Doar Shalom: October 8, 2020 / 20 Tishrei, 5781
Candle lighting 6:15pm, Friday October 9
Simchat Torah candle lighting: 7:18pm, Saturday October 10
Havdalah: 7:16pm, Sunday October 11
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Shirarose Wilensky and Devon, Tryphena, and Reuben Davis |
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Emmy Dermer and Raeya Bittante |
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Family Friendly Service and Dance Party via Zoom with DJ Jordan Zwicker!
Saturday, October 10
7:15 pm – Yizkor
7:30 – 8:30 pm Erev Simchat Torah Service zoomed from the Bayit
Put your dancing shoes on and join us for a fun filled, family friendly, Simchat Torah Service, which will include the unveiling of the new Parochet and a presentation by Sandra Cohen, and six mini dance contests WITH PRIZES!
Yizkor Service: Rabbi Hannah
Simchat Torah Service: Rabbi Hannah with Torah readers Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan, Rabbi Susan Shamash, Dave Kauffman, Heidi Mannis and Ross Andelman
HONORING: Sandra Cohen
Meeting ID: 812 9283 6909; Passcode: 779725
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Shabbat Morning Services via Zoom
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Saturday October 10, 9-10 am & 10-11 am, Shabbat morning Torah Study with Rabbi Susan, followed by an abbreviated davening with Rabbi Hannah
- Saturday October 17, 10 am (Parashat Bereshit)
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Saturday October 24, 10 am (Parashat Noach)
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Saturday October 31, 10 am (Parashat Lech-Lecha)
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Saturday November 7, 10 am (Parshat Vayera)
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See our new Event Calendar for details and Zoom links for upcoming programs, services, and events.
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Friday October 9 to Thursday October 15 |
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Friday, October 9
9:00 am
Men's Torah Study Group
Parasha for Shemini Atzeret
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.
As our forefathers and foremothers made their way to the Temple to celebrate Sukkot, they sang psalms of ascent, making aliyah (ascent) to Jerusalem. On Friday, the seventh day of Sukkot, we will learn and daven three psalms of ascent, Psalms 121, 126 and 131. Psalms are available in Hebrew and English here.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 873 2214 6883; Password: 200901
6:00 pm
Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting
- led by Rabbi Hannah from her Sukkah
Candle lighting, Kiddush, Motzi. Erev Shabbat blessings are available here.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 826 4524 7744; Passcode: 712461
Saturday, October 10
9:00 - 11:00 am
Shabbat morning Torah Study with Rabbi Susan, followed by an abbreviated davening with Rabbi Hannah.
This week during Torah Study, we will focus on Moshe’s final blessing and death in the very last portion of the entire Torah, V’Zot HaBeracha, Devarim/Deuteronomy 33:1 to 34:7.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 843 7953 8479; Passcode: 213577
7:15 pm
Erev Simchat Torah
7:15 pm – Yizkor
7:30 – 8:30 pm Simchat Torah Service zoomed from the Bayit.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 812 9283 6909; Passcode: 779725
Our Sunday Evening Minyanim will begin again on October 18
Thursday, October 15
12:30 - 2:30 pm
Women's Heart Centered Torah Study
- led by Dael Adams Segal
Parashat Bereshit 5781 / פרשת בְּרֵאשִׁית
Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8
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Reflecting on the High Holidays |
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Share your thoughts about the Zoomed
High Holiday Services
Follow this link to a Thoughtexchange, where you can confidentially share your thoughts about the question, "How do you feel about the Or Shalom zoomed High Holiday services for 5781?".
After you share your own thoughts, you can view and rate other thoughts and ideas by how much you agree or disagree with them. Thoughtexchange closes on Sunday, October 11.
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Programs Open For Registration |
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Fall 2020 Zusia Course Offerings!
This year, the first Zusia courses begin November 2020. See course descriptions below for details and course fees; Special rates for Or Shalom members!
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Spinoza: Jewish Philosophy In The Time of Covid-19
Spinoza was among the most fearless of philosophers. He formed his thought both in tension with, and inspired by, his Jewish background. His vision of personal and communal ethics is as countercultural today as it was in the 17th century, and is still provoking revolutionary thought and action.
In this 4 week online class we will look at Spinoza’s potent insights on joy, human flourishing and freedom, democracy, and community and how these can offer us guidance during our current moment of overlapping crises.
Instructor: Matthew Gindin
Prerequisite: None:
Dates: Tuesdays, November 3 – November 24, 2020
Time: 7-9 PM
Investment: Members $60; Non-Members $98
Please find further details and registration here.
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Return to the Place: The Wisdom of Sefer Yetzirah
Sefer Yetzirah is an ancient and foundational work of Jewish mysticism. This brief and cryptic book imagines letters as the building blocks of the universe, focusing our attention on the components of space, time, and soul and the elements of air, fire, and water. Its goal is to allow adepts to contemplate, and even partake in, the Divine creative process.
In this series, we will explore sections from the book closely as well as use images from the text to meditate and reflect on our own spiritual experience. In the worldview of the Sefer Yetzirah, we and all things are part of the One, and all we need to do is remember and return.
This course will consist of a series of three pre-recorded video lessons with downloadable text, online chevruta work in study assigned groups, and a final (4th) session that is an interactive webinar with Rabbi Hammer.
Instructor: Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD
Prerequisite: None:
Dates: Tuesdays, November 3 – November 24, 2020
Time: 7-9 PM
Investment: Members $60; Non-Members $98
For a list of Rabbi Hammer's publications, further details, and registration, see here.
Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD, is the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, and the co-founder of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute.
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Children and Youth Programs |
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Shabbat Sheli
We will be returning this year with a new teacher- Samantha Fogel! Sammy is coming to us after a year of working with kids in the same age range at
Har-El in North Vancouver. She has years of experience working with kids as well as in positions of service to the community at large and we are lucky to have her. Please find further details and registration here.
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Bright Lights
Matthew Gindin will again be teaching this program which will include text study, discussion, art, crafts and play. The curriculum will focus on learning the stories of our ancestors in the Tanakh, beginning Hebrew Alphabet studies, and the continued learning of mussar (Jewish values). Matthew is excited to learn with kids old and new after summer break!
Please find further details and registration here.
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B'Yachad
Going forward Byachad is reimagined as a two year course with the option to stay on after Simchat Mitzvah for another year at no additional cost.
Our revised curriculum delivers a broad knowledge of Jewish culture, religion, history and values, hoping to offer a multitude of portals to Jewish identity. Harriet Frost will teach an expanded Hebrew and Trope curriculum which will give the students a deeper knowledge of Hebrew and allow them to spend more time working on leining in preparation for the Simcha!
Please find further details and registration here.
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Important Notice!
Rabbi Hannah Dresner will be away after Erev Simchat Torah.
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Reminder to Return Machzorim to the Bayit
If you haven't already returned your borrowed Velveteen Rabbi Machzor or Harlow Machzor, please drop in on weekdays between 11 am to 3 pm to return them to the Or Shalom office.
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Board Meeting Summary: September 30
The treasurer reported on the highlights of the fiscal year-end. Or Shalom is in good financial shape. Martin Gotfrit noted that this is the result of the work conducting a successful annual campaign.
The treasurer moved to expand the scope of the Lisa Nemetz Fund to include adult education as well as youth education. Motion carried.
Mark Welch proposed that the board express its formal thanks on behalf of the community to all those who produced the High Holidays services for their tremendous efforts, particularly in these extraordinary times. The board thanks all those who contributed, and especially Rabbi Hannah, Martin Gotfrit, Dave Kauffman, Mary Adlersberg, and office staff Tracey Fagg, Tanya Hebron, and Matthew Gindin. Carried (voting excepted those named in the motion).
Dave Kauffman expressed gratitude for the intense work that went into producing meaningful High Holiday services in the spirit of Or Shalom, in the new medium. Or Shalom purchased production equipment for less than the cost of rental. Or Shalom hired two student camera operators who did great work. Overall there was a reasonable financial outlay for great quality production.
Martin expressed the hope that the new board can take on more roles to relieve the co-chairs. They have been heavily involved in the workload of producing distance services as required by pandemic conditions, in addition to board work.
Three members have agreed to stand for nomination to the board, to replace the three outgoing board members.
Holding High Holidays services via Zoom allows capture of the names of all people who attended services, and of e-mail addresses of half of them. There was a recommendation to act quickly to send a message regarding High Holidays fees which make services possible.
Martin moved that the board agree to run a ThoughtExchange before the end of October 2020 to gather thoughts and impressions about this year’s streaming High Holidays services. Motion carried.
Martin reported that the 12-foot pews have found a new home. A few of the shorter pews have been sold. Most have been retained to be positioned at the periphery of the sanctuary. The remaining pews can also be easily moved into a traditional set-up. The existing chairs downstairs provide sufficient seating for the current allowable number of people upstairs. Martin noted that the pews were removed just in time to make the space needed for High Holidays on-site production and for those people present. R. Hannah noted that the open space allowed for a very successful family service, with families in pods on the floor.
R. Hannah expressed her gratitude to Dave and Martin for making Zoom services possible to match R. Hannah’s vision of starting small, and gradually growing. The result was a sense of stability and continuity in a vibrant community.
R. Hannah reported on registration for Children’s Programming, Zusia, and Exploring Judaism.
The board approved two new members: Emma Mas, Lynn Adam Saffery.
Next meeting October 28, followed by AGM November 8.
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A Message from the Board
Extraordinary times bring forth extraordinary people and the Board of Or Shalom would like to convey its profound and heartfelt gratitude and admiration for those of you who brought the community together for High Holidays in such a creative, inclusive and meaningful way.
The Board feels it speaks for all of our community when it says that the High Holidays in this time of Covid were nourishing for the soul and the spirit; they will not be soon forgotten. They brought us all closer after months of exile from each other, and strengthened the bonds that hold us all together. It was all very special.
The individual aspects of what made it special are too many to list: flowers, lighting, sound, choreography, timing, rehearsals, planning, inclusion, the list goes on. But when you are sitting in your home, and the faces appear on your small screen in front of you, you feel the warmth in your heart.
While the participants and contributors, the davenners and leyners, those who drashed and those who sang, were a vital part of the services the Board would particularly like to recognise the invaluable efforts of:
Mary Aldersberg
Dave Kauffman
Tracey Fagg
Martin Gotfrit
Tanya Hebron
Rabbi Hannah
and the Zoom shamashim without whom none of this would have been seen or heard by anyone.
And the Board extends special appreciation for Rabbi Hannah’s vision and the tremendous effort and dedication to hold the centre of these events in spirit and action.
With deep gratitude,
כל הכבוד
Mark Drew
Abby Fitch
Ros Kunin
Paul McCurry
Deborah Ross-Grayman
Mark Welch
Rima Wilkes
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- A donation was made by Mark and Tiferet Welch to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Honour of all who reach out to others in our community, with compassion, during this time, especially to those who we don't know well.
- A donation was made by Naomi Casiro to the High Holidays Donation Fund.
- A donation was made by F M Pickett to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of my mother ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Jonathan Lehrer to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of Hannah Lehrer, Eric Lehrer, and Magdalena Szilagyi ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Sally Thorne & Mary Adlersberg to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Memory of Nomi and Debby Fenson's cousin Susan Moser, who became "Cousin Susan" to so many of us in Or Shalom. May her memory be for a blessing.
- A donation was made by Avril Orloff to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of my mother Dina's yahrzeit ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Mary Gillis to the Tzedakah Fund in Honour of the Or Shalom community for all that you do towards Tikkun Olam.
- A donation was made by Lorne Prupas to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of my parents, Sheila and Mel Prupas ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Tiferet Welch to the East Side Fund (Food Cards) in Honour of my brother, Garry Lee Zimmerman.
- A donation was made by Alexis Kellum-Creer to the Tzedakah Fund in grateful appreciation for the tremendous work done by all staff and leadership at Or Shalom to bring our community together so lovingly and effectively during these High Holidays.
- A donation was made by Bette Thompson to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of Stella Reretai ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Michal Fox to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of my father's Yahrzeit ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Dave Medzon to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of Orah Medzon ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Tammy McCurry to the Tzedakah Fund in Honour of the Or Shalom Board.
- A donation was made by Devin Kettle to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of Ephraim B. ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by Miriam Eguchi to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of my parents Hinda and Shmuel-Lev, my grandmother Laya, and my husband Paul ז’’ל.
- A donation was made by David Berson to the Tzedakah Fund in Honour of Dave Kaufman and Martin Gotrit's inspiring leadership.
- A donation was made by David Kauffman to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of Dan Kauffman z”l.
- A donation was made by Sandra Polsky to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Honour of the members and meal providers of the Gemilut Chesed Committee who provided me and my family, Susan and Yom, who selflessly took me into their home after 2 major health issues. Your amazing meals helped to lessen the load and make life a bit easier. I am so grateful. Also this is to honour my friend Sheryl Sorokin who donated some of her jewellery making instruments and a large amount of beautiful beads to me.
- Two anonymous donations were made to the High Holy Days Fund.
- Addition donations to the Tzedakah Fund were made by:
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Judy Stern
Jason Woolman
Jane Heyman
Anna Kramer
Sally Thorne & Mary Adlersberg
Mark Winston
Gloria Levy
John MacDonald
Earl Goldstein
Mark Drew
Alycia Fridkin
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Judy Oberlander & Mark Wexler
Myrna & Barry Rabinowitz
Lana Lipkowitz
RahelCela Behar & Ari Belenkiy
Lorraine Bennington
Dalia Margalit-Faircloth
Anne Goldman
Michael Corber
Miriam Durbach
Veronica Singer
4 Anonymous Donors
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- Thank you to Ann Daskal for the gift of home-grown apples over High Holy Days.
- Thank you to Pat Gill for her assistance in preparing the Break Fast for leaders and daveners in the Bayit for the Neilah service.
- Thank you to Sandra Cohen for installing the new Parochet in the Aron HaKodesh.
- Thank you to Dave Kauffman, Frank Segal, Ron Klassen, Ann Daskal, Zelik Segal, and Ross Andelman for building the Sukkah on Friday, October 2.
- Thank you to Motti Lis for providing the Schach for the Sukkah.
- Thank you to all who added decorations to the Sukkah.
- Thank you to Dave Kauffman for providing technical support and to Tyche Smith for providing Zoom support during the Shabbat Sukkot Yom Tov and Simchat Mitzvah service on Saturday, October 3.
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Thank you to Dave Kauffman for his help in preparing for Simchat Torah.
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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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Dear Community Partners,
This year Project Isaiah was a wonderful coming together of our community to support those most in need. Thank you to each one of you for the energy, compassion and passion you put in to getting the message out into the community, creating opportunities for your students, organizing volunteers, donation drop-offs and pick-ups!
With your help Project Isaiah was a huge success this year both in the number of people involved in making it happen, and in the number of donations received.
- The donations we received from Project Isaiah will provide 700 people with food bank groceries for 4 months, including 118 seniors, 90 families and 175 children
- This year we are providing food bank support to almost twice as many people as we did last year and our Project Isaiah donations doubled as well
With your help our reach went far out into the community and crossed many bridges! Thank you again for your continued support!
Todah Rabah,
Carol Hopkins, Food Bank Coordinator
Jewish Family Services
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