OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

February 13, 2018

Purim Celebration
This year we celebrate Purim with our friends at Temple Israel. Megillah reading and Purim Schpiel on February 28 at 7 pm. OrH members are welcome to attend Temple's Persian Purim Feast (shwarma or falafel dinner) at 6 pm. The cost for dinner is $18 for adults/$10 for children. If you wish to attend the dinner, please RSVP to: reception@templeisraelottawa.com or 613-224-1802.

June Tri-City Shabbaton
We are planning a Shabbaton for June 15-17 at a camp in the Laurentians
with participants from Reconstructionist communities in Ottawa, Toronto,
and Montreal. It would be a huge help if you could please take a minute to
answer the 3 questions through this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KXWVH2M.
 
If you are interested in being part of the planning committee, willing to
lead a service, facilitate a program, help with the cooking, or any other
kind of logistical support, please email Paula at info@orh.ca.

Host Shabbat-Around-The-Table
If you are interested in welcoming members into your home for Shabbat-Around-the-Table on February 23, please contact Jan at jjottawa@hotmail.com. Shabbat-Around-the-Table, held on the fourth Friday of each month, is a chance for OrH members to host a Friday night shabbat dinner at their home. The hosts set the table and supply the challah, grape juice, and candles, and guests fill the table with their energy and pot-luck contributions to the meal. OrH Members and non-members are welcome to attend. More info at https://www.orh.ca/sat.html. 

Save the Date: Reconstructing Judaism Info Session
Join us on Sunday morning, February 25 to welcome Tresa Grauer, head of Affiliate Support for Reconstructing Judaism in Philadelphia. Tresa will speak about the new identity of the Reconstructionist movement and tell us about the upcoming convention in Philadelphia in November. Details TBA.

Upcoming Services and Events
 
Reconstructing Judaism Info Session
Sunday morning, February 25, 2018
Time and Location TBA
 
BaMa'gal B'nei Mitzvah Group
Saturday, February 24, 2018
5:00 PM - 8:30 PM, lower level Unitarians
Potluck Shabbat dinner and movie night! For more info contact timnagw@gmail.com.
 
Purim Celebration
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Dr
Celebrate Purim with our friends at Temple Israel. Megillah reading and Purim Schpiel at 7 pm. OrH members are welcome to attend Temple's Persian Purim Feast (shwarma or falafel dinner) at 6 pm. The cost for dinner is $18 for adults/$10 for children. If you wish to attend the dinner RSVP to: reception@templeisraelottawa.com or 613-224-1802.
 
Shabbat Morning with Torah Service
Saturday, March 3, 2018
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
Shaharit service of morning blessings and songs, including Torah service, a participatory discussion of the day’s portion, followed by Kiddush/pot luck luncheon.
 
Roots and Reflections
Sunday, March 4, 2018 
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.

Reconstructionist News
 
The Recon Movement has a New Name
Following a yearlong process, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College &
Jewish Reconstructionist Communities has adopted a new name: Reconstructing Judaism. Moving forward, Reconstructing Judaism will be the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement that encompasses the rabbinical seminary, serves congregations, and fosters a Reconstructionist approach to Judaism in the wider world. The rabbinical seminary will become the College for Reconstructing Judaism at the close of the academic year. Stay tuned for more about that at a later date. Click here to read the formal announcement. Click here for an FAQ about the change. More info on the new Recon website: www.reconstructingjudaism.org.
 
Reconstructionism Today
The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: http://bit.ly/2BrXWev. The archive of back issues are available at: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/article/newsletter-archive. 

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week

* Shabbat Dinner. Come enjoy Lorne Mallin's homemade hamantaschen and other treats at his Sandy Hill home for a warm and tuneful Shabbat potluck dinner February 16 at 6:30pm. Lorne hosts these Shabbats on the 3rd Friday of every month. Bring a veggie or dairy dish to share and $5 for the support of Abayudaya Jewish orphans in Uganda. Email lorne.mallin@gmail.com to RSVP and for location details.
 
Also, be sure to mark your calendars for Lorne’s monthly Chanting and Chocolate gathering at Temple Israel on Monday, February 26, 7:30-9pm. Join in sacred Hebrew chanting with beautiful melodies and spiritual intention to open the heart and connect with the Divine. Lorne Mallin is joined by Ottawa musical friends. 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 Ugandan orphans to go to school. Contact Lorne at lorne.mallin@gmail.com or 604-222-3379.
 
Follow Your Heart, Sunday, March 4, 9 - 11:40 am. We know that Federation donors give from the heart with the sincere desire of making a difference. "Follow Your Heart" allows you to see that difference and visit the beneficiary agencies supported by the Annual Campaign, so you can witness firsthand, the work being accomplished because of your generosity. The morning will start with breakfast at the Soloway JCC. Then we will visit three other funded agencies; Ottawa Jewish Community School, Tamir and Hillel Lodge. You followed your heart and made a gift - now join us to see how you made a DIFFERENCE.The tour is free and includes breakfast, but space is limited. Please register with Solange at sashe@jewishottawa.com or 613-798-4696 x236
 
Hire an Intern to support Camp B'nai Brith student staff. Could you use an intern for May/June 2018? Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa has recently set up a unique program whereby our staff participate in a 5-6 week internship in their field of study for May/June, and then continue their employment at camp for July/August. It enables the camp to retain staff longer, and the students (1st year university students or older) to gain a summer full of relevant work experience. Please consider offering an internship at your workplace that can be presented to staff. Our staff are hard-working, motivated, and eager to learn and contribute! We hope you will consider partnering with CBB of Ottawa to help grow the next generation of Jewish leaders. If you are able to help or would like more information, please contact Cindy at cindy@cbbottawa.com or 613-244-9210.

Get Involved! Opportunities for Community Involvement
Are you looking to get involved with OrH activities? We are always in need of helping hands with event planning and other activities. All are welcome, including High Schoolers who are looking for community volunteer opportunities. Please contact info@orh.ca or visit the OrH home page (look for the Get Involved! banner). 

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 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.

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 M.,  communications@orh.ca
Secretary: David L.,  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.