OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

May 30, 2018

Words of the Spirit
 
Living In to Jewish Values
 
My daughter attended a Jewish day school for Kindergarten and Grade 1. Early in her first year I volunteered for lunch duty, and had a rude awakening.
 
Blessings before the meal? No opportunity or direction provided. Throughout the meal, the Judaic studies director yelled at the students to talk less and eat. Her top trick for quelling the din was a “contest” at the microphone. Winners would get bubble gum for telling a joke or showing a magic trick, and for those moments there was a little less chaos. At the bell – again, with no call for blessings – the students dashed off, leaving crumpled bags, cartons, and leftovers on the tables and floor. The director and the custodial staff did the clean-up.
 
Missed opportunities for practice and meaning lay scattered and discarded along with the wrappers and crusts. Judaism’s core values, while rooted in sacred words and commentary, are reflected in the actions of Jews. We may be called the people of the book, but our values come to life as they spring off the pages of laws and commentary, through what we do.
 
At every BaMaaGal (“in the circle” or BMG) gathering, whether we share a Shabbat seder, a havdallah gathering, or a Sunday afternoon, our activities explore the sources and meanings of Jewish values, rooted in Torah and lived through the experiences of each teen and their family.
 
This year’s cohort recently considered a list of 18 Jewish Values. The discussion began with the question: why 18? More questions always emerge: how many actually are there? Who decides? Then everyone gets busy matching the values with the Biblical verses in which they are rooted. It’s always a delightful process to see which emerge as the top contenders in any given group (and a tasty treat to eat our “values sundaes” – yummy confections topped with everyone’s preferred “values toppings!”).
 
What I hope ensues will transcend what I can evaluate as an educator or a rabbi, and be deeper than what any Jewish education program, full- or part-time, can provide. It will emerge in the practices of these families, in what changes and grows in each teen as they emerge into their Jewish adulthood. The ritual acts of their forthcoming Bnei Mitzvah are – really – not the point.
 
For each of us individually, and as a community, opportunities to live into values are myriad and multifaceted.   It’s about how we Jew, where we Jew, with whom we Jew. Into and through those actions will flow a profound and intimate connection to those values, and a dynamic understanding of their sources. Let justice flow like water, righteousness like an everlasting stream, exhorted the prophet. Two verses back? I hate, I reject your festival. I take no delight in your assemblies.
 
Well said, Amos. I hear you. We can gather, sing, dance, pray, but I have to be walking the walk. Let that path lead us to meaningful Jewish action, steeped in ritual expression, fully lived in our secular culture, bursting with engagement that radiates our most cherished values.
 
- Rabbi Liz

June JED Talk: Hospice Care in Ottawa
Please join us for our final JED talk of the season on Friday, June 8, at 8pm, following Kabbalat Shabbat services and potluck supper, for a discussion of hospice care in Ottawa led by longtime OrH member Heni Nadel. Feel free to come for dinner at 7:30pm or to join us for dessert and the presentation in Room 5, lower-level Unitarians. Pot-luck dessert contributions are appreciated.

 
Upcoming Services and Events
 
Annual General Meeting
Sunday, May 27, 2018
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Now Room, lower level of Unitarians
 
Bar Mitzvah/Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, June 2, 2018
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Worship Hall/Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
We celebrate a Bar Mitzvah at this morning's torah service. In honour of the occasion, members of the congregation are invited to a host-sponsored Kiddush luncheon in Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Kindly RSVP to gcimon@nac-cna.ca.
 
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 8, 2018
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
Kabbalat Shabbat followed by potluck vegetarian supper and JED Talk - Jewish Education and Dialogue program.
 
JED Talk: Hospice Care in Ottawa
Friday, June 8, 2018
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5, lower level Unitarians
Join us for dessert and discussion about hospice care in Ottawa.
  
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday, June 14, 2018
7:15 PM - 9:15 PM, Room 9, lower level of Unitarians
A learning activity open to all who want to explore, learn, grow and share a 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. 
 
Pre-Summer Shabbat Mini-Fair
Saturday, June 16, 2018
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
Join us at our special Pre-Summer Shabbat Mini-Fair: Shmirat Haguf - Caring for the Body. We’ll read, taste and learn about food, spirituality, Judaism and caring for the body through text study, recipes … and exercise!
 
Bat Mitzvah/Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, June 30, 2018
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Worship Hall/Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
We celebrate a Bat Mitzvah at this morning's torah service. In honour of the occasion, members of the congregation are invited to a host-sponsored Kiddush luncheon in Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. Kindly RSVP by June 20 to amiram.pick@gmail.com.

Reconstructionist News
 
Reconstructing Judaism Convention
Registration for Reconstructing Judaism Convention, November 15-18, 2018 in Philadelphia, is now open at: tinyurl.com/y86k3pbq. Early bird registration is available through June 30th at the price of $595 – only $20 more than the cost of the 2010 Convention! This price will increase to $650 on July 1st. Hotel reservations are open as well. You will be directed to the hotel site on the confirmation email that you will receive after registering for Convention. Convention 2018 hotel rates are on a first-come, first-served basis, and are among the most reasonable rates available in Philadelphia on that weekend.
 
Reconstructing Judaism has limited funds available for individuals who need financial assistance to attend convention. Information about applying for financial aid and donating to the Convention Scholarship Fund is available on the Convention website tinyurl.com/y86k3pbq.
 
Reconstructionism Today
The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: http://eepurl.com/drgFTX. The archive of back issues are available at: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/article/newsletter-archive. 

In The Ottawa Community 
* = New item this week 

Community Events and Announcements

* The Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation is holding its Annual General Meeting, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at 7 pm. Please join us as we hear from guest speaker Gabi Ashkenazi, the former chief of the general staff of the IDF
and current chair of the Rashi Philanthropic Foundation, and as we celebrate the grant and scholarship award recipients. **Note that Rabbi Liz will be giving the D'var Torah at the meeting.** RSVP by May 31 to Sara Miller at 613-798-4696, ext. 252, or smiller@jewishottawa.com.

* Last year the SJCC hosted a very interesting session with Dr. Ron Wolfson who led participants through an interactive presentation on engaging people in Jewish life, including 12 principles of relational engagement, and 9 levels of relationships. Dr. Wolfson announced the publication of his latest work, Beyond Programs: The Relational Judaism Handbook. You can read about the Handbook here:  https://tinyurl.com/yb7yppn7. The Greenberg Families Library in the SJCC is ordering the Handbook (will hopefully be here soon!), and his first book, Relational Judaism is already part of their collection!

* The Federation is hosting a learning session: "Empowering front-line staff and volunteers with information about services in the Jewish community." Presented by staff from Jewish Family Services. Wednesday, June 13, 9-11am, at Kehillat Beth Israel, 1400 Coldrey Ave. Free. RSVP to Sarah Beutel at sbeutel@jewishottawa.com. 

Yad Vashem's FREE new online course, "Antisemitism: From Its Origins to the Present" is now open for registration. This free video course brings together 50 leading researchers and public figures from all over the world – historians, sociologists, linguists, philosophers, and political scientists, as well as policy makers, and religious leaders. Together they explore the development of antisemitism – from its origins to the present. Register at https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/antisemitism/1. 

15th Annual Israeli Film Festival runs from May 24th until June 10th. Five films plus free bonus screenings. All screenings at Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave. To find more details, visit israelifilmfestival.ca.

In Conversation With Jeanne Beker. Discover the many lives of Jeanne Beker, popular media personality, fashion maven, author and descendant of Holocaust survivors, on Monday, June 11, 2018 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Each guest will receive an autographed copy of Joy Runs Deeper, the memoir of Ms. Beker’s parents, published by the Azrieli Foundation. Location: The Singhal Family Theatre, Richcraft Hall, (formerly River Building), Carleton University. Tickets:  $25 - available at carleton.ca/ches/jeanne-beker.

Jewish Family Services is holding a free workshop on aging, Tuesday, June 19, 7-8:30 pm on planning for the future, including wills and powers of attorney. Sessions take place at Jewish Family Services of Ottawa, 300-2225 Carling Ave. To register and more information contact Tal Palgi 613-722-2555 x 481, tpalgi@jfsottawa.ca, or visit http://www.jfsottawa.com/news/aging-planning-for-your-future. 

Community Opportunities

Jewish War Vetarans of Canada, Ottawa Post, is offering two $1,000 scholarships to Jewish students graduating in 2018 from secondary school and entering university in 2018. For application requirements and submission details, please see the flyer at: https://tinyurl.com/y8tecfe7. 

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.