OrH Newsletter

Shana Tova!
We look forward to welcoming everyone for Rosh Hashanah services and celebrations this week. Please note the following:
 

• For security purposes everyone will be required to sign-in at the door. Immediate family members and out-of-town family and guests of OrH members who plan to attend must be registered in advance. Members should log in to their account and complete the online Tishrey Visitor form on behalf of your guests.
   
• Childcare is available on Thursday morning, 9:30-12:30, just adjacent to Worship Hall in the north end of the building. The service will be broadcast into the childcare room.
   
• Our educator Eliyanah has planned some engaging youth programming on Thursday morning beginning at 10:45. For full details, visit https://www.orh.ca/high-holy-day-youth.html.
   
• Potluck lunch follows morning services on Thursday. Please bring your food items to the kitchen located in the back of Fellowship Hall, adjacent to Worship Hall. Indicate if it is to be served hot or cold, and include a list of ingredients. As per our potluck policy, we welcome egg, dairy and fish on the potluck table
   
• If you have your own Machzor, please bring it to services to assure that we have enough books for our visitors and guests.

 
Full details of High Holy Day services and events are at https://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.

Words of the Spirit
Love, Longing and the New Year
 
How do we mark Love? What about Creation – birth, plantings that grow, ideas and plan we seed? Where do we put our Regrets, our commitments to change? And how, with all of these, do we share the experience of our observance?
In other times, our ancestors may not have exercised choice in these matters, but they did, oh they surely did innovate. Old ways stuck, but if they did not, they fell away and were replaced by new practices.

What did not change was: Love, Creation, Regret. In grand and intimate ways, these infuse the human experience while eliding us with transcendence. In these, our Days of Awe, we spend communal and personal time in that sacred overlap.
With regret, through teshuvah, we may transcend time, not by erasing the past, but by revisiting and recalibrating our behaviours and our relationships. We find within us the awesome power to change.
 
The new of the New Year is all about Creation, the immense source of power within, creativity. It emerges in new ideas, fresh ways of being, and through our community’s ways of marking a cycle that is at once very old and very present-day.
 
And then, there’s Love. We may each have our ways of marking love in our lives, with cards or with social media posts, with flowers and dinners, living legacies and inner longings. The Days of Awe – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – are the Jewish people’s container for our living legacies and inner longings.
 
When we gather for Rosh Hashanah, for Yom Kippur, our shared dining tables and for the Tishrey and Shabbat services in between and following, let’s celebrate love and gratitude. This is what I feel most keenly this year – for you, cherished community, for my own dear ones, and for the myriad souls that surround us in magnificent radiant circles that envelope the entire globe.
 
May your shared as well as your inner experiences of these holy days, of holding love and gratitude, longing and regret, come to and through you all with ease and with delight, to bring joy, fulfillment and wholeness in the year to come.
 
May you be inscribed for a good, sweet year! Shana Tova umetuka!
 
- Rabbi Liz

Erev Rosh Hashanah Dinner
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7:45 pm, Lorne Mallin is hosting an Erev Rosh Hashanah potluck dinner at his home in Sandy Hill. Please RSVP at lorne.mallin@gmail.com and he will send you food and entry information for Rideau and Cumberland. Lorne is asking for a $5 donation to support the education of five Abayudaya Jewish orphans in Uganda. This event is instead of his third Friday Shabbat dinner.

September Shabbat Around the Table
Start the New Year with a sweet shabbat around the table. Tana Saler is hosting this month’s Shabbat at her home in Kanata on Friday, Sept. 22. To participate please email Tana at tana.saler@rogers.com. Shana Tova!
 
If you would like to host a future Shabbat dinner, please contact Jan at jjottawa@hotmail.com.

Federal Public Servants and Retirees: Consider OrH as a recipient of your workplace charitable contributions
The Annual Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) for federal employees and retirees is currently underway. Did you know that it is possible to designate Or Haneshamah as a recipient of GCWCC donations? All the information you need to do so (including OrH’s charitable registration number) can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ycacf8tp.

Upcoming Services and Events

Erev Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Fellowship Hall of Unitarians
We usher in the New Year with a brief service of singing, inspirational messages, and the sweet taste of apples and honey. Full details at https://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.
 
Rosh Hashanah morning service
Thursday, September 21, 2017
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Worship Hall of Unitarians
Rosh Hashanah morning service with children's activities followed by potluck vegetarian lunch. Full details at https://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.
 
Tashlich
Thursday, September 21, 2017
5:30 PM - 5:45 PM
We observe Tashlich, the casting off the crumbs of our wrongdoings into the moving waters, on the west (Glebe) side of the Rideau Canal, just south of Pretoria Bridge. Full details at https://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.
 
Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Friday, September 22, 2017
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Room 6, lower level of Unitarians
Member Lorne Mallin leads a contemplative and participatory service of niggunim/wordless melodies, chants and readings from the liturgy with periods of quiet meditation, followed by study of the Akedah, the traditional torah reading for the second day of the new year, through traditional and contemporary teachings, with Rabbi Liz. Full details at https://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.
 
Shabbat Shuvah
Saturday, September 23, 2017
9:45 AM - 12:00 PM, Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
A casual and reflective Shabbat morning service, with a twist: a Haftarah passage instead of a Torah reading, followed by a participatory and experiential devar torah, led by member Tana Saler on Tikkun Nefesh and Tikkun Olam: musings and practice for restoring wholeness in one's soul and in the world. Full details at https://www.orh.ca//high-holy-day-events.html.
 
Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre
Friday, September 29, 2017
5:45 PM - 8:15 PM, Worship Hall of Unitarians
Beginning with the haunting Kol Nidre on cello and piano, followed by the three repetitions offered by Rabbi Liz and members of the community, we greet the most solemn day of the year garbed in white garments and tallitot/prayer shawls, fasting (if able), attuning to the ancient intervals and preparing to lead ourselves through a day of repentance and remembrance. (Please note that we begin Kol Nidre service promptly with the instrumental rendition: Please be in your seats to allow service to start at 5:45 sharp!)
 
Yom Kippur morning service
Saturday, September 30, 2017
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Worship Hall of Unitarians
The morning of Yom Kippur sustains our engagement with the themes of individual and communal repentance and commitments through prayer, song, chant, the reading of Torah, and the deep bowing of the Grand Aleynu.
 
Yom Kippur afternoon service and breaking fast
Saturday, September 30, 2017
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM, Worship Hall of Unitarians
We reconvene for the afternoon Minhah Service, once again featuring a father-and-son chanting of the story of Jonah along with our alternative Torah reading. We reconstruct the traditional Avodah service to consider a member’s presentation of a thoughtful reflection on a challenging issue or concept in our tradition, with the opportunity to respond. The always meaningful Yizkor service follows, which will also feature a personal reflection on loss from an OrH member, along with the honouring of the memories of our dear departed. Finally Neilah beckons us, through song and silence, before the open ark or at our seats, towards the final great blast of the shofar, and the conclusion of our full day with havdallah. We share a communal breakfast meal immediately following.

Reconstructionist News
The Jewish Reconstructionist Communities has organized a trip to Israel in March 2018. The trip is not your typical Israel itinerary – the focus is an in-depth exploration of arts/music and politics. There’s an optional add-on for people who’d like to have a more typical “Israel 101” experience for 3 days prior to the main itinerary. They may also be an optional post-itinerary add-on for a one-day Bethlehem/West Bank tour with a wonderful Palestinian guide, Husam Jubran. Information and registration can be found at www.tinyurl.com/reconisrael2018.

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
 
* “How the Past Configured the Present: 2017 - a year of intertwining milestone anniversaries in the modern history of the Jewish people and Israel.” First in a three-part series on Judaism, Zionism and Israel by Professor Jacob Kovalio of Carleton University, Tuesday, September 26, 7 - 8:30 pm. Free of charge. All welcome. Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. Contact Sarah Beutel at sbeutel@jewishottawa.com or 613-798-4696 x253.
 
* Community Volunteers Needed. Your community agencies are in need of specific volunteers. For a full list of current needs visit https://jewishottawa.com/volunteering. For further information please contact Natalie at nabenhaim@jewishottawa.com.  
 
The New Spice Box: Jewish Canadian Writing Yesterday and Today. The Canadian Jewish Experience and Library and Archives Canada are hosting a literary party with Ruth Panofsky, editor of the newly published anthology, The New Spice Box: Canadian Jewish Writing, and Seymour Mayne, who will speak about Jewish Canadian literature anthologies and how they shaped their own stream in Canadian letters. Readings by Gabriella Goliger and Seymour Mayne from their short fiction included in The New Spice Box. The program will close with a musical tribute to Leonard Cohen by Ottawa's The Tower of Song ensemble led by Jerry Golland. Sunday, September 24 at 7:00 PM, National Library and Archives Canada - Alfred Pellan Room.
 
The Centre for Holocaust Education and scholarship (CHES) is pleased to invite you to a special program to honour the inauguration of the National Holocaust Monument on Sept 27th at 7:00 pm at Library and Archives Canada. The Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship felt it was important to give people in Ottawa an opportunity to gather following the official inauguration, later that evening, and hear about the monument from the those who were involved in creating it. The public premiere screening of CHES’s survivors testimonials will be part of this event: the two minute testimonial excerpts of Raoul Korngold, a survivor from France, and Kati Morrison, a survivor from Hungary, and the half hour Testimonial film of Tova Clark, a survivor from Germany, will be screened. For more info about this event please visit: https://carleton.ca/ches/events
and see www.ottawajewishbulletin.com/2017/08/special-program-to-honour-inauguration-of-national-holocaust-monument/

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:

Donations toward ongoing congregational operations:

• General donations, which fund programming, rabbinic leadership, and essential administrative costs.
• Donations in honour of, or in memory of, a person or event. All such donations are acknowledged through the Or Haneshamah card program, which sends notices of donation and a personalized message to a designated recipient.

Targeted donations:

• Dedication of ritual objects and books. We are currently seeking donations of $54 for each new copy of our Machzor (high holiday prayer book). Donations will be recognized by bookplates that may be in honour of, or in memory of, a person or event.
• The Gita (Tova) & Zwi Taub Memorial Fund, provides the OrH community with funds for Jewish cultural and educational opportunities that align with Reconstructionist principles and values, and contribute to Jewish continuity.
• Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Donations that the Rabbi gives to people in need or to support charities the Rabbi deems important.

Please make any of the above donations through the website by clicking on the "Donate" menu item.

Or Haneshamah Endowment Fund

• Established in May 2016, the Endowment Fund is a pool of financial assets that is invested to provide a reliable and ongoing source of income for our community's activities. Annual payouts from the fund go into Or Haneshamah's general revenues. Donations are made through the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation (OJCF) online at www.ojcf.ca or by telephone at 613-798-4696 ext 274.

• OrH members and supporters who are federal employees or retirees may designate Or Haneshamah as a recipient of GCWCC donations during their annual campaign (September - December). All the information you need to do so (including OrH’s charitable registration number) can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ycacf8tp.

Thank you for your generosity and support of OrH!

Potluck Protocol
Our community’s long time practice is to welcome egg, dairy and fish on the potluck table. Please label your meal contributions with all ingredients to help people with food allergies or sensitivities; also advise kitchen staff whether dish is to be served hot or cold.

Rides to Services and Events
Will you need a ride to services and OrH events? Are you able to offer a ride to services OrH events? We encourage members to be generous with their offers of rides. Please contact  info@orh.ca  with your name and area of the city you are coming from.

Visiting or Studying in Toronto or Montreal?
If you or your children will be in Toronto or Montreal, they are very welcome at our sibling congregations. We have reciprocal memberships with both Darchei Noam (Toronto) and Dorshei Emet (Montreal). Likewise, we welcome their members to our services, programs, and High Holy Day services. For security reasons we ask to call ahead to make arrangements for the High Holy Days.

A Caring Community
Members are encouraged to contact the rabbi or any board member to let us know about your pastoral care needs, or the needs of another member, whether related to a new or an ongoing circumstance. These may include such situations as a pending hospitalization, a change in health, relationship, or employment status, other life transitions, or the death of a loved one. Through knowing what is happening in each other’s lives, we give each other, including our rabbi, the opportunity to perform acts of gemilut hasadim/loving kindness, the hallmark of a caring community.

We Are Listening
How do you feel things are going in our community? Do you have ideas about programs or events that we should pursue? What aspects of Or Haneshamah do you feel are working well, and what do you think can be improved?  In the interest of making OrH the best community that it can be, the board and rabbi invite you to submit comments and feedback at any time. Please send your thoughts to  feedback@orh.ca  or directly to any member of the board (email addresses below).

Board of Directors
President: Paula,  president@orh.ca
Treasurer: Jacob,  treasurer@orh.ca
Education: Heni,  learning@orh.ca
Communications: David,  communications@orh.ca
Secretary: David,  secretary@orh.ca
Membership: Janet,  membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Jean,  member-at-large.jean@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Jan,  member-at-large.jan@orh.ca
Past President: Mark,  past-president@orh.ca
 
Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton:  rabbi@orh.ca ​​​​​​​
Members are welcome to contact Rabbi Liz, 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.