blue - 300 c gree n - 362 c brown - 1535 c JNF OTTAWA NEGEV DINNER Don’t forget to renew NOVEMBER 13, 2018 your subscription to the SUPPORTING AT-RISK YOUTH Ottawa Jewish Bulletin! KIRYAT SHMONA - 90% SOLD! [email protected] 613.798.2411 Call 613-798-4696, ext. 256 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin OCTOBER 29, 2018 | CHESHVAN 20, 5779 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Plaque honouring Lillian Bilsky Freiman dedicated at Army Officer’s Mess BY MICHAEL REGENSTREIF EDITOR so satisfactory that the pattern was adopted by the American Red Cross. The large crowd including family women who volunteered to do this work members, Jewish community did so until the end of the war.” leaders, political and military Mackay also noted that Freiman officials, and a large contingent opened her home every weekend to Jew- Aof Canadian Armed Forces veterans, ish soldiers from the Rockcliffe Camp. gathered in the elegant drawing room of “These soldiers in turn brought their Army Officers’ Mess at 149 Somerset gentile friends as well, and all enjoyed Street West in Ottawa, October 11, for the a weekend where they could relax and dedication of a plaque honouring take part in various entertainments philanthropist and community leader throughout the war years.” Lillian Bilsky Freiman (1885-1940). From the soldiers, Freiman learned of Also present at the morning cere- the problems experienced by returning mony – organized by Parks Canada on veterans leading her to help establish the behalf of the Historic Sites and Monu- Great War Veterans Association, the fore- ments Board of Canada – were represen- runner of the Canadian Legion. In 1933, tatives of many of the charitable organi- Freiman became the first woman made zations impacted by Freiman’s activism an honorary life member of the Legion. and generosity. Within the Jewish community, Frei- The daughter of Moses Bilsky, the man was best known as the founder first Jew to settle in Ottawa, Freiman of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW), married department store owner and the country’s largest Jewish women’s Jewish community leader A.J. (Archibald organization. Freiman served as CHW’s Jacob) Freiman in 1903. The Freimans national president from its founding in built their home in 1913 and the mansion 1919 until her death in 1940. became the Army Officers’ Mess in 1957. Among her many honours, in 1934, As Freiman’s granddaughter Betsy Freiman became the first Jewish Canadi- Rigal, who grew up in the home, and COURTESY OF PARKS CANADA an to be awarded the Order of the Brit- Lt.-Col (Retired) Dan Mackay explained, The plaque honouring Lillian Bilsky Freiman is now installed in front of the Army Officers’ Mess ish Empire. at 149 Somerset Street West in Ottawa. it was on the dining room table in her The federal government was repre- home in 1922 that Freiman made the sented at the ceremony by MP Stéphane first artificial poppies that quickly came soldiers and veterans. As Mackay, a past which the Freimans had purchased Lauzon, parliamentary secretary to the to symbolize Remembrance Day in Can- president of the Army Officers’ Mess in 1913. In so doing, she removed her minister of Veterans Affairs and associ- ada – a symbol that endures to this day. who now serves as the Mess historian dining room furniture and installed 30 ate minister of National Defence. Well before she launched the poppy explained, “With the outbreak of war sewing machines. Each day… under “On behalf of the government of Can- campaign in Canada, Freiman, who in 1914 Lillian Freiman devoted herself the auspices of the Red Cross, women ada, I am pleased to commemorate the became known as “The Poppy Lady,” to the welfare of Canada’s soldiers. She volunteers sewed pyjamas and heavy- national historic significance of Lillian had taken a leading role in supporting established a sewing club in her home… lined dressing gowns which later proved See Freiman on page 2 Former cabinet ministers honoured Debbie Halton-Weiss on Breast cancer gene mutations in inside: for combatting anti-Semitism > p. 2 Holocaust Education Month > p. 6 Ashkenazi Jewish women> p. 17 Welcome to the big league. The Audi Q7. Audi Mark Motors of Ottawa Audi Ottawa 295 W Hunt Club Rd. 458 Montreal Rd. 613-723-1221 613-749-5941 SPARKADVOCACY.CA APPROVED FILENAME SPARK-MM-AUDI-Q7-JB-10.25X1.5-2018-EN1 MODIFIED OCTOBER 10, 2018 9:37 AM DATE 2018 CLIENT CLIENT ION VENDOR + T JEWISH BULLETIN PROPERTY ACCOUNT REP. KAYAL FITZPATRICK ART DIRECTOR ADRIAN JEAN CGD PUBLICA TRIM SIZE 10.25”W X 1.5”H APPROVALS PRODUCTION BORDELEAU INSERTION TYPE --- COMMENTS SPECS INSERTION DATE --- October 29, 2018 2 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Freiman: Plaque dedicated Former cabinet ministers honoured Continued from page 1 Bilsky Freiman, whose lifelong dedication for combating anti-Semitism to helping others through social activism and community service had a real and BY MATTHEW HORWOOD direct positive impact for the lives of wo former federal cabinet thousands of Canadians. I encourage all ministers from Ottawa – the Canadians to learn more about Lillian late Mauril Bélanger and John Bilsky Freiman and her important place Baird – received the Raoul in our country’s history,” said Lauzon. TWallenberg Citation for Moral Courage The plaque honouring Freiman can in the Face of Anti-Semitism in a now be seen in front of the Army Offi- ceremony held, October 17, at the cer’s Mess. National Holocaust Monument. It was the third annual presenta- tion hosted by the Wallenberg Citation Initiative. The award – named for a Swedish diplomat who saved thou- sands of Jews from the Holocaust and who disappeared after being taken into custody by Soviet authorities in 1945 – recognizes “outstanding indi- viduals (or groups) who stand up to Federa� on’s Annual Campaign 2019 Kickoff and speak out against anti-Semitism in Canada and the world.” was a wild success! “We are here today for an import- ant purpose, and I believe our purpose will be a memorable experience for all of us,” said Daniel Stringer, co-founder MICHAEL REGENSTREIF of the Wallenberg Citation Initiative Betsy Rigal, Lillian Bilsky Freiman’s grand- MATTHEW HORWOOD daughter, speaks at the ceremony dedicating and MC of the event. (From left) Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka, John Baird, Daniel Stringer, Catherine Bélanger and a plaque in honour of her grandmother, The 2018 national citation was Lawrence Greenspon gather at the National Holocaust Monument following a ceremony October 11, at the Army Officers’ Mess. presented posthumously to Bélanger, presenting the Raoul Wallenberg Citation for Moral Courage in the Face of Anti-Semitism to the Liberal MP who represented Otta- Baird and the late Mauril Bélanger, October 17. wa-Vanier and served as minister of internal trade under prime minis- ter Paul Martin, and who proposed “That generation understood the the bill changing Canada’s national “We have seen the great struggle of needing to be morally anthem to be gender neutral. Law- metamorphosis of sound and morally strong. But regret- rence Greenspon, who spoke “not as traditional anti-Semitism that tably, those struggles aren’t over,” he a lawyer, but as Mauril’s friend,” pre- said. Photos: Howard Sandler sented the award to Bélanger’s wife, targets the individual Jew, “We have seen the metamorphosis Catherine. to anti-Semitism that targets of traditional anti-Semitism that tar- The 2018 international citation was the Jewish state,” Baird said. gets the individual Jew, to anti-Sem- presented by Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka to itism that targets the Jewish state,” John Baird, the former Conservative MP Baird said. “We need moral clarity, and for Ottawa West-Nepean who served as Holocaust deniers,” Rabbi Bulka standing up for Israel is just the right minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to said. “Not only did he do this with thing to do.” 2015. Rabbi Bulka said it was a “person- regards to defending Israel, but he Also participating in the ceremony al thrill” to be able to present the award also did it with regards to defending were author Fred Litwin, who spoke to “one of my heroes.” human rights.” hopefully about a world without “John changed the discourse in for- In accepting the award, Baird spoke anti-Semitism, violinist Ralitsa Tchola- eign affairs. This was principled lead- at length about his grandfather, who kova, who played for the audience, ership of standing up to – and calling fought in Europe during the Second and Cantor Pinchas Levinson, who led out – the modern incarnations of World War. Thank you the singing of “O Canada.” to our chairs, the Zaret Family, Corporate Lillian Bilsky Freiman all par� cipants, volunteers and supporters! Sponsors Event Sponsors ARE YOU TRAVELLING SOUTH Tier 1 MEMBERS’ MEETING Benita Siemiatycki FOR THE WINTER? 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Wolinsky Issue: OCT 29/18 Tier 3 Service, Knowledge & Integrity Serving Clients Throughout Ontario Colour: BW Colour: COLOUR You Can Trust [email protected] 1-647-284-2937 Size: 3.3 X 2 Size: 3.3 X 2 Proof #: 1 Proof #: 4 October 29, 2018 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM 3 Michael Berenbaum to speak about Kristallnacht at Holocaust Education Month launch BY MATTHEW HORWOOD ichael Berenbaum will deliver the keynote address launching Holocaust Education Month in Ottawa.