, was in desperate need of upgrades but had become ‘demographically unacceptable.’

The balabatim knew it was time to act. In fact, 14 years earlier, in 1983, in anticipation of coming change, the community had purchased St. Joseph High

Mitchell Bellman, Jewish Federation of Ottawa president and CEO.

School at 881 Broadview Avenue. The plan was to eventually acquire the 7.8 surrounding acres and build a ‘one-stop’ Jewish Community campus.

© 2009 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved.

Mazel Tov! Congratulations to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on achieving 75 years.

kpmg.ca

In 1996, a capital campaign was launched to reinvigorate the community on the Broadview site. It was an unqualified success.

All of the attendant changes – the official campus openings of The Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building, the Soloway Jewish Community Centre, the Michael and Sibyl Greenberg Family Building for Jewish Education, the Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge, the Joseph and Inez Zelikovitz Long Term Care Centre, as well as the relocation of community services to the Michael and Gertrude Addleman Family Building – have occurred on Bellman’s watch.

He is delighted with the results of administering a one-site community location.

“Having the campus gives the community a central address,” says Bellman.

“Every day of the week, we have a tremendous amount of Jewish activity going on here, and the activity keeps growing and growing.”

In 2005, the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir decided to modernize by adopting a new form of governance. It became the Jewish Federation of Ottawa with

Mitchell Bellman, president and CEO, managing a staff of 30.

“Ottawa was one of the last North American Jewish communities to become a Federation,” says Bellman.

“It’s a much more streamlined way of conducting community business. About 160 people had to be invited to a Vaad Ha’Ir Board of Trustees meeting, and it’s impossible to have a meaningful discussion with 160 people.

“But, as a Federation, we shrank the Board to 11. It is much more effective and is still representative of the total community,” he says.

Like Jewish communities everywhere, Bellman says the Ottawa Jewish community, too, is facing tremendous challenges.

“The biggest challenge is the declining rate of Jewish identity, including high rates of intermarriage, declining support for our institutions, declining enrolment in Jewish education and the fact that new people to the community are not as attached.

“Our challenge is to build an excitement about being involved,” says Bellman. “There’s no one answer to the problem. We have to change our thinking to reach people in this

growing community.”

A Community Symposium held in 2007 looked at and implemented outreach programs, and examined effective ways of dealing with newcomers and the unaffiliated, including connecting them with families in the community.

Jewish education is of paramount concern, but, says Bellman, “We’re very optimistic about its future.

“We’re making significant changes in our schools.

We’ve moved three schools onto the campus, and we’re finding ways to be more efficient. We’re modernizing our schools, making them into private schools of choice. I think we’ll see growth because people will see these are great institutions that you send your kid to not because there is no choice, but because it is a great choice.

“We want to bring back a passion for Jewishness by investing in our Jewish students and to encourage them to choose Ottawa as a place to live,” he says.

Reflecting on the job of running the community, Bellman quotes bestselling author Barbara Coloroso who says, “We should raise children who care deeply, share generously and help willingly.”

“And,” says Bellman, “that’s exactly the kind of people I enjoy working with.”

Bellman adds, “You know, it’s very easy for people to find reasons not to give, not to care, not to help, and it’s frustrating when I meet those people. But, when I find people who are reflective of the wonderful Jewish values that we have, it’s so gratifying as a Jewish professional.”

Bellman is quick to commend his staff for their professionalism and dedication. And although he only knew of Hy Hochberg by reputation, Bellman admits he is in awe of his predecessor’s innumerable contributions to the community.

Like his predecessor, Bellman is proving to be the right person in the right place at the right time.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO21

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community Compiled by Benita Siemiatycki Ruth Aaron has welcomed Israeli veterans recovering from severe injuries to Ottawa for the past 23 years, taking them on tours of the capital. The veterans are receiving rehabilitation at one of four Beit Halochem Rehabilitation Centres in Israel. Ruth’s two sons, Leslie and Jeffrey, have respectively been part of the veterans’ visits to Ottawa and served in the Israeli Defense Forces, “so it was natural of me to invite the Israelis to Ottawa and take them on a whirlwind tour.”

Benita Baker has found volunteering to be an extremely gratifying experience and feels inspired by fellow volunteers, “people who really embrace the notion that giving gives meaning to our lives.” Benita’s first experience was with Young Women’s Leadership Council, which became the catalyst that took her from being a passive bystander to an active participant in the Jewish community. She has spent many years sitting on the boards of Hillel Academy and the Vaad, and on UJA committees.

Norman Barwin is president of the Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Friends of the Weizmann

Institute of Science, and chairs the Lowy Council of Library and Archives Canada. He serves on the Federation’s Resource Development Committee and the boards of State of Israel Bonds and the Jewish National Fund (JNF). He is past chair of UJA, past president of Ottawa Modern Jewish School, past president of JNF Ottawa, co-chaired the 50th and 60th State of Israel anniversaries in Ottawa, and served on the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation Board. He’s served on many national and international boards, and was appointed to the Order of Canada, among other honours.

Pat Binder has volunteered at the Ottawa Jewish Archives for more than 10 years. Her work involves various archival projects and ensuring the records are accurate.

Elly Bollegraaf has been a member of the Shoah Committee for 25 years, regularly speaks to school groups about her experiences during the Holocaust, and is active in organizing Ottawa’s annual Yom HaShoah commemoration. Elly headed Holocaust Education Week one year, was docent and resource person at five Holocaust exhibits,

and wrote the Ottawa Holocaust Documentation Book. She founded and organized the Ottawa Holocaust Child Survivors Group. She is also a committee member and photographer for the Ottawa Post Jewish War Veterans of Canada, volunteered with Hillel Lodge residents and worked on the Arts Alive Book Selection Committee.

Sara Breiner has been a volunteer with the Shoah Committee (20 years), Hillel Lodge with Hillel Academy students (15 years), Congregation Beit Tikvah (25 years), including three years as synagogue co-president, Institute for the Blind in Jerusalem (20 years), UJA, Yad Vashem (four years), Kosher Food Bank with Hillel Academy students (eight years), and the Jewish Historical Society (three years).

Leon Bronstein has spent 37 years in Ottawa working for the Multiple Appeals Committee and the Vaad HaKashrut, and has raised funds for the Jewish National Fund and UJA. His greatest satisfaction has come from years with Ottawa Lodge B’nai Brith, Camp B’nai Brith and Congregation Agudath Israel. He’s enjoyed meeting the professionals and other volunteers along the way, and hopes his efforts will

encourage others to volunteer too.

Jonathan Calof is the Ottawa Jewish community representative on Canadian Jewish Congress. For 15 years, Jonathan has sat on the Federation’s Communications and Community Relations Committee, learning about issues confronting various faith groups. “Volunteering has given me so much. Serving on the Trustees and the Federation’s Annual Campaign has brought me close to many members of our community and allowed me to learn more about their issues. Thank you for allowing me to learn through such exciting and enriching volunteer experiences.”

Ellen Cherney has been an active volunteer in the Annual Campaign (UJA) for many years. She’s chaired the Women’s Campaign, Succession Committee, and Collections, as well as the Walkathon and the Herbert Nadolny Memorial Classic Golf Tournament. Ellen has also served on the board of Hillel Academy and co-chaired the PTA. Allan Cracower is a former board member of Agudath Israel Congregation, Machzikei Hadas Congregation, B’nai Brith and Weizmann Science Canada (Ottawa). He has chaired UJA’s Public Service

Division and Friends of Canada Centre (Metulla), and co-chaired Yom Ha’Atzmaut and Walkathon.

Allan has also assisted in fundraising and other volunteer work on behalf of schools and organizations.

“Volunteerism creates a win/win situation. The volunteer and the recipient person or organization benefit in a tangible and meaningful way, while the community is enriched by greater cohesiveness and a more caring character.”

Barbara Crook has been an active volunteer since 1998 in Young Women’s Leadership, the Shoah Committee, Jewish Education through Torah, Soloway JCC, Jewish National Fund, and on missions to Israel, the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. She is also associate director of Palestinian Media Watch.

Bob Dale has served on boards and committees including Consultants and Education Division, UJA; Communications and Community Relations Committee, Federation; Congregation Beit Tikvah (Beth Shalom West); École Maimonides; Jewish Family Services; Jewish Outreach, Identity, and Education Committee, Federation; Jewish (Continued on page 23)

Page JFO22 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Soloway Jewish Community Centre opens in 1998

The official ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of the Soloway Jewish Community Centre in the Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building took place September 13, 1998.

Left to right: Bernard Dolansky, Stephen Greenberg, Barbara Farber, Hy Soloway, Jeff Gould, Stephen Victor and Roger Greenberg.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives)

board The staff, ation nistr h the s i and admi w l l a a f Ottaw o y m e d zel Tov a a c M A l a e l w l i a t H of ion of Ot t a r e d e F rsary. e v i n Jewish n a h on its 75t .ca lacademy le il .h w w w

Congratulations to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on your 75th anniversary From your friends at Performance Printing

on i t a c u d E e in c n e l l e c x E www.perfprint.ca

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO23

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 21)

Youth Library; Media Action Group; and Torah Academy.

Joel Diener has been a bingo volunteer at Hillel Lodge for 25 years, working every second week. “Not only do the residents smile and laugh, but we do as well. Gratification on both sides is what giving is all about. Easy to do and rewarding. Who could ask for more?”

Marjorie Feldman is on Tamir’s 25th Anniversary Committee and is an Ottawa Cabinet member for State of Israel Bonds.

She is past co-chair of the Federation Women’s Campaign, and sat on its Board of Trustees, and Kehilah and Allocations Committees. For Jewish Family Services, Marjorie was on the board and executive, Tikvah Fund Committee, and chaired the used furniture depot. She also volunteered for the Jewish Youth Library, Kosher Food Bank and Canadian Hadassah-WIZO. Rabbi Arnold Fine has been and is currently actively involved in Jewish-Christian Dialogue, Walkathon, and as a SuperWeek canvasser.

Sharon Finn grew up in a home where volunteering and tzedakah were the norm. She has sat on the Tamir Board, was volunteer coordinator for UJA Walkathon, co-chaired Walkathon, sits on the Hillel Lodge Auxiliary and co-chaired the Lodge Tea. “I have a son at

Tamir, a mother-in-law at Hillel Lodge and a desire to ensure Ottawa’s Jewish community remains vibrant.”

Rosalyn Fremeth volunteered at Hillel Academy while her children were there.

Along with husband Steven, Rosalyn participated in the inception of Congregation Beth Shalom West and co-chaired the 1997 Mission to Israel. She’s canvassed for UJA and chaired the Federation’s Women’s Division, other campaign events and the Aviv Festival. Rosalyn now chairs the Lion of Judah program of Women’s Division and is vice-chair of the Hillel Lodge Auxiliary.

Steven Fremeth has volunteered in Ottawa since 1978. His contributions started with B’nai Brith, then added canvassing the dental division for UJA, which he continues to do on the Annual Campaign. Along with wife Rosalyn, Steven co-chaired the 1997 Mission to Israel and helped start Congregation Beth Shalom West. He currently cochairs State of Israel Bonds. Steven is also very active as a volunteer with the local and provincial dental associations and has been a care provider and fundraiser for CHEO for many years.

Elaine Friedberg is the chair of Jewish Education through Torah (JET), a canvasser for the Annual Campaign and a participant of

Wishing the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Congratulations on its 75th anniversary

Paul Dewar MP/Député Ottawa Centre

(Continued on page 25)

Congregation Machzikei Hadas We are delighted to extend greetings on the 75th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

We are blessed with dedicated people who have put community first, and will hopefully continue to do so.

Thank you to all who have made these 75 years so rich with achievement.

God bless you all, and God bless those who will take us into the next 75, and beyond.

Andrew Fainer, President Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka Congregation Machzikei Hadas

Page JFO24 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Over the years with the Ottawa Jewish community

Photos courtesy of the Ottawa Jewish Archives

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO25

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 23)

Ten YAD. Past volunteer work included serving on Congregation Beit Tikvah’s (Beth Shalom West) board, chairing UJA’s Health Professional Division and canvassing for Hillel Lodge. Elaine is ready to assist community organizations on an as-needed basis.

Vera Gara is very active in Holocaust remembrance. She chaired the Shoah Committee for eight years and organized the 50th and 70th Kristallnacht commemoration anniversaries on Parliament Hill. She is most proud of establishing Raoul Wallenberg Park with a sculpture of Wallenberg in Nepean.

Vera has organized many dinners honouring Wallenberg’s heroism in rescuing tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Five years ago, Vera received the Polar Star from Swedish King Carl Gustav VI, the greatest honour Sweden bestows on a foreigner. Other activities over the years saw Vera on the Agudath Israel Board and chairing the congregation’s Adult Education Committee. She was also treasurer and chair of B’nai Brith Women Ottawa Chapter 421 in the 1970s.

Rabbi Steven Garten is the Federation’s pastoral care representative

for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Secondary School program. He is a canvasser for the Annual Campaign and has sat on many committees of the Federation and Soloway JCC. In the larger community, Rabbi Garten has been a volunteer at Centre 454’s Christmas Dinner for over 10 years and helps raise funds for Christmas presents.

He sat on the Canadian Blood Services Interfaith Committee and coached soccer for Lisgar Secondary School, the Ottawa International Soccer Club and the Glebe Little League.

“Every one of these opportunities brings me great joy and affords me the opportunity for responding to the mitzvah of Tikkun Olam.”

Tal Gilboa has been an active Hillel Academy volunteer for many years. In addition, Tal co-chaired the 1995 Walkathon, worked at the Dor L’Dor Walk, co-chaired the Special Needs Survey, and continues to volunteer for the Federation as needed.

Jane and Martin Gordon are a team. Together, they co-chair the Ottawa Chapter of One Family Fund, sit on the board of Ottawa Jewish National Fund, have cochaired the Aviv Festival, canvassed for Federation and worked on the Israel at 60 celebrations and other

initiatives in support of Israel. Jane was also president of Temple Israel and Ottawa Modern Jewish School.

Estelle Gunner has volunteered for an extensive list of organizations including Talmud Torah Afternoon School, Agudath Israel, Malca Pass Library, Jewish Family Services, a partnership of Agudath Israel and Jewish Family Services helping support Kosovar refugees, Kosher Meals on Wheels, Hillel Lodge, Vaad HaKashrut, Greenberg Families Library and AJA 50+. She currently assists Creative Connections, a joint program of AJA 50+ and the Soloway JCC providing programs for the elderly; assists Ottawa Jewish Archives with sorting records and finding collections; serves on the 25th Anniversary Committee for Tamir; sits on the Hillel Lodge Board and Executive Committee, chairs the Human Resources Committee; performs administrative and reception duties at the Lodge; sits on Agudath Israel’s Malca Pass Library Committee and assists the Book Discussion Group.

Elissa Iny was named Rookie Canvasser of the Year by UJA in 1976. In 1986, she co-chaired the Women’s Campaign. She has been chair and co-chair of the Lion of

Judah program of UJA and was a member of the Vaad’s Board of Trustees. She has volunteered on behalf of Soviet Jewry, State of Israel Bonds and National Council of Jewish Women. Elissa headed the Hillel Lodge Auxiliary for five years and is still an active volunteer there.

Cally Kardash has held many positions including president of Agudath Israel Sisterhood, president of Eastern Canadian Region for Conservative Judaism, president of Hillel Academy PTA, UJA Women’s Division chair, and assisted such community agencies and organizations as Tamir, Jewish National Fund and Kollel.

Jennifer Kardash has been on Hillel Academy’s PTA for four years and has helped in the school office and classes. Jennifer was the originator of the Federation’s Choices event, an outreach initiative of the Women’s Division, and belonged to the Women’s Cabinet. “My children are one of the main reasons that I volunteer. I want them to know that we can make a difference, and that every little bit helps. I believe that volunteering and helping out in the community is an integral part of my life.”

Sid Kardash is past president of Congregation Agudath Israel. Over

the years, he’s chaired the Medical Division, Top Donors and General Campaign of UJA. He’s also chaired Agudath Israel emergency campaigns to raise money for ambulances and hospitals in Israel.

Linda Kerzner began her volunteer activities at the JCC as a teenager running a variety of programs.

Later she was president of ORT, library chair for Hillel Academy, and served on Hillel Lodge’s Implementation Committee. Linda is vicepresident of the Jewish National Fund, president of the Hillel Jewish Campus Life Advisory Board and chair of the Women’s Campaign.

Ariella Kimmel has been active in Ottawa’s Jewish community since first joining B’nai Brith Youth Organization. She served as chapter shlicha for two years and regional shlicha for one. Now at Carleton University studying political science, she is vice-president external of the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students. Previously, she was vice-president of Carleton’s Israel Awareness Committee and citywide president of Hillel Ottawa.

Over the years, Ariella has helped at numerous Federation events including SuperWeek, Mitzvah Day,

Ashbury College would like to congratulate the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on this milestone.

May you continue to grow in strength and prosperity.

Character. Commitment. Achievement.

www.ashbury.ca

(Continued on page 26)

Page JFO26 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 25)

Walkathon and Campaign Kickoff.

Morris Kimmel has worked with B’nai Brith since his arrival in Ottawa in 1952. A founder of Young Israel of Ottawa, he was the shul’s president for many years. Along with his late wife Lillian, Morris cochaired the Hillel Lodge capital campaign. He served on the Lodge board for many years, eventually becoming president. Morris has worked on the Camp B’nai Brith board for many years and is still active on the Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut. He enjoys manning the phones during Federation telethons. A snowbird for six months of the year, Morris, son Steven says, spends his time in Ottawa “at Hillel Lodge with all his friends having a nosh and a kibbitz.”

Roslyn Kimmel has been active in Hadassah-WIZO and served as chair of the boards of Talmud Torah Afternoon School and Akiva High School. She sat on the boards of the JCC and the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation. Active on the UJA Women’s Division Cabinet for many years, Roslyn went on to chair the 1991 UJA Campaign during the year of Operation Exodus. She and husband Arnold led the Family Mission to Israel in 1990. In 1998,

Roslyn chaired the opening event celebrating Israel’s 50th anniversary and this past fall she chaired the Federation’s Women’s Division 36th anniversary event featuring Linda Hooper. Roslyn has also chaired Le Tour des Quickie fundraiser for CHEO and sat on the CHEO and Royal Ottawa Hospital boards.

Steven Kimmel was born and bred in Ottawa. His interest in community service began as a teenager participating in BBYO and USY. During the Jewish Community Campus Campaign, Steven cochaired the major gifts division. He served as president of Agudath Israel after being a board member for many years. A visit to Israel during the 1995 UJA Mission led him to become a canvasser for the Annual Campaign. He subsequently chaired the Major and Top Donor divisions, as well as the Annual Campaign.

Phil Kretzmar has taught and led the Ottawa Israeli Folkdancers, which has been meeting every Tuesday evening since 1989. He has also taught Israeli folkdancing in Jewish afternoon schools as well as for the public school board in Ottawa.

Esther Kwavnick, a Tamir

Board member since 2001, is currently its president. Her proudest achievement as president was the opening of Tamir’s new home on Riddell Avenue. Esther has also been a member of Ottawa Hadassah-WIZO for more than 35 years and volunteers with Jewish Family Services teaching English as a second language to recent immigrants.

Michael Landau was a board member of the Vaad Ha’Ir for six years in the 1990s. He chaired and co-chaired the campaign’s dental division from 2000 to 2009. During that time, he also served on the Jewish Community Foundation Board and Executive and chaired strategic planning committee. He co-chaired the 2007 Walkathon, the 2009 Hillel-SJCC Golf Tournament, and has volunteered for the Ottawa Chevra Kadisha since 1996.

Joe Levitan has volunteered in our community for many years.

He’s canvassed for UJA, was UJA treasurer and sat on the Federation’s Financial Management Committee.

For the past 10 years, Joe has been a member of the executive and treasurer of Agudath Israel Congregation.

Rhoda Levitan started her community involvement by joining

Young Women’s Leadership the week she moved to Ottawa. She then sat on the boards of the Soloway JCC and Hillel Academy while getting involved in UJA. Rhoda chaired Women’s Campaign in 2001 and has been involved in organizing many Walkathons.

Rhoda was part of the March of the Living, accompanying teens from Ottawa to Poland and Israel.

Ingrid Levitz has contributed to many organizations in various capacities over the past 20 years, including Hillel Academy, UJA Walkathon, Jewish Family Services, Federation campaigns and committees, Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation, Vaad HaKashrut, Jewish Leadership Institute and the Young Women’s Leadership Development Program. Ingrid has chaired the Federation’s Women’s Campaign, Partnership 2000 and the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation’s Marketing Committee. She has held many positions on the Hillel Lodge Board, including the presidency, and also sits on the Hillel Lodge Foundation Board.

Jacquie Levy began volunteering 15 years ago when, as a newcomer, she joined the Young Women’s Leadership Development Program.

Compliments of Osgoode Properties

“Through the program, I learned of the many wonderful organizations within our community and where I could contribute.” At Hillel Academy, Jacquie worked on the Security, Special Education and Labour Management Committees, ultimately becoming president of the Board.

For the Federation, she’s worked on the Campus Property Management Board, the Multi-Agency Campus Security Task Force and the Jewish Outreach, Identity and Education Committee, among others.

Jackie Luffman, known as the stats lady, first volunteered with Na’amat Ottawa. In 2001, she started the Tikvah chapter for young women and served as president for four years. In 2008, she joined the Na’amat Ottawa Council. She served on the Soloway JCC Board of Directors and helped launch the Shalom Baby program. In 2007, Jackie became president of the Early Beginnings Day Care Board of Directors with the aim of promoting the daycare’s strengths and better synchronizing the daycare and its parents with the larger Jewish community.

Linda Melamed first joined the Newcomers Committee, which wel(Continued on page 29)

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO27

Israeli president makes first visit to Canada in 1967

Vaad President Jules Loeb accompanies Israeli President Zalman Shazar into the Jewish Community Centre in 1967 where they are greeted by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Guides. It was the first visit of an Israeli president to (Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives) Canada.

Mazel tov to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on your 75th anniversary May you continue to grow in strength Barbara Crook and Dan Greenberg

Page JFO28 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

The mayor and the rabbis

Wishing the Federation Mazel Tov on 75 Years Kerzner Family Mayor Lorry Greenberg discusses the 1980 UJA Campaign with Ottawa’s rabbis.

Seated, left to right: Rabbi Mordecai Berger (Young Israel), Rabbi Irving Schreier (Agudath Israel) and Rabbi Donald R. Gerber (Temple Israel). Standing, left to right: Mayor Greenberg, Rabbi Basil F. Herring (Beth Shalom) and Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka (Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives) (Machzikei Hadas).

Congratulations on providing leadership to our Community for 75 years

LAW OFFICE _______________________________________________________________________________________

MEROVITZ • POTECHIN

LLP

________________________________________________________________________________________

Professional●Personable●Progressive

301-200 Catherine Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 2K9 Phone (613)563-7544 Fax (613)-563-7544 email: mplaw@mpottawa.com website:www.merovitzpotechin.com

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO29

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 26)

comes Jewish women to Ottawa, 13 years ago and served for 12 years. Linda has also volunteered extensively for Hillel Academy. She was on the school’s board, did fundraising and helped with lunches, book fairs and science-inschool. With husband Warren, she chaired the Federation’s SuperWeek and Telethon for three years and last year helped organize the Women’s Campaign Choices event. Linda has sat on the Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa Board of Directors since 2007.

Chuck Merovitz credits his parents for teaching the values of volunteerism. Along with his wife Bonnie, they share the same values with their sons, Lee and Ryan. Since moving to Ottawa in 1974, Chuck and Bonnie have volunteered in this community. “We gave many volunteer hours over the years, but got much in return, including the satisfaction of helping others and meeting many wonderful people who share the values of Tikkun Olam.”

Jeff Miller combines his expertise as a chartered accountant with a desire to contribute to the community. This motivated him to assume the positions of president of Hillel Lodge and Hillel Academy, treasurer of Congregation Machzikei Hadas and Rideau View Golf and Country Club, chair of Millionaire’s Night and the Desert Classic and co-founder of the Charithon for CHEO. Maureen Molot, a past president of the Vaad Ha’Ir, has been involved in many Federation committees over the years. She is currently a board member of the Hillel Lodge Foundation and has volunteered for the Lodge over many years. Maureen’s work extends into the broader community having been the chair of the Community Foundation of Ottawa and Community Foundations of Canada.

Flo Morgan is a longtime member of Hadassah-WIZO’s Negev Chapter. She’s served as treasurer and worked on the Designer Duds fundraiser and other activities for many years. At Agudath Israel, she was president of the Sisterhood, chair of the Nearly New Shop and prepared and served food for Adults for Lively Leisure lunches. Over many years, she’s looked after the flower arrangements for the Bimah each Shabbat and holidays, polished the Torah ornaments prior to the High Holidays, assisted the Social Action Committee and always assisted with any task when asked. Flo is a longstanding helper at Hillel Lodge, has been volunteer registrar for AJA 50+ since its inception in 2000 and works at the Tamir teas. In the broader community, Flo has been on the CHEO Auxiliary for more than 30 years and volunteers at the Ottawa Public Library in Centrepointe.

Dorothy Nadolny joined Hadassah-WIZO at 19 and soon became chapter president. She chaired the bazaar and medical services committees. She became active in the Women’s Division when it was formed in the early1970s, co-chairing and eventually chairing the campaign herself. In 1975, she led a successful women’s mission to Israel. During the

1980s, Dorothy co-chaired the Snowbirds program in Florida, gathering women in popular southern spots to donate to the campaign.

This was the forerunner of the current Lion of Judah Southern Hospitality Program held annually in Florida. She is now co-chair of the Lion of Judah Endowment.

Linda Nadolny-Cogan has been active in the Ottawa Women’s Division Cabinet and helped develop the Young Women’s Leadership Council, which trains and mentors future community leaders. Linda held many positions nationally and locally for the UIA Federations and the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa.

In 1999, she received the prestigious Keren Hayesod International Women’s Division Award of Excellence from the UIA in Israel, citing her dedication and high levels of leadership. Linda led the UJA mission to Israel and Rome in 1985 and the UIA mission to Israel and Poland in 1992. She’s spent many years as executive member for the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa and, in 1995, developed and chaired its first Human Resource Development Committee, which launched the Men’s Leadership Development Program. Linda has also served on the Hillel Lodge board.

Annette Paquin grew up in a family that emphasized tzedakah and is now raising her own three children with the same values. She and husband Merle often volunteer together and now each of her children contributes in their own way. Annette has volunteered for many community organizations, but her favourite project is Tzedakah to Israel, which she initiated, and is run through Temple Israel.

This project brings much-needed supplies to Israeli families in need every few weeks.

Josée Posen has chaired or served on boards and committees for the Federation, Soloway JCC, Agudath Israel Congregation and Jewish Family Services. She was also board chair and treasurer of the United Way. She holds the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the United Way Canada National Leadership Award.

Hymie Reichstein served Congregation Machzikei Hadas for the past 20 years in all executive positions, including president and is currently on the executive without a portfolio.

For the past 10 years, Hymie has been president and treasurer of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Ottawa. He’s been a board member since 1999 and treasurer since 2003 of the Ottawa Torah Institute and Machon Sarah High School. Hymie also serves on the boards of the new Jewish Cemetery Committee and the Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut.

Marlene Rivier is past president of Ottawa Modern Jewish School where she’s donated her time over many years. In the broader community, she’s been active in poverty reduction, public health care advocacy and crime prevention initiatives. Her commitment to social justice has led her to run for the NDP in a number of elections.

Shelley Rivier credits her mother for (Continued on page 30)

Congratulations and Mazel Tov on the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s 75th anniversary Barbara and Len Farber

Page JFO30 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 29)

instilling the motivation to volunteer. She is now honoured to be volunteering with her own children. A graduate of the school, Shelley is president of the Ottawa Modern Jewish School board. She has volunteered in classrooms, on boards, committees and political action groups. “As an Ottawa Modern Jewish School graduate, I credit the school with giving me the Jewish footing that shapes who I am today.

I am honoured as president to be able to give back to them.”

Margo Rosen has been the Temple Israel volunteer co-ordinator for the Kosher Food Bank since 1999.

She has been a Jewish Family Services board member and currently sits on the Tikvah Committee for poverty relief and chairs the Shalom Bayit Committee, which works to raise awareness about domestic violence in the Jewish community.

Margo is a recipient of the 2006 Elaine Rabin Social Service Award.

Deborah Saginur moved to Ottawa 25 years ago and began volunteering at Hillel Academy in various capacities on the Parents’ Association and the Talmud Torah board.

Highlights of that work were chairing and redesigning the Financial

Assistance Program and representing the OTTB in teacher/board contract negotiations. Concurrently, she got involved in fundraising through UJA, eventually co-chairing the Women’s Campaign in 1999. She continues to canvass annually. In 2001, Deborah joined Canadian Jewish Congress, first as national capital representative and now as vice-chair of the Ontario Region.

She’s also served on numerous community boards and bodies including State of Israel Bonds, Soloway JCC and Tamir. Since 1993, Deborah has served on the board of trustees of the Vaad and Federation and sits on the Federation’s Allocations Committee. For 11 years, she co-chaired the Human Resources Development Committee.

Harold Schwartz has chaired or co-chaired the Public Service Division of the Annual Campaign for the past six years and worked on three Public Service Division events. He also volunteers at Agudath Israel Congregation where he’s been parnass for two years and worked on adult education, youth programming and, for 10 years, has co-ordinated Junior Congregation services.

Harold also sat on the Judaic Committee of Hillel Academy for four

years, served on the Ottawa Vaad HaKashrut for seven years, helped raise funds for Akiva Afternoon High School and Jewish National Fund’s Tu B’Shevat Telethon and assisted with Raoul Wallenberg events.

Rosalie Schwartz has been an active member of Na’amat Ottawa, serving as chapter and council president. At Agudath Israel Congregation, she co-chaired the youth committee and organized the ushers for Shabbat services each week. She sat on the board of Yitzhak Rabin High School, co-chaired a committee of the UJA Women’s Division, is a regular canvasser for the Annual Campaign and SuperWeek and helped raise funds for Tamir.

David Shentow was arrested in Antwerp, Belgium at the age of 17.

The sole survivor of his family, he views his survival during the Shoah as miraculous. Because of antiSemitic forces determined to obliterate historical facts, David shares his experiences with students at various schools in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Belgium.

Reverend Tom Sherwood cochaired Jewish-Christian Dialogue for many years and brought Holocaust education programs and Jewish speakers to Carleton University

before the Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies was established. Whether on radio, television or in print media, in churches and schools, on campuses and in the general community, Tom works vehemently to oppose anti-Semitism and racism.

Rabbi Micah Shotkin has volunteered in various capacities over the past seven years. Whether speaking to AJA 50+, fixing something in the mikvah or helping build a succah, Rabbi Shotkin can be counted on to lend a hand.

Marion Silver has enjoyed serving on the Auxiliary of Hillel Lodge and co-convened the annual fundraising tea. As well, she has participated in the welcoming committee for newcomers to Ottawa and in the JNF telethon. Her true love is the 10 years spent co-hosting and co-producing the prize-winning monthly broadcasts of Shalom Ottawa.

Sarah Silverstein completed the Young Women’s Leadership Council Program, served on the board of Federation’s Young Adults Division, worked on the Mitzvah Day Committee for four years and the Women’s Division Choices event for two years. She’s worked on the golf tournament and the SuperWeek Telethon. Sarah has attended two

Federation missions to Israel, two Young Adult Leadership Conferences, and belongs to the Ben-Gurion Society. As a member of the Shalom Baby Committee, she enjoys delivering baskets to new mothers. Sarah is past chair and still active on the Ladies Reception Committee for Newcomers, and belongs to Na’amat’s Tikvah Chapter. She also volunteers for the Ottawa Torah Center and is the secretary and founder of her book club.

Elaine and Irv Singer arrived in Ottawa in 1965 and promptly became two of the nine founders of Temple Israel. They are both former Temple presidents and organized Ottawa’s first community Passover Seder.

They’ve helped settle families from Russia and other eastern bloc countries in Ottawa, with Irv collecting and repairing used bicycles for the children. For B’nai Brith Parliament Lodge, Irv chaired the Passover Basket Project, which provided baskets to needy families. He also sat on the Jewish Family Services Tikvah Committee, which assists low-income Jews. Elaine spent many years working on the Hadassah Bazaar and was treasurer of the Masada Chapter. She currently helps the Mitzvah Knitters, (Continued on page 32)

THE BESS AND MOE GREENBERG

Hillel Lodge OTTAWA JEWISH HOME FOR THE AGED THE JOSEPH AND INEZ ZELIKOVITZ LONG TERM CARE CENTRE

The Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge and The Hillel Lodge Long Term Care Foundation wish the Jewish Federation of Ottawa a hearty Yasher Koach on its 75th anniversary.

Our Board, volunteers, members, staff, residents and families know that the Lodge, indeed all the beneficiary agencies, better serve our community, due to the strength of the Federation.

At the Lodge, we recognize the value and importance of remembering the past to build on the future.

We look forward to many future celebrations.

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO31

Groundbreaking ceremony for new Hillel Lodge Groundbreaking for the new home of the Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge in the Joseph and Inez Zelikovitz Long Term Care Centre on the Jewish Community Campus took place on Sunday, May 30, 1999.

(Photo left) Left to right: Laya Shabinsky, Elissa Iny, Evan Zelikovitz and Inez Zelikovitz.

(Photo right): Bernie Dolansky, Stephen Greenberg, Barbara Farber and Shlomo Mayman.

B.S.D.

Congregation Beth Shalom

Mazel Tov to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on 75 years of dedicated service to our Jewish Community.

Congratulations to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on its 75th anniversary.

May you go from strength to strength.

Page JFO32 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

BH

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 30)

The Chabad Student Network of Ottawa salutes the Jewish Federation of Ottawa at 75 years of service.

May you grow and continue to be an inspiration to the community.

Rabbi Chaim and Yocheved Boyarsky, directors Jonathan Brownstein, uOttawa president Gary Fine, Carleton U president Adam Berkting, City-wide president Lee Silverstone, Teens for the community president

providing hand-made afghans to hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions.

Gerald Stone chairs the Ottawa Jewish Archives Committee and sits on the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society’s Board of Directors. Gerald’s volunteer activities are focused on the development and preservation of the Ottawa and Canadian Jewish communities’ documentary heritage. He encouraged the Archives to participate in provincial and national archival information networks, initiated websites for both organizations, provided an updated entry for Ottawa in the latest edition of Encyclopaedia Judaica and is collaborating with the University of Ottawa to enrich its library holdings of Jewish Canadiana.

Sunny Tavel has been a UJA and Annual Campaign volunteer since 1975 and has held many Federation leadership positions. She has chaired or co-chaired the Women’s Division in 1986, State of Israel Bonds Women’s Division in 1988 and 1989, the Soviet Jewry Committee, the Communications and Community Relations Committee, the Canada-Israel Committee Dinner in 1990, the UJA Campaign in 1994 and 1995 and the Hillel Lodge Auxiliary.

Ethel Taylor served as chair of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa Women’s Campaign in 1981 and founded three new divisions: Snowbirds, Golden Agers and Busi-

ness and Professionals. She hosts the Ottawa Newcomers Committee and is past chair of State of Israel Bonds and B’nai Brith Women.

She also worked with other Taylor family members to raise $24 million for the Community Endowment Campaign. Ethel has received an award for her volunteer work from State of Israel Bonds and the Government of Ontario. She loves working with dedicated people like herself.

Mark Thaw has worked on the Annual Campaigns and sat on various boards and committees. He’s chaired or co-chaired the Men’s Leadership Development Program, the campaign’s High-Tech Division and Walkathon. He’s currently chairing the Chai Walkers for Walkathon and sits on the Financial Resource Development Committees for both Federation and UIA Federations Canada.

Mark is a director of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and volunteers with Dreams Take Flight, which takes handicapped or disadvantaged children to Disneyworld.

Ron Weiss has chaired and co-chaired the UJA and Annual Campaign’s Medical Division several times as well as the Medical Division’s Maimonides Society. He currently chairs the Ottawa Partnership 2000 Committee. Next year, Ron will assume the chairmanship of Partnership 2000 Coast-to-Coast.

(Continued on page 34)

Congratulations to the Federation as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary In appreciation of Jeff Miller for being a great friend and super accountant to the Kollel of Ottawa from the very beginning of the Kollel's existence.

From all the Kollel families

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO33

Rabbi Bulka honoured

Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka, centre, receives the Gilbert Greenberg Award from Roger Greenberg, left, and Robert Greenberg at the 65th Annual General Meeting of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha’Ir in 1999.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives)

Super Sunday 1998

Left to right: Marjorie Feldman, Ingrid Levitz and Rosalyn Fremeth on Super Sunday during the 1998 United Jewish Appeal campaign.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Jewish Archives)

Page JFO34 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Congratulations on the

75 th Anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa

21 Nadolny Sachs Private s /TTAWA /NTARIO + ! 2 EXT

Rambam Day School congratulates the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on celebrating its 75th year

Volunteers: the heart and soul of our community (Continued from page 32)

Charles Wiseman had held many positions over the years. He’s past chair of State of Israel Bonds, former vice-president of Congregation Beth Shalom, former board member of Congregation Machzikei Hadas, former cochair of UJA’s Legal Division and president of the Ottawa Hebrew Free Loan Association.

Sandra Zagon is a committed volunteer and fundraiser within the Ottawa Jewish community and the community-at-large. Her special interests include Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa, the Canadian Community for Dialogue and Deliberation, Multiple Sclerosis, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, Machzikei Hadas Congregation, Tamir, Jewish Family Services, Hillel Lodge and the Federation’s Communications and Community Relations Committee, as well as many other causes and organizations.

Evan Zelikovitz has been an active volunteer in Ottawa since arriving in 1992. In 1993, he was on the Yom Ha’Atzmaut Committee, becoming chair in 1994. Evan sat on the JCC board from 1996 to 2003, including three years as an executive member during the planning and building of the Soloway JCC. Evan co-chaired Ottawa’s Mitzvah Day during its first three years and remains an active committee member. He currently sits on the Camp B’nai Brith board.

Lenora Zelikovitz has always been an active volunteer in the Ottawa Jewish community. She’s volunteered at many local events such as the annual Federation golf tournaments and Walkathons. A graduate of the Young Women’s Leadership Program, Lenora co-chaired Mitzvah Day for three consecutive years. She’s been an organizer of the Women’s Division Choices program and currently serves on the organizing committee for the 2009 Soloway JCC/Hillel Academy Golf Tournament.

Lawrence Zinman started volunteering in the early 1970s as a canvasser for the UJA Public Service Division, eventually becoming its chair. He’s sat on the boards of Jewish Family Services, Hillel Academy, Ottawa Jewish Bulletin and the Jewish Community Council.

He’s helped with the Walkathon, JNF Telethon, synagogue bingos and other functions, and has sat on Federation committees, including a panel on Jewish education.

Lawrence has helped find employment for new Canadians as part of a Jewish Family Services initiative. His current activities include being president of Jewish Memorial Gardens, a board member of the Jewish Community of Ottawa Development Foundation, co-chair of the Federation’s Campaign Seniors’ Division and a member of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation Finance Committee.

The members of Na’amat Canada Ottawa Congratulate the Jewish Federation of Ottawa On its 75 year Anniversary Mazel Tov to all of the deserving Volunteer Award Winners Including Na’amat’s own: Vera Gara Jackie Luffman Annette Paquin Rosalie Schwartz Sarah Silverstein Our community is fortunate to have such talented and dedicated women.

Na’amat Canada: Enhancing the lives of women and children in Canada and Israel since 1925

The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009 – Page JFO35

Over the years with the Ottawa Jewish community

Photos courtesy of the Ottawa Jewish Archives

Page JFO36 The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin celebrates the Federation’s 75th – May 11, 2009

Invest

in Your

Israel Bonds are offered in Canada exclusively through Canada-Israel Securities, Limited

Values

™

Ottawa and Atlantic Canada

A special message to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa from State of Israel Bonds Canada

O

n the occasion of the 75th anniversary of your founding, we at Israel Bonds Canada would like to extend our congratulations for 75 years of service to the Jewish Community of Ottawa and for 75 years of service to and support of the State of Israel.

The strength of the Jewish People is based on the partnership between Israel and the Diaspora. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa and others like it are key contributors to the strength of both. The commitment to the overwhelming success of the State of Israel has come in two ways–through annual contributions to support a host of necessary services in Israel through organizations like Federation, and through investments in Israel through Israel Bonds.

Both of these types of support are equally critical to Israel's health and growth. And that is why we at Israel Bonds encourage everyone to give to Federation – to give, and to give more, wherever possible.

Visitors to Israel can’t help but marvel at the modern infrastructure. When landing at Ben-Gurion airport and while travelling throughout Israel on highways and bridges, built in part with investment capital from Israel Bonds, one can see

the positive impact of the investments made, each and every year, since the first Israel Bond was sold in 1951.

"To be a free people, in our own land" has long been our hope. The dream of a Jewish homeland has been fulfilled, but that dream requires continuous nurturing and support. So many social services in Israel depend on the support of contributors worldwide, in particular the important contributions made to local Federations. A strong, vibrant country with a modern infrastructure forms the backbone of the nation which enables all other good works to be conducted. Donations to Federation and investments in Israel Bonds are complementary. Your bond purchases help build a nation. Your donations ensure that the citizens of that nation receive the care they need in times of trouble, the medical services they require in times of sickness and a helping hand when they need a lift.

This is truly a partnership of donors and investors, in harmony, each supporting the other, a complementary whole that connects all of us with our family in Israel.

Yasher Koach

613.792.1142