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YETZIRAH - Heart Connections Jewish mysticism refers to this as the realm of emotions, the place of
the heart: the high and the lows. One symbol of this world is water which can be liquid, solid or gas. The tides rise
and ebb. Human beings are primarily composed of water. We can't live without
it, just as our emotions keep us connected.. |
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At Or Shalom we are committed to celebrating our joys and triumphs as
well as finding loving support for the sorrows of life. More than anything, we
are a community, a group of people connected to one another in a large web of
personal relationships. We have a lot of fun together and in difficult times,
we care for one another in a loving, respectful and sensitive manner. Music.
Song is in the heart of Or Shalom davenen. It is
said that one who sings, prays twice. Singing opens a channel from our inner neshama--our soul-- to God, the Soul of the entire
cosmos. On Shabbat morning we use melodies which
come to us from different strands of Jewish tradition - Ashkenazi liturgy,
Hassidic niggunim, compositions by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, and
compositions of our own members, especially Hanna Tiferet
Siegel, one of our founders. Inclusivity. Many Jews
wonder if they're Jewish enough, observant enough, knowledgeable enough, etc.
At Or Shalom, everyone who feels the need to be here is welcome. That means
that our community embraces both Jews and non-Jews, frummies (orthodox) and liberals, gays and straights,
singles and families. However you label or don't label yourself, you are
welcome. Choosing Judaism. A number of us were not born into Judaism, but came
to it later in life and have found a spiritual home at Or Shalom. This
community recognizes that Jews by choice with their varied backgrounds and
experiences enrich us all and reflect Judaism back to those who were born
into the tradition. Are you approaching (or returning to) Judaism for the
first time? The Exploring Judaism course might help in your quest. A non-OrShalom website
which might prove helpful is www.convert.org Patrilineal Descent? Or Shalom has followed 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 Special events:
Or
Shalom Retreat. A
long-standing Or Shalom tradition is to head out of town on the Victoria Day
long weekend to spend the time with each other: learning and laughing,
playing and praying, hiking and dancing, singing and sharing, and talking and
talking and talking. Here are some pictures from 2007
to give you a sense of what it's about.
In May 2010 our guest teacher is Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kliner. Plan
now to join us May 21 - 24, 2010. The retreat is held at Camp Hope, a few
hours east of Vancouver.
Here is the complete
information package and registration form. Or
Shalom Women's Seder at
Passover time focuses on women's creative ritual and community building. It
is not a traditional seder, but rather an expression
of Passover themes as they relate to women. Before
Yom Kippur, women and men gather (at different times) to
go to the mikvah (ritual bath) - a physical act
that helps to clarify the spiritual through the physical. Join us. For further information, check out our calendar of events. For further information on any of
these matters |
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