Shalom Chaverim, 

This time of year is one of activity and closure – a time during which we finish the school year, we celebrate the success of another year at many Annual General Meetings of community organizations, and we dream of our relaxing or adventurous summer plans. One thing is for sure, the month of June is exceptionally busy.  

This year was no different, especially this past week. Torah Day School of Ottawa and the Ottawa Jewish Community School held meaningful and inspiring graduations, a culmination of learning and growth for many students and their families. The schools have nurtured and shaped strong, dedicated, and capable Jewish leaders, and should be commended for the mix of education, mentorship, and skills development they impart to their students. We are incredibly fortunate to have two excellent Jewish day schools in our community, and I am grateful to them for being places of learning and community building.  

On Wednesday, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa held its Annual General Meeting and Community Service Awards evening, a wonderful night full of celebration and acknowledgement, as well as some core business. We were very pleased to highlight this year’s successes, including presenting our Impact Report, and to thank our community’s volunteers, donors, partner organizations, and staff. You can read the report in full here or see our impact by the numbers here.

A highlight of the evening was recognizing three outstanding community leaders with this year’s Community Service Awards. Michael Reznick, our Vice President of Development, was awarded the Jewish Communal Professional Leadership Award for his innovation and excellence. Adam Zaret, a Federation board member and treasurer, received the Freiman Family Young Leadership Award and the Lawrence Greenberg Young Leadership Development Award as a dedicated and talented young leader in our community. And, Anna Silverman’s incredible commitment and length of active volunteer service was recognized with her receiving the Rabbi Reuven Bulka Shem Tov Community Volunteer Award. This part of our annual meeting was, as always, a true celebration of those who power Jewish Ottawa, and acknowledgement of what it takes to build and maintain our amazing community.  

You can view highlights from the evening's events by clicking here.

This week, we read the joint Torah portion of Chukat–Balak, a pairing that invites us to reflect on resilience, perspective, and the power of blessing. 

Parashat Chukat begins with mystery. The laws of the red heifer remind us that not everything in life can be neatly explained or understood. Soon afterward, the Israelites mourn the loss of Miriam, struggle without water, and confront uncertainty in the wilderness. These are deeply human experiences. We all encounter moments when the path ahead is unclear, when loss changes us, and when we are called to move forward without having all the answers. 

However, the story does not end there. 

In Parashat Balak, an unexpected voice emerges. Hired to curse the Jewish people, the prophet Balaam instead sees something entirely different. Looking upon the Israelite camp, he chants one of the most beloved blessings in our tradition: "Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael" — "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel." 

It is striking that one of Judaism's most enduring blessings comes not from within our camp, but from someone who was determined to see our flaws. When Balaam looked more carefully, he found not weakness, but dignity; not division, but a people worthy of blessing. 

This lesson reminds us that how we choose to see one another matters. In every Jewish community we face challenges that can easily draw our attention to differences or disagreements. Yet Chukat and Balak ask us to cultivate another perspective. They ask us to recognize the quiet acts of kindness, the volunteers who give generously of their time, the educators who inspire our children, the caregivers who support families, and the leaders who strengthen our institutions. These are the "goodly tents" that sustain our community every day.  

As we head into summer, I hope we will be proud of all our community has to offer, and grateful for the volunteers, professionals, and institutions that create our amazing Jewish Ottawa. Over the next two months, many of us will continue to participate in programs, have children attending various camps, join synagogue services, gather in communal spaces, or benefit from care provided to loved ones. Please join me in noticing the many blessings of our community, and the feeling of pride I have about what has been built and what will continue to grow. We enter this summer with hope, joy, and satisfaction.  

Wishing you and yours a safe and enjoyable summer.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Adam 

P.S. Over the summer, we will share Shabbat messages on a revised schedule, typically every other week.