EnjoyTorah Sparks- creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.
Dear Friends,
Take a deep breath - Shabbat is almost here. For 24 hours, we can allow our minds to focus on family, pleasure and rejuvenation. Heaven knows we need it! World, national and local events of the past week compel us to reflect on how each of us can contribute in ways large and small to heal the ruptures in society that are consuming innocent lives everyday and promise to worsen before trends can be reversed. At this moment in time, people of faith must join hands with one another and those of no religion to name the many cancers in our midst and pray with our feet.
The Orange County Interfaith Network (OCIN) issued this statementon Tuesday decrying all forms of racially and religiously motivated hate and bigotry that inevitably lead to violence and death. JCoOC will keep our readers informed about actions that we can take locally and more broadly to stop the shocking barrage of rampant shootings in public places. Who could have imagined we would ever find ourselves in this state of despair?
The well-attended Ralliesheld in Santa Ana's Centenial Regional Park, throughout Southern California and across the nation last weekend offered a ray of hope for those of us horrified about the erosion of civil rights protections in America that most of us would, at one time, have thought inviolable. Please make your voices heard at the ballot box in CA's upcoming primary election on or before June 7. Planned Parenthood's Community Action Fund provides helpful voting guidance in districts across the country for those looking to elect leaders who will fight for access to reproductive rights. To learn what traditional Judaism believes about reproductive choice and the sanctity of life, refer to this 2021 resolution issued by the Rabbinical Assembly of America.
At this moment in history, the greatest expression of care for our fellow human beings is to realize that we are all vulnerable and must make our voices demanding safety and equality for all heard as one. In this, the fiftieth year after the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade, we are "sounding the horn and proclaiming release throughout the land for all its inhabitants." (based on Leviticus 25:10) It is, indeed, a Jubilee year for all of us!
Our livestream of tonight's service will begin at 6:30pm PT. Join Rabbi Marcia Tilchin, Jason Feddy, and special guest Rabbi Aviva Funke for a soulfull Shabbat service. Join on Zoom or Facebook.
Saturday, May 14 at 2pm TWELVE STEPS AND 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, May 23 at 9:30am ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Join Bible Scholar Bex Rosanblatt for the second of two classes exploring The Book of Ruth through a radical lens. Click here for more information and to register. Recordings of previous classes with Bex can be found here.
Friday May 27 at 6:00pm FRIDAY NIGHT WITH BETH EMET Join Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and Cantor Zev Brooks for Friday night services followed by shabbat dinner at Temple Beth Emet. In person at TBE: 1770 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim or join the livestream. RSVP for Shabbat dinner ($18) by Tuesday May 24th to Carren in the TBE office at 714-402-6555.
Sunday through Thursday at 6:00pm OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, observe 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.
UPCOMING JCoOC EVENTS
Wednesday, June 1 at 4:45pm REALIZE ROSH HODESH Join Kohenet Rachel Kann for a guided writing journey under the new moon through the lens of Jewish spirituality. See what energies will be revealed. We will be inspired by poetry and enter a creative journey together. Open to all. Read more here. Join on Zoom.
Monday-Friday July 25-29 at UCI SHAKESPEARE AND SACRED TEXT This multi-day midsummer retreat in partnership with the New Swan Shakespeare Theater will be an adventure in text study and the performing arts, bracketed by two festive meals and special programs. Read more and register here.Space is limited so register soon.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Monday, May 23rd at 1pm Pacific HIAS WEBINAR: WELCOME CIRCLES FOR UKRAINIANS Learn about the new Uniting for Ukraine program and how to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to come to the U.S. Read more and register herefor the webinar.
Tuesdays May 17, 24, 31 at 7 - 9pm CAN WE TALK?! Understanding and Overcoming Polarization In A Time of Division with Sacha Bonder of One America and Rabbi K’vod Wieder. Participants will learn about the subtle inner workings of the brain and behavior that influence how human beings interact with one another, discuss the differences between normal and toxic polarization, and study examples of healthy division found in Jewish texts. To learn more and to register click 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
