Weekly Newsletters and Special Announcements

August 19, 2022 |  20 Av 5782 | Parashat Eikev

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

Tickets to the Israel Philharmonic in Orange County are now on sale. Click here to learn more.

Dear Friends,

Since the Jewish Collaborative of OC opened its proverbial "doors" in 2016, one of our key missions has been to encourage community members to express their values and passions through a Jewish lens in the arts, activism, spirituality/healing, creative worship and collaborative learning.  

Over the years we have nurtured and supported social justice projects inspired by members of our community on behalf of serving people experiencing homelessness, seeking asylum, environmental causes and much more, as well as artistic endeavors that stretch our hearts and imaginations.  

In this vein, we are proud to highlight two upcoming opportunities to learn, serve and be inspired:

FALL MISSION TO POLAND TO WORK WITH UKRANIAN REFUGEES:
OCJCR and JCoOC friend, Gail Dratch, is hoping to gather a small group of fellow travelers interested in working with the Jewish Community Center in Krakow to assist with their essential work in supporting Ukranian refugees. Likely tasks will include:

• Distribution of food, medicine, hygene supplies, toys, etc.
• Staffing a day care "safe space" for mothers and children
• Packing supplies to send to Ukraine

Dates are not yet firm, but anticipated to be 2-3 weeks in October 2022. Volunteers will be responsible for their own travel, lodging and food expenses. Those interested in learning more, please contact Gail at dratch.gail@gmail.com.

ROOTS AND WINGS: AN INTERACTIVE FAMILY SHOW
Developed by Mostly Kosher artists Leeav Sofer, Janice Mautner Markham and world class director Matthew McCray, join friends from throughout OC on Sunday, August 28, at 4 pm for this FREE family experience in Santa Ana at IHDS. More information can be found below under 'Community Events'.

We are grateful that you are part of the Collaborative Family. We remain comitted to sharing mission-driven programs and projects that spread the "Joy of Jewish" far and wide.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Marcia Tilchin, Jackie Menter and the Collaborative Team

Friday, August 19 at 6:30pm
FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES
Join Or HaMidbar with Rabbi David Lazar at 6:30 online here.
Or join Congregation Sholom of Seal Beach led by Eric Dangott and Cantor Fran Chalin. Shmooze at 6:00 then Friday night services beginning at 6:30pm. Join on Zoom here.
Meeting ID: 375 251 9429 | Passcode: 8ZYy69

Saturday, August 20 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.

Please note we are using a NEW ZOOM LINK.

Mondays, August 22 and 29 at 9:30am
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
Rabbi Daniel Levine of OC Hillel joins ALI for a three-part series titled Talmud to Tachlis: The Framework of the Rabbis. Click here to learn more about the class and register. Click here to listen to recordings of recent ALI classes.

Saturday, August 27 at 7:00pm
NEW MOON (Re)UNION & HAVDALAH TOGETHER
Celebrate Rosh Hodesh with Kohenet Rachel Kann, founder of Realize Paradise, and friends for a multi-sensory journey into the new month of Elul. Click here to learn more and register.

Beginning September 1st
ONLINE JEWISH BEREAVEMENT GROUP
The next 8-week cohort of JCoOC's online bereavement group begins on Thursday, September 1. Group meetings are two Thursdays a month at 6pm. Meetings are faciliated by a professional grief counselor.  Learn more and pre-register here.
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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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Saturday, September 17 at 8pm
FORGIVENESS: A COMMUNITY SELICHOT PROGRAM featuring Sam Glaser
8pm Ma'ariv and Havdalah

8:20 Program

9:00 Selichot

10:00 Dessert reception
Click here to learn more. No RSVP required.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

August 28 at 4pm at Irvine Hebrew Day School
1500 17th Street, Santa Ana

ROOTS & WINGS: An Interactive Family Show
This exciting new production utilizes traditional and contemporary Jewish cultural music to tell the story of a Klezmer musician coming into their own as a performer. Grounded in the tradition of their Bubbe (grandmother), the protagnoist channels the spirit of their heritage through the voice of their violin. Geared for all ages and backgrounds, Mostly Kosher's artistic voice engages younger audiences and expands cultural awareness within the broader community through Klezmer and Yiddish music. 

For those who RSVP by August 24th, a complementary drink and dessert reception will be included to celebrate this groundbreaking premiere. Purchase tickets here.

Jews Do the Blues features one of Coachella Valley’s most talented performers, Deanna Bogart, backed by a wonderful team of musicians from near and far. She joins Rabbi David Lazar in presenting you with a spiritual experience of music and banter benefiting Or Hamidbar.
Learn more and get tickets here.

OCJCR's Online Book Club Begins Friday, September 9th

The focus of this series will be the American refugee and immigrant experience, with a special empahsis on the topics of assimilation and inter-generational conflict. Click here to register.

The books selected for the series are:

• September 9th Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American by Wajahat Ali
• October 21st The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• November 11th The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri
• January 13th The Barbarian Nurseries by Hector Tobar
• February 10th The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears: A Novel by Dinaw Mengestu
• March 17th America is not the Heart by Elaine Castillo 
• April 14th Where We Come From by Oscar Caesares
• May 19th While the Earth Sleeps We Travel by Ahmed M. Badr
• June 9th If You See Me, Don't Say Hi: Stories by Neel Patel

Thursday, November 3 at 8pm

ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC
Tickets are now on sale for the Israel Philaharmonic Orchestra performance in Orange County on November 3rd at 8:00pm at the Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. The concert will feature and all-Prokofiev program.

Click the image to the left to view the full size flyer. Click here to read more and purchase tickets.

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.