OrH Newsletter

Shabbat-Around-the-Table
This month’s Shabbat-Around-the-Table on October 27 is being by hosted by OrH member Bob, at his home at Meech Lake in Gatineau Park, about a 30 min drive from downtown Ottawa. Bob can host 8 people around the table with 6 more in the closely adjoining living room on chairs and couches around the fire. It’s a wonderful time to be in Gatineau Park before the ice and snow begins and the outdoor fire adds a wonderful light to the evening. To RSVP and for detailed directions and parking instructions, please contact jjottawa@hotmail.com. 

Is There a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Your Family’s Future?
Is your family considering a bar or bat mitzvah at OrH within the next two years? If so, your family is invited to participate in OrH’s B’nei Mitzvah Group - BaMa’gal. The first BMG get-together of the year takes place this Friday, Oct. 27th, 2017 at 6:00PM in rooms 5 & 6, lower level at Unitarians with a Shabbat potluck. This is an opportunity for families who have children preparing for their bar/bat mitzvahs, as well as those who have recently completed one, to share experiences, and for the BMG kids and families to get to know each other and Rabbi Liz. Please come and share with us. Note that this is a vegetarian potluck dinner and that we would ask you to bring something to share with everyone. Please label the dish (fish dishes are accepted). Please RSVP to Timna ( timnagw@hotmail.com) or info@orh.ca (provide numbers of adults/kids). Siblings are welcome to attend. Also please indicate which food/dish you will bring. For more information about BaMa’gal, visit: http://www.orh.ca/bmg.html. 

New Member Shabbat and Member Connections Lunch
We welcome all new OrH members to a special Saturday morning service on November 4. And following the service we will have a pot-luck lunch featuring activities designed to help long-time, recent, and new members get to know one another. This is a great opportunity to meet new members, reconnect with old friends, and to learn more about each other. Come for the service at 9:45 or join us just for lunch at 12:00. Child care will be available from 9:45-1:45.

Get Involved! Opportunities for Community Involvement
We are seeking members who would like to get involved with various OrH activities over the coming months:
 
Tri-City Shabbaton Co-ordinator(s) Needed
We have been talking informally with the Reconstructionist Congregation in
Montreal and Toronto about the possibility of having a joint Shabbaton
some time next year. We will need a coordinator from each of the 3
congregations to start the planning, along with our respective Rabbis.
Are you interested? The date and location will be determined once the
initial group has had a first phone call. If you would like to be involved contact Paula at president@orh.ca. 
 
Chanukkah Party Planners Needed
Would you be interested in helping with the planning for our Chanukkah
Party? It would involve working on the program with Rabbi Liz, picking up
the supplies, decorating the room, and keeping the program flowing. Contact Paula at president@orh.ca. 
 
Adopt-a-Shabbat (to honour a special occasion or just because)
Would your family like to sign up to adopt a Shabbat for one our Friday
evening or Saturday morning services? It would involve picking up a
challah, coming half an hour early to help with set-up, and working with
other members to put things away afterwards. (We always have someone
hired to take care of the kitchen preparation and clean up.) This could
be a nice way to honour a special occasion (birthday cakes welcome!). Contact Paula at president@orh.ca.  
 
High School Students Community Involvement Hours
OrH has a number of opportunities for high school students to complete
community involvement hours. We need help with set-up for services and
programs, decorating for festivals, and making posters for special events.
If you are interested, please contact Paula at president@orh.ca.  

Exploring Judaism
The “Exploring Judaism” course offered by Rabbi Liz is filling up fast! This 15-week course 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. Classes begin November 2, 2017. Registration is open to the entire Ottawa community. To register and for more information visit http://www.orh.ca/exploring-judaism.html or contact learning@orh.ca.  

November JED Talk: Organ Donation
Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, November 10, followed by a JED (Jewish Education and Dialogue program) Talk on "Organ Donation - My Experience with a Medical Miracle," presented by Laura Doliner. Organ donation can save many lives, but there is a critical shortage of donors. In Sept 2015 OrH member Laura Doliner donated a kidney on behalf of her husband, who has an inherited kidney disorder. In this talk, Laura will present the current situation regarding the need for donor organs, and describe her experience as a living donor.

Upcoming Services and Events

Shabbat-Around-the-Table
Friday, October 27
OrH members welcome new and old members, their friends and family to each other's homes for a pot-luck shabbat meal and celebration. Held on the fourth Friday of every month. For information on this month’s Shabbat visit https://www.orh.ca/sat.html or contact Jan at jjottawa@hotmail.com. 
 
BaMa'gal B'nei Mitzvah Group
Friday, October 27, 2017
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Rooms 5-6, lower level of Unitarians
Shabbat dinner and activities for families with children planning a bar or bat mitzvah within the next two years and youth who have recently had a bar or bat mitzvah in the past 12 months. For more information visit the www.orh.ca/bmg.html.
 
New Member Shabbat and Member Connections Lunch
Saturday, November 4, 2017
9:45 AM - 1:45 PM, Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
We welcome new OrH members at this morning’s service, followed by a vegetarian pot-luck lunch with special activities designed to help long-time, recent, and new members get to know one another. Come for the service at 9:45 or join us just for lunch at 12:00. Child care will be available from 9:45 - 1:45.
 
Roots and Reflections
Sunday, November 5, 2017
9:45 AM - 11:30 AM, Member's home, RSVP required
A Jewish Mindfulness Meditation activity. For more information visit www.orh.ca/jmm.html, or email mindfulness@orh.ca .
 
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday, November 9, 2017
7:15 PM - 9:15 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
A community learning activity with the guidance of Or Haneshamah's spiritual leader, Rabbi Liz Bolton. 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. No fee. More information at www.orh.ca/jmm.html
 
Kabbalat Shabbat and JED Talk
Friday, November 10, 2017
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
Kabbalat Shabbat followed by potluck vegetarian supper and JED Talk - Jewish Education and Dialogue program: "Organ donation - My experience with a medical miracle."

Reconstructionist News
 
Learning Networks
OrH Members may be interested in participating in one of the many Reconstructionist Learning Networks offered by the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities. Reconstructionist Learning Networks connect you with people across geography and perspectives to explore the questions that matter to you and your community. More than 15 Reconstructionist Learning Networks are being launched this year to facilitate relationships, learning and action around questions such as: How do we live an integrated approach to our spiritual lives and the work of social justice? How can Jewish stories help families live Jewish values? What does continuing to reconstruct Judaism in our communities look like?  For a list of the wide range of Networks for 2017-18 and how to register – all available at no cost to OrH members – visit https://www.jewishrecon.org/networks.
 
Reconstructionism Today
The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: http://eepurl.com/c3bDXP.
 
Reconstructionist Spring 2018 Trip to Israel
For information on the The Jewish Reconstructionist Communities upcoming a trip to Israel in March 2018 visit www.tinyurl.com/reconisrael2018. 

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
 
* Drivers needed for Jewish Family Services program: We have 3 clients requiring transportation in order to attend an Adult Day Program for dementia-sufferers at JFS on Carling Ave., Wednesdays from 11:00am – 3:00pm. Ideally, we will find 1 driver to bring 2 passengers from the Glebe and Byward Market areas TO the program, another to bring 1 passenger in Hunt Club, and either the same or another 2 drivers to RETURN them home afterwards. Consistency is important, as are reminder calls.  613.722.2225, ext.315 to help with this important mitzvah.
 
* Chanting and Chocolate at Temple Israel on Monday, October 30, 7:30-9pm. Join in sacred Hebrew chanting with beautiful melodies and spiritual intention to open the heart and connect with the Divine. Hebrew knowledge is not required – chant sheets are provided. After the chanting, enjoy tea and home-baked, triple-chocolate brownies. $10 suggested donation to help five Ugandan orphans to go to school. Contact Lorne at lorne.mallin@gmail.com or 604-222-3379.
 
* The Semer Ensemble will be giving a performance of Rescued Treasure in commemoration of Kristallnacht, Thursday evening, November 9, 7:30-9:30 pm. A Treasury of Jewish music almost forgotten: repertoire from 1930s Berlin recorded by Hirsch Lewin on the Semer label later destroyed by the Nazis on this day in 1938. The collection, painstakingly reconstructed sixty years later from private collections around the world, is given life anew by the virtuosic Semer Ensemble. Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Ave. at Bank  (across the street from the Sunnyside library.), $30 adults / $15 students. Buy tickets online at http://bit.ly/2xkzQgR.  
 
* “The Jewish Heroes of Warsaw: The Afterlife of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.” A lecture by Dr. Avinoam Patt, Philip D Feltman Professor of Modern Jewish History, Associate Director at the Maurice Greenberg Centre for Judaic Studies, University of Hartford, November 9, 2017, 4:00- 5:15 p.m., University of Ottawa, Desmarais Hall, Room 1130 (DMS 1130), 55 Laurier Avenue East. RSVP required: chesatcarleton@gmail.com. 
 
* Launch of Holocaust Education Month: A Program in Memory of Kristallnacht: “From Destruction to Rebirth: The Return of Life in the Jewish DP Camps.” Lecture by Dr. Avinoam Patt, November 9, 2017, 7pm at Kehillat Beth Israel,
1400 Coldrey Avenue, Ottawa. All welcome to attend.
 
* The Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) at Carleton University has made available a video recording of their recent event launching the opening of the National Holocaust Memorial. To see the ceremony, visit: https://carleton.ca/ches/from-vision-to-reality.
 
Please join the Multifaith Housing Initiative on Sunday, November 19, 2017, at Ottawa City Hall, the Jean Pigott Place, to celebrate National Housing Day. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Lindy Samson, Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer at CHEO. The celebration will start with sacred Aboriginal drumming, followed by presentation from Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Hindu and Christian traditions, including our own Rabbi Liz Bolton, and presentation of awards for the winning Tulipathon banners. The afternoon will end with a lively performance by the Colour of Diversity Marimba Players and refreshments.
 
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.