JNF IS 100% ISRAEL Yom Ha’Atzmaut NEGEV DINNER OCT 27 AMSTERDAM-ISRAEL MISSION OCT 30-NOV 14 ISRAEL CULINARY EXPERIENCE NOV 6-10 Ottawa celebrates Israel’s JNFOTTAWA.CA FOR DETAILS [email protected] 613.798.2411 68th Independence Day > page 15 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin MAY 30, 2016 | 22 IYAR 5776 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Shem Tov Award: Volunteering is part of Merle Haltrecht-Matte’s DNA BY LOUISE RACHLIS Haltrecht-Matte, who retired from gation’s board of directors. She has even nitting kippot for Israeli sol- teaching in 2002, has worn many volun- accompanied Temple Israel Religious diers, crocheting milk bags into teer hats throughout her life. School Grade 10 students on a trip to sleeping mats for Haiti, doing “I remember Sunday afternoons as a Israel. Kshalom calling, helping Israeli teenager going with a Jewish group to In her letter in support of Haltrecht- students practise their English for play with children in a group home. I Matte’s nomination for the Shem Tov IsraelConnect , being a volunteer driver received a cup for doing it. My mother Award, Sarah Gordon of IsraelConnect for Jewish Family Services, and tutoring and grandmother did a lot of volunteer- described her as “an incredibly compe- refugees, are just some of Merle ing, so it’s in my DNA,” she said. tent and gifted leader who simply does Haltrecht-Matte volunteer activities. She has volunteered for the Ottawa not know the word ‘no’ when it comes to Haltrecht-Matte will receive the Shem Kosher Food Bank and, in 2008, initiated volunteering.” Tov Community Volunteer Award at the Temple Israel’s Baby Quilt Project, which “I think everybody should fi nd some- annual general meeting of the Jewish has made more than 1,000 baby quilts thing they really like doing,” said Federation of Ottawa, Wednesday, June 15, that are sent to Israel. Haltrecht-Matte. “They might not know 7 pm, at the Soloway Jewish Community Her volunteer work with Temple Israel they like working with older people, or Centre (SJCC). The award recognizes an has also included co-ordinating the 40th helping make quilts until they try it. You outstanding volunteer whose many years anniversary weekend in 2006, chairing can volunteer as an individual or you can of service have contributed to the Temple’s Social Action Committee for volunteer in a group, but it has to be Merle Haltrecht-Matte, Shem Tov enrichment of Jewish life in Ottawa. several years, and serving on the congre- See Shem Tov on page 2 Community Volunteer Award Freiman Family Award: ‘It’s important to make a contribution to the community,’ says Debbie Scharf BY LOUISE RACHLIS lished by the Freiman family in 1988, said. “In a small community like Ottawa, he Jewish Federation of Ottawa recognizes a young leader for their if we don’t all contribute, our institutions has announced that Debbie exceptional volunteerism and service to won’t survive and thrive.” Scharf will receive this year’s the Ottawa Jewish community. JET (Jewish Education through Torah) TFreiman Family Young Despite being extremely busy with her was Scharf’s introduction to the Ottawa Leadership Award. job and young family, Scharf, an Jewish community when she moved to Scharf will receive the award at the ex-Montrealer who came to Ottawa 15 Ottawa after completing her graduate Federation’s annual general meeting, years ago, always fi nds time for degree in environmental economics. Wednesday, June 15, 7 pm, at the Soloway volunteering. Scharf joined the JET board in 2008 Debbie Scharf, Freiman Family Jewish Community Centre. The Freiman “I think it’s important to make a and became its chair in 2010, providing Young Leadership Award Family Young Leadership Award, estab- contribution to the community,” she See Scharf on page 2 Thirteenth Annual Howard Fremeth Cantor Kraus honoured at Holocaust inside: Israeli Film Festival > p. 3, 12 on PJ Library > p. 6 remembrance event > p. 10 With over 100,000 square feet, we are Canada’s largest indoor vehicle storage facility. Storage for cars, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles and other recreational vehicles. Publication Mail Agreement No. 40018822 613.244.4444 • www.boydmoving.com 2 May 30, 2016 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Arielle Ellis to receive Federation’s fi rst Student Award BY LOUISE RACHLIS Jewish Community Centre. The Student “Hillel has always been really under- rielle Ellis, who will graduate Award recognizes a student pursuing a standing about the fact that we’re in from the University of Ottawa post-secondary degree who demonstrates Ottawa to go to school,” she said. “They next month, will be the fi rst leadership and outstanding commitment have always been very accommodating. Arecipient of the Jewish Federa- to the Ottawa Jewish community. Organizations are run by real people, and tion of Ottawa’s new Student Award. Ellis says students shouldn’t be afraid they understand.” Ellis, 22, will receive the award at the that volunteering for organizations such Ellis joined the Hillel Ottawa student Federation’s annual general meeting, as Hillel Ottawa will prevent them from board in 2012 and quickly became one of Wednesday, June 15, 7 pm, at the Soloway getting their schoolwork done. its most passionate members, serving as citywide president of Hillel Ottawa from 2013 to 2015. Scharf: ‘Making the Jewish “I fi nd that when I have a lot of things going on in my life, everything goes Arielle Ellis, Student Award better for all of them; I’m better organ- commmunity a better place’ ized,” said Ellis, who completed a degree that should never be taken for granted,” in public administration and hopes to go she said. Continued from page 1 While there are many organizations on to law school. “The March reminded me of how lucky strategic guidance and fi nancial steward- that need help, “sometimes you have to For the past two school years, Ellis was I am to be part of this vibrant time in ship of the organization. She is also be proactive,” she said. “I was very the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin’s Campus Life Judaism, where I am able to so freely vice-chair of the board of Ten Yad of fortunate that Ten Yad approached me to columnist. express my Jewish identity and publicly Ottawa, a volunteer-run, commun- go on the board, but sometimes you have “I’ve become pretty good at setting celebrate being a Jew.” ity-based, independent organization that to make that opportunity.” deadlines, and absolutely everything I do Hillel Ottawa and the Chabad Student “lends a hand” to individuals and “Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge is in my calendar. School is always a big Network both played large roles in Ellis’ families in the Jewish community during and experience to all her volunteering priority, but almost as big for me was four years at uOttawa. life-altering situations. positions,” said Ilan Metz in his letter being purposeful about writing my “I found it to be incredibly important She joined the board of Torah nominating Scharf for the award. “She is Bulletin column and volunteering in the to have shared events between Hillel and Academy of Ottawa almost two years ago dedicated, effective and effi cient, and has community.” Chabad, and while they both exist for as treasurer and is currently chairing the made a strong contribution to all the She encourages other students to different reasons, they have come to help transition committee bringing together organizations for which she has volunteer. one another out, rather than being the Torah Academy and Rambam Day volunteered.” “The community is very welcoming competing forces.” School communities in one Orthodox “It does make you feel good that you’re and open to new ideas, and if you have an This month, Ellis is leading a Birthright day school beginning in September. She making the Ottawa Jewish community a idea for something that isn’t happening Israel trip and then plans to work in will become the school’s board chair better place,” Scharf said. “I’m very yet, that’s all the more reason to get Toronto for the summer. when the transition committee complete honoured and very surprised to be involved,” she said. Her parents are both entrepreneurs, its work. receiving the award.” Ellis’ passion for involvement in Jewish and she has three younger brothers, ages Scharf and husband Jeffrey have three How does she manage everything? student and community life was trig- 19, 15, and 12. The 19-year-old is currently children: Eli, seven, Sarah, fi ve, and “I move very quickly at everything I gered by her meaningful experiences on serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Aryeh, three. She works at Natural do,” laughs Scharf, who was just back the March of the Living as a high school Resources Canada as a director in the from a Passover visit in Israel with her student in Toronto. offi ce of energy effi ciency. mother and brother who live in “The program served as a very power- The next issue of the Bulletin “I think people should think about Jerusalem. ful reminder for me that I am so fortun- will be published on Monday, what they’re good at, and try to fi nd an “I only know one speed – faster – and I ate to be part of such a thriving, culturally June 20, 2016. opportunity to use those skills,” she said. have a great husband!” rich community; and that is something Shem Tov: ‘You fi nd the right thing that works for you’ Continued from page 1 10 years. You fi nd the right thing that anniversary and then we decided to make June 10).