OrH Newsletter

Biweekly Newsletter

29 June 2021

OrH Newsletter on Hiatus

Please note that the newsletter will be taking a brief summer hiatus, returning to your inbox on July 27.

Upcoming Services and Events
 
Shabbat Morning Torah Service - a lay-led service for Emancipation Day
Saturday, July 31, 2021
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Zoom

Reconstructionist News and Events

Reconstructing Judaism Commitments to Racial Justice
Reconstructing Judaism is undertaking 11 racial justice commitments that will affect the policies, activities and programming of the organization for years to come. The Reconstructing Judaism Board of Governors overwhelmingly adopted these commitments on June 13, 2021.
Read about these commitments here. 

Creating Radically Welcoming Communities
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
7 p.m. EDT
Rabbi Sandra Lawson, director of racial diversity, equity and inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism, will explore what Jewish texts and values say about welcoming others into our communities at a racial justice workshop. We invite you to attend this workshop, which is co-sponsored by Reconstructing Judaism, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia.
Register here.

Camp Havaya - Reconstructionist Summer Camp
In our incredibly diverse and accepting community, all kids—no matter their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, or Jewish background—are more than welcomed. They’re celebrated! There’s still space – and financial aid – available for Summer 2021. 
Sign up here.

A Reconstructionist Day of Learning on Reparations 
Sunday, August 8, 2021
11 a.m. EDT
Save the date to join Reconstructionists from around the world for our movement-wide day of learning. Starting with a special Hallel service and opening remarks, followed by multiple sessions of learning. Registration to open in July and fees will be on a sliding scale from $0 to $54 - details to come.

Convention 2022
From March 23 – 27, 2022 we will come together for B’Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Over these four days, both in person and virtually, we will learn from and with experts, scholars and lay leaders. We will engage in conversations, ask questions, and listen. We will pray together, sing together, dance together and celebrate all that we do every day in our communities to reconstruct Judaism.  
Visit the Convention 2022 website here.

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

Yarchei Kallah: Jewish Educational Extravaganza
July 4, 7 - 8 pm
"The Universal Wisdom of my Father, Abraham Twerski" Join us for opening night with Dr. Benzion Twerski, a psychologist in Brooklyn, NY, who provides consultation on domestic violence, addictions, kids at risk and more. Optional dinner catered by A Dashing Pinch and delivered to your door by JET staff and volunteers. Register online at info@jetottawa.com

Opportunities

Scholarship opportunity for Students Studying in Israel 2021/22.
The Canadian Zionist Federaton/Kronitz Memorial Scholarship valued at $1000 is given to a worthy student who will be studying in Israel and is in need of financial aid. If you are aware of a student who is about to graduate or has recently graduated from high school, a university student or graduate student pursuing teacher training, or general studies in Israel, please encourage them to apply for the CZF/ Kronitz Memorial Scholarship. Applications are now available at www.canadianzf.ca. Deadline for applications is June 30, 2021

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

Chair: Carolyn, president@orh.ca 
Treasurer: Elijah, treasurer@orh.ca
Secretary: Nicola, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: Andrea, communications@orh.ca
Membership: Myrna, membership@orh.ca
Learning: Diana, learning@orh.ca
Ritual/Many Hands: Shira, rituals@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.