OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

23 April 2019

Guf Va'Nafesh
 
Please note that next month's Guf Va'Nafesh/Body-Mind-Spirit integration class will now take place on Wednesday May 8 (not May 1), at 7:30 in Room 5. Given that a number of our members are recovering from injuries and surgeries, May's class will focus entirely on healing. More information is available at https://www.orh.ca/gufvanafesh.
 
For participants who would like to stay in touch on social media and keep the conversation going between classes, join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/orhaneshamah/

Upcoming Services and Events

Shabbat Around the Table
Friday, April 26, 2019
We still need a host: Please contact jjottawa@hotmail.com.
 
Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, May 4, 2019
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM, Fellowship Hall
 
Roots and Reflections
Sunday, May 5, 2019
9:45 AM - 11:30 AM, at member's home, RSVP required. More info at https://www.orh.ca/rr.html
 
BaMa'gal B'nei Mitzvah Group
Sunday, May 5, 2019
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Room 5
 
Chanting and Chocolate
Sunday, May 5, 2019
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5

Guf Va'Nafesh: Mind-Body-Spirit Integration Class
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Room 5

Reconstructionist News

Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations, an initiative of Reconstructing Judaism, seeks to promote the ongoing evolution of the Jewish community by launching conversation about the urgent issues of our day. This platform offers conversation-sparking essays from thought-leading rabbis, lay leaders and creators. Explore the best thinking on pressing, contemporary questions. Visit the website here [http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/]. You can also read the inaugural issue of their monthly newsletter here [https://mailchi.mp/d60d3cc19439/groundbreaking-jewish-conversations-with-evolve-488023]

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

Learn to Read Hebrew in Two Weeks. Tamar Kamionkowski, professor of Bible at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, is offering a FREE online Hebrew course: you will learn how to pronounce every Hebrew letter and vowel. By the end of the course you will be reading from the prayer book and the Bible in Hebrew! Devote 10 minutes three days a week and you'll be able to sound out any Hebrew word in two weeks. Visit https://kamionkowski-bet-midrash.teachable.com/p/the-hebrew-alphabet-and-how-to-read

In The Ottawa Community
* = New item this week
 
Community Events and Announcements
 
Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration, May 1, 7 - 9 pm, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. Community Yom HaShoah commemoration featuring survivor Elly Gotz. Elly Gotz is a Holocaust survivor, a retired engineer, a businessman and a pilot. His story focuses on teaching tolerance and an understanding of the conditions that bring about genocide. Elly will share his remarkable life experiences, which include living in Norway and Africa before immigrating to Canada. RSVP appreciated to Lindsay at lgottheil@jewishottawa.com or 613-798-4696 x355
 
March of the Living Information Session, May 6, 7 - 9 pm, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. Please join March of the Living Committee Chair Allan Shefrin as well as alumni and their parents to learn more about this life-changing experience for students entering Grades 10-12 during the 2020 school year.
Chaperone applications are now being accepted. Contact Lindsay Gottheil at 613-798-4696 x355 or lgottheil@jewishottawa.com
 
A Celebration of Music, May 5, 2 - 3:30 pm, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. Featuring the 65 member Ottawa Community Concert Band, The Soloway JCC Ottawa Jewish Chorus and Cantor Jason Green and the Kehillat Beth Israel Congregation Choir. Contact Roslyn Wollock at rwollock@jccottawa.com
 
Na'amat Ottawa Spring Into Health 2019, May 5, 2 - 4 pm, at This is Healthful, 16-2150 Robertson Rd, Bells Corners. Na'amat Ottawa's fifth annual health-related fundraiser encourages local participants to lead a healthier lifestyle, while supporting Na'amat's many services for women, children and families in Israel and Canada. The program will include lectures on plant-based eating with zero food waste, mindfulness and finding emotional balance in life. There will be a silent auction and refreshments. Tickets: $25 by emailing ottawa.info@naamat.com or call 613 788-2913. Contact Marilyn Schwartz at 613-828-4488 or marilyn_sch1970@yahoo.ca
 
Community Wide Yom HaZikaron Ceremony, May 7, 7 - 8:30 pm, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt.. Memorial ceremony for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Contact Ella Dagan at edagan@jccottawa.com
 
Yom Ha'atzmaut Flag-Raising Ceremony, May 9, 11:15 am, Ottawa City Hall's Marion Dewar Square, 110 Laurier Ave. Help us pay tribute to Israel's 71st birthday with a flag raising ceremony. A bus will be available to take people to and from the event and will leave the SJCC at 10:30 am. If you are interested in taking the bus please contact Ella to reserve your spot at 613-798-9818 x 243 or edagan@jccottawa.com.
 
Yom Ha'Atzmaut Celebration, May 9, 5 - 9 pm, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. Celebrate Israel's 71st Birthday with Israeli food and fun for the whole family. Featuring Israeli DJ Lahit Barosh, delicious food from Babi's (for purchase, cash only), children's entertainment. Contact Ella Dagan at edagan@jccottawa.com.
 
*Canadian Friends of Peace Now presents an evening with Shaqued Morag, Executive Director of Peace Now, speaking on, “Grassroots Activism to Avert the Abyss: Fighting Annexation, Saving the Two-State Vision.” Wednesday, May 15, 7:30 PM, at SJCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. RSVP to info@peacenowcanada.org. Free admission, donations welcome. 

Community Opportunities

*Creative Connections Coordinator – Part-Time Contract Position (1 Year with potential to renew). Creative Connections is a unique, weekly Jewish full-day social and recreational program geared to cognitively-well, ‘older’ seniors generally in the 75+ age group.  The position of Creative Connections Coordinator is available for a dynamic, community-minded individual who enjoys working with elderly seniors and has strong administrative and organizational skills.
 
The Creative Connections Coordinator is responsible for the overall management and successful delivery of the Creative Connections program held on 30 Tuesdays throughout the year.
 
For more information, please indicate your interest to execdir@aja50plus.ca.  You will be sent a complete program and job description. The closing date is May 8, 2019.

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.