Shabbat candle lighting: 8:02 pm
Havdalah: 9:11 pm
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Rabbi Hannah's Weekly Reflections
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Tazriya-Metzora
offers an ancient take on quarantine to isolate victims of plague, and then to reinitiate them into the collective fold, once healed. We have read this
parsha
considering afflictions of mind and spirit, acknowledging the ways in which our psychic troubles isolate us, or considering the wisdom in separating ourselves to calm whatever eruptions we suffer. But this year the
pshat
speaks for itself – the most literal level on which we can read the text; it’s not a metaphorical plague. And, in the past, we have looked at the leper as marginal, but this year we are all barred from society as we know it, going a little stir-crazy as we wait for whatever the ritual of re-entry will be. Our double Torah portion is careful to catalogue symptoms of affliction, strict in enforcing the fullest duration of containment, and offering processes of social re-entry that honor transformation – all so very relevant to the challenges we face in this moment. Still, my imagination is drawn to the actual duration of the leper’s isolation. How did he cope?
Perhaps we gain insight into the ancient sufferer through our own experience; how are
we
coping?
Above all else, I hear, over and over, expressions of gratitude for community and I realize that amidst my own fears and feelings of impotence, I derive comfort and inspiration from you, from our gatherings, public and private, and from the outreach of community, official and personal. The one thing we know about the Biblical isolates is that they were not abandoned. The priests of Leviticus checked in on those in confinement at regular intervals, performing intermediate rituals of sacrifice – their technology for drawing, virtually, near. Being Jewish is a tradition of belonging, belonging to a community, to something greater than ourselves, to an ancient story uncanny in its human relevance. This affirmation won’t eliminate our suffering, but it reminds us of the enduring resources available to us in the touchstone of Torah, and in the
mitzvot
we perform for one another.
Or Shalom continues to listen carefully to the needs articulated during our quarantine, and we maintain a stance of flexibility so that we can be supple in changing the shape of our container to offer affective support. In addition to the conversion of existing programs to virtual spaces, please consider the range of our new offerings, choosing solace and companionship in the ways that resonate for you.
Monday and Friday mornings are for writing our way through Covid. On Sunday evenings you can join our new weekday minyan and on Friday afternoons you can immerse in Psalms for healing. This Sunday night we offer song-chant and visual imagery for contemplation. Tuesday brings a child and youth art studio program – a collage journey through the Sefirot. Every Wednesday morning I read a story to our children. Our parenting support group will begin meeting on Wednesday evenings in May. Gemilut Chesed’s new and relevant services are available as needed, as is redistribution of the funds you have donated to help one another. And don’t forget that my office has gone virtual too. Our pastoral conversations are precious.
Thank you all for being a community of priests, as we check in on one another in isolation, drawing near as we are able.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Upcoming Or Shalom Virtual Happenings
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Friday April 24 to Thursday April 30
Friday, April 24
Men's Torah Virtual Study
9:00-10:00 a.m.
This weeks parasha is
Tazria/Metzora
Vayikra
Ch. 12:1 - 15:33
Join via
Zoom.
Meeting ID: 184 950 859
Shabbat Sheli Class with Shira
10:00-10:30 a.m.
For registered students (ages 3-5).
Virtual Light: Connect and Express Through Writing
10:00-10:30 a.m.
Prayers for Healing,
Tehillim
for The Human Family
1:00 p.m.
Reciting
Tehillim
for the sick is a traditional practice.
Join Matthew Gindin to chant or sing Psalms, or to sit quietly, sending healing intentions. Psalms available in Hebrew and English
here
.
Join via
Zoom
.
Meeting ID: 910 5179 3319; Password: 528551
Virtual North Shore Shabbat
5:30 p.m.
The North Shore Shabbat will start with blessings, and then Moshe (Adam) has offered to lead a couple of songs followed by a short reflection period, possibly a story, and then end with a blessing exercise.
Join via
Zoom.
Meeting ID: 976 4474 8188.
Password: 229889
Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting
6.00 p.m.
Rabbi Hannah invites you to share a virtual Intergenerational Shabbat candle lighting and blessings. Come for candle lighting and stay for Shalom Aleichem, Kiddush, hand washing, and Motzi.
Join
via
Zoom
.
Meeting ID: 928 7109 5106
Sunday, April 26
More Talmud with Rabbi Susan Shamash
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
We will continue our study of The Women of the Talmud: Women’s Testimony, generally excluded … until it isn't. Please “bring” the book with you if you have it.
See
here
for more details on these classes. Newcomers always welcome!
Join via
Zoom.
Meeting ID: 994 5556 3130
(Please plan to “arrive” a few minutes early).
Virtual Evening Minyan
7:00 p.m.
For a transliterated and translated weekday evening liturgy, please click
here
(pg 69 to 125). Join via
Zoom
.
Meeting ID: 247 846 717
Chanting and Virtual Chocolate
7:30-8:30 p.m. PDT
Or Shalom’s monthly chant has gone virtual. We will be experimenting with a variety of methods to engage and uplift your spiritual experience – imagery for contemplation, room for silence, and each chant will have a unique sonic quality. See the poster below for more details.
Join via
Zoom.
Meeting ID: 972 0281 9731.
Monday, April 27
Virtual Light: Connect and Express Through Writing
10:00-10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 28
New Virtual Light Offering!
Seeing the Omer: An Art Exploration for Children and Youth
2:00 pm
A virtual class for ages 6-11
taught by Wendy Oberlander,
who has been mixing art, youth and Judaism for a long, long time.
Let's come together for an hour of play with collage during the Omer week of Tiferet (Balance). We’ll each create our own balancing acts. What does balance look like to you? Lots and lots of colour? A teeter totter? Does it feel like standing on one foot?
You'll need a few things, gathered in advance of the class:
- a table or floor as a workspace
- a few sheets of paper - white or coloured, at least 8.5x11"; card stock is great if you have some
- a glue stick
- a pair of scissors
- collage materials: magazines with colour and text and clean gems from the with recycling box
Parents, please email Master Teacher Matthew Gindin at
learning@orshalom.ca
to register your children.
The Jewish Book of the Dead
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Matthew Gindin
Spirit Buddies in the Talmud
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Rabbi Susan Shamash
Wednesday, April 29
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Geared for children aged 4 - 7 but all children are welcome!
Parents, please email Master Teacher Matthew Gindin at
learning@orshalom.ca
to register your children.
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Looking Ahead: Shabbat Morning Services in May
Saturday, May 2
Moshe, A Human Life: On his 70th birthday, Mark Winston reflects on finding his way back to his Hebrew name.
Saturday, May 23
John MacDonald is celebrating h
is adult Bar Mitzvah
.
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Spirit Buddies in the Talmud
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Instructor: Rabbi Susan Shamash
Prerequisites: None
Dates: Tuesdays, April 28 to May 19
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Cost: Members, $60; Non-members, $98
This course will be hosted online via
Zoom
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The Jewish Book of the Dead
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Instructor: Matthew Gindin
Prerequisites: None
Dates: Tuesdays, April 28 to June 16
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Cost: Members, $120; Non-members, $196
This course will be hosted online via
Zoom
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Foundation fellow brings Power to the People
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Melina Laboucan-Massimo is a David Suzuki Foundation fellow and host of the APTN TV series Power to the People, which explores the renewable energy revolution Indigenous communities are leading throughout Canada. Check out this uplifting interview plus a clip from episode 1.
Watch Video
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Finding hope, joy and community in the climate movement
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In this video by Avery Holliday, young leaders from the UBC Climate Hub share a tried and true antidote to climate despair. This a must-watch for anyone who has felt alone in their fight to protect the planet.
Watch Video
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TANYA TO UPDATE TEXT
- A donation was made by Jacqueline Day to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in honour of Bette Thompson in appreciation of her generosity.
- A donation was made by Jacqueline Day to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in honour of Gemilut Chesed members and volunteers.
- A donation was made by Avril Orloff to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in appreciation of Bette Thompson for her generosity in creating face masks for community members.
- A donation was made by Tanya Hebron to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in appreciation of Bette Thompson for her generosity in creating face masks for community members.
- A donation was made by Zelik Segal and Dael Adams to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in memory of Ross Andelman's beloved sister, Alice z'l.
- A donation was made by Zelik Segal and Dael Adams to the Or Shalom Community Fund in honour of and with appreciation for our Rabbi Hannah Dresner.
- A donation was made by Mark and Tiferet Welch to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in memory of Ron Einblau's sister, Jeanne Agnus Evans.
- A donation was made by Mark and Tiferet Welch to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in memory of Linda Peritz's mother, Brina Peritz - Batya bat Esar v’Esther.
- A donation was made by Mark and Tiferet Welch to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in memory of Patricia Gruben's brother, William Grubin III.
- A donation was made by Earl Goldstein to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund.
- A donation was made by Earl Goldstein to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund.
- A donation was made by Shira Macklin to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in memory of Ross Andelman's sister Alice.
- A donation was made by Shira Macklin to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in memory of Patricia Gruben and Martin Gotfit's brother William.
- A donation was made by Shira Macklin to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in honour of Rabbi Hannah's sharing of her creative energy and generous spirit with all of us.
- A donation was made by Shira Macklin to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in honour of Dave Kauffman, Avril Orloff, Martin Gotfrit and Tiferet Welch in helping with Rabbi Hannah's beautiful and inspiring Shabbat services.
- A donation was made by Shira Macklin to the Shiva and Gemilut Chesed Fund in honour of the Gemilut Chesed Committee's hard work.
- A donation was made by Shira Macklin to the Community Fund in honour of Or Shalom's Program & Events Coordinator, Tanya Hebron, for her beautiful editions of the Doar Shalom.
- A donation was made by Carol Ann Fried to the Rabbi’s Benevolent Fund to celebrate Gloria Levy’s return home.
- A donation was made by Carol Ann Fried to the Rabbi's Benevolent fund in honour of Pat Gill for her many and varied Or Shalom contributions, especially this year.
- Thank you to Rabbi Hillel Goelman and Sheryl Sorokin for hosting the virtual Shabbat candle lighting and blessings last week.
- Thank you to the Gemilut Chesed Working Group and volunteers for their support during Covid-19.
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The membership committee's
Getting to Know You
interview series is an opportunity for Or Shalomniks to get to know one another and learn about the fascinating stories and knowledge our community has to offer.
This week, get to know:
Richard Wassersug
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Fostering Community by Providing Tech Support
We are finding that some of our members sheltering alone would be pleased to receive one-on-one tech support to help them gain facility with Zoom so that they can more fully participate in community.
We are looking for a few more volunteers to work with community members one-on-one to trouble-shoot technological difficulty and foster capacity.
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If you wish to help support folks in need, please complete the volunteer
form
at this link. Your community will be very grateful.
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Generosity in the Time of Covid-19
With the need to remain at home for the sake of good health, Or Shalom staff and volunteers are reaching out to connect socially and spiritually, and we are reaching out to provide material goods as well, buying and delivering provisions, as requested, and dong our best to help with other unexpected short-term needs.
Please help us to maintain strong financial resources in the communal funds from which we draw to ensure that members of our community have what is needed during this difficult time.
We rely on your generosity to do this holy work:
The Rabbi's Benevolent Fund
is administered confidentially by Rabbi Hannah and will continue to provide short-term financial assistance where it is needed.
The Gemilut Chesed Fund
will be used to purchase food for the members of our community who cannot shop for various reasons, and to cover expenses incurred by our volunteers.
The Or Shalom donation form can be found
here
. Thank you.
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Spiritual Resources During Covid-19
Here’s what we recommend, this week, for settling and enrichment in a Jewish Renewal mode:
Praying Anew: Rediscovering Tefillah in a Time of Crisis
A virtual three part lecture series with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer of Hadar. Beginning Monday, April 27th, 7:30 to 8:30 Eastern, 4:30 to 5:30 PDT. Rabbi Kaunfer is aN inspiring teacher and this is an extraordinary opportunity. He will delve into the Jewish prayerbook to unearth fresh meaning from ancient prayers with a newfound resonance given the current moment. Registration required:
Hadar.org.
Credo - I Believe
with our Rebbe and founder of Jewish Renewal,
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z”l
. Delivered in 2007, this is the first time this inspiring and important statement of Reb Zalman’s beliefs regarding the future of Judaism in general, and Jewish Renewal in particular is being made public. See YouTube video
here
.
Nava Tehila Online Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, April 24th, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Israel Time, 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. PDT. You
must
register in advance (here is the
l
ink
). Once registered you will be sent a link to the service. This link will also provide a replay so that you can enjoy it on your own (Shabbat) time.
And for those who are missing the sound of leyning, this delightful reading of a children’s story book. Listen
here
.
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JFS Emergency Care Hotline
9:00 am – 9:00 pm,
7 days a week.
JFS is here to help! If you or a loved one need support you can contact us in any of the following ways:
604-558-5719
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Hebrew Free Loan Association of Vancouver
Coronovirus Emergency Loan
Helps support individuals with financial challenges caused by the Coronavirus.
Maximum Loan Amount Available: $2,000
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Have something to post in the Doar?
Just fill in this
handy web-form
to included
your article
in future editions of the Doar Shalom, Or Shalom's weekly e-newsletter.
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