Reuven Bulka
Encyclopedia
Reuven P. Bulka is a rabbi
, writer, broadcaster and activist in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
and former co-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress
. He received his Rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Jacob Joseph Rabbinical Seminary
in New York City
, and his Ph.D.degree from the University of Ottawa
in 1971, concentrating on the Logotherapy
of Viktor Frankl
. He has been the Rabbi of Congregation Machzikei Hadas
in Ottawa since 1967.
, Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Midstream and Pastoral Psychology, among others.
He was also the host of the TV series, In Good Faith and continues to host the weekly radio call-in program Sunday Night with Rabbi Bulka on CFRA in Ottawa
, as well as weekly radio Jewish culture and music program JEW-BILATION on CJLL-FM
. He is a regular columnist for the Ottawa Citizen
s "Ask the Religion Experts" feature. Bulka is the author and/or editor of 35 books, including Turning Grief into Gratitude.
, a social conservative group that believes homosexuality can be cured. In his book One Man, One Woman, One Lifetime Bulka writes that gay Jews have a mandate "to improve on who you are, through the exercise of free will, and with the help of mental health professionals and spiritual advisors."
and, in 1998, converted her and her family to Orthodox Judaism
. In 2003, Schlessinger announced she was no longer a practicing Jew leaving Bulka "stunned".
, and the founder of Clergy for a United Canada.
Rabbi Dr. Bulka is or has been Chairman of Trillium Gift of Life Network (2007), co-President of the Canadian Jewish Congress
(2007–2009), chairman of the Religious and Inter-Religious Affairs Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, chairman of the Canadian Christian-Jewish Consultation, co-chairman of the Ottawa World Jewry Committee (formerly Ottawa Soviet Jewry Committee), founder and chair of Ottawa Kindness Week (2008), Honorary Chaplain of the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion
, and has also been involved with a number of other service organizations.
(January 1993) as well as the Beryl Plumptre Award of Excellence from the Kidney Foundation of Canada
, Eastern Ontario Branch (1998). He has also been awarded the Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award of the Ottawa Jewish Community (1999), the Mayor's Award for Community Service (1999), the Bronfman Medal from the Canadian Jewish Congress
. He was named the Honourary Principal of SAR Academy
in Riverdale, NY (February 2009).
In 2006 he was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from Carleton University
The honour generated protests from lesbian and gay rights groups due to Bulka's association with the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, a group which claims it can cure homosexuality through psychotherapy.
On February 18, 2010, he was awarded the Key to The City of Ottawa, the highest honour that the city can bestow.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, writer, broadcaster and activist in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and former co-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
. He received his Rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Jacob Joseph Rabbinical Seminary
Rabbi Jacob Joseph School
The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School is an Orthodox Jewish day school located in Staten Island, New York that serves students from nursery through twelfth grade. The school was founded in 1903 and named in honor of Rabbi Jacob Joseph, chief rabbi of New York City's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and his Ph.D.degree from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in 1971, concentrating on the Logotherapy
Logotherapy
Logotherapy was developed by neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. It is considered the "Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy" after Freud's psychoanalysis and Adler's individual psychology. It is a type of existentialist analysis that focuses on a will to meaning as opposed to Adler's...
of Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl
Viktor Emil Frankl M.D., Ph.D. was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor. Frankl was the founder of logotherapy, which is a form of Existential Analysis, the "Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy"...
. He has been the Rabbi of Congregation Machzikei Hadas
Machzikei Hadas
Machzikei Hadas is the name of several Orthodox synagogues around the world, including the Spitalfields Great Synagogue in London, Antwerp, Manchester, New York, Copenhagen, and Ottawa, Ontario....
in Ottawa since 1967.
Writing and broadcast work
Rabbi Bulka was the founder and editor of the Journal of Psychology and Judaism. He has contributed scholarly and popular articles to various journals, including the Association of Mental Health Clergy Forum, Analecta Frankliana, Chronicle Review, HumanitasHumanitas
The word humanitas was used by Cicero to describe the formation of an ideal speaker who he believed should be educated to possess a collection of virtues of character suitable for an active life of public service; these would include a fund of learning acquired from the study of bonae litterae ,...
, Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
The Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society is a semiannual Orthodox Jewish academic journal published by the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School and edited by Alfred Cohen...
, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Midstream and Pastoral Psychology, among others.
He was also the host of the TV series, In Good Faith and continues to host the weekly radio call-in program Sunday Night with Rabbi Bulka on CFRA in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, as well as weekly radio Jewish culture and music program JEW-BILATION on CJLL-FM
CJLL-FM
CJLL-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts multilingual community programming at 97.9 FM in Ottawa, Ontario. The station was launched in 2003 by CHIN Radio/TV International, the owner of the multilingual stations CHIN and CHIN-FM in Toronto...
. He is a regular columnist for the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
s "Ask the Religion Experts" feature. Bulka is the author and/or editor of 35 books, including Turning Grief into Gratitude.
Interfaith
In 2009, he called on the leadership of the Catholic Church in Canada to follow the lead of bishops in France, Belgium and Germany, among other countries, in denouncing the Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism of Bishop Richard Williamson and in reaffirming in no uncertain terms that such hateful views have no place in the Church.Position on homosexuality
Bulka formerly sat on the "Scientific Advisory Committee" of the National Association for Research and Therapy of HomosexualityNational Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality is a non-profit organization that offers reparative therapy and other regimens that purport to change the sexual orientation of individuals who experience unwanted same-sex attraction...
, a social conservative group that believes homosexuality can be cured. In his book One Man, One Woman, One Lifetime Bulka writes that gay Jews have a mandate "to improve on who you are, through the exercise of free will, and with the help of mental health professionals and spiritual advisors."
Laura Schlessinger
For several years, Bulka was spiritual advisor to American radio talk show host Laura SchlessingerLaura Schlessinger
Laura Catherine Schlessinger is an American talk radio host, socially conservative commentator and author. Her radio program consists mainly of her responses to callers' requests for personal advice and has occasionally featured her short monologues on social and political topics...
and, in 1998, converted her and her family to Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
. In 2003, Schlessinger announced she was no longer a practicing Jew leaving Bulka "stunned".
Organizations
He is on the editorial boards of Tradition, SASSON Magazine, Journal of Religion and Health, International Forum for Logotherapy and Pastoral Psychology. Rabbi Bulka was also the Chairman, RCA Publications Committee, Past Chairman, Rabbinic Cabinet, State of Israel Bonds. He is the President of the International Rabbinic Forum of Keren HaYesod - United Israel AppealKeren Hayesod
Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal is the central fundraising organization for Israel, with operations in 45 countries. The work of Keren Hayesod is carried out in accordance with the Keren Hayesod Law, 5716-1956, passed by the Knesset in January 1956...
, and the founder of Clergy for a United Canada.
Rabbi Dr. Bulka is or has been Chairman of Trillium Gift of Life Network (2007), co-President of the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
(2007–2009), chairman of the Religious and Inter-Religious Affairs Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, chairman of the Canadian Christian-Jewish Consultation, co-chairman of the Ottawa World Jewry Committee (formerly Ottawa Soviet Jewry Committee), founder and chair of Ottawa Kindness Week (2008), Honorary Chaplain of the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
, and has also been involved with a number of other service organizations.
Awards
Bulka is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
(January 1993) as well as the Beryl Plumptre Award of Excellence from the Kidney Foundation of Canada
Kidney Foundation of Canada
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is people working together for a common cause. They are volunteers, individuals living with kidney disease, donors, and staff members — from all walks of life, all across Canada....
, Eastern Ontario Branch (1998). He has also been awarded the Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award of the Ottawa Jewish Community (1999), the Mayor's Award for Community Service (1999), the Bronfman Medal from the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
. He was named the Honourary Principal of SAR Academy
SAR Academy
Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy is a coeducational, private Modern Orthodox Jewish day school. The school is located in the Riverdale section of the New York City borough of the Bronx. It is well known for having no walls dividing the classrooms, which is part of the school's philosophy of...
in Riverdale, NY (February 2009).
In 2006 he was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
The honour generated protests from lesbian and gay rights groups due to Bulka's association with the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, a group which claims it can cure homosexuality through psychotherapy.
On February 18, 2010, he was awarded the Key to The City of Ottawa, the highest honour that the city can bestow.