More Than a Moment of Silence: Why Remembrance Day Matters More Now

I learned something new this year.  It came from the podcast below that I hope you will listen to.  Despite being just 1% of the population, Jews make up 3% of Canadian Armed Forces.  As proud Canadians we would, of course, care deeply about Remembrance Day, but as Jewish Canadians we have an extra measure of pride and care knowing that we are overrepresented amongst those brave and selfless folk who place country first.
Remembrance Day is always planned and commemorated with great seriousness and reverence at OJCS.  This year, considering all the things…
…October 7th and all that is happening in Israel.
…turbulence in the States regardless of your personal political views.
…the hijacking of Remembrance Day in our local public schools and spaces…
…perhaps even more so.
There are three aspects of our commemoration that I would like to highlight in this post…
On November 6th, the students in Grade 7 visited the Jewish Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  The students met with representatives from the cemetery to learn about their important work within our community.  They also read narratives of local Ottawa Jewish veterans who served our country in various ways.  Students were then broken into groups and were provided with 15-20 gravesites to mark with Canadian flags.  The students had the opportunity to pay their respects to these veterans who risked their lives for our freedoms.  This was one of the many Remembrance Day activities our students engaged in throughout the week and is an annual Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project.
Speaking of whom…
For anyone who grew up in Ottawa, the National Remembrance Day Ceremony will always be closely linked to the venerable Rabbi Bulka.
His speeches, delivered in that same blue suit no matter the weather and the fact that everyone else dressed in warm coats, were a source of wisdom and instilled me with so much pride.
On this Remembrance Day, the Canadian Jewish News (The CJN)’s Ellin Bessner offered a glimpse into the Rabbi’s legacy with a timely conversation with me,  Congregation Machzikei Hadas Rabbi Idan Scher and Canadian Armed Forces Rabbi Noteh Glogauer.  Topics ranged from the launch of the Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project for OJCS Middle School students to a reflection on how Rabbi Bulka would’ve responded to the horrors of October 7th.
You can listen to the podcast here:

For Remembrance Day itself, we were blessed to host David Kirk who served with the Canadian Armed Forces for 14 years and is currently a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.  He shared powerful words with our students closed his remarks by saying, “All peoples should be able to live together in peace.  This is why we have a Canadian Armed Force; to defend our peace, freedom and others as need be.  Students – please care and remember those who gave so much for our way of life, you are the future.”   Students shared thoughts, prayers and songs in English, Hebrew & French and – as we do each year – laid wreaths to honour those who gave their lives serving and protecting our country.

For OJCS, marking this day was, and is, a powerful opportunity to reflect on the values that underpin our community: resilience, remembrance, and a commitment to peace.  In a world that feels increasingly fractured, we come together to not only honor the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom but also to reaffirm our role as a Jewish school in nurturing compassionate, justice-minded citizens.  More than ever, our students need to understand both the historical costs of war and the enduring need for solidarity, empathy, and resolve.  This Remembrance Day was a moment to remind ourselves and our students of the vital importance of standing together—against hatred, for peace, and with a renewed sense of purpose in building a better world.

Goal-Setting Conferences 2.0

The weather may have just finally turned, although still unseasonably warm for Ottawa, and we had a noon dismissal followed by a pupil-free day.  That could only mean one thing here at the Ottawa Jewish Community School, it was time for Goal-Setting Conferences 2.0!

We have spent the last day-and-a-half welcoming parents and students to the second iteration of our Goal-Setting Conferences.  What are “Goal-Setting Conferences” you ask?

North Star alert!  At OJCS, our students own their own learning, which means learning to goal-set is of paramount importance to their growth and development – now and throughout their lives.  Our conferencing opportunity to sit together with you and your child to discuss personalised goals is swiftly approaching on Thursday, November 7th & Friday, November 8th, and so we are sending along some much needed information to support you and your child through this growth process.

[We launched this last year as a pilot and you can revisit this post if you want all the possible background and context.]

What’s new this year?

We iterated a new process for this year that comes in response to student, parent and teacher feedback.  We believe strongly that it helped everyone more easily connect the dots with regard to what was prioritised for each child, with their voice and their parents a part of the conversation.   One major change that took place prior to the conferences themselves, was that with the transition back to semesters and with Goal-Setting Conferences sitting on the calendar where first trimester Parent-Teacher Conferences used to live, we decided to add first and third quarter Progress Reports so that parents could be in the know on all matters academic and otherwise.  First quarter reports went out earlier this week and teachers facilitated any related conversations so that the deck was cleared to focus on goal-setting.

Here’s how we prepped:

  • A grade-level appropriate lesson was taught to help children understand the benefits of setting personal goals (whether academic, social skills-related, social-emotional and/or spiritual).
  • Our teachers met individually with each student to help them think about what goals would be most beneficial for them at this time.
  • We encouraged parents to discuss their own goals for their child(ren) with them, or to bring those ideas with them to Goal-Setting Conferences to add with the teacher.
  • Parents booked Goal-Setting Conferences to meet with the classroom teachers to have meaningful discussions about the goals selected and to make a plan to help invite success.

For those who are curious, here is how we templated the different kinds of goals students, teacher and parents could be reaching towards:

And for our older students, we focused on helping them create SMART Goals:

We worked really hard this year to upgrade the preparation and the experience, and the view from the lobby as families have come in and out these last two days seems to validate that the hard work paid off.  From here, we have a responsibility to be explicit about how and where these goals will live throughout this school year – including meaningful updates on future progress reports, report cards, and parent-teacher conferences.  Additionally, as is true with all pilots and prototypes, we will seek feedback now that this round of conferences is complete so we can further refine things.

Here’s to helping our students get…

OJCS @ 75: A Night to Remember…and to Build Upon.

We are still riding high from the tremendous success and warm community vibes from Wednesday night’s 75th Anniversary Gala.  Whether you were there or not, please be on the lookout for pictures and videos and copies of the beautiful Tribute Journal.  Regardless of your relationship with OJCS, this milestone is of and for all of Jewish Ottawa – this school does not exist in a vacuum; it took and takes a community dedicated to Jewish education and the “Jewish Future” to ensure day school is a viable option for Jewish families.  Before we start look forward to the next 75 years, let me take one last opportunity to look back by sharing the words here that I was privileged to share at the event itself.  Let us go from strength to strength…

I stand before you tonight with immense gratitude and deep humility. I am now in my eighth year, standing on the shoulders of giants like Rabbi Kravetz, Rabbi Kaploun, Stan Katz, and Doris Bronstein—just to name a few of my predecessors—who made this extraordinary evening possible. It is but a quirk of the calendar that brings me to the dais as head of this special school during its 75th anniversary year. Without the monumental collective gifts of talent, time, and love from all those who have held this position, this milestone could not have been reached. I may be the one standing on stage tonight, but they are the ones who built it.

What a true blessing this year of celebrations has been! The anniversary was 75 years in the making; the planning for it has taken almost a full year. We have, and will continue to, thank the volunteers and staff who dedicated countless hours of care to ensure we could celebrate this historic event in the life of our school and our Jewish community. I would like to take a moment of personal prerogative, however, to express my deep gratitude to Randi Sherman, Leiba Metz and Julie Ross – our Gala Chairs – who willed this miracle of an evening into existence and my deep appreciation for a person for whom no words of praise are sufficient. Joanne Gorenstein has been my rock and my partner these past two years, and never has a lay leader worked or cared more. No one, except perhaps Sacha, will ever know how much dedication she has shown to ensure that the next seventy-five years of our school will match, if not exceed, the seventy-five glorious years we are honoring tonight.

We have spent the year reliving and celebrating both the past and the present, and as we’ve seen tonight, there is much to be proud of. Our alumni’s achievements astound; our volunteers’ passion is unmatched; and our faculty’s love is unparalleled. Eight consecutive years of enrollment growth validate that our present is fulfilling the promise of our past.

When you walk through the halls of nearly every synagogue and Jewish organization in this community and peruse the pictures of former lay chairs and executives, you will find our alumni. This legacy of leadership and service is just as significant as the collective academic and professional success of so many generations of Hillel Academy and OJCS Alumni. But tonight isn’t just about celebrating the past; it’s about charting the course for the future. Just as those pioneers seventy-five years ago bravely created a day school despite the obstacles, we pledge tonight to follow in their footsteps and dream in bold and vibrant colors. Like them, we will need the ongoing support of our community to make those dreams a reality.

Because this is not merely a celebration of, or for, the Day School. This is an achievement that required the vision and courage of the leaders of this community to found a Jewish day school in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1949. This moment is possible because of a Jewish community that continues to believe in the power of Jewish education. It is a dream fulfilled because of the support of a generous and forward-thinking Jewish Federation. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for the outpouring of support this anniversary has generated.

Yes, we have surpassed our expectations in this magical year in terms of fundraising but let no one think that the work of supporting Jewish education is done or even on hold. We continue to live in challenging economic times. The Generations Trust endowment for Jewish Day Schools in Ottawa, along with both Federation’s and our own Annual Campaigns, remain our most important source of funding. We hope you will be inspired to continue supporting these funds each year as a key component in sustaining the future of all our schools and Jewish Ottawa.

As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks famously said, “To defend a country, you need an army. To defend a civilization, you need education.” So now, more than ever, the work of graduating Jewishly literate and committed young men and women, with a love and passion for the People, Land, and State of Israel, is critical. Tonight, we pause to take pride in what has been, and to prepare for what is to come. As it says in the Mishnah: “Lo alecha ha’mlacha ligmor…” – “It is not incumbent upon you to finish the work, but neither are you free to exempt yourself from it” (Mishnah: Avot, 2.16).

As the proud head of the Ottawa Jewish Community School, I am inspired to do my part—alongside all of you—to carry this dream forward into the next seventy-five years.

Thank you.

Stories for Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

When I was 23 years-old, I packed everything up and headed south towards Los Angeles to begin my program towards an MAED and MBA at the-then University of Judaism (now American Jewish University).  How I, with my Bay Area Reform Jewish background, wound up choosing the UJ is a (great) story in its own right, but suffice it to say, I made a choice to put myself in an environment where Judaism was going to live very differently than how I was used to or even knew to be possible.  Nothing is more emblematic of the culture shift (shock) than this little anecdote that I am reminded of each year at this time…

Like a lot of rabbinic and education students (at that time), I lived on campus and the day began with breakfast in the cafeteria.  One my strongest memories from that time is when I got up early for school and, as per normal, headed down the hill for breakfast just to find the cafeteria empty of students.  I remember asking a (non-Jewish) cafeteria employee what was going on, where was everybody?  Oh, I was informed, there is no school today.  Why is that?  It is Shemini Atzeret.

“It is Shemini Atzeret.” – that was the first time I had ever heard those words before, let alone, knew them to be the name of a Jewish Holiday.  And, so, back to bed (and not to shul), I went.

Whenever, I write a blog post about Jewish Holiday observance, or Jewish observance at all; whenever I engage in any conversation with or about adult education, this is the first thing that pops into my mind.  I went half my life not even knowing the names of all the Jewish Holidays; who am I to judge the background knowledge or experiences of other Jews?  I know how it feels not to know things you assume others do – or worse, to not know things you assume others assume you do know – and it doesn’t feel great.

Here’s another example from that time.  We used to shul-hop all the time to soak up different experiences.  We wound up in a large Conservative synagogue in the Valley and, as is common for newcomers, we are given honours.  I am given the honour of hagbah which, like Shemini Atzeret, was a word I learned for the first time at that moment.  I did not know what it meant (to lift and display the Torah after reading) or that it is done in any particular way.  Which is why, in the moment, I flubbed it and needed some emergency assistance to prevent a fast-able situation.  And that is why, almost thirty years later, I have not and will not do hagbah.

I have deep empathy for the many adults whose children become the catalyst for Jewish journeys.  I have deep empathy for the many adults who feel uncomfortable in synagogue.  No one likes to feel foolish and no one invites anxiety.  For all the people who continue to live within the exact same faith tradition they were raised, there are many people who do not.  And it is explicitly to those folk that I reach out to through these posts and through opportunities for adult learning…

My first Simchat Torah that year was also one of my first “a-ha moments”.  Growing up, Simchat Torah was essentially Jewish Halloween.  At my little Reform synagogue (and I am not trying to generalize my experience in the 80s at one synagogue to all of “Reform Judaism”), we literally would go outside and collect candy.  I have no memory of us even reading the Torah, let alone dancing with it.  So, when I attended Simchat Torah services that first fall, I did not know how to process what I was seeing.  It was a room full of adults, including very esteemed professors and rabbis, drinking and dancing with the Torah – there likely were children in the room, but they were not the focal point.  The focus was on joy, adult Jewish joy.  Who knew?

That is what I am aiming for in these posts…and in my professional life.  Give yourself permission to step out from behind the children and seize the joy of Jewish living.  Don’t let not-knowing or not-knowing-how steal your joy – we would never let our children get away with being afraid to make a mistake as an excuse for trying new things, let’s not let ourselves as well.  What is Shemini Atzeret?  Find out on Thursday.  Do you think dancing with the Torah is only for children or those observant or knowledgable families?  Show up on Thursday night and Friday morning and seize the spotlight.

Yes, it is easier said than done.  And yes, it is a little uncomfortable that this plea coincides with the Hebrew anniversary of “October 7th”.  And, yet, we are taught that in Ecclesiastes 3:4 that there is…

A time for weeping and a time for laughing,
A time for wailing and a time for dancing;
Let’s make room for both this week.  Chag sameach.

The Fragile Stability of Sukkot

The twin calendars of secular and Jewish life sometimes means that anniversaries are multiple depending on which calendar you mark the first event.  For example, the secular date of my father’s (Z”l) passing is seared in for commemoration as is the Hebrew date which serves as yahrtzeit.  To me this is an extra opportunity to remember, to celebrate his life and to be inspired to carry his legacy forward – I find the double anniversary welcome.  As we prepare to usher in my most favourite of Jewish Holidays, Sukkot, it occurs to me that although we just went through all the first anniversary of October 7th experiences, the Jewish Calendar will echo the sentiment come Erev Simchat Torah, when most of us heard of the horrific events.

I’m going to share below most of my usual thoughts and suggestions about how to best celebrate what is supposed to be the most joyous of our holidays – literally named as the “season of our rejoicing” – but I recognize that those whose lives are equally governed by both second and Jewish calendars, may not yet feel ready to celebrate with full or even bifurcated hearts.  For those, I simply remind that part of what Sukkot brings by virtue of dwelling in temporary structures is a concretization of life’s fragility that we should always bear in mind…but perhaps even more so now.  There may very well be new traditions to consider in a post-October 7th world, perhaps you leave a seat empty for the hostages or you include victims like Hersh amongst your ushpizin.  We are all still trying to figure it out and you should land wherever you feel comfortable…”Sukkot as normal,” “Sukkot filtered through October 7th,” or anywhere between.

And now I am going to pivot back to “Sukkot as normal” for those who wish…

After having shofar-ed into Rosh Hashanah and leaned into Yom Kippur, it is time to hop into my favorite holiday of them all…Sukkot!

Our OJCS Sukkah is up and we’ve added a few satellite sukkot as well to give our growing school enough space to for all the eating, celebrating, shake-shake-shaking and hopping  as a school community that will make up a significant portion of next week.  Great thanks to all our teachers for the hard work that goes into holiday preparation/celebration and keeping the normal routines of school moving forward as per usual.

As I mentioned above, Sukkot is absolutely my favorite holiday of the entire year.  There is nothing else like it on the Jewish Calendar – sitting outside in a sukkah you built yourself (which is pretty much the one and only thing I actually can and do build), with handmade decorations from your children, enjoying good food with friends and family in the night air, the citrusy smell of etrog lingering and mixing with verdant lulav – this is experiential Judaism at its finest.  There is a reason why this holiday is also known as Moadim L’Simchah – the Season of Our Rejoicing.

My annual, completely non-judgy plea for this weekend is a reminder that if our children – if we – only experience the Judaism of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and not the Judaism of Sukkot, then we are not exposing them – our ourselves – to the full range of beauty and joy that our tradition has to offer.  So why, in fact, is this such a common occurrence?

No one likes to feel uncomfortable, and adults especially, are wary of feeling under-educated or unprepared.  I know how I felt encountering new Jewish rituals for the first time as an adult – it was scary.  The amount of “stuff” Judaism asks of us to do – building the sukkah with precise specifications, shaking the lulav and etrog in the proscribed way, chanting less-familiar prayers, coming to synagogue on unfamiliar days – can be overwhelming.

But don’t lose the sukkah through the trees…

If the idea of building a sukkah is either overwhelming or unrealistic at this time, in the spirit of trying to turn etrogs into etrog-ade, think of this year as an opportunity to once again pick one new tradition to experiment with.  Shake a lulav and etrog.  Eat in the sukkah (or in something sukkah-adjacent).  Attend or livestream a service.  Ask your child(ren)’s Jewish Studies Teacher(s) to send home stories, questions, or ideas.  Come use the OJCS Sukkah.  Come borrow OJCS lulav and etrogs.

How can I help?  What can I do?  These are actual questions – email me and it would be greatest pleasure.  My sukkah doors are open as well.  Literally, be my guest.  Let this Sukkot truly be the season of our great rejoicing.  I hope many students find their way to synagogue and into sukkot this Sukkot.  I hope many parents push themselves out of their comfort zones and join the fun.  But most importantly, I hope we – OJCS – are up to the task of educating, inspiring and working in partnership with our families so that those who wish to, are able to add Sukkot as a next stop on their Jewish journeys (#NorthStar).

Chag sameach!

There is a concept in Judaism called hiddur mitzvah which is the “beautification of the mitzvah” and it calls upon us to think of ways to go that little extra mile to make a mitzvah extra-special.  There is no better holiday for this concept than Sukkot!  Here are two ways you can amplify your Sukkot celebrations this year:

For the musically inclined, please enjoy this Sukkot Playlist courtesy of our friends at PJ Library:

For the fermentedly inclined, please enjoy this recipe for making homemade etrog liqueur…

…and for the inebriated-ly inclined, please enjoy this link to the many artisanal etrog cocktails you may enjoy.

Leaning Into Forgiveness 5785

We are near the finish line of the עשרת ימי תשובה  (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah) —the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Each year, I look forward to choosing a personal growth goal, something general enough to guide my interactions with students, teachers, parents, colleagues, and the broader community. By sharing this publicly, I hope it inspires others to reflect on their own growth and adds a layer of public accountability to keep me honest.

At least once a week, I compose the perfect social media post in my head. Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s biting. Sometimes it’s provocative. It’s always about a topic I care deeply about, something with real-world impact and significance. But each time, after writing it, I delete it.

I am jealous of people who live in outward philosophical purity. These people tend to fall into two categories. Some are rabbis serving in pulpits who have managed to align their personal beliefs with their communal roles so seamlessly that they are able to be their truest selves, both personally and professionally, without compromise.

Jealous.

Then, there are those who prioritize their philosophical purity above all else. They either carve out professional spaces that align with their values, or they are unafraid of facing the consequences when their values conflict with their roles.

Jealous.

This may seem like an odd choice for teshuvah—repentance for not being more provocative or polarizing. But I worry that in trying to balance discretion and authenticity, I end up standing for nothing. Silence is not neutrality. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said, “In a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” Remaining silent, especially when something needs to be said, isn’t neutrality—it’s complicity.

Here’s an example:

In 2016, we were living in Florida during the election, and my older daughter wanted us to put out a lawn sign for our preferred candidate. (Notice how I’m still hedging?) I had to consider carefully whether it was wise, as someone running a school in a divided community, to do something so public. In the end, we put out the sign. But even then, I said nothing in person or online. Why? I didn’t want to create unnecessary tension in a divided workplace and culture. And yet, I’m 99% sure that anyone who’s ever met me, or spent five minutes researching me, could easily guess my political views. And still, I said nothing.

There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to insert personal politics into a professional setting where it’s not welcome. The question I wrestle with is whether, as a private individual who holds a communal role, it’s wrong to express personal views. Is there a meaningful distinction between what I espouse as “head of school” and what I espouse as “Jon Mitzmacher”? My heart says there should be; my head says that’s wishful thinking.

Pirkei Avot reminds us, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” (Pirkei Avot 1:14). I cannot reconcile the way I am raising my daughters with my own silence. I cannot advocate for students to be civically active while avoiding the same. I cannot run a school based on deeply held principles and then be afraid to live those values beyond the school walls.

So, my goal for this year is to take a step—to dip a toe into the waters of personal expression. Nothing dramatic is on the horizon, and it’s possible that whatever I do say will yield no ripple or echo. But I’ll take a whistle in the wind over silence. As Rav Kook once said, “I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.”

I don’t want to look back and wonder why I chose to say nothing when I had so much to say.

Additionally, during this time of introspection, let me take this opportunity to ask forgiveness for anything I have done – purposely or unknowingly – to cause offense or upset during the last year.  I am sincerely sorry and ask for your forgiveness.  As you ponder the purpose of this season for you and your family, I hope you find the time for introspection and the inspiration for the teshuvah you are seeking.  From my family to yours, wishing you a tzom kal (easy fast) and a day of meaning.

G’mar chatimah tovah.

Reading the Calendar as Text

There is an idea in Talmudic hermeneutics (which defines the rules and methods for investigation and exact determination of meaning of the scriptures in the Jewish Bible, within the framework of Rabbinic Judaism) that you can unlock meaning by looking at the juxtaposition of biblical texts that don’t appear to be linked or related on the surface.  [For example, the fact that the law of shatnez in Deuteronomy 22:11 (the forbidding of wearing garments of mixed wool and linen) is immediately followed by the law of tzitzit in Deuteronomy 22:12 leads the rabbis to deduce through the juxtaposition of sections that you can wear a garment bearing tzitzit that is a mix of wool and linen.  Don’t worry if none of what I just wrote makes sense to you.]

But what if we applied this rule of “juxtaposition of sections” to the calendar?

Over the next few days at OJCS, we have an “only in a Canadian Jewish day school” convergence of events: today’s annual Terry Fox Run, Monday’s National Truth & Reconciliation Day, and then we head into Rosh Hashanah.  While each occasion is distinct in purpose and history, there is something deeply powerful about experiencing them in close proximity.  For children and families in a Canadian Jewish K-8 day school, these moments offer profound lessons that transcend individual contexts and connect us in shared values of courage, reflection, and responsibility.

The Legacy of Terry Fox: Courage and Collective Action

Terry Fox is a national hero whose story resonates far beyond Canadian borders.  His Marathon of Hope is more than just a symbol of endurance; it reflects the courage to pursue what seems impossible.  For our students, participating in a Terry Fox Run is about more than running. It’s an opportunity to connect with the value of mesirut nefesh—the Jewish concept of self-sacrifice for a higher cause.  When children run in Terry’s name, they aren’t just contributing to cancer research; they are internalizing the idea that each of us can make a difference, no matter our limitations.  We teach them that Terry’s story is about turning personal adversity into global activism—a message that resonates deeply with our school’s North Stars.

National Truth & Reconciliation Day: Reflection and Responsibility

Our commitment to holding space for National Truth & Reconciliation Day into our school calendar has become an essential part of how we engage our students with Canada’s complex history.  The day is set aside to remember and honour the survivors of residential schools, acknowledging the pain and trauma inflicted upon Indigenous communities.  For a Jewish day school, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the intersections between our own historical experiences and those of Indigenous peoples.  Our students learn that justice, tzedek, isn’t just a concept confined to Jewish history but is a universal human responsibility.  We want our children to understand that reconciliation isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing commitment to learning, listening, and acting in solidarity.

Rosh Hashanah: A Time for Renewal and Change

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, offers a moment of spiritual reflection that echoes the themes of both Terry Fox and National Truth & Reconciliation Day.  As we enter the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, we emphasize personal growth, repentance, and renewal.  We teach our students that while this holiday is about introspection, it is also about action—about making changes in our lives that positively impact those around us.  Much like Terry Fox’s unyielding dedication to his cause, and much like the ongoing process of reconciliation, Rosh Hashanah calls us to pursue tikkun olam—the repair of the world.  Whether in the context of family, community, or society at large, Rosh Hashanah reminds us that we have the power and responsibility to create meaningful change.

A Unique Canadian Jewish Experience

What makes these three juxtaposed events especially meaningful is the way they intersect within the unique fabric of our Canadian Jewish identity.  Terry Fox’s legacy, Truth & Reconciliation Day, and Rosh Hashanah each stand on their own, but together, they represent a powerful triad of courage, responsibility, and renewal.  In a Jewish day school like ours, we aim to provide students with the tools to engage fully as young Jewish Canadians, understanding that their identities are shaped by both their heritage and their broader Canadian context.  We want our students to ask big questions: How do we honour the past while building a better future? What does it mean to live as a proud Jew and a responsible citizen?

As this extraordinary week unfolds, I am eager to see the questions and discussions that arise among our students and families. How can we live with courage like Terry Fox?  What does it mean to actively participate in reconciliation efforts?  How can the reflection and renewal of Rosh Hashanah guide us in the year to come?  These are the kinds of questions that define the educational journey at OJCS.  While the answers may not come easily—or at all—the process of engaging with them is where the real learning happens.  As always, I’m excited to see how our students navigate the intersection of these significant moments, and I look forward to the lessons they will teach all of us in the process.

As the eve of a new Jewish Year approaches, it is my most sincerest hope that this is the year we’ve been waiting for.  To all the teachers, staff, parents, students, donors, supporters, and friends in this special school- thank you for your enthusiasm and your hard work.  5785 is shaping up to be a quite an amazing year!

From our family to yours, “Shanah tovah!”

The Transparency Files: How We Grow Our Teachers

When you have been doing this as long as I (somehow) have been doing this, it is natural to wind up with some sayings and “-isms” that help explain your “why” and core beliefs.  Here is one of mine: “We should treat our teachers at least as well as we do our students”.  There are lots of ways that can apply, but here I want to take a peek behind the curtain and share how we think about the critical work of growing our teachers.  There are three OJCS North Stars that we aspire to for our students that apply at least as well to our teachers: 1) We own our learning, 2) We learn better together, and 3) There is a floor, but no ceiling.

Just as we want our students to take responsibility for their own learning as they develop in school, we empower our teachers to take ownership of their professional growth.  The administration are not detectives looking to catch our teachers making mistakes, but partners in helping teachers become their best selves.  Just as we know that learning is not done best alone, we encourage our teachers to grow themselves in cohorts, in community and in partnerships.  And just as no two students are the same, we do not offer our teachers cookie-cutter PD; rather, we work with our teachers to co-create differentiated and personalized growth opportunities that meet them where they are and take them the next steps forward.  [This does not mean that the administration never proscribes or requires particular growth experiences if that is what is called for; but we do try to start with the teacher’s passions and preferences.]

If you look up you will see our school’s Learning Target, which I have blogged about in the past.  A quick reminder that,

This “Learning Target” is the instrument of alignment – meaning we can now make big and small decisions based on whether they bring our school closer to the target or not.  If our “North Stars” represent unchanging aspirational endpoints of our educational journey, our “Learning Target” functions as a map and a compass.

Our teachers measure themselves – and we measure them – against a detailed rubric that describes varying degrees of excellence across these five domains and seventeen sub-domains.  Each year we expect our teachers to demonstrate growth in (at least) one category.  That season starts now.  I am currently meeting with each teacher in our school to decide on a Professional Growth Project (PGP) that is intended to formally move that growth forward.  Once I meet with each teacher and determine their PGP, they are shared with the full administration so we can build a calendar of professional growth opportunities aligned with this year’s needs.

If you are an OJCS Parent and not interested in more detail, feel free to skip the next section…

Because this blog does attract a broader audience than current families at OJCS (sorry if that reads like a bit of a humblebrag), I am going to tack on a few more technical pieces of the hows and whats of what we call our Annual Performance Review Process or APReP…

For transparency sake, here is the same graphic we provide our teachers as an overview:

Things to know…

…anyone in the field who would like samples of all the documents that are (not) hyperlinked in the above JPEG, just put your email address in a comment or email me directly ([email protected]) and it will be my pleasure.

…this has been an iterative process over the years.  We have added features, taken away features, etc.  We currently distinguish between first-year teachers at OJCS, non-tenured teachers at OJCS, and tenured teachers at OJCS.  [For my non-union friends, at our school, teachers become tenured if they are asked back for their fourth consecutive year of service.]

…”ELT” is our Educational Leadership Team.

…first-year teachers do not have a PGP as it is enough to acclimate yourself to a new school.

…new this year, veteran teachers may volunteer to sit on committees in lieu of PGPs upon request and agreeance from the administration.

…the APReP process is how we determine who our teachers are each year and which portfolios they are given.  It is not intended to be a high-pressure or high-stakes process, but it does lead to meaningful outcomes.  It is rigourous and it is serious.

Our teachers are our most important variable in school success.  The more skilled, able, prepared and motivated our teachers…the greater the odds for all the outcomes we aspire towards.  We are looking forward to great year of learning at OJCS this year…not just for our students, but for our teachers as well!

The 2024 OJCS Middle School Retreat: Disconnect to Reconnect

We had to pivot to a new location this year (Todah Rabbah Camp Shomria!), but it was worth it in order to return a full experience at our Seventh Annual OJCS Middle School Retreat!  Our theme for The 2024 Middle School Retreat was the same as it was for our Faculty Pre-Planning Week as it will be for the whole school and the whole year: Disconnect to Reconnect.  Over three days, we had all kinds of community-building experiences and programs and we engaged in three different peulot (informal Jewish educational programs) where our students, by class, by grade, and as a full middle school had a chance to review and lean into the permanent values embodied in our North Stars and the “7 Habits” while learning about the value of “disconnecting” and how our reliance on technology can sometimes get in the way of our “connecting” with our community, our school, our classmates, our friends…and ourselves.  I was very impressed by the level of engagement and the quality of conversation – whether we were inside, outside, sleepy or wide awake – that our students contributed to this part of the experience.

Here’s a snapshot (or many) of our experience:

Day #1

  • We arrived mid-morning, settled in, went over rules and boundaries, and unpacked.
  • Then we had lunch together.
  • Next up, Moreh David organized a Jewish Studies-Themed Scavenger Hunt that took us all around the camp while reviewing our basic Bible and Holiday Facts.
  • Then, our very own OJCS Parent, Steve Papai (thank you!) came up to supervise our canoeing and kayaking on Otty Lake.  Those who weren’t interested in the waterfront, were able to read and do arts and crafts with Miss M.
  • After that, we came together for our first peulah (activity) on the topic of “Disconnect to Reconnect”.  We learned what it meant to be a “Hokie” and a “Pokie”, explored what it mean to work collaboratively with those who have different norms, talked about the kind of MIddle School community we want to create and sustain, “crossed a wild river” and – of course, ended with…the Hokie-Pokie.
  • We finished with hanging out, watching a movie, playing night volleyball or ga-ga, reading, relaxing, etc., and then…lailah tov!

Day #2

  • We began our day with a delicious group breakfast and an outdoor Tefillah, which set the tone for the adventures ahead.  After fueling up, we made our way to Marked, where students tested their strength and endurance through a series of challenging outdoor obstacle courses and showcased their precision and accuracy during  thrilling games of laser tag.
  • In the late afternoon, we returned to camp where the fun continued. Students cooled off with a refreshing swim in the lake and enjoyed relaxing canoe rides.  Others took advantage of the many amenities the camp offers, including basketball and tetherball.
  • As evening approached, we gathered for a delicious BBQ dinner.  Following dinner, we engaged in our second peulah focusing on “mindfulness” and shifting one’s attitude by reimagining daily school experiences through a new lens (i.e. “Math” as “Brain Exercise” and “Eating” as “Mindful Eating”).
  • We ended our day on a high note with a cozy bonfire.  Students ate roasted marshmallows and sang songs, creating a perfect end to an action-packed day.

Day #3

  • We got up early, ate, did Tefillah, cleaned up and packed up!
  • We did our final peulah, this time focused on trust and how to carry forward the conversations and the relationships from the retreat back to school.
  • We finished up with a great survival skills training with Mr. Ray & Mr. C. and then it was time to load the busses and head back to OJCS!
Please  be sure to join us tomorrow for “Back to School Night” from 7:00 – 9:00 PM.  We can’t wait to show you the new spaces, to go deeper into The Anxious Generation, and to share with all you need to know to be great partners during this exciting 75th anniversary year!

Coming Attractions

I have used the metaphor of “building the plane while flying it” before, but I have never experienced it quite as literally as these last weeks!  This has been quite the reopening for school and each day we get closer to realizing the dream of this first phase of the renovation.

If I had more bandwidth, creativity and money, I would love to shoot one of those “Coming this season…” trailers that shows often use at the end of the first episode of a new season.  “This season at the Ottawa Jewish Community School…”  And I could provide tantalizing tidbits and foreshadowing of all the exciting things coming for the 2024-2025 school year at OJCS, and there are quite a lot of them.  Instead, the best I can do is what you will find below…

Coming soon on The Ottawa Jewish Community School…

  • …we actually do finish the first phase of our amazing $2 million classroom renovation!  As of this writing, nearly all furniture, millwork, interactive whiteboards, lighting, flooring, painting, etc., of all the spaces covered in this first phase are now in, working and complete.  What is left to do?  We have whiteboards and cork boards coming in next week and new storage units for upstairs.  That should be it…for now!  Can’t wait to show them to you at…
  • …Back to School Night!  Come join us on September 17th at 7:00 PM where in addition to the normal things, you will, 1) Hear from Vice Principal Melissa Thompson about how OJCS is building upon big ideas from The Anxious Generation and, 2) See the new classrooms!
  • …we relaunch our OJCS PTA under the leadership of Chelsea Levine who is bringing all her energy and ideas to the table!  (And we thank Tracy Hartman for her leadership these last few years!)  Want to help Chelsea infuse our school with ruach and joy and friend-raising to enhance the experience of being at OJCS?  Email her at [email protected] and get involved!
  • …Middle School is prototyping longer blocks of academic time for selected courses and a new Study Skills course.  What will be the impact?  We’ll see!
  • …we finally officially dedicate a Vimy Oak at Beechwood Cemetary on October 10th in loving memory of Rabbi Bulka Z”l and to officially kick off this year’s work of the Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project, generously sponsored by Kind Canada.

Coming this season on The Ottawa Jewish Community School

    • …OJCS turns 75!  Don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity celebrate this historic milestone on October 30th!
  • …we complete our three-year journey as a CAIS Candidate School and host an accreditation team in February 2025 with the hope of becoming the third CAIS-accredited independent school in Ottawa (joining Ashbury & Elmwood).

There is so much more, but I am really trying to be more parsimonious in the hope that by writing less, it is easier and more enjoyable to read.  Next week?  Middle School Retreat!

Things I Know Parents Want To Know

  • Update on Meat-Dairy days is coming very soon.  We’ve heard you.
  • Clarification on parking rules for both drop-off and pickup is also coming soon.  Safety trumps convenience.  Please and Thank You.
  • Plans for how the school – and Campus – plan to navigate the anniversary of October 7th.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to our newest “Friend of OJCS”!

Lidia Kaia is an Ottawa-born artist with Down Syndrome, whose work is renowned for its innovative pouring techniques and its use of colour therapy to foster psychological wellbeing.  Her art has been thoughtfully designed to positively influence emotional and mental states, helping to alleviate stress and enhance mood.  Lidia’s artwork has been featured in exhibitions and private galleries across Europe and is now garnering attention within the Canadian art scene.

Driven by her love for people, Lidia remains dedicated to creating new collections that reflect her unique perspective and passion for therapeutic art.  Lidia and her family are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to showcase her work within our school.

Please feel free to visit Jennifer and Yulia’s office on our first floor where you can view her stunning pieces.  You may also view her work – and meet her – and buy some for yourself at Back to School Night!  Here is a link to her full portfolio.

Interested in becoming “Friend of OJCS”?  Contact Yulia Elgin at [email protected].