Disability and inclusion conversations just the beginning

By Angelica Haggert

About 3,000 people in the Ottawa Jewish community alone have a disability — mental or physical. And sometimes, those people feel like they are not fully included in all that the community has to offer.

That is why, for February — also Jewish Disability Awareness and…

Embracing technology for virtual simchas in 2020 -- and beyond

By Angelica Haggert

Yudit Timbo spent most of 2020 watching her friends postpone their weddings -- something she never wanted to have to do.

So, when her fiancé proposed in November, Timbo knew they just had to go for it, eventually getting married in a special online ceremony with Congre…

Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project helps elevate everyday life

By Angelica Haggert

A website set up to honour Ottawa’s Rabbi Reuven Bulka has seen great success in just its first month of action. The Rabbi Bulka Kindness Project aims to collect 1,800 acts of kindness done in the merit of Rabbi Bulka and there have already been more than 330 acts subm…

Finding the funny during a pandemic

By Angelica Haggert

If you were a regular reader of the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, you’ll recognize both the name and personality of Gloria Schwartz. 

Schwartz has worked as a personal trainer at the Soloway JCC, wrote a fitness column for the former Bulletin newspaper and during the last …

The pivot: How Ottawa Jewish day schools are finding a COVID silver lining

By Angelica Haggert

Even if you’re not a parent, the question of “in or out” when it comes to schools has dominated a lot of the last year. “In” usually means overall community life is going well (i.e., COVID infection rates are lower), but “out” can mean a period of extra str…