From the Rabbi

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Newsletter

Words of the Spirit
Holy Masking, Batman!

As far as I know, Robin never said this on an episode of the delightfully campy television series of my childhood. Their masks were decidedly prosaic and chunky, the effects and the “dramatic action” hilarious. Nothing sacred about them!

In any version of the Batman artistic oeuvre, how or why they ever unmasked wouldn’t be relevant to our current usage, as their masks covered the upper part of their faces. But Robin’s “Holy _______, Batman” phrase still came to mind as I thought about our collective start to a new year – and our second decade – together. 

With a new variant and renewed rise in COVID 19 infections, along with the forthcoming winter flu season, our major local hospitals now require some face masking once again, including at Queensway-Carleton Hospital, where I serve on the Spiritual Care team. 

These changes feel even more laden as news circulates about the catastrophic failure of the provincial inspection system of long-term care facilities back in the early days of the global COVID pandemic. Yes, lining up these two things are like the proverbial apples and oranges, but what I’m thinking about is apples and honey, and our wishes to each other for a sweet and healthy new year.

We can do more than wish. We can make what we do to care for each other in our community and in our daily lives a part of our religious or spiritual practice. Personally, I’ll be taking on some “Holy Masking” during our forthcoming High Holiday services, other than during those times when I want to be sure I can be heard and understood from the bimah. 

I’m not a policy expert or a skilled interpreter of data, nor do I have any scientific or medical training. So I am not offering any advice from those realms. In the words of another fictional character, my job is to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” 

So I myself shall continue to be a little uncomfortable from time to time, in the hope that those efforts bring some safety and a sense of being cared for to those who feel most vulnerable. When we gather for Rosh Hashanah, for Shabbat Shuva, for Yom Kippur, at shul or at shared holiday dinner tables, may we all feel the blessing of care as we join in hopes for a year of well-being for us, for our dearest and nearest, and for those most in need in all places.

May 5784 bring joy, enable gratitude, and hold up holiness in all its manifestations. Lechayim! Shana tova umetuka! To life, and to all a good, sweet year.  
Rabbi Liz

Upcoming Services and Events

High Holiday Services 
Click Here to see the list of services, beginning Friday, Sept. 15th.
Reminder that Members in good standing do not need to register for services. Associate members and those joining purely for the Days of Awe, please remember to register. Click here to learn more.

DAY 1 Rosh Hashanah
Saturday, Sept 16
Worship Hall
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Our first Shabbat of the year is also the first of the year! If you are able, join us in person for a brief and lively Erev Rosh Hashanah, complete with apples and honey to start the year with sweetness.
Shabbat Rosh Hashanah morning features the familiar and the special, with new as well as cherished familiar tunes along with meaningful reflections offered by our rabbi, our educator and members of the community. 

[All members in good standing and registered High Holiday Visitors and Guests will be sent a Zoom link.]

TWO GATHERINGS for the SECOND DAY OF ROSH HASHANAH
Sunday, Sept 17
Limmud
Zoom
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Begin the second day of the Jewish year in communal study with Rabbi Liz. Shana can mean both year and change. We’ll explore the phrase Change is God in the poetry of Yehuda Amichai. No need to “believe” in either change or God to participate!
[All members in good standing and registered High Holiday Visitors and Guests will be sent a Zoom link.]

Tashlikh
Brantwood Park 
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cast off your sins? Hang out with cherished friends and community as the year begins? Hear the call – from within, from the shofar – change, be changed and make change? Make meaning and connection on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah, whether you join us in person at Brantwood Park or take time on your own. 
Enjoy these two offerings of what Tashlikh can mean from a Reconstructionist perspective:

Tashlikh: Letting Go with Rabbi Nathan Martin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPYniEe7zYw&t=3s
Tashlikh Reconstructed with Rabbi Amy Bernstein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3ZPzLEG1AA


Erev Yom Kippur
Sunday, Sept 24
Worship Hall and Via Zoom
6:00 pm-9:00 pm 
The evening of Yom Kippur begins with the lighting of Memorial candles (come early if you would like to light one) followed by the haunting melody of Kol Nidre. Some of us wear white garments and tallitot/prayer shawls, while (only) those who are able begin their fast from life-sustaining food and drink. (Please note that we begin Kol Nidre service promptly with an instrumental rendition).

Yom Kippur
Monday, Sept 25   
Worship Hall and via Zoom
9:30 AM -1:30 PM
and
4:30 PM -7:30 PM

Sukkot Meets National Truth and Reconciliation Day
Saturday, Sept 30
Room 5 and the 30 Cleary Sukkah
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Ajashki Food Warriors, a First Nations Sustainable Food group, and Or Haneshamah are coming together. Each group will share from their history and traditions, and end in a communal, vegetarian potluck.

Community Events

Film Screening: Israelism

​​​​​​​Come see what all the fuss is about! The Department of Political Science at Carleton is pleased to screen the award-winning documentary film Israelism, which has generated fascinating and important debates since its debut across campuses and festivals in North America. The film addresses one of the most vexing global policy issues of our time: the Israel/Palestine political dynamic and the community debates surrounding it.

The screening will be followed by a talkback with the film’s Executive Producer Gili Getz and Carleton University Political Science Professor Mira Sucharov.

Thursday, Sept 21
doors open at 6:30 PM
Azerieli Building, Room 102, Carleton University
Admission: Free!

Antisemtism Face It Fight It

Presented by CIJA & Canada's Jewish Federations
Face It, Fight It is the official launch of a sustained campaign to face, fight, and push back against the single-most important challenge we confront today: antisemitism.
October 16 & 17, 2023
Shaw Centre, Ottawa
Registration at  https://www.fightit.ca/

Important Announcement: Cemetery Lot Price Increase
Jewish Memorial Garden

There is an upcoming change in the pricing of cemetery lots at both the Bank Street and Osgoode Cemeteries. Effective October 15, 2023, there will be a price increase of approximately 10% for all cemetery lots. 

Lots at Bank Street will be increasing from $3950 to $4350, while those at Osgoode will increase from $2525 to $2800.

This decision has not been taken lightly, and we want to provide you with the reasoning behind this adjustment. Over the past few years, the cemetery has faced escalating costs associated with maintenance, infrastructure, and various operational expenses. To maintain the serene and respectful environment that we are committed to providing, it has become necessary to revise our pricing structure accordingly.

As you may know, the advance purchase of cemetery lots at Jewish Memorial Gardens is exclusively available to members in good standing of a synagogue with burial rights.

For those who wish to secure cemetery lots at the current pricing before the increase takes effect on October 15, 2023, we encourage you to get in touch with our Executive Director, Tammy Torontow, at your earliest convenience. Tammy can be reached by leaving a message by phone at 613-688-3530, ext. 2 for 'Interment Rights' or via email at executivedirector@jewishmemorialgardens.org.

We understand the importance of making burial arrangements in advance, and we want to make this process as smooth as possible for you and your loved ones.

Please keep in mind that this price adjustment is essential to sustain the high standards of care and services we offer at Jewish Memorial Gardens.

Your continued support allows us to preserve the sanctity and beauty of our sacred cemeteries for generations to come. We remain dedicated to providing a peaceful and dignified resting place for our departed loved ones.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at chair@jewishmemorialgardens.org.

The Great Games Event

The Auxiliary of Hillel Lodge is planning a major fundraiser, The Great Games Event, to be held on October 22nd, 2023. The specific goal of the fundraiser  is to refurbish the two lounges with new and adaptable furniture.

Board of Directors

Chair: Andrea, president@orh.ca 
Vice President: Gabrielle, gabrielle@orh.ca
Past President: Carolyn, carolyn@orh.ca 
Treasurer: Janice, treasurer@orh.ca
Secretary: Emmet, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: Andrea, communications@orh.ca
Membership: TBD
Volunteer Coordinator: TBD
Interim Member-at-large: Sarah, sarah@orh.ca  
Interim Member-at-large: Ari, ari@orh.ca
 


Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton: rabbi@orh.ca
OrH Members are welcome to contact Rabbi Liz, the Hesed team (hesed@orh.ca), 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.