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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.
The retreat is held at Camp Hope, a few hours east of Vancouver. Here are some pictures from 2007
to give you a sense of what it's about.
In May 2010 our guest teacher was Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kliner. Here is the complete information package and
registration form from 2010. 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. Gemilut
Chesed:
The Gemilut
Chesed committee helps members support one another
in times of crisis or transition. The Committee has prepared a resource list of
local agencies that provide transportation, counseling, and other types of support.
To connect with the committee, please contact Bat-Ami Segal at bfsegal@shaw.ca. For further information on any of these matters |
|
[ Home ] |
[ Asiyah ] |
[ Yetzirah] |
[ Briyah] |
[ Atzilut] |
[Calendar] |
|
|
(
Doing ) |
(
Feeling ) |
(
Knowing ) |
(
Being ) |
|