21 Facts About Reuven Bulka

Reuven Pinchas Bulka was a Canadian rabbi, writer, broadcaster, and activist.

Reuven Bulka was the spiritual leader of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa from 1967, first as Rabbi and then, starting in 2015, as Rabbi Emeritus.

Reuven Bulka served as co-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress from 2007 to 2009.

Reuven Bulka was born to Rabbi Chaim Yaakov "Jacob" and Yehudis "Ida" Reuven Bulka in London on D-Day, June 6,1944.

Reuven Bulka received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Jacob Joseph Rabbinical Seminary in 1965 and was granted a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the City College of the City University of New York the same year.

Reuven Bulka briefly served as Associate Rabbi at Congregation K'hal Adas Yeshurn in The Bronx, before becoming Rabbi of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa in 1967.

In January 2021, Rabbi Reuven Bulka announced he had been diagnosed with late stage cancer of the liver and pancreas, and would travel to New York to be closer to his family who resided in and around New York City.

Reuven Bulka died on June 27,2021, at the age of 77.

Rabbi Reuven Bulka was the founder and editor of the Journal of Psychology and Judaism.

Reuven Bulka contributed scholarly and popular articles to various journals, including the Association of Mental Health Clergy Forum, Analecta Frankliana, Chronicle Review, Humanitas, Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Midstream and Pastoral Psychology, among others.

Reuven Bulka was the host of the TV series, In Good Faith and hosted the weekly radio call-in program Sunday Night with Rabbi Bulka on CFRA in Ottawa, and was the host of the weekly radio Jewish culture and music program JEW-BILATION on CJLL-FM.

Reuven Bulka was a regular columnist for the Ottawa Citizen's "Ask the Religion Experts" feature.

Rabbi Reuven Bulka regularly appeared during nationally televised Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial Cenotaph in Ottawa.

Reuven Bulka was on the editorial boards of Tradition, SASSON Magazine, Journal of Religion and Health, International Forum for Logotherapy and Pastoral Psychology.

Reuven Bulka was a member of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy and was instrumental in restoring Jewish Chaplains to the Canadian Forces.

Reuven Bulka was a member of the board of Canadian Blood Services and chaired the Hospice Ottawa West campaign.

Reuven Bulka was a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal as well as the Beryl Plumptre Award of Excellence from the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Eastern Ontario Branch.

Reuven Bulka was named the honorary principal of SAR Academy in Riverdale, New York, in February 2009.

In 2006 Reuven Bulka was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Carleton University, and on February 18,2010, he was awarded the Key to the City of Ottawa.

Reuven Bulka received Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee Medal, Golden Jubilee Medal, and Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Reuven Bulka was appointed to the Order of Canada on June 28,2013.