ottawa jewish ✡ Jewish reggae violinist page 8 www.ottawajewishbulletin.com bulletinfebruary 4, 2013 volume 77, no. 8 shevat 24, 5773 Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Publishing Co. Ltd. • 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1R9 • Editor: Michael Regenstreif $2.00 Emerging generation: Building a foundation for new leaders By Alex Baker ship opportunities. I can confidently Corporate continuity. Upward mo- report that we have made huge strides bility. Organizational strength. Devel- in this area, particularly with the opment program. In the business and emerging generation and their increas- sports worlds, the key to long-term ing involvement in our community ac- success is grooming future leaders to tivities, and the Federation Board, take over when the time is right. In Ot- committees and programs where they tawa’s Jewish community, the chal- are now well represented.” lenge is the same – but perhaps even Halton-Weiss’ statement at the more difficult. AGM was not mere rhetoric. Since Over the past few years, the Jewish holding a symposium in 2007 asking, Federation of Ottawa has been facing “Will our kids be Jewish?” engaging this obstacle head-on with initiatives, the emerging generation has been a programs, campaigns and events de- focal point of the Federation’s agenda. signed to attract what it calls the This effort led to initiatives like jnet “emerging generation.” and the 2011 openOttawa symposium, Speaking at the Federation’s annual which Federation executives have general meeting on June 6, 2012, Fed- come to see as a catalyst moment in eration Chair Debbie Halton-Weiss de- creating or revitalizing community in- scribed how the initiative is starting to stitutions – such as the Social Action bear fruit. Mission to Israel and the Young “One [objective] was to engage Women’s Leadership Council – which those on the periphery of our commu- the emerging generation would want to nity, by developing new and creative be part of, and see value in. The openOttawa Road Hockey Tournament, August 19, 2012, was a popular event in support of initiatives and providing clear leader- (Continued on page 2) initiatives for the emerging generation. Art show and book celebrate the life and legacy of Josh Silburt By Louise Rachlis Manitoba, in 1914 and spent most of his the road,” while his father and the other artists wanted to do, and had to do, to secure the The work of Josh Silburt (1914 - 1991), a childhood in Winnipeg before riding the rails worked. legacy of this artwork. He’s not a Tom Thom- prolific Jewish Canadian artist, political ac- to Toronto in the early-1930s. As a teenager, He said putting the book about his father’s son where others are writing the story, so tivist and cartoonist, will be shown at the he enrolled in night school classes at the Win- art together was “a huge amount of work, but someone had to write it.” Cube Gallery from February 5 to 17. nipeg School of Art under the direction of a joy for me to … bring it to life. It has been According to Allan, there are more than It will be the first gallery show of Silburt’s LeMoine FitzGerald, later a member of the my passion.” 1,000 of Silburt’s paintings in people’s work in a decade and will celebrate both his Group of Seven. Allan started writing the book three years homes, and they get passed down by genera- fine art paintings and his political cartoons. Silburt was part of the Willowdale Art ago, but the actual curatorial work began in tions to new owners who don’t know his fa- The show’s vernissage on February 6 will Group, based in north Toronto, which focused 1999 after his mother, Beth, died and he real- ther’s story. also celebrate the launch of a new book, A on interpreting the Canadian wilderness, ized someone had to take responsibility for “We’re re-establishing a footprint for the Colourful Life: The Art and Drawing of Josh building upon the style of the Group of cataloguing and setting up a database. art so people can know more about its history Silburt by Ottawa resident Allan Silburt, the Seven. “The book is intended … to establish the and its worth,” he said. artist’s youngest son. Allan Silburt, 55, remembers road trips breadth of his career, and his place in that Allan, an engineer and CEO of Insight Josh Silburt was born in Plum Coulee, where he’d “sit and amuse myself at the side slice of history. That was something I really (Continued on page 12) 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 – February 4, 2013 Grassroots movements critcal to engaging young adults (Continued from page 1) give what little free time – make as adults are theirs. I’m said Andréa Black, who looks “I became connected to and money – they might have so pleased Alisa has begun to after children at the Soloway the Ottawa Jewish communi- to the Jewish community? find positive experiences for Jewish Community Centre’s ty through my involvement “It might be obvious to herself and her family in the Ganon Preschool. in the Young Women’s Lead- say it’s easier to get people to Ottawa Jewish community. “From there, I heard ership Council,” said Lauren participate, but, in a lot of “It is certainly evident about and got involved in the Bronstein, who moved to Ot- ways, it’s easier to get some- that she has made many new Social Action Mission – it’s a tawa from Winnipeg as a one just to give a donation friends and enhanced her really good excuse to go back young professional. She said than to get people involved,” professional friendships in to Israel, give back to the the transition was easy be- said Linda Kerzner, a Feder- her active participation in the larger community as a whole, cause of how much opportu- ation Board member. But it’s emerging generation group.” and do my piece. I’m more in nity there was to get involved not that easy. “Often, the tra- Alisa agrees. the loop than I ever was be- with programs and institu- ditional methods present a fi- “I’ve found it to be really cause of the Social Action tions in the community, in- nancial barrier – belonging to important to reconnect in the Mission.” cluding the Social Action a synagogue, going to a tradi- past few years, and jnet was a As a young professional, Mission. tional Hebrew school – peo- place for me. It is unique in Andréa said it took a career “After such a meaningful ple don’t only have to make a that respect because it’s very opportunity in the communi- experience, I was keen to co- time choice, they have to Alisa Viner Lauren Bronstein social and unaffiliated with ty to put it back on her radar. chair the trip the following make a financial choice. been big draws, while the such organization is Shalom religious issues. Things like Now, she is leading the 2013 year and help in any small “We expect people to openOttawa road hockey Baby, which gave Alisa Viner that work for the swing vot- Social Action Mission and way possible to ensure that make those traditional choic- tournament was a popular a way to re-enter Ottawa’s ers, so to speak – those who more involved in the com- others could have an oppor- es, but [they] can’t necessari- event this past summer. Jewish community life. are culturally Jewish.” munity than ever. tunity to experience the Mis- ly afford it. Grassroots move- “I’d never ever heard of “The Shalom Baby com- As a result, organizations “It’s almost like, you sion,” she said. ments have sprung up to han- the Glebe Shul until recently mittee kind of slides under in the community and on uni- don’t need the community This snowball effect is ex- dle these things – alterna- and now I’m seeing it every- the radar – it’s a group that versity campuses that com- for a little while and then, all actly what the Federation has tives, communities within the where – on Facebook and distributes welcome baskets bine the Jewish community of sudden, you realize you been striving for – building a broader community, without people talking about it,” said to parents that just had a with the broader community need it again,” she said. “Out foundation for new leaders of all the bricks-and-mortar that Manny Olszyshenko, who baby, and in a lot of ways it appear to have a leg up in at- of sight, out of mind – it’s the community to get in- surround it to add to the ex- has reconnected with the Ot- draws people back into the tracting interest. important to keep that, not volved by demonstrating the pense.” tawa Jewish community he Jewish community. It’s a “I got back involved in the even in the back of every- value of doing so. Indeed, technology has grew up in through its sports. point of entry for people who community through work,” one’s mind, but in the front.” “The value proposition made it easier to get members He says chatter in the locker may not have been very in- was always give now, get the of the emerging generation to room sometimes includes volved up to that point. Peo- benefit later,” said Federation make a financial commit- Jewish community issues ple always really appreciate Planning Director Jeff Brad- ment, as evidenced by the 50- and that people he knows are it and it’s a lovely gesture.