Five Minutes With… ·
Five Minutes With Rabbi Menachem M. Blum
Rabbi Menachem M. Blum · Rabbi, Ottawa Torah Centre, Barrhaven
The Ottawa Torah Centre's kosher BBQ competition looks from the outside like teams cooking on a summer day. Behind it, the centre supplies every team with its meat and its cooking equipment, so that the food meets kosher standards and nobody has an advantage. Rabbi Menachem M. Blum, who leads the centre on Lamplighters Drive, told the Bugle how the competition grew into a wider Jewish cultural festival, and how the congregation itself went from a basement to a storefront to a trailer before it got a building.
What inspired the Ottawa Torah Centre to create a Jewish cultural festival and kosher BBQ competition here in Barrhaven?
“The idea grew out of a desire to create something that would celebrate Jewish culture in a way that was welcoming, engaging and accessible to the entire Ottawa community. We wanted to showcase the richness of Jewish life and create an event where people of all backgrounds could come together, enjoy great food, music and entertainment, and experience Jewish culture in a relaxed and positive setting. The kosher BBQ competition became a fun and unique centerpiece for that vision. BBQ is something that brings people together, and we saw an opportunity to put a distinctly Jewish and kosher twist on a very Canadian tradition. What began as a BBQ competition has grown into a broader cultural festival that brings together the Jewish community and the wider Ottawa community right here in Barrhaven.”
What goes into pulling off a kosher BBQ competition that most people wouldn't think about?
“One of the biggest things people probably don’t realize is that, because this is a kosher BBQ competition, we provide the teams with the meat and the cooking equipment. That allows us to ensure that everything meets kosher standards and that all of the teams are competing on a level playing field. That creates a tremendous amount of coordination behind the scenes. We have to source and prepare large quantities of kosher meat, get the equipment organized and distributed to each team, and coordinate the kosher supervision throughout the competition. From there, we coordinate the teams, judges, scoring, tasting tickets, public voting, food safety, and all of the logistics of setting up the site. So while the public sees teams cooking BBQ and having a great time, there is a lot of planning that goes into making sure that everything is kosher, fair and runs smoothly.”
What do you hope neighbours, Jewish and not, take away from spending the day at the festival?
“More than anything, I hope people leave having had a great day and feeling a little more connected to their neighbours. For our Jewish community, it is an opportunity to celebrate our culture and traditions openly and proudly. For those who aren’t Jewish, it is a chance to experience Jewish culture in a very approachable way, through food, music, family activities and simply spending time together. Especially today, there is something powerful about bringing people together around something positive. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy great BBQ, good music and a fun community festival. We hope people leave with a better understanding of Jewish life in Ottawa, a few new friends, and the feeling that this is a community they are part of too.”
What's something about Barrhaven only a local would know?
“Something a local might know is the incredible story of how the Jewish community in Barrhaven has grown. The Ottawa Torah Centre started very modestly, meeting in a basement. From there, it grew into a storefront, then, at one point, even operated out of a trailer. Today, we have a beautiful Jewish centre and synagogue on Lamplighters Drive. That journey really reflects the growth of Barrhaven itself, but also the commitment of the people who built this community. What started with a small group of people wanting a Jewish presence in their neighbourhood has grown into a vibrant centre serving hundreds of families and offering everything from synagogue services and education to community events and programs.”
Who in Barrhaven should we talk to next?
“I think it would be interesting to speak with someone who has been involved in the Barrhaven community for many years and can talk about how much the area has grown and changed. It would also be great to hear from one of the local residents or community leaders who has watched the Ottawa Torah Centre grow from its early days in a basement to the Jewish centre it is today. That perspective would help tell the larger story of how both Barrhaven and its Jewish community have grown together.”
This interview was conducted in writing through the Bugle’s interview form; answers lightly edited for length and clarity.