OrH Newsletter

Biweekly Newsletter

24 September 2022

Hearts Open

Friends, we are here! Shanah tovah u'metuka to you all - a sweet new year is in the making. We opted to send this newsletter a few days early to make sure you all had the most up-to-date info possible as we head into a holy weekend. Sunday night, 6pm, we will see you in your finery (or your sweats - zero judgment) at 30 Cleary, or on Zoom. Monday morning we see your faces again for a beautiful music-filled and spiritually-invigorating service, followed by a potluck (sign-up is below). Then we have Tashlich, where we gather in the great outdoors and shed the remnants of the previous year together while the shofar sounds in the background. Yes, all of these details are below in the events section, but it feels good to type them out. We are just so excited to see you all again.

We are getting some inquiries about masking. Covid is still out and about in the community, so we strongly recommend wearing your mask, especially with older congregants and folks who have chronic illnesses in mind. Disposable masks will also be available should you need them. If you are sick, please stay home and take care of yourself - we will send you our love via Zoom! Let us begin the new year with healthy bodies and souls.

If you still want to lend a hand at the events - ushering, grabbing a forgotten item from the grocery store, stacking prayer books - reach out to Caroline. If you are technically inclined, you can contact the Tech Team to help with Zoom. 

If you are having any sort of technical trouble renewing your membership, registering a guest or buying High Holy Day tickets, simply drop us a line and we will sort it all out for you.

If you have renewed your membership, bought tickets or have registered as a guest, Zoom links will be in your mailbox soon if you haven’t received them already!

Words of the Spirit - WE MEET AGAIN!

When we gather this Sunday evening for the eve of Rosh Hashanah and then again in the morning, we’ll be bringing more than our excitement about being together and sharing apples and honey for a sweet year. We are also bringing – at least I know that I am – a prevailing two and a half-year sense of dislocation, in all the ways it has manifested in our lives.

For some in our community, that dislocation is tinged with sadness at the regret over not being able to celebrate a teen’s rite of passage in the hoped-for fashion. For others, it’s the still-felt impact of isolation endured, opportunities lost, and deeper losses. For some, there is a sense of relief at having weathered the challenges in safety.

What a way to prepare to usher in the new year! I should instead recall a sage message from the late monarch of our realm, who offered these words in a broadcast during the pandemic:

We will be with our friends again.
We will be with our family again.
We will meet again.

She was right! Here we stand on the threshold of the new year, and most of our gatherings will be accessible by multiple means, enabling us to indeed meet again. 

Yet, again, we confront the question of change, made so present by our very greeting for the season. SHANA – the word for year, is also the word for change. Will our SHANA be TOVA – good? What has changed, what should change, for the good? What changes can we initiate through our personal teshuvah, and what repair remains to manifest in wider realms? 

Here is another way to frame these questions, offered this week from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where I have the delightful opportunity this year to be teaching again. I Zoom-attended their first community Limmud, or study session, of the semester and heard from six rabbinical students about their summer or year of study in Israel/Palestine. Their experiences, and the reflections that followed, gave me a great sense of pride as well as hope. It even dislocated my dislocation a little bit, reminding me that I – and we – are part of an extended community wrestling with tough, existential issues with grace and respect.

To cap the Limmud session, those in the building were invited to continue the conversations over pizza with a focus on Rosh Hashanah, and to engage with folks they might know less well. So I bring their questions to our imminent gatherings, and invite you, as you meet and greet friends both old and new, to ask each other these questions, or to consider them yourselves:

What is something sweet in your life right now?
What is something you are cultivating that is new for you in 5783?
What is something you’re leaving behind from 5782?

In this new year of meeting again, I wish you all health, sweet connections, and a bounty of new or renewed opportunities. May you be written and sealed in the life-affirming and ongoing story of your life - shana tova tikateyvu vetekateymu!

Rabbi Liz

Membership Renewal
 
It’s time for renewal, spiritually and otherwise! Recently, you may have received an email inviting you to renew your membership to Or Haneshamah. Renewal is fast and simple to complete (and you’ll be helping us continue with our excellent programming - just a small bonus). This year will be especially exciting, as we continue to expand in-person programming and diversify some of our event offerings. Picnics, Kabbalat Shabbat, Sukkot, the High Holy Days… We are thrilled to connect with you all again.
 
A reminder that Rosh Hashanah starts the evening of September 25th this year. You must be renewed as a full or student member or registered as a visitor or guest (for associate members and non-members) before then, in order to attend services / receive Zoom links.
 
While we include a suggested rate as part of your renewal, you can opt to contribute more than the standard amount. This system allows us to give rate reductions to those in need. As we are still a small congregation, these top-ups are immensely helpful, and help us remain flexible for members of all income levels. 
 
If you are not currently a member, consider joining our vibrant and inclusive community! We offer services, celebrations, talks and activities all year round. When you become a member, you help us expand our offerings, and you support our ongoing work. (And, if we may say, this coming year will be fantastic.)
 
Every member matters - we thank you for your incredible support.

If you have any difficulty with your renewal, please don’t hesitate to contact membership@orh.ca and we will sort it out as quickly as possible. There are occasionally gremlins in the system, but we are ready and waiting to help.

High Holy Days - Volunteering

Alert for the High Holidays! Volunteers are still needed to fill in spots at services and behind the scenes!

There are several ways to volunteer for the High Holidays: by helping with the services (ushering or set up/take down) or behind the scenes (for example, buying and preparing items such as apples, honey, flowers).

Link to the services sign-up sheet 

Link to the non-service (behind the scenes) volunteer sign-up sheet 

If being involved virtually is more to your liking, there are still some spaces to fill as virtual usher or chat manager for the Zoom portion of the High Holiday services. Please contact our Tech Team lead at techteam@orh.ca.

High Holy Days –

Do you need a ride? Can you offer a ride?

This year we have the option to attend High Holy Days services in person!  For those who would like to attend but for whom transportation to and from services may be difficult, Hesed would like to offer a way to connect those who need rides with those who can offer them. Please fill out this spreadsheet so that those who need rides and those who can offer them can sign up.  

Please remember that COVID is still among us.  All parties using this service are strongly encouraged to wear masks in any vehicle, but ultimately the terms will need to be negotiated between the passengers and ride providers.  

High Holy Days - Pot Luck

Sign-up sheets for the Rosh Hashanah potluck on Monday, September 26 and Yom Kippur break fast on Wednesday, October 5 are now up.  

Rosh Hashanah potluck lunch spreadsheet link.
Yom Kippur potluck break fast sign up spreadsheet link.

Please make a list of all ingredients in the dish (do not put on the spreadsheet) and bring the list with you to the meal to alert those with allergies. When you arrive at 30 Cleary, please take your dish to the kitchen in Fellowship Hall and place in the fridge, if needed.  If there are special instructions (re heating, for example), make sure to include those with the dish along with the ingredient list.  The kitchen staff will arrive between 11:00-11:30 and take care of the set up, etc.

Thank you and Shana Tova!

Call-out for Sukkah Builders!
 
Do you have experience putting up a sukkah (such as OrH’s)? Or, are you handy with building things? Lesley, the Festivals Volunteer Coordinator, is seeking volunteers to help put up OrH’s sukkah this year. All are welcome, whether experienced or not, though especially seeking those with some know-how. Please get in touch here. 

Ottawa’s Junior Youth Group

Morah Jenny (of Machaneh Shabbat and BMG fame) is now Ottawa’s Junior Youth Group Coordinator. This is programming geared at preteens (grades 5-8), full of board game nights, watch parties, Dungeons & Dragons and Pride Club - all with a Jewish twist. Stay tuned for dates and details of upcoming awesomeness. This is a joint endeavor between Temple Israel and Or Haneshamah. Contact jyg@templeisraelottawa.com for more information.

Upcoming Services and Events

Ruach Music Circle
Every Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30pm
Room 5 at 30 Cleary (vaxxed, masked and with a Hepa air filter); or if the weather is good, outside.

Erev Rosh Hashanah 
September 25, 6 - 7pm
Worship Hall and Zoom  
Open to members and to all who have registered for the High Holy Days
 
Rosh Hashanah 
September 26, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Worship Hall and Zoom  
Open to members and to all who have registered for the High Holy Days
 
Tashlich 
September 26, 5pm - 6pm
Brantwood Park
 
Rosh Hashanah Limmud / Text Study 
September 27, 10am - noon
Room 5, 30 Cleary Ave.
Open to members and to all who have registered for the High Holy Days
Forgiveness. Atonement. Reconciliation. Repair. Confession. Apology.
What a swirl of concepts and experiences arise when we consider teshuvah – repentance. In her brand-new book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg brings to bear ancient Jewish wisdom with keen insight. Together, we will examine and consider what we mean when we talk about teshuvah, looking at some passages from the book along with traditional and contemporary texts.
 
Shabbat Shuva
October 1, 10:00 am - noon 
Worship Hall and Zoom  
For this Shabbat that falls with the Ten Days of Awe, we continue to engage in our personal and collective teshuvah, have the opportunity to be called up to the Torah, and – rejoice! – share in a classic OrH potluck kiddush luncheon following the service.
 
Kol Nidre / Erev Yom Kippur 
October 4, 6pm
Worship Hall and Zoom  
Open to members and to all who have registered for the High Holy Days
 
Yom Kippur 
October 5 
Morning Service 9:30am
Afternoon Service 4:30pm
Breaking Fast 7:30pm
Worship Hall and Zoom  
Open to members and to all who have registered for the High Holy Days
 
Shabbat Sukkot
October 15, 9:30am-12:30 pm 
Room 5 and in the Sukkah
We join with the Machanah Shabbat families and Morah Jenny in a hands-on Sukkah celebration for the whole community! Bring (nut-free) sweet or savory goodies to share as we add our decorations, welcome the ancient as well as personal “guests” to the sukkah, and practice the beautiful ritual choreography of waving the lulav.
 
Please remember to renew your membership in order to attend HHD services.

Reconstructionist News and Events
* Indicates new this week

* WATCH!
A High Holiday Message from Rabbi Deborah Waxman, PhD, president of Reconstructing Judaism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQbyyzXp5qM

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: Ben, treasurer@orh.ca
Secretary: Nicola, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: Andrea, communications@orh.ca
Membership: Myrna, membership@orh.ca
Many Hands Coordinator: Caroline, caroline@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.