Category: Community Building

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.

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].

OJCS Faculty Pre-Planning 2024: Disconnect to Reconnect

This is normally the post where we provide a peek behind the curtain of what happens at school the week before students arrive; the week that teachers return, engage in meaningful professional growth opportunities, plan together for the start of school, organize their rooms and spaces, etc.  This year, of course, with a renovation racing at breakneck speed towards the first day of school, we shifted the balance of Pre-Planning Week towards that last task – giving all the time needed to open these brand-new classrooms on the first day of school.

One advantage to a nearly 100% returning faculty and staff is that we can seamlessly move forward on work we have been doing these last few years to help OJCS reach ever-closer towards our North Stars.  And with enrollment still coming in (classic Ottawa), we are on track for a seventh consecutive year of growth.  As we prepare to (literally) open our doors next week to house students in classrooms which are now as excellent as the quality of teaching and learning contained therein, and as you prepare to enjoy the last holiday weekend marking the end of summer, let me paint a little picture of how we are preparing to make 2024-2025 the best year yet.

Here’s a curated selection from our activities…

The “Learned Helplessness”  Cafe

Each year (17 years, 8 at OJCS and counting!), I begin “Pre-Planning Week” with an updated version of the “World Café”.  It is a collaborative brainstorming activity centered on a key question.  Each year’s question is designed to encapsulate that year’s “big idea”.  This year’s big idea?  Disconnect to Reconnect!

As a segue to this one big idea, we started the World Café by exploring the notion of “learned helplessness” and whether or not our use of technology in school contributes to it.

Here’s what connected collaboration looks like…

The Anxious Generation

Beginning with last year’s prototype of a “Middle School Cell Phone Detox,” we are building upon this key idea:

It is always the right time to do what is necessary to ensure the wellbeing of our students.  A number of us on our Educational Leadership Team (beginning with Vice Principal Melissa Thompson) have been reading The Anxious Generation and following the discussion on one of its big ideas, “Wait Until 8th“.  Both deal with the negative impacts of constant and chronic use of smartphones, in particular, on young and developing minds.
This will be the ONE BIG IDEA for 2024-2025.  Parents will have an opportunity  to learn more at this year’s “Back to School Night”, as well as through parent education sessions and a series of cohorted book groups.  It will also be the theme of this year’s Middle School Retreat.  We are looking forward to sharing more…once we launch the start of school.
Behaviour Support @ OJCS 2.0
We took significant strides last year in the way in which we navigate behaviour, evidence of which can be found in our parent and faculty feedback data.  That doesn’t mean that we don’t continue to refine and revise our framework.   We do and we did.
Here is a reminder about the big idea that underpins our approach:
Here is our framework-at-a-glance:
Again, it cannot be understated how helpful it is having almost 100% returning faculty when it comes to these matters.  We can spend all our bandwidth on growing and improving.  We saw the impact of the framework last year; we look forward to greater impact with a second year under our collective parent-school collaborative belts.

Did we take a Shehekhiyanu Moment when we (finally!) were able to show our teachers their new classrooms?

Did I do one of my spiritual check-ins on the topic of the “Discomforting Comfort”?  Sure did!

Did Moreh David inject some ruach (North Star Alert!) into Pre-Planning Week with some all-staff shirah?  Yup!

Did Ms. Gordon go over all the guidelines and protocols and procedures and rules and mandates to keep us all in the know?  No doubt!

Did Josh Max train all our teachers on how to use our amazing new interactive whiteboards installed in all our classrooms and prepare our Lower School Teachers to use our 60 new iPads?  Yessiree!

Did our teachers have lots of time to meet and prepare and collaborate and organize and do all the things needed to open up school on Tuesday?  And then some!

All that and much more took place during this week of planning.  We are prepared to provide a rigorous, creative, innovative, personalised, and ruach-filled learning experience for each and every one of our precious students who we cannot wait to greet in person on the first day of school!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday weekend and a successful launch to the 2024-2025 school year…

The Transparency Files: The 2024-2025 Faculty

Happy Friday!

Here we are on literally the last day of school – for teachers – and before we head into Canada Day Weekend and the true start of summer (for us!), it is my sincere joy and pleasure to be able to share a picture of the amazing human beings who will be teaching our children and leading our school into the 2024-2025 school year at the Ottawa Jewish Community School.

This is the first year of what will be the beginning of my eighth year at OJCS where I have exactly ZERO preambles or caveats.  (Wait, what?  You are just going to tell us what we are here to see and not force us to read an extra 500 words?  Yup!)

Get excited about this gifted and loving group of teachers and administrators, who will partner with our parents in the sacred work of educating our children.  I know I am!

The 2024-2025 OJCS Faculty & Staff

Lower School General Studies Faculty

  • Kindergarten: Andréa Black, Amy Kluke (EA) & EA (TBD) [TWO Classes]
  • Grade One: Julie Bennett [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Two: Ann-Lynn Rapoport [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Three: Caitlin Honey [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Four: Charles Watters [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Five: Melissa Thompson

Lower School Jewish Studies Faculty

  • Kitah Gan: Jaqui Gesund Kattan [TWO Classes]
  • Kitah Alef: Ada Aizenberg [TWO Classes]
  • Kitah Bet: Dana Doron [TWO Classes]
  • Kitah Gimmel: Susan Wollock [TWO Classes]
  • Kitah Dalet: Sigal Baray [TWO Classes]
  • Kitah Hay: Marina Riklin

Lower School French Faculty

  • Kindergarten: Maryse Cohen [TWO Classes]
  • Grade One: Maryse Cohen & Efi Mouchou [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Two: Efi Mouchou [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Three: Aaron Polowin [TWO Classes]
  • Grade Four Core: Aaron Polowin
  • Grade Four Extended: Dr. Sylvie Raymond
  • Grade Five Core: Dr. Sylvie Raymond
  • Grade Five Extended: Efi Mouchou

Middle School Faculty

[NOTE: There will be two Grade 6s.]

  • Science: Josh Ray
  • Mathematics: Chelsea Cleveland (Grades 6 & 7) & Josh Ray (Grade 8)
  • Language Arts: Jess Mender
  • Social Studies: Michael Washerstein
  • Extended French: Wanda Canaan
  • Core French:  Dr. Sylvie Raymond
  • Hebrew Alef: Jaqui Gesund Kattan
  • Hebrew Bet: Liat Levy
  • Jewish Studies: Mike Washerstein
  • Rabbinics: David Kogut

Specialists

  • Art: Dina Medicoff
  • Music: David Kogut
  • French Language PE: Stéphane Cinanni & Aaron Polowin
  • Library: Brigitte Ruel

Leads

  • OJCS Makerspace: Josh Ray
  • Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project: Michael Washerstein
  • Student Life: Jess Mender

Department of Special Education

  • Ashley Beswick, Student Support Coordinator
  • Faye Mellenthin, Grades 5-8 Resource Teacher
  • Marina Riklin, Math Resource Teacher
  • Chelsea Cleveland, Math Resource Teacher
  • Reading Specialist, Reading Resource Teacher
  • Corinne Baray, Jewish Studies & ESL Resource Teacher
  • Wanda Canaan, French Resource Teacher

Administration

  • Josh Max – Director of Technology
  • Ellie Kamil – Executive Assistant to the Head of School
  • Yulia Elgin – Director of Development
  • Elena Ivanova – Chief Accountant
  • Jennifer Greenberg – Director of Recruitment
  • Sharon Reichstein, Director of Special Education
  • Melissa Thompson – Vice Principal
  • Keren Gordon – Principal
  • Dr. Jon Mitzmacher – Head of School

You may notice some familiar faces in new places…

…you will notice that although she is maintaining a healthy teaching portfolio, we are thrilled to announce that Melissa Thompson has been promoted from “Coordinator” to “Vice Principal” that officially marks her transition to being part of Administration.  This is not only well-deserved based on her extraordinary work over her time at OJCS, but also much-needed as we reach towards those North Stars as a still-growing school.  Along with Ms. Gordon and myself, the addition of Mrs. Thompson in this role will ensure greater accountability and that we raise the bar of excellence in our classrooms and across our programs.

…you may also notice that David Kogut will expand his portfolio next year as he adds Middle School Rabbinics to Music as a full-time JS Teacher.  Moreh David has his MA in Jewish Education from the Azrieli School of Education at Yeshiva University and brings years of teaching and administrative experience into his expanded role.  We are incredibly grateful to Morah Corinne who has built a strong foundation in Rabbinics for Moreh David to build upon and are excited that Morah Corinne will have an opportunity to further develop her ESL and Hebrew Resource programs.

…and as sad as we are that Morah Yulia will no longer be formally teaching in the Jewish Studies Department next year, we are thrilled that Ms. Elgin will be dedicating all her extraordinary energy to Development.

You may notice two familiar faces missing…

…we took time a few weeks back to commemorate and celebrate the remarkable 37-year career of Ruth Lebovich – Morah Ruthie – as she has now officially retired from OJCS.  There is not enough space here to repeat all that we shared about her as part of our “OJCS Celebrates 75 Years of Teaching Excellence” event, but suffice it to say that she leaves an unparalleled legacy and huge shoes to fill.  We feel confident that for Morah Ruthie we are simply saying l’hitraot and not shalom as we expect to be seeing her and learning from her – albeit differently – for years to come.

…we are also saying good-bye to Lianna Krantzberg – Morah Lianna – who will be moving on from OJCS to take on new challenges as she enters the next phase of her career.  Having an alumna as a teacher is a special thing, indeed, and it has been our pleasure to literally watch Morah Lianna grow up in so many ways within our doors.  We wish her an early mazal tov as her wedding draws near, and all the best in her next professional chapter.

Do you notice what you don’t see?  Any significant open positions!  What?!  Yes, other than adding one additional EA for SK and a Reading Resource Specialist to ensure we are providing as much resource as needed, we are heading into summer without any significant search processes!  Stability, anyone?  Yes, please!

Please note that I intend to take a pause from weekly blogging as we head into summer.  Of course, should the spirit move me, or an issue arises that warrants it, I will blog intermittently, until resuming my weekly routine a week or so before our teachers return for Pre-Planning Week 2024.

Happy summer!

Being “Ready” for High School Used to Mean Something Different

[Please find here an adapted version of the words I shared at last night’s Ottawa Jewish Community School Graduation:]

When you go from being the oldest students in school to being the youngest, it can feel – as it did to ten of the spies in this week’s parashah – a bit like being a grasshopper amongst giants.  We tend to think about the transition to high school as being about “academic readiness” or “social acceptance” or “executive functioning” – the typical things any good middle school ought to ensure be true as it sends its graduates out into high school.  And considering how close COVID remains in the rearview, all those things were more complicated for this generation of graduates.  Now we layer on the events that took up most of this class’s graduating year – the tragedy of October 7th and its aftermath – and we realize that being “ready” for high school sadly now requires the additional categories of “preparedness for possible encounters of anti-Semitism” and “Israel advocacy”.

In Parashat Sh’lach, Moshe sends twelve spies to scout the land of Kena’an. Ten of them return with reports of fear and doubt, convinced that the land is unconquerable.  Only Yehoshua and Kalev stand firm in their faith and courage, urging the people to trust in God’s promise and move forward.  As you stand at the threshold of high school, you are a bit like Bnei Yisrael standing on the brink of the Promised Land.  The future is full of unknowns, challenges, and opportunities.  The world you are stepping into has been profoundly affected by the event of this past year what with the walkouts, disinformation and anti-Semitic/anti-Israel incidents on so many of our local high school campuses.  But just as Yehoshua and Kalev demonstrated, how we choose to perceive and respond to challenges will define our journey.

Perspective shapes our reality.  The ten spies saw insurmountable obstacles in Kena’an, but Yehoshua and Kalev saw possibilities and potential. As you move into high school, you may encounter situations that may seem daunting—new subjects, social dynamics, and greater responsibilities. Instead of seeing these as insurmountable challenges, try to view them as opportunities for growth and learning.  Cultivate a growth mindset that seeks out possibilities and remains optimistic, even in the face of adversity.

Courage is essential.  Yehoshua and Kalev stood against the majority, advocating for what they believed was right.  It wasn’t easy, but their bravery paved the way for Bnei Yisrael’s eventual entry into the Land.  It seems likely now more than ever that in high school, there will be times when you will need to stand up for your values, make difficult decisions, and perhaps go against the grain.  We have seen OJCS graduates take the lead in organizing and advocating on high school campuses throughout Ottawa in response to anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Israel disinformation.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it.  Remember that true courage comes from within and is bolstered by your sense of purpose and integrity.

Faith provides us with strength.  Yehoshua and Kalev’s confidence stemmed from their faith in God’s promise.  For us, faith can take many forms in addition to the traditional ones.  It might be faith in your abilities, faith in the support of your family and community, or faith in the values that you have been taught here at OJCS.  This faith will be your anchor in turbulent times, giving you the resilience to face challenges and the assurance that you are not alone.

Graduates, you have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability during your time at OJCS.  You are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make a positive impact in a world desperately in need of it.  Embrace the future with courage.  Be the positive force that sees potential in every challenge and have faith in your ability to create a better, brighter future.  And, when necessary, be brave in the face of challenges.

Ken y’hi ratzon.

A Time to Be Counted

Here are the words I shared with Kitah Bet this morning in celebration of their Chaggigat Ha’Torah:

There is a time to count, like one does when counting one’s blessings, and there is a time to be counted, like one does when showing up for oneself, one’s family, and one’s community.  Today is a rare opportunity to do both.

Today we celebrate the gift of Torah and in this week’s reading of it – in Parashat Bamidbar – we read about the census of the Israelites in the wilderness.  This detailed counting of each tribe and individual highlights the significance of every member within the community.  Each person’s unique role and contribution are recognized and valued. This notion resonates deeply with us today, as we witness the power of Jewish unity and collective strength in the face of recent challenges.

The tragic events of October 7th tested and continue to test our community in unimaginable ways.  Yet, amidst the darkness, we have seen an extraordinary outpouring of support, solidarity, and resilience.  There have been times when we have huddled together and counted our blessings, but also times when we have stood up and been counted as we rally and publicly #StandWithIsrael.

When we come together to celebrate our children’s first accomplishments in the study of Torah with the gift of Torah, we are not only honoring their individual achievements, but also reinforcing the bonds that tie us together as a community.  Your choice to provide your children with a Jewish day school education is a powerful statement.  It connects your children to the generations who came before, and to those yet to come.  Your choice joins your family story to the larger Jewish story, honors our past, and secures our future through the learning and experiences you have made possible for their Jewish present.  This choosing to be chosen, the unique nature of Jews who both have to and get to choose to be Jewish, feels so much more powerful this year in light of the world around us.

Our act of giving these sifrei torah to our children today is more than a ceremony; it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to Jewish continuity and resilience.  Each time we gather as a community to study, read and celebrate Torah, we engage in a public act of Judaism that is itself a living expression of Torah.  By showing up, by being present and publicly Jewish, we live our own torah and are counted within the Jewish People’s shared destiny of meaning.  We demonstrate to our children that Judaism is not just a private faith, but a public declaration of who we are and what we stand for.  Each act of Jewish learning, and each celebration we share is a thread woven into the fabric of our collective Jewish identity.

That is why, as was true with the siddur they received at the end of Kitah Alef, the Torah they receive at the end of Kitah Bet is not intended to be a trophy to sit upon a shelf, but a tool to continue the Jewish journey they are just beginning.  It is our hope and our prayer that the work we have begun together as partners – parents and teachers; home and school – continues in the years ahead to provide our children with Jewish moments of meaning and Jewish experiences of consequence so that they can continue to receive and accept Torah in their own unique way, infused by a love of Judaism, informed by Jewish wisdom and aligned with Jewish values.

Ken y’hi ratzon.

Public Acts of Judaism Are a Prayer We Answer Ourselves

Here are the words I shared with Kitah Alef this morning in celebration of their Kabbalat Ha’Siddur:

One of the most profound gifts we can give our children is the sense of being part of something greater than themselves.  The Hebrew word “siddur” comes from the root samech-dalet-reish, meaning “order.” The siddur represents the structured prayers that have connected generations of Jews throughout history.  In the act of teaching our children to pray in Hebrew, we are linking them to a chain that stretches back to the beginning of the Bible and forward to future generations.  Each day we do tefillah we help make l’dor v’dor a reality…

The events of October 7th have left an indelible mark on our community and our sense of security.  In such times, the importance of community and the shared rituals that bind us become even more vital.  The Torah teaches us, “And you shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7). This mitzvah underscores our responsibility to pass down our traditions and values.  Our act of giving these siddurim to our children today is more than a ceremony; it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to Jewish continuity and resilience.

Each time we gather as a community to celebrate our traditions, we engage in a public act of Judaism that is itself a form of prayer.  By showing up, by being present and publicly Jewish, we answer our own prayers for a shared destiny of meaning.  We demonstrate to our children that Judaism is not just a private faith, but a public declaration of who we are and what we stand for.  Each act of Jewish learning and each celebration we share is a thread woven into the fabric of our collective Jewish identity.

Each day, our children present us – their parents and their teachers – with an opportunity to secure the Jewish future through our partnership.  For parents, this is the sacred obligation we take on when deciding to have children.  For teachers and schools, this is the holy task we are entrusted with when parents take the leap of faith to provide their children with a Jewish education.  It is a responsibility that we do not take lightly or for granted.  It is why a Kabbalat Ha’Siddur – why a celebration of receiving a siddur gifted by the school, decorated by the parents, and instructed by the teachers is so appropriate to mark this stage of our journey.

One of our school’s North Stars is that “we are all on inspiring Jewish journeys,” and the Kabbalat Ha’Siddur is just the next stop on a journey that, for many, began together under the chuppah on the first day of Kindergarten.  My prayer for this class is that in the same way that the siddur we give them today is not a trophy to be admired on a shelf, but a tool to be used for discovery and meaning.  Let today’s simchah not simply be an oasis of Jewish joy in a desert of a Jewish year, but confirmation of our collective indomitable spirit and a commitment to celebrate the next stop and the stop after that in the extraordinary and unpredictable Jewish journey of this remarkable group of children and families.

Ken y’hi ratzon.

OJCS @ 75: A Miracle Built Through Teachers

Good afternoon, fellow teachers…

As we gather today to celebrate the incredible milestone of 75 years of the Ottawa Jewish Community School, formerly known as Hillel Academy, I am overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude and pride.  This celebration is not just about the passage of time but about the enduring legacy of commitment, passion, and excellence that has brought us here.

I believe deeply in stories and narrative, and that both lives and organizations are best understood as such.  This school was born from founding visionaries who told a story of what could be and each generation of the board, administration and faculty has taken its place to co-author each chapter of the school’s narrative up until today.  Those of us lucky enough to currently hold the pen owe a debt to all of you in the room who held the pen before us, and owe our commitment to pass the pen forward to those who will write chapters when our time is done.  Our collective story can be read through the lives of the students and families who came through our doors, and it echoes throughout our community, both Jewish and otherwise.  You simply cannot tell the story of Jewish Ottawa without our school, and our story could not have unfolded without the collective contributions of those in this room, and all those who contributed throughout the decades.

To our school’s extraordinary teachers, your dedication and tireless efforts are the foundation of our success. For seventy-five years and counting, day in and day out, you inspired and continue to inspire our students, nurturing their minds and souls. Your passion for teaching and your unwavering commitment to each child’s growth were and are truly remarkable. Teachers are the heart of OJCS, and it is your spirit that shapes the future of our community.

To my fellow devoted administrators, your leadership and vision have been instrumental in guiding us through challenges and triumphs alike. You work behind the scenes, ensuring that our school remains a place of excellence and innovation. Your strategic thinking and dedication to our mission have paved the way for our continued growth and success.

As it says in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” This powerful teaching reminds us that while we may not see the completion of our efforts, our responsibility is to contribute, to build upon the work of those who came before us, and to pave the way for those who will follow.

Our more recent achievements, such as the remarkable $2 million reimagination of our classrooms, seven consecutive years of enrollment growth, and the creation of the Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project, are just the most recent testament to what we can accomplish when we come together with a shared purpose. We have introduced cutting-edge technologies, embraced new teaching methodologies, and expanded our curriculum to ensure our students are well-prepared for the future. These advancements are a direct result of your hard work and commitment both past and present.

As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, we are filled with hope and excitement. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you. Thank you for your commitment, your passion, your talent and your dedication. Together, we have built, not just a special school, but a unique and thriving community.

Here’s to the next 75 years.

Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek.

(From Strength to Strength May We Be Strengthened.)