Modern Mishpocha: Rosh Hashanah and the new school year

By Jenny T. Burns

The new year is upon on. The leaves on our trees will begin to turn red and gold, the air is crisp, and we are starting to crave crunchy apples and hearty soups. It’s time for Rosh Hashanah, for sweet treats, round challah and the sound of the shofar.

Yet, it is also ti…

Guest Column: Love has no borders – OK, maybe one

By Joshua Finn

With the raging COVID-19 pandemic leading to the closure of the Canada-U.S. border, Ottawa-born Davina Finn and David Hecht, of Maryland, knew they would have to change their wedding plans. The couple, who live in New York City and met at a Shabbat dinner at the Manhattan JCC…

Guest Column: Connecting with a partner through Torah study

By Ilana Benzaquen

The world at large has gone through monumental changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We all know that many countries and communities were hit hard, with people passing away or suffering from critical illness. We still have not seen yet the light at the end of the tunnel. …

From the Pulpit: This is a time to open our hearts with rachamim

By Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn, Chabad of Centrepointe

As the glorious summer comes to an end, we begin to anticipate the High Holidays.

The mystics tell us the High Holiday season is actually a journey beginning in the month of Elul, one month prior to Rosh Hashanah and concluding after Simcha…

Letter from Jill Binder

Dear Ottawa Jewish community,

Hi, my name is Jill Binder. I grew up in Ottawa from 1976 to 2000. Some of you may remember me from Ottawa Modern Jewish School (where I was co-valedictorian in the late 1980s), Jewish Community Centre Day Camp, Camp B’nai Brith, Camp Gesher, Agudath Israel, …