shana tova
Page 8 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – September 6, 2010
Beit Tikvah ramps up Universal Accessibility Initiative By David Eskenazi Congregation Beit Tikvah For more than two years, Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa, a modern Orthodox synagogue located in Craig Henry, has slowly been working towards our goal of making the building physically accessible to all with our Universal Accessibility Initiative. In the past two years, Beit Tikvah congregants have raised about $100,000, mostly through small donations recognizing lifecycle events such as weddings, births and deaths. Some have also made substantial matching donations. Racheli Mandelker, for example, had her family match the congregation’s donations in honour of her Bat Mitzvah. “But universal accessibility is a large undertaking for a congregation such as ours,”
said Beit Tikvah President Leslie Siegman. “Many of our members are retirees or have young families. We have to broaden our campaign beyond our own membership so that we can accommodate everyone’s needs.” A dedicated Accessibility Committee, led by Beit Tikvah members Harry Beck, Marten Brodsky, Esther Kulik, Arthur Rabinovitch and Barb Veder, has been reviewing a number of structural and mechanical options to make the lower level of the facility accessible to all
Shayna Shuster 613-596-4133 www.shaynashuster.com
New Year’s greetings to all my friends and clients in the community
members and guests. “Our committee has done a great deal of research and has concluded that an elevator meets our needs best. We have engaged professional help to assist in designing and planning the construction of this project,” said Beck. “The elevator will be designed in accordance with Halacha and we are working closely with Rabbi Finkelstein to ensure that the elevator will be Shabbat compliant.” Rabbi Howard Finkelstein, Beit Tikvah’s long-time
spiritual leader said, “It is important for our facility to be completely open to the entire Jewish community of Ottawa. We hold many special events during the year, such as special prayer ceremonies for Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Shabbatons and cultural events, which service more than our members. “It is also important for people to experience all that a synagogue can offer, including classes, Kiddushim and semachot. No one should be left out.”
Mailbag bulletin@ottawajewishbulletin.com Good deeds Good deeds are contagious. One week this summer, my brother and I decided to brainstorm some random acts of kindness with the help of my mom. We gave some water to a mail carrier. We walked our neighbour’s dog. We pushed little kids on the swing at the park and said “hi” to people we passed when we were riding our bikes. We found thirsty construction workers and gave them water on a hot day. We made little goodie bags for our neighbours and left them at their door with a note that said, “Just because.” With my cousins, we sang songs for the residents at Hillel Lodge and cleaned our Bubbie and Zadie’s house to say thank you for all the things they do for us. My mom was very surprised when we emptied the dishwasher without being asked. We gave cookies to our dentist and to the firefighters (and then they let us sit in their trucks.) We also gave food to the food bank. Whatever we did that week, we gave out cards asking people to pay it forward and encouraged others to do something kind for someone else. These are just a few ideas that you can do for other people. Imagine the kind of world we would live in if everyone did a good deed for someone else. When someone does something nice for you, don’t forget to pay it forward! Kayla Reichstein (Age 8)
Having recently celebrated 30 years as a congregation, Beit Tikvah attracts individuals and families whose level of observance covers a wide spectrum. “Our congregation runs the gamut from yeshiva bachurim who grew up in this community to young families who are new to Ottawa or reconnecting with their Jewish heritage,” said Rabbi Finkelstein. “We do try to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Making our building universally accessible is a natural extension of the congregation’s overriding philosophy of inclusiveness.” Shoshana Kagedan, whose husband Ian is past president of Beit Tikvah, knows the importance of universal accessibility. “When Ian was confined to a wheelchair two years ago because of a neurological disease, we were determined he would not miss out on the synagogue experience, which is a vital part of his life,” she said. Ian is a regular at Shabbat, festival and High Holiday services, but is still restricted from experiencing that wonderful feeling of community you get during kiddush or at a simcha. And Ian is not the
Shana Tova to the Ottawa Jewish Community
Shad Qadri City Councillor Ward 6 - Stittsville
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only person facing physical barriers to full participation. Sudden disability can present itself at anytime. Beit Tikvah’s goal is to make our Chartwell Avenue facility fully accessible within the year. The total budget for this initiative is more than $200,000. “Ian may have inspired the initiative while he was still active as shul president several years ago, yet it is the many congregants who have carried the torch,” said Kagedan. “It has been a long and slow process, but I am certain that, with support from the community, we can bring this project to fruition.” In the coming months, Beit Tikvah members will be actively seeking support – technical, financial and otherwise – from the communityat-large to achieve our goal of a universally accessible synagogue. For information about the Universal Accessibility Initiative, contact Arthur Rabinovitch at 613-723-1890 or Harry Beck at 613-226-2716. To make a donation to the Beit Tikvah Handicapped Access Fund, call Sue or Maxine in the synagogue office at 613-723-1800.
Valberg photo
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Shana tova! May you be blessed with a happy and healthy year
Lorne Rachlis Your candidate for public school trustee (Vote October 25 - Capital and Rideau-Vanier wards)