Dear friends,

September has been busy celebrating Jewish holidays and packing in as much community work as possible in the days in between.  

FEDERATION CONTINUES UNPRECEDENTED ALLOCATIONS

Let me begin by sharing the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s most recent allocations. Federation’s Board unanimously approved an additional $12,500 to meet emergency needs for the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank and $99,850 for the Ottawa Jewish Community School. Federation has proactively communicated to all the major beneficiaries of the Emergency Campaign that we will see them through this second pandemic year. As requests come in, the Grants and Evaluation Committee conducts a quick and thorough review and makes a recommendation to Federation’s Board. 

With a keen understanding of our multi-faceted responsibility to meet emergency needs and at the same time ensure that the community is well-positioned for the future, Federation’s Board also approved several strategic funding grants. 
The Board approved an envelope of $310,000 for new strategic funding for Microgrants, security, supplementary schools, and helping the vulnerable. Additionally, in early March 2020 Federation announced important projects that would receive strategic funding to help the vulnerable. When the pandemic hit, in consultation with the beneficiaries, those grants were put on hold. Much has changed in the world since then, but not everything.

Federation recently reconfirmed $25,000 for AJA 50+ and the Creative Connections’ day program for cognitively well older adults; $50,000 (over two years) for Tamir, JOIN, Jewish Family Services, in partnership with Federation, to hire a part-time Community Inclusion Coordinator. The need for this has only grown due to the isolation and challenges of COVID.
YEAR 3 BUSINESS PLAN 

Federation’s Board recently approved its Year 3 Business Plan, which I would encourage you to read. Federation can only be successful if the necessary resources are in place and achieving the desired results. In this case, we require: 

  • Human resources (volunteers and professionals), financial resources (three simultaneous major campaigns – Annual, Generations Trust and Life & Legacy), and evaluation (to make sure the actions we are taking have the desired impact).
  • Continued investment of the emergency allocations required to safely see the community through the pandemic.
  • New pathways onto the Jewish Superhighway, to foster more and more Jewish engagement.

The plan is ambitious and when we are successful, the entire community will be strengthened. 
NATIONAL TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY – September 30

One of the initiatives in Federation's Business Plan is to participate in societal reconciliation efforts with the Indigenous community and implement at least two opportunities for learning and understanding. To begin this process and to mark the new National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Federation is honoured to have Bob Watts facilitate a commemoration entitled: “The National Truth and Reconciliation Day - Symbolic Gesture or Systemic Change?" on Thursday, September 30 @ 9 am. Visit here to register for this virtual event.

An expert in Indigenous policy, negotiations, conflict resolution and reconciliation, Mr. Watts is the Vice President of Indigenous Relations at NWMO and an Adjunct Professor and Distinguished Fellow at Queen’s University, where he developed one of the first graduate-level courses on reconciliation in the country. He is from the Mohawk and Ojibway Nations and resides at Six Nations Reserve, Ont. Mr. Watts carries and honours his Ojibwe Spirit Name, Kinoozishingwak (Tall Pine) and is a member of the Bear Clan. The Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin yesterday shared a list of resources to help us on our journey of understanding.
 A Final Thought

Each calendar year, I challenge myself to read at least 52 books. Recently, I re-read Exodus by Leon Uris, chronicling the establishment of the state of Israel and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin’s Words That Hurt, Words That Heal – How To Choose Words Wisely And Well. Exodus was one of the seminal books I read as a teenager that captured my imagination regarding the sacrifice and ingenuity that led to the creation of the Jewish State of Israel. It remains an inspiration. Rabbi Telushkin reminds us that once unleashed, the damage caused by words, particularly when expressed about an individual to others, is irreversible. I found both books thought-provoking and given that I am currently reading my 51st book of the year, my annual goal will soon be met. As with all things, goals are important – whether they be personal or organizational – and so too is the journey of learning, discovery, helping and learning. 

Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L'simcha,
Andrea