The 8th annual and first Ride to Remember to be held outside the United States will be held from May 31st through June 3rd in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The R2R is the JMA’s signature event with a twofold mission: to honour and remember those that were murdered in the Holocaust and to raise funds for Holocaust Education.

We want to fund a Holocaust Educational program that would on the one hand support the fundraising goals of the JMA and on the other capture the imagination of potential donors. We have attempted to meet these challenges as follows.

The 2012 R2R fundraising initiative will be The Holocaust Educator’s Tour -a program created by the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre which in turn is a unit of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. The Educator’s Tour takes gentile teachers to the locus of the Holocaust where they learn firsthand from docents and survivors about the Holocaust at the sites where it was conceived and executed. The educators in turn return to Canada to teach their students about the Holocaust based on what they’ve learned and witnessed on the European tour. The program has taken place in 2005, 2008, and 2010. The program is not run on an annual basis but only when specific funding is obtained for the Tour. The 2012 R2R hopes to raise sufficient funds to sponsor a tour within the next year or two. In fact, we hope that the scale of the 2012 R2R will raise funding to sponsor more than one Holocaust Educators Study Tour.

The R2R will be preceded by the JMA sponsored and YOW organized Never Again pledge on Parliament Hill in the nation’s capitol, Ottawa. The year 2012 starts with a government and Prime Minister in power that is arguably the most pro-Israel government in the world. Thus the 2012 OC is of the opinion that Parliament Hill is an appropriate venue to plan a massive rally to show Israel and the Jewish Diaspora that we do not stand alone and many people, Jews and Christians alike, support the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

On May 31st Jewish riders from the JMA, Christian riders from the Mission M25 Ministry of Hope and the Heroes Highway Riders will come together and stand shoulder to shoulder along with representatives from the Canadian Government and Jewish and Christian clergy to pledge to the world Never Again. We expect 100’s perhaps 1000’s of Jewish and non-Jewish attendees, riders and non riders to witness this first time ever event. We expect media coverage to be substantial. We have received word that news of the Ottawa pledge is spreading throughout Israel -before we had gone public!

After the ceremonies in Ottawa all riders are invited to ride to Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, ON. CFB Trenton is on the way to Toronto - about a 2 hour ride from the host hotel. There will be a ceremony at CFB Trenton honouring Canadian and US soldiers and particularly those who have given their lives for their countries. There will be a flyover to acknowledge our presence. JMA riders will return to Markham, ON to enjoy a patio BBQ at the host hotel.

The next day, June 1st, we’ll meet at the Shaar Shalom Synagogue for breakfast then depart for a scenic police escorted ride through Toronto which will terminate at the iconic art deco Holy Blossom Temple where we’ll have lunch and a brief presentation. After services on Friday evening, the Shabbat dinner will be held in the hotel’s ballroom. There will be 2 speakers that will discuss the challenges facing the Jewish people and the State of Israel in these increasingly dangerous times.

There will be services at the hotel on Saturday conducted by Rabbis Lazar and Rodel. Those who don’t attend services have three rides to choose from. The 2012 R2R will conclude with a farewell dinner at the Israeli themed restaurant Hava Nagila.
Registration and more information: ride2remember.org

Chag Kasher V’Same’ach,

With the Executive Board-elect working closely with the council representatives, we will strive to resolve those issues that have caused dissension in the recent past and get us back on the path to be an active social riding organization again. Jews have suffered enough without having to bicker and suffer amongst ourselves! We will reunite as a noticeable Jewish entity and voice, ride once a year for a cause, "Never forget, Never Again," and for meet and greets throughout the year to bring clubs closer together.

After R2R 2012, we will be looking for someone to take over the Member-At-Large for Membership vacated with my election to President. We will not actively seek new clubs-although we will certainly entertain new members- but our focus will be to actively work with clubs that are already affiliated within the realm of the JMA to get them more involved. This is an appointed position and if anyone is interested, please contact me off-forum.

Ride to Remember 2012 is almost here. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Toronto for a great time, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Thank you for your continued support.

Betsy Ahrens
President, JMA
President, The Tribe Motorcycle Club
Metro D.C. AMA Chartered Club
AMA Member
Treasurer,The Baltimore Yehudim Riders
JMA Council Rep The Tribe
JMA Membership Chairman
JMA Executive Committee Member
1999 1100 Yamaha V-Star Custom