Weekly Newsletters and Special Announcements

June 25, 2022 | 25 Sivan, 5782 | Parashat Sh’lach

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

Dear Friends,

June 24, 2022 will be remembered in modern history as a watershed moment when regressive misuse of power won the day. Though we knew it was coming, the deep sadness and disbelief that so many of us feel now that "the possible" is "real" must be acknowledged and processed. After Shabbes, we must roll up our sleeves and get to work.

At this moment, I turn to the wisdom of Psalm 30, said every morning (and for good reason) because it is so hard to feel the presence of God when we are bereft:
 "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
 Lord, when you favored me, you made me a mountain of strength;

but when you hid your face, I was terrified."

Our psalmist teaches that nothing, including and especially not our freedoms, can or should be taken for granted.  We must work everyday to keep the Face of God in our sight lines.

I encourage you to read this statement issued by the Rabbinical Assembly of America in response to the Supreme Court's heartbreaking example of judicial malpractice.

Psalm 30 cautions us against allowing the course of events to paralyze us with fear. Today's decision will repeal the rights advanced more than fifty years ago by Roe vs. Wade. This did not just happen overnight: it is the culmination of a process that has been underway for three decades. Now we must face the hard reality of this major setback.  

By the same token, a person of faith knows first hand that "joy can come with the dawn."  Let us work together wisely to hasten the light of justice, goodness and truth. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Marcia Tilchin

Friday, June 24 at 6:00pm
SHABBAT SERVICES TEMPLE BETH EMET
Join Rabbi Marcia Tilchin at Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim for Shabbat Services at 6:00pm. 

In person at 1770 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim or join the livestream.

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Saturday, June 25 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.

Saturday, June 25 at 7:45 pm
HAVDALAH TOGETHER - WITNESSES
Raymond Zachary joins Rabbi Marcia Tilchin in conversation about the new musical Witnesses - a moving account of five teenage Holocaust victims based upon personal diaries. Join on Zoom or Facebook. Read more here.

To reserve tickets for the world premiere of Witnesses, click here.

Monday, June 27 at 9:30am
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth in the Bible with Bex Rosenblatt. How is pregnancy understood as related to Israel? What is God’s role in the birth of Israel? Is pregnancy a punishment or a reward? We’ll read selected texts from Exodus and the prophetic texts as we explore these questions together. Join on Zoom or Facebook. Enjoy previous class recordings here.​​​​​​​

JLIFE MAGAZINE COVER STORY: JCoOC
This month's cover story in JLife features JCoOC's upcoming Shakespeare and Sacred Text Midsummer Retreat taking place at UCI July 25-29. Read all about the program and wonderful selection of seminars and performances that will take place. Guest lecturers include Professors Julia Lupton, Jack Miles and Hazzan Matt Austerklein. Read the article here Learn more and register for the retreat here.

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.

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UPCOMING JCoOC EVENTS

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. 

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

SUNDAY JUNE 26 AT 6:00PM IN LONG BEACH
Join Rabbi-Hazzan Marcia Tilchin and other southern California cantors for a beautiful tribute to Cantor Judy Sofer in honor of her 30+ years of service as a cantor and cultural arts visionary.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.

Register here.
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Driving Out Darkness is a one-day, immersive learning experience for leaders in Orange County’s civic, governmental, non-profit, religious, educational, media and law enforcement sectors. We will explore past and current manifestations of antisemitism and their relationship to other forms of hate, gain valuable tools and uncover strategies for countering rising levels of hate in our community, and expand our networks for greater effectiveness in our shared efforts.
Learn more and register here.

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.