Rabbi Tilchin's Shabbat Messages

April 1, 2022 | 29 Adar 2, 5782 | Parashat Tazria
 Rosh Hodesh Nisan | Shabbat Hahodesh

Enjoy Torah Sparks - creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.

SHABBAT SHALOM, HODESH TOV AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
A THREE-TORAH SHABBES

On Saturday, April 2, in synagogues all over the world, we will witness a wonderful spectacle: 3 Torahs will come out of the ark and be read during the Torah service. The first 6 aliyot will be read from Parashat Tazria, the 4th parashah in the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra). The 7th Aliyah, read from Torah #2, will be the special reading for Rosh Hodesh, and the maftir reading will be read from a 3rd Torah in honor of Shabbat Hahodesh – the Saturday that either precedes or coincides with Rosh Hodesh Nisan. The month of Nisan is imbued with special status as the first month on the Jewish calendar year - essentially the equivalent to January 1st on the Gregorian calendar we use today.

Why Nisan? Because it is the month of our liberation! Many people assign a slightly special status to the month that they were born in because it is a personal new year. Nisan is the birth month of the Israelite nation. Centuries before, Jacob’s sons and their families went down to Egypt as a big clan trying to survive a horrific seven-year famine. They ended up staying for more than 200 years, at first in relative safety and comfort. Over time, a few hundred people became thousands, and this proliferation became threatening to a new Pharoah. Hence, we came to endure oppressive conditions designed to reduce our numbers and stunt our growth.

The plagues that we read about in the Book of Exodus and recall every Passover at our seders took place in the months leading up to and into Nisan. To learn some different theories on the origins of these plagues, click here. The final plague – the killing of all first-born males – happened just before the 14th of the month. That night, the Israelites ate their prescribed Paschal lambs and then high-tailed it out of Egypt after midnight. It took us seven full days to arrive at Yam Suf – the Sea of Reeds. On the 21st of Nisan they started to march across. Since they numbered in the hundreds of thousands, the last person to touch freedom on the other side of the shore might have done so on the 22nd of Nisan, and in that moment, we were able to start our new lives and worship as a free people. It’s a great story!

You may wonder then, why we don’t wish people a Shanah Tovah – a Happy New Year – on Rosh Hodesh Nisan like we do Rosh Hashanah? The simple answer is that Jewish years are numbered according to the creation of the world which is marked every year in the fall on the 1st of Tishrei - the 7th month on the Jewish calendar. For Nisan, a more fitting greeting to fellow Jews might be Yom Huledet Sameah – Happy Birthday – but that is not our custom. Instead, we wish people a Hodesh Tov – a Happy New Month – as we do every Rosh Hodesh, and we honor Nisan with an extra special Torah reading for Shabbat HaHodesh – literally “the Sabbath announcing THE month.”

Please join us tonight on Zoom or Facebook for a special Friday night Rosh experience led by Kohenet Rachel Kann and friends.

Shabbat Shalom and Hodesh Tov,
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and the Collaborative Team

Friday, April1 at 6:00pm PT
SHABBAT - ROSH HODESH EXPERIENCE
Celebrate Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Nisan with Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and Kohenet Rachel Kann, founder of Realize Paradise. This unique experience, dedicated to the theme of liberation, is a perfect way to ring in the new Jewish calendar year. Join us on Zoom or Facebook. 

Saturday, April 2 at 2:00pm PT
TWELVE STEPS & TORAH
Shabbat afternoon Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Join us on Zoom. 
For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here.
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Monday, April 4 and 11 at 9:30am PT
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
Biblical Scholar Bex Rosenblatt explores the Song of Songs - Shir haShirim, an unabashedly sensuous, at times erotic, paean to love. Register here. Join on Zoom or Facebook.
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Thursday, April 7 at 5:00pm PT
PATHWAYS: JUDAISM 101
JCoOC invites you to join our 3rd cohort of Judaism 101. All are welcome. This 18-week course is designed for those looking to explore and/or enrich their knowledge about what Judaism has to offer as a spiritual path, evolving culture, and sacred way of life. Learn more and register. 

Saturday, April 9, 6:30-8:30pm PT
HAVDALLAH WITH BEIT T'SHUVAH
Join JCoOC for a special Havdallah screening of Escape Room followed by a conversation with its creators. This film, made during the pandemic, captures the power of loving connection - even through Zoom - to reduce feelings of isolation and despair.
Join on Zoom. Read more here. 
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Jewish Collaborative of OC has prepared a comprehensive menu of Pre-Passover Programs (beginning April 2), Community Seder options, and holiday worship opportunities to help enrich your personal and family Passover celebrations. CLICK HERE to see the full menu!

Sunday through Thursday 6:00pm PT
OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN
If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, oberserve a yahrzeit, or participate in an evening minyan, OC Egal meets online five nights a week. Click here to receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.

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JCoOC UPCOMING EVENTS

All the Adams in the World – a one-person show by Sheila Silver based on her book of the same name – takes audiences on Sheila’s 30-year journey with a child with autism. A captivating performance featuring some 24 characters, including medical experts, teachers, judges and family members, all of whom bring their own unique perspective to Adam’s case, care and future. The performance will be followed by a discussion with the actor and author of this poignant story brought to life in honor of Autism Awareness Month.
Purchase Tickets Here.

Wednesday, April 27 at 7 PM
WITNESSES: A YOM HASHOAH PROGRAM
JCoOC and Heritage Pointe come together to honor Yom HaShoah with a special performance featuring highlights from Witnesses, a new show by composer Adam Gwon, performed by Raymond Zachary and friends. Join us in-person or on Facebook. Address: 27356 Bellogente, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

Thursdays at 7pm beginning May 5th
ONLINE BEREAVEMENT GROUP
JCoOC will begin cohort two of our online Jewish bereavement support group facilitated by Chaplain Fran Chalin M.S.W. / M.J.C.S. Fran specializes in grief education with more than 30 years of experience helping people navigate trauma and process loss. Learn more and register here.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Stepping Into Liberation Pre-Passover Jewish Recovery Retreat

April 3rd, 2022 from 11-6 pm Eastern time
JCoOC partners with Our Jewish Recovery to welcome people from all around the globe for a fabulous day of learning and spiritual renewal. Passover is the story of our ancestors liberation from slavery. Stepping Into Liberation will enlighten and inspire us, and give us the tools we need to free ourselves from our slaveries and find the freedom we seek. After attending Stepping Into Liberation, you'll have new tools for your Passover Seder, and more resources to strengthen your recovery. Read more and register here.

Join OCJCR for a virtual open house with OCJCR's leadership team to learn about the myriad ways to volunteering to help refugees and asylum seekers. You will have the opportunity to listen to short presentations about each area of OCJCR’s work, meet with committee chairs, ask questions, and let us know how YOU would like to be involved. 
​​​​​​​RSVP HERE.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 7 PM
EVENING OF HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE
At Chapman University, Wallace All Faiths Chapel, Fish Interfaith Center. Click here for directions and additional information.

The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is a creative, collaborative, and compassionate community mosaic dedicated to innovating and supporting local and national programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life and encouraging individuals and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.