OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

18 August 2020

High Holy Days 5781
 
Planning for the High Holy Days 5781 is currently underway!
 
This Jewish New Year will be marked by the unusual circumstances, challenges and opportunities wrought by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Here at OrH, while our doors remain closed, our hearts – and our community – are open. We welcome members, guests and visitors to join us via Zoom for a full schedule of highly interactive services and programs, delivered with our usual mix of spirit, good humour, thoughtful intention, and joyous music. Each virtual gathering will incorporate opportunities for authentic connection and conversation, and a range of ways for you to engage head and heart.
As we do every year, we welcome you as you are, whoever you are, and wherever you are.
 
We expect to open up registration for Tishrey guests very soon, so please stay tuned. We are also happy to report that this year we will be running a Machzor lending project for those who do not have their own copy and who are unable to use the electronic version available here. Please watch this space for more details.

Stay connected, get connected, get involved
 
OrH has launched its annual membership drive for 2020-21/5781. Now more than ever we need a sense of community. Whatever the challenges before us, this is our time. And we do what generations before us have done: we harness the power of Jewish life both in the every-day and in the exceptional. 
 
Membership donations are vital for us to secure what we have said grounds us, as individuals and collectively, as a Reconstructionist community: 
 
- belonging and sharing as an inclusive and egalitarian congregation;
- seeking and embodying the divine through interactive and participatory ritual, guided by Torah and an inspiring, innovative Rabbi; and
- pursuing ongoing learning and an effective leadership
 
Unprecedented circumstances have also thrust us to rethink how we present these cherished aspects of our community, our unique making of makom, in a new virtual space. If you have joined any of our virtual services or events over the past few months, you have seen that we’ve made some significant strides. Whether we remain virtual or migrate when safe to a hybrid model to connect virtually and in-person, it is through maintaining and growing our memberships that we will continue to be able to care for our community and our clergy.
 
In the coming year, we can expect more inspiring offerings in new formats and configurations, prepared by our members, our Rabbi, the board and by guests “from away”. We will explore expressions of Jewish living and spirituality, relevant practices that invest us in our world, and there will be fun and beautiful events for the sheer delight of sharing.
 
We offer discounted membership donation rates to new Members, and significant discounts to new members who also enrol a child in Machaneh Shabbat – our innovative and engaging Jewish education program. We ensure that all those who wish to join our community are able to do so, regardless of their ability to pay our full donation amount. All donations will qualify for a charitable tax-receipt.
 
The OrH membership model is unique: we call it Many Hands. Each member decides which of five teams to join: Our rituals group of teams – Shabbat, Tishrey and Festivals – are open to all members; A technical support team is open to all members but limited to 10 people. The Manhigut team is limited to members who at the time of registration hold the lead, chair or coordinator positions for recurring and year-to-year activities that uphold us as community. Descriptions of each team can be found here.
 
If you are interested in joining Or Haneshamah, please visit our new member page at https://www.orh.ca/membership.html and contact our Membership coordinator at membership@orh.ca

Writing our Way Through
 
Join Sarah Waisvisz on Saturday evenings during the month of Elul, a time of inner exploration and preparation for the month of Tishrey and the Days of Awe. Beginning with a Havdallah ritual, Sarah will then lead a guided creative-writing practice around themes and practices related to Elul. This program is intended to offer us a space to discuss, learn, and reflect as we prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days. Come with paper, a pen, and an open heart; all are welcome.
 
Dates: Saturdays August 22; August 29; September 5; September 12.
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm - Havdallah
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm - Creative-writing practice

Ottawa Pride 2020 and OrH Events: 

August 21st through August 30th
 
Saturday August 22 - Join Rabbi Liz and guest Rabbi Amy Loewenthal for a musical, interactive and celebratory Pride Shabbat service. Log on at 10:15 to mingle, stay on after “kiddush” at noon to chat with OrH-niks in break-out rooms.
 
Keep a look out for a series of Pride Devar Torah videos that will be released during Pride Week from CIJA, including one from Rabbi Liz
 
Listen here to an interview with Rabbi Liz on All in a Day, talking about non-binary Bnei Mitzvahs.
 
Rabbi Liz will join Rev. Pat Haresch of First Unitarian Congregation and Rev. Brian Cornelius of First United Church in an interfaith conversation about Affirming and Welcoming Faith Communities, Tuesday August 25th at 1:pm, via Zoom.
 
Sign up here to get all the information about virtual events for Capital Pride 2020.

Or Haneshamah’s Family Storytime Circle
 
Attention OrH families with young children! Join Morah Jenny every Saturday morning for songs and stories to help celebrate Shabbat! Stories will be streaming on Facebook Live at facebook.com/orhaneshamah beginning at 9:30 am. For more information visit www.orh.ca/event/storytime or contact educator@orh.ca. 

Upcoming Services and Events
  
Storytime Circle! 
Saturday, August 22
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Facebook Live  

Pride Shabbat
Saturday, August 22
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Zoom  

Writing Our Way Through Elul
Saturday, August 22
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM Zoom 

Storytime Circle! 
Saturday, August 29
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Facebook Live  

Writing Our Way Through Elul
Saturday, August 29
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM Zoom 

Reconstructionist News

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

* Memory Forward: How the 3rd Generation Tells the Stories of the Holocaust. August 24, 12:00 p.m. EDT. From around the world, the next generation demonstrates and discusses how they are carrying the memory of the Holocaust into the future. More information and registration here.

Gamliel Institute - Core Course

Course 1: Chevrah Kadisha: Origins and Evolution, September 1 through November 17, 2020 Tuesdays, 8:00pm EDT, 90 minutes per class. Register here. This course traces the evolution of Chevrah Kadisha practice and the chevrah’s role in the community from early times, through the standard of practice in Medieval Europe, and into the changes that took place in the transition to the Western Hemisphere and modern times. Each topic in this course is enhanced by text study related to the specific time period being discussed.

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. 

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

August Board Chair: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca

Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca
Acting Secretary: Joanie, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: David, communications@orh.ca
Membership: Barbara, membership@orh.ca
Learning: Diana, learning@orh.ca
Ritual/Many Hands: Shira, rituals@orh.ca ​​​​​​​
 Interim Member-at-Large: Elijah, elijah@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.