The Hillel Ottawa team is dedicated to supporting Jewish campus life here in Ottawa. Our different backgrounds, perspectives and skills makes our team well equipped to relate to the diversity of Jewish students in Ottawa. Get to know us over coffee, at an event or on Shabbat. We support the ideas of University students to provide a campus culture that is “For Us, By Us.” Send us an email, give us a call or swing by the Hillel house and we will be happy to make the time to listen to your thoughts and figure out how we can help enhance your University experience.
Ross Diamond
Executive Director
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In 2004 Ross was approached by Lily Matusiak while volunteering at Penn State’s dance marathon and asked “Are you Jewish?” She has saw he was wearing a Chai necklace. After responding yes, she asked “Do you want to go on Birthright Israel?” “ Isn’t that the free trip to Israel?” Ross responded. Lily said “Yes, come meet some of the Hillel students who will be going this summer.”
The simple question “Are you Jewish?” changed Ross’ life forever. After a year of being a leader in Hillel at Penn State Ross ventured back to Israel only to meet an amazing Canadian named Sarah at the JFK airport in New York. An amazing conversation at the Kotel (Western Wall) left them both feeling a connection to each other that carried them through four years of dating internationally. Working for KPMG in New York City, Ross commuted to Buffalo, NY to visit Sarah in Hamilton, ON. They were married under the Chuppah on July 5th 2009 in Ottawa’s Rockcliffe Park Pavillion. The morning of his wedding he jumped in the Rideau Canal for a ritual mikvah.
After immigrating to Canada officially in March 2010, Ross began working for KPMG in Ottawa. He realized quickly that his zeal for working with people and community building would not be satisfied with his participation in a jnet planning committee or leading the first Ottawa Social Action Mission to Israel. After hearing the departure of his friend Alana Kayfetz from her position with Hillel he saw an opportunity. As the Hillel Ottawa Director he is continually able to pay forward the gift Lily gave Ross by working to inspire Jewish students in Ottawa to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life.
Rabbi Dave Rotenberg
Senior Jewish Educator
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Rabbi Dave Rotenberg is proud to be a fourth-generation Ottawan. He was raised in a non-observant
family, but at the age of 13 decided to become Shomer Shabbat and to attend the Ottawa Torah
Institute for high school. After graduation, Rabbi Dave went to study in yeshivot in Israel and Toronto
where he received his smicha (ordination) in 2004.
As well as being a rabbi, Rabbi Dave is also a stand-up comic. He was a regular at local amateur nights
from age 15 to 20, and after taking several years off, returned to the stage two and a half years ago.
He performs frequently at Yuk Yuk’s and Absolute Comedy, and has recently made the transition from
amateur to professional.
In addition to his work at Hillel, Rabbi Dave is also the principal of Talmud Torah Afternoon School, the
oldest Jewish school in Ottawa. As Hillel Ottawa’s Jewish Educator and Advisor, Rabbi Dave is always
available to help students explore their Jewish identity, learn new Jewish ideas, or just schmooze about
sports or movies over a cup of coffee, a beer, or a Shabbat meal.
Ilan Liebner
Israel Advocacy Coordinator
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Ilan Liebner serves as the Advocacy Coordinator at Hillel Ottawa.
Ilan has extensive advocacy and program development experience experience, having facilitated policy programs and conferences in both political and academic venues for thousands. After working for several years on Parliament Hill, he served as Project Manager of a major municipal campaign to combat ethnic and religious hatred and discrimination, the Ottawa Project Against Hate and Racial Prejudice, which brought together hundreds of political and community leaders under the chairmanship of the Mayor to speedily and effectively spearhead policy and improve cross-communal relations. It was at the main policy initiative of this project that Canada’s National Justice Initiative Against Racism and Hate was announced. This led Ilan to serving as a researcher at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He then went on to do an MA in Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has served as a teacher of history in Toronto for the past several years. He always welcomes conversations with students and, well, people in general, and hopes that he can learn a lot from these meetings. Ilan supports Tottenham Hotspur.
Hillel Ottawa House
284 Laurier Ave. East
Ottawa, ON K1N 6P5
Ph: 613-236-2345
info@hillelottawa.ca
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