By Howard Berger & Gail Small, Co-Executive Directors,Ometz

In July 1863, four years before Confederation, thirty young men met on St. James Street and decided to launch the Young Men’s Hebrew Benevolent Society, the precursor of the Baron de Hirsch Institute/Jewish Family Services. Their vision would eventually lead to the establishment of most of our current communal institutions. In 2008, three of those agencies, Jewish Employment Montreal (JEM), Jewish Family Services (JFS) and Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS) merged to form Ometz.

We are proud of these past 150 years of continuous and devoted service to our community. The passionate commitment of both our volunteer leadership and professional staff has ensured the very best quality of life possible for all members of our community. From 1863 to 2013, we have inspired each generation to care for one another and to build for a future community that would thrive and sustain itself.

Over this upcoming year, we plan to reach out community-wide and do some serious ‘friend-raising’. We want to reconnect with our larger Ometz family.

Think for a moment – JEM, JFS, JIAS and then ask yourself – were you ever – a client? a volunteer? a staff member? a Board member?

If you answered yes to any of the above we want to hear from you at www.ometz150.ca. Check it out and share your story – we can’t wait to hear from you!

Join our party – we’ll be in touch as the events unfold!

Happy Birthday and Mazel Tov to us all!