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February 6, 2017 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM
Klez 10 event to benefit Ottawa Kosher Food Bank BY RUTH KAHANE GOLDBERG FOR KLEZ 10
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lez 10, an evening of spirited music and dance marking a decade supporting the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank, takes place on Sunday, February 26, 7 pm, at Kehillat Beth Israel, 1400 Coldrey Avenue. The event will be hosted by Adath Shalom Congregation, Kehillat Beth Israel, Congregation Machzikei Hadas, Temple Israel, Or Haneshamah and the Glebe Minyan. As in past years, performers will be A Touch of Klez and Musica Ebraica and dance will be led by the International Folk Dancers of Ottawa. The Ottawa Kosher Food Bank, housed at Kehillat Beth Israel and run almost entirely by volunteers, helps contend with the rising cost of groceries for 170 clients who are mainly Jewish immigrants and seniors registered with Jewish Family Services of Ottawa. The food bank tops up clients’ regular monthly food basket with a three-to-five day supply of food. Food and personal care items valued at approximately $1,800 a year are available for a oneclient family ($150 per month), $2,170 a year to a two-client family ($170 per month) and $2,520 to a family of four
($210 per month). Rising costs, especially for high protein foods, has been demanding for the food bank. “We have had to increase our appeal to the community in order to meet the increase,” said Donna Strauss, Ottawa Kosher Food Bank co-chair. Kosher meat and chicken, canned tuna and salmon, quinoa, tofu, soy products, peanut butter and beans are more costly. Fortunately, bread is donated and the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank currently gives clients grocery vouchers each month for dairy products. “We are asking the community to donate several refrigerators so that we can provide monthly cheese, milk and eggs,” said Strauss. The annual Klez event garners significant community support. “We are extremely proud that a musical event of such high calibre as Klez has chosen the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank as its beneficiary,” said Strauss. “In addition to raising awareness and adding new benefactors from among the community, the proceeds of the Klez benefit evening also raise actual money, which enables us to provide support for 90 families for approximately six weeks.”
Ottawa Jewish Bulletin file photo of volunteers Karen Fainstein (left) and Rhoda Aronson at work in the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank.
The entertainment for Klez 10 will include the spirited Touch of Klez band performing tunes such as bulgars, shers, Yiddish horas and traditional waltzes. The International Folk Dancers of Ottawa, led by Susan Barker, will lead Yiddish dances and stimulate audience participation. The well-known Ottawa choir, Musica Ebraica, conducted by
Gloria Jean Nagy, will contribute a special selection of Yiddish and Hebrew songs. Admission to Klez 10 is $10 per person by cash or cheque made out to Kehillat Beth Israel (write Kosher Food Bank on the memo line). Call Paul Adler at 613-220-3993 or Estelle Melzer at 613-722-0721 to become a private or corporate sponsor of Klez 10.