Doar Shalom: November 12, 2020 / 25 Cheshvan, 5781
Candle lighting 4:14 pm
Havdalah: 5:22 pm
Parashat Chayei Sarah / פרשת חַיֵּי שָֹרָה
ב״ה
Rabbi Hannah's Weekly Reflection
Chayei Sarah – The Life of Sarah, Lived in Fullness

Our Torah portion opens announcing Sarah’s death, telling us: “Chayei Sarah - Sarah’s life [or ‘lives’ – for ‘chayei’ can be read as plural] were one hundred years and twenty years and seven years.” As you can guess, our rabbis want to know why the plural form, and why the word “years” is repeated. Each week I read a bit from the beloved rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto, Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, originally of Piaseczno. In answer to this question, The Piesetzna points to a teaching in Sefer Yetzira, in which some of us are engage, through our Zusia class with Rabbi Jill Hammer.
 
He reminds us that Sefer Yetzira offers an image of our existence, like smoke rising as a dynamic expression of God, the ever-burning coal. And smoke – עשן (ashan) is a word consisting of three letters standing for עולם (olam) - the material world, שנה (shana) - time, and נפש (nefesh) - soul or life. In other words, human life is an intertwined experience of space, time, and consciousness. The Piestzna says that the teaching regarding Sarah’s life is that she lived all her years fully, in all three realms.
 
What we are to learn, from this, is that we are allotted a certain number of years (time) on earth (in the material world), but if we don’t live them in connection to our souls, our calendar years and physical years will not match the spiritual years allotted to us. Our lives become imbalanced and, ultimately, incomplete. Sarah died not having squandered any of the fullness of the life allotted her. She lived a complete life in all the intertwined realms – temporal years, years of engagement with the matter of this world, and years of spiritual becoming. The question for us is: Do we live fully in all realms? Do we rise as a healthy, dynamic expression of the burning coal that is God?
 
What The Piesetzna points out is that just because time passes, does not mean that it counts. In a truer sense, we only really live when we show up for this life in fullness of our beings.
 
In the week of Parshat Chayei Sarah – “The lives of Sarah,” my blessing for all is that we strive for balance between the drives of our bodies, our reasoning minds, and the inspiration of our souls.
Shabbat Shalom
Featured Events
Sunday Nov 15, 7:30 pm

So You Want To Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo

You are invited to join facilitators Avril Orloff and Marianne Rev for a discussion of So You Want to Talk About Race.
Zoom Shamash: Linda Peritz.

Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 880 4954 1684
Passcode: 119746
Please see the Tikkun Olam Book Club webpage with all 7 titles and descriptions of each of our books, including resources for borrowing or purchasing books.
Register Now to Save Your Spot

Come join Or Shalom for this innovative online retreat taught by Rabbi Hannah Dresner and meditation teacher Matthew Gindin. During our time together we will explore meditative avenues to support our resilience. Guided practice of contemplation, mussar, and song with be interspersed with teachings and time for conversation.
The retreat is filling up fast! Register here by 5pm Saturday, November 21 to save your spot.
Upcoming Programs and Services
See our new Event Calendar for details and Zoom links for upcoming programs, services, and events.
  • Saturday, November 14, 10 am (Parshat Chayei Sara)
  • Saturday, November 21, 9 am, Torah Study and Abbreviated Davening (Parshat Toldot)
  • Saturday, November 28, 10 am (Parshat Vayetzei)
Happenings:
Friday November 13 to Thursday November 19
Friday, November 13
1:00 pm
Friday Tehillim
You may be experiencing the same emotional swings as me the past weeks and months. Join us on Friday as we will learn and daven Psalm 6, a cry in anguish, and Psalm 23, a song of comfort. 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 Rabbi Hannah.
Candle lighting, Kiddush, Motzi. Erev Shabbat blessings are available here.
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 826 4524 7744; Passcode: 712461

Saturday, November 14
10:00 - 11:45 am
Shabbat Morning Service
Parashat Chayei Sarah

P’sukai D’zimra – Rabbi Hannah Dresner
Shacharit – Harley Rothstein
Torah Service – Rabbi Hannah Dresner
Closing – Rabbi Hannah Dresner
Zoom Shamash - Sally Thorne

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 810 4690 4137; Passcode: 050826

Sunday, November 15
2:30 - 5 pm
B'Yachad
- with Matthew Gindin and Harriet Frost
For registered Simchat-Mitzvah students.

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

7:30 - 8:45 pm
Tikkun Olam Book Club
Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 880 4954 1684
Passcode: 119746

Tuesday, November 17
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

Thursday, November 19
12:30 pm
Women’s Heart Centered Torah Study
- led by Dael Adams Segal
Parashat Toldot / פרשת תּוֹלְדוֹת
Bereshit/Genesis 25:19-28:9 

Email Dael to join: d.adams@telus.net

4:00 - 5:30 pm
Bright Lights
- with Matthew Gindin
For registered students (ages 6-9)
Getting Ready for Hanukkah!
Longing to sing in a choir?
Yay, finally, now is your chance! Come and join in…

Don’t be shy, there will be many others singing in tandem. The more people, the better the mashup sounds!

Email Tanya at programs@orshalom.ca to add your voice. Your budding music career will be in good hands! xo
Or Shalom Updates
AGM Notice
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
  • 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:
  • Dave Kauffman 

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
***

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 832 0237 6060
Passcode: 819589
Winter Tzedakah Project
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.
  • A donation was made by Miriam Eguchi to the Tzedakah Fund in Memory of Michal's mother Lyn Fox ז’ל.
  • A donation was made by Fran Ritch to the East Side Fund (Food Cards).
  • A donation was made by Ann Daskal to the East Side Fund (Food Cards) in Memory of Lyn Fox, Michal Fox's beloved mother ז’ל.
  • Thank you to Frank Segal for organizing the Men's Torah Study Group on November 6.
  • Thank you to John Fuerst for leading Friday Tehillim on November 6.
  • Thank you to Mark and Tiferet Welch for hosting Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting on November 6.
  • Thank you to Miriam Eguchi, Harriet Frost, Rabbi Susan Shamash, Dalia Margalit-Faircloth, Pat Gill, Dave Kauffman, and Avi Dolgin for their leadership during the Shabbat Morning Service on November 7, and thank you to Avril Orloff for providing Zoom tech support.
  • Thank you to Rabbi Susan Shamash for leading the "More Talmud" class on November 8.
  • Thank you to Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan and Charles Kaplan for leading the Sunday Evening Minyan service on November 8, and thank you to Linda Peritz for providing Zoom tech support.
  • Thank you to Martin Gotfrit for picking up and delivering a repairs and maintenance item for the Bayit.
  • Thank you to Linda Peritz for recruiting, training, and organizing Zoom shamashim for the Exploring Judaism class.
  • Thank you to Bruce Hudson for providing Zoom tech support for the Exploring Judaism class on November 9.
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.
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.
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: Dael Adams Segal
In the Larger Community
ALEPH Affiliated and Network Communities Programming
The ALEPH Network is an alliance of organizations, individuals, shuls, and more at the vibrant cutting edge of Judaism. We value heart-and-soul-centered experience, and we integrate and evolve spiritual technologies to serve the needs of today and tomorrow. 
Becoming a Welcoming Community for Jews of Color, by SooJi Min Maranda
Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET (noon), 9:00 AM PST 
COST: Free to attend as a member of an ALEPH Affiliated or Network Community

Share your experiences in welcoming Jews of Color into your communities. Ask SooJi Min-Maranda, ALEPH’s Executive Director, questions about building a multicultural, multiracial community. Hear about some of the challenges SooJi faced entering Jewish community as a JOC, convert, and the only Jew in her family.
 
SooJi Min-Maranda is a Korean American Jew by Choice and the executive director of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Whether providing direct services, advocating for policy change, or fundraising for nonprofit organizations, SooJi begins with personal narratives that illustrate the need for programs, policies, and resources that raise the voices of those underserved and underrepresented in mainstream society.

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