ZCNewsletterFall2014

8/11/2019 ZCNewsletterFall2014

1/7

In late August, I had the bitter-sweet pleasure of celebratingDr. Aviva Freedmans enormouscontribution to Carleton University.

We bid her and her husbandDr. Chuck Freedman a warm

lhitraot as they prepared tomake aliyah and move to Israel.

As the University President,Roseann Runte, and Vice PresidentKim Matheson spoke of Avivas col-legiality, scholarship, and manyaccomplishments, I looked aroundthe crowded room of smiling facesand marveled at the many lives shehas touched and the real impact she

has had on Carletons developmentas an institution. She has been a

wise and generous mentor to mesince my arrival at Carleton 8 yearsago, and it has been my privilegeand utter pleasure to work withher as Associate Director and now,for the past year, as Director of theZelikovitz Centre.

So, perhaps she will forgive my ter-ritorial impulse to claim her as ours

when I say that the ZC is very muchher legacy here at Carleton, havingnurtured it from the rst JewishStudies research group, through itsevolution into the Max and TessieZelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studiesand, most recently, as a CarletonUniversity Research Centre.

In the spirit of Rabbi Judah, the ZCteam has been honoured intensivelyover the past year with a rich anddiverse program of guest lectures,

workshops, and the Israel TravelCourse in May 2014. Our program-ming spoke to the rich disciplinarydiversity of Jewish Studies fromHebrew Bible to Israeli lm, from ar-chival research to survivor testimony.

ZC faculty researchers fromacross Carleton advanced their

work through key publications,conferences and workshops, whileour graduate students came to-gether in a dynamic graduateconference exploring current in-terdisciplinary research. It was a

year of strong par tnerships both

local and international, including:the Soloway Jewish CommunityCentre (SJCC), Ottawa ShoahCommittee, Ottawa JewishHistorical Society, and Limmud,as well as Hebrew University, theSchusterman Foundation, and the

Association for Jewish Studies.

This year brings new faces tothe Zelikovitz team. Dr. Shawna

Directors Message

The Babylonian Talmudtells us that when RabbiJudah went to the houseof learning he wouldcarry a pitchfork on hisshoulders, saying, Greatis labour, for it honoursthe person who does it.

Newsletter

Max and Tessie ZelikovitzCentre for Jewish Studies

Fall 2014


2/7

2 Newsletter of the Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish StudiesNewsletter of the Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies

olansky completed her term as thessistant Di rector of the Zeli kovitzentre in July. Af ter two years of

orking closely together, I t hankr for her contribution to the ZC

nd for being a support to me as Isumed the role of Director.

The ZC welcomes Lauren Tansleyour new Assistant Director. I amlighted to work with her again

ter her contribution as conferenceordinator for our 2013 Holocaust

emembrance Conference. Theentre also welcomes new studentembers to the administrativeam: Tobin Kaiman, Erin Drawson,

lian McCormick, and Lewisovack.

We are excited to announce that Lauren Tansley Slade has joined

he Zelikovitz Centre team as our new Assistant Director. Lauren

as formerly the ZCs Conference Coordinator for If Not Now,

When? Responsibility and Memory After the Holocaust (April

013), which successfully attracted over 300 delegates. A Carleton

umnus, she holds a Bachelor of Humanities degree from the

niversity, and got involved with the Centre while later obtaining

er MA in Religion and Public Life. Welcome aboard, Lauren!

DirectorsMessage

ontinued)

DR. MICHAEL WOHL:

WHY JOIN THE ZC?By Lillooet Nordlinger, based on a

conversation with Dr. Michael Wohl,

Associate Professor of Psychology

at Carleton University, Zelikovitz

Centre Research Affiliate

For many faculty members, afliationwith a research centre is just anotherslice on an already full plate. At the ZC,

we get it! Youre busy. Very busy. We be-

lieve your afliation should add to yourresearch experience, not exacerbate your

workload. Thats why the ZCs objec-tive is to draw upon the research thatfaculty members already do, and offer

support while were at it both in termsof networking opportunities and infra-structure. Say youre applying for grants.

As one of our research afliates, the ZC

would provide you with administrativeservices, such as staff who can makephone calls, do photocopying and scan-ning, send out social media messages,make website postings and do small

amounts of research. We also have com-munity connections available throughour networks and partner agencies. Keepin mind that adjudication committees

view afliation with research centres as

favourable when judging grant applica-tions. In essence, afliation with the ZCmeans more bang for your buck.

Thinking of applying for a grant? Comeand talk to us. Maybe we can help!

Faculty Members CornerFor more information on Dr.Wohl and his research, visitgoo.gl/4nvzdw

DR. IRA WAGMAN:MEMORY, ETHICS,IDENTITYBy Lillooet Nordlinger, based on cor-

respondence with Dr. Ira Wagman,

Associate Professor of Communication

Studies at Carleton University, Zelikovitz

Centre Research Affiliate

Throughout 2014-15, the Zelikovitz

Centre will be hosting a series ofluncheons, where in researchers froma variety of backgrounds will cometogether around certain researchthemes. We hope that these person-

alized learning opportunities willenable researchers to connect withone another, generate new ideas,and potentially collaborate on f uture

projects. One of the ZCs long-termgoals with this project is to assemblean assortment of ZC faculty mem-

bers around an umbrella theme, andthen eventually apply for a Social

Sciences and Humanities ResearchCouncil (SSHRC) grant. One suchcluster theme could involve Memory,Ethics, and Identity. These are someof the questions the ZC and its afli-

ates may be interested in exploring aspart of a Research Node on Memory,Ethics, and Identity:How are vari-ous modes of remembering from

online memorials to museums part of the construction of Jewish

pasts? What do the great Jewwriters, thinkers, and artistto say about technology? Ho

Jewish writings on ethical isociated with sharing or l

or communicating or witnbe of value for making senseous aspects of contemporar

If this sort of research topiinterest, we would like hear fFor more information onWagman and his researirawagman.wordpress.c

ZC ramping upresearch affiliaterecruitmentThis year, the ZC has sta

new initiative geared tow

research affiliate recruitm

Research Affiliate positio

unpaid, and may include

dents, independent scho

faculty from other unive

Research Affiliates have

and on-site access to Ca

University libraries. In ex

incumbents are expected

participate in one confer

or event over the course

2014-2016 academic term

initiative is part of the ZC

mandate of building a dy

group of national and int

al Jewish Studies schola

network of scholars and

ate students will contrib

ongoing dialogue on the

of the Jewish experience

Our recruitment campaig

ing. Interested candidates

email jewish_studies@ca

ca with a letter of introdu

photo, and short research

ment, noting areas of inte

they pertain to Jewish Stu

which will be made public

website. Applications sho

sent as soon as possible, s

line: ZC Research Associa

Many thanks to Jordan Stenzler,who has been an invaluable memberof the Centres administrative team.Jordan has graduated and we wish

him all the best in his new role asOutreach Coordinator for Hillel BC.

As you will read, we are in the midstof a broad consultation with ZC re-

searchers seeking out opportunities tosupport researchers through a varietyof strategies. This has been, by far, oneof my most enjoyable tasks as Director.

It has been a pleasure to get to knowour researchers and their work bet ter,and we are all excited about the col-laborative research initiatives that havealready begun taking shape.

One of the rst of these initiativeswill be a sy mposium a symposi-

um in late November that will openwith a screeni ng of the classic lm,

The Train, with a critical introduc-tion by Dr. Mark Langer speaking tothe presence / absence of Jews andthe holocaust in Hollywood lm.

This will be followed by a researchroundtable led by Professor Betina

Kuzmarov, discussing legal issuessurrounding the restitution of Nazi-looted cultural properties.

We look f orwa rd to learn ingwith you at Limmud Ottaw a at theSJCC during the day on November2, and sharing the innovative anddeeply moving music of Taffilalt

here at Carleton that same even-ing. We thank Margo and DavidKardish and family for theirgenerous support of the ZCs col-

laboration with Limmud for thesecond year. Such gifts allow us to

build strong bridge s bet ween theuniversity and the community tothe enrichment of all.

LShana Tova Umuteka,

Dr. Deidre Butler

Religion Program,Carleton University

Director,Max and Tessie ZelikovitzCentre for Jewish Studies

Our new Assistant Director,Lauren Tansley Slade!

Welcoming...

Lauren Tansley Slade is

the Zelikovitz Centres new

Assistant Director
http://goo.gl/4nvzdwhttp://irawagman.wordpress.com/http://irawagman.wordpress.com/http://goo.gl/4nvzdw


3/7


Calling all Limmudniks!nspiring day of Jewish learning and cultureo return following last years successy Lillooet Nordlinger

An Evening With Tafillalt:

Music for the Soul

L immud is back! On November2nd, Ottawa will enjoy anotherspiring day of Jewish learning

nd culture. This year, the event willke place at the Soloway Jewish

ommunity Centre. While this marksmmud Ottawas fourth year run-ng in the city, it is its second timeing held in afliation with Limmudternational.

Limmud has been described as aommuniversity, a place of Jewisharning without boundaries. As its

ission suggests, Wherever you ndurself, Limmud will take you one

ep further on your Jewish journey.

If youve got a stereotype of what

wish learning is, then you have to beepared to shed it when you arrive, saidmmud Internationals senior consult-t Clive Lawton, who was in town last

ugust to meet with local organizers.

Limmud 2013:Last year, the Max andssie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish StudiesC) coordinated a range of programming

A Taste of Limmud, at Congregationth Shalom in 2013. Highlights included

A Goddess in the Garden? The Fall ofEve, a talk by Dr. Shawna Dolansky on theliterary prehistory of Adam and Eve; TimMckay, social media and marketing man-ager of the Azrieli Foundations Holocaust

Survivors Memoirs Program, who sharedinformation about the program; StephanieSchwartz and Zev Moses from theInteractive Museum of Jewish Montreal;and a presentation by local historian

Hagit Hadaya, Once Upon a Time: ShtetlOttawa, moderated by Emily Leonofffrom the Ottawa Jewish Archives.

The ZC also provided staff, studentvolunteers (who were fullling thecommunity service learning compo-nent of Dr. Deidre Butlers RELI2110Judaism course), and student

interns from the ZCs DevelopingFuture Leaders (DFL) program

Limmud Ottawa 2014has some-thing for everyone across demo-

graphic and denominational lines,and in a variety of formats, such aspanels, workshops, lms and opendiscussions. Students, researchers,

and the community at large will cometogether to learn in community.

Subjects range from What doesClassical Jewish Literature Have to Sayabout Climate Change? with Dr. DavidBrooks to The New Anti-Semitism

with the Honourable Irwin Cotler. Othersessions will include My Mother, TheNazi Midwife and Me (Gita Roitman),Smoking Fish: Kosher Encounters of aThird Kind (Louis Moscowitz), Israel:

Shifting Sands in the Middle East(Dylan Hanley), and The TzadakahProject (Michael Parkin).

Limmud will again see faculty f rom

across Ottawa presenting: FromCarleton University: Deidre Butler,Betina Kuzmarov, Allan Moskovitch,and Shawna Dolansky. From the

University of Ottawa: SeymourMayne and Peggy K leinplatz.

The Zelikovitz Centres contributionsto Limmud are again made possible, in

part, through the generous support ofMargo and David Kardish and family.

Taste of Limmud participants on October 20, 2013 at Congregation Beth

alom. This years event will take place November 2 at the Soloway Jewish

ommunity Centre.

(From left to right:) Tafillalt Ensemble members Yair Harel, Yonatan Niv,

and Nori Jacoby

M

ATTHIASMARMOR

/HAMBURG

MUSIK

Taffilalt Concert:The daylong conference will becapped off with an evening ofmusic. A concert by the Jerusalem-based Tafillalt Ensemble is set totake place in Carleton UniversitysRiver Building Auditorium.

Getting to the concert: A freeshuttle from the Soloway Jew-

ish Community Centre willprovide easy transportation tothe concert at Carleton.

For more information, or topurchase tickets (which includeconcert), visit www.limmudot-tawa.ca. Tickets will also beavailable at-the-door whilequantities last.

Limmud will conclude with a bang on

the evening of November 2 as wellas a strum, beat, note and, probably, a

big round of applause, too. The daylongJewish learning conference is set to

wrap-up with a concert by innovate

Israeli ensemble, Tallalt. This will bethe bands Canadian debut.

Established in 2000, Tallalt navi-

gates the multicultural soundscape of21st-century Israel, presenting deeplypersonal interpretations of traditionaland modern Jewish material, includingsacred Hebrew poetry (piyutim) from

North Africa and the Middle East,Hassidic niggunim, secular Hebrewpoetry, as well as original musical andliterary compositions.

The ensemble has performed widelythroughout Israel, the United States,England, Hungary, and Ukraine.Members include: Yair Harel (voice

and percussion), a 2014 SchustermanVisiting Israeli Artist, Yonatan Niv

(cello and voice), Nori Jacoby (viola and

melodica), and Carmel Raz (violin) who will all be at the Ottawa show aswell as Yarden Erez (oud, accordion,xylophone, and more).

The groups name, which is pro-nounced tah-fee-lal-t derives its originsfrom a region in Morocco known forits tzaddikim (or righteous saints). The

name is also a play on the word tellah,which means prayer.

Thats why its no surprise piyutimare a prominent feature of any Tallalt

concert. Piyutim began as liturgicalpoetry adorning individual and com-munal prayers and religious rituals,and are typically sung in a communalframework. A piyutim workshop will

take place earlier in the day at theSoloway Jewish Community Centre aspart of Limmuds Tallalt Masterclass.Those interested in participating

should go towww.limmudottawa.cafor more information.

The concert is made possiblesponsorship by the Zelikovitz for Jewish Studies, the Vered ICultural & Educational ProgrEmbassy of Israel, and the Can

Israel Cultural Foundation.

See you there!

Date: Sunday,November 2, 2014Time: 7:30 p.m. 9 Location: River BuilAuditorium (RB220Carleton UniversityParking: The ZC hasarranged a free bloof free parking in thRiver Building lot itsSpaces will be availon a first come firstserved basis.Tickets:Adults$25;Students ages 18 to25 $10; Under 17 anChildrenFree; Early Registration until Oc

Adults$20; StudentTickets can bepurchased online atwww.limmudottawaor at the door(subject to availabilit

R

ICK

KIM

Why not check out TFacebook page befoconcert?!

facebook.com/Tafillaltensemble.or watch themon Youtube!
http://www.limmudottawa.ca/http://www.limmudottawa.ca/http://www.limmudottawa.ca/http://www.limmudottawa.ca/https://www.facebook.com/tafillaltensemblehttps://www.facebook.com/tafillaltensemblehttps://www.youtube.com/user/Tafillalthttps://www.youtube.com/user/Tafillalthttps://www.facebook.com/tafillaltensemblehttps://www.facebook.com/tafillaltensemblehttp://www.limmudottawa.ca/http://www.limmudottawa.ca/http://www.limmudottawa.ca/http://www.limmudottawa.ca/


4/7


Campaign proves innovative and effectivey Ilana Belfer

Student Blogs...from Israel Travel Course

T he Max and Tessie ZelikovitzCentre for Jewish Studies used annovative new strategy called micro-ving to fundraise over $3,200 for stu-nts who participated in its rst-ever

avel course to Israel in May.

Micro-giving, also known as crowd-nding, works by raising many small

mounts of money from a large numberpeople, typically through an online

nations system. Websites, such asckstarter and Indiegogo, act as plat-rms through which anyone can con-

bute to a particular project or venture,register their own campaign.

n this case, the funds raised wentrectly toward lowering costs for partici-

nts of the ZCs three-week long Israelavel course. Eighteen dollars, for exam-e, paid for a falafel lunch after touringe tunnels under the Temple Mount;0$ paid for all 19 students to visit the

rael Museum and view the Dead Searolls at the Shrine of the Book.

Both in Canada in general, and in the

wish community in particular, wenderstand education as a public good,

said Dr. Deidre Butler, director of theZelikovitz Centre and assistant professor

of religion at Carleton. Dr. Butler led thecourse with Dr. Shawna Dolansky.

Microgiving is ideal because it is in linewith that sense that we are all invested in

education together. Many people cometogether and show their united supportfor such a project, she said.

Nineteen students of various

academic majors and ethnic back-grounds were accepted onto thecourse. Initially, there were concernsthat some wouldnt be able to afford

the cost unless fees were reduced.In the end, no one was turned awaydue to nancial difculties thanks, inlarge part, to micro-giving, as well asother fundraising initiatives.

I [wouldnt have] want[ed] anyonenot to go because they cant afford it,said John Osborne, dean of CarletonsFaculty of Arts and Social Sciences

(FASS) in which the religion depart-ment is housed. He contributed$15,000 from the FASS endowment.

Students who take [travel] coursestell me afterwards that it was one of

the best experiences of their lives,and many say that their lives have

been changed as a result, he said.

While the micro-giving model is afairly new trend, Dean Osborne said, Ifit gets results, then why not? So many of

the special experiences we want to offerto our students and faculty depend onobtaining additional funding, beyond theuniversitys base budget . . . so we try to

be entrepreneurial.

The university is certainly encour-aging the approach. Carleton createdits very own micro-giving platform

called Future Funder, which is wherethe Zelikovitz Centre set-up shop.

Unlike other websites, FutureFunder doesnt charge for submis-

sions and 100 per cent of the fundsgo directly to the campaign. SinceCarleton is a registered charity, taxreceipts can be issued to all donors.

It was very successful, not only inraising funds for the course but in rais-ing the prole of Carleton University,the Religion program that hosted the

course and the ZC. Future Funderraised awareness, said Dr. Butler.

he concept has even been

aking pop-culture headlines.

or instance, filmmaker Zach

raff crowdfunded his latest

ovie project, which boasts a

udget of more than $2-million.

arleton history professor

hawn Grahams crowdfunding

itiative: setting up digital

search fellowships for his

udents, was featured in the

obe and Maillast September.

he Globereported that met his

5,000 goal by bypassing the

sual expert panels that hold

e purse strings and taking his

tch directly to the public.

In May, Professors Deidre Butler and Shawna Dolansky brought 19 students Jewish and non-Jewalike to discover Israel on a three-week travel course entitled, God in Israel: Historical Encountepart of the class, students were required to post regular text or video blog entries about their experon carleton.ca/studyisrael, while drawing on course readings. Here is a taste of the trip as seen thro

their eyes (or rather, their words)! Note: Some of the following blog entries have been edited, condenand/or are selected excerpts.

DAY 7: City of David Hezekiahs Tunnel andArchaeology

After going through the supposed ruins of King Davids palace, we made ourway to Hezekiahs Tunnel. The story goes that in preparation for the attack onJerusalem from the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, King Hezekiah ordered a tunnelto be excavated in order for the besieged city to have access to water. This story

is recorded in the books of Chronicles and Kings. The result is a w inding tunnelover 500 metres long that connected the spring to the Siloam pool underneathand across the city. Two teams excavated the tunnel from each side (it windsaround), the two sides trying to meet in the middle.

We know they went in two directions because of the change in direction of thepickaxes. Halfway through, at the same level, there is an inscription describingthe moment the two sides met. I can only imagine the cheers of the teams havingmet in the middle. Im so glad that I ended up going through the tunnel, as I was

worried that Id nd it claustrophobic. As I was getting used to the shocking tem-

perature of the water sometimes going up above my knees, I kept my hand nearmy head so as not to hit it against the top of the tunnel, which would rise and fall.Once our group had nally made it through, we posed on the rocks of the nearbypool victoriously wet pants and all.

-Natalia Pochtaruk

To Danny, our guide, who is an archaeologist as well, the Bible is necessary to

understand the sites that are being uncovered. Take the Bible away from hereand its just pottery shards and walls, he said. A nd that seemed to be the generalconsensus in our group. There is a danger in digging to match what the Bible tellsus, especially taking into consideration some of the Historical Critical Methodand Theory around the study of the Hebrew Bible, its authors and potential aims.

However, the Bible is a product of this region and it is an explanation of a peopleshistory, and we should be able to know something from the traditions and storiesit holds, even if it is not an exact and precise history.

-Sophie Crump

Future Funder A version of this article appeared in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Nov. 25, 2013
https://www.carleton.ca/studyisraelhttps://www.carleton.ca/studyisrael


5/7


DAY 12: Yad Vashem

In Edward RothsteinsNew York Times article Holocaust Museums in

Israel Evolve, he argues that Yad Vashem is a stunning counter-example ofHolocaust museums in Israel that attempt to seduce us into shock because itscrupulously avoids moralizing or posturing. Based on my experience of Yad

Vashem (with a guide who gave a performance that deliberately set out to inducetears), I completely disagree with Rothsteins observations. Although he does

not specify whether he toured the museum on his own or with a guide, I wouldexpect that, either way, the experience would certainly have been much dif ferentfor the two of us (and for the thousands who visit the museum on a weekly basis).Nonetheless, the museum itself presents a clear chronology of many historical,

sociological, and cultural events that not only increased the severity of anti-Semitism in Europe, but also inuenced the creation and execution of the FinalSolution during W WII. Along with this are hundreds of images, posters, articles

of clothing, survivor testimonies, and video footage that account for the Jewishexperience during that time. Together, these pieces certainly indicate that Yad

Vashem is more than a piece of history, but also a memory with a moralizing taleto share with the world.

-Christina Pasqua

While the experience of walking through Yad Vashem was quite painful, I dothink it was a vital part of the course and, at any rate, the readings helped us tocontextualize the atrocities displayed and described w ithin the museum.

For example, Rachel Auerbachs powerful Yizkor 1943 provided a lyrical andnear-poetic depiction of Nazi brutality and the sad fate of the Jewish people inthis period. Auerbachs article is interesting for a few reasons. First (and most im-portantly), her vivid imagery and descriptions are extremely powerful and evoca-

tive, as she accounts for the different segments of Jewish society and what befellthem. Yet her article is not merely an evocative catalogue of the suffering of theJews. Rather, she frames her text through Yizkor, the Jewish mourning ritual. Inthis way, she is able to emphasize not only Jewish pain, but also the communal

aspect of Judaism, since Yizkor is a public and not private ritual. In doingso, Auerbach seems to suggest Jewish community and solidarity as the only (or atleast, the best) response to the Holocaust.

Although she acknowledges that the ritual of Yizkor, which is only performed

four times a year, cannot possibly express the true brutality and loss of Holocaustvictims, I see her emphasis on a communal ritual as a means of ensuring futureJewish survival and t he continuation of the Jewish spirit. Secondly, her appeal toa traditional Jewish ritual can be seen as a means of reafrming Jewish religiousand cultural identity after the Holocaust sought to strip Jews of not only their

lives, but also their heritage. Thus, while it is important to grieve for the v ictimsof the Holocaust, Auerbach appears to suggest that we must place this grief with-in the larger practices and history of Judaism, as opposed to losing faith.

-Simon Zeldin

DAY 17: MasadaThe alarms went off at 3 a.m. We threw the last pieces into our luggage, carried our bags

down a hill to the waiting bus and our patient bus driver, and sought out our pre-packedbreakfasts, which were hiding somewhere on the hostel premises. Finally, all loaded ontothe bus, we set off towards Masada. We arrived around 4 a.m. and began the climb up in

total darkness, relying on the few prepared ones in our group to guide the way with theirashlights. Looking up ahead, we could see other groups already zigzagging before us,their ashlights bobbing up and down as they climbed.

-Sophie Crump

Visiting Masada as a student of religion was quite a different experience, since I wasnot looking at the site purely as a young Zionist, but, critically, as a scholar. Masada isfamous primarily for Josephuss account of mass suicide on the part of Jewish z eal-

ots to avoid Roman enslavement, and is thus a signicant sy mbol of Jewish sover-eignty. However [as outlined in The Credibility of Josephus, by Shaye Cohen], thearchaeological nds simply do not correspond with Josephuss story.

As a Zionist, I was initially a bit deated to learn about the controversies of Masada,since Josephuss story has become so central to Jewish thought. However, uponreection, I now believe that the Reception History of Masada has eclipsed the ac-tual history in terms of signicance, as it has reached near-mythic status within theJewish corpus. As myth, the story is not necessarily subject to historical veracity.

While validation of the tale would be ideal, especially since Josephuss writings aretraditionally viewed in the context of history, I think the ways in which the story hasshaped and inuenced Jewish and Israeli identity are almost more interesting thanany historical truth. As a symbol of Jewish strength and solidarity, Masada has be-come central, both within Holocaust and Zionist t hought.

-Simon Zeldin

To read posts in full and the rest of the student blogs, check outcarleton.ca/studyisrael/blog

Student Blogs (Continued) AndrasAwardCongratulatioour Andras AwrecipientsCongratulations Dana Mu

Christina Pasqua, recipien

2014-15 Andras Award. En

1972 in memory of the lat

Andras, a member of Car

Board of Governors, and r

in 1978, The Andras Award

to support the cost of a re

project or paper undertak

undergraduate or gradua

attending Carleton Univer

grant is awarded in altern

for a research project in ofollowing areas: (a) Jewis

ies; (b) trade union histor

democratic socialist move

Canada.

Graduate student, Dana M

(below) received the 2014

Andras Award for researc

Jewish Studies. She is pic

at the Bahai Gardens in H

on the ZCs travel course

Graduate student, Christin

received the 2014-15 Andr

for research in Jewish Stu

is pictured here (upper le

Hebrew University of Jeru

on Yom Haatzmaut (Israe

Independence Day) 2014,

the ZCs travel course to I
http://carleton.ca/studyisrael/bloghttp://carleton.ca/studyisrael/blog


6/7


Developing Future Leaders programngages emerging generation

y Ilana Belfer

ts no secret that one of the centralJewish community questions of

e day is: how do we engage themerging generation? The Max andessie Zelikovitz Centre has beenccessfully addressing this con-

rn through its Developing Futureaders program (DFL) but fund-g for the program may soon run out.

DFL, now entering its fth year, is a

ogram that pairs Carleton Universityd University of Ottawa students withrtner agencies in the community

r paid work placements. Agenciesclude, but are not limited to: the

wish Federation of Ottawa (JFO),llel Ottawa, Congregation Machzikei

adas, the Centre for Israel and Jewishffairs and Tamir Foundation. Interns

e also required to par ticipate in 20ours of leadership training through-t the year.

Picture a team of interns analyzing

community issue and making rec-mmendations before a mock board

directors. Lets say, a proposedultiplex synagogue on the Jewish

ommunity Campus. For an air of

thenticity, Mitchell Bellman, thederations then real-life CEO, leadse simulated meeting.

I think DFL is a great program,llman said. It allows young people tot experience working in Jewish organi-tions, it allows organizations to get in-t and support from these very capable

udents in a variety of ways, and I thinkexposes to the students what Jewishofessional work is all about.

On-the-ground experience can

hard to come by in a c lassroom-ntric university setting. And,this age of the unpaid intern,me students are unable to take

n certain apprenticeships due tonancial constraints. A practicum

that comes with remuneration, likeDFL, is especially rare.

Ive never been able to interviewpeople before so I nd that to beamazing, said Dana Murray, a for-

mer masters student of religion andpublic life, who helped the OttawaJewish Historical Society documentthe history of Jews in Lowertown last

year. Outreach, project management

and event coordination are other pro-fessional skills she said she gained.

Her supervisor, Joel Weiner, said theHistorical Society has beneted as much

as the interns themselves: Theyre notworking bees theyre thinking strategi-cally and creatively about what we wantto do and then going ahead and doing it.

On DFL feedback forms, agencies notedthe benefit of having an extra hand, as wellas the ability to tap into the creativity andenergy of the youth.

Ultimately, though, DFL is aboutbuilding bridges between the student

and partner agency, as well as the com-munity-at-large. Many of the interns

both Jewish and non-Jewish remaininvolved in the community even aftertheir time with DFL has ended.

I gained a much greater knowledgeand understanding of the OttawaJewish Community, as a large part ofmy task was nding potential attend-ees for the openOttawa conference [in

April 2011] and making them aware ofthe symposium, said third-year eco-nomics student Tobin Kaiman, speak-ing about his rst placement.

Kaiman, who recently returnedfrom reserve duty with the IsraelDefense Forces during OperationProtective Edge on the Gaza border,

is now a senior intern with the pro-gram and has resumed his new place-ment as the ZCs nance manager.

The JFO has created the oppor-

tunity for our voice [the EmergingGeneration] to be heard, but now it isup to us to be vocal, he said.

The challenge of engaging the un-

der-40 generation is not solely anOttawa problem. It is something with

which Jewish communities acrossNorth America are struggling.

(continued on page 12)

DFL Update OJHSA version of this article appeared in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin Nov. 25, 2013

Fourth-year biology student Lewis

Novack spent the summer working ashead staff at Camp Kadimah in Nova

Scotia, and returns to DFL for the third

time as a senior intern this year. Hes

already begun his placement as the

Zelikovitz Centres new Social Media

Director.

Third-year economics student Tobin

Kaiman has returned from duty with

the Israel Defense Forces, and is

now interning for a second time with

the ZCs Developing Future Leaders

program.


7/7

12 Newsletter of the Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies

Join us on ourvirtual venture:

Like us on Facebook atfacebook.com/ZelikovitzCentre.

Follow us on Twitter@ZelikovitzC. Or, sendan email [email protected].

In light of the New Year both

Jewish and academic, the Zelikovitz

Centre is revitalizing its web

presence. With a fresh approach to

social media, we are aiming to create

a digital space thats as active and

vibrant as the ZC itself. This will

enhance connectivity between the

ZC and the broader community,

making it easier for people to

engage with the Centre and its

academics, as well as stay up-to-date

on its research, events and overall

happenings.

DFL operating as a partnershipbetween the Jewish community,Carleton University and privatefunders has proven to be a success-ful model for how to interest youngpeople in Jewish communal affairs,said program director Josee Posen.

The larger vision is to share that modelwith other Canadian Jewish communities,or even other ethnic and religious commu-nities. There have also been talks with theFederation of using DFL as a feeder pro-gram to help revive dormant local YoungLeadership programs, she said.

But DFLs potential can only be real-ized with enough funds to go beyondthe programs current sunset thiscoming spring. With the vision and

necessary funding, the CanadianJewish community can establish areservoir of Jewish leadership capac-ity for the future, Posen said.

For more information, visit car-leton.ca/jewishstudiesor [email protected].

One of the most positive results ofFuture Funder was only realized as

we started to say thank you to ourdonors so many different groupssupported this initiative. We had re-ceived donations from faculty, staff,students, Carleton alumni, members

of the Jewish community acrossCanada, students families, and thegeneral public.

But the ZCs vision for the future ex-tends far beyond the initial campaignand travel course. Dr. Butler said she,ideally, foresees a comprehensiveve-year program with strong ties

with Hebrew University, internships,teaching assistantships, travel sup-port, and the development of IsraelStudies resources at Carleton.

A new Future Funders campaignin support of the May 2016 IsraelTravel Course is set to begin in theFall of 2015. Meanwhile, Dr. Butlersaid gifts have already startedto roll in through donors to theZelikovitz Centre.

DFL Update (contd from page 10) Future Funder (contd from page 6)
https://www.facebook.com/ZelikovitzCentrehttps://www.facebook.com/ZelikovitzCentrehttps://www.twitter.com@zelikovitzc/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.carleton.ca/jewishstudieshttps://www.carleton.ca/jewishstudiesmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.carleton.ca/jewishstudieshttps://www.carleton.ca/jewishstudiesmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.twitter.com@zelikovitzc/https://www.facebook.com/ZelikovitzCentrehttps://www.facebook.com/ZelikovitzCentre

Documents

ZCNewsletterFall2014