Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are always a time of introspection and renewal, a time to return to our better selves and a time to reflect upon the person that each of us aspires to be, an even-better version of who we are today. For me, this sentiment has perhaps never been more applicable than this coming New Year and the Ten Days of Repentance. |
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Throughout the past 15 months, humbled with both pride and humility as Chair of your Jewish Federation of Ottawa, and despite what many might label as "challenges," the opportunities resulting from "pandemic adversity" have highlighted once again the sense of appreciation and cohesiveness that we have in our community. If we have learned anything from the experience of the pandemic, it is that together as a unified community, we can weather any crisis.
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A perfect example of this is the situation with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). Today, OCDSB shared an open letter to Jewish students, staff members, and families, acknowledging that the relationship with the Jewish community is in need of repair: "Over the past months, we have heard concerns from parents, staff, students, and community partners about the rise of antisemitism in schools, the need for more awareness and action by the school district, as well as more recent concern about our approach to professional learning."
When Federation leadership met with the OCDSB on Monday, we suggested they use the opportunity of the New Year to reach out to the Jewish community and this is exactly what they did. We recognize this letter as an important and necessary step forward in mending what had become a broken trust. Thank you to the numerous community members who reached out to their trustees, schools, and the OCDSB. This acknowledgement from the board is a result of our joint advocacy. Thank you for supporting our students and thank you to OCDSB for hearing our concerns. Please read the open letter here.
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Such communal advocacy speaks volumes to the overall powerful engagement of our community. This collective spirit, which acknowledges we are stronger together, reveals itself not just through generous gifts to the Annual Campaign that help support Federation's critical work, but through volunteerism and engagement in our numerous and diverse agencies and institutions. Every day, community members like yourselves give their energy to ensure Jewish Ottawa is a thriving, safe and vibrant community.
Together, we can ensure that everyone, from our children to our elderly, have access to lifeline supports and meaningful Jewish experiences. Moreover, we must recognize and subscribe to the reality that ensuring our community’s health and growth is work required from all of us.
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This is the essence of the Jewish Federation system as we go about our work of communal leadership. We are reminded over and over again how important it is that we do indeed function as “one community.”
As we enter into Shabbat tonight, celebrate our Jewish New Year starting on Sunday evening and then pass in judgment before the Holy One at Yom Kippur, I am inspired and motivated to continue our resolve at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa to act for a better world where justice and righteousness prevail, mindful at all times of our responsibilities to the human family as we strive to improve ourselves and our community for decades to come.
For my part, as we recite Hineni prior to the Musaf service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Hineni, I Am Here; Hineni, Here I Am; Hineni, I'm All In as I reflect on who I am, what’s important to our community, and how I can continue to accept responsibility to help effect positive change for others.
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On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, I want you to know that we will never lose our focus on the vitality, spirit and gratitude for the richness and depth of our Jewish heritage and culture as well as the strength of our Ottawa community and its cherished institutions.
We offer a warm Shana Tova to you and your loved ones, to our entire Jewish community, to the people of Israel and to our family in the Ukraine. May this be a time of peace and prosperity for the Jewish people, and a year of meaning, growth, health and joy for all. And may we all be inscribed for blessing in the Book of Life.
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Shabbat Shalom, G'mar Chatima Tova and Am Yisrael Chai.
Ian Sherman
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P.S. Our community is grateful and proud to have hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and several Members of Parliament, including (from left in photo below) Yasir Naqvi, Anthony Housefather, Anita Vandenbeld, Ya'ara Saks, and Rachel Bendayan, who made a special visit to the Ottawa Jewish Community School this morning. The visit and seeing the children, warmed my heart, filled my inner core with emotion as a proud graduate of this school (a few years ago now!) and demonstrated once again why this community work remains a constant labour of love. (Special thanks to Jon Mitzmacher for hosting us!)
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