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ASIYAH - The Physical and Practical This is the world of the physical and practical. We humans experience
everything through the filter of the physical world and the bodies we live in,
and our communities do the same. |
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What is Or Shalom? Or Shalom is a synagogue affiliated with Aleph, the umbrella organization of Jewish
Renewal communities. While every Jewish Renewal Community is unique, we have
the common values of a willingness to explore and experiment with our
traditions in an effort to draw closer to God and the Jewish soul. Or Shalom
is egalitarian: Both men and women have equal access to the leadership of
services and community positions. We believe in searching for the unwritten
stories of the women in Jewish history and bringing them forward as a means
of bringing balance to our world. We seek to bring repair to the world
through our commitment to Tzedaka and social
justice. We deepen our own Jewish lives, and the community around us, through
study of the traditional sources and the creation of new rituals and
liturgy. In September 2008, after consultation with the membership, the
Board released a Vision Statement for Or Shalom's growth and development. History.
Or Shalom began as a havurah (small group of
friends) in 1982 which, led by Rabbi Daniel Siegel
and Hanna-Tiferet Siegel, met in members living
rooms to daven on Shabbat mornings. Daniel was the
first person to receive smicha (rabbinic
ordination) by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder
of the Jewish Renewal Movement. Daniel now works with Aleph Alliance
for Jewish Renewal, the co-ordinating
body for this movement. Or Shalom has grown from a Shabbat morning minyan
(prayer group) into a community of well over 200 single people and families.
In the late 1980s Rabbi Itzhak Marmorstein
became Or Shalom's spiritual leader and was part of
our community for five years. In 1993, after squeezing into rented houses for
years, we bought our present building at 10th and Fraser. From 1995 - 2003,
Rabbi David Mivasair served as Or Shalom's spiritual leader. He can be reached at mivasair@aol.com. Today our spiritual leader is Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan. Reb Laura and her
family moved to Vancouver in January, 2005 and we
look forward to many years of growing together. Much of the history of our community is told by the objects which surround us. Ritual items, artwork, practical things - each has a story to tell. Please read the stories of these precious witnesses
and come to
know us better. Back to Top
Or Shalom is
committed to egalitarianism. Women and men participate with equal access in
all aspects of community life and worship: being called to the Torah, counted
in the minyan, leading services and reading from
the Torah. Or Shalom is also committed to searching out the unwritten stories
and contributions of Jewish women throughout our history. We are
committed to both the roots and fruits of the Tree of Life - our Torah. Or Shalom is
committed to participation. Our paid staff are the
rabbi, a part-time administrator, the religious school teachers and a little
custodial help. Everything else is done by us! We
lead davenen, read Torah, plan and carry out
holiday events, shlepp, cook
and clean. Everything from the glamorous to the mundane is
done by us! Any skill you might want to volunteer, Or Shalom could
probably use. Contact Or Shalom's administrator to
volunteer at (604) 872-1614. Or Shalom is always open to debate an issue or new way of being in the
world as a result of fresh insight. A major on-going exploration in our
community is the topic of patrilineal descent.
Community discussion also led to Or Shalom's very
visible presence in the Vancouver Gay Pride parades. We have struggled with
and endorsed a practice concerning same-sex marriages.
These discussions represent our community's way of engaging with current
issues from a Jewish position.
We are pleased to be growing today with rabbi R' Laura Duhan Kaplan.
Reb Laura has a website of her writings and lectures from
the past several years - here it is. Reb Laura is available for appointments at Or Shalom on
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Please phone her at 604-872-1614
or email her at reblaura@telus.net. Back to Top
Patrilineal Descent? Or Shalom
follows the traditional understandings of Who Is A Jew - anyone born of a
Jewish mother or who goes through a conversion process. We have also
struggled with the issue of people born to Jewish fathers but non-Jewish
mothers. The discussion involves fundamental questions of identity, community
and values. You can follow some of the documents of that community
introspection by reading here
New to Judaism? Are you approaching (or returning to) Judaism for the first time? The
Exploring Judaism course might help in
your quest. Back to Top Benje
Bondar Barbara Buchanan Ron Einblau Robin Friedlander Martin Gotfrit Tim Oberlander Linda Peritz treasurer David Kauffman communications
secretary Laura Rosenthal co-chairperson Lenore Rosen recording
secretary Adele Ritch
co-chairperson Mark Weintraub Or Shalom has a number of standing committees which
are vital to the life of community. In addition to board members who serve on
the committees, volunteers are welcome and needed to help these groups
accomplish their objectives. Standing committees (and their contact persons)
include: Adult Education (Helen Waldstein) Art and Aesthetics (Sheryl Sorokin) Bayit (Frank Segal / Ron Einblau) Children, Youth and Family (Lu Winters) Communications (Dani
Horwitz) Finance (Linda Peritz) Fundraising (Maurice Bloch) Governance (Hal Siden) Kiddush (Pat Gill) Membership (Hana
Wosk) Personnel (Vita Kolodny) Rabbi (Susan Shamash) Retreat (Laura Rosenthal) Ritual (Roslyn Kunin) Shiva /Gemilut
Chesed (Bat Ami Segal) Tikkun Olam
(Helen Waldstein / Ruth Hess-Dolgin) Young Adult (Jodi Seidelman) There are also many ad hoc groups including organizing committees for
the annual retreat (here are some photos and info/schedules from some past ones),
holidays and special events, and planning for Shabbat davenning.
To contact any of these committee heads with questions (or offers of help)
please contact the office (604 - 872-1614) or orshalom@telus.net
and your message will be quickly passed on. Constitution and stuff Or Shalom is
a registered society under the Societies Act. Our legal name is Or Shalom Jewish Spiritual Society, and
of course we have a legal constitution and bylaws. We have our Constitution
And Bylaws online. Frankly, reading Torah is
more interesting. Back to Top
High Holiday participation only:
Finances should
not be a barrier to participation. Individual circumstances will be
taken into consideration; we are committed to respecting privacy and
integrity. Back to Top
Adam va-Adamah, the local Jewish
environmental group, has prepared a list of kosher organic products available in
Vancouver. That list will also lead you to
links to several Orthodox kashrut websites. A complete Guide to
Kiddush and Kitchen provides answers to your
questions about potluck meals, running the dishwasher, hosting a kiddush, sources of kosher foods, snacks for kids, etc. Please avoid serving nuts and
other foods likely to cause allergic reactions. If you have allergies to
wheat and other grains, you are not alone. Efforts are made to include
non-wheat products. We hope that everyone will make the additional (small)
effort of bringing a written description of their food offering, so that
those seeking strictly kosher products or those with health concerns can make
informed choices. For further information on any of these matters |
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