OrH Newsletter

Biweekly Newsletter

7 December 2021

December Sparkle

Ah, the snow has arrived! We will enjoy the charm of the season before we start to get grouchy about it. Thank you all for joining us at our Hanukkah parties - what a pleasure to see your faces. We should also mention the many requests to help with our co-sponsorship of a Syrian family. Your generosity is much appreciated. And speaking of which, our annual fundraiser is on! If you are asking yourself, “Self, why is Or Haneshamah fundraising when I already pay to be a member?” then strap yourself in, because we would be pleased to explain. Let’s read.

OrH Annual Fundraiser

Our annual fundraising campaign is on! We are going strong with just over $8,000 in donations, but we still have a ways to go before we reach our goal of $32,000. Why did we decide on that number? This year is the 32nd anniversary of Or Haneshamah’s founding. It doesn’t hurt that in Hebrew, the number 32 is written "לב" or "lev", which is also the Hebrew word for heart. 

If you are wondering why we hold an annual fundraiser, it’s because membership revenue only covers about half of our yearly expenses. Donations to our fundraising campaign are the reason we are able to provide such excellent programming all year round. This year, we’ve added a neat little tool to help you see what sorts of things we pay for throughout the year. Here are a few examples:

Cost of renting outdoor sound equipment: $25
Cost of a machzor (High Holy Day prayer book): $75
Cost of sponsoring a student member: $36
Cost of one month’s rent: $1,600
Cost to fund a student rabbinic intern: $2,340

As a small congregation, these costs add up quickly. If you would like to contribute, visit our 5782 Annual Campaign page, where you can see the donation tracker update in real time. Payment can be made by credit card, etransfer or cheque. All donations are eligible for a tax receipt, which will be issued at the end of the year. If you have any questions, or need help navigating the donation process, please email our treasurer, who will be happy to assist you. 

Words of the Spirit

Human Rights As a Jewish Concept

How is human rights a Jewish concept? Is it even possible or appropriate to shoehorn an apparently secular construct into a specific religious or cultural context?

Two thoughts arise first:

1. The concept of an internationally-recognized corpus of human rights, and its attendant institutions, arose immediately following the Second World War, and the recognition of the horrors of the Holocaust.
2. Many conversations, reflections and debates throughout the evolution of Jewish thought point to a foundational value that tracks significantly with contemporary definitions of human rights.
   
   

Here is some of the evidence for these contentions that I shared as we were preparing to celebrate Human Rights Shabbat in December 2018:

• Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel teaches in Pirkei Avot that the world is founded on truth, justice, and peace, core universal values.
• The first chapter of the book of Genesis upholds the inherent value of each human being based on the idea that we are all created in God’s image, betselem elohim.
• Rabbinic Judaism applied the term kevod habriot to refer to the notion of inherent human dignity and equality.
• Prophets such as Isaiah remind us that what God wants from us is to feed the hungry and free the oppressed.
• We have an obligation to create a just and compassionate society, a point emphasized throughout the book of Deuteronomy.
• Specific values embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – such as the right to a hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal – are echoed in Jewish tradition. 
  
  

Exodus 12:49, for example, mandates that there shall be “one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you,” while Deuteronomy 16 underscores the need for an impartial judiciary.

From the Hasidic world, this teaching comes to mind this year:

Rabbi Simhah Bunim of Przysucha taught - Every person should have two pockets so he can reach into one or the other, according to his needs. In his right pocket are to be the words:

“The world was created for my sake.” And in the left: “Who am I but dust and ashes.”

How do we “translate” this teaching that we are all no more or less deserving of dignity than any other being? We begin by paying attention to what the prophets and teachers of our tradition are calling for, are imploring of us, are holding up as ways to see each other as images of the Divine. In this moment, Rabbi Bunim’s teaching sounds like a clarion call to ally ourselves – our people, our community, our fate – to that of our BIPOC neighbours.

Studying the secular declaration along with our own textual tradition and values, I’ve never doubted that Judaism holds dear, as the first Article of the declaration begin, that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Rabbi Liz

Reopening Advisory Committee -
How We Approach In-Person Events

As case counts go down and vaccination rates go up, we look forward to in-person events, for holidays, Shabbat, and learning. To do this safely, the Board has convened a Reopening Advisory Committee, composed of 5 health professionals within the Or Haneshamah community and chaired by the Rituals Coordinator. This group meets as needed and provides recommendations to the OrH board, who makes decisions to protect the health of our community. While we would all love to know when we can go back to "normal" shul life, the only thing we can know for certain is that the situation is always changing. With that in mind, we can share some of our basic principles as we move forward:

• Anyone (including children) participating in an indoor activity at Cleary Ave must be fully vaccinated, i.e. 2 weeks past their second dose.
• With rare exceptions for a person leading an event, everyone remains masked even indoors.
• At this time, eating indoors still represents a high risk of transmission.
• We use an online tool created by MIT which takes into consideration room size, air circulation, and activity level, among other factors, in order to evaluate risks and determine capacity limits.
• Even as we plan in-person events, we will continue to offer hybrid access (for online participants) as much as possible. 
• The Board will consult with the Reopening Advisory Committee, the Rabbi and the Educator as circumstances change and whenever we need to reassess our guidelines.

We will have more information about our reopening approach on the website shortly, and we will work to keep our communication clear and up-to-date. Questions can be directed to rituals@orh.ca.

Fundraising to Co-Sponsor a Syrian Family

Did you know that Or Haneshamah is co-sponsoring a Syrian family? Since the summer, we have been attending meetings with representatives of the 1st Unitarian Church and Syrian family members who live here in Ottawa. Two members of the church have agreed to take the lead on preparing the application to bring nine family members to Canada. They are expecting to have the application completed by early December. As a group, we have to show that we have 80% of this money or $44,000 when the application is submitted to the Federal government later in December of this year. The family here in Ottawa have already raised $30,000. That is extraordinary! The 1st Unitarian Church has committed $10,000 of their funds, so we are well along the way to raising what is needed. OrH has said that we would try to raise $10,000 in total. But here is our immediate modest goal – raise the remaining $4,000 to ensure that the Joint Committee has the 80% needed to complete the application. The Unitarians have agreed to receive funds donated by us and to issue charitable receipts. Would you be able to donate to help this family? Please write to communications@orh.ca to be emailed the donation instructions. Any amount helps.

Exploring Judaism 

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. Led by Rabbi Liz, and featuring plenty of interaction among students, this course leads participants through the major value concepts and practices of Judaism. We wrestle with fundamental questions while learning from and studying with each other.

1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month - 7pm - 8:30pm

2021 - November 18, December 2nd, December 16th

2022 - January 6th, January 20th, February 3rd, February 17th, March 3rd, March 17th, April 7th, April 21st, May 5th, May 19th, June 2nd & June 16th (15 Sessions)

LOCATION : Zoom

FEES: OrH Full Members and Student Members: $180, Non-OrH Members or Associate Members: $360. You can register here.

Upcoming Services and Events

Shabbat Limmud – Marking Human Rights Shabbat
Saturday December 18  10:30am-noon   
via Zoom  
Join with Rabbi Liz as we sing, chant, listen, and reflect on the deep intersection between Judaism and Human Rights. The International Declaration of Human Rights was signed on December 10, 1948. Since 2008, congregations and havurot across North America have joined with Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights in observing the date.

Reconstructionist News and Events

Watch/Listen: ‘The Sun Will Shine Again: A COVID-19 Musical Meditation’  
Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb brings a musical meditation to address the isolation of COVID-19. Remember to breathe and stay in the moment. Sourced from Ritualwell 
Read: ‘Tamar the Hidden’
“Maybe the Torah is really Tamar’s story,” Ellen Dannin proposes. “But for Tamar, there would be no Jewish people.” Sourced from ReconstructingJudaism.org 

Convention 2022 
B'Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together
Convention Registration opens Sunday, September 26!
Come gather together from March 23 – 27, 2022 for B’Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together. 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. Our convention will take place in the versatile spaces of the beautiful Hilton McLean Tysons Corner hotel, located in the Chesapeake region. Reserve a hotel room for our convention at a special rate.

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

Jewish Education Through Torah
One Word at a Time: A Virtual Event about Mental Health
December 8 7:30 - 9 pm
A discussion with Michele Viner, author of "A Few Words About Mental Health" and Sarah Caspi, Executive Director of Jewish Family Services.
The book is written for those struggling with mental health issues, and those who love and support them. Written through the eyes of a mother, this book does not speak to the medical aspect but to the emotional journey, and is written to inspire and encourage. Free event. Donations are appreciated and will go to Cornerstone for Women. With a $25+ donation, receive a copy of the book. Register here.

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 ​​​​​​​
Interim Member-at-Large: Lyn


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.