OrH Newsletter

Biweekly Newsletter

20 December 2022

Chag Sameach!

We have a short and sweet newsletter for you today. The next two weeks will be quiet at OrH while we enjoy the light of our Chanukiahs and recover from extreme latke consumption. Sunday’s Eco-Chanukah party was unbelievably fun - the dancing, the songs, the lights, the thematic sweaters! You can visit our Instagram or Facebook pages for a few photos, but fair warning, it will make you want to invest in a cheesy holiday garment immediately. We hope you will enjoy a bit of time off with your loved ones, and thank you again for being part of this community.

Rabbi Liz on Vacation

Rabbi Liz wishes everyone a most delicious, light- and latke- and sufganiya/donut-filled holiday time, as well as a Happy [secular] New Year. She will be on vacation December 21 through January 1 and looks forward to seeing one and all at an OrH program or service or class or meeting or event in 2023.

Hanukkah with the Ottawa Senators

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa and Ottawa Torah Centre invite you to celebrate Hanukkah at the game on Thursday December 22. Visit this link for discounted tickets and join in for a Menorah-lighting celebration and Hanukkah refreshments at gate 1 during the 2nd intermission.

Portraits of Or Haneshamah

We are very happy to share the news that the photobook “Outside: Portraits of Or Haneshamah” is finally complete! Members Gary and Deborah started working on this project in 2020 and kept at it. A digital version can be viewed here.

Gary and Deborah are thrilled to release this community portrait, and we at OrH want to thank them immensely for creating such a vibrant work of art. What a thrill. 

More info will be shared in the coming weeks about holding a proper celebration for this accomplishment! Yasher Koach, Gary and Deborah.

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.

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

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  

Community Events

Upcoming courses of the Gamliel Institute (https://kavodvnichum.org/):
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.