OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

14 August 2018

MACANEH SHABBAT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Registration for the 2018-19 Machaneh Shabbat is now open. An engaging and enriching program is currently being planned and we look forward to seeing you and your children in September. If you have any friends with school age children looking for a unique Jewish education experience, tell them about Machaneh Shabbat! For more information visit https://www.orh.ca/machaneh-shabbat or contact educator@orh.ca.

Sing in the Key of Awe for the New Year
Everyone is welcome to join the OrH INSTANT CHOIR for our Rosh Hashanah morning, Kol Nidre evening, and Yom Kippur morning services this fall. Rehearsals start August 16 on the lower level at 30 Cleary Avenue. Full schedule at https://www.orh.ca/event/instant-choir18. 

This is a soul-full and heartfelt way to contribute to our services, and has been a highlight for many. Ability to read music NOT required – just bring your joy of singing (and a pencil!). Let Rabbi Liz know if you are planning to attend at rabbi@orh.ca.

Calling all Selihot Singers
Join the cadre of singers who grace the bimah alone (or in pairs) to lead one or more of the musical liturgical passages of the High Holy Days. Rabbi Liz is eager to welcome voices new and voices old! If you just love singing Avinu Malkeynu or one of the other passages in the mahzor, please share your ruach/spirit. Email rabbi@orh.ca. 

High Holy Days Schedule
The full schedule of this year's High Holy Day services and events is now available on the OrH Website. We will shortly be sending out invitations to our past Tishrey visitors and guests to join us again this year. If you have immediate family members who are not covered by a household membership or have friends or family visiting from out-of-town, they may attend our services for only $36 per person per holiday. Registration should be done online at www.orh.ca/form/tishrey-guest-2018  (member account login required).

Rosh Hashanah Potluck
If you are planning to attend the lunch on Rosh Hashanah, we would appreciate if you could bring a food offering. A link to the electronic sign-up sheet can be found on the High Holiday information page ( https://www.orh.ca/high-holy-day-events.html )  or directly at https://tinyurl.com/y8hbrexu.

Upcoming Services and Events
 
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Sunday, September 9, 2018
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Fellowship Hall.
 
Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Monday, September 10, 2018
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Sanctuary, followed by Potluck lunch in Fellowship Hall.
 
Tashlich
Monday, September 10, 2018
5:30 PM - 5:45 PM, location TBA.
 
Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
9:30 AM, Room 5, Lower level Unitarians.

Reconstructionist News
 
Exciting Opportunity for Emerging Reconstructionist Leaders
The Shapiro Fellowship for Emerging Reconstructionist Leaders
is designed to engage young adults (ages 22-35) in the Reconstructionist movement and to enhance their ability to shape the future as the next generation of community leaders. Over the next year, participants will study together, share ideas and create meaningful opportunities for ongoing connection.
 
Applicants selected as 2018-19 Fellows will come together, in person, at the November movement-wide convention in 2018, and will continue meeting virtually throughout the year to deepen their shared identity, support each other's local projects and work together to identify the collective needs of their cohort. Convention attendance by Fellows is required for participation in the program and will be subsidized.
 
Established through the generosity of Don and Arlene Shapiro, this pilot fellowship project will cover the full price of Convention registration for ten Reconstructionist-identified young people, as well as the cost of a shared hotel and a travel allowance. During the 4-day convention, participants will convene as a cohort for facilitated conversations and in-depth learning, with access to the opportunities of the full Convention.
 
Who can participate? If you're a layperson or staff member between the ages of 22-35, identify as a Reconstructionist, and are committed to offering your talent and energy to your Jewish community, you are invited to apply.
 
Apply online at https://reconstructionistevents.wufoo.com/forms/p1s4j1og13tccvu/? by August 31, 2018. Applicants will be notified by September 7. 
 
New program or young adults to travel to Israel: Urban Kibbutz Social Change
Reconstructing Judaism has asked us to share with you information on a new program for young adults (ages 20-30) that provides financial subsidies for all participants: Urban Kibbutz Social Change. The program is run by Ameinu in cooperation with Dror Israel, the largest urban kibbutz movement in Israel. Participants live communally in Haifa, volunteer in a range of social action settings alongside their Israeli counterparts, study Hebrew and tour around Israel. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8rmtd62 or contact Kenneth Bob at kennethbob@gmail.com (and let him know you heard about the program from your shul by way of Affiliate Support at Reconstructing Judaism).
 
Join the Tikkun Olam Commission
Reconstructing Judaism's Tikkun Olam Commission is currently seeking new members who are passionate about social justice and reflect the diversity of the movement. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yaxdewqk. 
 
Reconstructionism Today
The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ydce3wxy. 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
 
Pride Weekend Activities. Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Dr, is holding a Pride Kabbalat Shabbat and pot luck dinner on Friday, August 24 at 6:30.To RSVP for the potluck contact Robin at rmchernick@rogers.com. For more information contact Hal at halburnham@gmail.com. There will also be a Jewish contingent marching in the Pride Parade on Sunday, August 26. All members of the community are invited. Contact Hal at halburnham@gmail.com for more information.
 
Learn to Read Hebrew. Have you always wanted to learn to read Hebrew? Now is your chance! Join Rabbi Deborah Zuker for a 6-week crash course in Hebrew reading. Designed for beginners with no previous knowledge of Hebrew, this course will walk you through each of the letters and vowels, and develop your ability to successfully read and decode Hebrew. Meetings will be Tuesday mornings, October 9th through November 13th, 9:30-10:30am at Kehillat Beth Israel. Cost: $18 for Hebrew workbook. To register or for more information, please e-mail Rabbi Zuker at rabbizuker@kehillatbethisrael.com. Registration deadline is August 31st; the course will only take place with minimum of 8 students, so if you are interested please be in touch soon.
 
OrH member Lorne Mallin’s next monthly potluck Shabbat dinner this Friday will be his last before he leaves at the end of the month for Vancouver, and then on to Tokyo for what could be the next three or four years to continue helping OrH member Lisa Mallin and her family. You're invited to come Friday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 at his Sandy Hill home at Rideau and Cumberland. Warm and friendly with singing and chanting. Instruments welcome. Bring a veggie, dairy or fish 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.
 
Community Opportunities
 
The Gamliel Institute has announced a new course being offered this October. It is the Nechamah course (“Comfort” – both of the sick and of mourners), which is Course #4 in the series. The class begins on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 and meets on Tuesdays for 12 weeks, with the last class on December 25. You can sign up at: http://www.jewish-funerals.org/gamreg.
 
The goal of the course is to provide practical skills for some of the more difficult situations we encounter in our Chevrah Kadisha work. For example, we have a session for practical skills for nichum aveilim (comforting mourners) and bikkur cholim (visiting the sick). Other topics discussed include “aging Jewishly,” challenging situations, and some issues around cremation. We will discuss how we relate to families, and how we use prayer and song in the work of comforting. The practical facets of advance directives and organ donation are covered. One of the most important elements of our Nechamah course is the opportunity for each student to examine his/her feelings and ideas about death, and to share them with other students. Our work with our Chevrah Kadisha groups will have more meaning, and will be more effective, if we have come to terms with our personal mindsets about death.

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.