Enjoy Torah Sparks- creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.
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"סיפרי עמינו": Stories of Our People."
OUR EYES ARE ON UKRAINE: OUR HEARTS ARE WITH REFUGEES THE WORLD OVER
As our attention is fixed on news channels and social media for information coming out of Ukraine, on this Refugee Shabbat our hearts are with refugees throughout the globe. Many Jews have connections to Ukraine, some with family members caught up in the conflict. There is however some good news: Ukranian citizens who arrived to the US before March 1st have been granted Temporary Protective Status. TPS allows those Ukranians temporarily living or studying in the U.S. to stay and work legally for 18 months.
The Jewish Collaborative has been a fervent supporter of refugees since its founding. In 2016 we were the catalyst for a partnership with the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees (MFA), the Orange County Jewish Coalition for Refugees (OCJCR), along with Temple Bat Yahm, raising over $30,000 for humanitarian aid for those internally displaced within Syria. This partnership continues today. I encourage you to take part in OCJCR's film series, currently filming the gripping film 'The Cave'. After watching, join a not-to-be-missed online conversaton with Shadi Martini, the Executive Director of MFA this Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00am PT. For more details and the links to watch the film and join the Zoom conversation register here.
We are also thrilled to share that the OC Collaborative Welcome Circle welcomed a newly-arrived Afghan family on February 19th. Mr. and Mrs. S. and their adoreable three-year old son moved into permanent housing this week. An OC Unitarian church congregant who attended January's OCJCR's webinar on HIAS Welcome Circles offered to rent her newly remodeled guest house to the Afghan family at below market rates to help ease their transition. It was a perfect fit!
The young family has no U.S. ties, and had to make the difficult decision to leave other family members behind in Afghanistan. They are so grateful to have the support of a HIAS Welcome Circle, and shared that the volunteers have embraced them with such love and care that they feel they have gained new family.
My heart is aglow with the warmth and generosity that has flowed in from our Christian, Jewish, and Muslim neighbors to help support the S. family. During one of their first outings to a Halal market in north county—upon learning their story— the owner refused to accept payment for their groceries. The OC Collaborative Welcome Circle is continuing to raise funds to cover rent, utilities, medical expenses, and more for the next 6-12 months until the S. family attains financial self-sufficiency. Please donate hereto help the Circle raise the final thousand dollars to reach their goal.
I invite you to join this sacred work. There are many ways to participate: Register here for OCJCR's next HIAS Welcome Circle information session on Friday March 18 at 10am
We are making a difference in the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers from every part of the world. As the Torah reminds us:
וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul of the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex.23:9). May we embrace this mitzvah, and may it continue to guide our actions this Shabbat and always.
With appreciation, Jackie Menter
Friday, March 4 at 6:00pm Pacific FRIDAY NIGHT BY CANDLELIGHT
JCoOC joins Temple Isaiah in Newport beach in-person or on Zoom. 6:00pm shmooze then 6:30pm services led by Eric Dangott and Jason Feddy. Zoom in. Meeting ID: 819 0465 0297 Passcode: shalom. Or attend in person at 2401 Irvine Ave, Newport Beach.
Saturday, March 5 at 2:00pm Pacific 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.
Monday, March 7 at 9:30am Pacific ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE UCI Professor Julia Lupton begins a three-part series on Shakespeare and Jewish Wisdom in partnership with UCI's Shakespeare Swan Theater. Learn more and register here.
Tuesday, March 8 at 9am Pacific SPECIAL ALI CLASS: BOOK OF ESTHER Bible Scholar Bex Rosenblatt leads us in part 2 of an exploration of the Book of Esther, just in time for Purim. Learn more and register here. Listen to the recording of last week's class here
Sunday through Thursday 6:00pm Pacific 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.
SAVE THESE DATES
Wednesday, March 16 at 7:15pm Pacific A POSITIVELY PLAYFUL PURIM JCoOC brings together ten SoCal communities to celebrate Purim virtually with a shared Megillah reading interspersed with song parodies from the 1960s. Costumes encourage. No RSVP required. Join on Zoom or Facebook. To view all of JCoOC's Purim activities, click here.Order delicious Hamantaschen through The Blessed Braid: (714) 587-2850.
Thursdays at 5:00pm beginning March 24 FOUNDATIONAL JEWISH KNOWLEDGE FOR ADULT LEARNERS The next Pathways Into Judaism series begins March 24. 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. The course will be taught by Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and Cantor Caitlin Bromberg. Learn more and register.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Sunday, March 6, 2022 • 8:00 AM OC JEWISH ENVIRONMENTAL BIKE RIDE Join the Jewish Collaborative’s team for the Hazon OC Ride supporting environmental education and action in our community. Can’t join us in person? You can still participate through JCoOC's Move on Your Own Anywhere Option! Tell your friends and help us support this existential cause. In-person options include an 8 am bike ride (10, 18, 36 and 50 mile routes) and 9 am spin class. Learn more. To become a JCoOC MOYO Team Member, click here.
MARCH 16 AND MARCH 21 JCoOC is a proud member of HOAG's Faith Community Nursing program. We invite you to join their virtual conference focusing on healing and wholeness two years after the onset of a world pandemic. This two-day seminar will offer tools to help navigate our ongoing emotional, spiritual, and physical recovery.
March 20 at 4:00pm in Tustin Save the date for Two Peoples in One Land.Click here to learn more about this grassroots, transformative initiative. Seating is limited. Register 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
November 10,17,24 and December 1
Mondays - 9:30 am PT | 12:30 pm ET Register here
When you think about biblical women, what images and words come to mind? Temptress? Victim? Women subjugated by husbands or fathers? Close textual reading reveals that these stereotypes are incongruous with the actual lived experiences of female characters in TaNaKh. In this course we will gain some new insights into the extraordinary women that populate the pages of our Holy Scriptures.
Dror Israel: Educating for Hope and Healing in Times of War
Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00pm
Sivan Bamberger, International Development Director for Dror Israel
Hosted at a private home in Orange RSVP HERE
Bringing Heaven Down To Earth: Integrating High Holy Day Wisdom into Everyday Life
Grounded in the Jewish prophetic value of Pikuach Nefesh, JQ offers free virtual monthly and drop-in support groups for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Learn more
ExploringJudaism.org is about embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism and our personal search for meaning and learning. No matter who you are or your experience in Judaism there is something to learn and explore.
JCoOC is an exempt organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code EIN: 36-4844121
