Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s Hillel Ottawa recently welcomed a new staff member, Deena Friedman, who will serve as its Student Event Coordinator for this coming academic year. A longtime Hillel participant, she previously served as a student executive at the University of Ottawa branch and now works at BBYO Ottawa as its Engagement Associate.

The Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin recently caught up with Friedman to talk about her background, what she’s looking forward to in this role, and what Hillel students can look forward to this academic year.

E-Bulletin: Tell me a little bit about you and why this role attracted you.

Deena Friedman: I was born in Israel but grew up in Ottawa. I attended a Jewish elementary school here and then went to public high school and later attended uOttawa for three years.

Because of this, I’m very passionate both about Ottawa’s Jewish community and student life on our post-secondary campuses. Right now, it’s really hard to be Jewish on campus, and working in this role will help me ensure students feel comfortable and proud in their identities. 

In the Jewish lifecycle, post-secondary years are when Judaism falls by the wayside for many people. It’s a transitional time when people are no longer being dragged to shul by their parents and can, for the first time, make the decision for themselves whether they want to be involved in Jewish community life, whether that’s cultural or religious. 

I see my role as helping students feel comfortable enough to choose to be proudly Jewish on campus and to help them connect with other Jewish students, as well as interact with allies who want to learn about Judaism, Israel, and how to best support our community.

E-Bulletin: Where does your passion for Jewish community work come from? Who/what inspires you?

Deena Friedman: Judaism has always been a huge part of my life and identity. Since I attended a Jewish elementary school, I sort of grew up in a bubble. Once I started attending a public high school, that’s when I started experiencing antisemitism for the first time, and those experiences inspired me to do something about it and to speak to my school board’s trustees.

It has never felt like a choice to speak up or get involved; it was something that like the natural direction to follow as a Jew.

I carried this with me to university, where I became a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, which equipped me with advocacy skills and helped connect me with other movers and shakers in the community. I’m really looking forward to continuing this kind of work with Hillel.

E-Bulletin: What do you hope to learn or gain from your time with us?

Deena Friedman: Our Hillel is unique in that is a part of the Jewish Federation system. I’m really excited to learn more about Federation and how it works, the resources it has, and to learn from my new colleagues there. I’m also looking forward to getting more connected with Hillel International and tapping more into those connections across North America.

E-Bulletin: As the 2026-2027 academic year approaches, what can Hillel students, whether they’re returning or coming for the first time, look forward to seeing and doing?

Deena Friedman: We have a great group of students that we know are coming, and we are really excited to welcome the first years, some of whom I know already locally. 

Our biggest event in September is going to be our welcome back pizza party, where we will have someone bringing in a pizza oven and making delicious kosher pizza on site. In the first semester, we will also be holding a Unity Shabbat, where we invite our students to invite their non-Jewish partners, friends, or classmates to attend and learn more about Judaism and its customs. Keep an eye on our social media as well for the latest updates on happenings at Hillel!

Friedman, along with Hillel Ottawa Director Jamie Sweigman and Springboard Fellow Alexa Barett-Taller, are thrilled to welcome any interested student to Hillel activities and gatherings this coming school year. To learn more about Hillel Ottawa and all it has to offer, you can visit their website by clicking here.