What does it mean to lead a vibrant Jewish life in Canada today? This question was explored in depth by Jewish leaders from across the country during the past year of learning through the Courageous Jewish Leadership program with the Shalom Hartman Institute, a think tank which focuses on pluralism in Israel and Jewish society at large.

Culminating in a seven-day mission to Israel funded by the Hartman Institute, 14 Jewish community professionals from across Canada spent time learning about what diversity looks like in Israeli society. They heard not only from Israeli Jews, but also Israeli Arabs and Palestinians, Druze, and others who are woven into the fabric of Israeli society.

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa was represented by VP of Impact, Partnership, and Allocations Anne Read. 

“This trip was the culmination of a year of learning with one another,” she said. “This program aimed to answer questions about Canadian Jewish identity and how that relates to broader global Jewry.”

During the mission, participants learned from leading scholars and thinkers, including Donniel Hartman, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Tal Becker, an international lawyer who played a role in negotiating the Abraham Accords, and Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Canada. Sessions explored the complexities of Israeli society, contemporary Jewish identity, and the challenges facing Jewish communities around the world.

Courageous leadership is defined by Hartman as strengthening the Jewish community from within while also confronting the reality of what it means to be a Jew in the present day. 

Read spoke of the uniqueness of this program, which weaves contemporary issues with Jewish texts and ritual. 
“They root action and programming in a Jewish text,” said Read. “That grounding gives our work depth, continuity, and intention.”

This also helped to inform the group about what the needs are of both Canada as a whole and those of individual communities. 

For Ottawa, these conversations carry particular significance. As the nation’s capital, the city is uniquely positioned to convene leaders and foster dialogue across the country. This perspective has already helped inform Federation’s strategic planning, particularly efforts to strengthen leadership and collaboration within the Canadian Jewish landscape.

“At its core, we were asking two questions,” Read explained. “What does it mean to be a Canadian Jew right now, and what does a thriving Jewish community in Canada look like?”

Frequently, the need to lean into the uniqueness of the Jewish Canadian identity emerged. Read is taking what she learned from the experience and applying it to her role at Federation and aligning this learning with the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.

“Over the past year, Federation has really focused on cultivating young Jewish leaders through programs like Hillel and J-Fellows,” said Read. “These Ottawa-specific opportunities help strengthen both their Jewish identities and connections to Canada.”

To learn more about the Shalom Hartman institute, click here.