Twice a month, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa shares a Shabbat greeting from a member of our Board of Directors. This Friday, we are pleased to share this personal message from Elissa Lieff.

Dear Friends and Community Members,

I am pleased to have the opportunity to address you as a member of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Board and Chair of the Communications and Community Relations Committee (CCRC).

Happy 5787.

We are now in a season of celebration. It is a time of gratitude and joy, connection and togetherness, renewal and the willingness to begin again. Simchat Torah itself marks both an ending and a beginning. We complete the Torah and immediately start again. A fresh start, but one grounded in all that came before.

When I joined the Federation Board last fall, I spoke about how the Jewish value of l’dor v’dor, passing wisdom, tradition and responsibility from generation to generation, has shaped who I am since childhood. It is an ongoing responsibility.

As a community, we are never simply finished. Each generation has a role to play in ensuring our renewal, continuity and participation. We do not sit on the sidelines and let others decide our future.

This month, on Monday, October 26, we, as members of the Ottawa community, will elect our next mayor, city councillors and school board trustees. This, too, marks the end of one term and the beginning of another. It is an important moment for our Jewish community to look back, look ahead and take part in shaping the next chapter for our city.

The mayor alone does not make the decisions that affect our community. City Council has a critical role in municipal services and policies, while school board trustees make decisions affecting our schools. The people we elect make decisions that touch our daily lives, from public safety and services for seniors to infrastructure and how antisemitism is addressed in our schools.

We saw the importance of municipal engagement this past spring with the passage of Ottawa’s Safe Access By-law, commonly known as the bubble bylaw. Federation advocated for protections to help ensure that people can safely enter places of worship, schools, long-term care homes and other community institutions. It is a tangible example of what can happen when community concerns are brought forward, and municipal leaders respond.

I am not suggesting whom anyone should vote for. That is a personal decision. What I am asking is that each of us take the time this month to become informed and encourage our family and friends to do the same.

Helping our community do that is an important part of the work of Federation and the CCRC. In preparation for this election, Federation staff and committee members have worked hard to identify the issues that matter to Jewish Ottawa, engage with candidates and prepare information to help community members make their own informed decisions.

This week, Federation began its meetings with mayoral candidates to discuss issues affecting Jewish Ottawa and to ensure they understand the concerns and priorities of our community. Candidates’ responses to questions will be shared in the Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin on Tuesday, October 13. We have also prepared resources to help community members learn more about the candidates and the issues before casting their ballots.

Explore Federation’s 2026 Municipal Election Guide.

Municipal leadership matters. How our leaders respond when a community feels threatened matters. The decisions made at City Hall and by our school boards matter.

Sitting on the sidelines leaves decisions about our future to others. Mark October 26 on your calendar. Learn about the candidates. Ask questions. And when the time comes, cast your ballot.

We do not all have to speak with one voice. What matters is that we participate.

That, too, is part of l’dor v’dor, taking responsibility for the community we have inherited and for the one we will leave to those who come next.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,

Elissa