Doar Shalom: December 10, 2020 / 24 Kislev, 5781
Chanukah Eight Candles: 5:10 pm
Shabbat Candle Lighting 3:57 pm
Havdalah: 5:11pm
Parashat Miketz / פרשת מִקֵּץ
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Rabbi Hannah's Weekly Reflection |
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Chanukah, At the New Moon of Tevet |
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Yesterday marked the new moon of Tevet. The Talmud teaches that those who recite the blessing over the new moon, it’s as if they have greeted the presence of Shechina. The Zohar teaches that in the time of King Solomon the moon was always full, because King Solomon built Shechina a home. Through this lens, the tragedy of the Temple’s destruction was that Shechina lost her home. The aspect of God that resides on earth became homeless, exiled, as were her children. And, ever-after, our sacred literature has described Shechina as accompanying her children in their wanderings.
Shechina has been hovering this week… Have you felt her near?
The rabbis of the RAV (the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver) created short candle lighting videotapes for Chanukah, released, each night, by the Federation, each dedicating Chanukah light to a different constituency - healthcare workers, teachers, grandparents, food service workers, etc. My candle lighting (url below), for tonight, is dedicated to families separated by borders. My family is one of those; it was a whole year ago, on Chanukah, that I last saw my two daughters, and this dampens my celebration of our festival. I feel exiled from them. My message to you this week emerges from my longing for “home”, not home in the U.S., but home in the sense of being surrounded by family.
I pray that all who are separated from loved ones during this pandemic be reunited speedily. And when that happens, let us take time for our own personal chanukahs – celebrations of re-dedicated “home”.
In lonely despair, in exile from her home, Shechina is likened to the darkest moonless sky. She is contracted into herself, a dark dot in a dark sky. So subsumed is she, that there is no room under her wings. And the Zohar teaches that when fulfilled, Shechina is like the full moon.
Right now, we stand on a new-moon threshold, emerging from the darkest day of the month past, into a sliver of light by which to contemplate new possibility. May we use this Shabbat to pause, name and nurture a particular hope - personal or global - signified by the sliver of light in this weekend’s sky. And may we feel the blessing of divine accompaniment on our journeys, whatever our exile may be.
Chag Urm Sameyach!
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Rabbinical Association of Vancouver (RAV) Video |
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Chanukah Eight Candles with Rabbi Hannah Dresner |
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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, December 19, 10 am, Simchat Mitzvah of Callum Whyte (Parshat Miketz)
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Saturday, December 26, 9 am Torah Study and Abbreviated Davening (Parshat Vayigash)
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Saturday, January 2, 10 am, Shabbat Morning Service (Parshat Vayechi)
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Saturday, January 9, 10 am, Contemplative Shabbat Service (Parashat Shemot / Shabbat Mevarchim Hachodesh)
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Saturday, January 16, 10 am, Shabbat Morning Service (Parshat Vaera)
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Saturday, January 23, 9 am, Shabbat Morning Torah Study and Abbreviated Davening (Parshat Bo)
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Saturday, January 30, 10 am, Shabbat Morning Service (Parshat Beshalach)
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Happenings:
Friday December 18 to Thursday December 24
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Friday, December 18
9:00 am
Men's Torah Study Group
Parashat Miketz
Genesis / B'reshit 41:1 - 44:17
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 892 7010 9069; Passcode: 572724
1:00 pm
Friday Tehillim
- led by John Fuerst.
It is a custom to pray for the healing of person by davening the psalm of the person’s age. This Friday, following this custom, we will learn and daven Psalm 41. Psalms are available in Hebrew and English here.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 873 2214 6883; Password: 200901
6:00 - 6:30 pm
Family Friendly Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting
- led by Noam and Val Dolgin.
Please join Noam and Val Dolgin and their two children, Mia and Erez, for a fun family friendly Erev Shabbat candle lighting, kiddush, and motzi. All are welcome! Erev Shabbat blessings are available here. Linda Peritz is the Zoom Shamash. Meeting ID: 893 6265 6126; Passcode: 128054
Saturday, December 19
10:00 - 11:45 am
Shabbat Morning Service and Simchat Mitzvah of Callum Whyte (Parshat Miketz)
P’sukei D'zimra - Callum Whyte
Shacharit - Rabbi Hannah Dresner and Callum Whyte
Torah Service – Rabbi Hannah Dresner
Torah Readings - Callum Whyte
Dvar Torah - Callum Whyte
Closing - Rabbi Hannah Dresner and Callum Whyte
Zoom Shamash - Linda Peritz
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 810 4690 4137; Passcode: 050826
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Invitation to
Callum Whyte's Simchat Mitzvah
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Sunday, December 20
7:00 - 7:30 pm
Virtual Evening Minyan
- led by Rabbi Hannah.
For a transliterated and translated weekday evening liturgy, please click here (pg 69 to 125). Linda Peritz is the Zoom Shamash. Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 869 8675 6931; Passcode: 291406 |
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Register for the next Zusia class |
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Registration is Open!
Join us for a four week course on facets of health and healing from a Jewish perspective. The course will be led by Matthew Gindin and feature fascinating guest speakers in an interview format (guest speakers TBA soon!). Topics included are: Jewish Views of Healing; Living In The Body, Medical Ethics; and Healing The Mind.
Instructor: Matthew Gindin, with guests (TBA)
Prerequisite: None:
Dates: Tuesdays, January 12 – February 2, 2021
Time: 7-9 PM
Investment: Members $60 Non-Members $98
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Darkness: A Koreh Open Mic
In the midst of this winter darkness, we invite stories that emerge from this period of gestation, slow becoming, and generative solitudes. For some of us this is a dark night of the soul, for others a time for an intensified interiority and its magic. We also welcome the darkly humorous, the absurd and the nonsensical aspects of journeying through this time.
Readers to be announced soon, stay tuned!
No registration is required to attend this event, all are welcome.
Meeting ID: 851 6908 0043
Passcode: 190099
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The next two book club meetings are taking place on: |
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Sunday January 10, 2021 7:30 pm
A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency by Seth Klein
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A Good War is Canada’s blueprint for effectively tackling the climate crisis, transitioning to a zero-carbon society, and making these transformations in just and equitable ways. |
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Sunday February 14, 2021 7:30 pm
A Mind Spread out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
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Alicia Elliott asks essential questions about the treatment of First Nations persons, while drawing on intimate details of her own life and experience with intergenerational trauma, and suggests powerful tools for a better future. |
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Click here for more information on both books, and for ways to obtain the book, ebook, or audiobook.
Join both book talks via Zoom. Meeting ID: 862 0308 3571; Passcode: 363634
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Beep Beep Bubbie by Bonnie Klein
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Watch Bonnie Klein reading from her new children’s book Beep Beep Bubbie, with help from her 6 year old grandson Aaron Klein, by clicking on the image of the book, or by clicking here.
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Sammy's Shabbat Sheli Chanukah Video |
Watch Sammy Fogel's delightful Chanukah video for young children here.
Happy Eighth Candle!
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An online parent-led group looks at Jewish texts on parenting and discusses what’s really happening at home. Meets monthly on Thursdays 7:00pm
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A donation was made by Myrna and Barry Rabinowitz to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Memory of Mary Juanes z’l, wife of Anton Miller. May her memory be a blessing.
- A donation was made by Myrna and Barry Rabinowitz to the East Side Fund (Food Cards).
- A donation was made by Ellen Shapiro to Or Shalom.
- A donation was made by Helen Mintz to the Building Fund.
- A donation was made by Syntyche Smith to the East Side Fund (Food Cards) in gratitude for all the ways the leaders, staff and members of our community work together to stay tightly woven and support each other in these strange COVID-19 times.
- A donation was made by John MacDonald to the Building Fund.
- A donation was made by Bette Thompson to the East Side Fund (Food Cards).
- A donation was made by Jane Heyman to the East Side Fund (Food Cards).
- A donation was made by Oberlander Family to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Memory of Peter Oberlander z"l.
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Thank you to John Fuerst for leading Friday Tehillim on December 11.
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Thank you to Wendy Rubin and Martin Gotfrit for joining Rabbi Hannah in leading our Chanukah Shabbat Soul on December 11, and to Dave Kauffman for providing tech support.
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Thank you to our musicians Dave Kauffman, Charles Kaplan, Elana Brief, Martin Gotfrit, and Joe Markovitch, and to all our singers Susan Albersheim, Miriam Caplan, Casey Collins, Hannah Dresner, Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Effron Esseiva, Lewis Frank, Merle Frank, Harriet Frost, Pat Gill, Arik Labowitz, Aliza Rothman - Labowitz, Noah Rothman - Labowitz, Motti Lis, Karen Rabinovitch, Julie Martz, Avril Orloff, Myrna Rabinowitz, Marianne Rev, Wendy Rubin, Susan Shamash, Andrea Superstein, and Cleo Superstein, and to our video and audio editor Dave Kauffman, for producing the 'Oh Chanukah' Virtual Choir presentation.
- Thank you to Tiferet Welch, Myrna Rabinowitz, Nomi Fenson, and Mark Welch for their leadership during the December 12 Shabbat Chanukah service, and thank you to Avril Orloff for providing tech support.
- Thank you to Noah Gotfrit for his Chanukah Light in Winter performance on December 12, and to Dave Kauffman and Martin Gotfrit for providing tech support.
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Thank you to Bonnie Klein and Aaron Klein for reading Beep Beep Bubbie and to Seth Klein for his book talk on A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency during the Chanukah Rays of Hope celebration on December 13. Thank you also to Michal Fox for moderating the discussion with Seth Klein and to Sally Thorne for providing tech support. Finally, thank you to the Tikkun Olam Working Group for sponsoring the book talk with Seth Klein: Avril Orloff, Marianne Rev, Michal Fox, Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta, Alexis Kellum-Creer, and Tammy McCurry.
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Thank you to Chloe Packer for providing tech support during the December 14 Exploring Judaism class.
- Thank you to Avi Dolgin for leading ZoomMidrash on December 15, and to Avril Orloff for providing tech support.
- Thank you to Dael Adams for organizing Women's Heart Centered Torah Study on December 17, and thank you to Tanya Paz for providing tech support.
Due to staff vacations, donations and acts of kindness carried out next week will be reflected in the Doar scheduled for December 31.
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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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A friendly reminder to make your end of year contributions
A donation to Or Shalom is a wonderful way to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah.
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Don't forget your end of year charitable tax contributions. You will receive a single receipt for all your 2020 donations by mail before the end of March 2021.
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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. |
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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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Hanerot Hallalu Kodesh Hem:
These Lights of Ours are Holy
By Shira Weidenbaum and Andrea Simms-Karp
Click here for the liturgy and to watch the video.
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As a result of COVID-19 the JCC is not mailing out their Winter Program Guide. Member Registration opened on December 14. Non-Member Registration opened today on December 17. View the JCC WINTER DIGITAL GUIDE
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The Jewish Museum & Archives of BC in partnership with JQT Vancouver is embarking on “On the Record: The BC Jewish Queer & Trans Oral History Project” to record the history of Jewish queer and trans individuals from across the province as part of the Jewish Historical Society of BC's (JHSBC) overall oral history project to ensure the community archives are more inclusive.
Since 1971, the JHSBC has been conducting oral history interviews with community members to ensure that personal histories are collected and preserved for posterity. These interviews are catalogued and indexed, then made available for researchers by request through the JMABC offices. In January 2020, the JMABC has surpassed 900 oral history interviews recorded, and continues to add new interviews every month.
If you identify as LGBTQ and are interested in participating in this project, or for more information, please contact Carmel Tanaka, Project Coordinator, carmel@jqtvancouver.ca.
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Dear Or Shalom Friends,
Due to the pandemic, Yael and I have not had the chance to visit you this year. We think of you frequently, and we're grateful for the occasional opportunities to be in touch from our living room in the Northern California. Also due to the pandemic, the organization I serve in San Francisco, Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, is offering one of our premier grief support programs online this year. Grief and Growing™, which Ross and Yael have both helped to run in years past, will take place via Zoom. So the bar is now much lower for Or Shalom members to participate.
Grief and Growing™ is a clinically-based, holistic, Jewish healing program uniquely designed to help individuals and families attend to their losses in community. Participants typically gain tangible support, comfort, and new tools in mourning for someone significant who has died.
There are two programs on offer this winter, one for adults, attending as individuals, couples, or families, and one specifically for families (the Redwoods Program) including participants 5-18 years old. Each program begins Saturday night and continues on Sunday:
Adult Program -- February 6-7, 2021 (applications closed on November 30)
Redwoods Program (Families with participants 5-18 years old) -- March 6-7, 2021
Applications are due by December 30, 2020 at 5:00pm. A $30 processing fee per family is due at the time of application.
This Grief and Growing™ link will take you to more information and the applications for the two respective programs. Space is limited, to allow us to provide individual attention and support to every participant.
If you have any questions, feel free to call the Healing Center at +1-415-750-3436.
Warmly,
Rabbi Natan Fenner
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