Doar Shalom: August 20, 2020 / 30 Av, 5780

August 20, 2020 / 30 Av, 5780 I Rosh Chodesh Elul

Parashat Shoftim

Erev Shabbat candle lighting: 7:58 pm

Havdalah: 8:49 pm

ב״ה

Rabbi Hannah’s Weekly Reflection

A Prayer for This Moment, by Rabbi Jill Hammer

With the month of Elul beginning tomorrow, I offer this prayer written by Rabbi Jill Hammer, professor in the Academy of Jewish Religion rabbinical program and Dean of Kohenet, the Aleph Hebrew Priestess Program. Rabbi Hammer will be offering a course in our virtual Zusia program later this fall based on her new translation of Sefer Yetzirah, a volume of mysticism.

A Prayer for This Moment

Let this moment be Elul for us:

An Elul of healing

for those who have been wounded

by racism’s long plundering of lives,

who come together to demand justice;

An Elul of repentance

for those who have taken part

in the corrupt, destructive othering

of humans in God’s image;

An Elul of awakening

for those who are ready to blow the shofar of liberation,

to feel and know and change,

whatever the cost.

Let us blow that shofar

every day, hour, minute, second,

until the cruel walls between us fall,

and when we come to the new year—

may it come speedily and in our days—

may we write ourselves in the book of life,

justice, compassion, liberation, and peace—

not just be written, but do the writing,

for this book of life or death

is ours to write.

Let us remember ourselves for life.

Psalm 27 LeDavid

During the weeks of Elul I’ll be sharing some music, each week, to bring us into the Yamim Norain - the Days of Awe. Let’s begin with a melody beloved to us all, often sung by our own Nomi Fenson and composed by Nomi’s cousin Susan Moser, zichrona l’vracha. Susan Reena Moser (1966-2020) was a niggun keeper. Throughout her life’s journey she gathered soul-stirring melodies and shared them with everyone she met. In the early 90’s Susan shared this melody on a visit to Vancouver. Nomi tells us that the harmonies were created after a long hike in the pouring rain. L’DAVID is a melody set to words from Psalm 27, the Psalm traditionally added to our liturgy each easy of the month of Elul.

Click HERE for an audio recording of L’DAVID

Melody by Susan Moser

Harmonies created by Susan Moser, Debby Fenson, Nomi Fenson, Sally Thorn and Bayla Greensppon

Reb Zalman’s translation:

Yah, You are my Light, my Savior

Whom Shall I dread?

Yah, with You as my strong Protector

Who can make me panic?

Upcoming Special Events

Monday, August 24, 4:00 pm

Join us for the screening of film 03, "Cleaning Time", is scheduled for August 24, focusing on the Ethiopian Jewish experience in Israel.

Upcoming Shabbat Services

Saturday, August 22, 10:00 - 11:45AM

Shabbat Morning Service

See HERE for details.

Followed by

Shabbat Morning 'Community Led' Kiddush at noon. Join via Zoom (please note, this is a separate link). Meeting ID: 871 2656 1999; Passcode: 369586.

Saturday, August 29, 10-11 AM

Contemplative Shabbos Prayer with Rabbi Hannah, an alternative virtual Tefilah. See HERE for details.

Saturday, September 12, 9-10 AM & 10-11AM

Shabbat morning Torah Study with Rabbi Susan (9-10 AM), followed by an abbreviated davening (10-11AM). See HERE for details.

Saturday, September 19, 10-12:30AM

Zoom Shabbat Rosh Hashanah. See HERE for details.

Saturday, September 26, 10-11:45AM

Zoom Shabbat Shuva Service. See HERE for details.

Saturday, October 3, 10AM-12PM

Shabbat Sukkoth service and Simchat Mitzvah of Ryan Perks. See HERE for details.

Saturday, October 10, 9-10 AM & 10-11AM

Shabbat morning Torah Study with Rabbi Susan (9-10 AM), followed by an abbreviated davening (10-11AM). See HERE for details.

Borrowing Prayerbooks (Siddurim and Machzorim)

Please have your own Siddur Eit Ratzon in hand for our Shabbat morning services, and your own Harlow Machzor in hand for our High Holiday services PLUS The Velveteen Rabbi's Machzor for Erev Rosh Hashanah.

If you would like to sign out a Siddur and/or a Machzor from Or Shalom for virtual services, email the office at office@orshalom.ca to arrange a pick up time or a delivery time (please allow around 5 days for volunteer deliveries).

Preparing for the Days of Awe During Elul

Tomer Devorah

- led by Rabbi Hannah, Matthew Gindin, Rabbi Yoni Gordis, and Alycia Fridkin

Weekdays, August 21 to September 17, 12:00 pm

Join every weekday at noon for a dip into the classic Kabbalah text “Tomer Devorah”. No experience necessary! Please register via Eventbrite; drop-ins are welcome, however, more will be gained from fuller entry into the daily practice. Tomer Devorah text is available HERE.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 821 3648 1430; Passcode: 594533

Sunday, August 30, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Join Michael Chusid for online shofar blowing training with for up to 18 folks who have shofarot. Michael gets most students tooting in just a few minutes, while stressing fundamentals and the mitzvah of hearing shofar. Read Michael's blog spot for more information and testimonials from Rabbi David A Cooper, z"l, and Rabbi Shefa Gold.

Register HERE to reserve your spot. Registered students will receive the Zoom link with their confirmation email. Students will need to have a Shofar on hand.

Zoom KOREH SELICHOT: This is Real and We are Totally Unprepared

September 12, 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

You are invited to hear Or Shalom writers and friends who will be featuring their prayers, poems, and stories generated by this year’s strange crossing into the new year.

The evening will be punctuated by jazz riffs on High Holiday melodies by Martin Gotfrit, Dave Kauffman, and Wendy Rubin. Anyone is welcome to be in the audience.

See HERE for more information.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 878 5578 9173; Password: 579611

High Holiday Events Requiring Registration

Explore the High Holidays calendar to see the schedule of events, to register for in-person events, and to find Zoom links to virtual events.

Email Tracey for a copy of the Harlow Machzor AND The Velveteen Rabbi's Machzor at office@orshalom.ca (please allow around 5 days for volunteer deliveries).

Rosh Hashanah Day II - "The Birthday of the World"

Sunday September 20, 10:00 - 11:15 am

In-person Family Service for up to 49 parents and children led by Rabbi Hannah with Matthew Gindin. Pre-registration required. Please register by September 11, 5pm. Register HERE.

Or Shalom Happenings

Friday August 21 to Thursday August 27

Tomer Devorah

- led by Rabbi Hannah, Matthew Gindin, Rabbi Yoni Gordis, and Alycia Fridkin

Weekdays, August 21 to September 17, 12:00 pm

Please register via Eventbrite; drop-ins are welcome, however, more will be gained from fuller entry into the daily practice. Tomer Devorah text is available HERE.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 821 3648 1430; Passcode: 594533

Prayers for Healing, Tehillim for the Human Family

- led by John Fuerst

Friday, August 21, 1:00 pm

Reciting Tehillim for the sick is a traditional practice.

Join John to chant or sing Psalms, or to sit quietly, sending healing intentions. Psalms are available in Hebrew and English HERE .

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 873 2214 6883; Password: 200901

Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting

- led by Rabbi Hannah

Friday, August 21, 6.00 pm

Candle lighting, Kiddush, and Motzi led by Rabbi Hannah.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 826 4524 7744. Password: 712461

Shabbat Morning Service

led by Rabbi Hannah and Community Members

Saturday, August 22, 10:00 am

Parashat Shoftim / פרשת שופטים

P’sukai D’zimra - Rabbi Hannah

Shacharit - Harley Rothstein

Torah Service - Roz Kunin

Join via Zoom.

Meeting ID: 825 5209 4826

Passcode: 737265

NOTE: please have your Siddur Eit Ratzon in hand

there will be no shared screen liturgy.

Shabbat Morning 'Community Led' Kiddush

Saturday, August 22, 12:00 pm

Kiddush, Motzi and Oneg Shabbat

Join via Zoom (please note, this is a separate link)

Meeting ID: 871 2656 1999

Passcode: 369586

Virtual Evening Minyan

- led by Rabbi Hannah

Sunday, August 23, 7:00 pm

For a transliterated and translated weekday evening liturgy, please click HERE (pg 69 to 125).

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 869 8675 6931, Passcode: 291406

Wild Garden: Jewish Wisdom on the Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Parenting

Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Newcomers are welcome! Fall dates to be announced soon. Please contact Matthew Gindin for more info and to register: learning@orshalom.ca

Or Shalom Updates

Children and Youth Program News

End of Summer Shabbat Sheli Event

Saturday, August 29, 2020

In-person event to meet our new Shabbat Sheli teacher, Sammy Fogel. Sammy is coming to us after a year of working with kids in the same age range at Har-El in West 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. Contact Matthew Gindin for more info and to register

Registration is open for our children and youth programming for

2020-2021!

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.

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.

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.

Dear Amazing Community,

I am delighted to report that we have collected a total of 31 fantastic photos and greetings from the community so far!

Still hoping to submit a Good Yontif Photo/Video? No problem! Send it to this email, or to Dave Kauffman, any time before Rosh Hashanah, and we'll be glad to add your submission.

Also, announcing🎺🎺🎺....Our Sweet Sweet Honey Winners!

Honey Prize #1 Goes to: Harriet, Ron and Tyche!

Honey Prize #2 Goes to: The Woolmans!

A big congrats to our winners! Winners, please reply to this email so we can coordinate pickup/dropoff of your prize.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts...we are so grateful for your beautiful and thoughtful contributions.

A donation was made by Kathy Brandon to the Rabbi's Special Program Fund in Honour of Rabbis Hannah, Susan, and Hillel with gratitude for their generosity and support during my Bet Din and Conversion Mikvah.
A donation was made by Earl Goldstein to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Honour of Rabbi Hannah for her leadership, kindness, understanding & support.
A donation was made by Earl Goldstein to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Honour of Fran Rich, Bette Thompson & Heidi Mannis for acts of kindness.
A donation was made by Jeffrey Quon to the Rabbi's Special Program Fund in Honour of Pauline Gail Fedder.
Thank you to Rabbi Susan Shamash and Rabbi Hillel Goelman for convening a Beit Din to welcome Kathy Brandon into the Jewish People.
Thank you to Linda Peritz for coordinating our Zoom Shamashim for our fall programs and services.
Thank you to Shira Macklin and Debrah Ross-Grayman for organizing the farewell on August 19 for Sheryl Sorokin and Rabbi Hillel Goelman.
Thank you to the Gemilut Chesed Working Group and to our Covid-19 volunteers for their ongoing support.

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.