Soloway JCC Annual General Meeting & Awards Night

Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 pm
28 Nisan, 5783

Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private

Grossman Klein Teen Leadership Award

Presented to two teens (grade 11 or 12) who have shown outstanding dedication and service to the Jewish community and the community at large, throughout their teenage years.

Mazel Tov to Our Award Winners!

Deena Friedman

A grade 12 student at Nepean High School, Deena has been a strong advocate for ensuring that Jewish identities are heard and understood at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board.

Deena was the first speaker to take the stage at Rise Up Ottawa this past November. Her impactful words about her experience as a Jewish student in the public school board garnered a standing ovation from the over 800 attendees. A month later, she was the only Jewish student to delegate in-person at an OCDSB meeting where she demanded the school board take immediate action to keep Jewish students safe.

At Nepean HS she was head of the Jewish Culture Club, ran a Jewish display on multicultural night, and created the first Holocaust educational visual and information display in the school showcases. Deena is an active member, and participant in orthodox institutions such as Camp Torah Academy of Ottawa, Young Israel Congregation, as well as NCSY, and Camp Moshava. In each organization she contributes her efforts and talents to inspire other teens to engage in the Jewish community.

Deena has a passion for horses and is an award-winning equestrian competitor, children’s summer camp coordinator and instructor. She has spent many years volunteering at the Royal Equestrian Centre where she has devoted dozens of hours cleaning the stalls, feeding and grooming the horses, exercising them in all weather, and maintaining all aspects of the barn, with utmost dedication.

During the infamous Truck Protest Convoy which paralyzed parliament hill and downtown, Deena was out on a ‘secret’ mission, taking care of the RCMP black horses sent from across Canada that were placed at her Equestrian Center

Deena is a proud Sabra born in Jerusalem along with her twin brother, presently a corporal in the Canadian Air Cadets. Following graduation, Deena will be attending University of Ottawa.

Liat Wolfish

Liat Wolfish is grade 12 student at Sir Robert Borden High School where she is Co-President of the Finance Club, DECA Chapter President and Field Hockey captain.

Growing up in Ottawa, Liat has devoted much of her time to the Soloway JCC as well as at her synagogue, Kehillat Beth Israel where she has played an instrumental role in the USY program.

Liat has taken on a variety of positions both with USY (United Synagogue Youth) locally, through the Eastern Canada Region and on the international board of North America. Within USY she has been the Vice President of Membership for Kadima, a program for younger kids. In this role  she was responsible for increasing membership and programming and she collaborated with peers from across Canada and the US to engage youth. Currently Liat is the President of ECRUSY (Eastern Canadian Region of United Synagogue Youth) where she oversees all other board positions and aids in making USY thrive. In addition, she is on the International Interim Board For USY and also helps make international goals and projects.

In 2012 Liat joined the after-school Karate class at the SJCC and quickly rose up the ranks earning all her belts along the way. With her blue belt secured, Liat began helping out with the younger students. Now a black belt, and a sensai herself, Liat helps teach in the after school program that she once attended as a student.

In addition to her work at the SJCC, Liat teaches at the 6 Tigers Martial Arts Academy and mentors junior competitive participants. During the pandemic, when all classes were cancelled, Liat spent her Sunday mornings teaching online, doing her part to make an extremely difficult time, a little better with a friendly face and some fun Karate moves.

Liat has won many Martial Arts Medals for her Karate skills and in 2020 was inducted into the Karate hall of fame for her weight class division.

She has not decided yet where she will be heading after graduation but she is set on studying business.

Past Recipients of the Grossman-Klein Teen Leadership Award include:

Ben Karp Soloway JCC Volunteer Service Award

Presented to a volunteer who best exemplifies communal ideals and sets an ongoing example for others.

Mazel Tov to our Award Winner!

Sidney Rosenblatt

There are many ways that people choose to give back to the community. For Soloway JCC volunteer, Sidney Rosenblatt, it was through Pickleball.

Sidney Joined the Soloway JCC in in the fall of 2019 after returning to Ottawa and mostly came for the SpinFit classes and the drop in Pickleball in the gymnasium. At the time, Pickleball was slowly gaining popularity at the SJCC with one Sunday afternoon time slotted in for those who wanted to play.

Just over a year ago, Sid approached the SJCC Athletics Department to volunteer his services as a pickleball instructor. Something he was happy to do to help spread his love for the fastest growing paddle sport in North America across our community.

It began with just a few players on a Monday afternoon. He patiently and expertly introduced  new players to the game by showing them the basics, explaining the rules and sharing his simple philosophy; “its about having fun, getting some exercise and trying to get better.”

As word spread and more people joined him on the court, Sid was able to get more time in the gym dedicated to his favorite sport and soon added a Thursday afternoon time slot which at times has had as many as 25 players show up.

Now, with so many SJCC members looking to learn the game from Sid, Wednesday afternoon Pickleball was added to the schedule.

Sid’s love of Pickleball and commitment to the SJCC helped introduce many community members to his favorite game and grow this impromptu program into the success that it has become.

Sid has been married to his wife Chris for 50 years and has a son Michael.

Past Recipients of the Ben Karp Volunteer Service Award include:

For more information on SJCC awards please contact Pam Rosenberg, prosenberg@jccottawa.com.