Tuesday, January 17 at 5:00pm PT | 8:00pm ET THE CLIMATE ON CAPITOL HILL The Jewish Collaborative is a proud co-sponsor of this important January 17th webinar on behalf of Environmental Justice. Register here.
As we prepare for the first Shabbat of 2023, there is GREAT NEWSto share about some important, exciting things happening in the world of Jewish Environmental Justice, both here in OC and nationally.
Stay tuned for more information about generous Greening Grant opportunities that will be made available to all Jewish institutions in our area. This extraordinary gift offered through Hazon to the Orange County Jewish community is designed to help every synagogue, school and agency shift behaviors and, when possible, make building improvements, to move the needle in a responsible direction. Every step we take, large and small, toward reducing greenhouse gases makes a difference.
We encourage you to note two important virtual program dates and register now!
Tuesday, January 17 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET The Climate on Capitol Hill: A Roadmap for Jewish climate advocacy in the 118th congress, featuring keynote speaker Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
This webinar is designed to educate participants about key environmental legislation that will come before the new congress in 2023 and begin to prepare some of us for a Day of Action on February 6 Register Here
Monday, February 6 - T"u b'Shevat Virtual Lobby Day
Meet with members of congress to advocate for two important legislative bills Register Now:bit.ly/tubishvatlobby
Tu b'Shevat, originally a new year marker needed to measure fruit tithing from cultivated trees, has taken on important environmental implications as the Earth Justice Movement has grown. Every step we take to be better environmental stewards, both in our personal and public lives is important.
This year, Jewish Earth Alliance is providing an opportunity for us to advocate for responsible environmental stewardship by helping participants schedule convenient virtual meetings with our respective Members of Congress. We will lobby in groups in support of the two Bills described below. Jewish Earth Alliance will prepare us and provide everything we need to make an impact with our legislators. Register Here "Recovering America's Wildlife" Bill
The Recovering America's Wildlife Actwas dropped from the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Omnibus Bill) at the very last moment. Although this is disappointing, bi-partisan support for the bill is giving supporters hope. Members of Congress are already planning to reintroduce the bill in the 118th Congress.
Though not nearly as generous as the funding that would be provided by the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, the Omnibus Bill does includefunding to protect wildlife. The Bureau of Land Management was allocated $34 million for endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has $296 million to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend, as well as $542 million for national wildlife refuges. The Environmental Protection Agency would get a $374 million increase in funding for its science and environmental program work, a $94.5 million increase to restore water bodies like the Great Lakes, and environmental justice will get an $8 million increase to $108 million.
Climate Measures in the 2023 U.S. Farm Bill
Farming can support the environment and agriculture can be a solution to climate change, but it also can come at a cost to the climate and to social justice. We must advocate for an agricultural system that embraces the Jewish value of respect for the sacredness of Earth and its inhabitants.
Download JEA's Action Alert so we can tell our Members of Congress to support the Agriculture Resilience Act provisions as part of the 2023 U.S. Farm Bill. View the recording of Jewish Earth Alliance's December network meeting on the Farm Bill.
Thank you for embracing the Jewish ethical mandate to protect this miraculous planet we are blessed to call home and the stunning array of precious plant, animal and human life that it nurtures every day.
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and Robin Gurien, JCoOC Social Action Chair
THIS WEEK WITH JCoOC
Friday, January 6 at 7:00pm FRIDAY NIGHT BY CANDLELIGHT
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and Cantor Judy Sofer join the Temple Beth Tikvah community for Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv followed by an oneg. All are welcome.
In-person: 1600 N Acacia Ave, FullertonJoin us on TBT's Livestream
Saturday,January 7 at 9:30am MINYAN AM EHAD AT TEMPLE BETH EMET Join Cantor Zev Brooks and Rabbi Marcia Tilchin for Shabbat morning services followed by Kiddush Lunch. Rabbi Tilchin will lead Early Torah Study beginning at 8:30am, breakfast included.
1770 W. Cerritos Avenue in Anaheim Join services on Livestream
Saturday, January 7 at 2pm TWELVE STEPS AND TORAH
JCoOC partners with Our Jewish Recovery(OJR) every Shabbat afternoon for Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Join us on Zoom(new link). For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here.
For a full menu of OJR programs and meetings click here.
Monday, January 9 at 9:30am ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE From Catastrophe to Hope Rabbi David Lazar guides us in a close reading of the Biblical Book of Joel in an attempt to understand the circumstances surrounding its composition, use of other biblical materials and how it has been understood over the centuries. Learn more andregister here.
Monday, January 9 at 5:30pm PT SURVEY OF JEWISH HISTORY Newcomers are welcome to join Rabbi Daniel Levine's engaging tour of Jewish history fusing biblical, rabbinic and scholarly sources. Register Here to join our class. Watch recordings of previous classes here.
Sundays through Thursdays 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 hereto receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.
UPCOMING CLASSES AND EVENTS
Click here to learn about our upcoming schedule of ongoing support groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin M.S.W./M.J.C.S. and to express interest. Weekly meetings will address issues associated with specific types of loss.
FEBRUARY 2023 SCHEDULE
Thursdays at 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET on Zoom
February 2 - For those grieving Spouses and longtime companions.
(1st Thursday of every month)
February 9 - For those grieving Teen and adult children.
(2nd Thursday of every month)
February 16 - For those grieving Parents and guardians. (3rd Thursday of every month)
February 23 - For those grieving Siblings and close friends.
(4th Thursday of every month)
LATER IN JANUARY
Saturday, January 28 from 3-5pm GAN LAGUNA DOES HAVDALAH This exciting new program for families with children ages 0-5 and their siblings meets once a month at a private home in Laguna Beach.
Featuring Rabbi Marcia Tilchin, Dale Schatz and friends. Music, crafts, nosh and good company! RSVP here.
Monday, January 30 at 9:30am ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Mahloket Matters: How To Disagree Constructively. Rabbinic Judaism places great value on grappling with multiple opinions. In today's world, listening and learning from one another appears to be a lost art. Join Rabbi Tilchin for the third of six sessions (one per month) exploring how to regain this skill. Unit 2: Fear War Or Trust Peace?
Learn more andregister here. Access previous class recordingshere.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Celebrate Shabbat like the mystics of our tradition by exploring the
pathways of silence, song and prayer, contemplative study, and creative expression with Rabbi K’vod Wieder. This retreat is geared toward seekers who are new to meditative practice, it will also be meaningful for experienced meditators who are looking for authentic ways to express these pathways through Jewish tradition.
Shabbaton featuring Duvid Swirsky, guitarist for the Moshav Band, hosted by Congregation B'nai Israel, Congregation Shir Hama'alot and the Community Scholars Program. January 27 and 28. Click here for more information
Special Artist-in-residence weekend at Temple Beth Sholom in
Santa Anna, February 3 - 5. Click here for more information
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
