Life & Legacy

The Ottawa Jewish Community School has joined eleven other local Jewish organizations who have made a commitment to work together to support the future of the Ottawa Jewish community.  Under the leadership of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation, our community is delighted to be delivering and implementing the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF)’s “LIFE & LEGACY®” initiative.

LIFE & LEGACY is a four-year partnership initiative of the HGF that assists communities across North America, through partnerships with Jewish Foundations, to promote after-lifetime giving to benefit Jewish day schools, synagogues, social service organizations and other Jewish entities.

LIFE & LEGACY is an innovative program designed to change the philanthropic conversation in our community by creating a collaborative approach to legacy giving.  Everyone has the power to be a legacy donor and make a difference for future generations.

Why leave a Legacy Gift?

Since 1949, the Ottawa Jewish Community School has been a cornerstone of Jewish life in Ottawa.  We produce leaders and active members of the Ottawa Jewish community who contribute to Jewish life and to the quality of life in Ottawa in an extremely significant manner.  We develop leaders of Jewish organizations, schools and synagogues, all of which flourish as a result.  In addition, nearly every secular charitable initiative in Ottawa benefits from the explicit Jewish leadership and generosity taught and experienced at OJCS.  However, we cannot take for granted that what was once true will always be true.  If we want that to continue – if we want to secure our Jewish future – we need to ensure that OJCS will be here to educate the next generations of leaders.  Jewish leadership requires Jewish leaders who know how to lead – not just as Jews, but according to Jewish values.

We are so honoured to provide Ottawa’s Jewish community with a rigorous, high-quality, innovative secular and Jewish education for its children, and it is a responsibility that we take very seriously. Creating your Jewish legacy will help OJCS remain sustainable long after you are gone.  While gifts to current operations (annual campaign) are essential to meet ongoing needs, contributions like LIFE & LEGACY are invested to provide benefits for generations to come. You can help to endow our children with the values and knowledge they need for the future by contributing to an endowment that will itself live in perpetuity.

Thank you, merci, and תודה רבה LIFE & LEGACY® Circle Members

We are so grateful for our OJCS and LIFE & LEGACY Circle members!   

  • Anonymous (7)
  • Elishua Ben-Choreen (Class of ’07)
  • Bonnie Boretsky and Andrew Fainer
  • André and Carole Brantz
  • Mindy Bullion
  • John and Dayra Diener
  • Josh Engel  (Class of ’86)
  • Tamara Fathi  (Class of ’95)
  • Sam Finestone
  • Jonathan Freedman
  • Howard (Class of ’94) and Melanie Fremeth
  • Steven and Rosalyn Fremeth
  • Jennifer Glassman
  • Joanne Gorenstein (Class of ’88)
  • Jessica Greenberg
  • Ellie Kardish-Kamil (Class of ’74) & Arie Kamil
  • Rabbi Eytan Kenter and Staci Zemlak-Kenter
  • Steven (Class of ’70) and Shelli Kimmel
  • Agnes Victoria Klein
  • Doree Kovalio & Kevin Evoy
  • Richard Roth and Dr. Riva Levitan
  • Joshua Max  (Class of ’91)
  • Ian and Estelle Melzer
  • Chuck Merovitz
  • Jeff and Rhoda Miller
  • Dr. Jon and Jaimee Mitzmacher
  • Mitchell Novick and Ilana Albert-Novick (Class of ’83)  
  • Adina Libin and Micah Potechin
  • Neil and Dr. Gillian (Class of ’93) Presner
  • Frayda Raber
  • Sharon and Sol (Class of ’86) Reichstein
  • Joel Sachs  (Class of ’85)
  • Lorne Segal 
  • Dr. Allan and Stephanie (Class of ’92) Shefrin
  • Ian and Randi Sherman
  • Sol and Zelaine Shinder
  • Noreen Slack
  • Cindy & Nathan Smith
  • Erin and Aaron Smith
  • Freddie Seller and Stacey Steinman
  • Lenora and Evan Zelikovitz
OJCS (aka Hillel Academy) has been a part of my life from as far back as I can remember. My spouse and I have included OJCS in our LIFE & LEGACY plans because we want to ensure that Jewish education is a strong and thriving part of the Ottawa community now and long into the future.

-Anonymous

The Ottawa Jewish Community School
2020-11-02T11:02:23-05:00

-Anonymous

My spouse and I have included OJCS in our LIFE & LEGACY plans because...
We chose OJCS to be included in our life and legacy giving because we feel strongly about Jewish day school education in Ottawa.   Our own children thrived in the warm environment.  We saw firsthand, the school striving for academic excellence in three languages, while incorporating Jewish values and traditions.   We need this to continue in our community. 

-Riva and Richard

The Ottawa Jewish Community School
2020-11-02T11:03:24-05:00

-Riva and Richard

We need this to continue in our community. 
Ensuring the Ottawa Jewish community continues to grow and strive starts with a strong Jewish education...and that's exactly what happens at OJCS.  As someone who has benefited greatly from my time at OJCS - at multiple points in my life - choosing OJCS for my Life & Legacy gift is a great way to give back to the school that has given me, and this community, so much.  L'dor va'dor.

-Josh

The Ottawa Jewish Community School
2022-05-12T09:51:44-04:00

-Josh

...the school that has given me, and this community, so much.
We decided to participate in the Life and Legacy program because it was a way of giving back to a school and a community that has already given our family so much.  It is a way to help ensure our school continues to support generations to come with the level of excellence our children receive now.

- Doree Kovalio & Kevin Evoy

The Ottawa Jewish Community School
2022-05-27T14:33:33-04:00

- Doree Kovalio & Kevin Evoy

"...a way of giving back to a school and a community..."
The Ottawa Jewish Community School is the crown jewel of Ottawa, and we are so lucky to have a school of its caliber. This vibrant and nurturing environment prepares students not only academically, but in how to be mensches, leaders, and change-makers. It is my hope that through the Life and Legacy program, that OJCS will continue from strength to strength for decades to come.

-Anonymous

The Ottawa Jewish Community School
2023-05-01T09:08:20-04:00

-Anonymous

The Ottawa Jewish Community School is the crown jewel of Ottawa...
A Jewish education is a huge cornerstone to building a Jewish future, for ourselves and our community. Jewish schools are also a place to form lifelong friendships. I hope Ottawa will continue to foster its Jewish educational centres for many generations.

-Elishua Ben-Choreen (class of 2007)

The Ottawa Jewish Community School
2023-07-06T10:56:45-04:00

-Elishua Ben-Choreen (class of 2007)

A Jewish education is a huge cornerstone...
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The Ottawa Jewish Community School
For more information on how you can support the OJCS please contact:
Yulia Elgin, Director of Development at y.elgin@theojcs.ca or  613.722.0020  x 378

Updated as of May 31, 2023