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 Joelle Assaraf.

Dear friends,

My name is Joelle Assaraf. I was born and raised in Montreal in a family deeply rooted in Jewish Moroccan culture. I was blessed to grow up surrounded by warmth, faith, and a strong sense of identity. For the past 24 years, Ottawa has been my home. My husband and I are blessed with three grown daughters and four beautiful grandchildren. Like many families today, ours span cities and continents, with two daughters living in Montreal and one in Israel. While this reality brings frequent travel, each journey reminds us that Jewish identity is not confined to geography; it lives within us wherever we are.

Over the years, I have built a strong connection to our Jewish Ottawa community. My children were shaped by Jewish education, whether afternoon school, Sunday school or Jewish day school, experiences that, combined with a strong Jewish home life, helped develop a deep sense of who they are. For more than a decade, I have had the privilege of serving as treasurer and board member of the Sephardi Association of Ottawa. Through this role, as well as participating in community programs, a transformative women’s trip to Israel and being a proud member of Ottawa Torah Centre Chabad, I have seen firsthand how each of us contributes to keeping our Jewish spirit vibrant. 

Now in my second year as a Board member of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, I continue to be inspired by the dedication and passion of its employees, volunteers, and fellow board members. Like many, I did not fully appreciate Federation’s profound impact until becoming directly involved. It is truly the beating heart of Jewish Ottawa aiming to catalyze, convene and connect our entire community.

As we move forward with Federation’s new five-year strategic plan, I encourage everyone to take the time to explore it and see how it reflects our shared values. This plan is guided by four key principles:

1. Commitment to Jewish Peoplehood and Zionism

2. People and Relationships Build Exceptional Community

3. Shared Responsibility Enables Collective Impact

4. Thoughtful Stewardship Connecting Legacy and Next-Generation Members

These principles remind us that our strength lies in our unity. Each demographic, tradition, and story adds a unique colour to the mosaic of Jewish life in Ottawa. Together, we create a community far richer and more resilient than any one part could achieve alone. Regardless of denomination, background, or perspective, we share a common purpose: to support one another and ensure that future generations inherit a thriving, compassionate, and proud Jewish community.

At the same time, we must acknowledge the challenges ahead, demographic shifts, an aging population, increased geographic dispersal, fluctuating religious infrastructure and growing concerns about security and antisemitism. Ottawa’s transient nature, shaped by universities and government work, requires us to work even harder to keep people connected. These challenges are real, but they are not insurmountable. 

The strength of our community lies in our willingness to unite, innovate and care deeply for one another. The Federation’s new strategic plan offers a strong framework for progress, but it is up to all of us to bring it to life by participating, volunteering, donating time or resources and simply showing up for one another. Every contribution, large or small, strengthens the fabric of our community.

In an uncertain world, our Jewish community offers something deeply meaningful: connection, meaning, and hope. It is our shared responsibility to protect it, nurture it, and continue to build it, together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Joelle

Our community’s strength comes from showing up for one another. Please consider a gift to the Annual Community Campaign. Your support helps strengthen Jewish education, sustain essential institutions, and ensure that every person in Jewish Ottawa feels safe, supported, and proud.

Thank you!