OrH Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter

1 October 2019

High Holy Days information
 
We look forward to welcoming our members and guests to our Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services next week. Kol Nidre takes place on Tuesday, Oct 8 at 6 pm in the main Sanctuary. The service will start promptly at 6 pm with the musical rendition, so please plan to arrive early enough to check in and to find a seat. Yom Kippur morning service takes place on Wednesday, Oct 9, at 9:30 am in the main Sanctuary. The afternoon service resumes at 4:45. The Yizkor service will begin at approximately 6 pm. A reminder that the afternoon service will be followed by a communal potluck break-fast. Please take a moment to indicate your food contribution here. More information about the schedule can be found here.
 
Please bring your own copy of the Reconstructionist High Holiday Machzor if you own one. This will help ensure that we have enough copies available for all attending.
 
For visitors and OrH Associate Members, a reminder that registration is required to attend our Yom Kippur services. Online registration will close on Sunday, Oct 6. After that date, you may register in person at the door on Oct 8 or 9. Photo ID and cheque payment are required.
 
For OrH members who wish to be joined by immediate family who are not included in their household membership, you must register them in advance. To do so, please follow instructions on the Tishrey information page . Please note that if you wish to be joined by out of town friends or non-immediate family, they should be directed to register as regular Tishrey guests on our website. If you have any questions, please contact membership@orh.ca.
 
Finally, a reminder that for security purposes, you must have your name checked off when you arrive. If you enter through the lower lever, please stop by the main entrance to notify us that you have arrived.

Chanting and Chocolate
 
The next Chanting and Chocolate takes place Sunday October 6 at 7:30 in Room 5.
 
Chanting & Chocolate is an evening of sacred Jewish chant, followed by delicious chocolate treats! Hebrew chanting is often described as a form of meditation and prayer on the path of the heart. Led by OrH Rabbi Liz Bolton with accompaniment by the Chanting & Chocolate Band, come and experience an evening of uplifting chanting that brings clarity to the mind and expansiveness to the spirit. No prior knowledge of singing, chanting or the Hebrew language is required. Chant sheets are provided. All are welcome! Donations accepted at the door (suggested $10) with all proceeds supporting the education of orphans from the Abayudaya Jewish community in Uganda. More information at https://www.orh.ca/chanting

Wearing of Scented Products
 
Out of concern for our fellow members and guests who have chemical sensitivities, and out of respect for the commitment of the First Unitarian Congregation to ensure that the space we share be fragrance-free, the Board respectfully requests that OrH members and visitors refrain as much as possible from wearing scented products, such as perfume, cologne, and hair or body sprays, at OrH services, events and activities. We appreciate your attention to this issue and for supporting our commitment to be an inclusive and welcoming community.

Upcoming Services and Events

Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, October 5, 2019
9:45 - 12:15, Fellowship Hall

Instant Choir Rehearsal 
Saturday, October 5, 2019 
1:00 - 3:00, Room 5

Chanting and Chocolate
Sunday, October 6, 2019
7:30 - 9:00, Room 5

Erev Yom Kippur / Kol Nidre 
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
6:00 - 8:30, Worship Hall

Yom Kippur Morning Service 
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
9:30 - 1:30, Worship Hall

Yom Kippur Evening/Yizkor Service
Wednesday October 9, 2019
4:45 - 7:15, Worship Hall

Reconstructionist News

The latest issue of Reconstructionism Today can be found at: tinyurl.com/yyuz9qop . 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

Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation presents an event for women that encourages taking on leadership roles: Sisters on Board! This fun evening features keynote speaker Erica Ehm, who will talk about courageous leadership. We hope to inspire busy Jewish women, who balance home and work well, yet want a little something more just for them, as well as those who are struggling with balance and looking for insight into how to shift their lens. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s Volunteer Centre will be available to help match your passions with leadership opportunities in our community. On top of the inspiration, there will be drinks, dessert and door prizes. Thursday, October 24, 2019, at 7:15 PM, Orange Art Gallery, 290 City Centre Ave. Tickets $36.  For more information, please contact Solange at sashe@jewishottawa.com, or call 613-798-4696, ext. 252. Tickets at: https://www.picatic.com/event15652690635575.

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

September Board Chair: David, communications@orh.ca
​​​​​​​
Treasurer: Ari, treasurer@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.