OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

21 May 2019

Munching @ Mount Sinai - Shavuot @ Orh 2019/5779
 
NOW Room & Room 9, 5:30pm-9:30pm, Saturday June 8th
 
Experience some of the tasty, artsy customs for the least-known festival of the Jewish calendar with a Blintz-Off, creating paper “greenery” and sharing the Torah of OrH members at this year’s Tikkun Leyl Shavuot – the celebration of learning that marks the gift of Torah.
 
We’ll enjoy a Taste of Dairy – blitzes and cheesecake, anyone? – a traditionally tasty pot-luck dinner, a creative service of Healing & Remembrance, topped off with a Taste of Torah.
 
The full schedule of festivals is available at orh.ca/event/shavuout19

Support Ottawa's Multifaith Coalition to End Homelessness
 
Or Haneshamah is a proud member of the Multifaith Housing Initiative. MHI's Tulipathon – its annual charity fundraiser to raise money for affordable housing – takes place on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at Commissioners Park. All the proceeds will go toward subsidies for the families and individuals living in the MHI residences.
 
To make a donation on behalf of Or Haneshamah, or to register to participate in the walk, please visit  https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/search.aspx?EID=282471& .

Introducing JTeen
 
OrH is happy to be partnering with Kehillat Beth Israel, Temple Israel, and Ottawa Torah Talmud in support of a new teen engagement program: JTeen. The Grade 8-10 classes will be led by local clergy and educators, including Rabbi Liz. The Grade 11-12 program will be led by Rabbi Kenter of KBI. Both will meet Sunday evenings at KBI. For more information visit orh.ca/jteen.

Upcoming Services and Events
 
Shabbat Around the Table
Friday, May 24, 2019
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Members home, RSVP required. Note we are still looking for a host!
 
Annual General Meeting
Sunday, May 26, 2019
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, NOW Room, Unitarians

Bat Mitzvah/Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, June 1, 2019
9:45 AM - 12:30 PM, Worship Hall/Fellowship Hall, Unitarians
 
Roots and Reflections
Sunday, June 2, 2019
9:45 AM - 11:30 AM, Member's home, RSVP required
 
BaMa'gal B'nei Mitzvah Group
Sunday, June 2, 2019
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Room 5
 
Chanting and Chocolate
Sunday, June 2, 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]

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
     
Shirley Berman Lecture Series - Lilian Bilsky Freiman, May 22, 7:30 - 9 pm, SJCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt.  Shirley Berman Lecture Series - Part 1 Lilian Bilsky Freiman - A Life of Philanthropy. The Ottawa Jewish Historical Society in partnership with the Soloway JCC presents the story of Lilian Bilsky Freiman and her many contributions to our city. Guest speaker for the evening is Dan McKay.
Donations accepted at the door. Contact Roslyn Wollock at 613-798-9818 ext. 254 or roswollock@hotmail.com.
 
Beit Ha’am Journey in Ottawa (in partnership with community organizations), May 23-26. Presented by WZO’s Department for Diaspora Affairs (DDA) and The Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). We invite you to join our interactive community workshops and events to discuss and to experience Israel, its society and the role of Zionism today. Activities and programs at various locations.
For all information, please see https://jewishottawa.com/community-calendar/beit-haam-journey-program-by-canadian-zionist-federation-1552571328.
 
The Future of Canadian Jewry, May 28, 7 pm. Results of exciting new research by Survey of Canadian Jewry Co-Authors Rhonda Lenton, Professor of Sociology, President and Vice-Chancellor of York University, and Robert Brym, SD Clark Professor of Sociology at University of Toronto, Soloway JCC, Hall A, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt. Free of charge, all are welcome. RSVP to Sarah Beutel at sbeutel@jewishottawa.com or
613-798-4696, ext. 253
 
Musica Ebraica Spring Concert, May 28, 7 - 9 pm. Musica Ebraica invites you to its Spring Concert, celebrating 18 years of singing Jewish music. The choir will present a retrospective of music it has performed over the years, including Israeli, Yiddish and Canadian compositions. The concert will also feature a lively Klezmer duo from Montreal. Cost: $20. Contact Toby Yan at Tobyyan@rogers.com or 613-224-4560, https://musicaebraica.ca, Temple Israel, 1300 Prince of Wales Dr.

*Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation's Annual General Meeting. Thursday, June 6, 2019, at 7 pm, Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Pvt.
Social Hall A. Guest Speaker: Bruce Linton, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Canopy Growth Corporation. Desserts, refreshments to be served. RSVP by May 31 to Solange Ashe at sashe@jewishottawa.com or 613-798-4696 x252.

Community Opportunities

There are dozens of people in our community who rely on the JFS Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) program for freshly prepared, nutritious and tasty meals.  A team of KMOW volunteer drivers fan out over the city every Wednesday and Friday delivering the meals, checking in on those who are convalescing or otherwise experiencing frailty. For many, the KMOW volunteer driver represents a connection to a caring community. We have an immediate need for drivers in the South Keys/Hunt Club area, as well as in Barrhaven. Please contact our Volunteer Recruiter George Sladowski at 613-722-2225 ext. 350, or email gsladowski@jfsottawa.com

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.