Ottawa Jewish Bulletin IT’S NOT TOO LATE to PLANT! JNFOTTAWA.CA Call 613-798-4696, Ext
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THANK YOU FOR PASSOVER GREETINGS SUPPORTING OUR Send Passover good wishes to friends and TU BI’SHEVAT CAMPAIGN family with an ad in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO PLANT! JNFOTTAWA.CA Call 613-798-4696, Ext. 256 [email protected] 613.798.2411 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin MARCH 5, 2018 | ADAR 18, 5778 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Taking them to the street Doing the Bracha bags journey from Mitzvah Day to those in need right(eous) BY LOUISE RACHLIS hristopher Johnson is on a ByWard Market street on a chilly, damp, thing February afternoon, approaching dozens of people. But he isn’t Hungarian couple Casking for anything – he’s offering. honoured for “Would you like a bag?” Johnson asks young and old, some in wheelchairs and saving Jewish some clustered on the sidewalk in front of the Salvation Army Booth Centre. family during More than 100 drawstring Bracha bags the Holocaust were assembled at the Soloway JCC during the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s Mitzvah BY NORAH MOR Day. They contained socks, granola bars, toothbrushes, juice boxes – and handwrit- ndrew Kun’s voice breaks ten cards. All were eagerly accepted. when he thinks about the “When the kids come in on Mitzvah actions of his family Day and write on the cards which go in friends 74 years ago. the bags, it means a lot to the people A“I’m a Holocaust survivor,” says receiving them,” said Johnson, who is Kun, 79, who was just five years the coordinator of Jewish Family Ser- LOUISE RACHLIS old when the Nazis were rounding vices’ StreetSmarts Outreach Program. Christopher Johnson, right, explains to recipients that the cards were written by Grade 1 and 2 up Jews in his native Hungary. He As recipients took out their cards and students, who helped put the packages together on Mitzvah Day. turns to Denis Lehotay, who was his carefully read them, Johnson explained childhood friend, at a ceremony in that Grade 1 and 2 pupils had written Ottawa in early February. “That is the messages. Johnson, 36, and Wright, 38, spoke we give them socks. We also do first aid because of your parents. Without “I’ve had people cry when they read kindly to all, knew many by name, and and carry Naloxone kits that reverse the them, I wouldn’t be here.” them,” said Johnson. introduced themselves to new people, effects of an opioid overdose.” In 1944, Lehotay’s parents, Mary As coordinator and the one-man staff offering them a StreetSmarts business Sometimes Johnson and Wright help and Victor, agreed to hide and pro- of StreetSmarts, Johnson works out- card with contact information should get forms for people seeking to get into tect five-year-old Andrew, while his doors most of the time. recipients need to reach out for help. the housing registry for the Salvation pregnant mother, Klara Kun, went “Getting wet is the worst,” he “People are always coming and going.” Army, the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal into hiding elsewhere in Budapest. acknowledges. Along with dedicated They said they’d look into it when Health, or Shepherds of Good Hope. On February 9, Mary and Victor volunteers, such as Simon Wright, someone asked about getting a sleeping The StreetSmarts program was start- Lehotay were awarded the pres- StreetSmart’s weekend supervisor for bag or warm clothing. One man happily ed by Peter Cassidy in 2001. After Cas- tigious “Righteous Among the the last three years, Johnson works on showed off the warm snow pants they sidy died in November 2014, Johnson Nations” title posthumously at a the street, offering resources, referrals had given him previously. carried it on. ceremony at the Israeli embassy in and basic supplies to Ottawa’s down- “We’re out here for everybody,” said “I took over because StreetSmarts See Right(eous) on page 2 town homeless population. Johnson. “If they say they need socks, See Bracha Bags on page 2 inside: Broward County’s Jewish sheriff > p. 3 Ottawa’s singing doctor > p. 5 Preparing for Passover > p. 14 & 15 Elegance meets athleticism. The Audi A7 Sportback. March 5, 2018 2 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Bracha Bags: Gratefully received Continued from page 1 helped me with my own addictions,” HOW TO HELP BEYOND MITZVAH DAY he said, “and I wanted to ensure the On the street: Christopher Johnson of program continued helping people get StreetSmarts says if you’re approached through their social issues. That’s what on the street, you don’t have to give we’re all about.” people anything. Johnson says he “got clean” in 2004; “What you can do is acknowledge Wright did in 2012. They say that their them and say: ‘Hello, how are you backgrounds enable them to “connect doing?’ ” and to establish a relationship” more In your car: Johnson says if you are easily with those in the same situation. approached in your car on a hot sum- Johnson has dozens of volunteers mer day, and you have extra bottles such as Wright who help with education of water in your car, you can offer programs and night direct outreach. them. “I have some volunteers who have Larger items: With larger items such been with StreetSmarts for four years, and as clothing or furniture, he advises one woman has been with StreetSmarts that it’s best to donate them to an PETER WAISER. for 10 years. Others have been volunteer- organization. “Research various Andrew Kun, left, and his sister, Suzanne Kun-Turnau, owe their lives to the parents of Denis ing on and off for years, and some people organizations or call one of the Lehotay, right. come in and out. A lot of volunteers have outreaches and find out where you social issues and life experience.” can donate items. With the Housing StreetSmarts doesn’t receive govern- First program of the City of Ottawa, ment funding; it relies on donations of there is a high demand for furni- Right(eous): Families remained friends supplies and money to keep going. It ture.” works within the spirit of JFS’s mission StreetSmarts program: For more infor- Continued from page 1 of tikkun olam, repairing the world. mation or to help, please call the downtown Ottawa. “We need people out here making StreetSmarts direct line at 613-979-3387 “My parents were simple people, “My parents were simple people, connections,” said Wright. or email [email protected]. (but) when many people covered their Johnson said he makes sure that the Fundraising event: All proceeds from a ears and eyes and ignored evil, they took (but) when many people Bracha bags are distributed to those fundraising event called Lip-Sync for a decision with life-long consequences,” covered their ears and eyes and most in need as quickly as possible. the Homeless will go to StreetSmarts said their son, Denis, at the ceremony, ignored evil, they took a “While we focus on the square of outreach. Held in memory of Pete which was also attended by an emotion- Elgin and Bank Street, and the Market Cassidy, the event will be held al Andrew and his sister, Suzanne, who decision with life-long area and Vanier, every now and then we May 5 at the Bronson Centre; see was born in hiding. consequences,” said their son, get a call to another part of the city.” www.petessparklefund.com for more. “I was saved, although I was in my Denis, at the ceremony, which mother’s womb when the Nazis took all the Jews from Budapest,” Suzanne told was also attended by an those gathered for the ceremony. “The emotional Andrew and his sister, Lehotays helped my mother find a place Suzanne, who was born with a Christian woman who breastfed me right after I was born (when my in hiding. mother) couldn’t keep me.” When nosy neighbours started asking questions about Andrew, Mary Lehotay was the photographer at my wedding lied to protect her son’s friend, pretend- in 1960,” Andrew wrote. “Need I say On April 26, 2018 ing that she had anti-Semitic attitudes more?” in order to fool others. Victor died at the age of 75. Mary SAVE THE DATE! “My mom used despicable and died 11 years ago, at the age of 97. The Ottawa Jewish derogatory language on Jews when “Victor and Mary displayed extraor- asked about Andrew’s stay with us by dinary courage saving the Kuns, despite Historical Society our neighbours,” recalls Denis, 78, a great risk and threat to their lives,” retired biochemist who now lives in said Ester Driham, National Executive in partnership with the Kingston. But those necessary lies belied Director of the Canadian Society for Yad her true beliefs. Vashem. Soloway JCC, will present “When we asked her why they had “That’s what made them deserving of saved the Kuns, she simply said ‘there this great award,” said Nimrod Barkan, was no other way’. ” Israel ambassador to Canada, who con- After the war, Andrew’s father, with fided that his own family was rescued whom the family was reunited, wrote by strangers in Hungary as well. “I’m thank-you letters to their rescuers. not sure I would have been courageous These precious letters were found in enough had I been in their shoes.” Denis’ sister’s belongings when she died Denis said the reason for submitting A retrospective of three years ago. the application for the award of Righ- In his testimonial to Yad Vashem, teous Among the Nations “is to remem- Andrew, who now lives in Florida, wrote ber their legacy.” that “in 1956, after the Hungarian revo- “Their grandchildren need to know Do you have memorabilia or photos? lution, my father arranged and paid for that their grandparents did the right and Camp B’nai Brith Ottawa the Lehotay family to come to Montreal, honourable thing because ‘there was no Call Anna Bilsky at 613-728-4202 where we lived.” other way’.