Ottawa jewish bulletin 2010 03 08(inaccessible)

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Klez Night

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bulletin volume 74, no. 10

march 8, 2010

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Rabbi Bulka honoured with key to the city

By Michael Regenstreif The City of Ottawa chose the third annual Kindness Week to honour Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka with the rarely given key to the city.

The award ceremony, February 18 at Ottawa City Hall’s Jean Pigott Place, marked only the third time during Mayor Larry O’Brien’s tenure that a key to the city has been awarded.

O’Brien described Rabbi Bulka as “a hugely important character” in the city and said he has sought Rabbi Bulka’s counsel on both personal and municipal matters.

Rabbi Bulka was touched, he said, at being honoured by the city

and told reporters he has been fortunate to have been able to work with so many of the community leaders who gathered for the ceremony. They are people who “live, breathe and sleep on how to make this community a better place,” he said.

Rabbi Bulka is Ottawa’s senior pulpit rabbi, having served as spiritual leader of Congregation Machzikei Hadas, a modern Orthodox synagogue, since 1967. One of Canada’s most prominent rabbis, he is rabbinic emissary and an immediate past-co-president of Canadian Jewish Congress.

The rabbi is also well known in

the city-at-large for his volunteer work in many areas and as host of a weekly radio program on CFRA. He also represents the Jewish perspective on a panel of clergy who respond to a specific question each week in the Ottawa Citizen.

Kindness Week, a popular, city-wide initiative created by Rabbi Bulka in 2008, celebrates “the kindness that is and the kindness that can be,” by promoting kindness and positivity in the community.

Rabbi Bulka hopes Kindness Week will soon spread beyond Ottawa and become a province- and Canada-wide celebration.

Rabbi Reuven Bulka, left, was presented with a key to the city of Ottawa, February 18, by Mayor Larry O’Brien.

(Photo: Roger Lalonde/City of Ottawa)

Doctor by day, composer and bandleader by night

By Benita Baker If you are already a member of the growing legion of docweissband fans, then you’re probably already humming some of the band’s catchy folk rock songs written and sung by bandleader Ron Weiss.

Ron Weiss – isn’t that the vasectomy doctor?

It is, indeed. The doctor who pioneered the no-scalpel vasectomy in Canada is also an accomplished singer, songwriter and musician.

We’ve all heard stories of struggling musicians forced to take second jobs to support themselves. Well, here’s a twist. A dedicated classical pianist and guitarist in his youth, Weiss’ back-up plan to pay the rent was to become a doctor.

The demands of medical school, marriage and a growing family – he had two children by the time he entered his final year of medical school – and then a burgeoning medical

practice, left little time for music. The wouldbe musician did not play an instrument for 15 years.

“There was a gaping hole,” said Weiss about his years of not playing music.

That all changed when his wife Debbie, who was off to chaperone a March of the Living trip to Poland and Israel, handed Weiss an envelope filled with money.

“Please use this to buy a guitar,” she told him.

Debbie would again ignite her husband’s musical creativity in 2005 when her birthday gift to him was a surprise trip to Cuba, a country renowned for Afro-Cuban jazz and high calibre musicians.

In the courtyard of Havana’s historic Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Weiss struck up a friendship (pre-arranged by Debbie) with a jazz guitarist and other members of his band. This (Continued on page 2)

Ron Weiss with the members of the docweissband (left to right): Gleb Sturov (drums), Maya Ethier (vocals), Mike Leipe (bass), Jim Mattson (lead electric Guitar) and Weiss (guitar and vocals).

(Photo: Chris Schlesak)

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Page 2 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Emerson Fellow Stacey Bocknek is dedicated to Israel advocacy on Ottawa campuses

By Justin Dahan Every year, the Emerson Fellowship program of StandWithUs (SWU), an international Israel advocacy organization, appoints student “fellows” to provide leadership to Israel advocacy programs on their campuses. Stacey Bocknek, a third year international management student is this year’s Emerson Fellow at the University of Ottawa.

The SWU mission statement states that it will ensure “that Israel’s side of the story is told in communities, campuses, libraries, the media and churches through brochures, speakers, conferences, missions to Israel, and thousands of pages of Internet resources,” and Bocknek helps to plan and organize events in keeping with that mission.

Among the recent events Bocknek helped to

organize was a club night the proceeds of which went to Save a Child’s Heart (SACH), an Israeli humanitarian organization that provides cardiac surgery for children from developing countries. Many of the children SACH works with are Palestinian, a fact that helped Bocknek, along with Hillel Ottawa and the Israel Awareness Committee (IAC), highlight Israeli humanitarianism on campus.

The February 11 fundraiser, Party for a Child’s Heart, raised about $1,000. Bocknek helped on the planning committee, headed by Adam Moscoe, and was responsible for ticket sales and for promoting the event.

Bocknek leads a very busy life, balancing full-time studies, her Israel advocacy work and a part-time job with Canada’s Competition Bureau. While balancing a full course load, espe-

cially in third year, with a work schedule and extracurricular activities can be very strenuous – some students have been known to buckle under the pressure – Bocknek has been able to find a balance and excel at all three things.

“It can be hard sometimes, but it’s all about prioritizing,” she says.

“It’s very important, especially when you witness all the anti-Semitism and general hostility towards us,” she says of her Israel advocacy work at both uOttawa and Carleton. “It’s definitely important to have a presence on campus.”

Other students involved in Israel advocacy know they can rely on Bocknek.

“She is great to work with,” says Daniel Tsyganovskiy, IAC vice-president at Carleton University. “I always get some good ideas from her.”

Emerson Fellow Stacey Bocknek

International March of the Living to honour Holocaust survivors JERUSALEM (JTA) – The International March of the Living will honour six Holocaust survivors during its annual Holocaust Remembrance Day gathering at Auschwitz, April 12.

This year’s theme is Lamrot Hakol (Despite it all): Tribute to the Survivor. Nominations of survivors who have demonstrated a “profound impact on the world” to be honoured at the event, which includes 10,000 youths from around the world, are being sought.

The program will emphasize how the Jewish community has succeeded in rebuilding from the ashes of the Holocaust.

An international nominating committee will choose the six survivors whose accomplishments in government, business, religion and culture or academia attained great heights.

“The survivor has been our most important educational link to understand the unspeakable depth of Nazi evil and

docweissband CD coming in May (Continued from page 1)

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the unimaginable tragedy of the Holocaust,” said David Machlis, International March of the Living vice-chair. “Yet, beyond what these people experienced during the war, their accomplishments after the war years are no less extraordinary and they deserve to be recognized as the true heroes that they are.”

Nominations can be sent to motl@lonestar.co.il.

led to a return visit to Cuba the following year to work with the musicians in a studio there, recording some of Weiss’ Latin-inspired instrumentals.

The docweissband formed two years ago when 53-yearold Weiss hooked up with bassist Mike Leipe, guitarist Jim Mattson, drummer Gleb Sturov and vocalist Maya Ethier.

Last year, they began performing shows at local venues with a repertoire devoted exclusively to Weiss’ original music.

The band is set to release its first CD in May and has set its sights on performing at Bluesfest this summer.

“Playing at Bluesfest means exposure for the

band,” said Weiss. “It is a huge opportunity for people to hear us and for us to meet other musicians. It is also an affirmation. It is so much more meaningful to share with others what I have written.”

To prove its credibility and popularity to Bluesfest organizers, docweissband enlisted fans to join the band’s Facebook fan page. More than 300 signed up within 72 hours. While that’s no guarantee of a Bluesfest booking this summer, it is a definite sign the band has a loyal following.

This past fall, Weiss gave what is surely his most cherished performance when he sang two love songs at his daughter Jessica’s wedding.

Although the bride and

groom were aware Weiss was intending to serenade them, they did not expect he would be backed up by an eightwoman gospel choir.

“They were special women, with tremendous enthusiasm, who love music and who loved the idea of backing up a dad singing at his daughter’s wedding,” he said. “Jess loved the surprise.”

Weiss’ creative muse is Debbie, his wife of 30 years, and the inspiration for his love songs. His long list of musical influences ranges from Aretha Franklin to Jimi Hendrix. Stylistically, his songs incorporate some jazz, folk, rock, country and pop.

Weiss says if he could choose one major artist to play his songs, it would be James Taylor, a singer-songwriter he’s been compared to (and also looks like).

Perhaps, it’s a dream that’s not so farfetched. Last year, one of Weiss’ songs received an honourable mention for “notable songwriting achievement” in the Songwars songwriting contest created by Mike Pinder, a

founding member of the Moody Blues.

So what does the future hold in store for the docweissband? Would Weiss give up his flourishing medical practice to become a rock star?

“My goal is to sell my music,” said Weiss.

“It would be wonderful to have other artists perform my songs.”

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Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 3

Page 4 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

JFS to co-host seders open to all in community

MEMBERS MEETING A meeting meetingofofthe themembers members A of of the of Ottawa the Jewish Federation Jewish Federation of Ottawa

By Geremy Miller Jewish Family Services Passover: time spent with family and friends. Jewish communities around the world come together to remember, to relive and to celebrate the exodus from Egypt. As people take their place around the seder table, the matzah is raised and Ha Lachma Anya is recited.

“This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Passover. This year [we are] here; next year in the land of Israel. This year [we are] slaves; next year [we will be] free people.”

This year, Jewish Family Services (JFS), in partnership with Young Israel of Ottawa and Valley Stream Manor, will host two seders that are free of charge and open to the entire community.

The first seder, Monday,

will be held on

will be held on

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 7:00 – 9:00 Wednesday, Mayp.m.

12, 2010 Soloway JCC 7:00 pm 21 Nadolny Sachs Private

Social Hall A The Joseph and Rose Ages Family Building Meeting is open to the Public

Meeting is open to the public.

Contact: Dawn Paterson (613) 798-4696, ext. 236 Contact: Dawn Paterson 613-798-4696, ext. 236 dpaterson@jewishottawa.com dpaterson@jewishottawa.com www.jewishottawa.com

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Master of Ceremonies Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka

For further information

JFS will co-host community seders with Valley Stream Manor and Young Israel of Ottawa.

(Photo: Adina Matusow)

March 29, will be at Valley Stream Manor. The second seder, Tuesday, March 30, will be hosted with Young Israel at a private home in the Carling and Broadview area.

“Every year, it is the same. The cost to observe Passover, to have a seder, is exorbitant,” says Mark Zarecki, executive director of JFS. “This year, we will be having two seders and any person or family that wants to celebrate Passover with a seder will have a place to go.”

Jewish Family Services partnered with Young Israel and Valley Stream Manor because they have the interest of the community at heart. There is no pretense in what they are attempting to do. They want to ensure that there are options for all those want to celebrate the holiday in a meaningful way.

“We see a need and are

attempting to fill it,” says Zarecki. “We recognize the fact there are members of our community that want to celebrate Passover but face prohibitive barriers. JFS is committed to removing as many of these barriers as possible, so that all members of our community can celebrate the Festival of Freedom.”

For more information, or to register for the seders, contact Lisa Bogdonov at 613-722-2225, ext. 327 or lbogdonov@jfsottawa.com.

Contact the JFS office at 613-722-2225 to sponsor a person at the seder for $36 or a family of four at $148.

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Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 5 BSD

THIS YEAR DON’T PASS US OVER Members of the Jewish Community (singles, students, couples and families)

are cordially invited to attend the

A Touch of Klez performs at the 2008 Canadian Tulip Festival.

Klez Night, March 13, will benefit Ottawa Kosher Food Bank

By Ruth Kahane Goldberg for Klez Night Klez Night 2010, featuring Ottawa’s A Touch of Klez and Musica Ebraica, will benefit the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank in a third annual feast for the Jewish spirit.

The evening of music and dance will take place on Saturday, March 13, 8:00-10:00 pm at Beth Shalom Congregation, 151 Chapel Street.

Co-sponsored by congregations Adath Shalom, Beth Shalom, Or Haneshamah (Ottawa Reconstructionist Havurah), Temple Israel and Beit Tikvah, the annual benefit concert was founded in 2008 by Adath Shalom Congregation and the Ottawa Reconstructionist Havurah with A Touch of Klez.

“This offering of delightful music is a gift to the community and gives us a way to support the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank,” says Toby Brooks, Klez Night’s co-ordinator.

“The music will emphasize traditional dance tunes including bulgars, shers, Yiddish

horas and waltzes. There will be fast and slow dances and everyone will be able to join in the dancing, whether experienced or not.

We’re planning to have an animator to start the dancing and do some leading,” says Irwin Brodo of A Touch of Klez.

The members of A Touch of Klez are Rena Herman, violin and vocals; Irwin Brodo, mandolin and vocals; Ruth Mendell, clarinet; Peter Teitelbaum, clarinet; Eric Elkin, flute and piccolo; Jackie Langsner, keyboard; Don McVeigh, banjo and mandolin; Fred Brown, bass; and Steve Shapransky, drums.

Also performing at Klez Night is Musica Ebraica, a chamber choir specializing in Jewish choral music.

Admission is $10 at the door with all proceeds to the Kosher Food Bank. Cheques should be made out to Agudath Israel Congregation noting Kosher Food Bank on the memo line. There will also be a food bin to collect kosher in-kind donations. Light refreshments will be served.

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Passover Seders Monday, March 29, 2010 and Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the home of Dr. Joseph and Devora Caytak 185 Switzer Avenue

No charge

To reserve call: 613-729-7712

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The differences between men and women concerning stress-related disorders as well as social and sexual behavior

Guest speakers: Dr. Tali Kimchi, of the Department of Neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute of Science Dr. Deanna Mercer, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry University of Ottawa & The Ottawa Hospital Moderator: Laurence Wall, News Producer CBC Radio, Ottawa Thursday March 11th, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ontario Room, Ottawa, ON Dessert Reception, Minimum Donation 18$ Dietary Laws Observed To confirm your attendance: lorie@weizmann.ca or 613-236-3391 Dr. Graham Sher, President, Ottawa Chapter Susan Stern, Acting National Executive Vice President

Page 6 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Federation is changing and reaching out to every segment of the community Change is difficult, but necessary. As I move – quickly, it seems! – through the first year of chairmanship of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the one thought that keeps leaping to the front of my mind is that we need to change with the times.

Same old, same old just doesn’t cut it any more. More and more decision-making power and influence are passing to the younger generations and we at the Federation have to respect that and keep pace with it. Technology has evolved tremendously over the last several years and, as difficult as it is for a large organization to keep up with that evolution, it must be done.

So, I would like to let you know some of the ways in which we are changing every day.

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa wants to reach out to everyone in our community, at whatever age.

We have had a website (jewishottawa.com) for several years and we are encouraging community members to use the website to learn about community events, make online donations and communicate.

Federation Report Donna Dolansky Chair We also have a Facebook page, and are using it, among other tools, to reach what we call our emerging generation.

Our emerging generation comprises people aged 18 to 35. Many of these young people find it difficult to engage with the community and, from what we hear, don’t consider the Federation to be overly welcoming.

We are trying to change that.

We have reinvigorated the Young Women’s Leadership Council and they are enjoying a very successful year under Chairs Adina Libin and Gillian Dolansky, and staffed by Lindsay Rothenberg. Some of our past Women’s Campaign chairs have graciously offered to serve as mentors for

this group of 15 women. I think they are enjoying the program as much as the participants!

As I write this, they have just held a program where they learned about various leadership styles. I hear it was amazing! We are also trying to put together a young leaders’ symposium so that we can hear from our young people in a structured forum, and learn from their experiences. We are looking for funding for this symposium and, hopefully, will be able to set a date soon.

Also, as I mentioned in my February 8 Bulletin column, the Federation’s Jewish Outreach, Identity and Education Committee, under the leadership of Jacquie Levy, and staffed by Jeff Bradshaw, are working with the afternoon schools to see what our community can do to revitalize Jewish supplemental education in Ottawa. There it is again – that word change.

We are also changing our missions to Israel somewhat. Due to many factors, the most prominent of which is the constantly escalating cost, we are not getting the level of interest we have had in the past for tradi-

tional missions. So, we are reworking them.

Last month, a group of Ottawans went to Israel for Hockey Day in Canada – at Canada Centre in Metulla, in the Galilee Panhandle.

They co-ordinated with a Canada-Israel Committee trip to Israel and had NHL legends Darryl Sittler and Paul Henderson join them. All reports from the week were great (see Roger Greenberg’s article in the February 22 Bulletin).

And, finally, but by no means less important, we are gradually changing the way we canvass. Together with the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation, which is chaired by Harold Feder, and staffed by Jack Silverstein, we are working on implementing the Collaborative Fundraising Model, which applies the best practices of other communities to develop new donors and to make the experience more meaningful for the donors, canvassers and the community.

These are just some of the changes we have implemented this year. We are constantly open to input from you. And we are definitely open to change.

A seriously committed Jew need not always be serious!

As you read this, the Hebrew month of Adar is drawing to a close. However, I would like to remind you of a rabbinic teaching regarding this month: “When Adar enters, we greatly increase joy.”

The joy we experienced at Purim should not be restricted to the holiday itself, but should infuse the entire month.

Nor is Purim the only time of happiness in our calendar. Simchat Torah (The Rejoicing of the Law) is clearly a time of joy, and it is written in reference to all the major festivals, v’samahta b’hagekha (you shall rejoice in your festivals).

One would expect that this obligation to rejoice, to be happy, would be an easy mitzvah to fulfil. Yet, somehow, happiness does not come easily to us. We seem to have difficulty letting our hair down and enjoying our tradition.

From the pulpit Rabbi Charles Popky Agudath Israel Rabbis often prepare their finest sermons for the solemn Yamim Nora’im and for the days on which we recite Yizkor, and these are precisely the days on which most individuals choose to come to synagogue. Even as a people we often seem more concerned with our sufferings and degradations than with our accomplishments and achievements.

We must not forget, nor can we in any way minimize, the experience of the Shoah. Yet, we also cannot minimize our

Letters welcome Letters to the Editor are welcome if they are brief, signed, timely and of interest to our readership.

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The Mailbag column will be published as space permits.

Send your letters to Michael Regenstreif, Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1R9; or by e-mail to bulletin@ottawajewishbulletin.com.

connection to the State of Israel and the celebration of what it offers the entire Jewish world – both its challenges and its opportunities.

I do not mean to belittle the importance of the more solemn occasions on our calendar, be they private or public. I do, however, want to emphasize that to be a seriously committed Jew, one need not always be serious!

We need to appreciate the simcha shel mitzvah, the joy of our commandments.

How often do we really enjoy the beauty of Shabbat with its special meals, the lyri-

cal melodies of its services, and the time it affords us to be with family and friends?

How often do we take the opportunity to experience the joy of helping another person, of making a difference in the world by volunteering our time? When was the last time we allowed ourselves to enjoy the opportunity for reflection afforded by our prayer services?

“When Adar enters, we greatly increase joy.”

Let’s begin with this Adar, and continue the joy of being Jewish throughout the year!

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Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 7

All Ontario MPPs come together in a rare show of unanimity You’re reading this column about a week or 10 days after I sat down to write it on Friday morning, February 26.

As I write, we’re three days away from the start of Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) events aimed at delegitimizing the State of Israel on campuses – including Carleton and the University of Ottawa – in about 40 cities in Canada, the United States and western Europe. Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal campuses are among those in which IAW events have the highest profile.

The events will take place just as this issue of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin is being printed, mailed and delivered. So, I’m writing without knowing how IAW unfolded. Or, for that matter, how Size Doesn’t Matter (sizedoesntmatter.ca) turned out. Size Doesn’t Matter was a concurrent campaign carried out by proIsrael student groups aimed at countering the demonization of the Jewish state, at showing the totality of what Israel is all about: from its roles as a cultural, scientific and high-tech giant despite the tiny size of its territory and population, to its being a centre of human rights and liberal democracy in the Middle East.

I wrote about IAW last issue in this space and don’t need to devote much space to reiterating what I said then

Editor Michael Regenstreif about the motives of IAW organizers and supporters and about why the word ‘apartheid’ is false, offensive and counterproductive to efforts aimed at achieving a just peace and a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. I would, though, like to call your attention to a couple of things.

On February 25, the Ontario Legislature unanimously passed a resolution condemning IAW, which was introduced

by Peter Shurman, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Thornhill, the Torontoarea riding with Ontario’s largest Jewish population.

In the debate, Liberal and NDP MPPs rose to support the resolution, which stated that, “in the opinion of this House, the term ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ is condemned as it serves to incite hatred against Israel, a democratic state that respects the rule of law and human rights, and the use of the word ‘apartheid’ in this

context diminishes the suffering of those who were victims of a true apartheid regime in South Africa.”

Although the resolution was introduced by the MPP of a riding with a huge Jewish population, there is only a small handful of ridings in the province with substantial Jewish populations. So, with MPPs from all of the parties coming together in a rare showing of unanimity, it means a lot.

Let’s be clear.

The resolution is not, as some IAW supporters have claimed, an attempt to stifle either free speech or debate about Israel and the Palestinians. It simply recognizes and condemns the use of terminology meant solely to demonize Israel, to incite hatred against the country and to intimidate Israel’s supporters.

Ontario’s MPPs – from across the political spectrum and from all parties in the legislature – are to be congratulated for their leadership on this issue and for taking an unequivocal stand in support of democracy and human rights and against the incitement to hatred that is IAW. Also on February 25, Leonard Stern, the editorial pages editor of the Ottawa Citizen, published an excellent column he wrote about IAW. If you missed it in the paper, it’s available on the Citizen web-

site at tinyurl.com/sternoniaw. It is well worth reading and sharing.

My office is on the Jewish Community Campus and many of my daily interactions are with other Jewish community professionals, lay leaders and, of course, Bulletin readers.

I also pay close attention to the mainstream, alternative and specialized media and their coverage of issues of concern to our community.

IAW has been a major topic of concern for many people I’ve talked with over the past few weeks. But, a couple of conversations with (non-Jewish) Ottawa community leaders about IAW that I’ve been part of the past couple of days are making me wonder if the general population is paying any attention to IAW. The conversations I’m talking about were with well-established, well-informed people who are highly active in public affairs in Ottawa and both were almost completely unaware of IAW. Maybe, IAW is just about people on a certain fringe talking to other like-minded folks on the same fringe.

Maybe, IAW is justly falling on the deaf ears it deserves.

People who truly care about peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians recognize IAW for what it is.

In politics, as in the Olympics, there are no do-overs My family and I spent much time last month sitting on the couch together, watching hours of televised sports we’d normally never care about for even a minute.

More to the point: We spent hours becoming emotionally invested in the successes and failures of Canadian athletes we’d never heard of before, whose sports we’d normally never care about for even a minute.

Ice dancers.

Freestyle moguls skiers.

Skeletoners.

To name a few.

Maybe your family did the same as mine.

The Winter Olympics were a terrific diversion, weren’t they?

Whether Canadians were owning the podium or bemoaning the odium, the fact that the Games were here on home ice made them even more captivating.

Never mind that this particular home ice was in Vancouver – 4,500 kilometres from Ottawa – a lot farther than, say, Lake Placid or even Salt Lake City, the ice was very homey.

Now, if your family really is anything like mine, no doubt you turned to each other between the medal events and the fast food commercials, and one of you thoughtfully said: “Thank goodness the prime minister prorogued Parliament! If not, we wouldn’t have been able to sit here together for hours becoming emotionally invested in the suc-

Alan Echenberg cesses and failures of these athletes.

“Instead, all our emotions would have been invested in Question Period and in the successes and failures of our members of Parliament. There simply wouldn’t have been any emotions left for curling, bobsleigh and ski jumping.

“Sure glad THAT didn’t happen!”

OK, I’m paraphrasing. But your family surely turned to each other and said something like that.

Didn’t you?

Surely you cheered on our short-track speed skaters with gusto as they zipped around the track. Could you possibly have done so with the same amount of gusto if you also had to cheer on your favourite private member’s bill as it worked its way through the parliamentary process?

There’s only so much gusto to go around, right?

Well, look. What can I tell you? We all remember that Prime Minister Stephen Harper prorogued Parliament at the end of

December. Before he did so, MPs were scheduled to come back to work on January 25. Instead, they’ve only come back in recent days.

Critics said the government was subverting democracy in an attempt to avoid facing uncomfortable issues such as Afghanistan detainee abuse allegations and its record on climate change.

The prime minister said his government simply needed time to “recalibrate” its agenda. He and his supporters also responded to early criticism by playing that Olympic card.

Canadians, they said, did not want to be distracted from the festivities in Vancouver.

The government seemed quite certain that the absence of Parliament wouldn’t bother us too much, as long as we had snowboarders and hockey players to cheer on.

But it didn’t take long for evidence of a backlash to emerge. Last autumn, public opinion polls showed the Conservatives flirting with majority territory. Within a few weeks of Parliament’s shutdown, the governing party was back in a neck-and-neck race with the opposition Liberals.

When an earthquake levelled Haiti, our government responded quickly and usefully.

But it had no effect on the prorogation-impacted polls.

Anti-prorogation protests that attracted hundreds of thousands of Canadians online translated into substantial live protests in

communities across the country.

In response, the prime minister seemed to lose some of his bravado. In the face of widespread protests and plunging polls, he announced that, after Parliament returned in March, it would sit without a single break until summer. This was a tacit admission of prorogation’s political damage.

Then came the Winter Olympics.

As we sat around our TV sets for those two weeks of non-stop winter sports, cabinet ministers released non-stop announcements touting their consultations with Canadians about the economic way forward. The prime minister’s spokespeople previewed the federal budget, stressing that the government was entirely focused on jobs, jobs, jobs.

The rest of us, of course, were focused on ice dancing. (Is that even a sport? Who cares? Canada won gold!)

But, now, the flame is extinguished, the snow is melting, the international athletes have returned home.

And the minority government is back in Parliament, sitting without a break for weeks on end, managing a still-shaky and politically volatile economic situation.

If Prime Minister Harper could turn back time, would he prorogue again? It’s a moot point. In politics, as in Olympic Skeleton, there are no do-overs.

Alan Echenberg is TVOntario’s Parliamentary bureau chief.

Page 8 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Volunteers and staff honoured, February 23, at Soloway JCC AGM

By Pamela Rosenberg Soloway JCC Exceptional community volunteers and dedicated staff members were honoured, February 23, at the annual general meeting of the Soloway Jewish Community Centre (JCC).

The Grossman-Klein Teen Leadership Award recognizing outstanding dedication and service to the Jewish community and the community-at-large was given to Ilana Hadad and Adam Moscoe.

Ilana is a first-year student at Carleton University where she is involved with Jewish programming on campus. She has served as president of the Sir Robert Borden High School Jewish Culture Club, attended Torah High and has been a leader with NCSY. Throughout her high school years, Ilana was on the board of BBYO and served as president of the girls’ chapter, Yad B’Yad. Adam Moscoe graduated as valedictorian of Nepean High School and is now attending the University of Ottawa. During high school, he founded the Jewish Culture Club and was an organizer of the 2008 Kindness Week, initiated by Rabbi Reuven Bulka.

Adam is active on the Israel Awareness Committee as an advocate for the State of Israel on campus and is gearing up to star in Tamir’s production of Joseph and the

Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to be presented at Centrepointe Theatre on May 13.

The Ben Karp Volunteer service Award, established in honour of volunteer extraordinaire Ben Karp to recognize continued outstanding volunteer service on behalf of the Soloway JCC, went to Penny Torontow.

Penny has dedicated her time to the community-wide Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration for many years and has served as its chair for the past three years.

After Soloway JCC President and Chief Operating Officer Barry Sohn made his remarks, Soloway JCC staff members Ronit Amir (customer service manager), Gale Kardish (Ganon teacher) and Bernadine Eckensviller (payroll, accounting) all received awards recognizing five years of service.

Jan Simmons was recognized for a decade of dedication as a teaching assistant at the Ganon Preschool.

Sandy Deyo and Svetlana Becker received awards for 15 years, and Marie Stovicek for 20 years, of service at Early Beginnings Multicultural Child Development Centre.

Outgoing board members Marvin Blauer, Ellen Cherney, Steven Levinson, Jeff Pleet, George Seaden, Daniel Wolfish and Andrew Fainer were also recognized for their service to the Soloway JCC.

Tamir seeks props and volunteers for its production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

By Melanie Fulop Tamir Tamir is only a few props short of having everything we need for our May 13 performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Centrepointe Theatre celebrating our 25th anniver-

sary of providing community living and services in a Jewish environment to adults with developmental disabilities.

Maybe you have what it will take hidden in a spare room or a back closet somewhere to make this show a grand success?

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Costume mistress Patsy Royer is on the lookout for a long mirror for the costume room; a couple of good bright lights – either desk or floor lamp; a sewing machine or two – preferably a serger; 11 pairs of dark sunglasses; 11 men’s fedora type hats – narrow brim, preferably dark colour; two large ostrich feather fans.

Interested volunteers are also welcome to come and sew with Patsy. Please call her directly at 613-233-3099 if you have something to donate or if you wish to set up a sewing meeting.

Visit tamir.ca for more information on how you can join in on the celebration.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 9

B’nai Brith releases annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents in Canada

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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND More than trees 613.798.2411

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JNF Negev Dinner honouring Sara Vered is sold out!

The response of the Ottawa community to the Negev Dinner honouring Sara Vered on March 22 has been overwhelming. There are no more tickets left – the Dinner is sold out!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased tickets and to our many corporate sponsors who have filled the room at the Fairmont Château Laurier to capacity. Ottawa JNF extends a special thanks and Yasher Koach to our Campaign Cabinet of Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, Dr. Norman Barwin, Norman Zagerman, Arnie Vered, Mark Mendelson and Susan Schwartzman for the event’s spectacular success. Steve Victor’s assistance was also greatly appreciated.

For those who wish to take part in this special evening but cannot personally attend, the souvenir booklet is still available for Sara’s many friends and admirers to bring greetings and congratulations, and to make a donation to Sara’s very special JNF/KKL projects in Israel. The primary project chosen by Sara, the Sara and Zeev Vered Pioneer Grounds of Ben-Gurion’s Cabin, brings new life and interest to the site of the famed Ben-Gurion’s Cabin, located off the main Beer Sheva-Mizpe Ramon highway near Kibbutz Sede Boqer in the Negev Desert. A small portion of the funds will also be directed to the Ran Kochva Lookout in the Galilee. If you would like to place an advertisement or personal greeting in the booklet, please call our office at 613-798-2411 as soon as possible because the time is growing short.

Our keynote speaker at the Negev Dinner honouring Sara Vered will be the Honourable Stockwell Day P.C., M.P., President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Mr. Day is an exceptional Canadian politician and a great friend of Israel and the Jewish community.

We eagerly look forward to the gala evening on Monday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m. as we pay tribute to an outstanding community leader, Sara Vered, and for what will surely be a memorable evening with an excellent guest speaker.

Our follow-up to this year’s very successful Tu Bi’Shevat Telethon continues. If you were not home when we called on Sunday, January 31, you can still call our office at the above number to make a donation. If you receive a follow-up phone call or letter, please respond generously. And we always have tree cards that can be purchased for any special occasion.

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).

TORONTO (JTA) – Anti-Semitic incidents in Canada rose to record levels, according to B’nai Brith Canada’s annual audit.

The yearly survey released February 24 showed an 11.4 per cent increase in incidents in 2009 over the previous year to reach the highest number ever reported in the audit’s 28-year history.

There were 1,264 anti-Jewish incidents last year, which encompassed acts of harassment, vandalism and violence. That compares to 1,135 incidents in 2008, and represents a five-fold increase over the last decade, B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights said.

The highest number of incidents for the year, 209, occurred in January, coinciding with Israel’s war in Gaza, noted Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B’nai Brith Canada.

Last year saw 884 cases of harassment, 348 of vandalism and 32 acts of violence in Canada, according to the audit.

The majority of incidents, 672, occurred in Ontario. That represents a slight drop from 2008 of 1.5 per cent. The Ontario

total included 479 incidents in the Greater Toronto Area; 71 incidents in the Ottawa area; and 122 in the rest of the province.

Among the Ottawa incidents was the desecration of the walls and a number of headstones at the Jewish Memorial Gardens in Osgoode in October.

There were 373 incidents in Quebec, a 52.5 per cent rise over the 2008 data. Of these, 319 incidents took place in Montreal, representing an increase of 58.7 per cent over the year before.

Nationally, there were 111 incidents targeting Jews in their own homes, compared to 105 in 2008, and 137 incidents on university campuses, well above the 76 reported in 2008.

Another spike in incidents occurred just before Yom Kippur, when 10 synagogues were vandalized across the country, including four in Quebec on one night.

Dimant cited an Islamic community newspaper which accused Jews and Israelis of mass organ trafficking.

(With files from the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin)

Report sees ‘alternative’ futures for the Jewish people NEW YORK (JTA) – An Israeli think tank in a major new report foresees four “alternative futures” for the

Jewish people.

By 2030, the state of the Jewish people will either be thriving, defending, drifting

Israeli film wins prize at recent Berlin festival BERLIN (JTA) – An Israeli short film won second prize at a Berlin festival last month.

Hayerida (The Descent),

by Shai Miedzinski of Tel Aviv, took the Silver Bear Award at the Berlinale International Film Festival.

Shot in the Negev desert, it shows a family in search of the perfect stone for the grave of their son. The film is permeated with the sounds of clinking stones, wind and sand.

Miedzinski, who was born in 1979, told the audience at a festival screening that he had lost his father 10 years ago and wanted to make a film about coping with the death of a loved one.

He ended up casting his own sister, his mother and her new boyfriend in the film.

“It’s hard to depict grief, a transition for a family,” the jury noted, “but the director listens to the wind blow and frames the emotion.”

or nightmare, according to the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, which focuses on Jewish peoplehood and Israel.

2030: Alternative Futures for the Jewish People was presented last month by the Jerusalem think tank to a visiting delegation of American Jewish leaders and released to the media.

Along with envisioning the “alternative futures,” the report presents recommendations to effect more positive outcomes.

It said that the Jewish peo-

ple have never been as strong as they are today in terms of military power and the global standing of Israel, and the “soft power” embedded in the political and economic powers of the Jewish community in the United States.

Among the report’s recommendations are strengthening Jewish identity; promoting a comprehensive peace in the Middle East; initiating Tikkun Olam (or social justice) enterprises; improving Israel’s standing globally; and establishing a Jewish leadership academy.

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Page 10 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

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By Carl Raskin Temple Israel members Jane and Martin Gordon and Lorna and Carl Raskin visited the Israeli town of Sderot, near the border with Gaza, February 18, and delivered quilts made by Temple Israel members to the Open House day-care centre.

While the Gordons live in Israel part of the year, it was the first visit to Israel for Lorna and me.

Jane and Martin are active with One Family Fund, in Israel and in Canada, an organization dedicated to strengthening victims of terror and their families, and to preventing the effects of terrorism from wreaking even more havoc during the months and years following the attack. The Gordons brought us to Sderot to see first-hand the impact on the residents of the incessant Kassam rocket from Gaza.

The first things we noticed on entering Sderot

Quilts made by Temple Israel members were delivered to the Open House day-care centre in Sderot. (Left to right): Open House director Miriam, Martin Gordon, Jane Gordon and Lorna Raskin.

(Photo: Carl Raskin)

were the thick concrete shelters throughout the town. The Gordons explained that they are used by the town’s residents for protection, whenever they hear the siren that indicates a Kassam rocket has been launched from Gaza. When the siren sounds, residents have about 15 seconds to find shelter.

Our first stop was the Sderot police station, where a permanent exhibit of spent Kassam rocket shells is maintained. While it is well known that more than 7,000 Kassam rockets were fired

on Sderot from Gaza between the late-1990s and the launch of Operation Cast Lead in December 2008, it is a little publicized fact that, while the attacks have been fewer in number since the Israeli Defense Forces withdrew from Gaza following the campaign, more than 270 rockets have been fired at Sderot since then. Attacks have occurred as recently as the week before our visit.

At the police station, we were introduced to Pini Rabinovitch, a case worker who works with One Family

Fund. Pini introduced us to Lior, a former taxi driver in Sderot. On the way to pick up a fare, Lior had the radio on and the windows closed in his cab and did not immediately hear the siren.

As Lior got out of his cab, a missile landed beside him and he was hit by shrapnel that destroyed an eye and part of his face.

Since he is now blind in one eye, Lior has lost his commercial driver’s licence and can no longer work as a taxi driver to support his wife and three young children.

(Continued on page 11)

What’s happening at

Congregation Beth Shalom Wednesday, March 17 Meet Jim Watson (joint program at Agudath Israel)

Tuesday, March 30

Community Passover Seder

Thursday, April 1

Kosher for Passover Lunch Buffet

Friday, April 2

Kosher for Passover Lunch Buffet

Sunday, April 4

Passover Chinese Food Buffet Dinner

Watch for more upcoming events

Everyone is Welcome!

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

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 11

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A playground bomb shelter in Sderot.

(Photo: Carl Raskin)

Sderot playground structures serve as bomb shelters (Continued from page 10)

As well, because of the incessant missile attacks, the economy of Sderot is in shambles, with a very high unemployment rate, so Lior is having difficulty supporting his family on the government assistance he receives. He simply cannot compete with able-bodied workers for what little employment there is. And he cannot afford to leave Sderot because no one would buy his apartment.

The highlight of our visit to Sderot was the visit to the Open House day-care facility where, on Pini’s advice, we delivered the quilts made by Temple Israel members.

We were met by Miriam, a dynamic survivor of a rocket attack, who runs Open House. Miriam was injured by a rocket and spent considerable time in a wheel chair. When she was able to walk again, she vowed to spend the rest of her life assisting others.

Open House has been completely refurbished with the assistance of WIZO. The original building was unusable because of the lack of adequate shelter from rocket attacks. We

were shown the new bomb shelters where the children at the day-care centre take refuge and learned that children as young as just a year old know the meaning of the warning siren. Try to imagine what it would be like for your children or grandchildren to have to be cared for and educated in what is essentially a bomb shelter.

During our stay in Sderot, we were also taken to a playground used by area children. It is a most unusual playground with play structures specially built to also serve as bomb shelters.

When warning sirens sound, the children head into one of the structures. Can you imagine your children or grandchildren in Ottawa being taught how to protect themselves from bombs while

playing in a playground?

The lives of the people of Sderot are forever affected by the bombings they must endure. Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli incursion into Gaza, has only slowed down the attacks.

We saw first-hand what these attacks do to the lives and the community of Sderot. While Sderot is the town that has endured the most attacks, it is only one of the Israeli communities hit by missiles over the years.

While fewer people are now being killed and injured by terrorist attacks, the needs of the victims continue. One Family Fund is committed to helping them over the long term.

Visit onefamilyfund.org to learn more about its mission or to make a donation.

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Page 12 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

ah b u et n k o rs ed t Pe n i al g pa e S nd a al H c Ba n le t El tis r lA a u 92 Vis 5 6 92 7 361 d

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Purim at Merivale High School The Jewish Culture Club at Merivale High School prepared for Purim by consuming mass quantities of Hamentashen and creating Hebrew charm bracelets. Members of the club are seen here with NCSY staffers Gavriel Scarowsky and Bram Bregman.

(Photo: Irv Osterer)

Hillel grad joins IDF Noah Guttman, a graduate of Hillel Academy, seen here with his mother, Donna Guttman, was recently sworn in as a member of the Israel Defense Forces.

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NCSY learning weekend in Toronto NCSY held a Yarchei Kallah learning weekend in Toronto, February 12-15, with 24 Ottawa Jewish public high school students. The highest number of Ottawa students previously attending this intense weekend was seven. “I think this really speaks to the quality of our programming and teens becoming more willing and interested in learning about their precious Jewish heritage,� said Bram Bregman, executive director of NCSY Ottawa, seen here with the group.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 13

Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs coming soon to YRHS

By Cynthia Bates Principal – YRHS It seems like only yesterday that a dozen or so Yitzhak Rabin High School (YRHS) students eagerly auditioned for one of the seven ensemble roles in the first chapter of Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical trilogy of plays, Brighton Beach Memoirs.

That was back in September. Following many rehearsals – with more to come – we are down to the last two weeks before the production opens.

The play, set in 1937, takes place in the Brighton Beach neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, and is described as a coming-ofage comedy centring on Eugene Morris Jerome, a Russian-Jewish teenage boy going through puberty and sexual awakening.

Eugene’s search to find his place within his immediate and extended family brings moments of great hilarity and touching poignancy.

The other characters are his parents, Kate and Jack, older brother Stanley, Kate’s sister, Blanche, and her two daughters, Nora and Laurie.

Brighton Beach Memoirs is co-directed and co-produced by me and Barry Karp, the classroom teacher for the drama course for which each student in the cast and production crew will receive a credit.

March Break: March 15-19 Summer Camp: July 5 – August 27 Dedicated to assisting children with developmental disabilities reach their full potential through integration into mainstream community camps and meaningful in-house programming.

Keshet Offers: • • • • Kate (Michaela Sadinsky) shouts out the window at her son, Eugene (Itzy Kamil) as he works on his memoirs.

Cast members include Itzy Kamil as Eugene; Michaela Sadinsky as Kate, Zachary Kershman as Jack, Raphael Sandler as Stanley, Stephanie Hagerman as Blanche and Hillel Academy Grade 8 students Mirren Lithwick and Cassandra Starostra as sisters Nora and Laurie.

The production crew includes Elishua BenChoreen, Hannah Kraitberg, Sheera Kraitberg and Eliana Rose.

Advertising opportunities or well wishes sponsorships in the play program are available by contacting the YRHS office at 613727-0420. As well, the production team is seeking authentic-looking items and furnishings that would have

been found in a 1930s home. Please contact the office for a list.

Performances take place from Monday, March 22 to Thursday, March 25, 7:00 pm nightly, in the Yitzhak Rabin/Hillel Academy Gymtorium, 31 Nadolny Sachs Private.

Tickets for the Monday premiere performance are intended for an audience of young adults only (ages 13 to 30) and are priced at $10.

The Tuesday to Thursday performances are open to the general public at $15 (adults) and $12 (seniors and students 18 and under).

Tickets are now available.

This play contains mature content and is not recommended for children under 13.

Flexibility to support children (aged 7-16) in the camp of their choice Tamir staff “shadows” to work alongside each child during camp sessions A full schedule of in-house Tamir recreation and Judaic programming is also available for children interested in that experience Collaboration with and ongoing support to families

For more information: To enrol or obtain more information about the program, contact Lisa Giffin at Tamir at 613-725-3519, etc. #104.

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Page 14 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Dr. Hyman and Sylvia Van Straten Kaufman Fund In Honour of: Dr. Hyman Kaufman Wishing you a very happy special birthday by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge

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 February 4 and 17, 2010 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.

Ruth and Irving Aaron Family Fund In Memory of: Leon Leckie by Ruth and Irving Aaron In Honour of: Ruth and Dale Fyman Mazal tov on the birth of your granddaughter Adina Schwartzberg by Ruth and Irving Aaron Auxiliary of Hillel Lodge Fund In Memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Carolyn and Sid Katz

Elsie Baker Endowment Fund In Memory of: Irv Singer by Polly and Jack Moran Lori, beloved daughter of Ruth Smart by Polly and Jack Moran Max Smolkin by Polly and Jack Moran Friedberg and Dale Families Fund In Memory of: Max Smolkin by Elaine Friedberg and Bob Dale In Commemoration of the Yahrzeit of: Samuel Dale beloved father by Bob Dale In Honour of: Elaine and Marten Brodsky Mazal tov on the birth of your grandson, a son to Sara and Noah by Elaine Friedberg and Bob Dale Debbie and David Fischman and family Mazal tov on Gillit’s engagement to Yair Manas by Elaine Friedberg and Bob Dale Thea and Martin Ginsburg Memorial Fund In Memory of: Gilbert Levine by Merle Ginsburg Nell Gluck Memorial Fund In Memory of: Mina Dover-Cohen by Manny Gluck and Cheryle Hothersall Pearl Moskovic by Maureen and Henry Molot Irv Singer by Manny Gluck and Cheryle Hothersall Gina and Howard Grant Family Fund In Memory of: Leon Leckie by Gina and Howard Grant, Amanda and Oliver, and Leo

Bill and Phyllis Leith Family Endowment Fund In Honour of: David Finestone Best wishes for a very happy special birthday by Roz and Arnie Kimmel Linda Mirsky Best wishes for a very happy special birthday by Roz and Arnie Kimmel Ida and Sidney Lithwick Fund A generous donation to this fund has been made by Marilyn Lithwick Kohn Sam and Dora Litwack Family Fund In Honour of: Dora Litwack Congratulations on being honoured by the Auxiliary of Hillel Lodge, a well deserved tribute for a wonderful lady by Melissa and Neil Bain Stephen and Debra Schneiderman Family Fund In Honour of: Dr. Hyman Kaufman Mazal tov and best wishes on your special birthday by Debra and Stephen Schneiderman Harold and Lillian Shoihet Memorial Fund In Memory of: Pearl Moskovic by David Shoihet and family Ralph and Anne Sternberg Memorial Fund In Honour of: Anna-Lee Chiprout Mazal tov on your (censored deleted) birthday and on your recent honour, the “Scroll of Jerusalem Award” warmest wishes

by Laya and Ted Jacobsen Cherryl Dancey Warmest wishes with love by Aunt Laya and Uncle Ted Jacobsen R’fuah Shlema: Chuck Rotenberg by Laya and Ted Jacobsen

Sarah and Arnie Swedler Family Fund In Memory of: Leon Leckie by Arnie Swedler Feeding Program In Honour of: Anna and Michael Morgovsky Mazal tov to Bubi Anna and Zaidi Michael on the birth of your first grandchild, Maya, and may you have lots of nachas by Sonja and Ron Kesten, and Edith Sporn ********************* IN MEMORY OF: Leon Leckie by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge Morris Levine by Lois and Jonathan Calof and family Pearl Moskovic by Bonnie and Bruce Engel; and Zahava and Barry Farber and family Irving Singer by Bev and Bryan Glube; and Sylvia and Michael Caplan Max Smolkin by Ingrid Levitz; and Ann and Stan Goldberg Stanislaw Zybala by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge IN HONOUR OF: William Francis Wishing you a very happy birthday by Sybil and Sol Goldmaker Lou Goldmaker Wishing you a very happy birthday by Sybil and Sol Goldmaker Stan Katz Mazal tov on your birthday by Arlene and Norm Glube Anna Rosner To my dearly loved sister on the occasion of her birthday by Bela Gelbman John Said Wishing you a very happy birthday

by Sybil and Sol Goldmaker Leah and Issie Scarowsky Mazal tov and best wishes on the marriage of your daughter by the Residents, Board and Staff of Hillel Lodge R’FUAH SHLEMA: Betty Finkelman by Shirley and Akiva Kriger Rickie Saslove by Lily Feig IN OBSERVANCE OF THE YAHRZEIT OF: Moshe Feig by Zahava and Barry Farber and family

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.

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Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 15

The values imparted through holiday celebrations I’d like to talk turkey about Vashti, the first wife of King Achashverosh and the female figure in 10 early verses of the Book of Esther.

It seems to me that Vashti is being maligned unfairly.

While sophisticated interpretations of the Purim story show the role of Vashti to be quite nuanced, I am concerned about what our kids are learning at Hebrew school. While Purim has now passed, it’s still wise to think about what values we are imparting through holiday celebrations and the study of their texts, especially as we prepare for Passover, a holiday with its own tricky parts.

Recall that, after refusing to appear before her husband’s friends, Vashti is banished by King Achashverosh, making way for Queen Esther. (Some interpretations imply that the mention of Vashti being required to wear a crown means she should appear wearing nothing but a crown.)

Time travel with me back to 1982 and I bet I would have said that Vashti was an angry brunette, while Esther was the wholesome blonde you’d want as your camp counsellor.

Archie comics were one of my main literary staples at the time and I probably would have compared Vashti and Esther to Veronica and Betty.

My daughter came home from Hebrew school the other week pumped for Purim. She showed me the adorable hamantaschen-shaped gragger she had made. Then she handed me her colouring book.

“This is Esther, the beautiful queen. And this is Vashti, the ugly queen,” she said.

My husband and I peered at the picture.

“Vashti looks like either an early ad for Clearasil, or a community-service warning for smallpox,” he muttered.

The colouring sheets had been downloaded from the web, and featured the name of a Jewish movement along the bottom.

Values, Ethics, Community Mira Sucharov While I haven’t conducted a comprehensive study, I assume this is a mainstream narrative being taught to many Jewish kids.

Puzzled, I turned to an old friend, a recently minted rabbi in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Esther Lederman, who is originally from Ottawa, calls Vashti a “feminist icon for our time.” By “ignoring Achashverosh’s request,” she adds, “Vashti shakes the foundations of patriarchy.”

Rabbi Lederman then told me of a recent tradition in some shuls where congregants wave a special flag when Vashti’s name is mentioned during the reading of the Megillah.

I asked my Babba Marian, who began her Judaic studies in 1920s Winnipeg (long before the appearance of downloadable colouring books), what she thinks Vashti looked like.

“I have no idea!” she exclaimed.

I then asked what she thinks of her.

“She was a wife ill done by.” Simply put.

If Vashti’s primary role is to guard her physical privacy and avoid being used as a tool for male entertainment, why is mainstream Jewish education focusing on dubious interpretations that give Vashti a skin condition (some midrashim even mention a tail!) rather than focusing on the values of individuality and sexual self-respect?

When thinking about Vashti, my old friend Evan Tapper is

Key to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in understanding the competing narratives The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories

By Neil Caplan Wiley-Blackwell 317 pages So much of the everyday debate surrounding the IsraeliPalestinian conflict is characterized by the harrumph moment: that point in the conversation where the speaker marshals the evidence to conclude that one side is to blame for the suffering of the other.

Those harrumph moments are when I wish I had Neil Caplan, or at least his book, The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories, in my back pocket.

Caplan’s refreshing new history of the conflict takes this assumption as his starting point as he focuses on the narratives of each side to structure the story. What is the meaning of 1948 for Israelis and Palestinians, respectively? Why does one side refer to it as independence whereas the other side calls it al naqba (the catastrophe)? And what can we learn about the prospects for peace from these divergent narratives?

Caplan goes farther than this. He takes those thorny questions that I try to dissuade my students from asking in the first place and lays them bare. Rather than ignore them, he peppers his book with a series of what he calls “core arguments.”

These questions, he notes, serve to structure the conflict for the actors, but also end up hardening positions and making understanding – and solving – the conflict difficult.

He cites such questions as: “Who was there [on the land] first?”

“Was Zionism ‘a Jewish variant of national revivals and struggles for liberation’ or, was [it] part of an aggressive colo-

nialist expansion into the Middle East?”

“What are the true intentions of the Palestinians and the PLO: To eliminate the Jewish state of Israel and replace it with an Arab state of Palestine or to … coexist alongside [Israel]?”

The answers to these questions, he argues, depend on the perspective of the given actor. On the nature of Zionism, for instance, Caplan reminds us that to Jews it was experienced as a national liberation movement, whereas to Palestinians its effects were experienced as colonialism.

The importance of this distinction, of course, is in forging a path to the future. By acknowledging each other’s narratives, even if a joint narrative is not agreed upon, solutions that speak to the interests and identities of both can be pursued.

Caplan takes the reader through a painstakingly concise version of events from the rise of Zionism to the present.

While he makes extensive use of endnotes, these are more often suggestions for further reading than an elaboration of facts and figures. Readers looking for more historical and military-strategic detail will want to supplement his book with more extensive treatments.

But his opening and concluding chapters are a welcome addition to the polemical nature of much of the discourse on the conflict. Caplan concludes by stressing the profound sense of insecurity experienced by both sides, as well as their sense of “righteous victimhood” (borrowing from Israeli historian Benny Morris). While the parties may acknowledge the existence of the other’s narrative, “each side seems to be saying: The other side’s narrative is totally propaganda. There is nothing to discuss.”

He also takes aim at the kind of everyday advocacy we see on both sides of the conflict. He points to the “myths-facts”

never far from my mind. Evan and I attended Jewish day school and Hebrew summer camp together in Winnipeg. Always a prodigious talent, Evan went on to become a working artist. It seems that the Vashti myth he inherited from our Jewish education did not sit well with him either. A few years ago, he created an installation art piece containing streaming audio of various women discussing their reaction to Vashti. (He read them the Purim story first.) The Royal Ontario Museum thought it was pretty arresting too, and it ran Tapper’s installation for six weeks during the summer of 2006.

Part of me would almost accept a continuation of a problematic, middle-of-the-road, Vashti narrative, if only to inspire budding artists like Tapper to subvert and challenge it years later, making it into art that makes people think. But those voices, as we know, are few.

My daughter’s Hebrew school teachers are caring and open, and I know they will be receptive to discussing my Vashti concerns. But this is farther-reaching than just one classroom in one city. Without whitewashing the nastier bits from the Bible and from our collective history (that approach has problems of its own), I think we need to think long and hard about what we want our kids to take away from Jewish education.

I have never claimed that Jewish education is mainly about values. For me, it’s more about the many themes I raised in my February 8 column about why Jewish literacy should matter – such as marking time, enhancing home ritual, creating communal identity, and giving kids the tools to be part of the Jewish conversation.

But, when values-based topics do come up, I want to make sure they’re ones that help our kids transcend the many troubling messages out there in our media-dominated world, including base notions about gender, physical beauty and sexuality.

Book Review Mira Sucharov type of discourse – where different interpretations are presented in zero-sum terms – as being especially harmful to intellectual understanding and conflict resolution. He also cautions against an undue emphasis on seeking “justice,” as well as on dwelling on “missed opportunities.” While counterfactual reasoning – puzzling out the what-would-have-happenedif-only scenarios – can be useful, he argues, too often these kinds of questions serve to do nothing more than attempt to place blame.

Without being overly explicit about it, Caplan states that it is the two-state solution – rather than the binational, one-state, solution – which “offers a glimmer of hope,” given the legacy of near-hits at the negotiating table.

As a fellow observer, I would add that the two-state solution is the only one that fulfils the basic national desires of both people, imperfect though it is; particularly in light of settler identity entrenchment in the West Bank, and the raw historical memory surrounding Palestinian dispossession.

Caplan’s book is not entirely optimistic. But it does identify major stumbling blocks ensnaring the potential for peace and eloquently outlines the various intellectual and moral identities of various scholarly approaches. Most valuable is its reconsideration of how history is understood and expressed by scholars, activists, and the victims and perpetrators of this tired and bloody conflict.

Neil Caplan will be speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Sunday, March 14, 10:00 am (breakfast at 9:30) at Temple Israel. Call 613-224-1802 for information.

Page 16 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Did you know about the Sens’ 10-year-old teammate?

Congratulations to 10-year-old hockey player Noah Malek. He had the thrill of a lifetime when he beat out more than 60 other players to earn a spot in the minor hockey skills competition that was part of the annual Sens Skills fundraising event at Scotiabank Place.

The Grade 5 Hillel Academy student was introduced to the 15,000 fans in the arena and stood on the blue line alongside the Senators to sing the national anthem.

And, as if being cheered on by the Sens during the minors’ skills competition was not exciting enough, Noah also joined the Senators on Team Black in some of the contests against Team Red. He sat on the bench with his NHL teammates watching the event and came home with a new Ottawa Senators jersey autographed by the team.

When folksinger Kate McGarrigle died in January, the media was overflowing with tributes to the singer-songwriter who, along with her sister Anna, influenced numerous artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Maria Muldaur. One of those tributes, which appeared in the Montreal Gazette (tinyurl.com/katemc), was written by Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Editor Michael Regenstreif. It turns out that, back in the 1970s, Mike, as he is known in music circles, produced Kate and Anna McGarrigle’s tours. I bet he’s got some great stories to tell. Stay tuned!

Life really came full circle when a group of Hillel Academy kindergarten students led an Oneg Shabbat for the residents of Hillel Lodge. Seated in the audience was Eileen Goldberg. Eileen, her late husband Ben, and 12 other sets of parents, founded Hillel Academy more than 60 years ago.

Did you know?

Benita Baker

Noah Malek got to skate in front of 15,000 fans, February 7, at the Sens Skills competition at Scotiabank Place.

(Photo: Michael Malek)

The first class at Ottawa’s first Jewish day school was held on September 1, 1949, with 13 students: Carol Saslove, Carol Wexler Segal, the late David Zbar, Gail Steinman Victor, Franklin Goldstein, Harvey Swedlove, the late Howard Goldberg, Lenny Koffman, Mitzi Arbuck Dickstein, Ronnie Cantor, the late Sheila Lithwick Cohen, Stan

Ages and Suzanne Berliner Tepper.

The action wasn’t only on the ice when the Sens played the Chicago Blackhawks. Blowing off steam at Barrymore’s after the game, Blackhawks players Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Thomas Kopecky shared some drinks and some laughs with Jason Bailey, Lee Bailey, Jonathan Katz, Erin Victor, Jason Victor, Lauren Resnick and Rachael Cogan.

Dr. Jeff Farber, director of Health Canada’s Bureau of Microbial Hazards, was awarded the Government of Canada’s Outstanding Achievement Award. Considered the most prestigious honour in the public service, only 86 awards have been conferred since the program’s inception in 1966. His work has advanced basic and applied knowledge of food-borne pathogens and has had a direct impact on Canada’s success in dealing with issues such as food-borne listeriosis and the microbial safety of powdered infant formula.

Indefatigable Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa’s medical officer of health, was named Physician of the Year by the Academy of Medicine Ottawa. The award was given in “recognition of his demonstrated excellence as a clinician, advocate and for his outstanding service to the community.”

If you know something that we all should know, tell me … so I can tell the community. My e-mail address is didyouknowottawa@gmail.com.

University activism: A new front for extremists On February 12, Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, tried to deliver a speech to University of California-Irvine students. He was repeatedly shouted down, at well-timed intervals, by a group of Arab Muslim students. This well-organized response by some Muslim students at the university to an invitation to dialogue with the ambassador made dialogue impossible. Instead, these students chose to snuff out Oren’s right to free speech, as well as the rest of the audience’s right to listen and engage in dialogue.

Eleven students were arrested. The Muslim Public Affairs Council was quick to defend their right to free speech.

Although most of these students and their families have escaped brutal regimes in the Middle East and sought freedom in the U.S., they have managed successfully to practise what their parents escaped from. Such organized groups of students are moving universities away from being places of learning and ideas and are using them to build intolerance towards Israel and Jewish students. One wonders what will be next.

As organizations that are supposed to promote intellectual freedom, the role our universities play in facilitating one-sided rhetoric is unsettling.

We’ve just been through the sixth Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), an annual celebration of misinformation at many major university campuses in western democracies – including Carleton and uOttawa.

The University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education was a major player in hosting the event when IAW was in its infancy. This is the institution that is responsible for educating future teachers in this province.

And let’s not forget the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 3903, which represents York University’s faculty and teaching assistants, who also provided support for IAW. This local was among several that brought the

World Affairs Oliver Javanpour

anti-Israeli resolution to CUPE Ontario last year.

It seems that the Islamic fundamentalist movement has found university campuses to be fertile grounds for recruitment, and not just in the student body.

While the Muslim student activists enjoy the freedom to organize anti-Israel conferences on their campuses, their track record in accepting opposing views and speakers on their campuses has been abysmal. Events such as IAW might be well organized and funded, but they show their organizers to be one-sided, limited in their thinking and hostile to alternative views.

In September 2002, Benjamin Netanyahu, then a former Israeli prime minister, cancelled a speech at Concordia University in Montreal when demonstrators, intent on stopping him from expressing his views, turned violent.

Security was Concordia’s paramount concern in a controversy over a 2004 proposal to invite Ehud Barak, another former Israeli prime minister, to speak on campus. It is a sad commentary on Canada’s values that we accept the organization of IAW, but can’t invite the prime minister of a democratic nation without fear of violence.

We have seen similar incidents since with several other speakers, including in 2008, the Israeli ambassador to Canada, again at Concordia University. As Canadians, we have become desensitized to Israel- or Jewish-bashing in

our mosques, in our communities, and now in our universities.

Three major themes are emerging from such fundamentalist activism in our universities: polarization due to unwillingness to have dialogue; rejection of the spirit of freedom of speech; and undue influence by foreign ideological, logistical and financial support.

If fundamentalist student associations and related campus activists don’t show much tolerance for discussions or exchanges organized by students with opposing views, Jewish or otherwise, is it because they don’t receive much resistance? There is a disturbing trend of self-censorship on the part of moderate Muslims and non-Muslims when dealing with topics associated with fundamentalist politics. We seem to feel that speaking out against intolerance is more wrong than intolerance itself.

As North America’s Muslim population increases, we will see increasing numbers of Muslim Canadians and Americans attending our universities. This is a golden opportunity for the radical groups that target these institutions for recruitment to expound their hatred and entrench their intimidation of moderate or complacent students and faculty. It is also a golden opportunity for countries such as Canada to show and reinforce Canadian values – pluralism, tolerance and respect. The question is why university boards have not taken this issue more seriously.

The rules of engagement regarding fundamentalist activism in post-secondary institutions have changed globally. The important question is: are we still dealing with student organizations or have these organizations been infiltrated by well-funded and well-organized interest groups?

In the case of Canada, reducing the potential adverse effects of this trend requires an innovative and swift response by provinces and the institutions themselves in order to limit intolerance, censorship and threats of physical violence.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 17

Peeks into the past in historical fiction and non-fiction Historical fiction, like docudrama, offers a fast, easy way to learn about the past. The author of a work of historical fiction may choose to span a large time frame or may concentrate on one specific incident, as do the authors of Hot Pursuit: Murder in Mississippi. Whatever the case, the author is duty bound to get the basic facts right. It is the addition of non-historic characters, action, emotions and dialogue that makes the work fictional.

In a similar vein, a work of non-fiction can also take many forms. But every fact in that book, no matter how large or small, must be accurate. Jewish Comedy Stars: Classic to Cutting Edge represents one style of writing single theme non-fiction.

Hot Pursuit: Murder in Mississippi

By Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon Illustrated by Craig Orback Kar-Ben Publishing 40 pages. Ages 10-15.

Hot Pursuit: Murder in Mississippi is a brief, illustrated retelling of a critical incident during the American civil rights struggle of the 1960s. It is set during the Freedom Summer of 1964 when, working co-operatively, members of various civil rights groups established Freedom Schools for African American children and registered adults to vote in the Deep South of the United States.

Told from a third person perspective, Hot Pursuit is a compelling story of right and wrong, good and evil, and, in an epilogue, of the long arm of law and order. The storyline imagines the last day in the lives of three civil rights workers murdered in Mississippi: Michael (Mickey) Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James (J.E.) Cheney.

Like Mississippi Burning, a fictionalized film based on the FBI investigation of the case, Hot Pursuit: Murder in Mississippi does a chilling job of recreating the fear and indecision that must have pervaded the minds of those three young men as they drove through rural Mississippi with a police car in hot pursuit. They had done nothing wrong.

Why did the police want them to pull over? Should they stop or “put the pedal to the metal”?

Interspersed with the need to make this decision are heroic quotes from well-known activists as well as background material about each of the men and about the racial attitudes of the time. The information about both Schwerner and Goodman mentions the impact of their Jewish roots

Kid Lit Deanna Silverman

on their decision to work in Mississippi that summer.

Craig Orback’s bold, bright and factual illustrations reflect the story and the hope for a better future for African American.

Saul and I lived in the United States in the early 1960s and can attest to the climate of the times. Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon got it right. Hot Pursuit: Murder in Mississippi is a gripping introduction to the history of the American civil rights movement.

Jewish Comedy Stars: Classic to Cutting Edge

By Norman H. Finkelstein Kar-Ben Publishing 96 pages. Ages 12-15.

Norman H. Finkelstein presents Jewish Comedy Stars: Classic to Cutting Edge as a three-act play with the sketchiest of biographies following each act. On first reading, I followed this presentation, but found that it didn’t give me a satisfactory sense of the impact of Jewish comedians on the American comedy scene.

The second time, I read it in two parts. First, I read the introduction and the three acts without the interruption of the biographies. That gave me a better sense of the history of American Jewish comedy and its stars from the early20th century to the present. Then, I delved into the biographies for each period. I still found many of the biographies too thin, although those attached to the second act – my period, so to speak – are fuller and more interesting.

What is Jewish humour?

A lot of things to a lot of different comedians, though borrowing can readily be discerned.

As to the classic shtick

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quoted in the book, some holds up and some doesn’t.

What becomes clear is that humour is often a matter of time and place. Can some humour crossover? Well, after reading Jewish Comedy Stars: Classic to Cutting Edge, I would love to overhear a conversation between Fanny Brice, Jack Benny, Billy Crystal and Sarah Silverman (no relation). Jewish Comedy Stars is a useful and interesting introduction to the subject but, as Oliver Twist said, “More please.”

Page 18 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Culinary coexistence in Jerusalem – part one There was a culinary coexistence going on inside my stomach when I wrote this column. For those not familiar with the term, to coexist means to live peacefully with other nations or religions, despite fundamentally different ideologies.

I wrote this column in Jerusalem while visiting my daughter. Roger had gone off to Metulla – in the Upper Galilee where Israel’s only ice rink is located in the Canada Centre – to participate in a hockey tournament (see his report in the February 22 issue of the Bulletin). With my daughter in class during the day, I did some touring.

This was my sixth visit to Israel. The last few times I have been here it was always with a large family group – 80 or more, we have a big family! – and I just followed along with whatever the group was doing. This time, I had about three days all to myself.

On the advice of a friend, I decided to hire a guide to show me around (I have no sense of direction) and connected with a wonderful guide by the name of Shari Robins (tiyulwithshari@yahoo.com).

In planning our itinerary, Shari asked about my interests. I told her I wanted to do a bit of traditional touring, but my

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On our first day together, we toured the Israel Museum.

Weather-wise, it was a miserable day. We stood outside examining the model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period as the rain poured down on us and the wind whipped around. Later in the day, Shari told me she was quite impressed with my toughness. She said that January in Jerusalem can be rough sometimes. Ha! Clearly, Shari has never spent January in Ottawa.

Next, we toured the Supreme Court. If you have never been there, it’s worth a visit. The building, designed by the brother-and-sister team of Ram Karmi and Ada KarmiMelamede, is an architectural wonder.

We finished off our morning’s touring with lunch at Ima’s.

Ima means mom in Hebrew and this Jewish–Kurdish restaurant specializes in simple home-style cooking, just like mom used to make. Their specialty is kube soups. I had the Kube Matfunia, which was a delicious tomato-based broth with zucchini, yams and semolina dumplings filled with ground beef.

On the second day, my daughter Jenna was able to join us.

We toured the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and the Southern Wall excavations. Then, we went over to Machaneh Yehuda (the Shuk), a huge open air market.

Shari had arranged for Ruth Yudekovitz to give us a culinary tour of the market. Ruth runs Shuk and Cook, a unique culinary experience. First, you tour the market and fill your cart with all the ingredients you’ll need for an authentic Israeli feast; then, it’s back to Ruth’s kitchen for cooking and eating.

Unfortunately, we only had time for the Shuk part. Ruth knows her way around the Shuk and introduced us to her favourite vendors. It was a few days before Tu B’Shevat, and the dried fruit displays in the market were dazzling – like jewels. I could not believe the assortment of dried fruits available. They dry kiwis (so cute!), pomello rind, strawberries, mangoes and lychees, as well as the usual apricots, cherries, raisins and cranberries.

Ruth took us to Teller’s, an artisan bread bakery around the corner from the Shuk on Agrippas Street (they have a stall in the market as well). When the owner heard I was baking

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and blogging my way through the Bread Baker’s Apprentice Cookbook (saltandserenity.com for those interested in checking out the blog), he insisted on giving us a tour of his operation. All the breads, except for the baguettes, are formed by hand. They make about 12 different breads as well as pastries and cookies, which they kept feeding us.

We bought incredible sourdough bread with dried blueberries and pecans as well as Belgian chocolate chunk cookies, chocolate sparkle cookies and cantuccini (Italian biscotti). Apparently, they are best known for their challah, but they were not baking it that day. Jenna and I bought a few varieties of cheeses and went back to my hotel room to have a picnic of bread, cheese and cookies. What could be better?

On my third day with Shari, we started our morning in a Muslim bakery called Zalatimo’s on Khan el-Zeit Street in the Christian Quarter near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Their specialty is Murtabak pastry.

You go in the front door and the baker asks you if you want nuts or cheese. I opted for nuts. He takes an egg-sized lump of dough and, within minutes, he has rolled it into a large circle, so thin you could read a newspaper through it.

Then he sprinkles it with chopped nuts, folds it up and places it inside a tin pie plate. Into a hot oven it goes and bakes until crispy. Then he sprinkles it with powdered sugar and pours on sticky sweet syrup. Crisp layers of pastry literally shatter in your mouth when you take a bite. It was fantastic.

Shari let me in on a little known secret about Zalatimo’s.

If you slip the guy an extra 15 shekels, he will unlock the back door and let you into an unbelievable archeological site.

Apparently, they were planning to expand their bakery. When they began the renovations and excavated behind the bakery, they discovered a row of columns and walls built by Constantine in 363 CE. This was the original lobby of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We were planning to see it but, midway through eating our pastry, the call to prayer sounded and our baker was down on his mat, deep in prayer. We did not want to disturb him so we left our money for the pastry on the front counter and went off to tour the Western Wall tunnels.

Watch for part two of this culinary tour of Jerusalem in the April 8 edition of the Bulletin. Next issue’s Made with Love column is all about Passover.

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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 – March 8, 2010 – Page 19

FOUNDATION DONATIONS Our future is in your hands

Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation

RUTH AND IRVING AARON ENDOWMENT FUN In memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Yvonne and Harvey Lithwick and family.

ABELSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Al Abelson and Tracey Kronick.

Pearl Moskovic by Al Abelson and Tracey Kronick.

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 SHIRLEY AND SHIER BERMAN FUND FOR OTTAWA JEWISH ARCHIVES In memory of: Leon Leckie by Shirley and Shier Berman and family.

BARRY FISHMAN OTTAWA JEWISH BULLETIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Lorne and Louise Rachlis.

Birthday wishes to: Cynthia Engel by Lorne and Louise Rachlis.

Get well to: Nancy Bercovitch by Lorne and Louise Rachlis.

MENDEL AND VALERIE GOOD HOLOCAUST CONTINUING EDUCATION FUND In appreciation to: Joseph Lichtenstein by Harry Prizant, Sarah Silverstein, and the March of the Living Participants.

HILLEL LODGE LEGACY FUND In memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Jennie Morin.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES AGENCY FUND In memory of: Joy Ostrega by Randi, Evan, Kyle and Shane Shuster.

OTTAWA JEWISH COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Gary Miller by David and Judy Levin.

DORIS BRONSTEIN TALMUD TORAH AFTERNOON SCHOOL FUND

The Board of Directors of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation acknowledges with thanks contributions to the following funds as of February 16, 2010.

MARTIN GLATT PARLIAMENT LODGE B’NAI BRITH PAST PRESIDENTS’ FUND GREENBERG FAMILIES LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND HILLEL ACADEMY ENDOWMENT FUND HILLEL ACADEMY CHILDREN OF THE BOOK AWARD FUND JEWISH COMMUNITY CEMETERY HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FUND JEWISH MEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE FUND JEWISH STUDENTS ASSOCIATION HILLEL FUND JEWISH YOUTH LIBRARY OF OTTAWA ENDOWMENT FUND DAVID “THE BEAR” KARDASH CAMP B’NAI BRITH MEMORIAL FUND OTTAWA JEWISH CEMETERIES ZICHARON FUND OTTAWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FUND OTTAWA LODGE B’NAI BRITH #885 PAST PRESIDENTS FUND OTTAWA LODGE B’NAI BRITH #885 PRESIDENTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND OTTAWA MODERN JEWISH SCHOOL FUND OTTAWA POST JEWISH WAR VETERANS FUND OTTAWA TORAH INSTITUTE TORAH EDUCATION FUND RAMBAM MAIMONIDES JEWISH CONTINUITY FUND

AJA 50+ ENDOWMENT FUND

SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FUND

AKIVA EVENING HIGH SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND

SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP FUND

ADINA BEN PORAT MACHON SARAH TORAH EDUCATION FUND

SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE ENDOWMENT FUND SOLOWAY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE YOUTH SERVICES FUND TORAH ACADEMY OF OTTAWA TORAH EDUCATION FUND SARA AND ZEEV VERED ISRAEL CULTURAL PROGRAM FUND YITZHAK RABIN HIGH SCHOOL FUND IN MEMORY OF EVA WINTHROP

APPOTIVE FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: David Appotive by Robert and Lori Eisen.

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

NORMAN AND MYRNA BARWIN FOUNDATION OF THE PINCHAS ZUKERMAN MUSICAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Norm and Myrna Barwin.

IRVING AND ESTHER BELLMAN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Mitchell Bellman and Nicola Hamer; and

by Joyce and Seymour Bellman.

Pearl Moskovic by Joyce and Seymour Bellman.

CLAIRE AND IRVING BERCOVITCH ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Lucy Mergler Bercovitch by the Levitz family.

ALEX AND MOLLIE BETCHERMAN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Mina Dover-Cohen by Joy Rosenstein, Bonnie Greenberg and Ronald Singer.

SAM AND ANN BROZOVSKY ENDOWMENT FUND Mazel Tov to: Barbara and David Slipacoff on the marriage of Avi Bregman by Ann Brozovsky.

R’fuah Sh’lemah to: Deanna and Saul Silverman by Ann Brozovsky.

HOWARD, JEFFREY, ANDREW, MICHAEL, GREGORY AND ZACHARY COGAN FUND Mazel Tov to: Barbara Farber for her Honorary Degree by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Sharon Sholzberg-Gray and Herb Gray on being honoured by Torah Academy by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Dora Litwack for being honoured by Hillel Lodge Auxiliary Tea by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

In memory of: Hy Calof by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Barry Fishman by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Hugh Shabsove by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Fuzzy Teitelbaum by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Speedy recovery to: Irving Taylor by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

Herb Gosewich by Fred and Lisa Cogan.

DAVID AND QUEENIE COHEN MEMORIAL FUND In observance of the Yahrzeit of: Queenie Cohen by David and Judith Kalin and family.

NATHAN AND REBA DIENER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Reba Diener.

JOSEPH AND JEAN DOVER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Mina Dover-Cohen by Mavis, Madeleine and Gerry Dover.

MORRIE AND HELEN EISEN ENDOWMENT FUND Anniversary wishes to: Norma and Martin Kulbak on their 50th anniversary by Helen Eisen.

In memory of: David Appotive by Helen Eisen.

SHARON AND PAUL FINN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Sharon, Paul, Joshua, Jordan and Davina Finn.

ALFRED AND KAYSA FRIEDMAN ENDOWMENT FUND Mazel Tov to: A.J. and Ruth Freiman on the engagement of their daughter Ariel to Matt by Alfie and Kaysa Friedman.

In memory of: Irwin Singer by Alfie and Kaysa Friedman.

JACK AND GERT GOLDSTEIN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Allen and Diane Abramson.

GREENBERG, HUTT, KONICK ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Rose and Morrie Konick.

Birthday wishes to: Morrie Konick by Libby and Stan Katz; and by Sally and Morton Taller.

FRITZI AND MAX (CHIEF) GREENBERG MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Linda and Murray Greenberg.

Leon Leckie by Linda and Murray Greenberg.

LOUIS AND HELEN GREENBERG MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Colleen Snipper by Dave and Karen Greenberg.

MOE AND ESTHER KARDISH ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Moe Kardish by Ann Brozovsky.

LIBBY AND STAN KATZ FAMILY COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Stan Katz by Sally and Morton Taller.

ANNICE AND SYDNEY KRONICK FAMILY FUND Birthday wishes to: Harvey Zeeve by Debi and Neil Zaret and family.

ISSIE AND EDITH LANDAU ENDOWMENT FUND Mazel Tov to: Anna-Lee Chiprout on being honoured by the State of Israel Bonds by Edie Landau.

Becka and Eyal Herson on the birth of their daughter by Edie Landau.

James and Norma Steinberg on the birth of their granddaughter Shani Paz by Edie Landau and family.

BYRTHA LECKIE MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Leon Leckie by Judie and Mike Aranoff; by Jean Naemark; by Mitchell Bellman and Nicola Hamer; by Edie Landau; by Rick and Debbie Monk; by the Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Group; by Leslie, Bob and Lauren Grace; by Steve Deblois and family; by David Vinokur; and by the Stern and the Chamish families.

SALLY AND ELLIOTT LEVITAN ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Pearl Moskovic by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Max Smolkin by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Anniversary wishes to: Elissa and David Resnick by Sally and Elliott Levitan.

Continued on page 20

Page 20 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

FOUNDATION DONATIONS NATHAN AND LAURIE LEVITIN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Rhoda and Jeff Simbrow and family.

ARNOLD AND ROSE LITHWICK MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Alla Livshitz by Yvonne and Harvey Lithwick and family.

IRVING AND ELLEN LITHWICK ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Ellen Lithwick by Alfred and Lois Pill.

SAMUEL AND LEEMA MAGIDSON ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Gerry Cammy by Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel.

Norman Glube by Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel.

Bernie Dolansky by Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel.

JACOB MALOMET MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Al and Diane Malomet.

DAVE, LOUIS AND LAZ MIRSKY ENDOWMENT FUND Speedy recovery to: Harris Cosman by Debra and Herbert Cosman and family.

ABRAM AND EDITH MOLOT MEMORIAL FUND Mazel Tov to: Henry and Maureen Molot on the birth of their granddaughter Charlotte Abigail by David and Judy Kalin and family.

PEARL AND DAVID MOSKOVIC ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Pearl Moskovic by Akiva and Shirley Kriger; by Marilyn Waserman; by Stephen and Zelda Shore; by David and Judith

Kalin; by Hildy and Steven Lesh; by Mark and Cheryl Grammer; and by Ian and Randi Sherman.

KURT AND JOAN ORLIK FAMILY FUND In observance of the Yahrzeit of: Joan Orlik, a dear mother by David Orlik.

JACK AND MIRIAM PLEET ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Jack and Miriam Pleet.

Birthday wishes to: Anne Betcherman by Jack and Miriam Pleet.

Anniversary wishes to: Elissa and David Resnick by Jack and Miriam Pleet.

RENA POLOWIN FUND IN MEMORY OF DINA AND JACOB POLOWIN In memory of: Esther Abels by Sol and Estelle Gunner.

MOE AND SARAH RESNICK ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Gordon and Penny Resnick.

Speedy recovery to: Chuck Rotenberg by Gordon and Penny Resnick.

FLORENCE AND GDALYAH ROSENFELD ENDOWMENT FUND Anniversary wishes to: Florence and Gdalyah Rosenfeld by Rose and Morrie Konick.

In memory of: Fuzzy Teitelbaum by Florence and Gdalyah Rosenfeld.

Pearl Moskovic by Florence and Gdalyah Rosenfeld.

SAMUEL AND RUTH ROTHMAN MEMORIAL FUND Get well soon to: Herbie Taller by Corinne and Sheldon Taylor.

Mazel Tov to: Rose and Rubin Friedman on the birth of their grandchild

George Joseph Cooper Scholarship Award Members of the Ottawa Jewish community, including previous applicants and nominees, are invited to apply or nominate someone to receive the G.J. Cooper scholarship award to be presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation on June 9th, 2010.

This scholarship recognizes a member of the Ottawa Jewish Community who is between the ages of 18-30, who has displayed leadership qualities, academic excellence and an interest in the Jewish Community.

The scholarship award is to be used for formal education or apprenticeship in the artistic, literary or social sciences.

Please provide the following in your application or nomination by April 1st, 2010 along with an application form: 1. A resume of the applicant or nominee’s contributions to community life.

2. Proof of enrolment by the applicant or nominee in an academic or apprenticeship program for the following school year.

3. A letter of reference that focuses on the elements required to qualify for the scholarship.

4. Proof of the applicant or nominee’s academic excellence An “Application Form” can be obtained online at www.OJCF.ca If you do not have internet access, you may call 613.798.4696 extension 252 or drop in at the address below.

Address applications or nominations to: G.J. Cooper Scholarship Award c/o Chair of the Scholarship Committee Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation 21 Nadolny Sachs Private Ottawa, ON K2A 1R9 www.OJCF.ca • info@ojcf.ca

by Corinne and Sheldon Taylor.

Cynthia Powell on the birth of her grandchild by Corinne and Sheldon Taylor.

HELEN AND ROY SAIPE ENDOWMENT FUND In appreciation to: Helen Saipe by Sandy and Morris Weltman.

RICKIE AND MARTIN SASLOVE FAMILY FUND Mazel Tov to: Claire and Irving Bercovitch on their granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah by Rickie and Martin Saslove.

CHARLES AND RAE TAVEL MEMORIAL FUND Mazel Tov to: Sunny and John Tavel on the birth of their granddaughter

by Dan and Marilyn Kimmel.

Roslyn and Arnie Kimmel on the birth of their grandson

by Sunny and John Tavel.

RUTH AND JOSEPH VINER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Ruth and Joe Viner.

Mina Dover-Cohen by Ruth and Joe Viner.

ELAYNE AND WESLEY SCHACTER ENDOWMENT FUND Birthday wishes to: Meyer Goldin by Elayne, Wesley, Adam, Casey, Josh and Michael Schacter.

In memory of: Irwin Singer by Elayne and Wesley Schacter and family

MICHAEL WALSH AND LISA ROSENKRANTZ ENDOWMENT FUND In appreciation to: Lisa Rosenkrantz by Maya Phansalker and Daniel Davies.

CLARE AND MAURICE SCHWARTZ FUND Birthday wishes to: Gilbert Bismuth by Sandy and Morris Weltman.

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

Leon Leckie by Miriam and Louis Weiner.

AL AND BETTY SEGAL MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Ned and Gail Segal and family.

ABRAHAM AND MARY SHAFFER MEMORIAL FUND In appreciation to: Michael Landau and his staff by Myra and Sam Krane.

IRV AND ELAINE SINGER ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Randi, Evan, Kyle and Shane Shuster.

LINDA SILVERMAN MEMORIAL FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Marvin and Phylis Silverman.

LOUIS AND STELLA SLACK MEMORIAL FUND Mazel Tov to: Sunny and John Tavel on the birth of their granddaughter

by Myra and Lester Aronson.

MAX AND PEARL SMOLKIN FAMILY FUND In memory of: Max Smolkin by Libby and Stan Katz; by Pearl Moskovic by Yvonne and Harvey Lithwick and family; by Steve Deblois and family; by Guelph Animal Hospital; and by the Faculty and Staff of HPM. DORIS AND RICHARD STERN FAMILY FUND In memory of: Teddy Berish by the Sterns, the Haskins and the Blooms.

Condolences to: Doris Evin on the loss of a dear sister by Doris and Richard Stern and family.

Jeff Miller and Louise Shap on the loss of a beloved mother by Doris and Richard Stern.

JAY B. TALLER MEMORIAL FUND In observance of the Yahrzeit of: Ita Saslove (Feb 14th) by Sally and Morton Taller.

THE TARANTOUR FAMILY FUND In memory of: Irwin Singer by Ann Lazear and family.

MILDRED AND PERCY WEINSTEIN ENDOWMENT FUND Anniversary wishes to: Elissa and David Resnick by Millie Weinstein and Bruce.

In memory of: Sarah Satov by Millie Weinstein.

ZIPES KARANOFSKY FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND Speedy recovery to: Gino Picciano by Rick and Helen Zipes.

In memory of: Paul Bertrand by Rick and Helen Zipes.

Hugh Charles Graham by Rick and Helen Zipes.

THE SAUL AND EDNA GOLDFARB B’NAI MITZVAH PROGRAM WESLEY OSTREGA MITZVAH FUND In memory of: Joy Ostrega by Randi, Ian, Jonathan, Matthew and Adam Sherman.

JONATHAN, MATTHEW AND ADAM SHERMAN B’NAI MITZVAH FUND Mazel Tov to: Ian Sherman on being awarded Business Person of the Year by the Levitz family.

BEN STEIN MITZVAH FUND In appreciation to: Ian Stein by Jackie Lyons and Gary Stein.

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.

Celebrate Passover by sending a Tribute Card to your friends and loved ones wishing them a happy and healthy Pesach!

Minimum donation of $18 for single cards or $15 per card for 18 cards or more.

Make your donation online at www.OJCF.ca or call the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation at 613.798.4696 ext. 232.

To take advantage of the 18+ cards at $15 each, please call our office. This cannot be done online.

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 8, 2010 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Page 21

Ilan Orzy: A hero on campus Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a common clichĂŠ that heroes are everyday people who do everyday jobs. But who would have thought youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d find a hero on the Carleton University campus?

Ilan Orzy is a first year political science student, now in his second semester, whose activities away from the books make him a hero in the eyes of his peers.

Before starting his university career, Ilan was in Israel participating in the 2008-2009 Magen David Adom program. He trained as a medic and then served in Rishon Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Zion for six months on both regular and ICU ambulances.

During Operation Cast Lead in January 2009, he worked in Yavne and Gedera, dealing with the frequent rocket attacks from Gaza.

Volunteering in Israel remains a priority for Ilan. After this semester, he is going back to Israel, again for Magen David Adom. He hopes Israel will not face the same dangerous situation it did in 2009, but he is prepared to do his part no matter what the circumstances.

Some ponder why Ilan is going back. Many Jewish university students go to Israel on trips organized by Canadian Young Judea and Birthright where they enjoy the beautiful landscape of Israel as well as a spiritual awakening. But, Ilan has twice chosen to visit a different side of Israel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My eyes opened wide the first time I got on the ambulance in Israel. I saw a different side of Israel than most people know about from the news. I had been to Israel previously, but to deal with the sick and the wounded in Israel made me a different person with a new perspective on Israel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just the homeland of the Jews; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the homeland of those who stand with us. I treated people of various cultures with one common factor: they believe in Israel and its necessity to exist,â&#x20AC;? he explains.

Ilan believes it is important to expose himself to this side of Israel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a Zionist, I know the importance of Israel and how much it needs help from those who can give it. And, as a

Campus Life Justin Dahan medic, I know that I am a perfect candidate to keep helping Israel in its efforts to protect its citizens. I feel only privileged to be able to go back to the volunteer program and treat those who stand up for Israel on a daily basis by being an Israeli citizen.â&#x20AC;?

Aside from his work in Israel, Ilan is also active in three Jewish organizations on campus. He serves as an executive member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity and is a strong advocate and member of Hillel Ottawa and Israel Advocacy Committee. All three of these organizations are sure to be looking at Ilan as a strong future leader.

The lost art of providing service When receiving service from someone, there are many helpful and friendly things they could say. Sometimes, however, their words have an opposite effect. Or, at least, cause a certain doubt or concern about what is about to happen.

I have two cars that are serviced at two different dealerships.

At one, the service is personal. All the people there know me and my wife and even have some idea of how many children we have.

They all seem under 40 and, when they check their computers, they bring to my attention some scheduled service I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet had done.

At the other dealership, the intake guy is close to 60. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to know me from Adam, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember anything about my car, and never asks me anything other than my mileage and what particular thing I would like to pay for that day.

They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t check on very many things unless I specifically ask them to. The only reason I keep going there is that they have a monopoly on providing service to that car, at least until my warranty runs out.

At either place, though, if the first words out of their mouth are, â&#x20AC;&#x153;So how many days can you leave it with us?â&#x20AC;? then I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m

in for trouble and an empty chequing account.

My other favourite line is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the parts you need in stock, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to order them.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;And how long, pray tell, will that take?â&#x20AC;? I ask. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who knows?â&#x20AC;?

You get the feeling that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like the lottery. They put in a request for the part and it could come that day or in three weeks.

In the meantime, is there anything you can do about it?

No. They have you, my friend, and you can already feel your pockets hurting.

Never mind that it is steaming hot outside and you need your air conditioning repaired. You will wait.

Of course, when else would the air conditioning in everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car break down except during a hot spell when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re overusing it? So, consequently, there is a shortage of air conditioner parts just when you need them.

But car dealerships are not the only place where such things happen.

I have recently had to use a clinic a few times when my regular doctor was not available. Again, depending on the mood of the person you are seeing, they can make

you feel important or like just another body on an assembly line.

Last time I went to the clinic, I was the final patient of the day. After I was admitted to the examining room, the doctor came in and we exchanged pleasantries. I asked him how he was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a lot happier once I get out of here and go home,â&#x20AC;? he replied.

At that point, a small doubt entered my mind about whether the doctor would pay close attention to my problem or just go for the quickest and easiest solution. In fact, he told me to just continue with I was doing, only more so.

Humour me, please Rubin Friedman The doctor went home early. And so did I. But I felt that I would have had the same interaction with a computer program, except the computer would not have told me it was in a hurry to leave. Machines, apparently, have their warm and fuzzy sides too.

So, if it is ever your lot to provide service, just show that milk of human kindness. Be a mensch.

MOVING? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss one issue!

Call in your change of address TODAY!

613-798-4696, ext. 256

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Page 22 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010 – Page 23

Page 24 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – March 8, 2010

WHAT’S GOING ON

For more community listings, visit ottawa.planitjewish.com

March 8 to 21, 2010 WEEKLY EVENTS SUNDAYS Mazeltots, sponsored by Westboro Jewish Montessori School, for ages 4 and under, 192 Switzer Avenue, 10:00 am.

Info: 613-729-7712.

MONDAYS & THURSDAYS Motorin’ Munchkins gym drop-in for children aged 1-5 years with parent or caregiver accompaniment, sponsored by

CANDLELIGHTING BEFORE Mar 12 ✡ Mar 19 ✡

5:46 pm 6:55 pm

SJCC Ganon Pre-School, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Info: 613-7989818, ext. 280.

TUESDAYS Israeli Folkdancing, learn dances, have fun, no experience or partner necessary; Hillel Academy, 31 Nadolny Sachs Private, 7:00 pm. Info: 613-7229323.

WEDNESDAYS Coffee Club for parents of children up to age 3. Children play, parents enjoy coffee and conversation, sponsored by SJCC Ganon Pre-Schoo, 9:00 to 11:30 am. Info: 613-798-9818, ext. 280.

FRIDAYS Shabbat Shalom with SJCC Ganon Pre-School, for children aged up to 5 years with parent or caregiver accompaniment, 9:30 am. Info: 613-7989818, ext. 280.

MONDAY, MARCH 8 Seniors and Income Tax, presentation by the Canada Revenue Agency, sponsored by Jewish Family Services, 2255 Carling Avenue, Suite 300, 11:00 am. Info: 613-722-2225, ext.

325.

Monday Matinée for Seniors, presented by Jewish Family Services, featuring Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Valley Stream Manor, 2 Valley Stream Drive, 1:30 pm. Info: 613-7222225, ext. 325.

International Women’s Day, sponsored by Na’amat Ottawa, a mother and daughter’s personal experience navigating mental illness: How to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, Ben Franklin Place, Room A, 101 Centrepointe Drive, 7:00 pm. Info: 613722-2932.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 Lomir Reydn Yiddish con-

versation group, sponsored by Jewish Family Services, 2255 Carling Avenue, suite 300, 713722-2225, ext. 325.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 Klez Night, a celebration of freilach music and dance with A Touch of Klez and Musica Ebraica, co-sponsored by Congregations Adath Shalom, Beth Shalom, Beit Tikvah, Temple Israel and Or Haneshmah (OrH). Proceeds go to the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank; Kosher food donations welcome, Congregation Beth Shalom, 151 Chapel Street, 8:00 pm. Info: 613234-2832.

SUNDAY, MARCH 14 Jewish Education Festival, sponsored by Ganon PreSchool, explore all the Jewish education options available in Ottawa, 9:30 am. Info: 613-7989818, ext. 280.

Israel & Palestine: Facing the Obstacles, talk given by

Prof. Neil Caplan of Montreal, world-renowned scholar on the Arab-Israel conflict and author of eight books on the subject, sponsored by Canadian Friends of Peace Now and Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Drive, 10:00 am (9:30 am breakfast).

Info: 613-224-1802.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 Let’s Do Lunch, sponsored

by Jewish Family Services and Congregation Agudath Israel, mayoral candidate Jim Watson presents his vision for the city of Ottawa, 1400 Coldrey Avenue, 12:00 pm. Info: 613-7283501.

COMING SOON MONDAY, MARCH 22 JNF Negev Dinner honouring Sara Vered.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau Street, 6:00 pm.

Info: 613-798-2411.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23 Malca Pass Book Discussion, sponsored by Congregation Agudath Israel.

Alvina Ruprecht reviews The Brief Wondrous Life of

Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz.

1400 Coldrey Avenue, 7:30 pm.

Info: 613-829-2455.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 5th Annual Shalom Bayit Seder, sponsored by Jewish Family Services, Congregation Agudath Israel, 1400 Coldrey Avenue, 6:00 pm.

Info: 613-722-2225, ext. 406.

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.

Romspen Investment Corporation Announcement Mark Hilson is appointed Managing General Partner.

Previously he was Managing Director at Onex Corporation. Mark brings over 25 years of business investment experience plus positions on public company and charitable boards to Romspen.

Mark Hilson

Ronald Lloyd

Robert Shiller

On behalf of Romspen Investment Corporation, manager of The Romspen Mortgage Investment Fund, Sheldon Esbin and Arthur Resnick are pleased to make the following announcements. Romspen manages a Canadian mortgage portfolio of over $600 million.

Ronald Lloyd is appointed Managing Partner. He has 25 years of experience in investment and pension consulting, most recently as Vice President of Gluskin Sheff + Associates.

Robert Shiller is appointed Vice President, Origination.

He has spent his entire career in commercial real estate lending most recently as Vice President Real Estate Investment Banking at TD Securities.

Arnie Bose is appointed Vice President, Finance and Bonnie Bowerman is appointed Vice President, Underwriting. Both bring extensive career experience to their positions.

1 6 2 C u m b e r l a n d S t r e e t , S u i t e 3 0 0 , To r o n t o , O n t a r i o M 5 R 3 N 5 • 1. 8 0 0 . 4 9 4 . 0 3 8 9 • w w w. r o m s p e n . c o m

Condolences Condolences are extended to the families of: Daniel Nadezhdin Sarah Satov (formerly of Ottawa) Sam Schrier William Senman Max Smolkin Gerald (Jerry) Taylor

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 MARCH 17 FOR APRIL 5 APRIL 7 FOR APRIL 26 APRIL 21 FOR MAY 10 MAY 5 FOR MAY 24 MAY 26 FOR JUNE 14 JUNE 30 FOR JULY 19 JULY 28 FOR AUGUST 16