Click here to enjoy Rabbi Tilchin's discussion of Lekh L'kha with Rabbis Heidi Cohen and David Young as part of JFOC's special series, "סיפורי ראישית": Stories From the Beginning."
Enjoy Torah Sparks- creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.
Dear Friends –
We are well on our way into a new year, hopefully carrying less baggage, doing what we can to look ahead with optimism and hope. It is not an easy time.
One of the antidotes making it possible to put one foot in front of the other on our respective purposeful journeys is offered in this week’s parashah, Lekh L'kha, when God says to Avram:
“I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing… And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” Avram went forth as the Lord had commanded him. (Gen 12:2-4)
Like or first patriarch, those of us fortunate to have enough to sustain and nourish ourselves and our families have many opportunities to share our blessings with others in need.
This week JCoOC is launching our winter tzedakah campaign,Backpacks of Love and Care, and we look forward to your participation.
Last winter, in partnership with City Net, JCoOC initiated a project that ultimately engaged several houses of worship. Thank you again to all who supported that effort. Together we were able to provide 1000 good-quality backpacks filled with winter clothing and personal care items for people living out-of-doors and in shelters throughout Orange, Riverside and parts of Los Angeles Counties.
The need remains. This year we are inviting people to adopt backpacks filled with warm clothing and personal care items and/or much needed first aid supplies for City Net workers to access in service to their clients who sustain injuries that can heal easily if treated early. Our goal is to sponsor 100 "Backpacks of Love and Care."
Each of us is created in the image of our Creator and endowed, as Avram and Sarai are told in this week parashah, with the sacred gift of being a blessing to others - loved ones and strangers alike - in countless ways.
CLICK HERE to adopt one or more backpacks CLICK HERE to volunteer on November 24th (2-4pm) or December 3rd (9-11am).
Thank you for being a blessing,
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and the Collaborative Team
Friday, October 15 at 6:00pm (PDT) FRIDAY NIGHT BY CANDLELIGHT Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and Jason Feddy lead Friday night services as part of our monthly Shabbat By The Shore program. Join us on Zoom or Facebook.
Saturday, October 16 at 2:00pm (PDT) 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.
Next Havdalah Together is October 30th at 7:00pm
Monday, October 18 at 9:30am (PDT) ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Rabbi David Lazar leads ALI's 13-week series Piety, Politics and Prophecy: The Surprising Book of Daniel. Click here to learn more, register, and access the course source sheets and recordings. Join us on Zoom or Facebook.
Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00pm (PDT) CIRCLE OF HOPE & HEALING This 90-minute gathering is an opportunity to share our respective journeys through grief of all kinds toward a place of healing. We will learn, explore and connect — together. Register in advance here. Meet the group's facilitators here.
Saturday, October 23 at 9:30am
MINYAN AM EHAD JCoOC will hold its next Minyan Am Ehad Shabbat morning service at 9:30am at a private home in Tustin. If you are able to join us, register here. Please let us know if you are celebrating a simha or observing a yahrzeit.
Saturday, October 30 at 7:00pm (PDT) HAVDALAH TOGETHER Havdalah Together resumes on October 30 with special guest, OC Policy AdvocateAyn Craciun speaking about her current work to effect Climate Change policies throughout Orange County. Join on Zoom or Facebook for this important conversation.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Thursday, October 21st at 7:00pm (PDT) CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL LECTURE Rebecca Erbelding will explore key themes and topics of Chapman University's "Americans and the Holocaust" exhibit and examine the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide. Dr. Erbelding’s own research focuses specifically on American responses to theHolocaust. Join on Zoom here.
TheJewish 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.
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County 2200 San Joaquin Hills Rd. Newport Beach, CA 92660
