OrH Newsletter

Biweekly Newsletter

7 December 2022

Light The Lights!

Friends, we have a full month ahead of us! Freylekh Friday is coming up in a few short days (all the faves - Teddy Bear Shabbat, potluck, a musical Kabbalat and guest speakers - links to register are below). Hanukkah is within sight, and what a sight it is. There will be dancing. There will be latkes. There will be candles galore. Also, should you join us for in-person celebrations, remember the Cleary Ave detour and please enter the campus via the detour at Kristy’s Restaurant. Finally, a very special project called Portraits of Or Haneshamah is finished and ready to share! Go view this incredible tribute at the link below.

Chanukah / Hanukkah Party

Join us on Sunday, Dec. 18th, 5:30pm-8pm. It has been years (YEARS!) since we lit our candles together as a community. We can’t tell you how excited we are to host you at 30 Cleary again. It will be quite a party - we are even bringing the latke competition back. If you swear by your latke recipe, now is your time to shine. If your latkes are so-so but contain starch and oil, we will eat them regardless and with great enthusiasm. We are not picky; we are SUPPORTIVE. Bring us your goods.

Sign up for the pot luck and latke competition here. 

We also need a few volunteers to make this party shine. Can you help?

Sign up for a volunteer task here. 

Chanukah is a holiday all about conservation! As the story goes, oil enough to keep a menorah lit in the Temple lasted eight days. What can we do in our own lives to conserve energy and resources to protect our planet?

Along with our OrH traditions of dancing, singing, lighting Channukiot and competing for best latke, at this fun-filled eco-Chanukah party, families will learn Jewish Conservation Songs and hear Yiddishkeit stories on conservation: Something From Nothing by Phoebe Gilman and Just Enough is Plenty by Barbara Goldin. Families will play games about reducing, reusing and recycling, participate in Oceanwise’s Great Plastic Challenge and make beautiful Chanukah gifts from eco-friendly materials inspired by Teva Learning Center activities. We will even have a bit of Jewish folk dancing. Join us!

Introducing: FREYLEKH FRIDAYS!

On Friday December 9, OrH will be offering something for folks of all ages in person at our home on Cleary Avenue in Fellowship Hall for some – or all – of a festive / FREYLEKH FRIDAY night!! (Kabbalat Shabbat and Guest Speaker series will also be held via Zoom) 

At 5:30 pm, young ones and their adults celebrate Teddy Bear Shabbat with Rabbi Deborah Zuker in Room 5. A light supper is provided.

REGISTER HERE for Teddy Bear Shabbat. 

Join in then, or at 6:30 pm for a potluck Shabbat dinner in Fellowship Hall, complete with Kiddush, candle lighting, and motzi [home-made challah welcome!]. 

At around 7:30 pm, join Rabbi Liz and our own musicians and singers for a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat service. (IN-PERSON in Fellowship Hall & VIA ZOOM)

And at 8:15 pm, we’ll enjoy a stimulating talk from guest authors, artists and thinkers. (IN-PERSON in Fellowship Hall & VIA ZOOM)

You must register to attend FREYLEKH FRIDAY night.
PLEASE NOTE : CLEARY AVENUE DETOUR (2022-2024)


Our very first guest speakers for FREYLEKH FRIDAY will be co-editors Mark Shainblum and Andrea Lobel who will speak about their anthology Other Convenants: Alternate Histories of the Jewish People, and the realm of Jewish speculative fiction.

Andrea D. Lobel is an ordained rabbi with a Ph.D. in Religion. She teaches Religion and Humanities at Carleton University, sits on the Board of ALEPH Canada, and serves as a Jewish Studies teacher and rabbinic mentor at Darshan Yeshiva. She recently founded Earthshul, an online havurah focused on environmental and social justice issues. In addition to her academic teaching and research, she is an award-winning writer and editor. Her research and publications are focused on the history of Judaism and science, as well as astronomy and religion.

Mark Shainblum is a well-known writer, editor, and publisher of comics, science fiction and fantasy. He founded and ran Matrix Comics, an independent comic book publishing house. With Gabriel Morrissette, Mark co-created the cult classic Canadian superhero series Northguard and the bestselling political parody Angloman. Mark is also a past president of SF Canada, Canada’s national association of science fiction professionals, and co-edited the Aurora Award-winning anthology, Arrowdreams: An Anthology of Alternate Canadas.

Cleary Avenue Detour

Effective Monday November 21st, 2022, visitors and congregants will use the new detour for Cleary Avenue to enter 30 Cleary. The new entrance is through the parking lot of Kristy’s Restaurant. Please drive slowly and pay attention to new detour signage. The construction will include signage, a pedestrian walkway from the detour intersection to Unitarian House, and a traffic light at Richmond Road. The detour will be in place until September 2024 as part of the O-Train construction.

Over the two year detour period, you'll be able to find updates about the detour and related construction impacts here.

Shabbat Service – Jewish-Indigenous Relations Through The Creative Arts

On December 10 at 10:15 am - 11:45 am, Temple Israel will be hosting a Shabbat Service with words of Torah by Marsha Lederman, no registration required. This event will also be streamed on Facebook. Learn more about the events taking place during the Jewish Indigenous Relations Through the Creative Arts weekend.

Reminder About Masking

Due to increased hospitalizations, please note that mask use is mandatory in all indoor synagogue events, including services, small group interactions and other congregational activities.

Exceptions only surround food and drink, and children under five years. Eating and drinking should be done at a set time, preferably in an alternative space. We are also continuing to encourage people to wear an N95 mask where possible and to ensure that the mask is properly fitted and completely covers your nose and mouth.

It is our job as a congregation to protect all people who enter our doors and masking has proven to be the safest way to interact in large and small groups alike. Thank you for your continued support and participation in this matter.

Upcoming Services and Events

Tuesday Night Shirah Ruach Music Circle
Every Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30pm
Join us in Room 5 (30 Cleary Ave) for informal liturgical music making. It's a chance to learn and practice melodies for our Shabbat and festival services, to build our harmonizing muscles, and to enjoy some musical company. No Hebrew or music reading skills required. Questions? rituals@orh.ca

Freylekh Friday
Friday, December 9
In person, 30 Cleary Room 5
Teddy Bear Shabbat at 5:30 pm
Potluck Shabbat Dinner at 6:30 pm 
Musical Kabbalat Shabbat at 7:15 pm (available via Zoom as well)
Guest Speakers Andrea Lobel and Mark Shainblum at 8:00 pm (available via Zoom as well)
Register to attend
 
Expanding the Reconstructionist Conversation on Israel/Palestine
Tuesday, December 13 8:00 - 9:00pm
Basma Fahoum (Stanford University), "Palestinian Citizens of Israel"
Zoom
 
RUACH SHABBAT Morning Service
Saturday, December 17, 10:00am - noon
NOW Room @ 30 Cleary
Followed by potluck Kiddush luncheon.
Meet us on the Lower Level in the NOW Room for a RUACH Shabbat – an opportunity for spaciousness and reflection, with comforting chants, moments of contemplation, thoughtful texts and a look at some passages in the Torah portion with classical Hasidic and contemporary commentaries.
 
Eco-Chanukah Party
Sunday, December 18, 5:30 - 8pm
Potluck, latkes, dancing, candles!
Sign up for the pot luck and latke competition here. 
Sign up for a volunteer task here.

Reconstructionist News and Events
* Indicates new this week

* Reckoning Together: A Reconstructionist Pilgrimage Towards Racial Justice
Thurs, Mar. 16 - Sun, Mar. 19
This spring, Reconstructionists from all across the movement will make a pilgrimage to the  National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, and we want you to journey with us. Learn more and REGISTER NOW! 
There will be an information session on Sun, Dec. 18, 1-2 p.m. EST. Click here to register  

*Join: Evolve Web Conversation: Moving Ahead Without Leaving Anyone Behind — A Loving Strategy for Bold Leadership | Dec. 8, 2022 at 1pm. EST.  

*Join: Healing Through Writing: For Cancer Survivors and Those Facing Illness | Dec. 19 at 12 p.m. EST. 

Community Events

*Upcoming courses of the Gamliel Institute (https://kavodvnichum.org/):
Caring with Kavod : a workshop on Monday, December 12th, exploring the rituals of mikveh and taharah and how mikveh can be a support for members of chevrot.
Taharah & Shmirah, our 12-week course beginning on Tuesday, January 3rd that offers an in-depth exploration of these rituals.
From Dust to Dust: a retreat exploring Jewish end-of-life rituals in partnership with Moishe House for participants aged 21-32, taking place the weekend of January 27-29th near Baltimore.
If you would like more information on these courses before signing up, please message info@orh.ca and we would be happy to help you.

Registration open for Joel Benin’s course “A History of Palestine”
Professor Joel Beinin will be teaching a 10-week course on Tuesday evenings, January 10-March 14. Register online.

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
Interim Member-at-large: Sarah, sarah@orh.ca  
Interim Member-at-large: Gabrielle, gabrielle@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.