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When we offer of ourselves, our time, our hearts, our ideas, to our beloved community, we are participating in acts that are radical and spiritual, classical and contemporary, personal and communal. We are doing what we have always done, ledor vador, from generation to generation, yet with a clear-eyed view from the 21st century. |
As members of Or Haneshamah, we are partners with our Rabbi in the hands-on work of creating a vibrant and engaging experience of Reconstructionist Judaism.
To ensure that the work needed to sustain that experience is balanced among all members, we have adopted a Many Hands membership model. During the registration process, you select one of five teams to join: the Shabbat, Tishrey and Festivals teams are open to all members, to participate in hosting the ritual events foundational to our community; Manhigut is limited to members who, at the time of registration, hold the lead, chair or coordinator positions for recurring initiatives and year-to-year activities, other than our ritual events, that sustain and maintain us as community; and the technical support team is limited to 10 members with the skills to support the remote delivery of our ritual services and ad hoc events.
Each member commits to giving 10 hours towards the activities for which their team is responsible. The more faithfully members contribute 10 hours over the course of the year, the more OrH can can offer its members individually and as a community.
The teams for Shabbat, Tishrey and Festivals uphold our ritual calendar. Manhigut is for members who, at the time of registration, hold the lead, chair or coordinator positions for recurring initiatives and year-to-year activities, other than our ritual events, that sustain and maintain us as community. The Tech Team provide the necessary technical support needed to engage members in our remote services and other events.
The significance of each team and the set of ritual events for which it’s responsible are described below. For the Shabbat, Tishrey and Festivals teams we also include the dates for the events that the team will host. Detailed how-to instructions and guidelines for events are available on the OrH Resource Hub. The board member for Rituals and the Team coordinator for a specific event will help team members to contribute according to their abilities.
Once registered, you can access a list of members that have already joined a team by logging in to your account and going to the Teams 2020-21 page.
Before COVID-19, we asked that each member commit to giving 10 hours towards the events for which their team was responsible. When tasks ran out, we asked that members go to the Get Involved to learn about how they can organize other activities. This applies as well now that OrH services and events are virtual, even though fewer members are needed to help out. Regardless, and when we eventually take on a hybrid mode of service delivery (both virtual and in-person), the more faithfully members contribute 10 hours over the course of the year, whether in-person or virtually, whether to recurring or ad hoc events, the more OrH can offer its members individually and as a community.
Learn more about:
The Shabbat Team
The Festivals Team
The Tishrey Team
The Manhigut Team
The Tech Team
Or visit the
Frequently Asked Questions
Honouring the day of rest – the heart and soul of the Jewish week. Each time we hear and wrestle with Torah, each time we delight in the range of ages circled around our space, each time we take the time as family, friends and newcomers to show up for each other to recite Mourner’s Kaddish, we rekindle the spark of peoplehood. Showing up for Shabbat!
Nature of the events and tasks (during COVID-19 restrictions):
- regularly scheduled for Saturday mornings.
- set up begins at 10 a.m. to meet with Tech team/Zoom Gabbai and Rabbi to run through service requirements.
- While this team has the most events, planning is minimal and tasks are easy.
- two people are needed for each Shabbat service: a Zoom usher and a Zoom greeter
Dates of Shabbat services for 2020-21:
| September 5, 2020 (Bar MItzvah) September 26, 2020 October 24, 2020 November 7, 2020 November 21, 2020 December 5, 2020 December 19, 2020 January 2, 2021 January 16, 2021 January 30, 2021 February 6, 2020 February 20, 2020 March 6, 2020 April 3, 2021 April 17, 2021 May 1, 2021 May 15, 2021 (Bar Mitzvah) May 29, 2021 June 12, 2021 (Bar Mitzvah) |
Shabbat Team members and service Sign-up sheet for 2020-21: click here
Celebrating the most joyous dates on the Jewish calendar. By observance as well as custom, the festivals and holidays bring delight to the senses. We pass along the heritage that interweaves thougtful reflection and unbridled joy with concern for the well-being of all.
The Festivals team is responsible for organizing and supporting our main festival events over the course of the year (other than Tishrey), including Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hannukah, Tu Bishvat, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot.
Nature of the events and tasks:
- great team to join if you’re a young family
- team is divided into smaller groups, one for each event
- each event has its own unique requirements for planning and set-up, including hosting and facilitation
- team members needed for creative planning and preparation in partnership with the rabbi.
Festival dates for 2020-21:
| October 3, 2020 | Shabbat Sukkot |
| October 11, 2020 | Simchat Torah and Bat Mitzah! |
| December 10, 2020 | Hannukah Candle Lighting |
| January 27, 2021 | Tu Bishvat |
| February 25, 2021 | Erev Purim Megillah study |
| February 27, 2021 | Purim Shpils, Recitations and virtual masked ball |
| March 28, 2021 | Second night Passover gathering |
| May 16, 2021 | Tikkun Leyl Shavuot study program |
Festivals Team members for 2020-21: click here
Reconnecting, renewing and reclaiming each year our Jewishness in community – the heart and soul of the Jewish year. Hearing those expressive melodies we sing just during Tishrey sets us on a course of connection and commitment to ourselves, to each other and to the divine.
The Tishrey team is responsible for organizing and supporting the Tishrey high holy days events.
Nature of the events and tasks:
- involves availability beginning mid/late August through September
- each event has numerous aspects requiring coordination
- team members needed for creative planning and preparation in partnership with the rabbi
Tishrey dates for 2020-21/5781:
| September 12, 2020 | Selihot evening |
| September 18, 2020 | Erev Rosh Hashanah |
| September 19, 2020 | Rosh Hashanah day 1 |
| September 20, 2020 | Rosh Hashanah day 2 |
| September 27, 2020 | Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre |
| September 28, 2020 | Yom Kippur morning/Minchah |
| September 28, 2020 | Yom Kippur afternoon with Yizkor |
| September 28, 2020 | Yom Kippur conclusion/Neilah |
Tishrey Team members for 2020-21: click here
With OrH launching virtual services and ad hoc events, members are needed for behind-the-scenes technical support. Primarily this will involve Zoom hosting (though may need people with experience using Facebook Live, You Tube livestreaming, and sound and music production skills.) We will need at least one Tech Team member at each service and event.
Tech Team members for 2020-21: click here
Manhigut is for members who, at the time of registration, hold the lead, chair or coordinator positions for recurring initiatives and year-to-year activities, other than our ritual events, that sustain and maintain us as community. The team has a limited number of positions, as indicated in the table below. Note that members interested in any of the unfilled elected Board positions below please contact the Nominations committee chair at nominations@orh.ca. If you are interested in any of the vacant Board-appointed positions, please contact membership@orh.ca.
Community-Led Initiatives:
| Parent coordinator(s) of the BaMa’Gal/B’nei Mitzvah Group |
| Lead of the Hesed network |
| Lead for Chanting and Chocolate |
| Lead for Roots and Reflections |
| Coordinator for Repairing the World |
| Lead for Guf Va'Nefesh |
Elected Board Positions:
| President (unfilled) |
| Vice-President (unfilled) |
| Treasurer |
| Secretary (acting) |
| Communications |
| Learning |
| Rituals |
| Membership |
| Members-at-Large (one unfilled) |
Board-Appointed Positions:
| Nominations Committee |
| Rabbi-Congregation Liaison Committee |
| B'nei Mitzvah Coordinator |
| Parent Machaneh Shabbat Board Liaison (unfilled) |
| Dedication Coordinator (unfilled) |
| Newsletter Editor |
| Webmaster (unfilled) |
| Unitarian Campus Committee Representative |
| Social Media Coordinators |
Manhigut Team members for 2020-21: click here
Questions and Answers
What resources are available to explain how to organize and set up an event?
For in-person events, detailed step-by-step instructions are available in the OrH Resource Hub. For virtual events, the specific event coordinator, the Rituals Coordinator on the Board and the Rabbi will have the information about what is needed to host an event.
The Shabbat, Tishrey, Festivals and Tech Teams each have coordinators: What’s the coordinator’s role?
The Rituals group (Shabbat, Tishrey, and Festivals) coordinators are part of a Ritual Committee, working with the Ritual Coordinator on the Board. The Tech team coordinator works with the Communications coordinator on the Board. The team coordinator’s role is to ensure that all tasks are allocated to team members. They also create, update, and edit the relevant how-tos for all events. The coordinator is the person you go to with questions or concerns for a specific event.
Who will be on my team?
That depends on who signs up. If you’re interested in having friends join you on a particular team, let them know and invite them to sign up at the same time. Once a team is full, you’ll need to sign up for a different team. You can see a list of current team rosters on the Teams 2020-21 page.
Can I switch teams once I’ve signed up and the teams are full?
Yes you can, as long as there is space available in the other team or you can arrange with somebody from the other team to switch with you. Contact your current Team coordinator or the Ritual Coordinator on the Board to arrange this.
Can I join more than one team?
To register, you must join one team. Afterwards, you can also join another team, depending on community need. The Shabbat, Festivals and Tishrey teams are open to any member. If interested, contact the Rituals coordinator on the board at rituals@orh.ca. The Manhigut and Tech teams are limited but any member of these teams can also participate on the Shabbat, Festivals and Tishrey teams. Contact the Rituals coordinator on the board to discuss your options.
How can I sign up for a position on the Manhigut Team?
Only those members who hold either elected Board positions, Board-appointed positions, or lead community initiatives at the time of registration can join these teams. Members interested in congregational leadership on the board should contact the nominations committee at nominations@orh.ca. You are more than welcome! Members with a suggestion for a recurring community activity that they can lead should consult with either the Learning or Ritual coordinators on the board at learning@orh.ca or rituals@orh.ca, or contact Rabbi Liz at rabbi@orh.ca.
Can I propose a new member-led initiative instead of signing up for a Team?
If a member has an idea for an activity that they would like to offer the congregation, they need to consult with either the Learning or Ritual coordinators on the board at learning@orh.ca or rituals@orh.ca, or contact Rabbi Liz at rabbi@orh.ca. We welcome your suggestions! In the meantime, please sign up for one of the other Many Hands Teams.
Who will monitor my volunteer hours?
You are responsible for tracking your own hours.
What if the events I contribute to take less than 10 hours?
When the team's events require less than 10 hours of a member's time, they can Get Involved to organize other activities. The Teams are designed to deliver only our core services and events. Want other activities? Make them happen! The more faithfully members contribute 10 hours over the course of the year, the more OrH can offer its members individually and as a community.
What if none of the Teams interest me? Can I volunteer to do something else?
Yes, you are welcome to contribute to something else but signing up to either the Shabbat, Festivals or High Holidays teams is required for membership (unless you’re already in the Manhigut or Tech teams). If you have other activities that you would like to be involved with, please visit the Get Involved! page or contact the Learning or Ritual coordinators on the board at learning@orh.ca or rituals@orh.ca, or contact Rabbi Liz at rabbi@orh.ca.
