Ottawa Jewish Andrea Freedman Named As New Federation
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ottawa jewish ✡ Pottery philanthropist page 8 www.ottawajewishbulletin.com bulletinjanuary 21, 2013 volume 77, no. 7 shevat 10, 5773 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd. • 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1R9 • Publisher: Mitchell Bellman • Editor: Michael Regenstreif $2.00 Andrea Freedman named as new Federation CEO By Michael Regenstreif tity] was always part of who I was.” place where she knew no one had not A chance encounter while Andrea After graduating from McGill been part of Freedman’s plan. “But, Freedman was attending graduate University in 1992 with a BA in po- somehow, I was bitten by the bug, school at Carleton University in Ot- litical science, Freedman went to Is- and wound up spending two terrific tawa changed her life and set her on rael with Project Otzma, a 10-month years there directing the youth pro- a carreer path in Jewish communal volunteer project. gram and really learning about the service. “I immediately gained an absolute field of Jewish communal service,” Freedman, 42, has been named the love and appreciation for the country, she said. Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s new for the land and for the people.” Freedman decided Jewish com- president and chief executive officer. Returning from Israel, she spent a munal service “was what I wanted to She succeeds Mitchell Bellman who year at Carleton where she began a do with my life” and returned to announced his resignation in August. master’s program in political science school at the University of Michigan In an interview with the Bulletin with a plan to go on to law school and for a master’s degree in social work during a visit to Ottawa on January 4, become a volunteer in the Jewish and Jewish communal service. Freedman said Jewish community community. But that chance en- “I was fortunate to receive a life had been important to her while counter changed her direction. scholarship from the federation growing up in Montreal. “I met someone who I thought I movement, so I had a commitment to “Growing up, I was always in- was applying for a summer job with,” work for a Jewish federation some- volved in the Jewish community,” she said. “Instead, he passed on my where in North America for two she said. “I was involved in BBYO, resumé to the executive director of years and I chose to go back home to in my synagogue. I went to Jewish the Jewish Community Centre in Montreal,” she said. summer camp. Our family was al- Springfield, Massachusetts, who was Beginning in 1998, Freedman Andrea Freedman is looking forward to working with Ot- ways Jewishly engaged. My first trip looking for a full-time youth direc- worked at Federation CJA in Montre- tawa’s Jewish community. She will take the helm at the to Israel was on a federation family tor.” al for six years – well beyond her Jewish Federation of Ottawa in March. mission when I was 14. [Jewish iden- Moving to a full-time job in a (Continued on page 2) (Photo: Michael Regenstreif) Former Israeli ambassador expects Levy Report will be adopted By Michael Regenstreif ed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- with the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin about the commissions to function, establishing courts Alan Baker was a familiar figure in Ot- tanyahu to determine the legal status of set- Levy Report and prospects for the peace to deal with competing land claims,” all of tawa’s Jewish community while serving as Is- tlement building on the West Bank. Chaired process. which need government approval, said the rael’s ambassador to Canada from 2004 to by former Israeli Supreme Court justice Ed- While some commentators suggested the former ambassador. 2008. An expert in international law who was mund Levy, the committee issued the Report Levy Report was buried by the Netanyahu “While it was being bandied about as a prominently involved in negotiating Israel’s on the Legal Status of Building in Judea and government after it was released because it sort of political ping-pong ball, it’s been dif- peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, and the Samaria, popularly known as the Levy Re- was too controversial, Baker expects it to be ficult for the prime minister to bring it to the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians, Baker re- port, in July. adopted following this week’s Israeli elec- government. The assumption is that [the Levy turned to Israel in 2008 where he now prac- The Levy Report – which was published tion, from which he anticipates Netanyahu Report] will be brought back immediately tises law and is director of the Institute for in July, but has yet to be adopted by the gov- will emerge victoriously. after the election and adopted.” Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center ernment – found that Israeli settlement activ- “The Levy Report was a list of 17 recom- The issue of settlements, according to for Public Affairs. ity in the West Bank cannot be considered il- mendations for placing in order the process of Baker, is on the negotiating table in future Baker was in the news in 2012 as one of legal under international law. building settlements, extending settlements, peace negotiations with the Palestinians. the three members of the committee appoint- On a recent visit to Ottawa, Baker spoke enabling the various planning and zoning (Continued on page 9 ) World Class Outsourcing ... and more! 613-744-6444 613-244-7225 Providing quality service 613-744-5767 613-244-4444 to the National Capital Region Publications Mail Registration No. 07519 since 1947! www.boydgroup.on.ca Page 2 – Ottawa Jewish Bulletin – January 21, 2013 Winter comes to Israel The weather in Jerusalem on January 10 wasn’t very different from Ottawa when Bulletin Three Israeli teenagers with the snowwoman they built above the Seam columnist Barbara Crook took this picture of her balcony there. clothing shop in Jerusalem on January 10. (Photos: Barbara Crook) New CEO looks forward to joining Ottawa’s Jewish community (Continued from page 1) that would build a sustain- Federations Canada, the na- the organization’s National Jewish community here. I, and the Federation, gain two-year commitment. able and viable future.” tional umbrella organization Task Force on Jewish De- “My sense, from talking our key stakeholders’ trust “It was an incredible ex- Freedman retains a great of Canada’s Jewish federa- mographics. with lay leaders and staff, is and confidence – because perience. I started as a cam- appreciation for the experi- tions, including the Jewish Most recently, Freedman that, while there are real that’s what’s ultimately paign associate working with ence. Federation of Ottawa. has been vice-president, challenges that exist in the going to lead to our suc- some of the smaller divisions “There’s nothing more “It was a great opportu- philanthropy and opera- community, there’s a real cess,” she said. and became the director of rewarding than working on nity to engage my passion tions, at Mount Sinai Hospi- sense of alignment as to what “There’s a lot of work to the Israel and Overseas De- an agenda that is meaning- for the Jewish people on a tal Foundation in Toronto, a those challenges are … and, be done, but there are a lot partment in Montreal in ful to you and that so many broader canvas and work on job she describes as “a real with everyone pretty much in of great things already hap- 2001, just as the Second In- other people find meaning- behalf of all of Jewish eye-opener” where she agreement as to what the real pening.” tifada broke out and my job ful as well,” she said. Canada,” she said. “I was learned much about donor issues facing the community The Federation’s lay was transformed overnight,” Wanting to broaden her able to develop great rela- relations. are, then you can really put leadership expressed excite- she said. “I was supposed to experience, and to hone her tionships with lay leaders “We have to do a better all of your energy into com- ment on Freedman’s en- just be responsible for the skills as a fundraiser, Freed- and professionals across the job of thanking our donors ing up with creative solutions gagement as the new presi- Partnership 2000 initiative man moved on to UJA Fed- country including very par- and making sure they un- to tackle them,” she said. dent and CEO. and a couple of other minor eration of Greater Toronto ticular relationships right derstand their gift is valued “There is a real energy “From the moment out- community programs, but in- where she was associate here in Ottawa where I was and appreciated. The hospi- and excitement in this com- going CEO Mitchell Bell- stead ended up spearheading campaign director for two involved in a mission with tal did a great job of doing munity to tackle some of the man announced his resigna- community involvement and years, and then spent anoth- the Lions of Judah, with the that and there’s some great key challenges and to con- tion in August, the Federa- engagement in a revitalized er two years as director of Dragon Boat Israel initia- lessons that I learned and tinue to elevate Ottawa’s tion Board has worked tire- advocacy effort on behalf of special initiatives for Jewish tive, and with the Partner- hope to apply to the cam- Jewish community.” lessly to ensure that the or- the State of Israel.” Toronto Tomorrow, the cap- ship 2Gether committee.” paign here.” Freedman said her first ganization would find the Freedman described the ital campaign to build and In September 2009 – Freedman – who remains priority on the job will be to best possible candidate for experience as “a classic revitalize three Jewish cam- along with UIA Federations a passionate Montreal meet people – including key the job, a superb new leader case of learning crisis man- puses in Greater Toronto.