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Weekly Newsletter
November 16, 2023
3 Kislev 5784
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333 Cortland Ave, SF, CA 94110 | |
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Thank you to those who have donated to the Annual Mezuzah Fund:
Allan Pleaner, Amy Mallor, Angelique von Halle, Annette Hess, Beth Mills, Betsy Strausberg, Bonnie Willdorf, Bryna Rifkind, Chana Jacobs, The Conroy & Dempsey Trust, Cynthia Changar, David & Eleanor Louis, Debbie Benrubi, Deborah & Dave Frangquist, Dolores Elkin, Elana Lieberman & Lorne Abramson, Elliot Helman, Frieda Sion, Gloria & Hans Kolbe-Saltzman, Hilton Obenzinger & Estella Habal, Jeffrey Javits, Jerel Glassman & Beth Mazie, Jodi Perelman & Brad Shapiro, Jody Reiss, Joel Rubinstein & Sylvia Sabel, Jolie Ginsburg, Joshua & Gizella Babcock, Judy Olasov, Julie & Danny Brook, Julie Minoff & Glenn Mar, Jurate Raulinaitis & Kirk Schneider, Kathy & Chad Balch, Laura Bresler, Leslie Roffman & Bob Goodwin, Linda Chafetz, Linda Liebschutz & Joseph Taylor, Liron Damir, Lisa Garbus & Adam Goldberg, Lisa Steinberg and Deborah Schlanger, Liz & Eric Isaacs, Madeleine Levin, Margo Freistadt & Lynn Ludlow, Matt and Motomi Rudoff, Meryl & James Bennan, Nancy Marks & Steve Mitchel, Noah Butter, Norisa Berardi, Pamela Rubin, Patricia Kalman, Pat Skala & Corey Weinstein, Phyllis Shulman, Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, Rabbi Faryn Borella, Rabbi Me'irah Iliinsky, Rachelle Resnick, Robin Roth, Robyn Talman, Saralie Pennington & Tom Herz, Shelley Levine, Stacey Leyton & Pierre Barolette, Stephen Gerard, Stephen Seligman & Mary Amsler, Sue Baelen & Phil King, Sue Schechter, Suzanne Lifson Salazar & Fred Salazar, Anonymous (1)
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This Shabbat: Shabbat Service, Happy Half Hour, & Vegetarian Potluck
Friday, Nov 17, 5:30 – 8:30 pm at Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St
Join us for lively musical services with R' Faryn and the ensemble, beginning at 6:00 pm at NVM. Before our Shabbat service, join us at 5:30 pm for a Happy Half Hour! Want to enjoy Shabbat dinner with your fellow Or Shalomers? Bring a vegetarian dish and reusable dishware for our post-service vegetarian potluck beginning at 7:30 pm. Masks strongly encouraged when not eating and drinking.
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The Happy Half Hour: Off to a Great Start!
Elliot Helman got our new Happy Half Hour (HHH) before Shabbat services
off to a great start on 11/03. To honor is his father’s yahrzeit, Elliot brought in delicious snacks and played some of his father’s favorite music.
This week Jurate Raulinatis will be hosting the HHH. Please join us for a glass of wine and a treat before services. Anyone can host a HHH for any good reason or no reason at all. The HHH takes place on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at NVM from 5:30 to 6:00 pm. All dates in 2024 are open and available!! Contact Pat Skala (pat.skala@gmail.com) to schedule a HHH. Thank you!
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Learn to Read the Alef-bet with Elizheva Hurvich
Tuesdays, Nov 14 – Jan 30, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, RSVP for Zoom Link
Learn the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as well as the vowel system with our guest teacher, Elizheva Hurvich! You will also get a brief glimpse into the grammatical and mystical structure of the Hebrew language. Please try to attend all 8 classes, as they build on each other.
Learn the Alef-Bet online with Elizheva Hurvich!
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From the Ground: An Israel-Palestine Speaker Series
Sundays, Nov 19, Dec 3 & 17, 10:00 – 11:00 am, RSVP for Zoom Link
We are holding 3 Zoom calls to hear from Israelis and Palestinians on the ground about what life is like at the moment, and their vision for a just and lasting peace. This Sunday, Nov 19, come hear from Omar Haramy, the Director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Center, a Christian Liberation Theology center based in Jerusalem, who will share his vision for the Holy land from the perspective of a Palestinian Christian.
Click here to register and receive the Zoom link. This will be recorded so register even if you're unable to attend, and you will be sent the link.
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Are you interested in getting more involved this year? Fill out this short Tikkun Olam survey! | |
New Chesed Circle Volunteer Site
Click here to join
The Chesed Circle has started a website for OS members to volunteer to assist other members with visits, rides and meals. On our website calendar, you can see the needs of congregants and sign up to meet those needs. Need help or have questions? Email Madeleine at madelevin@gmail.com.
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Supporting Newly Arrived Immigrant Families
Once a month, Or Shalom is helping to feed newly arrived immigrant families through our partnership with Faith in Action. More info here. Thanks to the Social Action Committee, Chesed Committee and Book Group for starting us off! To participate as a group or individual, contact sanctuary@orshalomsf.org.
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Jews of Color in the Climate Movement
People of Color are more likely to experience the effects of the climate crisis first and worst. Dayenu! the Jewish movement for climate action has formed the Jews of Color Caucus, a community space to support and learn from each other within the Jewish climate movement. This space is open to anyone who identifies as Sephardi, Mizrachi, BIPOC, and/or a Jewish Person of Color. If you are interested in joining the JOC Caucus, please fill out this form to be added to the group listserv and receive Zoom link for the next quarterly meeting, Thursday, November 30, at 11:00 am PT.
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The School of Jewish-Living Arts | |
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Our tallit sewers are finishing up their tallitot, with two more sessions to go to get individualized help: Nov 19, and Dec 3 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at 333 Cortland. Please register here.
Our tradition speaks of The Holy One creating the world through speech. Indeed, I have been reminded during this challenging time of the power of words to create realities; to actually cause life and death. If you are seeking a wonderful meditation, I invite you to come to the Hebrew calligraphy class starting January 7. We will learn how to make the forms of the Hebrew letters, and learn the mystical meanings, and we may even embody some of the letters to see what they ‘feel’ like. Hebrew is an elegant and spare language, and even knowing just a little of this Jewish-Living art of the Hebrew letters can enhance one’s lived Jewish experience.
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Ritualwell: Holding Each Other
Every Thursday, 12:00 – 12:30 pm, via Zoom
Take time to pause and pen with the Ritualwell community. Poetry, prayer and creative expression can bring comfort and provide us with support. Together we will say the Mi Sheberach for healing and Kaddish for the fallen, and pray for the captives. Learn more and sign up at ritualwell.org.
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JYCA Antisemitism Workshop for Jewish Teens
Sunday Dec 3, 2:00–5:00 pm, Berkeley
Open to any and all interested Jewish high school students, the JYCA is hosting a workshop on Antisemitism: Why is it called that? How has it looked across time and space? Where does it appear today? What are the origins of antisemitic stereotypes? How do we understand the distinctions between antisemitism and antizionism? To register, contact Ilana at igoldberg@jycajustice.org or 510-779-4359
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Virtual Shabbat Box
Check out this email from Reconstructing Judaism. This week’s resources point the way toward Jewish practice as a source of resilience and compassion, reminding us that especially in times of war, we must lean into expressions of loving-kindness.
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Tzedakah
We gratefully acknowledge these contributions from our community:
Allan Pleaner, in appreciation for the meal preparers for Asylum families.
Beth Mills, in honor of Elaine Barbara Jannis.
Bryna Rifkind, in memory of her father, Sidney Rifkind; life partner, Seymour Horowitz; and brother, Roger Rifkind.
Jackie Borella, in honor of R' Faryn.
Jennifer Joseph, in honor of R' Faryn and Or Shalom's new building.
Judy Olasov, in honor of Marc Van Der Hout and in memory of Elsa Raven and Ben Olasov.
Julie Minoff & Glenn Mar, in honor of R' Faryn.
Miriam Lewis, in memory of her beloved mother, Doris Lewis.
Matthew & Motomi Rudoff, in memory of Leonard and Janet Rudoff.
When making a donation online, please be sure to specify where to allocate.
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Yahrzeits
On the anniversary of their deaths, we remember:
Ann Fairbanks, Christine Crowe, Gerald Spatt, Helene Hall, Ilse Herz, Isabel Louis, James Amsler, James Howard Levine, Jeff Fairbanks, Judith Knoop, Lillian Lesser, Lore Grove, Priscilla Bartholomew, Ruth Rifkind, Saly Ruth Ramler Struik, Sarah Ackerman Solow, Sienna Fairbanks, Victor Resnick, Wesley Crowe
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