Canada's Rabbi

I had the privilege of spending a year directing a kiruv organization for young professionals while serving as the Interim Rabbi at Young Israel of Ottawa. The man behind the fish counter at our local grocery store once recounted to me how he saw the Jewish community in the city change over time. Nowadays he’s used to customers bringing their own knives for him to use, but in the days of the Ottawa Kollel people “in black and white” brought their own cutting boards and even surface coverings. Before then, though, was Rabbi Bulka’s much more “open-minded approach.”

It was literally impossible to live in Ottawa without hearing about Rabbi Bulka’s many accomplishments. His granddaughter, Rikki Ash, writes that “the growth of his shul in Ottawa, perhaps, was my grandfather’s largest accomplishment in his lifetime” and, indeed, Congregation Machzikei Hadas remains the largest and fastest growing in the city under the leadership of his successor and former Associate Rabbi, Rabbi Idan Scher.

Canada’s Rabbi: The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Reuven Bulka (Ktav, 2024) introduces international readers to this incredible leader and his innumerable accomplishments (my personal favourite of which is designing and securing Machzikei’s official Coat of Arms).

Rabbi Bulka wrote his Phd dissertation on Logotherapy and the Talmud, hiding the fact that he was working towards the degree from his congregants the entire time so none would think him too busy to be approached with their questions or concerns. He lived by his teaching to “work hard, but don’t let it interfere with your ability to give each person you encounter your undivided attention. And practice what you preach.”

Even when he knew he was dying, Rabbi Bulka

internalized the imperative to live purposefully and conscientiously. He dedicated himself to diligent work and strived to make a positive difference, mindful of the ultimate responsibility to give and account for his actions and choices… Rabbi Bulka’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of seizing the present moment and actively engaging in a purposeful life, ensuring that when the time for reckoning arrives, one can proudly offer a compelling account of their endeavors.

Perhaps nothing highlights Rabbi Bulka’s impact better than the book’s introduction by Mark Sutcliffe, the Mayor of Ottawa:

Many years ago, I was working at a radio station in Ottawa and Rabbi Bulka was a frequent guest and regular weekend host. On his way into the studio, he would pass through the newsroom, say hello to everyone, make a few quips, and hand out candy. And no matter how depressing the news, or how much stress the staff felt about meeting deadlines, the room was always a little brighter after he left.

It was the same thing when we appeared on the air together. I could barely introduce him as a guest before he would jump in with a joke or tell a funny story. We would proceed to have a thoughtful conversation about a very serious topic. And then he would end with another amusing anecdote. Every time, I felt happier.

After one on-air conversation, I thought to myself, “Why can’t everyone be like Rabbi Bulka?” He made it look so easy.

Every December we would host a day-long fundraising show called the Christmas Cheer Broadcast. Even though he didn’t celebrate Christmas, he participated enthusiastically. It seemed like he was at every event in Ottawa. And he was also everyone’s spiritual advisor, even if they weren’t members of his congregation or even Jewish.

… Rabbi Bulka chose how he reacted to everything he experienced. He never grumbled, even when his wife was sick with cancer. I never saw him in a bad mood. And he never wore a coat, even on the coldest winter days in Ottawa. I guess he chose not to be cold.

… When he was facing his own devastating diagnosis and he knew the end of his life was near, Rabbi Bulka agreed to do an interview for my podcast. In it, he shared a lifetime’s worth of wisdom. He talked about leading by example, finding purpose in life, embracing uncertainty, and being aware of your own ego. And he shared another lesson I haven’t forgotten. I asked him what it takes to be a good leader. “Instead of saying I’m the ultimate problem-solver who will make things good for everyone, listen, listen, listen. That’s the most important thing.”

Rabbi Bulka inspired me to take accountability for my reactions, to make better choices, to try harder to serve my community. I wish I could have spoken to him when I decided to run to be mayor of Ottawa, but I applied his lessons throughout the process and during the campaign. I still hear his voice in my head when I need it.

I miss our conversations. I miss seeing him around the community. But I think of him every time I have an opportunity to be kind. That, above everything else, is Rabbi Bulka’s legacy.

It is perhaps thanks to Rabbi Bulka’s legacy that one of the first things Mayor Sutcliffe did after October 7th was bring together all of Ottawa’s clergy (myself included) and ask us to sign a public letter immediately and powerfully stating that violence and hatred had no place in our city.

The only book of Rabbi Bulka’s I’ve read is The Coming Cataclysm: The Orthodox-Reform Rift and Future of the Jewish People (Mosaic Press, 1984). While much of the book is pessimistic due to the Reform Movement’s (at the time) recent acceptance of Patrilineal descent, it ends on a cautious note that strongly resonated with me:

Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform working together — it is a dream, but the flip side of the dream is a nightmare. If the leadership in these sectors cannot transcend the encumbrance of the past, the Jewish community itself should rise up and demand that the leaders work together. If all avenues fail, we may soon not have a true Jewish community to speak of.

Working together, the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform can launch a massive assault on the main problem facing them squarely in the eye, the ignorance and indifference of a great percentage of North America’s Jews. If these Jews see that the leaders care, and care together, they may be inspired to be part of a vibrant, united community, when before they may have been disenchanted by the petty chauvinisms of the disparate branches comprising the Jewish community.

I never knew Rabbi Bulka, but I hope to embody the best of his teachings in my own rabbinate. Happy Canada Day!