OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

20 August 2019

Word of the Spirit
 
Marching from Margin to Center
 
[To mark the opening of Capital Pride Week we are reprinting a Words of the Spirit column from August 9, 2016]
 
In the early 1980s, when the AIDS crisis had already begun to cut its wide swath of devastation in the United States, the epidemic was just emerging in Canada. After my dearest high school friend died with AIDS in 1983, I vowed to do something to honour his memory.
 
A few years later, while living in Toronto, I launched the CHAI Project – AIDS education in the Jewish Community. At the same time, I was a volunteer with ACT, the AIDS Committee of Toronto, speaking in the community at large, and developing resource material on AIDS and Judaism for the ACT resource library.
 
I’ll never forget a phone call I placed to the then-director of a Jewish community social service agency, during which he declared, in a tone that was both confident and hostile, that this wasn’t a Jewish issue, and thus he didn’t see why his agency needed to address it.
 
Those of you who work or intersect with the broader Jewish community on other issues may recognize this attitude from your work in the fields of domestic violence, or substance abuse, or other conditions that have been relegated to the margins. We can agree that in these times, for the most part, the Institutional Jewish Community has moved tremendously, integrating programs, allocating resources and moving the issues - as Bell Hooks, the American womanist writer might say - from margin to center.
 
For me, there is no distance between my Jewish and queer identities. That was not always the case. It took some time, mainly through my twenties and early thirties, to recognize that I had been “balkanizing” my identities. Their integration is what led me to rabbinical studies, for it was only as an everything-I-am that I could fully do my work in the world.

The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College was the only seminary I would have considered – then or now:

“Of the four leading Jewish denominations, the Reconstructionist Movement is considered the most consistently welcoming and affirming. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College was the first Jewish seminary to accept openly LGBTQ students, and the Reconstructionist Movement is committed to creating communities that welcome all people, including LGBTQ individuals and their families. The Movement celebrates same-sex marriages, allows LGBTQ ordination, and includes the representation of LGBTQ people in its religious school curricula.

The Reconstructionist Movement welcomes transgender individuals, accepts transgender students to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and ordains transgender rabbis. Rituals and prayers specific to the life events of a transgender person have been developed, and support is provided to Reconstructionist communities working toward becoming more fully welcoming and affirming of transgender members.” [http://www.hrc.org/resources/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-reconstructionist-judaism].
Join in, with pride, in celebrating our community, and our values.
 
-- Rabbi Liz
 
For a listing of all jewish community Pride events, including our special Pride Shabbat service at KBI, go to https://jewishottawa.com/events/pride

Pride Shabbat
 
Join us as we celebrate Pride in our diversity at a special Pride Shabbat on Friday, August 23 at Kehillat Beth Israel, 1400 Coldrey Ave. at 6pm. The alternative service will be led by Rabbi Deborah Zuker of KBI and Dara Lithwick of Temple Israel. The service is followed at 7:30 by a Shabbat dinner hosted by The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the Jewish Federation of Ottawa (JFO) and the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) (tickets available here). This is a fully catered event including wine and dessert with greetings from local elected officials and Pride Board. Tickets must be purchased in advance, there will be no admission at the door.

As one of the sponsoring congregations we are hoping for a strong OrH turnout at the 6pm service. If you are planning to attend and would be willing to serve as an official OrH representative, please contact Timna at timnagw@gmail.com. We are also looking for someone to coordinate the OrH contingent in the Pride parade on Sunday, August 25. As we usually do, OrH will be marching with sister congregations from Ottawa.

High Holy Days Registration
 
We will be opening our High Holy Days registration for members of the community as well as immediate family of OrH members on September 1. We are also happy to announce that Tishrey visitors who are either new to Ottawa or have not been affiliated with an Ottawa shul for at least three years are eligible for the Jewish Jumpstart program. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa will heavily subsidize the cost of a new OrH membership for the first two years. 

Machaneh Shabbat Registration Now Open
 
Registration for this year’s Machaneh Shabbat program is now open. An engaging and enriching program is currently being planned and we look forward to seeing you and your children in September. If you have any friends with school age children looking for a unique Jewish education experience, tell them about Machaneh Shabbat! For more information visit https://www.orh.ca/machaneh-shabbat or contact educator@orh.ca.

Exploring Judaism Course
 
Registration is now open for the 2019-20 Exploring Judaism course taught by Rabbi Liz.
 
This 15-week course is designed for those hoping to deepen their understanding of their Jewish heritage, for those exploring Judaism as a spiritual and religious tradition, as well as for those considering conversion to Judaism. The full curriculum is covered in 30 classes, and participants are welcome to join at the beginning of any fall session. Participants will learn about Jewish values and practices through primary text study and seminar-style classes. Highly interactive, the course explores the major value concepts of Judaism, and offers a chance to wrestle with fundamental questions while learning and interacting with others, and with the tradition’s texts and practices.
 
Classes begin September 19, 2019 and meet on most 1st and 3rd Thursdays through May 21, 2020 at the Unitarians. The cost is $180 for full members of OrH, $360 for non-members. Register at https://www.orh.ca/exploring-judaism.html or contact Rabbi Liz for more information at rabbi@orh.ca.

Upcoming Services and Events

Pride Shabbat 
Friday, Aug 23rd, 2019 
7:00p

Kehillat Beth Israel

Reconstructionist News

The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: tinyurl.com/y2tcdukv . 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

Rainbow Pride Teddy Bear Shabbat featuring Drag Queen Story Hour at Kehillat Beth Israel, August 23, 5:30 - 7 pm. Tots 6 and under and their adults are invited to this very special Teddy Bear Shabbat to celebrate PRIDE! Our special guest and story teller will be Drag Queen Adrianna Expose. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to celebrate love in all families and being the real you! This program is free and open to the community, all are welcome!

Ethiopian Jewish Dinner. Congregation Beit Tikvah will be hosting an incredible Ethiopian Dinner and Showcase on Sunday, August 25 from 6-8pm. Members of Ottawa’s Ethiopian Jewish Community, alongside those from Toronto and Montreal, will be cooking and serving a traditional Kosher Ethiopian dinner for  the community. There will be an Ethiopian singer in attendance who will entertain. There will be a special Ethiopian beer brewed just for this event. Tickets are $40/$15 for kids 12 and under. For ticket information, go to cbto.org/dinner or call 613-723-1800. RSVP by August 20.

The musical Falsettos is being performed by the the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, September 4-7 at the Gladstone Theatre.  A unique musical that explores modern Jewish identity, Variety describes it as “a masterly feat of comic storytelling and […] visionary musical theater.” Falsettos was recently revived to great acclaim on Broadway in 2016. Entirely sung-through, it features a Jewish family that experiences tumult when Marvin comes out as gay just as he and his wife Trina are starting to obsessively plan their son Jason’s bar mitzvah. Meanwhile, the AIDS crisis is in its infancy. A show about family and acceptance, where love tells a million stories. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.orpheus-theatre.ca/falsettos

Foundations of Jewish Living, a program of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, starts this September at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre.
The course, Thursday evenings beginning September 12, is specifically designed for parents and provides an opportunity for them to enrich their own Jewish education and learn about Jewish life in the context of parenting.
Drawing on a range of texts - from the Bible to PJ Library books - the program consists of in-person sessions, each focused on themes connected to Jewish holidays or key figures in Jewish life. Course is $150 (subsidies available). Register at meltonschool.org

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

August Board Chair: Michael, learning@orh.ca

Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@orh.ca
Secretary: Diana, secretary@orh.ca
Communications: David, communications@orh.ca
Learning: Michael, learning@orh.ca
Membership: Barbara, membership@orh.ca
Member-at-Large: Sharon, member-at-large.sharon@orh.ca
 Member-at-Large: Timna, member.at.large-timna@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.