OrH Newsletter

High Holy Days Feedback
It was wonderful to welcome so many friends old and new at our High Holy Day events. Our heartfelt gratitude to all those volunteers who contributed in immeasurable ways to the planning and logistics behind the scenes (which begin months in advance) as well as those we saw on the bimah – chanting Torah, offering readings and reflections, singing, and leading portions of the service. Thanks as well to Rabbi Liz for her inspiring presence and for leading inclusive, accessible, and fulfilling High Holy Day services.
 
By now you should have received an email from the Board asking for your feedback. We are seeking answers to three questions about your experience at our High Holy Day events. Please click here to provide your responses: https://www.orh.ca/form/high-holiday-feedback-2017.html.

Exploring Judaism
“Exploring Judaism: A course for Inquisitive Jews, their Significant Others, Those Considering Adult B’nei Mitzvah or Conversion, and Seekers of Knowledge of Jewish Life,” is a 15-week course taught by Rabbi Liz. It is designed for those hoping to deepen their understanding of their Jewish heritage, for those exploring Judaism as a spiritual and religious tradition, as well as for those considering conversion to Judaism. Participants will learn about Jewish values and practices through primary text study and seminar-style classes. Highly interactive, the course explores the major value concepts of Judaism, and offers a chance to wrestle with fundamental questions while learning and interacting with others, and with the tradition’s texts and practices.
 
Classes begin November 2, 2017 and meet most first and third Thursday evenings. Registration is open to the entire Ottawa community. OrH full members and student members receive a 50% discount on course fee. To register and for more information visit https://www.orh.ca/exploring-judaism.html or contact learning@orh.ca.

Affordable Housing in Ottawa
This Saturday, October 7, to mark the upcoming holiday of Sukkot, we will be joined at our Shabbat Limmud morning service by Sheldon Leong of Ottawa's Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI), who will talk about current MHI projects, as well as the upcoming National Housing Day events. Sukkot reminds us of the years when the Israelites wandered in the desert without a home. Today, in Ottawa, over 10,000 households do not have the blessing of safe, secure and affordable housing. The Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) is a local faith-based organization that provides affordable housing to 400 individuals. Please join us.

Greener Jewish Funerals?
Join us on October 13 for Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a JED (Jewish Education and Dialogue) talk on the topic, “Greener Jewish funerals?" presented by Judith Maeryam Wouk. There is a lot of talk these days about green burial.  How do we minimize our environmental footprint at our death? What are the new technologies for the disposition of human remains? How do they fit with traditional Jewish funeral customs? What options are available in Ottawa for ourselves and our loved ones? Come prepared to openly discuss environmental and other issues around the end of life. Judith is a Kohenet Jewish Priestess, final President of the Funeral Information Society of Ottawa, and a long-time member of OrH. She has taken courses at the Gamliel Institute.

Roots & Reflections
As part of our Jewish Mindfulness programming, we announce the launch of “Roots and Reflections.” These monthly experiential sessions explore, through prisms of Jewish values and culture, how we show up in our everyday lives. Inspired by ancient wisdom of the Torah and contemporary Jewish writing, including nonfiction, story, and folktales, the session will use contemplative practices, with focused listening and speaking, to discover how our present life reflects aspects of our past and how we’ve grown. Each session is 1.5 hours from 9:45-11:30am on Sunday mornings. There is no obligation to prepare nor required pre-reading. Just bring an open heart and the intention to share sincerely. You may attend one, any, or all. This year’s reading resources are: Restoring Life’s Missing Pieces by Caren Goldman, Saying No and Letting Go by Edwin Goldberg, and Age-ing and Sage-ing by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. For meeting dates and more information visit www.orh.ca/jmm.html.

Upcoming Services and Events

Shabbat Limmud
Saturday, October 7, 2017
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
An abbreviated complete service without chanting from the scroll, followed by extended study on the Torah portion, exploring traditional and contemporary interpretations, as well as the insights of participants. To mark the upcoming holiday of Sukkot, we will welcome Sheldon Leong of Ottawa's Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI), who will talk about current MHI projects, as well as the upcoming National Housing Day events.
 
Family and Friends Sukkot Party
Sunday, October 8, 2017
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Room 5, lower level and outdoors at Unitarians
Decorate our temporary, airy, fragile “home,” sing-a-long to the “home”-ey sing-down, learn the lulav dance, welcome all – including our ancestors - into our midst, and enjoy the sweet and savory treats we bring to share. On Sukkot, the holiday when we are told to be especially joyful, celebrate the season, and our community.
 
Simchat Torah Celebration
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, Fellowship Hall of Unitarians
Sing, dance and watch the entire Torah scroll unroll across the room. Please bring a dessert to share.
 
Mindfulness Meditation Group
Thursday, October 12, 2017
7:15 PM - 9:15 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
A community learning activity with the guidance of Rabbi Liz. This month’s session led by Joyce. Open to all who want to explore, learn, grow and share mindfulness experience with a Jewish perspective. Affiliation with a Jewish organization is not required. No RSVP required. Come to one, some or all of the sessions. No fee. More info at: www.orh.ca/jmm.html.
 
Kabbalat Shabbat and JED Talk
Friday, October 13, 2017
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
Kabbalat Shabbat followed by potluck vegetarian supper and JED (Jewish Education and Dialogue) Talk on "Greener Jewish funerals?"

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
 
* B'nai Brith Canada is hosting a film screening: “Wish You Weren’t Here,” Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., Cineplex Cinemas – 3090 Carling Avenue (at Bayshore Drive), with discussion to follow. The film, which explores contemporary antisemitism in our society, offers a balanced perspective on how support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement directly contributes to instances of antisemitism on campus, social media, and in the public sphere. It includes interviews and never-before-seen footage with the world's leading experts on racism and discrimination, including Pope Francis, World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder, American lawyer and author Alan Dershowitz and B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn. Additional information on the screening and details of how to purchase tickets can be found at http://www.bnaibrith.ca/rogerwaters.
 
* Getting to Room Temperature: A hard hitting, sentimental and funny one person play about dying, based on a mostly true story. Written and directed by Arthur Milner, starring Robert Bockstael. Oct 14, 2017, 7:30pm followed by a panel discussion, at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Ave. For tickets and more information visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/getting-to-room-temperature-tickets-35802163234.
 
* Recital by Israeli Sharett Scholarship Recipient, Shulamit Sarid, cellist from Jerusalem and piano accompanist Stephanie Tang.  Sunday afternoon October15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Freiman Hall, University of Ottawa, 610 Cumberland. They will perform works by Bach, Debussy, Ravel and Shostakovich. Proceeds from the event will go to support the Sharett Scholarship Program, an AICF/CICF funded program. This event is being sponsored by Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation and the University of Ottawa. Tickets at the Door - Adults $20 and Students $10. CICF Members Free. Membership at the Door $50 Family, $35 Single.  
 
* Book Launch of “A Mercedes in the Sand” a novel by Leon Levit, Monday evening October 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street.  P. Elwood Enns, Ph.D. describes the book as “A beautiful and colourful account of life in Germany and Palestine.” The evening is being sponsored by Ruth and Arnon Miller, Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Lowy Collection and Friends of the Library and Archives Canada. A Reception will follow the event. Please Register at bac-lac.gc.ca/events.      
 
The Zelikovitz Centre at Carleton University will host the exhibit: Canadian Jewish Experience, in the “South Wing Hall” of the MacOdrum library at Carleton Univeristy, October 2 - 31, 2017. The purpose of this exhibit is to share with all Canadians, Jewish aspects of Canada’s story through a special bilingual nine panel exhibition, a website, and special speakers. The accomplishments of Jewish Canadians is reflected in the challenges and successes experienced by Canada during the past 150 years. For more information go to http://cje2017.com/
 
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.

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.