Doar Shalom: August 27, 2020 / 7 Elul, 5780

August 27, 2020 / 7 Elul, 5780

Parashat Ki Teitzei / פרשת כי־תצא

Erev Shabbat candle lighting: 7:44 pm

Havdalah: 8:35 pm

ב״ה

Rabbi Hannah’s Weekly Reflection

Ki Teitze – Be Mindful of What Emerges from You

Ki Teitze teaches:“Motza sefatecha tishmor” -- “Safeguard what crosses your lips,” your speech.

Speech is the most wondrous act of God’s Creation, making it possible for human beings to sing God’s praises, articulating the gratitude of all the other creatures. It’s also what the Gerer Rebbe calls “the most inward of our limbs,” vulnerable to revealing our private selves, even that which is cruel and destructive. That’s why we have this mitzvah -- to guard our speech -- motza sefatecha tishmor.

Last week’s parsha opened with instruction to set up judges and guards at Israel’s gates. This, too, the Rebbe understood as pertaining to guarding the gates of the selves. Our mouths are portals through which what’s inside us emerges and affects the world.

Writing a century earlier, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev taught that guarding our words, so that we are loving, affects the way God will judge us on Yom Kippur. It’s not that if we’re good we’ll live, but rather, that we have agency to open the flow of God’s compassion by modeling compassion. We can warm God’s heart with the warm-hearted way in which we speak to others, reflecting acceptance, and with the generosity of spirit that emerges when we forgive and speak forgiveness. We walk in God’s ways, but God walks in ours as well.

And we might imagine that it is not just our speech that needs guarding, but all the avenues by which we touch and create our world. Food for thought during the month of Elul.

My blessing is that we use our mouths to offer praise and tender forgiveness. My blessing is that our kindly speech and actions influence the heavens, opening a flow of divine mercy.

Shabbat Shalom!

Melodies for Elul

During the weeks of Elul I’ll be sharing some music, each week, to bring us into the Yamim Norain - the Days of Awe.

As we concentrate on Psalm 27 during the days leading to Rosh Hashanah and on through Yom Kippur, here is a musical composition from that psalm written and sung by Rabbi and story teller Mark Novak, whom you may remember from his visit to Or Shalom and to VST last summer; Linked HERE Achat Shaalti me-et Hashem: sivti b’vveit Adonai kol yemei chayai - One thing I ask of you God, that I may dwell in the House of Adonai all the days of my life. Reb Mark teaches that we meditate on this verse to remind ourselves that we do, indeed, dwell in God’s majesty, and that God’s majesty always dwells in up - an important inspirational and motivational adage for promoting gratitude as well as a sense of self worth during these days, as we find our way Home for the Holidays.

Tomorrow, Friday, John Fuerst will teach on Psalm 27 during his Friday psalms recitation at 1PM (Psalm 27 is available HERE). Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 873 2214 6883; Password: 200901

Upcoming Shabbat Services

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

In Preparation for Yizkor Service on Yom Kippur

The names of loved ones we have lost during this past year will be read aloud during the Yizkor service on Yom Kippur. To add the names of your beloveds, email yizkor@orshalom.ca by Sept. 18.

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. Our readers are:

Aren X Tulchinsky
Cecil Hershler
Els Kushner
Katherine Zemliya
Mark Winston
Philippe Tortell
Rhea Tregebov
Tiferet Welch
Val Dolgin

The program is opening and closing with two Jazz interpretations of Kol Nidre with musicians Martin Gotfrit, Dave Kauffman, Noah Gotfrit, 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).

Your opportunity to greet community members in person and hear the Shofar blown.

In person at at Canoe Bridge in Olympic Village, Olympic Village waterfront – self-directed Tashlich followed by Shofar from afar. Pre-registration required for up to 49 persons in each of 3 time slots. Please register HERE by September 16 at 5PM to reserve your spot. Filling up fast!

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 HERE by September 11 at 5PM. There are a few more family spots available.

Or Shalom Happenings

Friday August 28 to Thursday September 3

See our new Event Calendar for details of upcoming programs, services, and events.

Men's Torah Study Group

- led by Frank Segal

Friday, August 28, 9:00 am

This week's parasha is

Ki Teitzei / פרשת כי־תצא

Deuteronomy/Devarim 21:10 - 25:19.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 892 7010 9069; Password: 572724

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 28, 1:00 pm

Reciting Tehillim for the sick is a traditional practice.

This Friday we will study and learn Psalm 27 as a psalm for healing, available HERE. Psalm 27 is added by our tradition to our daily prayers from the first day of the month of Elul until the last day of Sukkot.

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

Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting

- led by Rabbi Hannah

Friday, August 28, 6.00 pm

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

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

Contemplative Shabbos Prayer

- with Rabbi Hannah

Saturday, August 29, 10-11 AM

An alternative virtual Tefilah. Our Zoom Shamash this week is Linda Peritz.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 820 8706 4962; Passcode: 503690

End of Summer Shabbat Sheli Event

Saturday, August 29, 2020, 10-11 AM

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

Shofar Corps Training

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

Register HERE to reserve your spot, Only 10 Spots Left!! Registered students will receive the Zoom link with their confirmation email. Students will need to have a Shofar on hand.

Virtual Evening Minyan

- led by Rabbi Hannah

Sunday, August 29, 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

Chanting and Chocolate

Sunday, August 29, 7:30 - 8:30 pm

This month the Band will be gathering out of doors to bring you an enhanced musical chant experience.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 872 3152 2419; Passcode: 416587

Women's Heart Centered Torah Study

- led by Dael Adams Segal

Thursday, September 3, 12:30 pm

This week's parasha is

Ki Tavo / פרשת כי־תבוא

Deuteronomy/Devarim 26:1 - 29:8.

Email Dael: d.adams@telus.net

Or Shalom Updates

Adult Program News

We are excited to announce that fall program planning is well underway. While we may not be able to meet in person yet, our programs are being offered via Zoom.

Exploring Judaism, led by Rabbi Hannah Dresner.

Or Shalom’s yearly program for those on the path to discovering Judaism and for those wishing to deepen basic understandings.

Our new season will begin with online monthly Zoom classes, starting Monday, October 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. Please find further details and registration HERE.

Zusia, the Bet Midrash Fall Offerings:

- 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.

Registration opens on September 7. Stay tuned!

More Talmud, led by Rabbi Susan Shamash.

Come join serious, eager learners as we grapple with the text, join the Jewish communal conversation, and bring our voices to the renewal of Judaism! Sessions start on October 18. See HERE for details.

Women's Heart Centered Torah Study, led by Dael Adams Segal.

We extend an opportunity for women (both trans and cis) to meaningfully connect through Torah. Study takes place twice a month on Thursdays. See HERE for details.

Men's Torah Study, led by Frank Segal.

An informal discussion of the week’s parasha for male-identifying folks Study takes place every two weeks on Fridays .

See HERE for details.

Children and Youth Program News

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.

Zoom Tech Leaders Needed

Or Shalom has many zoom events coming up this fall (and beyond). We need tech leaders (shamashim) to perform a variety of tasks: muting, screen sharing, organizing breakout rooms, etc. It’s not hard. You’ll get written instructions and opportunities to practice before you go live.

Be a shamash. It’s a mitzvah for our community.

Contact Linda to volunteer Linda.Peritz224@gmail.com

Your pews coordinator, Myriam Gindin, can be reached at orshalomprojects@gmail.com

A donation was made by Sheryl Sorokin and Hillel Goelman to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Honour of Gloria Levi’s generosity, and the Or Shalom community.
Thank you to John Fuerst for leading our FridayTehillim, Prayers for Healing.
Thank you to Harley Rothstein and Roz Kunin for their leadership during the Shabbat Morning Service on August 22, and to Linda Peritz for acting as Zoom Shamash.
Thank you to Tanya Paz for hosting Women's Heart Centered Torah on August 20.
Thank you to Yoni Gordis for teaching Wednesday’s Tomer Devorah class.
Thank you to Tilly Schalkwyk for her continual work on the logistics of the upcoming Tashlich programs.
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.

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: Veronica Singer