Building a more Inclusive Community

January 29, 2026 • Jewish Federation of Ottawa

JDAIM calls upon us to build a more inclusive Jewish community

February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a unified effort among Jewish organizations to celebrate and support community members living with disabilities and mental health conditions. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa will be marking this month in a variety of ways, including screening films related to navigating life and Jewish traditions while living with disability, as well as participating on a panel to talk about the work being done on the ground.

Voices: Living between three homes
— an Iranian Jewish perspective

In this deeply personal reflection, Tina Ahava Azarin explores the emotional complexity of being an Iranian Jew, a Canadian, and someone currently in Israel during a time of unrest. She shares how history, identity, and empathy intersect, offering a powerful call to listen, lead with compassion, and hold multiple truths with care.

Temple Israel’s quilts carry
compassion across continents

A simple act of kindness has stitched together hearts across continents. For nearly two decades, Temple Israel’s quilting group has been creating handmade baby blankets for children in Israel, offering warmth, comfort, and connection. From hospitals to nurseries, quilts have found new homes and forged meaningful bonds across the country.

Christian-Jewish partnerships
flourish in Israel

In an era of rising antisemitism, meaningful alliances matter more than ever. The work of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem demonstrates this and shows how shared values, advocacy, and compassion are strengthening Jewish–Christian relationships, supporting Israel, and fostering solidarity through education, dialogue, and tangible action.

Jewish Ottawa Helps continues to create a safe space to share resources

Created during the pandemic, Jewish Ottawa Helps has grown into a vital online space for connection, support, and shared information. Today, the Facebook group continues to strengthen community ties, lessen isolation, and reflect the Federation's commitment to care, collaboration, and mutual responsibility in an ever-changing world.

Marking life's milestones

The Board of Directors of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation acknowledges with thanks contributions to the following funds as of January 22, 2026.

Click here to view fund contributions