OrH Newsletter

Or Haneshamah - Ottawa's Reconstructionist Community

June Shabbat(s)-Around-the-Table

For June 23rd, we have THREE dinners. This is amazing! The first dinner has already filled up. Gary Stein and Jacki Lyons would love to welcome people into their home for their first official Shabbat around the table. They live in old Ottawa South. They can host up to six people. If you would like to attend please email Jacki at j_riva@sympatico.ca . Those attending can help plan the meal with Jacki and Gary.
 
Our other host is Tana Saler who lives in Kanata. She would like people to bring their favourite dish, along with a little story as to why they chose it. Fish and chicken are fine. Tana's email is tana.saler@rogers.com .

Shabbat around the table is held on the fourth Friday of each month, a chance for OrH members to host a Friday night Shabbat dinner in their home. The host(s) set the table and supply the Challah, wine/grape juice and candles, and guests fill the table with their energy and potluck contributions. All are welcome. Dinners can be from 2 to 22, or even more. If you are interested in hosting a Shabbat for July 28 or August 25 please contact Jan at jjottawa@hotmail.com.

Visit to our Sibling Congregation in Montreal 

OrH Members have been invited by Dorshei Emet, the Reconstructionist synagogue in Montreal, for Shabbat Morning services on June 17, 18 Rue Cleve, Hampstead, QC H3X 1A6.
 
For those who are interested in spending the afternoon in Montreal, we
have arranged for a walking tour of Jewish Montreal, beginning at 2:30
(meeting place to be confirmed). If you are planning to join us for any
part of the day, please let us know so that we can let the Kiddush crew
and our tour guide know how many of us to expect ( info@orh.ca ).

Upcoming Services And Events

Jewish Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday, June 8, 2017
7:15 PM - 9:15 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
A community learning activity with the guidance of Rabbi Liz. Open to all who want to explore, learn, grow and share mindfulness experience with a Jewish perspective - Affiliation with a Jewish organization is not required. No RSVP required. Come to one, some or all of the sessions. No fee - We encourage free will offerings to maintain access to the space and seed the establishment of a fund to subsidize attendance at future Jewish-Buddhist retreats. Visit the Mindfulness Meditation Page at www.orh.ca/jmm.html
  
Kabbalat Shabbat and JED Talk
Friday, June 9, 2017
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5, lower level of Unitarians
Kabbalat Shabbat followed by potluck vegetarian supper and JED Talk - Jewish Education and Dialogue program. This evening long time OrH member Rochelle Handelman, an accomplished and award-winning fibre artist who has worked in the areas of crewelwork, cross-stitch, canvas work, hardanger, huck embroidery, beadwork, embroidery-on-paper and plastic canvas, will show some of her handiwork and explain what words like "hardanger" actually mean. Rochelle along with other OrH members created our Torah and Ark covers for regular Shabbat services and for the HHDs. Most recently, she has designed and stitched our OrH nametag.
 
Shabbat-Around-the-Table
Friday, June 23, 2017
OrH members welcome new and old members, their friends and family to each other's homes for a pot-luck shabbat meal and celebration. Held on the fourth Friday of every month. See notice in today's newsletter for more information and to RSVP.

Member News

Celebrate Shabbat with Lorne. New OrH member Lorne is hosting a monthly Shabbat potluck dinner in Sandy Hill on the third Friday of the month. This month it's on the 16th, from 6:30 pm. A warm, musical evening with songs and chanting; instruments encouraged. $5 donation suggested to support five Abayudaya Jewish orphans in Uganda. $3.50 all-evening parking a block away. RSVP to lorne.mallin@gmail.com. Lorne also hosts a monthly "Chanting and Chocolate" at Temple Israel on the last Monday of every month. Look for future notices.

Reconstructionist News

Read the May edition of Reconstructionism Today, the monthly newsletter of the Jewish Reconstruction Community: eepurl.com/cQJcMz.

In The Ottawa Community

* = New item this week
 
* Federation Annual General Meeting, Wednesday, June 14, 7-9pm at the SJCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private. Meeting is open to the public. Please bring photo ID to enter the building. RSVP: Rachel Abenhaim at rabenhaim@jewishottawa.com or 613-798-4696 x236.
 
* Volunteer needed: Elderly male client in the Lincoln Fields area is looking for a male companion to go on outings and get a break from caregiving. Movies, coffee, AJA 50+ programs… Weekdays; weekly or bi-weekly. Mobility is somewhat limited, but improving. 613.722.2225, ext. 315 to help.
 
* Kosher Day at the Ballpark! Sunday, June 18, 12-4pm. 12 pm - Tailgate, catered by Creative Kosher Catering, 1:35 pm - Opening Pitch. Come celebrate Father's Day with a KOSHER day at the Ballpark featuring the Ottawa Champions vs. the Cuban National Team! $18/adult, $10/child 3+, FREE/children under 3. Each paid ticket comes with a Kosher meal including hot dog, pogo, fries, and a drink. Veggie options and extra meals available upon registration! Open to the community - ALL AGES WELCOME! Contact Staci Zemlak-Kenter: staci.zemlak@gmail.com or 613-792-4827. RCGT Park, 300 Coventry Rd. 
 
March of the Living Chaperones needed. Currently seeking chaperones for the April 2018 March of the Living trip. For more information contact Natalie at nabenhaim@jewishottawa.com , or 613-798-4696 ext. 355.
 
Jewish Galicia: Vibrant Past Rediscovered. Speaker Andrew Zalewski brings to life the Jewish community of Galicia between the years 1772-1918. His personal genealogical discoveries are intertwined with a larger historical context to provide a story of many contrasts: poverty mixes with opportunities and separateness with acculturation. The talk is based on the expanded research carried out for Zalewski's recently published Galician Portraits: In Search of Jewish Roots. Thursday, June 15, 7 - 9 pm at the SJCC. For more information contact Roslyn Wollock at 613-798-9818 x254, or rwollock@jccottawa.com .
 
March of the Living Info session for Prospective Students will take place Monday, June 12 at 7pm at the SJCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private - Social Hall A. This is for students who will be in Grades 10, 11, 12 during the 2017-2018 school year. The trip leaves April 2018. For more information, please contact Natalie at nabenhaim@jewishottawa.com , or 613-798-4696 ext. 355. Also, if anyone is interested in chaperoning please contact Natalie.
 
The Jewish Federation's Volunteer Centre is looking for volunteers to assist with a wide range of activities in the community. There is something for everyone. For a complete list of opportunities visit jewishottawa.com/volunteering . Help give back! Volunteers help make our community strong! For more information contact lkaufman@jewishottawa.com  or call Leslie Kaufman at 613-798-4696, ext. 297

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:

Donations toward ongoing congregational operations:

• General donations, which fund programming, rabbinic leadership, and essential administrative costs.
• Donations in honour of, or in memory of, a person or event. All such donations are acknowledged through the Or Haneshamah card program, which sends notices of donation and a personalized message to a designated recipient.

Targeted donations:

• Dedication of ritual objects and books. We are currently seeking donations of $54 for each new copy of our Machzor (high holiday prayer book). Donations will be recognized by bookplates that may be in honour of, or in memory of, a person or event.
• Gita Taub Education Fund, which supports educational programming and access for members who would otherwise be unable to afford participation in Or Haneshamah or other valuable activities. Our present focus for disbursements from the fund is OrH’s new Machaneh Shabbat (Shabbat Camp) for primary school-aged children, which launched in September.
• Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Donations that the Rabbi gives to people in need or to support charities the Rabbi deems important.

Please make any of the above donations through the website by clicking on the "Donate" menu item.

Or Haneshamah Endowment Fund

• Established in May 2016, the Endowment Fund is a pool of financial assets that is invested to provide a reliable and ongoing source of income for our community's activities. Annual payouts from the fund go into Or Haneshamah's general revenues. Donations are made through the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation (OJCF) online at www.ojcf.ca or by telephone at 613-798-4696 ext 274.
   

Thank you for your generosity and support of OrH!

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.

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,  communications@orh.ca
Secretary: David,  secretary@orh.ca
Membership: Janet,  membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Lina,  member-at-large.lina@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Gail,  member-at-large.gail@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.