From the Rabbi

Words of the Spirit, by Rabbi Liz Bolton, Or Haneshamah's rabbi and spiritual leader

“Israel” has long been regarded as the third-rail of Jewish communal discourse. The quotation marks here signify the fluid, elusive nature of that word. It signals questions: what exactly are we referencing when we say “Israel?” Is it the current country? How we define its boundaries? The idea of a Jewish nation? A Jewish nation-state? Historical Zionism? The actions of the current Israeli government?
 
In prayer books,...Read more...

Three OrH members – Sarah, Jean, and Diana– along with Rabbi Liz, attended the 2018 Reconstructing Judaism convention in Philadelphia, November 15-18. Instead of the usual Words of the Spirit column from Rabbi Liz, we wanted to share with you Sarah, Jean, and Diana’s reflections on the experience. Read their reflections and see photos of some familiar faces at: www.orh.ca/convention-18.  

For some convention...Read more...

Central to any spiritual journey is the concept of self. As embodied beings, it can’t be otherwise. Yet this also entails a certain contradiction. Though of course many spiritual practices may unfold in embodied forms, spiritual journeys are broadly understood to be originating, manifesting, or residing in realms beyond the body.

Transcendence is therefore a concept found in many spiritual practices, religions and journeys into and...Read more...

How many of us contemplate the Jewish date as we go about our lives? At some times of the year it becomes more relevant than at others, of course. These fall holy days, Passover in the spring (or late winter, depending upon the local weather), remind us of the various ways our ancestors determined the “head of the year,” a literal translation for Rosh Hashanah.

I’m contemplating the year aspect of the date – 5779. At the same...Read more...

As the only Reconstructionist rabbi in town, I get lots of “cold calls,” people calling not necessarily because they want to talk to this rabbi, but in order to talk to the rabbi of this type. On many occasions, the query is about officiating at a life cycle event for a member of the caller’s family. It could also be from an agency in the Jewish community or the region at large, say, to give the benediction at a special event, or...Read more...