J-Fellows is the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s flagship young adults’ leadership program. Revamped and expanded by Michael Reznick in 2023, the program serves as a valuable opportunity for young Jewish professionals to meet one another and network while also introducing them to locally based Jewish experts in their fields. 

This year’s cohort was led by Federation’s Young Adults Associate, Oren Baray, who supported the fellows through their planning and presenting. Leading the program for the first time, he spoke about what an incredible learning experience it has been for him. 

“Working alongside our fellows and volunteer chairs taught me the importance of thoughtful planning, clear communication, and strong execution,” he said. “Building a successful leadership program requires attention to detail at every stage, and this year reinforced how important it is to create an environment where participants feel supported, challenged, and empowered.”

The Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin met with two of this year’s participants, Aliza Itskovich and Daniel Kurtz, to hear their perspectives on the program and why they think young adults should seize this opportunity. 

E-Bulletin: What inspired you to participate in this program?

Aliza Itskovich: I was looking for a way to be more integrated in the Jewish community, and the mentorship and professional development through the program appealed to me as a young professional. Building connections and feeling more a part of the Jewish community was a big draw, and it kept me engaged throughout the duration of the program. 

Daniel Kurtz: I was inspired to join the program by my desire to deepen my ties with the Ottawa Jewish community and meet like-minded young professionals. 

E-Bulletin: What did you gain from this experience?

Aliza Itskovich: My biggest takeaway from this experience was that I had the ability and agency to be the change I want to see in my community. Learning that my peers felt the need for more social spaces for young Jews to gather and connect showed me that my ideas had merit and connected me with the people that can bring them to life. 

While building our groups' project, Club 613, I was equally inspired to launch a run club specifically catering to Jews. J-Fellows gave me the confidence to bring my ideas to life, and it showed me that there are people willing to support me. It taught me that I’m the one who can make the choice to take the first step. 

Daniel Kurtz: I was introduced to a great group of young professionals, some of whom have become close friends, and have become more integrated with the greater Jewish community. I have also developed greater communication skills and improved my problem-solving abilities.

E-Bulletin: What would you say to others who may have reservations about participating in J-Fellows?

Aliza Itskovich: I would tell them about my own reservations to participate in J-Fellows. My biggest worry was that I wasn't as business-minded as the rest of the cohort, since I work in the culture and heritage sector. At the time, I wasn't really looking for professional networking opportunities. 

However, in the program, I ended up finding way more applications to my growing career than I expected. I got to practise soft skills through mentorship, both individually and for our group, such as preparing a pitch deck and presenting. I got much more out of it than I thought the program would offer because I overlooked the connections I would build with my cohort members and feeling more connected to the Jewish community at large.

Daniel Kurtz: J-Fellows is a great opportunity to meet peers, make professional connections in Ottawa, and receive personalized mentorship. The time commitment is definitely worthwhile, and I would highly recommend participating!

Baray echoes this in saying that the program has allowed the fellows to engage with the community in ways that may not have been possible otherwise.

“J-Fellows provides participants with meaningful opportunities to connect with community leaders, explore communal issues, and gain firsthand experience in leadership and decision-making,” he said. “What has been especially rewarding to see is fellows taking ownership of their ideas, developing solutions to real community challenges, and presenting their work to some of our community's most influential leaders.”

You can read more about the J-Fellows program by clicking here or by emailing Oren Baray at [email protected].