Yesterday we celebrated Rosh HodeshShevat which means that our spring cycle of festivals that begins with Tu b'Shevat (the 15th of Shevat) will launch on January 28th. I want to encourage everyone to check out The Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest - a ground breaking collaboration initiated by Hazon: The Jewish Lab for Sustainability. This five day (January 27-31) virtual festival of learning, entertainment, activities for all ages is designed to help people "activate Jewish values, take personal action and develop a collective Jewish voice to move the needle on climate change." Please visit their website and find the events that speak to you and members of your family - more than 150 offerings, all free of charge!
Next Friday night, January 22, JCoOC will pilot our first new program of 2021 - ShabbaTogether - a monthly virtual opportunity for people to build connections and friendships after our Friday Night by Candlelight service. CLICK HERE to learn more and sign up to enjoy ShabbaTogether from coast to coast.
Today is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. I share A Prayer in Honor of Martin Luther King Daywritten by Rabbi Lilly Kaufman and invite you to read it during Shabbat dinner tonight or anytime during the weekend. Feel free to share with friends and family. Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin Texas is hosting a series of events this weekend to honor the legacy of MLK. CLICK HERE to learn more and join their programming in the Central Time Zone.
Save the date - Thursday, February 25 - for A Positively Playful Purim. Sevencommunities are coming together to celebrate on Zoom, and we'd love for you to join us!
Martin Luther King believed to his core that one can resist evil without resorting to violence. Read more about his philosophy HERE. The confluence of MLK observances with the current challenges facing those in charge of protecting our sacred halls of government and justice against violent attacks over the next week must give all Americans pause. How did we get here? How can we heal?
I pray that, in the coming year, full of promise and potential, we arrive at some critical answers to these existential questions and see a way to achieving a more United States of America. With God's Blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin
Friday, January 15 at 6:00 PM SOUL SPARK SHABBAT
Friday Night By Candlelight joins Temple Beth El of South Orange County forSoul Spark Shabbat: A one-of-a-kind service featuring meditation and wisdom to ignite your soul with contemplative music from cellist Steve Velez and percussionist Evan Wohl. *Join here. *Note this time and link are different than our regular Friday Night By Candlelight service.
Saturday, January 16 at 2:00 PM (PST) TWELVE STEPS AND TORAH
Shabbat afternoon Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. With Rabbi Ilan Glazer, founder of "Our Jewish Recovery," Rabbi Marcia Tilchin, and friends.
Join us on Zoom.
Saturday, January 16 at 5:30 PM HAVDALAH TOGETHER Following Havdalah, Sheila Silver will moderate a conversation with Allen Levy and Fred Goodman, creators of KVETCH-22, and share excerts from this funny, sweet, tuneful musical. For more information click here.
Join on Zoom or Facebook.
Monday, January 18 at 9:30 AM ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Rachel Kann, an award-winning poet and spiritual leader,will take us on a journey through her work and creative process.
Beginning Sunday, February 14 at 10:00am INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM
Enrollment for the next cohort of Introduction to Judaism classes has opened. Please click here for more information about this 20-week course that will run from February through July. Click here to register.
To learn about all of JCoOC's upcoming programs and classes,
January 27-31 BIG BOLD JEWISH CLIMATE FEST
Celebrate T"u b'Shevatwith purpose and passion. Join JCoOC friends at Hazon's Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest - a collaboration by and for people who want to activate Jewish values and help our community move the needle on climate change. Open to all. No experience of prior knowledge required. To learn more and register, click here.
January 15 and 16 - MLK Weekend WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin, TX will be celebrating and commemorating the legacies and lessons of Martin Luther King Jr. All are invited all to participate in their weekend programming that will include a roundtable discussion, Torah study,
and a live jazz concert.
For additional information and to participate, click here.
Thursday, February 25 at 5:30 pm A POSITIVELY PLAYFUL PURIM
The Jewish Collaborative joins with six congregations for a fun-filled Purim program with something for the entire family.
5:30pm Family Fun
6:15pm Ma'ariv
6:45pm Megillah and Shpiel
The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County innovates, supports and collaborates on community programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life in OC and beyond, encouraging individuals, couples and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County
2200 San Joaquin Hills Rd.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
