OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

June 26, 2018

Upcoming Services and Events

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 to amiram.pick@gmail.com.

Reconstructionist News
 
Experience Camp Havaya Family Camp
FAMILY CAMP at CAMP HAVAYA is a great way to get a taste of what this wonderful camp is like. It's an easy drive, and you are certain to have an unforgettable experience! https://camphavaya.org/family-camp. 
 
Convention
Last chance to register at early-bird pricing for the Reconstructing Judaism Convention, November 15-18, 2018 in Philadelphia. Early-bird registration closes on June 30th. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/y86k3pbq. 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 https://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
 
Special Screening of "Ben-Gurion, Epilogue," Wednesday, June 27
7 - 9 pm, at the Mayfair Theatre. Sponsored by the Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (CABGU). Contact Michele Richman at 514-937-8927 x101 or 1-833-809-3848 (toll free) or visit 1074 Bank St.
 
Yarchei Kallah 2018, July 2-7, 8 am - 9:30 pm. JET's Yarchei Kallah: Jewish Educational Extravaganza is a week of great morning and evening classes and lunch & learns. Guest speaker, Rabbi Michael Skobac, Director of Education at Jews for Judaism is an expert on cults and missionaries. Come for one class or an entire series, enjoy a lunch & learn or attend the Shabbaton at the end of it all. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y94q728r or contact Sierra Cwinn at 613-695-4800 or info@jetottawa.com. Morning classes and Lunch & Learns at Hillel Lodge, Evening classes at Soloway JCC, Shabbaton at Congregation Beit Tikvah (Craig Henry).
 
The Embassy of Israel in Canada is pleased to present the Focus Israel series at the 2018 Ottawa Jazz Festival! Focus Israel is a series of five concerts showcasing the finest Israeli artists with major international reputations. These artists will be performing throughout this year’s Jazz Festival. See the Focus Israel Series lineup here: https://tinyurl.com/y9yrkhds. 
 
Community Opportunities
 
Friendly Visitors urgently needed for JFS clients!

1. Active senior looking for a female volunteer with a car to take her on outings like bowling, JCC Library, AJA 50+ programs, coffee dates, etc. Carling/Preston area.
2. Senior with mobility issues is looking for a visitor who can help with her gardening. Every 2 weeks or so. JFS neighbourhood.
3. Man with mental health challenges needs transportation only for groceries/banking/errands every second week, during morning hours. 1-2 hours maximum commitment. Very flexible on dates. Vanier area.

To help: 613.722.2225, ext. 315.
 
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. All documentation must be received no later than July 13, 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
Interim President (until Dec 2018): Monica, president@orh.ca
Treasurer: Jacob, treasurer@orh.ca
Interim Secretary (until Dec 2018): Martine, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: David, communications@orh.ca
Learning: Michael, learning@orh.ca
Membership: Barbara, membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large (Shabbat-Around-the-Table): Jan, member-at-large.jan@orh.ca
Member-at-Large (Hesed/Caring Committeee): Jean, member-at-large.jean@orh.ca
Member-at-Large (Membership): Sharon, member-at-large.sharon@orh.ca
Interim Member-at-Large (until Dec 2018): Halina, member-at-large.halina@orh.ca
Past President: Paula, 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.