Weekly Newsletters and Special Announcements

Thinking about your end-of-year giving?
Now is a perfect time to invest in the Jewish Collaborative for 2024!
Our impactful 2023 initiatives are poised to expand so we can touch and inspire an even wider audience. 80% of our support comes from voluntary donations made by people like you who appreciate our distinctive work. Your gift today will make a meaningful difference! 

December 22, 2023 | 10 Tevet 5784 |  Parashat Vayigash

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

JCoOC CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

• Circle of Hope and Healing with special guest Rabbi Cantor Eva Robbins: Inevitable Realities and Opportunities Inherent in Coping with Grief and Loss | Thursday, December 28 on Zoom 5:00pm PT | RSVP here
• 5th Annual Shabbat and K'nishmas by the Shore | Friday, December 29 at 6:00pm | RSVP here
• OC Egal Nightly Minyan at 6pm PT | Sundays-Thursdays

• ​​​​​​Online Jewish Bereavement Support Groups | Thursdays at 5:00pm PT
• ​​​​​​​Advanced Learning Institute with Daniel Levine: The Medieval Debates that Gave Us Modern Judaism: "What All this Means for Us Today"  | Monday, January 8 at 9:30am PT ​​​​​​
• Summer adventure ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Zoom Information Session ​​​​​for those interested in learning more about our upcoming excursion to Great Britain in June of 2024 | Thursday, January 11 at 9:30am PT | 12:30pm ET
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Gan Laguna T”u b’Shevat Hike | At Aliso and Woods Canyon Regional Park in Laguna Niguel | Sunday, January 28 at 9:30am | Contact Sarah for more information
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sundays in Silence and Spirit: Jewish meditation session at the JCC with Rabbi K'vod Wieder | Sunday, January 21 at 9:30am

• A Sacred Music, History and Cultural Tour of Great Britain | June 19 - 28, 2024

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Shabbaton Shirat Yisrael: A Tribute to Israel’s 150-Year Musical History at Temple Ner Tamid of Downey | December 29-31, 2023
• Awakening to Sacred Presence: A Jewish Meditation Shabbaton led by Rabbi K'vod Wieder and Charles "Chaim" Lev | January 5 - 7, 2024 | REGISTRATION CLOSING THIS WEEK

JCoOC Programs This Week

Thursday, December 28 on Zoom
5:00pm PT | 8:00pm ET
CIRCLE OF HOPE AND HEALING
with special guest Rabbi Cantor Eva Robbins
"Inevitable Realities and Opportunities Inherent
in Coping with Grief and Loss”
Rabbi Eva is an instructor at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles. She recently published her first book, Spiritual Surgery,
A Journey of Healing Mind, Body and Spirit.​​​​​​​Register here ​​​​​​

Monday, January 8, 2024 at 9:30am PT 
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
The Medieval Debates that Gave Us Modern Judaism with Rabbi Daniel Levine
The Great Jewish thinkers of the Middle Ages were philosophers, poets, mystics and physicians - working out in their own minds how to reconcile evolved Jewish practice with primary philosophical schools of thought. Rabbi Daniel will take us on a 4-week journey into the great minds of the time and their enduring impact on the trajectory of Jewish thought and practice that are still manifest today.
​Click here to register.
Click here ​​​​​​to access recordings of previous sessions.

Wednesday, January 11, 2024
9:30am PT | 12:30pm ET
SUMMER ADVENTURE ZOOM INFORMATION SESSION
Thinking about joining us in England for our Sacred Music, History and Culture Tour of Great Britain in June of 2024? We’d love to travel with you! All are welcome to attend a zoom informational session with the trip leaders. RSVP here to receive the zoom link

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.

SPIRITUALITY, GRIEF AND HEALING

Click here to learn about ongoing support groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin, BCC, MSW 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
the House of Ruach Foundation.

January dates:
4th - Spousal loss
11th - Child loss
18th - Parent and sibling loss
25th - Circle of Hope & Healing

February dates:
1st - Spousal loss
8th - Child loss
15th - Parent and sibling loss
22nd - Circle of Hope & Healing

ONGOING WAYS TO SUPPORT ISRAEL

Thank you to everyone who has donated to support grassroots tzedakah that is making a difference for Israeli soldiers and civilians every day.
Our fundraising efforts on Israel's behalf are ongoing.

Embrace Israel Bracelets
Another tzedaka opportunity to support our brothers and sisters in Israel
Order through Instagram here

COLLABORATIVE TRAVEL AND RETREATS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

All are invited to attend this annual shabbaton hosted by the USCJ, Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles and the Clergy Leadership Incubator. Treat yourself to a weekend of musical immersion and inspiration.
Click here to register

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.