In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
Community Events and Announcements
Soloway JCC Winter Israeli Film Series
Film series with short talk by Orly Erlich, Consul at the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa and Ohad Kaynar, Charge d’affaires, Deputy Head of Mission.
January 16: Turn left at the end of the world
February 19: Zero Motivation
March 19: Peace after Marriage
Doors open at 6:40
Sponsor: Vered Israel Cultural and Educational Program, SJCC, The Embassy of Israel, CICF
Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt.
*The Gamliel Institute is a center for study, training, and advocacy concerning Jewish end of life practices. All of their courses for 2020-2021, short and long, can be found at https://www.jewish-funerals.org/ You will also find more detail about the short courses which are listed here:
The Well-Dressed Jewish Corpse – The Etiology of Jewish Shrouds, US$36
Isaac Pollak
February 20, 2020 Thursday, 8:00pm Eastern (one 90-minute class)
Zayan Adar Day of Learning: The Jewish Memory of Death, US$108
Yakir Englander, PhD
March 1, 2020 Sunday, 12:00pm Eastern (three 90-minute classes)
History of Chevrah Kadisha, US$36
Rick Light
March 11, 2020 Wednesday, 8:00pm Eastern (one 90-minute class)
Prayer as Deepest Desire: Writing Contemporary Liturgy, US$72
Alden Solovy
March 25, April 1, 2020 Wednesdays, 8:00pm Eastern (two 90-minute classes)
“Limping Toward the Promised Land: How the Bible Pioneers Inclusion,” February 20, 7 - 8:30 pm. Tamir and its partners invite you to a community-wide lecture. Dr. Ora Horn Prouser will be joining us in honour of JDAIM (Jewish Disabilities, Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month), which occurs every February. Dr. Horn Prouser is the CEO and Academic Dean at The Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic rabbinical, cantorial and graduate school in Yonkers, New York and author of Esau’s Blessing: How the Bible Embraces Those With Special Needs. Cost $18. For more info contact Jodi Green at 613-725-3519 x115 or jodigreen@tamir.ca. Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt.
“Esau’s Blessing: the Bible’s Embrace of Those with Special Needs,” February 21, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Join Dr. Ora Horn Prouser, Tamir and KBI for a Shabbat dinner in recognition of JDAIM. Building on her Thursday night lecture, Dr Horn Prouser explores how our founding families supported each other to success even when challenges were evident. Attendance at Thursday night is not required. All are welcome. 5:15 pm services (optional), 6:30 pm dinner, $30 adults, $18 children. Catered by A Dashing Pinch. Contact Jodi Green 613-725-3519 x115 or jodigreen@tamir.ca. Kehillat Beth Israel, 1400 Coldrey Ave.
“More than Just Mosaics: The Ancient Synagogue at Huqoq in Israel’s Galilee.” A lecture by Jodi Magness, Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Sunday, February 23, 19h00 (7:00pm), SJCC – Social Hall, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt.
J-Fellows Leadership Development Program for Young Adults. Session 2 - “Effective Communication”, February 27, Dinner @ 6:15 pm, session @ 7:15 pm. Join Industrial Psychologist Lisa Miller for an interactive workshop on improving your communication skills inside and outside the workplace. This session will incorporate the concepts of emotional intelligence and assertive communication, essential skills for successful workplace communication. For young professionals in their 20's and 30's. Free professional headshots will be taken onsite with professional photographer Razan Shomer. Program is free of charge, but on-line registration required at https://fs22.formsite.com/sbeuteljewishottawacom/wvbdnlat0a/index.html
International Women's Day Celebration Party, March 7, 7 pm, SJCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. The first annual party bringing together Israeli and Jewish women of the Ottawa community to celebrate International Women’s Day! A fun evening of dancing, delicious Israeli food, drinks and lots of great entertainment. You won’t want to miss this party of the year - Israeli style! Tickets are $50 each and are limited – for more info or to buy tickets via etransfer contact Israeliwomeninottawa@gmail.com.
* OrH members are invited to the CHILD HAVEN FIESTA, to celebrate Child Haven’s 35th Anniversary, on Friday March 13th, 7:00, 1st Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Avenue.
Kuljit Sodhi will take the audience on a superb musical journey, combining Indian folk, jazz, and world music, and using his instruments and his voice. Kuljit’s Bollywood style dancing is full of fun and will inspire the audience to join him. Brightly dressed Nepali dancers will perform traditional dances and a Tibetan family will delight you with the Yak dance. Indian snacks will feed your hunger after all that dancing!
Our goal is to raise money for the Ottawa charity CHILD HAVEN INTERNATIONAL (www.childhaven.ca), which operates 9 homes for destitute children in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Food, education, health care, shelter, clothing, emotional and moral support are provided. Child Haven keeps administrative costs to a minimum, so that your donation benefits the children more. Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino have received the Order of Canada for their work. Tickets are $30 adults, children $5 at www.childhaven.ca. For info. call 613.527.2829
Risen Leaves: A Rare Books Workshop from the Collection of the Jewish Public Library. The JPL has a number of special collections but one of the most valued ones are the Rare Books. The earliest of the 1,500 books is an incunabulum printed in 1481 (about 20 years after Gutenberg), and while the array of books ranges from early Hebrew grammars, Talmuds, kabbalistic works, liturgical texts, history, and early antisemitic tracts, there are also unusual tracts dealing with religious vestments, architecture, and travel. Three of the JPL’s librarians will discuss these books, the history of printing (as well as Hebrew printing), and share some of the strange stories and scandals that underscored the production of these works. Tuesday, March 24, 1:30-3:30 pm, First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, Fellowship Hall, 30 Cleary Avenue, FREE ADMISSION. To register: Email: adultlearning@firstunitarianottawa.ca Phone: 613-725-1066.
Community Service Awards. Do you know an awesome volunteer? Please nominate them for special recognition! The Jewish Federation has four awards to recognize our community’s outstanding volunteers. Members of the Jewish community are invited to nominate worthy individuals. Visit https://jewishottawa.com/volunteering/community-service-awards for nomination forms, instructions and info about these awards: Freiman Family Young Leadership Award, Shem Tov and Student Leadership award. Nominations will be accepted until March 31, 2020.
The Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation accepting applications for four awards. Deadline for all applications is April 17, 2020: GJ Cooper Scholarship Award, Norman Lesh Philanthropy Award, Women’s Collective Philanthropy (WCPP) Grant, Ilana and Steven Rubin Scholarship Award. More info at https://ojcf.ca/programs_awards
Ottawa Tour to Israel: Celebrating Women’s Voices, May 17-27, 2020. Join an exceptional group of women on this educational and thought-provoking tour to Israel. Tour covers inspirational speakers on topics such as Ethiopian Jewry, civil rights, and Israeli health innovation. It also includes events with Palestinian Member of Knesset, Aida Touman-Sleeman, and a panel of experts discussing Palestinian and Jewish/Israeli perspectives on political and social issues. We will celebrate Rosh Chodesh with Women of the Wall and among other activities visit a Bedouin Weaving Centre and Dead Sea spa. Eight spaces remain to share in this exciting tour. For the itinerary, please contact: Yaffa Greenbaum at yaffa.greenbaum@gmail.com (613-266-6677) or Paula Agulnik at agulnikpaula@gmail.com (613-298-7520).
Community Opportunities
* Jewish Family Services posted a request recently for a volunteer driver to assist a woman with limited mobility living in Craig Henry to get her grocery shopping done. A volunteer has offered to do all but one of the 4 trips required. If anyone is free to help on February 20, please give us a call.
We would also like to request a volunteer to visit a Senior male member of the Jewish Community who requires Friendly Visits to help break the isolation he is experiencing as a result a serious medical incident. He is an engaging individual with varied interests. While the apartment where he lives will be smoke free on the day of the visits, we are seeking volunteers who are not averse to the residual odour of tobacco. We will provide the support and training needed for those who are new to Friendly Visiting. If you are able to help, please contact George Sladowski, Volunteer Coordinator, at 613-722-2225, ext. 350, or email gsladowski@jfsottawa.com.
Calling all artists! Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation is looking for new card designs! The Jewish calendar is filled with a rich variety of holidays. From upcoming Tu Bishvat, on Feb. 10, which marks the new year for trees, to Purim in March and Passover in April, there are always occasions to send a Tribute card. Please send us a high resolution image of your original artwork - suitable to be printed on 5" x 7" cards. Consider images suitable for celebrations, sympathy, encouragement, wishes for good health, as well as Jewish holidays. All chosen designs will carry the artist's name and will be featured on our website, on social media, and in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin. For more details visit our website. To submit your design, email Nathaniel at nfinestone@jewishottawa.com.
