JNF IS 100% ISRAEL Federation celebrates NEGEV DINNER OCT 27 AMSTERDAM-ISRAEL MISSION OCT 30-NOV 14 achievements and ISRAEL CULINARY EXPERIENCE NOV 6-10 JNFOTTAWA.CA FOR DETAILS volunteers at 82nd AGM [email protected] 613.798.2411 > page 3 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin JULY 25, 2016 | 19 TAMMUZ 5776 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Meet Rabbi Eytan Kenter, spiritual leader of Ottawa’s newest congregation Rabbi Eytan Kenter spoke with the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin on July 8, just prior to celebrating his fi rst Shabbat as the fi rst spiritual leader of Kehillat Beth Israel. Michael Aarenau reports. hen someone would ask rabbi in Atlanta gave Rabbi Kenter the the young Eytan Kenter, the opportunity to learn about the kind of son of a rabbi, what he rabbi he wanted to be, he said, which Wwanted to be when he was shaped his vision about the importance older, he’d reply “six feet tall,” or “not a of community togetherness, Jewish rabbi” (like his father). engagement and social justice. Well, he grew to up to be an inch shy Despite growing up in New York, “the of six feet and a rabbi. Rabbi Kenter has Jewish capital of North America,” and assumed the position of senior rabbi at spending seven years in the large and Kehillat Beth Israel – the new Con- fast-growing Jewish community of servative congregation created by the Atlanta, Rabbi Kenter said that Ottawa’s amalgamation of Beth Shalom and size was actually a signifi cant factor in Agudath Israel – after seven years as his decision to move here. associate rabbi at Congregation B’nai “I think the size is just right … Torah in Atlanta, Georgia. Sometimes in very large Jewish commun- While Rabbi Kenter was always ities, it becomes overly onerous to get passionate about Judaism, he was highly things done, and to differentiate one’s interested in politics and his career might self in the community,” he said. have been spent in Washington working Rabbi Kenter moved to Ottawa with his CHANA BLUMES PHOTOGRAPHY on Capitol Hill. However, he realized he wife, Staci, who was a medical social Rabbi Eytan Kenter with wife Staci and son Boaz. was more passionate about Judaism and worker in Atlanta in a children’s hospital decided on rabbinical school. for kids with blood disorders and leuk- vetted for the senior rabbi position. “I also like the idea of being able to “I like the interpersonal connections, emia lymphoma, and their two-year-old “This community spoke to me because build a new shul and, with Kehillat Beth the opportunity to really get to know son, Boaz, who is already excited about it had all of the things that we were Israel being a really new synagogue, I people and work with them and grow playing hockey. looking for with our family. It has a have the chance to build something brand with them, and I realized the only place I He said he formed an instant connec- strong Jewish community with a Jewish new within an already existing infra- could truly do that was from the pulpit,” tion with the membership of what would day school and good resources, and the structure – and that really spoke to me.” Rabbi Kenter said. become Kehillat Beth Israel, and with culture of being nice and welcoming too,” Rabbi Kenter said he has a clear vision His seven years working as an associate Ottawa’s Jewish community, while being he said. See Rabbi Kenter on page 2 Two supplemental schools OJCS and Hulse hold Day Jerry Gray of The Travellers inside: announce changes > p. 4, 5 of Cultural Understanding > p. 11 coming to SJCC > p. 22 The Perfect Mover Since 1947 Customized service to meet your specifi c needs Publication Mail Agreement No. 40018822 613.244.4444 • www.boydmoving.com 2 July 25, 2016 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Rabbi Kenter: Passionate about social justice issues Continued from page 1 Over the course of the year, Rabbi “Synagogues are in the relationship for Kehillat Beth Israel, but his fi rst policy Kenter plans to hold small parlour business,” he said. “So it’s not about how will be a year of no new policies to give meetings with congregants to get a better many programs we run, but how many of himself and the congregation’s member- grasp of the synagogue and to determine our members are engaged in meaningful ship time to “explore together and fi gure what’s working well and what needs to be ways. So one of the things that I’d really out who we are.” improved. like to see at Kehillat Beth Israel is that sense of engagement – making sure all of our members are engaged in a way that’s meaningful to them.” Elie Wiesel z”l passes away Rabbi Kenter is also very passionate about social justice initiatives and hopes to fi nd issues his congregants are pas- sionate about. Since arriving in Ottawa earlier this month, Rabbi Kenter has already reached out to several other congregational rabbis and hopes that Kehillat Beth Israel will work together with other congregations MICHAEL REGENSTREIF on future projects. Rabbi Eytan Kenter speaks with the “I’m a fi rm believer that we’re always Ottawa Jewish Bulletin a few hours before stronger when we work together than assuming the pulpit for his first Shabbat at when we try to work apart. There’s more Kehillat Beth Israel. that unites us than divides us, and, all too often, we allow those things that divide better it will permeate into the larger us to stand in the way of success,” he said. community as well.” “So the better the rabbis can do at talking See page 14: “Torah procession marks to each other and working together, the the beginning of Kehillat Beth Israel” Ottawa Jewish Bulletin appointment The Ottawa Jewish Bulletin has announced the appointment of Eddie Peltzman to the position of business manager. Born and raised in Montreal, Eddie has worked in advertising and market- ing for more than 20 years. He was with Metroland Media for 11 years and was then instrumental in launching The Bay Observer, a regional newspaper covering Hamilton and Burlington. Eddie is an avid golfer with many interests including history, old architec- ture, museums, hockey and football. As a newcomer to Ottawa, he is looking forward to discovering all that the city has to offer. Eddie has assumed responsibility for print and online advertising sales, and Eddie Peltzman PETER WAISER for subscriptions. Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor, author and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who became a “I’m excited about my move to ing needs and in reaching their goals,” leading icon of Holocaust remembrance and a global symbol of conscience – seen here Ottawa and in representing the Ottawa he said. speaking at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Annual Campaign kickoff on September 7, Jewish Bulletin. I’m looking forward to Eddie can be reached at epeltzman@ 2005 – died July 2 of natural causes at age 87. My Israel columnist Barbara Crook recalls an working with Bulletin clients and ottawajewishbulletin.com or 613-798- inspiring day spent with Wiesel, page 25. assisting them in meeting their advertis- 4696, ext. 256. 555 Legget Drive Suite 1030 Kanata, ON K2K 2X3 Les Kom, BA, MA, FMA, CIM® Portfolio Manager 613 783-7808 Investment Advisor [email protected] 613-580-2751 www.LesKomWealthAdvisor.com ŵŝĐŚĂĞů͘ƋĂƋŝƐŚΛŽƩĂǁĂ͘ĐĂ CIBC Wood Gundy is a division of CIBC World Markets Inc., a subsidiary of CIBC and a Member of ǁǁǁ͘ŵŝĐŚĂĞůƋĂƋŝƐŚ͘ĐŽŵ the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. July 25, 2016 3 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Federation celebrates achievements and volunteers at AGM The Jewish Federation of Ottawa used its annual general meeting, June 15 at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre, to update the community on Federation activities over the past year and to recognize several accomplished volunteers. Michael Aarenau reports. ommunity collaboration is “Each of us has the capacity, the the key to our continued ability and, dare I say, the responsibility HOWARD SANDLER success,’ said Jewish to add more richness and vibrancy to Merle Haltrecht-Matte receives the Shem Tov Award from Steven Kimmel, past-chair ‘CFederation of Ottawa Chair Jewish life … I’m not saying that it will of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, at the Federation AGM, June 15. Linda Kerzner at Federation’s 82nd be easy, but I am saying it will be worth annual general meeting. it.” Freedman said. “We have to act, we 2015 as well as for her continued dedica- As recipient of the Freiman Family Among the major successes of the past have to dream, we have to plan and, tion to the organization through tikkun Young Leadership Award, Scharf also year highlighted at the AGM were an most importantly, we have to believe. If olam and Holocaust education projects. received the Lawrence Greenberg Young increased Annual Campaign, unifi cation we work together as a team, we’ll make it Ellis, who was in Israel, accepted the Leadership Development Award, which of the two Orthodox day schools (Torah happen.” award via pre-recorded video. will allow her to attend the General Academy and Rambam), expansion of Other speakers included Ambassador “It has been such a privilege living in Assembly of the Jewish Federations of the Shabbat Project, and the exponential Rafael Barak, who brought offi cial Ottawa and working so closely with its North America to be held this year in growth of the PJ Library program. greetings from the State of Israel and Jewish community. [I know] that it will Washington, D.C.