December 2024 Edition
Strength, Resilience, and Support for All
This Hanukkah, we reflect on the incredible ways our community comes together during challenging times. Thanks to your generosity, Ometz has been a constant source of support—providing care and connection for newcomers, parents, students, and families alike.
Your support fuels moments of joy, creates safe spaces for healing, and builds resilience where it’s needed most. Together, we’re making a difference—one light at a time.
IMPACT IN ACTION
Family Hanukkah Party: A Celebration of Joy and Community
On December 15, the heart of our community came alive at our annual Hanukkah party, where nearly 400 newcomers gathered for a magical morning of light and connection.
The room buzzed with energy as children played, families shared a festive meal, and the warmth of community filled the air. What made this year truly special is that some donors once attended this party as newcomers themselves. Now, they’re giving back to ensure today’s arrivals feel the same welcome and support they experienced.
This incredible cycle of kindness is what makes moments like this possible. Your generosity creates magic—ensuring every newcomer feels at home.
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING
Supporting Students on Campus: A Collaboration with Hillel
In late November, Ometz partnered with Hillel to create a safe space on campus for students navigating fear and uncertainty. Ometz brought in a professional therapist to help students process their experiences, offering tools to cope and build resilience during these challenging times.
Ometz is also there to support Hillel staff—young adults themselves—who have been on the front lines, responding to incidents, advocating for safety, and fostering community, by providing guidance, resources, and a listening ear as they navigate the weight of their roles.
This collaboration reflects the core of Ometz’s mission: fostering resilience, connection, and hope. Together, Ometz and Hillel are ensuring that students and staff alike feel supported, valued, and never alone.
Parlour Meetings: Navigating Life’s Challenges Together
This fall, Ometz opened the doors to intimate conversations through our Parlour Meetings, hosted in private homes across the community. These gatherings brought together women with shared experiences and professional networks for meaningful discussions on one of today’s most pressing topics: How to Talk to Your Kids About Antisemitism.
Attendees left with more than just practical tools—they found connection, understanding, and the reassurance that they are not facing these challenges alone. These meetings highlight the strength of our community and the power of coming together to tackle life’s most difficult conversations.
Interested in hosting a Parlour Group in your home? Reach out to Jessica Banon at [email protected] to learn more!
Pearl Leibovitch Conference 2024: Cultivating Strong Sibling Bonds from Childhood Onwards
Back by popular demand, this year’s Pearl Leibovitch Conference focused on the vital topic of strengthening sibling relationships—laying the foundation for lifelong family harmony.
The clinical day for professionals explored the complexities of sibling dynamics, offering actionable strategies and expert insights to help families navigate conflict and build stronger connections. The community webinar for parents provided practical tools to foster cooperation, address rivalry, and create a home environment where siblings can thrive together.
These sessions were inspiring and transformative, equipping participants with fresh perspectives and concrete solutions for one of the most impactful aspects of family life. The Pearl Leibovitch Conference continues to empower families across our community to build bonds that last a lifetime.
Parenting Groups: Building Stronger Families Together
Parenting comes with unique challenges, and Ometz is here to support you through every stage. Our 10-month parenting groups provide a safe, informal, and confidential space to explore parenting issues, share strategies, and connect with others facing similar challenges.
Organized by your child’s age—preschool, elementary, or high school—these monthly groups are tailored to your family’s needs and are offered either in-person or online, depending on group preference.
Led by experts in children’s mental health, these sessions help parents:
- Navigate difficult conversations with confidence.
- Set realistic and achievable goals for their families.
- Gain practical tools and strategies to support their children’s development.
Join a group today and gain the tools and support you need to navigate parenting with clarity and confidence.
Counselling Services: Support for Life’s Challenges
Life comes with its share of challenges, and Ometz is here to help you navigate them with confidence. Our counselling services provide individuals, couples, and families with warm, confidential, and culturally sensitive support tailored to their unique needs.
Through short-term, solution-focused therapy, we offer:
- Family and Couples Counselling
- Individual Adult and Child Counselling
- Family Play Therapy
- And more
Whether you’re coping with loss, managing change, or addressing anxiety, depression, or stress, our professionals can help you build communication and life skills, strengthen relationships, and take actionable steps toward a brighter future.
With sliding scale fees and flexible options for online or in-person sessions, support is always within reach.
Take the next step toward positive change.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on Money Matters – Regaining Financial Control, One Step at a Time
When life feels overwhelming, getting back on track financially can seem impossible. That’s where Ometz’s Money Matters program steps in—helping individuals and families lift one burden and regain control over their finances with confidence and independence.
Through personalized coaching sessions, participants learn practical strategies to balance budgets, manage expenses, and make informed decisions. Money Matters is about empowering people with the skills they need to take charge of their financial future.
Whether it’s a young adult starting fresh or a parent seeking stability for their family, Money Matters provides the tools and guidance to help our community members move forward with strength and resilience. Financial independence is within reach, and Ometz is here to make it possible.
Thanks to your support, this program continues to empower individuals and families, ensuring no one has to face financial challenges alone.
LINKS WE LOVE
Depressingly Funny
This piece profiles David Granirer, a Jewish comedian who uses humour to address mental health issues, showcasing how laughter can be a powerful tool for healing.
Hevria: A Creative Community for Jews
Hevria is a platform where Jewish creatives share personal stories and essays, often touching on mental health topics with authenticity and humour.
HANUKKAH HIGHLIGHTS
Buy One, Give One: Latkes With Love This Hanukkah
Ometz and Zera Café lit up the season with our Buy One, Give One latke initiative, and thanks to overwhelming support, the latkes are officially sold out!
When you ordered two dozen of Zera Café’s mouthwatering latkes, half were gifted to a family in need, spreading warmth and joy throughout our community.
This initiative is so close to our hearts because of the incredible people behind it. Many Zera employees are also Ometz clients—individuals who have found empowerment and purpose through Zera Café’s mission of inclusive employment.
Your generosity has made a real difference: supporting families in need while uplifting the neurodivergent adults who made each latke with care and pride.
Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and helped make it such a success. We look forward to more meaningful collaborations with Zera Café in the future!
Together, we’ve made Hanukkah brighter, one latke at a time.
BE THE LIGHT
Since October 7th, Ometz has been a lifeline for over 150 Israelis seeking temporary respite, offering safe housing, counselling, employment support, and spaces for connection like shared Shabbat tables and language classes.
At the same time, we continue to stand by the entire Montreal Jewish community—supporting students facing the impact of antisemitism, families navigating uncertainty, individuals seeking strength and stability, and providing young adults with a dedicated space for connection and community-building through L’Annexe.
Ometz is the cornerstone of the Jewish community and the heart of Jewish social services in Montreal—a safety net that catches those in need and uplifts them toward brighter days.
This Hanukkah, your generosity ensures Ometz remains the foundation of resilience, well-being, and hope for all who turn to us. Together, we can light the way forward for our community.
At this time of year, we are reminded of the power of community—the strength we find in one another and the resilience that propels us forward. Kadimah, moving forward together, is at the heart of everything we do at Ometz.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for being part of this journey. Your generosity helps us create a brighter, more hopeful future for all, one step at a time.
Wishing you a warm and joyous Hanukkah filled with light and connection.
Happy Hanukkah from all of us at Ometz!
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