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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 - R' Laura Duhan Kaplan Bayit -
Frank Segal / Ron Einblau Bayit
Expansion - Maurice Bloch Children,
Youth and Family - R' Laura Duhan Kaplan Communications -
Dave Kauffman Finance
- Linda Peritz Fundraising
- TBA Gemilut
Chesed - Bat Ami Segal Governance -
Adele Ritch Kiddush
- TBA Membership -
Robin Friedlander and Lenore Rosen Personnel -
Ron Einblau Retreat
- Laura Rosenthal Ritual
- Roslyn Kunin Strategic
Financial Planning committee - Maurice Bloch Tikkun
Olam - Ruth Hess-Dolgin and Helen Waldstein Young Adult - Jordana Corenblum and Yael
Tischler 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:
You can fill out this
year’s membership form and submit it to the office
if you prefer. 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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