Setting The Calendar For Human Rights
12/11/2018 08:42:12 AM
It’s not the darkest time. Not yet.
This year the lights of Hanukkah wane, along with the dimming sunlight, as we approach the winter solstice. Often the secular and religious calendars provide an overlap between the Jewish and Christian holidays that fall on the 25th - of Kislev and December respectively. These two festivals, just happen to involve the lighting of candles. It’s hard not to notice the confluence of dates, and...
“We Are All Dor Hadash”
A message from Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton
As we at Or Haneshamah learn about the shooting in Pittsburgh, the distance between our two communities shrinks. We stand side by side with our sister affiliate Dor Hadash, with the entire Tree of Life-Or L’Simcha community where Dor Hadash holds their services, and the Jewish community of Pittsburgh as we attempt to come to grips with the horror, the loss of life, and the profound violation of the sanctity of our sacred space.
Yes, it is our sacred space as well, for we share in the openness, the welcome and the value of welcoming the stranger that led Dor Hadash, along with many other synagogues across the US, to be marking National Refugee Shabbat.
Our sense of security has been pierced by armed hate. Our response must be to deploy connection, compassion, and solidarity. Our people have been targeted, and in our shock, fear, anger and brokenness, we must - we must - hold on to a vision of a world built of love, olam hesed (Psalm 89:3)
Hold each other, let others hold you. Cry out, lament. Rage, grieve. Know that there are as many different responses as there are humans, so let us all support each other, and the community around us.
Olam hesed yibaneh - we shall build a world from love. We shall stand together in the face of hate, of this tragic act of Anti-Semitism. We shall support the mourners, the survivors, and each other.
Rabbi Liz
October 28, 2018
Hear Rabbi Liz on CBC Ottawa Morning on October 29, 2018, speaking about the Pittsburgh attack.
On November 3, 2018, Or Haneshamah joined with congregations across north America to mourn those who perished in the massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27 at a special Shabbat service. We were joined by many members of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, faith leaders, elected representatives, and other members of the community to stand in solidarity against anti-Semitism, racism, violence, and hatred. Members of the congregation offered reflections on the tragic events at Pittsburgh and its significance. You may read those reflections here [log-in required]
Learn about Or Haneshamah's weekly Machaneh Shabbat for children (ages 4-13).
Machaneh Shabbat (Shabbat Camp) is an inclusive, family-based weekly Jewish learning adventure providing an in-depth Jewish education for families with children of all ages. Welcoming the participation of parents, grandparents, and younger siblings, our camp model allows us to explore Torah, prayer, Hebrew and the Jewish year through field trips, drama, art, social action, cooking, building and more! We believe that we can ignite the lifelong spark for Jewish living and learning through community connection and taking the time to live Jewishly especially on Shabbat. This spark is the key to raising engaged and informed Jewish young people!
REGISTRATION IS ONGOING
Visit the Machaneh Shabbat page or contact educator@orh.ca for more information.
Fri, December 14 2018
6 Tevet 5779
Everyone is welcome at OrH services and events. Not a member? Not a problem. Come check us out!
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