JNF OTTAWA NEGEV DINNER OCT. 15 SUPPORTING AUTISM RESEARCH IN ISRAEL Caring Canadian Ken SCHACHNOW Sales Representative SCOTCH TASTING EVENING Governor General honours DIRECT: 613.292.2200 JUNE 16, 2015 OFFICE: 613.829.1818 Akililu Afowerk for his many years EMAIL: [email protected] TREE - $18 TREE BANK - $150 KELLERWILLIAMS VIP REALTY www.kenschachnow.com [email protected] 613-798-2411 of tireless volunteerism> p. 12 Brokerage, Independently Owned And Operated Ottawa Jewish Bulletin APRIL 27, 2015 | 8 IYAR 5775 ESTABLISHED 1937 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM | $2 Six million remembered at moving Yom HaShoah ceremony Pinchas Gutter told his inspiring story of surviving the Holocaust as a child, PHOTO: HOWARD SANDLER while Julien Klener (From left) Holocaust survivors Elly Bollegraaf, Gustav Hecht, Judith Kune, Vera Gara, Eva Gelbman and Vera Kovesi gather beside the Art Glass Memorial Light during the Yom HaShoah ceremony, April 15, after lighting candles in memory of the six million Jews warned of the murdered in the Holocaust. “ill wind” of f you didn’t have anyone to hold the trauma of the Holocaust affected in his wine cellar. It was due to the anti-Semitism onto, you were lost,” keynote children very differently than adults. kindness of the winery’s caretaker – who speaker Pinchas Gutter told the “We had no [previous] emotional carried Gutter’s father home on his back sweeping across ‘Ihushed audience of more than baggage,” he said, adding that, instead, – that he survived the beating. 450 gathered at the Soloway Jewish many children who survived the “My eyes were cameras,” documenting Europe 70 years later Community Centre, April 15, for Ottawa’s Holocaust were emotionally stunted and everything, he said as he described scenes Yom HaShoah ceremony. had to deal with the horrors in their own of life and death while living in the Warsaw at Ottawa’s A child survivor of the Holocaust, way in their own time. Ghetto before going into hiding with his Yom HaShoah Gutter was born in Lodz, Poland, and was Gutter’s well-established Chasidic family. They were later discovered and just seven years old when the Second family, known for its winery, fl ed to what deported to the Majdanek death camp. commemoration. World War broke out. they thought would be safety in the Gutter was the only member of his “I was very happy,” he said of his Warsaw Ghetto after Gutter’s father was immediate family to survive. Both his Monique Elliot reports. pre-war childhood memories, adding that severely beaten by Nazis and left for dead See Yom HaShoah on page 2 Bulletin to launch series Yom HaShoah program Jason Moscovitz on differences inside: on Jewish education > p. 3 for high school students > p. 5 between Israel and Canada > p. 7 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 April 27, 2015 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Yom HaShoah: European Jews again face grim situation Continued from page 1 parents and his twin sister, Sabina, were murdered the day they arrived at Majdanek. Gutter recounted how he relied on his resourcefulness and the kindness of others to survive. He developed a close friendship with a boy named Jacob, and the two relied on each other in the camp. Gutter and Jacob eventually lost contact, and he assumed Jacob was murdered like so many others. But, ending his talk with what he described as a moment of hope and optimism, he told the seemingly miraculous story of fi nding Jacob again, 53 years after the end of the war. Many in the audience gasped and applauded when they heard of the PHOTO: HOWARD SANDLER reunion. (From left) Event chair Jennifer Kardash, speaker Julien Klener, Jewish Federation of Ottawa President and CEO Andrea Freedman, The Yom HaShoah event’s other main speaker Pinchas Gutter, Azrieli Foundation CEO Naomi Azrieli and Israeli Ambassador Rafael Barak share a moment following the Yom HaShoah speaker was Julien Klener, president of commemoration, April 15 at the Soloway JCC. the Consistoire Central Israèlite de Belgique – the Belgian Jewish Foundation, a philanthropic organization Holocaust born in Budapest, while “The Jews whose lives were lost during the community’s umbrella organization. that funds a variety of Holocaust educa- Acceptance,” a pledge from subsequent Holocaust, and the March on of the Klener spoke about the grim situation tion and remembrance programs. Naomi generations to continue honouring the Colours by members of the Ottawa Post of for European Jewry today as it witnesses Azrieli, CEO of the Azrieli Foundation, memories of those who were lost and to the Jewish War Veterans of Canada, who resurging anti-Semitism manifested in acted as MC for the event. continue teaching the lessons learned were joined by three Ottawans who had such recent events as the co-ordinated “In 70 years – three-and-a-half genera- from survivors, was read by Noa Kardash, served as lone soldiers in the Israel attacks on France’s satirical publication tions – in that time I think it is the hope a Grade 12 student at the Ottawa Jewish Defense Forces. The singing of “O Canada” Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper Cacher and dream of all decent human beings that Community School who participated in and “Hatikvah” was led by Floralove Katz. kosher supermarket near Paris, the the word ‘anti-Semitism’ would not be so the March of the Living last year. At the conclusion of the program, shooting that left four people dead at the well known. And, yet, it still is, Azrieli said. A video produced by 2014 March of the keynote speaker Gutter, who serves as the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels, “After 70 years, we are witnessing a rise in Living participants was shown. volunteer cantor of his synagogue in and the murder of a Jewish volunteer anti-Semitism around the world.” The program also included the reading Toronto, sang a moving rendition of “Kel guard at a synagogue in Copenhagen. Azrieli also noted that Yom HaShoah, of just a few of the names of European Maleh Rachamim” and recited “Kaddish.” Klener, who said his view of events is this year, fell on the 70th anniversary of infl uenced by the fact that he was also a the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen hidden child during the Holocaust, concentration camp in northern Germany bemoaned the lack of safety when by Allied troops. expressing one’s faith, and especially the A focal point of the ceremony was the impact it can have on children. lighting of six memorial candles – each “What kind of a life is this?” Klener representing one million Jews murdered asked when Jewish children hide their in the Holocaust. The candles were lit by faith in public and must attend Jewish survivors Elly Bollegraaf, Vera Kovesi, schools surrounded by guards and barbed Judith Kune, Vera Gara, Eva Gelbman, and wire for their own safety. Gustav Hecht. “The story of European Jewry is one of Others speaking at the Yom HaShoah prosperity and achievement, of despair commemoration included event chair and humiliation, with our deaths scat- Jennifer Kardash, who welcomed atten- tered all over the continent,” he said. dees, and Israeli Ambassador Rafael “Europe is – was – a killing fi eld for Jews,” Barak, who said the world’s Jewish he added. communities have been strengthened by “Auschwitz never again is no certainty,” the actions of Holocaust survivors who he said. “There is a very ill wind blowing “enrich their societies with wisdom and PHOTO: HOWARD SANDLER across Europe.” their passion for education and 2014 March of the Living participant Noa Kardash reads “The Acceptance,” The Yom HaShoah commemoration remembrance.” acknowledging the duty of subsequent generations to keep to honour the memories of those lost in the Holocaust and continue teaching the lessons of the Shoah, as child was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of The Yom HaShoah Prayer was read by Holocaust survivor Judy Young looks on. Ottawa with the support of the Azrieli Judy Young, a child survivor of the See page 23 for Publication and Deadline dates Commercial Sales & Leasing ❋ Consulting ❋ Site Selection/Relocations ❋ Tenant Representation ❋ Feasibility Studies Investment/User Properties ❋ Strategic Growth Planning ❋ Land Assemblies/Development Sites and BRENT TAYLOR BROKER of RECORD, PRESIDENT Candlelighting times. [email protected] www.brentcomrealty.com 613-726-7323 / FAX 613-721-8849 April 27, 2015 3 OTTAWAJEWISHBULLETIN.COM Ron Prehogan heads task force on Jewish high school education in Ottawa “If a model can’t be developed, then In the wake of the decision by the Ottawa the task force will determine how Jewish Community School Board of Directors existing Ottawa Jewish organizations can gain the additional resources neces- to phase out its high school division, the Jewish sary to strengthen educational opportun- ities for Jewish high school students,” Federation of Ottawa has formed a task force Freedman said in the announcement. “Prehogan, a past chair of the to examine models for sustainable Jewish Federation and an accomplished, well-respected and senior community high school education in the city. Louise leader, is fully committed and optimistic a sustainable model can be found,” she Rachlis reports. added. “It was a wake-up call for community “From a community point of view, the future of our community rests on having a vibrant or personal as well as community members when the announcement was Ottawa, which is fi nancially sustainable Jewish high school,” says Ron Prehogan, reasons, Ron Prehogan jumped at and attractive to students. We will also be made to close the high school.