Young speakers headline Ottawa campaign kickoff

OTTAWA — The Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s 2016 annual campaign kickoff is set for Sept. 9 at Centrepointe Theatre, and this year will see changes in both the event’s format and its organizational structure. 

GUEST VOICE: JNF has never dispossessed or evacuated anyone

Mira Sucharov expressed confusion regarding management of lands owned by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in Israel in her column “Is it time to have a debate about the JNF?” (CJN, Aug. 6).  However, the answers are very straightforward.

In 1960, the State of Israel established the Israel Land Authority (ILA). Ever since then, all JNF-owned lands have been managed by the ILA, and a share of the proceeds from the income is transferred to JNF.  

Is it time to have a debate about the JNF?

Beyond the recent brouhaha over the cancellation of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee as the keynote speaker for JNF-Ottawa’s Negev Dinner, there’s more we need to talk about when it comes to the JNF in Israel. 

Has the JNF’s purpose come and gone?

ESSAY: The way forward on Jewish-Aboriginal relations

A few weeks ago, I joined other Jews in carrying a Jewish/Aboriginal solidarity banner at the Walk for Reconciliation in Ottawa. The walk – 7,000-strong – served as the launch for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) final event, the summation of an exhausting seven years of testimony gathering under the leadership of Justice Murray Sinclair. 

Ontario winery produces kosher VQA Riesling

There is a new locally produced kosher Riesling on the market, one that Huff Estates Winery claims is the only Ontario-grown kosher wine available today.

Jason Sharpe, the general manager of the Prince Edward County winery on Lake Ontario’s north shore, said that until he was approached by Ottawa-based Rabbi Levy Teitlebaum, he didn’t know much about the process of making kosher wine.

JNF cancels Mike Huckabee’s Ottawa Negev Dinner speech

The Jewish National Fund of Canada (JNF) has cancelled former Arkansas governor and Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee’s keynote address at JNF Ottawa’s annual Negev Dinner next fall. 

The June 10 announcement followed objections from people in the Canadian Jewish and LGBTQ communities, as well as the release of an online petition on change.org calling for Huckabee to be pulled from the Oct. 15 event.

Spring in Ottawa, a 70-year legacy

When is a tulip more than just a flower? Easy. That would be the spring blossoms that highlight Ottawa’s annual Tulip Festival, when the Canadian capital is blanketed with the colourful blooms.

The tulips are a legacy from Holland, which began in 1945 as a gift from a grateful nation to the country whose soldiers liberated them from Nazi occupation. 

Over 750 turn out to shmooze with politicians

MONTREAL — More than 750 people, mostly young adults from Montreal and Ottawa, mingled with over 40 politicians from three levels of government and different parties in the chic atmosphere at the seventh annual Action Party, held by the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC).

European Jewry in trouble, Yom Hashoah event told

OTTAWA — The future of European Jewry is precarious, to say the least, with fear and uncertainty growing and spreading from country to country. 

This pessimistic, yet realistic, assessment was shared by Julien Klener at the Ottawa commemoration of Yom Hashoah, which marked 70 years since the end of World War II.

Winnipeg electronic artist wins Governor General’s Award

Pioneering electronic artist Reva Stone is in Ottawa this week to kick off a four-month exhibit of her work at the National Gallery and to collect the 2015 Governor General’s Award in visual and media arts.

The award, which recognizes outstanding career achievement, was to be presented April 8 by Gov. Gen. David Johnston at Rideau Hall. It comes with a $25,000 cash prize and a medallion produced by the Canadian Mint (in addition to the exhibit).

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