An upcoming weekend of activities at Temple Israel, December 10 and 11, will focus on how creative arts contribute to reconciliation through a Jewish lens.

Since 2018, Temple Israel Ottawa’s Truth and Reconciliation Task Force has been working in response to the call to action for faith groups as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“This exciting and impactful local and national event, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, is both an outcome of this work as well as an opportunity to reflect, learn and celebrate,” says Fran Klodawsky, who is Temple Israel Ottawa’s Truth and Reconciliation Task Force co-chair along with Anne Alper. “In addition to stimulating speakers, we’ll be unveiling the commissioned artwork that symbolizes Temple Israel’s Land Acknowledgement.”

The weekend events feature two complementary collaborations.

“The first is that through the lens of their friendship, journalist and author Marsha Lederman and Kwakwak’wakw-Stolo artist Carey Newman, will share experiences with the Holocaust and Indigenous Residential Schools,” says Klodawsky. “The second will unveil and discuss the commissioned artwork by Ottawa visual artists Simon Brascoupé, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg of Quebec, and Michael Parkin, member of Temple Israel. The work of art symbolizes Temple Israel’s Land Acknowledgement.”

Among the partner-funders of the event are Federation, Women of Reform Judaism, and the Reform Jewish Community of Canada.

Marsha Lederman’s popular 2022 book “Kiss the red stairs” describes her friendship with Carey Newman, the Indigenous artist who created the Witness Blanket artwork that travelled with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is now on permanent collection of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg.

All activities will take place at Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa.

The schedule is:

Saturday:

10:15 a.m. - noon Shabbat morning service at Temple at which Marsha Lederman will share words of Torah. Followed by kiddush lunch.

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Ottawa visual artists Simon Brascoupé, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg of Quebec, and Michael Parkin, Temple Israel member, will unveil and discuss their collaborative artwork.

Sunday:

1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. - Indigenous Artisan Fair

2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Marsha Lederman, journalist and author, and Carey Newman, Kwakwaka’wakw-Stolo artist, will share their experiences as second-generation survivors of the Holocaust and Indigenous Residential Schools, with audience questions and answers.

3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Indigenous Artisan Fair

Check the Temple Israel website for program details. These are hybrid events, which will be live streamed on Temple’s Facebook page. Pre-registration for some in-person and online events will be offered. For more information view: https://templeisraelottawa.ca/