blue - 300 c gree n - 362 c brown - 1535 c JNF OTTAWA NEGEV DINNER Call Today To Place Your NOVEMBER 13, 2018 Rosh Hashanah Greetings SUPPORTING AT-RISK YOUTH Deadline August 8 KIRYAT SHMONA [email protected] 613.798.2411 Eddie: 613-798-4696, x 256 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin JUNE 25, 2018 | TAMUZ 12, 5778 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 A nuclear Iran is Israel’s only real threat says former IDF chief at Foundation AGM The Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation AGM included reports, award presentations, and a keynote address by Gabi Ashkenazi on the military and social challenges faced by the State of Israel. Matthew Horwood reports. nuclear Iran is the only use military force, said Ashkenazi. existential threat to the State of “Hopefully, we will not have to act Israel, said Gabi Ashkenazi, a alone. But, based on my experience, we retired general who was chief probably will be alone, and that is why Aof General Staff of the Israel Defense we must be ready to protect ourselves.” Forces from 2007 until 2011. The other issue with Iran, Ashkenazi Ashkenazi was the guest speaker at said, is that Iranian proxy groups, such the annual general meeting of the Otta- as Hezbollah, are present in Syria and HOWARD SANDLER wa Jewish Community Foundation, June fighting for the Assad regime in that Gabi Ashkenazi, former chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, speaks at the Ottawa 6, at the Soloway Jewish Community country’s civil war. That should be a red Jewish Community Foundation AGM, June 6, at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre. Centre. line for Israel. “Forget [what] the newspapers [say]. The borders with Egypt and Jordan, The situation – from a national defence the two Arab countries that have peace perspective – is quite good,” he said. “It is treaties with Israel, are quiet, he said, better than it was two decades ago; and and threats from terrorist groups like definitely better than when I was a young Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in lieutenant during the Yom Kippur war.” Gaza are not serious. Ashkenazi said now that President “They cannot conquer Israel. They Donald Trump has pulled the United are no real threat to us,” Ashkenazi said. States out of the Iran nuclear deal, the However, he acknowledged, Israel Iranians have two major options. The still lives in a tough neighborhood. first would be for the country to remain “Even after 70 years as a country, in the deal, because the other signato- many of our neighbouring countries are ries – the United Kingdom, France, Ger- not willing to accept our basic right to many, China and Russia – still support it. have a Jewish state,” he said. Iran’s other option would be to break Israel’s greatest challenges, according HOWARD SANDLER from the deal and “dash to the bomb.” to Ashkenazi, come from within. Israeli Jasmine Segal (right) receives the George Joseph Cooper Scholarship Award from Foundation If Iran opted to break the deal, Israel society is changing, he said in reference Board member Paul Finn. would face the possibility of having to See Foundation on page 2 Remembering Shinshinim prepare to return to Israel Pamela Rosenberg on the 2018 inside: Norman Zagerman > p. 3 after a year in Ottawa > p. 5 JWRP trip to Israel > p. 15 TO CONQUER ALFA ROMEO GIULIA EVERY CORNER, YOU CAN’T CUT ANY. Alfa Romeo Ottawa 616 St. Laurent Boulevard 613-740-1001 SPARKADVOCACY.CA APPROVED FILENAME SPARK-MM-ALFA-GIULIA-JEWISHB-10.25X1.5-2018-06-EN3 MODIFIED JUNE 6, 2018 2:12 PM DATE 2018 CLIENT CLIENT VENDOR + JEWISH BULLETIN PROPERTY ACCOUNT REP. KEVIN DEAGLE ART DIRECTOR ADRIAN JEAN CGD PUBLICATION TRIM SIZE 10.25”W X 1.5”H APPROVALS PRODUCTION MORGAN DUNBAR INSERTION TYPE --- COMMENTS SPECS INSERTION DATE --- June 25 2018 2 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Foundation: Scholarships and Norman Lesh Philanthropy Award presented at AGM Continued from page 1 to the growing proportion of haredi Orthodox in the population, with fewer young people are serving in the military, getting a proper education and paying taxes. “It is not just economically unsustain- able, it is social unsustainable” Ashkenazi said. “We have to change all of that, through education, through service for all, and through leadership. I think we have the budget and resources to fix this.” “The story about this country is a miracle,” Ashkenazi said. “But beyond (HOWARD SANDLER) divine intervention, it’s a story about Mackenzie Cook (centre) receives the Ilana and Steven Rubin Hillel Lodge LTC Foundation President Russell Kronick and Executive people. The strength of Israel is about Scholarship Award from benefactor Steven Rubin (left) and Director Mitch Miller (right) receive the Norman Lesh Philanthropy people.” Foundation Board member Paul Finn. Award from Foundation Board member Paul Finn, a son-in-law of the Ashkenazi is now chair of the Rashi late Norman Lesh. Foundation. Established in 1984, it is now the largest philanthropic organiza- tion, and the oldest private foundation, in Israel. The Rashi Foundation assists underprivileged segments of Israeli soci- ety, with special attention to children and youth. Ashkenazi said that 80 per cent of the foundation’s disbursements support education, while the remaining 20 per cent goes towards welfare. “We provide opportunities to those who have no opportunity. We give them choices. That is what we are doing,” he said. (HOWARD SANDLER) Ashkenazi also took the opportunity Alise Gertsenchtein (centre) receives the Ilana and Steven Rubin (HOWARD SANDLER) to thank the Jewish community of Otta- Scholarship Award from benefactor Steven Rubin (left) and Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation Chair Gillie Vered calls the wa for its support of the State of Israel. Foundation Board member Paul Finn. Foundation AGM to order, June 6. “Thank you for what you are doing, for standing for Israel, and for building ish campus life activist Jasmine Segal award, which is meant to “encourage cent to North American Jewish agencies, Jewish lives and community,” he said. received the George Joseph Cooper other innovative thinkers to develop 2.4 per cent to non-sectarian agencies The Foundation AGM included the Scholarship Award. The Cooper scholar- their own philanthropic legacy.” and 1.4 per cent to Israeli agencies. presentation of several awards presented ship is presented annually to a student The meeting was led by Foundation Other speakers at the AGM included by Paul Finn, a member of the Founda- from Ottawa’s Jewish community who Chair Gillie Vered, who spoke about the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Chair Hart- tion Board of Directors. has “displayed leadership qualities, aca- importance of the Foundation’s work in ley Stern, who gave a report on Federa- The Ilana and Steven Rubin Schol- demic excellence, a strong commitment ensuring the future viability of the com- tion’s “Jewish Superhighway” initiative; arship Award was presented to two to the Jewish community, and whose munity and about his stepping up to a Foundation and Federation President graduating high school students going studies and career goals will advance the leadership role with the Foundation. and CEO Andrea Freedman, who gave on to university: Mackenzie Cook, who arts, literary or social sciences.” Foundation Treasurer Adina Libin an overview of Foundation activities; hopes to become a lawyer, and Alise The Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care presented the financial report noting Michael Landau, immediate past-chair Gertsenchtein, who plans to pursue (LTC) Foundation received the Norman an eight per cent return on Foundation of the Foundation who presented the studies in business and marketing, each Lesh Philanthropy Award for its video investments. This allowed the Foun- Governance Committee report and slate received $1,800 scholarships to help fur- campaign project. LTC Foundation dation to make grant commitments of of nominees for the Board of Directors; ther their educations. President Russel Kronick and Execu- $3,194,187. Of that amount, 85.5 per cent and Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton of Or Hane- McGill University student and Jew- tive Director Mitch Miller accepted the went to Ottawa Jewish agencies, 10.7 per shamah, who offered a D’var Torah. 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June 25, 2018 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM 3 Remembering the ‘Vaad-father’: Norman Zagerman 1929-2018 BY BENITA BAKER In this tireless community involvement, Zagerman f you have ever met a friend at the Jewish not only played a key decision-making role, but also Community Centre (JCC), contributed to an Ottawa became known as an honest, wise and trusted role Jewish Community Foundation fund that ensures model who you could go to for advice and guidance. It the future well being of the community, or felt is no surprise that he was affectionately nicknamed the Irelieved that our community’s most vulnerable were “Vaad-father.” being cared for, then you have experienced, in some In 1984, Zagerman received the Gilbert Greenberg way, Norman Zagerman’s passionate and unrelenting Distinguished Leadership Award, the highest tribute commitment to the Ottawa Jewish community.