Shalom Chaverim,

As we enter this week’s Torah portion, Emor, we encounter a vision of Jewish life shaped by holiness, structure, and shared responsibility. The parashah outlines the sacred roles of the Kohanim, the rhythms of our holy days, and the ways in which time itself becomes elevated. What emerges is a powerful idea: holiness is not only a personal pursuit, but is something we build together, intentionally, as a community. 

Emor teaches that kedushah (holiness) requires both clarity and commitment. There are boundaries, responsibilities, and rhythms that help transform ordinary life into something meaningful and elevated. The Torah’s detailed attention to communal structure reminds us that strong communities are not accidental. They are thoughtfully built, nurtured, and sustained through care and dedication. 

That message resonates deeply here in our own community. 

As part of my past participation with the board of our partners at Jewish Federations of Canada – United Israel Appeal, I had the privilege to hear several D’var Torahs by Professor Jonathan Berkowitz, a former board member of that organization from Vancouver. As a statistician, he always worked in Gematria, a numerological system mapping Hebrew letters to numbers, and the results were very interesting. I thought I would try to incorporate a similar approach in my message this week.  

The Hebrew rendering of Ottawa can be written in different ways. One common form yields the numerical value 27 of Ottawa אוטווה (Aleph–Vav–Tet–Vav–Heh noting the double Vav is for pronunciation), which is the exact number of letters in the full Hebrew alphabet including the final letters (sofit). It suggests that here in our city, the full voice of Jewish life can be expressed, diverse, complete, and deeply connected. Every individual, every family, every organization represents another “letter” in the story we are writing together. 

The number 27 is also three cubed (3³) pointing to growth in three dimensions. In Jewish tradition, three represents stability and foundation: Torah (Torah or laws), Avodah (work/service), and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness). Three cubed can also be framed as past, present, and future, or as Kohen, Levi, and Israel. When these pillars are not only present but strengthened and amplified, we create a community that grows not just outward in numbers, but inward in depth and upward in aspiration. The gematria value of 27, or three cubed, supports the story of a strong, diverse, and complete Jewish community.  

This is the opportunity and the responsibility in front of us for Jewish Ottawa. 

Like the careful framework outlined in Emor, our community thrives when we invest in all dimensions of Jewish life: supporting those in need, strengthening Jewish education and identity, deepening engagement, and ensuring that our communal institutions remain vibrant and sustainable for generations to come. Through the work of our Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation, we are privileged to help steward that growth on a path guided by values, grounded in tradition, and focused on the future. 

There is another layer embedded in the number 27. It corresponds to the Hebrew word זך (zach), meaning pure or refined. It reminds us that the WAY we build community matters just as much as WHAT we build. Our efforts must be rooted in integrity, transparency, and a genuine care for one another.  

We must also lead the way on broader community initiatives, with one very notable example coming to fruition last week. Under the capable advocacy and leadership of Federation’s Director of Advocacy and Government Relations, David Sachs, the City of Ottawa passed the Safe Access to Social Infrastructure Bylaw, protecting and providing safe access to community institutions including daycares and schools, long-term care facilities, and places of worship. David, other staff, and community members engaged with City Councillors and allied groups to highlight the necessity and importance of the bylaw, as well as what it will and will not do. This was an important leadership effort by and for our community. 

As we reflect on the teachings of Emor, we are reminded that holiness is found not only in sacred spaces or special moments, but in the ongoing work of shaping a community together. It lives in our choices, our generosity, and our willingness to take responsibility for one another. 

As we enter the month of May, recognized as Jewish Heritage Month in Canada, we are offered an added opportunity to celebrate, reflect on, and share the richness and diversity of Jewish life in our community and across the country. May we continue to build a Jewish Ottawa that reflects the fullness and diversity of our tradition, as well as the strength of our shared commitment, a community that is inclusive, resilient, and inspired.  

Shabbat Shalom,  

Adam