Weekly Newsletters and Special Announcements

Our hearts are with the IDF at this momentous time. May they quickly accomplish their goals to insure Israel’s long-term safety with minimal loss of life.

Am Yisrael Chai 
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

Learn more about Israel’s strike on Iran through these Times of Israel articles:

‘An Immediate Operational Necessity’: Why Israel Finally Attacked Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Israel’s Strike on Iran: How We Got Here, What We Don’t Know and What Happens next

SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

Sunday, June 15 at 5:00pm

Sarah Bracha and Yoel will join musician and composer Micah Bernhard at Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles at 5pm for a Musical Prayer Journey Gates of Joy

Temple Beth Am | 1039 S La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles

June 13, 2025 | 17 Sivan, 5785 | Parashat Beha’alotcha

Register here to receive Torah Sparks: Creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty

JCoOC programs and community service projects
are seeded and grow through
🌱 your generosity 🌱

JCoOC CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

PROGRAMS THIS WEEK

• Shabbat by the Shore with Sarah Bracha Gershuny and Rav Yoel Sykes | Friday, June 13, 2025 | At a private home
• Twelve Steps & Torah | Saturday, June 14 at 2pm PT on Zoom
• ​​​​​​​Sundays in Silence and Spirit ​​​​​​​with Sarah Bracha Gershuny and Rav Yoel Sykes | Sunday, June 15 at 9:30am | Merage JCC
• Gates of Joy: A Musical Prayer Journey with Yoel Sykes (of Nava Tehila), Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny and Micah Bernhard | Sunday, June 15 at 5pm
• Advanced Learning Institute: What Makes Someone a Jew? with Rabbi Daniel Levine | Monday, June 16 at 9:30am PT
• OC Egal Nightly Minyan at 6pm PT | Sunday-Thursday
• There will be no bereavement support programming June 15-30. Sessions will resume July 1

UPCOMING JCoOC PROGRAMS

• Advanced Learning Institute: Preliminary Results of the 39th World Zionist Congress Elections with Dr. Itamar Harari | Monday, June 23 at 9:30am PT | Register here
• Advanced Learning Institute: Seminars in Jewish Thought with Rabbi Daniel Levine | Mondays, June 30 through August 25 at 9:30am PT | Register here
• Tuesday Online Jewish Bereavement Support Group | Parent & sibling loss | Tuesday, July 1 at 5pm PT
• Thursday Online Jewish Bereavement Support Group | Spousal loss | Thursday, July 3 at 5pm PT​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

JCoOC PROGRAMS THIS WEEK

Saturday, June 14 at 2pm PT
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. 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

Join us Monday, June 16th at 9:30am PT for Rabbi Daniel Levine's concluding Advanced Learning Institute lecture
“What Makes Someone a Jew: The Contemporary Debate”

Watch the recording of “Jewishness” in Ancient Israel
Watch the recording of Antisemitism, Assimilation, and Jewish Identity

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.

JEWISH BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT NETWORK

Groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin, BCC/MSW
Click here for more information and to express interest

There will be no bereavement support programming June 15-30. Sessions will resume July 1.

Tuesdays at 2pm PT | 5pm ET
July 1 - Parent & sibling loss
July 8 -  Open group

July 15 - Spousal loss
July 22 - Child loss

​​​​​​​Thursdays at 5pm PT | 8pm ET
July 3 -  Spousal loss
July 10 - Child loss
July 17 - Parent & sibling loss
July 24 - Open group

ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE SUMMER SCHEDULE

VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Enrich your summer with Jewish learning
Visit the websites below to access current and past course and special program schedules:

• AJU Whizin Center for Open Learning: AJU online learning offers classes for adults seeking to build Jewish skills and knowledge and hosts lectures by internationally acclaimed scholars, artists, authors and geo-political experts. Something for everyone!
• HUC Connect: HUC Connect invites you to join participants from 55 countries to discover something new about Judaism and about yourself through webinars, courses and podcasts.
• Shalom Hartman Institute: Online courses, podcasts and programs that courageously address some of the most pressing issues of our time.
• Orange County Community Scholars Program: A colorful array of podcasts and videos of current and past lectures spanning 2001-2025.