Mothers of children under the age of 18 will have an exciting opportunity to connect with Israel and Judaism this year as the Momentum journey begins. Highly subsidized by the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, the Momentum program is a year full of growth, connection, and sisterhood. 

This year’s city co-leaders are Sharon Appotive, Pauline Colwin, Jenny Shinder, and Evelyn Silverman, with planning support from Federation’s PJ Library Coordinator Eriel Ben-Gal.

The purpose of the program is to bring mothers who may not be regularly connected to Jewish life but who want to deepen their understanding of the Jewish homeland and reintroduce Judaism into their and their families’ lives. While there is a religious component to Momentum, the bigger focus is on the Jewish home and the role that mothers play in shaping it. 

One of the most exciting parts of the program is a 10-day journey to Israel in May. 

Details about the trip’s itinerary are still being finalized, but participants can expect a well-rounded tour of the country. Stops are likely to include Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Nova Festival site, Tzfat, and other notable places.

In addition to the eight days that the group will spend on the “Momentum” portion of the trip, there will also be a brand-new additional two days in Israel’s North, Federation’s partnership region. There, participants will see the ways that Federation impacts local communities through enrichment programs, education, and the arts through the Partnership2Gether program. 

Also new this year is the size of the cohort going on the trip. While Ottawa will be sending 36 women on the trip, the group will join others from Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. This pan-Canadian representation will be the largest in Momentum’s history.

While the trip is a highlight of the Momentum experience, there is so much more that is done leading up to the journey and the months that follow. 

“It’s important to note that the commitment to Momentum is not just for the 10-day trip to Israel,” said Ben-Gal “There will be up to three sessions prior to the trip for the women to meet each other … and then post-Israel, when women will get together a few times in the year that follows.”

Ben-Gal emphasized that the work that the women will do together following the trip to Israel will help further establish a connection between participants and hopefully will inspire each other to continue their work at home.

Those who have been on the trip can also speak about its value and impact. Pauline Colwin, who will be attending as Federation’s representative on the trip this year, went on a Momentum trip nearly 10 years ago and was deeply impacted by the feeling of Jewish peoplehood.

“[The] sense of solidarity, of shared purpose, of caring for each other, of being part of the entire Jewish family was incredibly meaningful,” she said. “It didn’t matter what our religious practice was or where we were from. We were all Jews, standing strong together in full support of each other.”

Adds Ben-Gal, “When we say that Momentum builds a sisterhood, we really mean it. You’ll be undergoing this transformative experience with 36 women who are in a similar situation wanting to go to Israel for the same goal and purpose.”

You can learn more about Momentum during an information session being held on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. on January 22. Register by clicking here.