EnjoyTorah Sparks: Creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.
RSVP for Community Rosh Hashanah Holiday Meals:
First Night Rosh Hashanah Dinner Sunday, September 25 at 7:30pm Hosted at Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim Call 714-772-4720 by September 20 to make your reservations. $30 pp
First Day Rosh Hashanah Lunch All are welcome to join JCoOC after services for Yom Tov lunch Monday, September 26 at 1:15pm Hosted by the Jewish Collaborative of OC 2401 Irvine Avenue in Newport Beach. RSVP required.
Donations appreciated.
Second Night Rosh Hashanah Dinner Monday, September 26 at 6:00pm Vegetarian-friendly, catered by Blueberry Hill Hosted at Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton $36 per adult / $18 for youth12 and under Call 714-871-3535 by September 22 to make your reservations.
RABBI'S MESSAGE - REMEMBER US FOR LIFE!
While in rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary, I worked with NYC radio personality, Larry Josephson, to produce several radio programs that offered an in-depth exploration of the theological underpinnings of all the Jewish holidays.
This interview with then JTS Chancellor, Ismar Schorsch, titledRemember us Unto Life - about the Days of Awe - received great acclaim. It's a wonderful way to enter the mindset of the mahzor (High Holiday prayerbook) and inspirational seasonal themes. Listen and enjoy!
We hope you have a place to spend some spiritual time on RoshHashanah and Yom Kippur. All are welcome to join the Collaborative for worship, hikes, meals, Twelve Step meetings and more. Click here to see our menu of programs and RSVP.
Thoughts on seasonal prayer: Two verses from Psalm 27 that are recited every morning and evening during the preparatory month of Elul capture simply and elegantly the essence and purpose of High Holiday liturgy.
Oh Lord, hear my voice when I call. Be gracious to me and answer.
It is You that I seek, says my heart. It is your Presence that I seek, O Lord. (Psalm 27:9-10)
We are attached to the rituals and music of the High Holidays because of their extraordinary texture and historical significance. But, in earnest, how many High Holiday shulgoers enter Rosh Hashanah worship ready to pour their hearts out to God in hopes of having a breakthrough?
"Be gracious to me and answer" sets the stage for our longing. Three times a day we implore in every Amidah during the Aseret Y'mei T'shuvah (the Ten Days of Repentance): "Zochreinu l'chaim, Melekh Hafeitz b'Hayim, v'khotveinu b'sefer hahayim - Remember us for life, Sovereign who delights in life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life..." We must believe that this request is having an impact on the universe in some profound way.
If executed with sincerity, our prayers are ultimately designed to change US - those who recited them. At the same time, it is important to understand that, if the pursuit of a closer relationship with God is embedded into the DNA of all worship (as Psalm 27 suggests), our prayerful pleas have the potential for cosmic impact.
As we prepare to come together for Selichot on the eve of September 17 at our respective houses of worship, may these beautiful services inspire us to seek and find God many times over.
Shanah Tovah Tikateivu v'teihateimu - May you be inscribed and sealed for a blessed year,
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin
Friday, September 16 at 5:30pm SHABBAT BY THE SHORE w/ SAM GLASER
Sam joins us this month at a private home in the historic Floral Park neighborhood of Santa Ana. A lively Shabbat service will be followed by a vegetarian potluck Shabbat dinner and song session with Sam. RSVP Here. Join virtually on Facebook.
Saturday, September 17 at 10:00am SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and cantorial fellow, Gabrielle Newman lead Shabbat morning services at Temple Beth Tikvah. Join in person at 1600 N Acacia Ave., Fullerton or online here.
Saturday, September 17 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, 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.
Sunday, September 18 at 4:30pm PT SERENITY SELICHOT Join JCoOC and Our Jewish Recovery for our 5th annual Serenity Selichot service open to all and informed by the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Read more and register here.
On Zoom and in person.
Monday, September 19 at 9:30am ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Rabbi David Lazar rejoins ALI to continue his Straits to Straights series addressing some of the most pressing social justice issues confronting us in modern history. Read more and register here. To enjoy recordings of previous ALI classes click here.
Monday, September 19 at 4:45pm IKARON OPEN HOUSE | NEWPORT BEACH JCoOC's concierge Jewish learning after school program for grades K-7 begins the first week of October. Join us for an Open House to meet the educators and learn about the program. Read more and RSVP 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.
FALL HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, September 27 at 9:00 AM ROSH HASHANAH HIKE Enjoy JCoOC's annual Rosh Hashanah hike led by Rabbi Peter Levi: "Celebrate Creation in God's Laboratory." This moderate level hike will include blessings, discussion, silence, community, prayer, and shofar. Click here for all the details | RSVP required.
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 and Yom Kippur JCoOC CHILDREN'S SERVICES Children's services for the first day of Rosh Hashanah (Monday, September 26) and Yom Kippur day (Wednesday, October 5) will be led by Scott and Avi Spitzer. Services both days will take place from 10:00 - 11:00am at Temple Isaiah. Childcare will also be available. Register here.
SAVE THE DATE - Sunday, December 4 PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT & LATKEFEST Join JCoOC for a fun, festive (Kosher Dill) Pickleball Tournament and Latke Festival at the Tennis and Pickleball Club in Newport Beach. December 4th from 12:30 - 4:00pm. More information coming soon.
Master educators D'vorah Miller, Carina Rock, Lauren Carroll and Rabbi Karen Isenberg lead this personalized Jewish education program for families seeking an intimate, creative approach to Jewish education for their children in grades K-7. In-Person Open House - September 19 from 4:45-5:45 at our Newport Beach location. RSVP Here. In-person classes begin Monday, October 3 __________ Online classeswith D'vorah Miller are open to students in grades 2-7 one weekday afternoon a week - 4pm PT/ 5pm MT/ 6pm CT/ 7pm ET To schedule an informational meeting with D'vorah, write to dbm613@gmail.com. ___________ Learn more about in-person and online IKARON class options here. Register your child for IKARON 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.
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.
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
