In July, Jewish educators from Ottawa will embark on a life-changing journey to Israel, where they will bear witness to the events of October 7 and understand the scale of the trauma, learn from Israeli education experts, and connect with Israeli and Canadian education professionals to share insights and experiences. 

This program, called Binat HaLev, Hebrew for “understanding of the heart,” is organized by the Jewish Federations of Canada (JFC-UIA) and heavily subsidized in part by the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. The trip provides critical insight, as well as an opportunity to bond with other Jewish educators from around the world.

Last summer, three Ottawa educators went on the trip. The cohort consisted of Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) school psychologists Jessica Shulman and Jennifer Glassman, as well as high school teacher Ari Lesser, who have since turned that experience into an initiative for change within their own professional community.

For Shulman, the experience was both affirming and eye-opening. 

“It was important for me to see with my own eyes that many of the claims being made about Israel — genocide, apartheid — are fabrications,” she said. “We saw coexistence in action. We had dinner in a Bedouin woman’s home in Rahat, and we saw signage in Hebrew, Arabic, and English throughout the country. That’s not the image being shown in the media.”

The group also spent time learning how misinformation and disinformation have shaped global perceptions of Israel. They met with a former Associated Press journalist to better understand how media narratives often cast Israel as the perennial villain in a simplified, binary view of the conflict. 

“Audiences like good versus evil,” Shulman noted, “and Israel is too often positioned as the bad guy.”

But the most enduring impact of the trip was not just the knowledge they gained, it was the connections they formed. 
“The depth and richness of connection with the other participants was intense,” Shulman shared. “We’ve stayed in touch through WhatsApp and even reunited for a weekend in September.”

For last year’s cohort, those connections did not end with the trip. They began to work closely with Federation’s Antisemitism Specialist David Sachs and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s (OCDSB) Jewish equity coach Brian Kom to launch the Jewish Educators of Ottawa network. 

The group was established to create a support system for Jewish educators in public schools who often feel isolated or unsupported in the face of rising antisemitism.

“We wanted a space where we could grow, feel confident, and be proud of who we are,” Lesser said. “To fight misinformation and hate with education.”

“People are wearing Free Palestine sweatshirts at school. Stickers with slogans like ‘Join the Movement’ appear on staff laptops. There’s an overwhelming sense of discomfort and confusion,” Glassman explained. “Many educators don’t know what the policies are, or how to respond. And some are too afraid to say anything.”

The Jewish Educators of Ottawa network has held several sessions featuring high-quality speakers and workshops on navigating uncomfortable conversations and combatting antisemitism. 

Past guest speakers have included Leanne Matlow, a mental health expert from Toronto who spoke about confronting the challenges faced by Jewish educators in the current political climate, and Risa Epstein from Canadian Young Judaea, who shared insights and strategies for fostering civil discourse and navigating uncomfortable conversations confidently.

The Binat HaLev experience also gave the group the  confidence to take leadership roles they might not have considered before. 

“We would never have stood up to organize something like this before,” said Glassman. “Now we know where to find resources, who to contact, and how to create space for meaningful conversation.”

As Federation strives to continue connecting educators from across the city, it is more important than ever that these conversations are being held and that the support is now there.

Their message to future participants of the Binat HaLev trip is clear: be prepared for a transformational experience but also carve out time to decompress. 

“There’s a definite mindset shift,” said Glassman. “And it stays with you.”

“Listen closely,” said Lesser. “Absorb people’s stories so you can bring them home with you. Don’t just form opinions from hearsay or social media, bear witness yourself. That’s your responsibility.”

As antisemitism continues to rise in schools and broader communities, initiatives like Binat HaLev and the Jewish Educators of Ottawa network offer more than solidarity, they offer hope. They remind us that bearing witness is just the beginning. The real impact lies in what comes next: building bridges, educating others, and refusing to stay silent.

If you are a Jewish educator in Ottawa and would like to join the Jewish Educators of Ottawa network, come to the final meeting taking place Tuesday, June 17 at 7pm. Click here to register.