Knowledgeable, Approachable ... TU BI’SHEVAT TELETHON it DOES make a difference! Students’ Art and Essays Jennifer Hartman Sales Representative JANUARY 27 613-882-7180 SUPPORT SOUTHERN ISRAEL See Chanukah through the eyes of our youth: [email protected] TREES $18 | TREE BANK $150 FOR 10 TREES Enjoy the selection of colourful and joyous [email protected] | 613-798-2411 WWW.JNF.CA holiday submissions > p. 11 to p. 13 jenniferhartman.ca Ottawa Jewish Bulletin NOVEMBER 25, 2013 | 22 KISLEV 5774 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Ottawa’s synagogues tackle existential challenges Congregations face varied problems from declining membership to building and staffi ng issues, while several alternative models are succeeding BY JENNIFER GREEN Congregation Beth Shalom has sold its With numbers continuing to dwindle at Chapel Street building and must move out many major Ottawa synagogues, congre- by the end of March. gations are being challenged like never Talks to merge with Agudath Israel, before to fi nd new models to sustain Ottawa’s other major Conservative themselves. congregation, “have been challenging,” he The issue is so pressing, said Ian said. Sherman, president of the Conservative But ignoring fi scal realities would mean Congregation Beth Shalom, that if the deferring the problem for a future board to current rate of attrition continues, then face. the days of the traditional synagogue — “At a certain point you really, really PHOTO: ASHLEY FRASER with a rabbi, cantor and administrative need to take tough decisions,” Sherman Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Machzikei Hadas since staff — may soon be over. See Synagogue challenges on page 2 1967 and is known for his indefatigable energy and charisma. Sherman was responding to the Pew Research Center Survey of U.S. Jews released last month that found far fewer American Jews identify as “religious” than Loneliness, cost, clergy and cluelessness in the past. The ranks of American Jews identifying with the Conservative move- In this guest column, Samantha Banks, tions is down. If you only attend shul on ors. I attended a Jew-ish camp. There was ment in particular have declined to 18 per director of initiatives for the emerging the High Holidays, one-third of your nothing Jewish about it, except that every cent from 41 per cent in 1971. generation at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, experience is associated with standing for camper was Jewish. Despite my unobserv- Sherman said his own congregation has explains why she thinks many young adults are hours in silence, starvation and uncom- ant upbringing, my passion for the State of shrunk and now attracts about 500 people turning away from traditional synagogue fortable clothing, while dreaming about Israel, my contributions to our vibrant on the High Holy Days, down from 1,800 in affi liation. your dairy-laden meal after sundown. Jewish community and my desire to make the 1970s. s it not ironic that Yom Kippur – the “My name is Samantha Banks and I am a Jewish home are undeniable. “We have been losing a lot of money. All most depressing day of the year for me guilty of attending shul three times a year.” On October 20, I participated in a panel of the hard work the shul volunteers put in – happens to be the day the majority I did not go to Hebrew day school, I did at Limmud Ottawa titled, “Why Do Young … the fruits of our efforts just don’t seem Iof Jewish people attend shul? No not grow up in a kosher home, and my Adults Turn Away from Shul?” to be there. It’s very sad.” wonder membership in Ottawa congrega- grandparents were not Holocaust surviv- See Banks on page 2 Emerging Gen columnist The Bulletin is like the little engine David Berman on redesign inside: welcomes us to cyberspace > p. 3 that could, writes Moscovitz > p. 7 and community renewal > p. 30 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 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40018822 since 1947! www.boydgroup.on.ca 2 November 25, 2013 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM and issues that have arisen over the years Synagogue challenges: Appealing to the unaffi liated which led to the emergence of the other Orthodox services in the area. Continued from page 1 adding that membership has been Vista has declined by about one-third over “My greatest goal is trying to bring said. “If that is the reality of Jewish life … dropping by two to fi ve per cent per year. the past 15 years, said Jonah Rabinovitch, [everyone] back together,” said Rabbi then your infrastructures need to be As well as a possible merger with Beth president of Ottawa’s oldest Orthodox Galandauer. modifi ed to deal with that reality. The Shalom, permanent clergy is an issue of congregation. Now it has about 300 Appealing to the unaffi liated is a goal of traditional infrastructures are no longer concern at Agudath Israel where Rabbi families. many congregations, including Temple feasible.” Barry Schlesinger was brought in from One of its attractions has been its Israel. With the move from the building it has Israel on an interim basis, originally for charismatic and indefatigable spiritual Mark Bowman, treasurer of Ottawa’s occupied almost since the congregation one year, in 2011. A year-long extension leader, Rabbi Reuven Bulka. But he is 69, only Reform congregation, said that while was created in 1956 by the merger of two will expire later this year. and has been there since 1967. the number of member families is stable at downtown congregations – Adath A third Conservative congregation, the While Machzikei Hadas is broadening See Synagogues on page 16 Jeshurun and Agudath Achim – imminent, smaller Adath Shalom, is not encumbered its programing for young families in an and a merger with Agudath Israel far from by the infrastructure problems Sherman attempt to boost membership, Young More on synagogues: US faces dilemma of certain, the Beth Shalom board advised referred to as it has no offi ce staff and Israel of Ottawa, a traditional Orthodox non-Jews in the pews, page 26; congregants last month that temporary meets on the Jewish Community Campus, synagogue in Westboro, is looking to Mira Sucharov on going to shul, page 41 relocation sites “in the East End, in the usually in the chapel of the Ottawa Jewish strengthen attendance by bringing back West End and downtown” are being looked Community School, but moving next door congregants who have dispersed to at and that Centrepointe Theatre has been to the Soloway Jewish Community Centre smaller minyans in the area in recent Share your thoughts reserved for the 2014 High Holy Days. when bar and bat mitzvahs and High Holy years. Join the conversation. Membership is also a concern at Day services attract larger crowds. As Rabbi Ari Galandauer explained, Send letters to the editor to bulletin@ Agudath Israel. Howard Levine, the Meanwhile, several other Ottawa there are four Orthodox services in the ottawajewishbulletin.com or submit congregation’s president, said the shul congregations are facing similar infra- area on Shabbat morning, “so each is a them online at http://ottawajewish attracted only 20 new families in the past structure and membership problems. little bit small.” bulletin.com. year. “It was disappointing,” Levine said Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Alta He said there have been group dynamics Banks: Like Miley Cyrus sings, “This is our house, this is our rules” Continued from page 1 does not read or speak Hebrew, does not Here are four reasons why I believe understand biblical text and cannot relate young adults are straying from traditional to the material. shul and Jewish experiences. Considering all of the above, can you Loneliness: Quite often, young adults blame a young person for not making the move away from the cities where they effort to attend shul? were raised to pursue academic and career Young adults today have alternative opportunities. Without family or friends, lifestyles, so why would we choose to go to shul can be perceived as a daunting place a place that can come across as restrictive to go to alone. when we can bring Judaism to ourselves? Cost: Without your family paying your While I am certainly not religious, I do shul fees, and no longer qualifying for a practise my own version of Judaism. Every youth membership, the cost can be a Friday night, I host or get hosted for burden a young person does not want to Shabbat dinner. I rock the apron, then PHOTO: ROBIN CHERNICK Panelists discuss why many young adults are turning away from shul at Limmud Ottawa, throw on the heels! budget for. October 20, at Beth Shalom. (From left) Eric Trottier, Adam Moscoe, Samantha Banks, Rabbi Clergy: When not attending your own Two of the rabbis on the Limmud Michael Goldstein, Rabbi Leibish Hundert, Rabbi Menachem Blum, (standing) Scott Goldstein. shul, you probably never had the oppor- Ottawa panel – Rabbi Michael Goldstein of tunity to schmooze with the rabbis of your the Glebe Shul in Ottawa and Rabbi started in their homes. Holidays. They will view your shul as a new city. It is hard to relate to a sermon and Leibish Hundert of the Ghetto Shul in Give young adults multiple reasons to social meeting ground and not just a to the leadership of a shul without having a Montreal – have had tremendous success walk through your shul’s doors, and I high-paying membership club. Young relationship outside the sanctuary. generating large numbers of young adults promise, after a few social, educational adults are waiting