OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

23 March 2021

Words of the Spirit
 
Four Letters for Passover 5781
 
Dear OrH Family,
 
It’s only a few days before Passover, so I won’t take up too much of your time with a long missive. In the spirit of the four questions and the four cups, I did however, want to share with you four letters, including this one, which I hope you will make time to read.
 
You see, while some of you are busy preparing for Passover in the ways that you always do, or in the ways you are discovering, some of you are bearing an additional burden. I’m not referring to the challenges of facing a second year of experiencing seders around a much smaller table or via a screen – these are challenging us all.
 
However, while preparing to celebrate freedom and redemption, some in our community and in the Jewish community at large will still be facing discrimination, exclusion, questioning of identity, and the many other harms that come from the stereotyping and biases directed at Jews of colour, Jews of Asian descent, Jews of mixed heritage. Entering this year’s seder week, not only are those burdens still being carried, but they are weighted down this year with the sustained onslaught of racially motivated violence in the United States and in Canada.
 
This past week’s horrible shooting from Atlanta heightened an already terrible environment for people of Asian descent, though these acts of hate are rooted in a systemic racism that precedes the onset of the pandemic in 2020. We need to also grapple with the truth that #StopAsianHate, like #BlackLivesMatter, are hashtags we need to look at closely within our community, not just out on the streets.
 
So I’ll leave you with links to the three other letters, this open letter from Black Jews, non-Black Jews of Color, and allies in Canada, this one from a young Asian American Jewish woman in the United States, and a collection of nine short notes from Asian Jews collected together by Rabbi Mira Rivera.   
 
My wish for all of us is that this Passover be a celebration of redemption and liberation for kol yoshvey tevel – all who dwell on earth.
 
Warmly,
 
Rabbi Liz

Celebrate Passover with OrH
 
First Night Seder Kick-Off
Passover is just around the corner, and we are creatively preparing our homes and heart for seders. Join Rabbi Liz, Morah Jenny and the community for an early first-night of Passover gathering on Saturday, March 27, 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm. With your own seder just about ready, we’ll lift our spirits together with song and greeting on this, our festival celebrating renewal and freedom. Be ready to bless, dip, and sing!

Wondering what goes on a seder plate these days? Here is a short guide to the old and new traditions.

Here are some fantastic new seder videos from Morah Jenny featuring songs for Passover!
 
Join or Host a Virtual Seder!
While we can’t share a physical table and food, we can still welcome guests for the spiritual sustenance of community. Are you planning a virtual seder to which you would welcome more guests? Are you looking for a virtual seder to join? Whether you are a potential host or would like to be hosted, please indicate your interest as soon as possible by contacting rituals@orh.ca and we will help you connect.
 
For more information visit: www.orh.ca/event/passover2021

Trans Jews are Here 2021
 
We are happy to announce that OrH is an official sponsor of this year’s Trans Jews are Here convening, hosted by Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City.
 
Trans Jews are Here 2021 Convening takes place on Trans Day of Visibility, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The 2021 convening will be online, with a full day of trans, Jewish-focused programming, including ritual, art, education, and more. There will also be an allyship track for cisgender friends, family, and community members to participate and learn.
 
In 2019, the first Trans Jews are Here convening brought together trans and non-binary Jewish individuals, including spiritual leaders, artists, educators, performers, and more, to celebrate and explore the intersection of transgender identity and Jewish life.
 
Registration is offered free of charge to ensure ease of participation for all; however, additional contribution at your discretion is encouraged to support the convening and ongoing trans and non-binary programming at CBST. Registrants will be emailed updates and information in the coming weeks, including workshop details, Zoom information to attend, and more.
 
Full schedule and more information will be announced soon. Check back at cbst.org/transjews for updates!

The next Repairing the World learning event

The next Repairing the World learning event is coming up fast and we hope you will be joining the discussion. We are reading Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Anti-Racist. For Kendi, race is a social construct developed to justify policies that support hierarchies of economic and political power. He uses his own experiences to illustrate the toxic effects of racist ideas on the person who holds them, as well as for their targets.  For Kendi, understanding and unraveling the system of racist policies is at the centre of achieving equity and justice, 

Topic: How to Be an Anti-Racist
Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2021                                                                                               Time: 7:00 PM (Zoom meeting space opens at 6:45)
Main Resource:  How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram Kendi                                                                                                                                                                                             Click here to register and for additional/alternative resources. If you have questions, please contact tikkunolam@orh.ca.

A Brief History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
 
Join us on Wednesday, April 7 at 7 PM for the second in our series on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Rabbi Maurice Harris, Associate Director for Thriving Communities and Israel Affairs Specialist at Reconstructing Judaism. The topic is, “The Long Road to Oslo, the Collapse of Oslo's Promise, and Possible Directions for the Future.” To register, and to view a recording of the first two sessions, visit: www.orh.ca/event/israel-palestine3.

Within the Eye of the Storm
 
In Honour of Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Israeli Independence Day), join us for a showing and discussion of the moving 2013 film, “Within the Eye of the Storm,” Wednesday, April 14, 7:00-8:30 pm. The film tells the story of Bassam and Rami, former soldiers on opposite sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, who embark on a joint mission to humanize the conflict’s opposing sides to prevent the vicious cycle of retaliation after their daughters are killed in the conflict.
 
Diana Ralph will introduce the film and facilitate a discussion after the 1 hour showing. 
 
You may view the film in advance of the session at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkqRib. Note that while we will screen the film via Zoom, the quality will likely be better if viewed independently. If you have pre-viewed the film, you can join the discussion at 8:00 pm.
 
We also strongly encourage you to read the amazing, award winning book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann, which covers the same story with rich, poetic depth. Longlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of the National Jewish Book Award.
 
Please register here .

Upcoming Services and Events

Passover Seder Kick-Off
Saturday, March 27, 2021
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM, Zoom  

Machaneh Shabbat
Saturday, April 3, 2021
9:00 AM (Machaneh Aleph), 9:30 AM (Machaneh Bet) – 10:30 AM, Zoom 

Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, April 3, 2021
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, Zoom  
 
Chanting and Chocolate
Sunday, April 4, 2021
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Zoom  
 
Repairing the World: How to be an Anti-Racist
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Zoom  
 
History of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Part 3
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Zoom  

Reconstructionist News and Events

Jews, Race and Religion. We invite you to attend a free online lecture series, continuing through April 22, which focuses on intersections of race and religion, drawing lessons from the history of antisemitism, examining the role of Jews in the racialized culture of the United States and exploring the role of race in Jewish identity. For more information or to register, please click here. Presented by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College's Center for Jewish Ethics and the University of Pennsylvania's Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies.
 
Adult B’nei Mitzvah Program.  As a prequel to next year's Convention and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Judith Kaplan Eisenstein becoming a Bat Mitzvah, we are offering a once-a-month virtual class for those who are studying for their B-Mitzvah or recommitting to Reconstructionist learning. The goal of this class is for adult learners to engage with the movement in exploring evolving Reconstructionist thought and practice. Learn more & register here.

Prayerbooks
Reconstructing Judaism has changed the location where digital prayerbooks are stored. The new links are now hosted on the Reconstructing Judaism website and should be much more stable and accessible. These links are not visible on the main website. Although the old links will remain active for the time being, we strongly encourage you to switch to these new links as soon as possible. 
 
Daily Prayerbook
Shabbat Vehagim
Prayers for a House of Mourning
Machzor

In addition, you can now access the Reconstructionist Haggadah, A Night of Questions:
A Night of Questions  

If you would like to have a physical copy of this Haggadah as well, please click here to purchase.

If you would like to make a gift in appreciation of the digital download, please click here.

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

* Jewish Culture and Literature North of the Border: A discussion with Melanie Loisel, author of Ma vie en partage (My Shared Life) published in 2014. The book tells the story of her interview with Holocaust survivor Martin Gray. Wednesday, March 24, 7:30 pm (EST). Register here.

* A message from Phil Kretzmar (philkretzmar@gmail.com) about the protests of China’s treatment of its Uyghur population: Please join us during Kol Hamoed Pesach on Thursday, April 1, from 3 to 4:30 PM, outside the Chinese embassy, 515 St. Patrick Street, to stand together in support of the Uyghurs.  And please join us in the following weeks, as we continue to demonstrate in support of the Uyghurs.
 
* The Climate Crisis and Peace Building in the Israeli-Palestinian Context with Gidon Bromberg, Israeli Director, Eco-Peace Middle East and guest moderator, David B. Brooks, Monday April 5, 2021, 12:00 pm (noon) EST.  Water is at the centre of an environmental crisis in the Middle East. But can this extreme challenge also create extraordinary opportunities? Gidon Bromberg will speak about how the mutual need for water resources can help nudge Israelis and Palestinians towards the road to peace. The event is sponsored by the Canadian Friends Of Peace Now, the largest Jewish organization in Canada that is Zionist and dedicated entirely to promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace on the basis of the two-state solution. REGISTER HERE.
 
* The Zelikovitz Centre at Carleton University presents a lecture by Dr. Emanuel Rosen, author of If Anyone Calls, Tell Them I Died, Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 7:30 PM (EST). In 1933, Dr. Hugo Mendel, a successful Jewish lawyer, escaped Germany along with his family and moved to Tel Aviv. They were some of “the lucky ones” who made it out alive. Two decades later, he and his wife Lucie returned to Germany to take stock of all that was stolen from them: Hugo’s career and reputation, their country, their sense of belonging. A few months later, after returning to Israel, Hugo jumped to his death.
Now, Hugo’s grandson Emanuel Rosen retraces his grandparents’ fateful European trip and its aftermath in his memoir IF ANYONE CALLS, TELL THEM I DIED (Amsterdam Publishers; March 22, 2021). Register by email to michaelabaxleaney@outlook.com.

Upcoming free webinars of the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism at Indiana University:
Yana Grinspun, “New Forms of Antisemitism in Contemporary France,” Sunday, April 11, 2021, noon EST. Registration  
András Kovács, “Antisemitism in post-Communist Hungary,” Sunday, April 18, 2021, noon EST. Registration
Anthony Julius, “Anti-Semitism as a Hostile Environment – Theory and Contemporary Instances,” Sunday, April 25, 2021, noon EST. Registration

Invitation from KBI to demonstrate on behalf of the Uyghurs. This year, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, members of Kehillat Beth Israel (KBI) demonstrated every weekday afternoon opposite the Chinese embassy on St. Patrick Street on behalf of the oppressed and
persecuted Uyghur population of China. At the conclusion of the week they decided to continue the demonstrations and protests on a weekly basis – they continue to meet and demonstrate one day a week, on Thursday afternoon.  They have also reached out to other faith communities to join them in this stand and their numbers have grown over time.
The mistreatment of the Uyghurs, including forced labor and “re-education” camps, is reminiscent of the Jewish experience with concentration camps of the Second World War, in the opinion of campaign organizer Andre Brantz, which inspired him to start the protests in September. Since then, a committee of the Parliament of Canada has described the Uyghur persecution as a form of genocide.
This week, the Guardian newspaper published an article by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis: "As chief rabbi, I can no longer remain silent about the plight of the Uyhgurs."  The subtitle is: "An unfathomable mass atrocity is being perpetrated in China.  The responsibility for doing something lies with all of us."
(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/15/chief-rabbi-silent-plight-uighurs-atrocity-china)
We invite all members of the Ottawa Jewish community to join us on Thursday afternoons at 3 PM opposite the Chinese Embassy on St. Patrick Street.  It is our hope and our prayer that this action, taken in conjunction with other political and economic actions, will raise awareness and will lead to the end of these atrocities.

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

March Board Chair: Elijah, elijah@orh.ca 
Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca
Interim Secretary: Kathy, 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  
​​​​​​​Interim Member-at-Large: Carolyn, carolyn@orh.ca

Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton: rabbi@orh.ca
OrH Members are welcome to contact Rabbi Liz, the Hesed team (hesed@orh.ca),
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.