Menu

Freiman Family Young Leadership and Lawrence Greenberg Young Leadership Development Award recipient - 2021

Dr. Madelaine Hill Werier


Madelaine has been an active and diligent community leader since 2016. In addition to many volunteer roles at Ottawa Jewish Community School (OJCS), Tamir’s Keshet for Kids, Ottawa Kosher Food Bank, JET, and the board of Kehillat Beth Israel, Madelaine is a passionate leader in the area of disability inclusion. In 2018, she spearheaded, along with two other women, the creation of JOIN – Jewish Ottawa Inclusion Network, a grassroots organization that promotes the inclusion of children with all abilities.
 
In her work with JOIN, Madelaine has inspired our community to further inclusion and has partnered with numerous local organizations including Jewish Family Services, Jewish Federation of Ottawa, KBI, PJ Library, OJCS, Ottawa Torah Day School, Tamir, and other non-Jewish organizations. She was also a key organizer and chair of the 2019 conference, Pushing the Boundaries: Disability, Inclusion, and Jewish Community. She continues her work with JDAIM, Jewish Disability, Awareness and Inclusion Month, and was the 2021 chair of the Inclusion Committee. Most recently she is working with Tamir on their Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the advisory board for A Ripple Effect.
 
Madelaine is a trail blazer in the advancement of disability awareness, inclusion, and belonging and her immense contributions have enhanced the quality of life for all in Ottawa’s Jewish community. 

Freiman Family Young Leadership and Lawrence Greenberg Young Leadership Development Award recipient - 2021
 
Jonah Rabinovitch
 
As expressed by Rabbi Reuven Bulka in his nomination letter, he “cannot think of anyone who has been so fully engaged in leadership from such a young age.” Indeed, since his teen years, Jonah Rabinovitch has been strongly committed to the Jewish community. He has taken on many leadership roles from his time at Yitzhak Rabin High School to university, where he was president of the Hillel Student Association.
 
In his later 20s, he became active with the Board of Directors of Congregation Machzikei Hadas. Jonah was shul president when Rabbi Bulka announced his retirement and he helped lead the effort to find his successor. Jonah oversaw the committee that selected Rabbi Idan Scher. He also worked tirelessly with Arnie Vered, z”l Stephen Greenberg and Jordana Vered on the retirement gala for Rabbi Bulka, which not only feted the Rabbi but raised more than $500,000 for Congregation Machzikei Hadas and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Foundation.
 
Jonah continues to volunteer at the shul and is also very committed to the vital need for Jewish education in our community. He sits on the Torah Day School of Ottawa Board and is Chairperson of the OTI/Machon Sarah Board. Jonah also chairs the Lay Committee of the Ottawa Va’ad HaKashrut. In each of his roles, he has made a tangible and positive difference that is helping to make our Jewish community stronger. 

Freiman Family Young Leadership Award
and the Lawrence Greenberg Young Leadership Development Award

 


Description:  
The Freiman Family Young Leadership award recognizes a member of the Ottawa Jewish community, 40 and under, who has demonstrated proven leadership to the benefit of Ottawa’s Jewish community. The Freiman Family Young Leadership Award was established in 1988 by the Freiman Family. Nominations are solicited on an annual basis. The recipient of the Freiman Family Young Leadership Award also receives the Lawrence Greenberg Young Leadership Development Award.

 

All nominees must have volunteered in Ottawa’s Jewish community a minimum of 3 years and be currently involved. Additional criteria for consideration includes:


•    Proven leadership, with further potential for growth and involvement.
•    Demonstrates the ability to motivate and inspire others.
•    Positively impacts Ottawa’s Jewish community.


 

 

Past Recipients

1988    Barbara Farber
1989    Stephen Greenberg
1990    Morris Presser
1991    Arnie Vered z"l
1992    Howard Osterer z"l
1993    Elissa Lieff
1994    Margo Schwartz
1995    Jeffrey Pleet
1996    Robert Greenberg
1997    Laurie Shusterman
1998    Charles Schachnow
1999    Ian M. Sherman
2000    Leiba Krantzberg
2001    Jeannie Polisuk
2002    T. David Baker
2003    Jackie Barwin
2004    Sarah Beutel
2005    Jenny Shinder
2006    Jason Shinder
2007    Mitchell Miller
2008    Stuart Ages
2009    Jennifer Kardash
2010    Sarah Silverstein
2011    Lisa Miller
2012    Sharon Reichstein
2013    Stacey Segal
2014    Tamara Fathi
2015    Howard Fremeth
2016    Debbie Scharf
2017    Gillian Presner
2018    Aaron Smith
2019    Alan Shefrin
2020    Adina Libin