Doar Shalom: August 6, 2020 / 16 Av, 5780

August 6, 2020 / 16 Av, 5780, 5780

Erev Shabbat candle lighting: 8:26 pm

Havdalah: 9:17 pm

ב״ה

Rabbi Hannah’s Weekly Reflection

Ekev – On Being a Sanctuary

Now Israel, what does YHWH ask of you? Only to fear God, to follow all God’s ways, to love and serve God with all your heart and soul. To keep God’s commandments and rules, which I give you this day, for your own good.” (Deut. 10:12,13)

Only? That’s quite a list! What more could God have asked of us??

The Chasidic master Noam Elimelech helps us to understand. Imagine, he teaches, that you want to give a gift of wine or honey to a friend, but don’t have a fitting container. You could borrow a beautiful silver vessel from your friend and then return it to them filled with your sweet, rich gift.

It’s God’s deepest desire to irrigate all of Creation with blessing. God created the world for us, for our benefit, as the parsha says, “for our own good.” We are the recipients of the gift! And we are the vessels that will contain it! God asks to borrow fitting vessels, so we prepare ourselves to be filled with divine honey. And how do we prepare? By cultivating awe. By serving Spirit openheartedly. By living righteously – these are the practices our parsha offers for preparing to be sanctuaries for God’s gift of presence and holy flow.

At Rosh Hashanah, on the birthday of the world, God replenishes the divine flow. As we live our lives in these days leading up to that renewal of God’s blessing in the world, let’s consider how to prepare ourselves to hold that light and that blessing.

Shabbat Shalom!

Upcoming Special Events

Saturday, September 12, 8:00 pm

We invite prayers, poetry and stories in all forms of up to 5 minutes in length. Beginners are welcome and we will read drafts if needed. Slam spots are limited. Please apply for a five minute spot by August 17 orshalom.ca/selichot-story-slam

You'll receive a confirmation for whether you have a spot reserved on August 21.

Join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 878 5578 9173

Passcode: 579611

Weekdays from August 21 to September 17, 12:00 - 12:30 pm

Join every day at noon for a dip into the classic Kabbalah text “Tomer Devorah” (The Palm Tree of Deborah) by the great Kabbalist Moshe Cordovero.

This guide to embodying divine energies (the sefirot) and is traditionally studied during the month of Elul. It is renowned for its focus on radical compassion and union with the Shechina, among other fascinating teachings.

Rabbi Hannah Dresner, Matthew Gindin, and Rabbi Yoni Gordis will alternate presenting the text. More communal teachers TBA.

No experience necessary! Please register via Eventbrite; drop-ins are welcome, however, more will be gained from fuller entry into the daily practice.

Friday, August 21, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Back by popular demand! We have arranged another Erev Shabbat picnic! Please join this family friendly, in-person, outdoor, socially distanced gathering for an opportunity to engage with one another while respecting each others' personal and group bubbles.

Register HERE to reserve your spot. Registration is required and we can only accommodate up to 49 people. Covid protocols shared on the registration page.

Feel free to contact Tanya with any questions programs@orshalom.ca. And please know that any in-person gathering is subject to change as the Covid status evolves.

Monday, August 10, 4:00 pm

Join us for the screening of film 02, "Blessed" on Monday, August 10, focusing the Mizrachi (eastern) culture in Israel
Film 03, "Cleaning Time", is scheduled for August 24, focusing on the Ethiopian Jewish experience in Israel.

Registration at https://www.tfaforms.com/4837033

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

Join our guest teacher 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.

Or Shalom Happenings

Friday August 7 to Thursday August 13

Prayers for Healing, Tehillim for the Human Family

- led by John Fuerst

Friday, August 7, 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 7, 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 8, 10:00 am

Parashat Ekev / פרשת עקב

Pesukei D'Zimra - Tiferet Welch

Shacharit led by Rabbi Hannah

Torah Reader - Avril Orloff

Join via Zoom.

Meeting ID: 820 8217 9153

Passcode: 687400

NOTE: please have your Siddur Eit Ratzon in hand

there will be no shared screen liturgy.

CONNECTIONS: Rabbi Hannah, Dave Kauffman, & Mark Winston

Sunday, August 9, 10:30-noon

Please register for the community meeting and dialogue HERE. You can preview High Holiday plans HERE. Questions can be directed to board@orshalom.ca. A Co-Chair will answer questions at the Community Meeting, as time allows.

Our small group conversations will explore the sorts of connections we yearn for and will invite your innovations for the sake of ever-blossoming community.

Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 852 6606 7817; Passcode: 316571

Virtual Evening Minyan

- led by Rabbi Hannah

Sunday, August 9, 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

Or Shalom Updates

Yasher Koach

A big yasher koach to Or Shalomnik Mel Krajden on being a recipient of the Order of BC! Mel is the medical director of the BC Centre for Disease Control Lab and he has been instrumental in the development of tests for COVID-19 and for antibodies to the virus. We are honoured that Mel is an active member of our Or Shalom Covid Advisory Group.

Send-off for Sheryl and Hillel

We invite a caravan of cars, bikers and walkers, and a flood of emails to acknowledge Reb Hillel and Sheryl's generous contributions to Or Shalom over the years. They have shared their hearts and enriched us all.

Those who aren't able to be there physically can express gratitude and love by sending personal email notes at the same time the caravan is taking place!

Let’s join together to acknowledge Sheryl and Hillel’s impact on our lives, and to wish them well on an exciting new chapter in their lives.

When: Wednesday, August 19, gather at 7:15 pm

Where: Sheryl and Hillel's home (they will be sitting outside 😊 )

Details: to follow in a Special Doar next week.

Please send any questions to Deborah Ross-Graymann devora@telus.net.

Warmly, Deborah and Shira

Great News...The Good Yontif Project 2020 is Sweetening the Deal!

First Ten submissions will be entered to win One of Two Delicious Prizes.

FAQs:

Q: How do I get My Sweet Deal?

A: Submit a photo of you or your family. This can include you and any "chosen" family members, "fur" babies, plants, or anything/anyone else that provides a feeling of comfort and connection. Along with the photo please include a warm holiday greeting. Neither the photo nor the greeting need be traditional. We welcome creativity!

Then you'll be entered to win one of the Delicious Prizes!

Q: What if I already submitted my photo?

A: Thanks, you're awesome! You will be entered to win the prize!

Q: Is the honey, like, really REALLY sweet??

A. Yes. It's really REALLY sweet. And delicious.

Please upload here by Friday, August 14 before Shabbat, or send it by email here.

Questions? Don't hesitate to be in touch with your Loving Neighbourhood Good Yontif Committee ❤

Borrowing Prayerbooks (Siddurim and Machzorim)

Please have your own Siddur in hand for our Shabbat morning services and your own Machzor in hand for our High Holiday services

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).

A donation was made by Kathy Brandon & Stuart Wells to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Honour of Rabbi Susan with our gratitude for her generous spirit and warmth while officiating the wedding of our daughter Shivani and her beloved Jeremy.
A donation was made by Sally Thorne & Mary Adlersberg to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund in Honour of Mel Krajden being appointed to the Order of British Columbia.
A donation was made by Lorne Greenberg to the Rabbi's Benevolent Fund.
A donation was made by Sally Thorne & Mary Adlersberg to the Or Shalom Community Fund in Memory of Earl Goldstein's mother, Bertha (Bryna bat Shabsa v’Eta Golda) z"l.
Thank you to Harriet Frost and Robert Albanese for hosting Erev Shabbat Candle Lighting on July 31.
Thank you to Harley Rothstein for hosting the Virtual Evening Minyan on August 2, and to Linda Peritz for her Zoom tech support.
Thank you to Fran Ritch for helping to support Earl Goldstein.
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: Sara Buell