JNF OTTAWA NEGEV DINNER OCT. 15 SUPPORTING AUTISM RESEARCH IN ISRAEL Education series Ken SCHACHNOW Sales Representative SCOTCH TASTING EVENING Day-care and preschools provide DIRECT: 613.292.2200 JUNE 16, 2015 OFFICE: 613.829.1818 warm, family-oriented introductions EMAIL: [email protected] TREE - $18 TREE BANK - $150 KELLERWILLIAMS VIP REALTY www.kenschachnow.com [email protected] 613-798-2411 to Jewish education > p. 3 Brokerage, Independently Owned And Operated Ottawa Jewish Bulletin MAY 11, 2015 | 22 IYAR 5775 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Israel’s 67th Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrated with huge party at the Soloway JCC BY MONIQUE ELLIOT tricks on unicycles and with hula hoops pirits – and the energy – were at an interactive circus school. A variety high as Ottawa’s Jewish commun- of activity stations were also popular ity converged on the Soloway throughout the evening, including an SJewish Community Centre (SJCC), infl atable obstacle course, Israeli-themed April 23, to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, crafts, and hockey games. Israel’s Independence Day. This year’s “We made sure that the entertain- celebration marked the 67th anniversary ment was the best,” said Penny Toron- of the establishment of the modern tow, the Yom Ha’Atzmaut committee state. chair. About 900 people, many dressed in Israeli Ambassador to Canada Rafael blue and white, packed every fl oor of Barak joined in on the dance party after the SJCC. receiving an Israeli hockey jersey from “Every hallway is fi lled with people Miller in recognition of the country’s celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut. It’s incred- recent participation in an International ible,” said Mitch Miller, chair of the SJCC Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned Board of Directors. tournament in South Africa. Miller is Yosi Levy and The Sabras Band, also an organizer of the Canada-Israel California-based musicians who play Hockey School in Metula. Israeli, Sephardic and klezmer songs, “We are very fortunate,” to be the started a dance party in the social hall, generation that experiences Israel as an while a family entertainment area was independent, internationally recognized set up in the gym on the lower level. state after 2,000 years of dreams, Barak Hundreds of kids and their families got said, also expressing his gratitude to the PHOTO: MONIQUE ELLIOT Dancers celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut at the community-wide celebration, April 23, their faces painted, while entertainers Jewish community of Ottawa for its at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre. made balloon animals and performed See Celebration on page 2 ‘Our revenge is survival, the Jewish people live’ says Israeli ambassador at National Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony BY DIANE KOVEN the memories are passed to the next students from Ontario and Quebec the Holocaust. In a question-and-answer eventy years after the end of the generation of Canadians. The theme of participated in a program called period moderated by public school Second World War, the national the commemoration, organized by the “Ambassadors for Change,” prior to teacher Patrick Mascoe, who has been Holocaust Remembrance Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, was joining the large assembled audience at involved for several years in promoting SCeremony, April 28 at the “70 Years Since the End of the War: The the offi cial ceremony. The youth program Holocaust education in Ottawa schools, Canadian War Museum, focused on both Pain of Liberation and Rebuilding a Life.” enabled students from a wide variety of the students sat at tables with Holocaust remembering the past and ensuring that A group of more than 130 high school ethnic origins to hear fi rst-hand stories of See Ceremony on page 2 Rabbi Howard Finkelstein refl ects Bram Bregman on changing reality Barbara Crook on what motivates inside: on Yitzhak Rabin HS > p. 6 of Jewish education > p. 10 a lone soldier > p. 18 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 May 11, 2015 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Celebration: ‘A very happy, proud time for everybody here’ Continued from page 1 Yom Ha’Atzmaut committee chair after support of Israel after a turbulent eight years. summer of hostilities from Hamas in “During the day, she might be helping Gaza. someone sell or buy their next home, but, For Naomi Lipsky Cracower, the Yom over the last eight years, she’s ensured Ha’atzmaut celebrations symbolized that our community’s Yom Ha’atzmaut coming home in many different ways. celebration always had a home and that Recently returned to Ottawa after a busy every venue felt like home.” year of travel, she said enjoying the “It’s like I’m letting my baby go,” celebrations in the SJCC “feels great, it’s Torontow said, “but I’ve been doing comfortable.” this for a long time, and I think it’s time “I think it’s just a very happy, proud for new ideas; a new broom sweeps time for everybody here. Just seeing clean.” pride and the happiness in the kids Next year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut commit- and grandkids, it’s just wonderful,” tee chair has not yet been named. she said. Earlier in the day, dignitaries – in- Lipsky Cracower said she has visited cluding Mayor Jim Watson, Israeli Israel regularly since 1968 and has seen Ambassador Rafael Barak, and U.S. many changes as Israel has evolved. She Ambassador Bruce Heyman – joined plans to return to Israel this summer for approximately 100 members of Ottawa’s the fi rst time in four years. Jewish community for a ceremony at “Penny Torontow is one of those Marion Dewar Square in front of Ottawa PHOTO: MONIQUE ELLIOT outstanding volunteers,” Miller said in City Hall as the Israeli fl ag was raised to Israeli Ambassador Rafael Barak and SJCC Chair Mitch Miller wear matching Israeli hockey sweaters at the 67th Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations in Ottawa. announcing she was stepping down as mark Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Ceremony: Efforts to ensure next generation never forgets Continued from page 1 “Our revenge is survival, the Jewish survivors and engaged in discussions. people live. Am Yisrael Chai.” At the ceremony, Rabbi Reuven Bulka The ceremony was attended by gave a D’var Torah, connecting the 70th members of Parliament from all four anniversary of the end of the war with federal political parties, and representa- the “70 Jewish people who descended tives of more than 50 diplomatic mis- into Egypt thousands of years ago.” sions. The City of Ottawa was Rabbi Bulka also offered thanks to represented by Mayor Jim Watson. Canada. “This great country is standing Messages of support were delivered by up for Israel and for people everywhere,” Defence Minister Jason Kenney; he said. Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair, who Addressing the Holocaust survivors spoke emotionally about his recent trip and their families in attendance, Rabbi to France with his wife and her mother Bulka said, “We wish for all of our dear who had escaped from Europe as a Holocaust survivors and their families to Jewish refugee and was making her fi rst know that what happened will never be trip back; Liberal Party Leader Justin forgotten and will always be actively and Trudeau; and Green Party Leader energetically remembered in the most Elizabeth May. positive way.” Cantor Moshe Kraus, himself a In his remarks, Israeli Ambassador Holocaust survivor, movingly sang “Kel Rafael Barak pointed out that the Maleh Rachamim” and led the audience prevalence of anti-Semitism and Cantor Moshe Kraus of Ottawa sings “Kel Maleh Rachamim,” each note conveying the in reciting “Kaddish.” anti-Zionism remains a scourge in personal pain of his own experiences as a survivor of Bergen-Belsen, at the Canadian The shofar was blown by Rabbi Bulka today’s world. Society for Yad Vashem’s National Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony, April 28, at the and a young student and the Ottawa “Today is not 1933, but 2015 and yet Canadian War Museum. Jewish Community School participated the State of Israel is openly threatened,” in the ceremony and led the fi nal singing he said. “In Paris, in Brussels and in Barak thanked Canada for its friend- Praising the resilience and determina- of “Hatikvah” prior to the Marching off Copenhagen, Jews are being killed just ship and for “demonstrating its deep tion of Holocaust survivors who went on the Colours by the Jewish War Veterans for being Jews.” commitment” to the State of Israel. to build lives and families, Barak said, of Canada, Ottawa Post. Athens Rugs Ltd. HIGH QUALITY FLOORING Carpet Hardwood Ceramic Laminate Cork Vinyl Proudly Serving Barrhaven for over 17 years! 1365 Cyrville Road 613-741-4261 613-580-2473 @BarrhavenJan www.athensrugs.com facebook.com/BarrhavenJanHarder e: [email protected] Since 1975 www.JanHarder.com May 11, 2015 3 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Bulletin Education Series Day-care and preschools provide warm, family-oriented introductions to Jewish education Ottawa has several warm and caring options for Jewish early childhood education – including the Early Beginnings Multicultural Child Development Centre, the Soloway JCC Ganon Preschool, and the Westboro Jewish Montessori Preschool – each with a unique approach. Louise Rachlis reports. auren Lee, director of the Soloway Jewish Youth Library of Ottawa, describes Jewish Community Centre Ganon her preschool as “a boutique, a gentle Preschool, is very proud of the introduction to school before they go on Lpreschool and the quality of her to ‘big school.’ The children take it all and staff. She has been at Ganon, which carry on with a beautiful, solid serves children aged two to fi ve, for a foundation.” decade, and many of her staff members The preschool was launched have been there a long time as well.