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Or Haneshamah Newsletter - 20 October 2020

20/10/2020 07:44:06 PM

Oct20

Weekly Newsletter
20 October 2020

A Message to our High Holy Day Visitors
Thank you to everyone who filled out our questionnaire about the High Holy Days. Your feedback was overwhelmingly positive; here’s some of what was said:

 

  The level of effort that went into making sure everyone who wanted to could participate and attend – it was beautiful!

 
  My family was extremely impressed and appreciative of the product that ORH was able to put out for high holidays. Kol Hakavod
 
  Everyone involved in putting this together should be commended for the big effort and its success
 
  Rabbi Liz's talk on racism, pre-recorded songs, images, many participants from home, excellent tech support Yes‚ beautiful, inspiring, fun.


Our objective this year was to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, and to achieve that, we offered Tishrey visitors the option of a sliding scale for donations. This however came at a cost. Our revenue, on which we rely heavily to cover our fixed expenses, dropped significantly compared to previous years.
 
If you were moved by our High Holy Day services, and it is within your means, consider topping up your donation. And consider joining our community – there is compelling and fun programming coming up. More information is available here. We will apply any Tishrey donations towards a new membership.
Machaneh Shabbat Registration Now Open!
It is not too late to register for OrH's innovative Saturday morning Shabbat Camp – Machaneh Shabbat. Machaneh Shabbat is an inclusive, family-based Jewish learning adventure! While meeting remotely, this year’s Machaneh Shabbat will continue its tradition of Shacharit Shabbat-inspired sing-alongs, Hebrew through Movement learning, hands-on activities and exploration of our Torah stories, all maintaining our ‘social camp’ atmosphere. We have two cohorts -- one for pre-school children from 0-4, and one for school-age children over 4. If you are curious and would like to "drop in" for a session, please contact Morah Jenny at educator@orh.ca or visit www.orh.ca/machaneh-shabbat
Exploring Judaism Starts November 2020
Exploring Judaism (EJ) is a course for inquisitive Jews, their significant others, those considering adult b’nei mitzvah or conversion, and seekers of knowledge of Jewish life. Taught by Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton and featuring contributions from exciting guest teachers and rabbis, Exploring Judaism leads participants through the major value concepts and practices of Judaism. We wrestle with fundamental questions while learning from and studying with each other. If you are seeking to deepen your understanding of your Jewish heritage, or to explore Judaism as a spiritual and religious tradition you wish to embrace, you’ve found the right learning opportunity - as you are, whoever you are, or wherever you are.
 
Classes will meet via Zoom most 1st and 3rd Thursday evenings, November 5 through June 17. The course is open to all members of the community. Full OrH members receive a 50% discount on registration fees. Registration is now open. For more information and to register visit www.orh.ca/exploring-judaism.html .
JTeen 2020-21
This year’s JTeen program is now open for registration. A partnership between OrH, KBI and Ottawa Torah Talmud, JTeen is the Jewish Teen Leadership Program for youth in grades 8-10. The focus will be on inequality and injustice. Teens will explore identity and Judaism, learn about advocacy, activism and allyship, learn from leaders from across diverse communities, take action with like-minded teens. Meets twice a month on Sunday evenings. For more information visit: www.orh.ca/jteen.

Upcoming Services and Events

Shabbat Morning Service
Sunday, October 24, 2020
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Zoom

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, October 30, 2020
5:30 AM - 6:30 PM Zoom

Chanting and Chocolate
Sunday, November 1, 2020
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Zoom

Reconstructionist News

The Global Day of Jewish Learning
The Global Day of Jewish Learning is a project to unite Jewish communities across the world through study of our shared texts. The day unfolds during a 24-hour period of live-streamed events around the world. This year’s Global Day theme is about Judaism's vision of human dignity, the ethics of inclusivity and the imperative to decrease marginalization. It will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020.  More information can be found here.

The archive of back isssues of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/article/newsletter-archive

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

* "Meetings of Cultures," the Canadian Society for Jewish Studies fourth online "conference session" takes place Sunday, October 25, 7 pm Eastern Time (Toronto/Montreal). Speakers: Jaclyn Piudik: "Poetry, Parody and Piety: Generic Hybridity in Israel Ben Joseph Caslari's Fourteenth-Century Hebrew Esther Text," and Rohee Dasgupta: "US-Israel Sister-City Partnerships: Complex Responses to Jewish Identity and Exchanges." To attend, email michaelabaxleaney@outlook.com to get the Zoom link and passcode. Please email before 12 noon (Eastern) on October 25.

* Greenberg Families Library Book Festival in Your Living Room presents an evening with Mark Leven. October 29, 8 - 9 pm. Join author Mark Leven via Zoom as he discusses his new book, "Can’t Do It Yourself: How Commitment to Others Leads to Personal Prosperity." Leven will take the reader on a journey through his life and career as a hotel chain executive. Part memoir, part business book, Can’t Do It Yourself recounts a range of fascinating stories from the late 1930s to present-day.
Cost US $11 for tickets. Contact Carlie MacPherson at 613-798-9818 x245 or library@jccottawa.com

"Are we there yet? Mid-way on the Highway with YidLife Crisis" - marking the midway of the 2021 Annual Campaign, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s critical fundraising drive. October 26, 2020, 7 pm. YidLife Crisis, Jamie Elman & Eli Batalion, are entertainers hailing from Montreal with combined credits spanning 20 years of theatre, music, television and film. Their unique friendship spawned an irreverent tribute to the Yiddish language, culture and comedic tradition they were reared on. Check out this well-known clip with actress Mayim Bialik on dating to get some insight into their humour. The show promises to be an inspiring, humorous celebration of Jewish Ottawa that will help us bring the Annual Campaign the rest of the way home! Online - the link to join will be sent to registered participants closer to the event date. Register by October 23 to ensure participation at https://jewishottawa.redpodium.com/are-we-there-yet-mid-way-on-the-highway-with-yidlife

Opportunities

The Beth Tzedec Men’s Club is pleased to sponsor our long standing scholarship program to assist young men and women who are pursuing programs of higher Jewish education.  Applicants need not be a member of Beth Tzedec. The criteria we use to judge each applicant is based on the following and should be given careful consideration when applying.  The information provided with this application is the sole source upon which the scholarship committee will make a decision:

  • The financial need of the candidate.
  • The program of study for which the funds will be used.
  • The career goals of the candidate and how the program of study relates to it.
  • The benefit that may be brought to the Jewish community by the candidate.
  • The overall quality of the submitted application
  • Special needs or consideration.


For more information and to request an application contact hershr@rogers.com.

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

October Board Chair: David, communications@orh.ca


Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca
Acting Secretary: Joanie, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: David, communications@orh.ca
Learning: Diana, learning@orh.ca

Ritual: Sirah, rituals@orh.ca
Membership: Barbara, membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Elijah, elijah@orh.ca

Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton: rabbi@orh.ca

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.

Fri, 29 March 2024