EnjoyTorah Sparks: Creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.
RABBI TILCHIN'S REFLECTIONS
Prior to the High Holidays, I shared recollections of being in synagogue on Yom Kippur in 1973 and how the stunning news and rapid response to the Yom Kippur War had a profound impact on me as young Jewish American. I had been thinking about the 50-year anniversary, not as an auspicious harbinger of something brewing, but because of the half-century milestone and my interest in how different things seemed to be five decades later.
Now - here we are. I was on my way to synagogue on October 7 for Shemini Atzeret / Shabbat services when I got wind that something horrible had happened in Israel. On that day, and into the week that followed, people were trying to piece together the different components and degrees of carnage wreaked by the surprise massacre that took place 50 years and one day after the Yom Kippur War. More than a month later, we are still praying for the safe return of more than 200 hostages. The death toll on Israeli civilians is nothing like we have seen in decades. We are at war, this time with an insidious terrorist organization funded by a powerful enemy.
Antisemitism of the not-white-supremacist variety that seemed fringe 50 years ago, identified with radical groups like the Nation of Islam, is now out in the open and strongly identified with the Palestinian cause, blurring the lines between anti-Jewish and anti-Israel activism, protest and violence. Since most people in the world will never even meet a Jew, there is no way for us to dispel myths about who we are or to combat the rhetoric and distortions about what Israel is, why it exists, the wonderful contributions it has made to the world in such a short time, and how important it is to upholding democratic ideals. We are now at a historical crossroads that feels, again, existential.
Once Israel’s military leaders feel confident that Israeli citizens are out of harm's way from Hamas instigated terror, it will be necessary for Israelis to come together to form a government that reflects the make-up of all citizens. In case we were mistaken, it is now confirmed that complacency will never be a luxury that Israel can afford, at least not as long as Iran is around to fund militant groups wishing to see it destroyed. It also cannot be governed by the ultra-religious who are guided by a different vision of what Israel should be and disengaged from the complex realities of geopolitical dynamics.
When I watched the new movie GOLDA for the first time at the end of August, a vulnerable Israel felt like a distant memory. This frightening time for the Jews has reminded us of how small the world Jewish family really is and how much we need one another to survive and thrive in what promises to be a world of growing hostility to us as a people and our homeland. We must pray for wisdom and courage for Israeli and allied leaders to manage the immediate safety threats and set Israel on a renewed course toward developing long term strategies to exist peacefully in a forever hostile, tension-filled neighborhood. Kein Y’hi Ratzon.
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin
JCoOC Programs This Week
Monday, November 13 at 9:30am PT ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE Understanding the Israeli-Hamas War: Historical Context and Multiple Narratives CSUF Professor Scott Spitzer will offer insights into Israel’s current crisis and its need to root out Hamas operatives dedicated to the elimination of the state. The stakes are high and many innocent lives stand to be lost during this defensive campaign. We will come together to process and understand. Click here to register.
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.
Sunday, November 19 at 9:30am SUNDAYS IN SILENCE AND SPIRIT Monthly Jewish Meditation with Rabbi K'vod Wieder at the Merage JCC This innaugural program of the OC Jewish Meditation and Spirituality Collective is open to all. Participants new to meditation are welcome. Pre-registration is required. Register here
Join Rabbi Wieder on Zoom every Tuesday morning at 9am for Weekly Meditation and Spiritual Practice.
Sunday, November 19 at 4:00pm 2nd ANNUAL NEWCOMERS FRIENDSGIVING DINNER JCoOC is proud to partner with Jewish Children and Family Service of Long Beach & Orange County to sponsor this special gathering for resettled refugee families and their welcome teams. Those interested in learning about this program and volunteering are invited to join us. Register here
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
SPIRITUALITY, GRIEF AND HEALING
Click here to learn about ongoing support groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin M.S.W./M.J.C.S. and to express interest in participation. Weekly meetings will address issues associated with specific types of loss. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Collaborative of OC and House of Ruach.
November dates: 2nd - Spousal loss 9th - Child loss 16th - Parent and sibling loss 30th - Circle of Hope & Healing
December dates: 7th - Spousal loss 14th - Child loss 21th - Parent and sibling loss 28th - Circle of Hope & Healing
Join us in carrying a candle of remembrance for every life lost Sign up here
Each year, thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness die on the streets of our nation due to illness, exposure or violence. Please join us as we honor and acknowledge their lives as part of one human family.
To provide the name of someone you know who has lost their life on the streets in Orange County this past year so they can be acknowledged in the service, contact Our Father's Table by email at info@@ourfatherstableus.org
December 21, 2023 at 7:00pm St. Timothy Catholic Church 29102 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Thank you in advance for your prescence and show of care
OC JEWISH COOKING CONNECTIONS
JCoOC was honored to partner with the Merage JCC's Culinary Arts Program to produce the first series of OC Jewish Cooking Connections featuring Chef Liron Regev and a diverse cast from throughout the Jewish Community.
We hope these videos bring a smile to your face and some deliciousness to your homes during this difficult time. This program was made possible through a Weissman Arts grant through the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County. ENJOY!
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
Mondays
9:30 am PT | 12:30 am ET
June 30 | July 7, 14, 21 and 28 | August 4, 11, 18 and Register here
Over the past two centuries, the Jewish people have undergone unprecedented change—politically, socially, and spiritually. This 8-week course explores how Jews have confronted the challenges and opportunities of modernity and how leading thinkers have responded with innovation, resistance, reinterpretation, and renewal
Weekly presentations with Jews United for Democracy and Justice
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.
Each challah is an edible work of art, baked fresh and hand-braided especially for you! Choose from raisin, traditional, sesame seed and poppy seed. For more information, visit theblessedbraid.com.
JCoOC is an exempt organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code EIN: 36-4844121
