OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

19 March 2019

Megillah Reading 
Given the unexpected absence of Rabbi Liz and the fact that our community is in mourning for Jonathan Wouk z"l, the Board has decided to cancel the Purim Celebration planned for this week.
 
Instead, we will gather (without costumes) on Wednesday, March 20, at 7pm in Room 5 to share in the mitzvot of hearing the Megillah and giving mishloach manot (by asking for a cash or food donation to the Ottawa Jewish Food Bank). If you are willing to read a particular chapter (in English or from the Hebrew scroll), please contact Sharon at member.at.large-Sharon@orh.ca.

By special request, instead of the traditional use of graggers at the mention of Haman, everyone will be encouraged to ring a bell at the mention of Esther. If you have a small bell, please bring it with you. Desserts/hamantashchen contributions for after the reading are welcome.

Klez 12 
Let’s celebrate Spring together with Klez 12 on Sunday, March 24th at 3:00 p.m. at the SJCC social hall. This is the twelfth year of this great event in support of the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank, and OrH is one of the sponsors. The musical program features Ottawa’s 8-piece klezmer band, A Touch of Klez, with vocalists Rabbi Liz Bolton (an accomplished mezzo-soprano) and Cantor Jason Green of Kehillat Beth Israel. The Musica Ebraica Choir will perform Yiddish tunes, with dancing led by members of the International Folk Dancers of Ottawa. The lively concert will include dancible bulgars, shers and freylachs. Tickets can be purchased from band or choir members and will be available at the door.  

Upcoming Services and Events
  
Megillah Reading
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Room 5

Shabbat-Around-the-Table
Friday, March 22, 2019
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, members home.
For more information contact jjottawa@hotmail.com

Guf Va'Nafesh: Mind-Body-Spirit Integration Class
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Room 5

Reconstructionist News

Reconstructing Judaism Statement on the New Zealand Mosque Attacks 
We have posted an official statement of the movement in response to the New Zealand mosque attacks on the OrH homepage. You can also access the statement at https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/news/statement-new-zealand-mosque-attacks

Reconstructionism Today
The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ydce3wxy. The archive of back issues is available at: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/article/newsletter-archive

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
 
Community Events and Announcements
   
Author Marc Auban will be signing copies of his new book Blight, on March 23 at Coles at the Carlingwood Mall, 11 am-2 pm. Blight is an historical novel that follows the stories of many of Ottawa's Lowertown residents (Jewish, French, Irish), including Lorry Greenberg, fighting the city over expropriations and demolitions in the 1960s, and the continuing battle in the 2000s.
 
Multifaith Housing Initiative 2019 AGM takes place on Sun., Mar. 31 at the Ismaili Muslim Community of Ottawa, 3225 Conroy Rd. Registration begins at 2:30 p.m. OrH is a member of MHI, so OrH members are welcome at the AGM. The Annual Report is also now available at: http://www.multifaithhousing.ca/annual-reports--financial-statements.html

Limmud: Celebrating Jewish Learning, March 31, 9 - 5:30 pm, at SJCC 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. A day celebrating of Jewish life and Jewish learning in all of its diversity by bringing together Jews of all backgrounds and all ages! Visit http://limmudottawa.ca for more information. Contact Jenny Roberge at 613-608-6872 or jenny.roberge@gmail.com

Pushing the Boundaries Conference: Disability, Inclusion in the Jewish Community, April 2, 7-9 pm at KBI, 1400 Coldrey Ave. April 3, 9 am - 3:30 pm at SJCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. The conference will educate diverse constituencies about the barriers faced by people with disabilities, present best practices that foster inclusion, and help to inspire innovation in the Jewish community. Join the discussion about how to remove the many social, economic and physical barriers faced by Jews with disabilities wanting to engage in Jewish life. The Opening Event on April 2 features author Daniel Tammet and inclusion expert Sheryl Christensen.

Presented in partnership by: Tamir, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Federation of Ottawa, and Jewish Ottawa Inclusion Network (JOIN). All are welcome. Deadline March 25. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/yy7rjwo3.  More information at https://jewishottawa.com/our-community/pushing-the-boundaries-conference  or contact Sarah Beutel at 613-798-9818 x243 or sbeutel@jewishottawa.com 

Community Opportunities
 
Friends of English Theatre of the National Arts Centre are organizing a trip to Montreal's Segal Centre for the Performing Arts for a performance of the award-winning play, Indecent by Paula Vogel on May 5, 2019. Indecent recounts the history of the controversial 1906 Yiddish play, Der Got Fun Nekome (The God of Vengeance) by Shalom Asch. Registration is $175. The package includes coach transportation from the Soloway Jewish Community Centre or Downtown, a buffet lunch, a ticket to the matinee performance and post-performance refreshment. Food served will be kosher. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/y69a6uu6 or contact Fran at 613-726-9330 or fetnac@gmail.com or visit fetnac.org. Registration is April 1.

Community Service Awards - Nominate someone today!
Federation has four awards: Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award, Freiman Family Young Leadership Award, Shem Tov Community Volunteer Award and Student Leadership Award. Deadline for nominations is March 29. New this year - easier online nomination process with ability to upload supporting documentation. More info here: https://jewishottawa.com/volunteering/community-service-awards

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.