OrH Newsletter

Biweekly Newsletter

11 October 2022

A House With Stars

Before we get to anything else, a huge THANK YOU to all of you who came to our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. To say they were magical would be an understatement. Both on screen and in our sanctuary, the energy was electrifying. And so many of you stepped up to help. What a gift! May you have the sweetest new year. Now onto the newsletter, which is packed with fun offerings, including Teddy Bear Shabbat, Sukkot celebrations, Simchat Torah and a RARE BOOKS WORKSHOP! With LIBRARIANS! Could we be more excited? Unlikely.

SUKKOT and SIMCHAT TORAH 

Sukkot, which began on Sunday evening October 9, is the fall holiday when we are told to be especially joyful – even when we gather outside in those fragile huts these chilly days to eat, sing and acknowledge the awesome powers of nature, memory and tradition. 

On Shabbat Sukkot morning October 15 folks in Ottawa – members, friends, visitors, Machaneh Shabbat families – will gather to decorate our temporary, fragile “home,” to shake with the lulav, to proclaim our intention of audacious welcome as we invite all – including our ancestors - into our midst and enjoy savory and sweet snacks (no peanuts!) we bring to share. 

In addition, we invite contributions of housewares and personal care “Bundles” that we will share afterwards with From House to Home: Furnishing Homes for Refugees. Click here for details about recommended “bundle”-types. For those unable to attend and who wish to contribute, check out this registry.  

On Sunday night, October 16, the eve of Shemini Atzeret (the eighth day of the holiday) we light festival candles once more, joyously sing songs in honour of Simchat Torah, study the closing and opening passages of our ancient stories, concluding the cycle of days of awe with a lechayim to our heritage, our people, our community. 
See the events section for details.

Teddy Bear Shabbat

Join us on the second Friday of every month from 5:30pm - 6:30pm (next event: October 14) where the sensational Rabbi Deborah Zuker will lead families in Shabbat songs, storytime and family kiddish! We are thrilled to offer this fun and inclusive option to our Shabbat roster, and may we just say, you had us at kiddish. Find us in Room 5 at 30 Cleary. Register here, and bring your stuffies!

Mental Health First Aid Course at First Unitarians
 
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is offering a mental health first aid course on October 22 and 29 9am - 4pm in person at 30 Cleary. Or Haneshamah members are invited to join. The suggested donation is $30, and the course book is $30 (there is financial support available if needed to cover this cost). Child care can be provided upon request. To register, please send an email to mhsag@firstunitarianottawa.ca.

Rare Books Workshop at 30 Cleary
 
One of the Montreal Jewish Public Library's most valued collections is the 1,500 pieces in their Rare Books Collection, the oldest being an incunabulum printed in 1481. The texts span a multitude of languages and subjects. For this special occasion, JPL will also be showcasing books from their Lily Toth Miniature Book Collection, which range from 4" tall to just 1.4 of an inch. Please join the JPL librarians for an afternoon of storytelling and discussion on the rich history of these vibrant materials. This event takes place at 30 Cleary in Fellowship Hall on Monday, Oct. 24, 1:30-3:30pm. 
Please register at adultlearing@firstunitarianottawa.ca.

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. October’s key events include: Oct. 15 Sukkot JYG Watch Party (with a movie screening) and Oct. 16 JYG D&D. This is a joint endeavor between Temple Israel and Or Haneshamah. Contact jyg@templeisraelottawa.com for more information.

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.
 
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.

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)

On Tuesday, October 25, we will have a special guest, Lorne Mallin, the founder of Chanting and Chocolate, who will lead a chanting session.

Teddy Bear Shabbat with Rabbi Zuker
Friday, October 14, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Room 5 at 30 Cleary 
Register here.
Big kids and little kids welcome - bring a stuffy!

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.
 
Simhat Torah Song and Study
Sunday, 16 October, 7:30 - 9:00pm
Room 5
To mark Simhat Torah, join Rabbi Liz, singers, and musicians in Room 5 for a lively musically-inflected study session celebrating the annual Torah reading cycle.
 
Expanding the Reconstructionist Conversation on Israel/Palestine
"The Nakba:  Palestinian History Through Testimonies and Images"
Tuesday, 18 October, 8:00 - 9:00pm
Zoom. Register here

Reconstructionist News and Events
* Indicates new this week

*Read: ‘The Ethical Legacy of Sukkot: Improving the Lives of All ’
Watch: ‘From End to Beginning and Back Again’
Read: ‘Moses Died With a Promised Land'

*Aleinu: Writing Social Justice Liturgy with Trisha Arlin on

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 19 & 26, Nov. 2, 9 & 16 at 12 p.m. EDT.

*Songs of the Grass: Exploring Jewish Eco-Poetry with Hila Ratzabi

Thursday, Oct. 13, 20 & 27, Nov. 3, 10 & 17 at 12 p.m. EDT.

*Meditating with the Siddur with Daniel Raphael Silverstein

Monday, Oct. 24 & 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 1 p.m. EDT.

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.