Doar Shalom: November 5, 2020 / 18 Cheshvan, 5781
Candle lighting 4:24 pm
Havdalah: 5:31 pm
Parashat Vayera / פרשת וַיֵּרָא
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Rabbi Hannah's Weekly Reflection |
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Between Oppression and Redemption
On Rosh Hashanah, I spoke about love as the antidote to fear. Today, as an American citizen who absolutely believes that hope is defiance against a politics of cruelty, I write to you with a trembling hand. I tremble because my hopefulness is not naïve. It doesn’t dull my pain as I watch the further expression of American degeneration. But what moral choice do we have other than to be hopeful? Without hope we resign ourselves to the loss of democracy. And that cannot be.
As an American living in Canada I turn to you and say: however imperfect this country, do be mindful and appreciative of all that makes this country different! And I say: we, here, need to be Woke, aware that it’s our part to be better, to lift ourselves higher, to be a haven, to lead with love. I say: the Canadian responsibility to social justice, climate healing, and reconciliation for our native peoples must be all-the-more assiduously pursued, so that there is in North America a touchstone for how to live a civilized life in a compassionate society.
We must ask ourselves what part we can each play in ensuring that this land, and our community, and our homes, are oases. We must ask ourselves how we can listen more and better so that we understand and feel for all constituencies in pain. We must ask what difference we can make to ensure that we differentiate from the callousness to our south.
It’s true that those of us who have protested and organized and prayed may be tired, and may be trembling, but we’ve also found one another by working together and leaned into one another to support and be supported. We’ve discovered kinships and created webs of alliance, of tenderness, and of power. We are not powerless. Exhaustion is not defeat. My colleague Rabbi Sharon Brous says that “the Torah ends before the people reach the Promised Land… to teach us how to live in that liminal space between oppression and redemption. To teach us that hope is not [merely] an option, but essential to our nature. That the work is not nearly done, and therefore we’re not nearly done.”
When I devolve to fear, which I surely do, I willfully restore myself, in teshuva, to hope. A suspension of disbelief is necessary as U.S. election results are tabulated, but I’m tracking tangible reasons for hope. 70% of eligible voters participated in the process. Mississippi voted to replace its flag with one that does not include Confederate imagery. The first openly gay Black man was elected to Congress. A 25-year-old who uses a wheelchair was elected to Congress, the youngest Representative-elect since the 18th Century. The first openly trans state senator has been elected.
As I wait, I want to celebrate what I can. The work’s not done; we’re not done. And we wait.
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The first two books in the series are: |
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Sunday Nov 15, 7:30 pm
So You Want To Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo
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Sunday Dec 13, 7:30 pm
The Good War: Mobilizing Canada For The Climate Emergency
by Seth Klein
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Save the Date for the next Three Doors to Jewish Meditation
An innovative online retreat taught by Rabbi Hannah Dresner and meditation teacher Matthew Gindin. More details to follow. Register here by Friday, November 20 at noon to save your spot.
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Upcoming Programs and Services
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See our new Event Calendar for details and Zoom links for upcoming programs, services, and events.
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Saturday November 7, 10 am (Parshat Vayera)
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Saturday, November 14, 10 am (Parshat Chayei Sara)
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Saturday, November 21, 9 am, Torah Study and Abbreviated Davening (Parshat Toldot)
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Happenings:
Friday November 6 to Thursday November 12
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Friday, November 6
9:00 am
Men's Torah Study Group
Parashat Vayera
- Indications of the multicultural history of the Jewish Nation.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 892 7010 9069; Passcode: 572724
1:00 pm
Friday Tehillim
Healing Prayers for the Human Family led by John Fuerst. On Friday let us learn and daven Psalms 131 and 148, for patience in troubled times and for praise of the blessed Holy One. Psalms are available in Hebrew and English here.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 873 2214 6883; Password: 200901
6:00 - 6:30 pm
Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting
- led by Mark and Tiferet Welch.
Candle lighting, Kiddush, Motzi. Erev Shabbat blessings are available here.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 869 8020 1086; Passcode: 850712
Saturday, November 7
10:00 - 11:45 am
Shabbat Morning Service Zoomed from the Bayit
Parashat Vayera
P’sukai D’zimra – Miriam Eguchi
Shacharit – Harriet Frost (zoomed from the Bayit)
Torah Service – Rabbi Susan Shamash
Torah Readers – Dalia Margalit-Faircloth, Pat Gill, and Dave Kauffman
Healing Prayer – Avi Dolgin
Closing – Avi Dolgin
Zoom Shamash - Avril Orloff
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 868 6114 7274; Passcode: 057932
10:15 - 11:15 am
Shabbat Sheli
- with Sammy Fogel
For registered students (ages 3-5).
Sunday, November 8
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
More Talmud
- led by Rabbi Susan Shamash
Join serious, eager learners as we grapple with the text, contribute to the Jewish communal conversation, and bring our voices to the renewal of Judaism!
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 895 0632 9850; Passcode: 106566
7:00 - 7:30 pm
Virtual Evening Minyan
- led Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan and Charles Kaplan, with Zoom Shamash Linda Peritz.
For a transliterated and translated weekday evening liturgy, please click here (pg 69 to 125).
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 833 2450 4014; Passcode: 621727
Monday, November 9
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Exploring Judaism Class
- with Rabbi Hannah Dresner
For registered students.
Tuesday, November 10
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Zusia: The Bet Midrash
- Spinoza: Jewish Philosophy In The Time of Covid-19 with Matthew Gindin
- Return to the Place: The Wisdom of Sefer Yetzirah with Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD
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The Or Shalom Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday November 22nd, 2020 at 4:00 - 5:30 pm PST. Due to restrictions imposed by the ongoing pandemic this meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Although all are welcome, please be advised that voting at the AGM is reserved for members in good standing as of June 30th 2020.
Agenda:
- Call to Order
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of Minutes of the 2019 AGM
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Kavannah & Rabbi’s Report: Rabbi Hannah Dresner
- Co-Chair’s Report: David Kauffman & Martin Gotfrit
- Financial Report: Paul McCurry
- Election of Directors*
- Nominee Speeches
- Business from the Floor
- Future events
- Adjournment
*The board will be putting forward a board-recommended list of nominees:
Continuing:
Renewing:
- Mark Drew
- Abby Fitch
- Martin Gotfrit
- Paul McCurry
- Rima Wilkes
New:
- Alexis Kellum-Creer
- John MacDonald
- Dalia Margalit-Faircloth
Due to the virtual format of this meeting, for this year only, there will not be nominations “from the floor.” Instead, we ask that members in good standing who wish to nominate a member in good standing for the board must do so via email to board@orshalom.ca no later than November 15th, 2020 at midnight.
As in past years, we will of course welcome questions and comments from members attending the Zoom meeting.
The meeting will be recorded and minutes will be taken and distributed as usual.
The Board of Directors looks forward to seeing you all (virtually) on November 22nd.
David Kauffman
Martin Gotfrit
Co-Chairs
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 832 0237 6060
Passcode: 819589
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Board Summary - October 28, 2020 |
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The co-chairs reported that changes in BC’s COVID-19 infection rate mean that we may have to rethink program planning. Dave has created a simple but high-quality Zoom set-up in the Bayit, to serve when there is one bubble in attendance, and to reduce dependence on Dave’s presence for technical needs. Dave plans to create a video on how to use the one-person Zoom system from the Bayit. Linda Peritz offered a training session recently for Zoom shamashim and has several new people on the list.
There is a new calendaring system on the website home page. Tanya is contributing greatly to this improvement in usability. The goal is for anyone to get to a Zoom link for any event within two clicks from the home page. It includes a link to registration if required. This is hoped to reduce the flurry of activity to address access problems before events. R. Hannah is also working on having the site offer suggestions of similar events, that “if you like that, then consider coming to this.”
The Membership Committee brought the names of four new families to the board, and the board approved: Adam, Marguerite, Merle and Lewis Frank; Greg, Kate, Toby, and Maya Buium; Rene Hawk and her child Maya Farres; and Beth Glick, Chris Coldewey, and their children Otis, Emmet, and Asa.
R. Hannah discussed the need to find ways to get new members integrated into the community. Martin and Dave are working with Tracey to separate the administrative from the social components of the workload for new membership.
The board approved the recommendation of the Tikkun Olam Committee to allocate the Tzedakah fund to the charities identified by the Tikkun Olam Working Group (as of this writing, the balance is over $8,400). This year’s Tzedakah fund is an unusually high amount, mainly from the generosity of people attending the High Holiday services. The Board offers its thanks to the Tikkun Olam committee for their excellent work. The beneficiaries will be:
The Light in Winter Concert Series will go ahead virtually. The organizers are excited to provide opportunities to a wide diversity of performers.
The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday November 22, 2020, 4:00 - 5:30 pm. The board recommends the following nominees for election to the board for a two-year term: Alexis Kellum-Creer; John MacDonald; and Dalia Margalit-Faircloth. The board recognizes Linda Peritz for her long-term dedication and hard work to bring strong nominees to the board. The board is also requiring that the membership make any additional nominations in advance of the event in light of this being a virtual AGM.
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As in past years, Or Shalom is conducting a winter giving project which involves donating $10 gift cards to needy people in our neighbourhoods. These cards are redeemable for food at McDonald's restaurants.
As in the past, OrShniks are invited to participate in this worthwhile tzedaka opportunity. We will purchase the cards and distribute them on your behalf.
Donations received before 01 Jan 2021 will qualify for 2020 CRA tax receipts and be greatly appreciated by the recipients, especially in these challenging times of Covid-19. You can make an online donation to the East Side Fund at Or Shalom's online donation page, either by cheque or by credit card.
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- A donation was made by Daniel Siegel to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Honour of Rabbi Hannah, Dave Kaufman and teams for a deeply meaningful High Holidays.
- A donation was made to the Lisa Nemetz Or Shalom School Educational Fund on behalf of the Board, in gratitude to the Tikkun Olam Working Group for their diligence in finding four recipient organizations for the Tzedakah Fund.
- A donation was made by Deborah and Henry Ross-Grayman to the Lisa Nemetz Or Shalom School Educational Fund in Memory of Michal's mother, Lyn Fox ז’ל.
- A donation was made by Bonnie Klein to the East Side Fund (Food Cards) in Memory of Lyn Marmorstein Fox ז’ל, mother of Michal Fox.
- A donation was made by Avril Orloff to the East Side Fund (Food Cards) in Honour of Michael Corber for his ongoing generosity.
- A donation was made by Avril Orloff to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Honour of Michal Fox's beloved mother, Lyn Marmorstein Fox, z"l. May her memory be for a blessing.
- A donation was made by Sally Thorne & Mary Adlersberg to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Remembering Michal Fox's dear mother Lyn Marmorstein Fox ז’ל. May her memory be for a blessing.
- A donation was made by Mary Adlersberg & Sally Thorne to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Honour of Hillel Goelman & Sheryl Sorokin's new grand-daughter Honey Lena; and Myrna Rabinowitz's special birthday.
- A donation was made by Cecil and Ruth to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Memory of Mary Juanes ז’לֹ.
- A donation was made by Adele Ritch and Dianne Liscumb to the East Side Fund (Food Cards).
- A High Holidays donation was made by Gerry Sair in Memory of David and Sarah Sair ז’ל.
- A donation was made by Lorne Prupas to the Lisa Nemetz Or Shalom School Educational Fund in Memory of Lyn Betty Marmorstein Fox ז’ל.
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Thank you to John Fuerst for leading Friday Tehillim on October 30.
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Thank you to Rabbi Dina Hasida Mercy for hosing Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting on October 30.
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Thank you to Tiferet Welch, Harriet Frost, Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan, and Myrna Rabinowitz for their leadership during the Shabbat Morning Service on October 31, and thank you to Karen Rabinovitch for providing Zoom tech support.
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Thank you to Harley Rothstein for leading the Sunday Evening Minyan service on November 1, and thank you to Linda Peritz for providing Zoom tech support.
- Thank you to Dael Adams Segal for leading Women’s Heart Centered Torah Study on November 5.
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Our sincere apologies if your name has inadvertently been missed. We still love you and appreciate all that you do! Please don't hesitate to contact the office office@orshalom.ca about an omission. We promise to acknowledged you in the next Doar.
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Your tax-deductible donation to Or Shalom can be used to honour an accomplishment or life event, say thank you for a mitzvah or job well-done, or remember a loved ones passing.
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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.
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We join together with other synagogues and houses of worship in the symbolic act of shining light over the darkness of hate by leaving a light on in our Sanctuary on November 9 in commemoration of Kristallnacht.
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If not now, when?
As we sit waiting to hear who will be President of the land that was once the beacon of hope for so many, you ask "What can I do? Are there meaningful avenues for action?"
November 3, November 9th and 11th, they form a cluster. For Jews who became refugees or who lost family in the Holocaust and for all their descendants, November 9 spells KRISTALLNACHT. Peter Gay was there. Here's how he describes it:
Synagogues were severely damaged or totally burnt out, sacred scrolls desecrated with the peculiar elation and ingenuity that the plunderers brought to their work. Businesses were destroyed, private houses and apartments were reduced to piles of rubble, with furniture, pictures, clothing, and kitchen equipment thrown around so that they were barely recognizable. There was some looting... But for the majority, the thrill lay in destruction for its own sake.
The world watched, disapproved, and did almost nothing. In the United States, the public’s attention was still focusing on the midterm congressional elections of November 8, and the press was busy assessing the results.[1]
For me, the parallels send shivers down my spine. The world must not be allowed to forget the depths to which humans have sunk- and could sink again.
Awareness of the Holocaust is shrinking. In the United States, a 2018 survey showed that 66% of millennials could not identify what Auschwitz was. A recent survey revealed that about a third of the 7,000 European respondents across seven countries knew "just a little or nothing at all" about the Holocaust.
Knowing about the Holocaust can provide a necessary understanding of how an entire population was bullied and manipulated by demagogues before succumbing to hate and fearmongering. It can also serve as a blueprint for recognizing the dangers of demonization and incitement and help guard human rights and strengthen core democratic values.
Together with a volunteer from Beit Terezin, a museum in Israel, I am building a pathway for keeping alive that which we forget at our peril. Please go now to this website:
And if you’d like to do an additional Mitzvah, please forward the link to contacts near and far whose family members may once have lived through the hell of Theresienstadt - or worse.
Helen Waldstein Wilkes
[1] Adapted from Peter Gay, My German Question: Growing Up in Nazi Berlin, Yale University Press, 1998
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