OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

5 February 2019

Words of the Spirit

Found A System … 
(Sung to the tune of “Found a Peanut”)
 
Tishrey, Heshvan,                           Found a peanut
Kislev, Tevet,                                   found a peanut        
Shvat, Adar,                                     found a pea-
Nisan, Iyar,                                      nut la-ast night
Sivan, Tamuz,                                 la-ast night I
Av, Elul,                                           found a pea-nut
Now our calendar is sung*.             found a peanut la-ast night
 
*Or nuts! (or legumes!) Seriously, the Jewish calendar, and all its variations, can stump the most knowledgeable in the Jewish community.
 
Play this fun Jewish calendar game! Put the following statements in an order that makes sense:

• This is a Jewish leap year, which means an extra month (of Adar). 
• Leap years occur in a 19-year cycle – with an extra month in years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 19. (Sorry, no catchy tune for that – suggestions welcome).
• We follow neither a lunar nor a solar calendar, but a luni solar or intercalated calendar.
• Jewish months follow the moon [29.5 cycles] and last 29 or 30 days.
• Gregorian months follow the sun [30.4 cycles] and last 28, 29, 30 or 31 days.
• Rosh Hodesh, literally, the "head of the month," refers to the new moon, and can last one or two days.
• Jewish months most often begin in the middle of our Gregorian months, giving rise to calendars with the Gregorian date in one corner and the contrasting Jewish calendar date in another - which begin on the previous evening.
• The verse “Observe the month of Spring [Aviv] to perform the Passover ritual” (Deuteronomy 16:1) is the proof text for the additional month of Adar, ensuring that Passover always falls at the correct time of year.

 
Rabbi Michael Strassfeld offers a poetic yet scientifically sound explanation for the duality of our calendar system:

“Historical time is constant linear movement in an upward direction … the unchanging sun is its symbol. Cyclical time is circular and consists of recurring patterns. It is established by nature and is found in the four seasons. Its symbol is the moon with its phases.”

The sun is constant; the moon changes. The calendar is fixed; our lives evolve. Our experiences of the holidays are fluid, yet what we commemorate remains anchored in an ancient and inspired tradition, established in consonance with the skies, our planet and its trajectory through time and space.
 
Hodesh Adar Rishon Tov – Happy Adar-One, 5779.
 
- Rabbi Liz

JED Talk: “The New Far Right”  
For this month’s JED talk, OrH member Dr. Allan Kagedan discusses the New Far Right. (Allan is currently teaching a course on the topic at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre). Learn about how this perspective differs from liberal, conservative, socialist and communist ideologies. Why do the messages of the New Far Right appear to be gaining strength in Canada and in the U.S.?
The JED talk is on Friday, Feb. 8 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Room 5, following Kabbalat Shabbat and a pot luck dinner.

Come Learn About Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan! 
Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983) was the founder of our movement, Reconstructing Judaism. But many of us don’t know much about Rabbi Kaplan’s writings or thought. That’s why we have invited Sydney Nestel, a Kaplan scholar and member of Toronto’s Reconstructionist Darchai Noam synagogue, to deliver two talks on Kaplan:

1. Judaism Without Supernaturalism: An Overview of the Life and Thought of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, Founder of Reconstructionist Judaism
2. The Religion of Ethical Nationhood: Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan on Jewish Peoplehood; A Multiculturalist in the Age of Nationalism

Saturday Feb. 23, 2019 at Unitarians. First talk at 4:15 pm, followed by Havdallah and potluck meal at 5:30, and second talk at 7 pm. 

February Guf Va'Nafesh Rescheduled
The February session of Guf Va'Nafesh – Body-Mind-Spirit Integration class has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 20. Guf Va'Nafesh classes, normally held on the first Wednesday of the month, explores the connections between body and mind. Participants will engage in gentle movement, verbal and non-verbal interaction, conscious breathing styles and visualization. The classes will explore personal and inter-personal development in a Jewish context, translating concepts to direct, embodied experience, towards a deepening of personal fulfillment and community connection. Led by Tana Saler. For more information visit: www.orh.ca/gufvanafesh

Upcoming Services and Events
 
Kabbalat Shabbat 
Friday, February 8, 2019
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5

JED Talk: “The New Far Right” 
Friday, February 8, 2019
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5
 
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday, Feb 14, 2019
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM, Room 5
 
Shabbat Morning Kehillah Service: The OrH Torah Garment Project
Saturday, Feb 16, 2019
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, NOW Room
 
Guf Va'Nafesh: Mind-Body-Spirit Integration Class
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2019
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5

Reconstructionist News

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

Dor Hadash Update
The Reconstructing Judaism website has a beautiful article on how the Dor Hadash congregation in Pittsburgh is dealing with the aftermath of the October 2018 attack. Read the article here. 

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
 
Community Events and Announcements
  
Classic Israeli Film Series: "Operation Sunflower" (2014), February 7, 6:40 - 9 pm at the SJCC. The Embassy of Israel in Canada in partnership with Vered Israel Cultural and Educational Program and CICF are proud to present a winter series of classic Israeli films. 7pm - a short talk by Israeli Cultural Attache to Canada, Itay Tavor, followed by the film. Refreshments will be served. Contact: Ella at edagan@jewishottawa.com
 
Movie: “The Yellow Ticket” - Feb 10, 2 - 4 pm, Temple Israel. A 1918 classic silent movie starring Pola Negri. Original sound track written and performed by Klezmatics co-founder Alicia Svigals (violin) with Merilyn Lerner (piano). Advance ticket purchase recommended. Adults $20; Students $10. Reserve at concerts@templeisraelottawa.ca
 
Jazz Vespers for Valentine's Day at FirstU - Tuesday Feb. 12 2019, 7:30-8:30 PM, 30 Cleary Ave. A contemporary service featuring such standards as Night and Day, Someone to Watch Over Me, It's Only a Paper Moon, and Moonglow. You will also enjoy hearing some readings for Valentine's Day and live painting by Laurie Foster-MacLeod. Freewill donation accepted at the door.

Movie: The Ancestral Sin, Feb 16, 7 - 9 pm, at Kehillat Beth Israel, 1400 Coldrey Ave. Declared a "documentary dynamite" in Israel, this award-winning film reveals the story of Israel's "development towns" as never told before: Testimonials and previously sealed transcripts reveal a method, an ideology and a cruel practice of law enforcement and decision makers behind the "population dispersal" policies in the first two decades of independence. Documentary in Hebrew (with English subtitles). $10/members; $12/non-members. For more info or to RSVP contact Deborah Zuker at rabbizuker@kehillatbethisrael.com
 
Sarah Waisvisz’s solo show returns to Ottawa, Feb 18, 9pm at Arts Court.
Sarah’s show, Monstrous, will be performed for one night only as part of the undercurrents festival’s first ever Industry Showcase event, highlighting work developed through the festival’s play development program. Monstrous premiered at the undercurrents festival in February 2016 and has been performed in Montreal, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Athens GA, and the script has been published by Alt.theatre (13.3).

Heir to the traumatic histories of Africa, the Caribbean, and European Jewry, a woman interrogates who she is and who she could be while navigating family lore, genetics, conflicting histories, and the complexity of being biracial in our “multicultural” Canadian society. An interdisciplinary show for anyone who is also seeking belonging somewhere, somehow…

Tickets for Monstrous 

Community Opportunities
 
Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation Scholarships and Grants
We are proud to offer scholarships and grants with the shared purpose of benefiting our community. The 2019 application process opens today for each of the following awards. GJ Cooper Scholarship Award, Ilana and Steven Rubin Scholarship Award, Norman Lesh Philanthropy Award, Women’s Collective Philanthropy (WCCP) Grant. For more info, contact foundation@jewishottawa.com, 613-798-4696 x252, or visit: https://ojcf.ca/programs_awards

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 Taub 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.

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
Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca
Secretary: Jean, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: David, communications@orh.ca
Learning: Michael, learning@orh.ca
Membership: Barbara, membership@orh.ca
Ritual and Volunteer Co-Coordinator: Sarah, member-at-large-sarah@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Tom, member-at-large.tom@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Sharon, member-at-large.sharon@orh.ca
Member-at-Large (until May 2019): Halina, member-at-large.halina@orh.ca
Past President (until May 2019): Monica, 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.