OrH Newsletter

Or Haneshamah - Ottawa's Reconstructionist Community

Recent Events in Charlottesville
Institutions of the Reconstructionist movement have issued statements condemning the horrific events of August 12 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are also inviting members of our community to sign a petition that implores government leaders to take steps to stop the spread of fascism. You can find both the condemnations and the petition at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/ycx7jspk.

Please Join us for Pride Weekend Events
OrH has a number of events planned for this year’s Pride Weekend, Friday August 25-Sunday, August 27, including a special Kabbalat Shabbat at Temple Israel, our annual Pride Shabbat (this year poolside at the SJCC) and, of course, marching together as a community in the annual Pride parade. For all the details visit the OrH webpage: www.orh.ca.

Days of Awe 5778/2017
The High Holy Days will begin in just over one month. For a complete list of services and rituals at OrH for the month of Tishrey, including details of special youth programming for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and information for visitors to attend OrH services, please visit http://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.

MHI Seeking Volunteers
OrH is a member organization of the Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) , a great organization that provides access to affordable housing in Ottawa. MHI is currently seeking some volunteers for the Property Maintenance Team. The team is comprised of four regular volunteers who assist with various tasks at its three older properties. Two of them were built more than sixty years ago and require frequent work.
 
Two kinds of projects dominate the agenda: the first is to assist the
Property Manager by doing various maintenance tasks as required. In this
case, the variety of work is immense, from reattaching a door, to repairing
a table in a laundry room, to installing polyvinyl on stairs, to repainting
a stairwell, etc. This work is mostly done on Thursdays. The second kind of work is the preparation of units for rental when people move out. This is a top priority
and all other projects pause to get this work done, as it is always
pressing to get the unit ready on time, and to minimize loss of income
incurred during the preparation period. This usually entails anywhere between 40 and 80 hours for one unit.
 
The MHI maintenance team largely organizes themselves via e-mail and do not hold meetings, unless it is to assess a particular situation and have a discussion on site about how to go about a particular project. The Property Manager is an amazing person, very experienced, with immense regard for MHI volunteers: he
accommodates this team whenever possible.
 
If getting involved actively, using your hands to help provide and maintain
affordable housing, appeals to you, please contact Danielle Dugas, Property Maintenance Team Leader at MHI, 613-236-4182, greenblatt.dugas@gmail.com.
Projects are ongoing, and volunteers are welcome throughout the year; however,
Help is needed especially between October 1-15.

Upcoming Services and Events
 
Kabbalat Shabbat at Temple Israel
Friday, August 25, 2017
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM, Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Dr
A special collaborative Kabbalat Shabbat at Temple Israel, led by Rabbi Morais and Rabbi Liz, in honour of Ottawa Pride Weekend.
 
Pride Shabbat at the Pool   
Saturday, August 26, 2017
9:45 AM - 12:00 PM, Soloway Jewish Community Centre, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private
Our annual Pride Shabbat, this year at the pool at the JCC! See event description above for more details.
 
Ottawa Pride Parade and Pre-Parade Brunch
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Join members of OrH and fellow congregations to march in Ottawa’s Pride Parade. Meet for brunch at 11:30 am at Jericho restaurant, 840 Bank Street between 4th and 5th in the Glebe. Meet for the parade in front of Centretown United Church, 507 Bank Street at the corner of Argyle, at 1:30 pm. Look for the (award-winning) OrH banner!

Member News
Janet Wolfe and Avry Weinfeld are delighted to welcome their new grandson, Leo Ronen Weinfeld Cefola, born Sunday, August 20. Proud parents of the delightful little baby are Irit Weinfeld Cefola and Michael Cefola.

Reconstructionist News
Check out a new podcast Hashivenu: Jewish teachings on resilience, hosted by Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities. Hashivenu means "return us." The "us" is the Jewish people, asking to be renewed, cultivating resilience. It's an especially meaningful word today because these times are challenging. It's easy to get exhausted as we build our communities, as we do our part to repair the world. Even keeping up with the news every day can be draining. What wisdom can we mine from Jewish traditions? We are not the first generation to live in stressful times! There is much to learn about resilience from those who have preceded us as well as our ground-breaking contemporaries. In her first episode, Deborah and Rabbi Jacob Staub, Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Spirituality at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, explore innovative ways that Shabbat observance can renew our spirit and replenish our body. Listen to Hashivenu's first episode here.

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week

Chanting & Chocolate: Joyful singing from the heart
Monday, August 28
7:30 - 9 pm at Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Dr.
Join us for sacred Hebrew chanting with beautiful melodies and spiritual intention to open the heart and connect with the Divine. Chanting, the repetition of a sacred phrase, is a way of transforming words of sacred text into a joyful experience. Lorne Mallin, who has brought Chanting & Chocolate from Vancouver, is joined by Ottawa musical friends. Hebrew knowledge is not required - chant sheets are provided. After the chanting, we'll enjoy tea and home-baked, triple-chocolate brownies. $10 suggested donation. Proceeds help five Ugandan orphans go to school. Contact Lorne at lorne.mallin@gmail.com or 604-222-3379, chantingandchocolate.com.
 
Ottawa Jewish Archives photo exhibition.
You are cordially invited to attend Exhibition Vernissage on Wednesday, September 6 at 7pm, 2nd floor, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. To mark Canada's 150th anniversary, a photography exhibition is being presented by the Ottawa Jewish Archives. The exhibition, Face to Face - Vis à Vis, highlights the contributions made by 24 notable Jewish Ottawans to Canada's public service and political landscape. RSVP to Rachel at rabenhaim@jewishottawa.com or call 613-798-4696 x 236.
 
New Jewish Family Services volunteer opportunities

1. JFS currently has 3 clients waiting for help with grocery shopping, in various parts of the city. Once or twice a month.
2. Looking for someone to help a client with mobility issues pack some boxes for moving. Any time in August.
3. Regular driver needed on Wednesday mornings to deliver Kosher Meals on Wheels.  East and West end routes available.  Pick up is at the Hillel Lodge shipping doors at 9:45-10am, and routes take less than an hour to complete.  JFS reimburses mileage at $5.50/week, paid quarterly.
4. Friendly Visitor needed for a client in the South Keys area, for outings and home visits. Every other week. Female preferred.

To help with any of the above, please call 613.722.2225, ext.315.

Donations to OrH

Donations are a significant part of the funding for activities and rabbinic support in our community. You can direct your contribution to different areas of Or Haneshamah’s activity:

Donations toward ongoing congregational operations:

• General donations, which fund programming, rabbinic leadership, and essential administrative costs.
• Donations in honour of, or in memory of, a person or event. All such donations are acknowledged through the Or Haneshamah card program, which sends notices of donation and a personalized message to a designated recipient.

Targeted donations:

• Dedication of ritual objects and books. We are currently seeking donations of $54 for each new copy of our Machzor (high holiday prayer book). Donations will be recognized by bookplates that may be in honour of, or in memory of, a person or event.
• Gita Taub Education Fund, which supports educational programming and access for members who would otherwise be unable to afford participation in Or Haneshamah or other valuable activities. Our present focus for disbursements from the fund is OrH’s new Machaneh Shabbat (Shabbat Camp) for primary school-aged children, which launched in September.
• Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Donations that the Rabbi gives to people in need or to support charities the Rabbi deems important.

Please make any of the above donations through the website by clicking on the "Donate" menu item.

Or Haneshamah Endowment Fund

• Established in May 2016, the Endowment Fund is a pool of financial assets that is invested to provide a reliable and ongoing source of income for our community's activities. Annual payouts from the fund go into Or Haneshamah's general revenues. Donations are made through the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation (OJCF) online at www.ojcf.ca or by telephone at 613-798-4696 ext 274.
  
  

Thank you for your generosity and support of OrH!

Potluck Protocol
Our community’s long time practice is to welcome egg, dairy and fish on the potluck table. Please label your meal contributions with all ingredients to help people with food allergies or sensitivities; also advise kitchen staff whether dish is to be served hot or cold.

Rides to Services and Events
Will you need a ride to services and OrH events? Are you able to offer a ride to services OrH events? We encourage members to be generous with their offers of rides. Please contact  info@orh.ca  with your name and area of the city you are coming from.

Visiting or Studying in Toronto or Montreal?
If you or your children will be in Toronto or Montreal, they are very welcome at our sibling congregations. We have reciprocal memberships with both Darchei Noam (Toronto) and Dorshei Emet (Montreal). Likewise, we welcome their members to our services, programs, and High Holy Day services. For security reasons we ask to call ahead to make arrangements for the High Holy Days.

A Caring Community
Members are encouraged to contact the rabbi or any board member to let us know about your pastoral care needs, or the needs of another member, whether related to a new or an ongoing circumstance. These may include such situations as a pending hospitalization, a change in health, relationship, or employment status, other life transitions, or the death of a loved one. Through knowing what is happening in each other’s lives, we give each other, including our rabbi, the opportunity to perform acts of gemilut hasadim/loving kindness, the hallmark of a caring community.

We Are Listening
How do you feel things are going in our community? Do you have ideas about programs or events that we should pursue? What aspects of Or Haneshamah do you feel are working well, and what do you think can be improved?  In the interest of making OrH the best community that it can be, the board and rabbi invite you to submit comments and feedback at any time. Please send your thoughts to  feedback@orh.ca  or directly to any member of the board (email addresses below).

Board of Directors
President: Paula,  president@orh.ca
Treasurer: Jacob,  treasurer@orh.ca
Education: Heni,  learning@orh.ca
Communications: David,  communications@orh.ca
Secretary: David,  secretary@orh.ca
Membership: Janet,  membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Jean,  member-at-large.jean@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Jan,  member-at-large.jan@orh.ca
Past President: Mark,  past-president@orh.ca
 
Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton:  rabbi@orh.ca ​​​​​​​
Members are welcome to contact Rabbi Liz, or any member of the board, regarding pastoral needs.

Or Haneshamah
30 Cleary Ave., Ottawa, ON, K2A 4A1
613-239-4988
www.orh.ca
info@orh.ca

** Disclaimer Regarding Community Event Postings **
Or Haneshamah frequently receives requests to post notices of upcoming events in the community at-large.  These events run the range from cultural, educational, and in some cases explorations of topical political issues.  In the interest of providing information to our congregation about the diversity of interesting events in the Ottawa community we will post notices of these events in our regular newsletter.

We recognize also that from time to time we are requested to post notices of events which are highly controversial in nature and reflect a wide range of opinions among our congregation on particular issues.  We are, however, of the opinion that it is appropriate for us to post events taking place in the community which may challenge us, which may cause discomfort, and which may cause us to reflect on some of our beliefs.  Our openness to post notices for a wide range of community events, however, does not mean that we have abdicated our responsibility to show discernment and to distinguish between those events which demonstrate an open-minded and thoughtful approach to specific issues and those which do not appear to reflect such values.  So, we will make judgments about what notices we believe are appropriate to post and those which we believe will not contribute to a thoughtful and balanced exploration of ideas and issues.

Will we make mistakes along the way?  Probably.  But the possibility of errors of judgment does not mean that we can excuse ourselves from the responsibility to show judgment in posting notices about events in the community and we promise to do so with openness tempered by a sense of responsibility.

In agreeing to post any notice of an event in the community, Or Haneshamah does not endorse, support or promote any perspectives, positions or ideas expressed in the events which are posted in our newsletter.

Or Haneshamah - Ottawa's Reconstructionist Community
30 Cleary Ave.
Ottawa, ON K2A 4A1

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