The Ottawa Modern Jewish School (OMJS), a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, has been awarded a Jewish Journeys grant to support its innovative TeenShemet program for students in Grades 8 and 9. This new initiative provides a meaningful bridge during the often-challenging transition from middle school to high school and marks a significant milestone in OMJS’s mission to deliver inclusive and impactful Jewish education.

The Jewish Journeys Fund offers grants of up to $30,000 over two years to build Jewish identity through immersive programming in the Ottawa Jewish community, helping organizations and groups engage more people in vibrant Jewish life.

Designed to strengthen Jewish identity, this grant provides funding for creative initiatives that connect individuals of all ages and backgrounds to Jewish community, culture, and tradition.

This investment will allow OMJS to expand TeenShemet, a leadership and identity-building program designed for teens who have completed their b’nai mitzvah studies and are ready to further explore and live out their Jewish values.

“The name of the program is a bit of a play on words,” explains OMJS Principal Michael Reznick. “Our school’s logo is an owl, and in Hebrew, owl is תִּנְשֶׁמֶת — tin-she-met. We thought it would be fun to merge that with the word ‘teen’ and create TeenShemet. It ties the program to our school’s identity in a creative and memorable way.”

At its core, TeenShemet offers experiential learning opportunities that give students real-world skills and a deeper connection to Jewish ethics. From learning CPR, reflecting the value of pikuach nefesh (preserving life), to participating in volunteer projects that embody chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity), and tikkun olam (repairing the world), students are given tangible ways to live Jewish values.

“This program provides our Grade 8 and 9 students with real leadership opportunities,” says Reznick. “They’ll develop a stronger understanding of Jewish life in Ottawa and beyond, while gaining meaningful tools to connect with their heritage and identity. It's about giving them the confidence to take their place in the Jewish world.”

Beyond skills and service, TeenShemet includes enriching field trips to museums, Holocaust memorial centres, and local Jewish organizations. These experiences give students a window into Ottawa’s Jewish story and help them explore their place within the broader global Jewish narrative.

A distinctive element of TeenShemet is its emphasis on peer teaching. Participants will have opportunities to mentor and share their learning with younger OMJS students, bringing their knowledge full circle and reinforcing leadership through action.

The Jewish Journeys grant will help cover the costs of these experiences, ensuring the program is accessible to all families. It will also support training for both teen mentors and OMJS staff, equipping them to foster reflection, growth, and leadership in a Jewish context.

“TeenShemet empowers students to step into leadership roles in ways that are deeply connected to their Jewish identity,” says Reznick. “It’s not just about learning values. It’s about living them and discovering what it truly means to be a modern Jew. I’m excited to see how our students grow through this program and how it strengthens their confidence and sense of belonging.”

In addition to TeenShemet, OMJS is launching a second new initiative this year: Sha’arim (Gateways in Hebrew), a dynamic program for children in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 1. This program, which is not part of the Jewish Journeys grant, offers young learners a warm, immersive entry point into Jewish life and Hebrew language.

“What makes Sha’arim different,” explains Reznick, “is that Hebrew won’t just be taught. It will be experienced through activities, play, and song. It’s a nurturing, joyful environment that feels like a daycare but with the added value of an engaging Hebrew atmosphere. Learning happens naturally through interactive games, songs, and storytelling.”

With Sha’arim and TeenShemet, OMJS is expanding its educational vision from early childhood through adolescence, offering a continuum of meaningful Jewish learning rooted in identity, values, and community.

For more information about these exciting opportunities, visit omjs.ca or contact Michael Reznick at [email protected].