The High Holidays are around the corner. As usual, Or Haneshamah will offer a full suite of services, from our cozy Selichot evening, refreshing Rosh Hashanah melodies – accompanied of course by apples-and-honey snacking – through to the final shofar blast of Yom Kippur.
The full schedule of services, as well as links for membership renewal and guest registration, will be available very soon. Thank you for your patience as we get our new website up and running.
Pay $48 dollars to join us for High Holy Days and stay for the whole year!
Or Haneshamah offers a steep member discount to students who are currently living in the Ottawa area. Are you looking to spend High Holy Days somewhere? Try us out for $48 and get a whole year’s membership to go with it!
Check out our membership page, email our membership coordinator, or give us a call today at 613-239-4988.
Regular members of Or Haneshamah can pay for immediate family members who are not included in a household membership (adult children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and their partners), regardless of where they live, to join them for the High Holy Days at OrH at the rate of $86/guest. Payment is made through the member’s account by accessing the Guest Registration Form here. **Please note that you must be signed in to your account to access this form.**
If you have any problems with the process, please contact our webmaster.
Please note that our Guest policy only applies to regular members and to their immediate family. Non-immediate relatives and friends of OrH members who wish to attend services are asked to register as Visitors.
Please note that we are again offering a sliding donation scale this year. The amount above is the suggested minimum. We encourage visitors to consider donating $414 per 1 adult household and $972 for 2 adult households. No one will be turned away for financial reasons. If you are unable to afford our suggested minimum donation please donate what you are able.
If you are a returning Visitor, or an Associate Member of Or Haneshamah, please register and arrange payment online. You have not received your Membership Portal Invitation, or if you have any other questions with the process, please contact our webmaster at administrator@orh.ca.
If you are joining us for the first time, register for the High Holiday Services by clicking the button below. Our administrator will create an account for you to process your donation and ensure our charitable tax receipt is issued. Should you have any problems, questions or concerns, contact our administrator at administrator@orh.ca or 613-239-4988.
Members of congregations affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism may attend without donation throughout the High Holy Days but must register and provide proof of membership in advance. To do so, please contact our administrator at administrator@orh.ca or 613-239-4988.
Charitable tax receipts will be issued for all donations.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 EREV ROSH HASHANAH FELLOWSHIP HALL @30 CLEARY
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm We greet the new year of 5786 together with a service filled with song, inspiration and connection, followed by the sweet taste of apples and honey
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 WORSHIP HALL @30 CLEARY + ZOOM
9:30 AM – 12:30 pm The first day of Rosh Hashanah begins with a service of harmonious song, prayer and ritual led by Rabbi Liz along with members of the community. We re-turn again to be a part of our creative approach to the season of awe, including three members’ reflections on the core holy day themes. There will be Machanah/camp-inspired activities for school-age children, babysitting for toddlers, the shofar blasts, and our sumptuous dairy/parve pot-luck luncheon.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 TASHLIKH @BRANTWOOD PARK
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm We observe Tashlikh, the casting off into the waters, on the banks of the Rideau River, or Pasapkedjinawong (pass-app-KEH-djuh-won).
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 TEXT STUDY in Room 5 @30 CLEARY
9:30 am – 11:30 am On the second day of the new year, Rabbi Liz leads an adult text study program that digs in deep to the themes of the season, using the Reconstructionist approach of examining texts through the civilizations, from Biblical to contemporary.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 EREV YOM KIPPUR WORSHIP HALL @30 CLEARY + ZOOM
6:30 pm-9:00 pm The evening of Yom Kippur begins with the lighting of Memorial candles -come early if you wish 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 promptly with the instrumental rendition of Kol Nidre.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 YOM KIPPUR MORNING SERVICE
9:30 am-1:30 pm WORSHIP HALL @30 CLEARY + ZOOM The morning of Yom Kippur continues our Days of Awe, expanding our collective repentance and personal reflection through prayer, readings, song, the chanting of Torah, and the deep bowing of the Grand Aleynu. Babysitting for toddlers throughout the morning and a program for school-age children will be available.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 YOM KIPPUR AFTERNOON WORSHIP HALL @30 CLEARY + ZOOM
4:30 am-7:30 pm We reconvene for the afternoon Minhah Service, with the story of Jonah along with our alternative Torah reading. We reconstruct the traditional Avodah service with an alternative, embodied interpretation that keeps us engaged in the work of the day. The always meaningful Yizkor service follows at approximately 6:00pm, featuring a member’s personal reflection on loss as we honour the memories of our dear departed. Finally, Neilah beckons us, through song and silence, before the open ark or at our seats, towards the final great blast of the shofar, and the conclusion of our full day with havdallah. We share a communal break-fast meal immediately following.
