U Ottawa president denounces student union call to boycott Israel

Two weeks ago, the University of Ottawa student Union (UOSU) adopted a motion calling for the University of Ottawa to support the Boycott, Divest and Sanction campaign against Israel. This past week, the University of Ottawa’s leadership denounced the decision, issuing a statement clarifyi…

New Jewish Youth Library finds long-awaited home

In 1981, the Caytak family moved to Ottawa and opened the Jewish Youth Library in their basement. In 1989, they moved into a house across the street — but other priorities like a preschool and a summer camp took over the space they had hoped to dedicate to the library.

Finally, a new dedi…

Jewish Public Servants Network working for antisemitism training, awareness

Since last May, a Facebook group for Jewish public servants has been slowly growing, recently topping 200 members. Created by Jonathan Greenberg, the Jewish Public Servants Network is now managed by a volunteer steering committee and seeks to ensure antisemitism and the needs of Jews are ref…

A Mohel, a Dragon Boat drummer & a community leader: Meet Lisa Rosenkrantz

Ottawa’s Jewish community is lucky enough to have one of only three female mohels in Canada — Lisa Rosenkrantz, who was recently honoured with the Award of Merit from the Ontario College of Family Physicians. 

Rosenkrantz, who’s been in Ottawa since 1981, became a mohel about 25 year…

‘Take the poor into your home’ — housing project follows Jewish tradition

Photo: The Haven community, one of Levine's projects at the Multifaith Housing Initiative

Most of Barbara Levine’s career was spent in international development and relations — now she’s “special kind” of property developer, volunteering with the Multifaith Housing Initiative, a p…