OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

23 June 2020

This Sunday: Canadian Jews in Pop Culture
 
What do rapper Drake, beloved children's singers Sharon, Lois and Bram, and death metal group Arch Enemy all have in common? They feature Canadian Jews. Join us on Sunday, June 28, at 7:30pm for an online discussion, led by Michael Kent of Library and Archives Canada, about the participation of Canadian Jews in popular culture and reflections on what that participation reveals about the Canadian Jewish experience.
 
Michael Kent is Senior Librarian, Curator Jacob M. Lowy Collection, Published Heritage Branch, Library and Archives Canada
 
[Please be advised, during the presentation music will be played that features adult themes and language that some may find offensive.]
 
For information and Zoom link visit: www.orh.ca/event/popculture

A Note from The Hesed (Caring) Committee
 
Reconstructing Judaism explains Hesed, or Gemilut Hesed, as follows:

Gemilut Hesed, acts of kindness, involves loyalty, dependability and caring for others in need. It arises not merely from friendship or personal feeling, but from a sense of obligation. Jewish communities have long made it the business of every member to visit the sick, care for elders, comfort mourners, welcome guests, and celebrate the formation of new families and the welcoming of children.  Actions like these are the glue that holds a covenantal community together. [ For the full statement click here ]

 
To facilitate Gemilut Hesed, the Hesed Committee administers and maintains the OrH “Hesed Support Network” – a list of OrH members prepared to volunteer their time to help other members as needs arise.  The network currently stands at fully 56 members. Signing on is easy and flexible.  You can specify the kind of help you are willing to provide and how often you are able to do so.  Click here to join the Support Network .

Upcoming Services and Events
  
Roots and Reflections
Sunday June 28, 2020
9:45 AM – 11:30 PM, via Zoom  
 
Canadian Jews in Pop Culture
Sunday, June 28, 2020
7:30 PM to 9:00PM, via Zoom   

Repairing the World Restart
Monday, June 29, 2020
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, via Zoom . RSVP requested to monica.rosenthal18@gmail.com

Storytime Circle! With Morah Jenny
Saturday, July 4
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Facebook Live  

Reconstructionist News

RECONSTRUCTIONIST SUMMER CAMP - Havaya@Home
 
When: Sunday, July 12 – Saturday, July 25
Where: We like to say: "safe at home, hearts at camp." All Havaya@Home programs will be online, primarily via Zoom and Facebook Live.
 
What: Approximately five programs daily, geared to appeal to a wide variety of kids. We'll have opportunities to be physically active, explore the natural world, be creative, experience Jewish values, play games, celebrate Shabbat, share our talents, and more. While most sessions will be one-time opportunities; kids can choose to participate in as many (or as few) as they'd like. There will also be week-long arts studios for which interested young artists can register in advance. And, of course, we'll have some special programs, too!
 
Who: Havaya@Home programs are primarily intended for entering third through ninth graders. (Worry not – we'll also have some opportunities for younger kids and older teens!) All are free and open to Havaya campers, members of Reconstructionist congregations, and those in the wider community who share our values and want to have fun.
 
What's Next? More details, including schedules and sign-on information, will be available in late June. 
 
Convention 2022. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us on March 23-27, 2022 for the next Reconstructing Judaism Convention, outside of Washington, D.C., which will be held in partnership with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and Havaya Summer Programs. Bookmark our Convention website, Reconvention2022.org, which will be updated regularly.  Schedule and program details coming soon!  For questions or more information contact Jackie Land or Lani Moss.

Reconstructing Judaism offers us a Virtual Shabbat Box: https://tinyurl.com/qqdr4l9

The archive of back issues of Reconstructionism Today is available at: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/article/newsletter-archive

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
 
Community Events and Announcements

* July Torah Study Invitation. Consider registering for this opportunity for 4 weeks of Torah with Rabbi Arthur Waskow, founder of the Shalom Center and member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. Reb Arthur explains: “I ‘weave’ the conversation rather than start in conventional ways with an assertion of my own interpretation of the text. I choose a passage from the weekly Torah or Haftarah that seems to me likely to engage our own lives...ask people to silently recall how such a moment might have felt ....then we read aloud in English... folks choose whether or not to share ... we talk in the worlds of Emotion and Spirit as well as Intellect ....the devar Torah that emerges is collective and multi-flavored.”
Offered by Zoom four Thursday evenings, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm Eastern Time, July 2, 9, 16,  and 23.  Sessions to be recorded, for registrants who need to miss a session. Total cost $44. Register at https://theshalomcenter.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=29

Free Offering from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality: Jewish tradition offers rich, accessible, and time-tested resources to cope with moments like these. The Institute for Jewish Spirituality, which has pioneered the development and teaching of Jewish mindfulness practices for over 20 years, is here for you now. We are offering the following resources to our community: 
https://www.jewishspirituality.org/get-started/resources-for-challenging-times/
(note: Rabbi Liz has been enriched by these programs, retreats, and resources for the past 18 years!)

The Yiddish Center in Amherst, MA, hosts a series of presentations, plays, and discussions available at this link: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/language-literature-culture/recordings-yiddish-book-centers-virtual-public-programs. To see all upcoming events, visit: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/visit/calendar-events

In addition to our own Hesed Caring Committee support, we want to bring to your attention other services provided in the Ottawa Jewish Community for those in need:

• If you need help placing an online grocery store order, call Tanya at 613-798-4696, ext. 241, or email tpoirier@jewishottawa.com. Federation volunteers are available to do the pick-up and delivery for you and/or help those less familiar with computers to navigate online systems.
• A highly skilled and trained Jewish Family Services team is ready and able to help those who are suffering from food insecurity, mental health challenges, abuse, loss of income, confusion around government supports and eligibility, challenges in supporting unwell or senior family members, or those who are disconnected from family and community because of social isolation and distancing. All inquiries are kept fully confidential – please call 613-722-2225, ext. 300, and leave a message or email info@jfsottawa.com.
• The Ottawa Kosher Food Bank remains at your service for those who are struggling to put food on the table. Please call 613-728-3501, ext. 235.
• Finally, visit Federation’s Facebook group Jewish Ottawa Helps to connect with community volunteers for general help, and visit Federation’s resources pages to keep up to date on virtual offerings. 

  
Learn Yiddish. The Shalom Foundation and the Center for Yiddish Culture invite all Yiddish lovers to a three-week virtual meeting with Yiddish language and with Jewish history, literature, culture and art, which will take place through the ZOOM platform on June 29 – July 17. 
Our year’s long tradition and experience related to the Warsaw seminar has been enriched this year with an online teaching and learning so that despite unfavorable conditions everyone can immerse themselves in the language and cultural world of Yiddish through intensive classes, as well as tutorials, lectures and workshops. From the comfort of your own home, but surrounded by participants from all over the world and under the guidance of the best specialists, we will once again delve into the extraordinary world of history and tradition associated with the language and culture of Ashkenazi Jews. Contact: zumerkurs@shalom.org.pl. Details: http://jidyszland.pl/en/letnie-seminarium/

Donations to OrH

Donations are a significant part of the funding for activities and rabbinic support in our community. You can direct your contribution to different areas of Or Haneshamah’s activity, including: general donations to fund programming, rabbinic leadership, donations in honor or in memory of a person or event, or dedication of ritual objects. We also welcome donations to the Gita (Tova) & Zvi Taub Memorial Fund, the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, the Or Haneshamah Endowment Fund. Federal employees or retirees can also give to OrH through the Annual Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign. Information on all these programs and how to give can be found at this link, or by clicking on the "Donate" tab on the main menu of the OrH website.

Board of Directors

June Board Chair: David, communications@orh.ca

Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca
Secretary: Joanie, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: David, communications@orh.ca
Membership: Barbara, membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Sharon, member-at-large.sharon@orh.ca
 Member-at-Large: Timna, member.at.large-timna@orh.ca

Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton: rabbi@orh.ca
OrH Members are welcome to contact Rabbi Liz, 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.