Thursday, May 1
4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Soloway JCC | Free Admission
Join us for an unforgettable evening of Israeli culture, food, and fun!
Social Hall
Israeli Shuk (Market) | 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
- Shop authentic Israeli items: Jewelry, artisan crafts, artwork, woodwork, t-shirts, postcards, beauty products, and more! Click here to see a list of vendors.
- Meet representatives from Jewish agencies across the city: HaKibbutz, JNF, Israel Bonds, CHW, JET, Naamat, and more!
Activities: Photobooth, glitter tattoos, outdoor stilt walker!
Israeli Food Stations (Tapas-Style) – Available for Purchase (Credit/debit only)
- Falafel bites
- Moroccan Salmon
- Bourekas
- Chicken shawarma bites
- Dips to go and pita dip taster
- Moroccan cigars or kabobs
- Baklava, cookies, drinks
Israeli Folk Dance Workshop | 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm
Folk dances in Israel are a staple of the national and cultural consciousness. Israeli folk dances (rikudei am) were created as a way of helping to create a new Israeli culture in the land of Israel, combining elements from other dance cultures with the music and themes of modern Israel.
Krav Maga presentations by Shomrim Ottawa | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
A close-combat style fight which uses techniques derived from aikido, boxing, judo, karate and wrestling. It is known for its focus on real-world situations.
The mission of Shomrim Ottawa is to contribute to public safety by providing volunteer-based security services, personal and collective training, awareness-raising and education, as well as tools, resources, and emergency assistance to the Jewish community of Ottawa.
Gymnasium (Lower Level)
Family Entertainment
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Bouncy castle, obstacle course, balloon twisters, photobooth, face painting, and a DJ playing Israeli beats. Enjoy the multi-faceted professional circus team as they perform stunts and entertain with mini-workshops, magic tricks, and more!
Teen Lounge
“What Canadians Don’t Get About Israel” with Jerry Z. Muller
7:00 pm
Jerry Z. Muller is professor emeritus of history at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is the author of seven books, including Capitalism and the Jews (2010) and Professor of Apocalypse: The Many Lives of Jacob Taubes (2022), which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. His essays in general interest magazines include “Us and Them: The Enduring Power of Ethnic Nationalism,” Foreign Affairs, March-April 2008; and “Capitalism and Inequality: What the Right and the Left Get Wrong,” Foreign Affairs, March-April 2013. An accomplished speaker, his lecture series “Thinking about Capitalism” is available from The Great Courses. www.JerryZMuller.com
Special Exhibit – Photography of Northern Israel (May 2-10)
SJCC Breeze Way – Outside the Village Café
Take a moment to experience a breathtaking photography exhibition showcasing the landscapes and stories of Northern Israel.
Featured Vendors & Exhibitors
Handmade & Artisan Goods
- Omani Israeli Jewelry – Authentic Israeli jewelry
- Linda Goldberg – Handmade jewelry
- Silver Jewelry from Ukraine by Svitlana Masik
- Unique Handmade Items by Zinaida Boholiubova
Photography & Art
- @Kreative.Katz – Photography and maps by Rachel Katz
- Vintage Design – Caren Weinstein’s unique designs
Specialty & Wellness
- Peachie Soap – Handmade soaps by Regina Itzhakov
- Natalia Brusle – Tea blends, unique mixes, handmade toys
Food & Specialty Products
- Honigman Apiaries – Locally sourced honey
- Israeli Food Stations by Village Café
- Holiday Items by Gail Lieff – Soloway JCC
Community & Organizations
- Canadian Hadassah-Wizo Ottawa Centre (CHW)
- Na’amat Canada Ottawa
- Israel Bonds
- JET Ottawa
- JNF Ottawa
- HaKibbutz Program by Marina Kornblum
