The Rabbi Reuven Bulka Shem Tov Community Volunteer Award

This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer for a lifetime of service dedicated to the betterment and enrichment of Jewish life in Ottawa.

Mazel Tov to the 2024 recipient, Sabina Wasserlauf

Over the past 25 years, among many other roles in the community, Sabina Wasserlauf has served on the Board of Directors of Beth Shalom Synagogue, Yitzhak Rabin High School, The Ottawa Jewish Community School, Torah Academy, the Soloway Jewish Community Centre, and the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation.

During this time, she has held multiple leadership positions, including Board Chair at Yitzhak Rabin and later the OJCS, co-chair of the Federation Campaign Kick-off, SJCC Board Chair, committee chair of the SJCC Biathlon, and the chair of SJCC’s scholarship fund.

Sabina’s passion for Jewish education was fundamental to the merger between Hillel Academy and Yitzhak Rabin High School to form the OJCS. She had a direct and positive impact on the school’s curriculum and delivery of services.

Her leadership impacted changes in the SJCC’s mission statement to emphasize inclusivity and respect.

She is a donor, leader, collaborator, and role model who understands the needs of individuals and the community, working hard, yet enjoying every minute of it.

“There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of kingship; but the crown of a good name excels them all.”

- Rabbi Shimon

• nominees must be an outstanding and long-serving (minimum 25 years) volunteer in the Ottawa Jewish community, with one or multiple organizations

• must have been active within the past 3 years

• positively impacts Ottawa’s Jewish community

• only volunteer service can be considered

Nominees must be a member in good standing of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa (minimum gift to the Annual Campaign) and cannot previously have received this award.

To be considered, nominations must include 2 letters of support, including one from a local Jewish organization. The nomination must address the above criteria and describe how the individual’s volunteer work has been sustained and is meaningful.

Questions? Please contact us by email at info@jewishottawa.com

Past Recipients:

2003   Evelyn Greenberg
2004   Naomi Lipsky Cracower
2005   Hy Bloom
2006   Lily and Jerry Penso
2007   Sam Ages z"l
2008   Mayer Alvo
2009   Estelle Gunner
2010   Blanche Osterer
2011   Morris Kimmel z"l
2012   Issie Scarowsky
2013   Ruth Aaron
2014   Henry Molot
2015   Flo Morgan
2016   Merle Haltrecht-Matte
2017   Hyman Reichstein
2018 Michael Landau
2019 Charles Schachnow
2020 Sharon and David Appotive
2021 Barbara Levinson and Joel Diener
2022 Harold Feder
2023 Sandra Zagon