Rabbi’s Message | Film: The Floaters 10/18 in NB | Sound Bath and Meditation 10/19 | Explore Soul Journeys with ALI | RSVP Pickleball for a Cause | Shabbat Shalom!
10/17/2025 10:19:37 AM
Oct17
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Dear Friends,
The fall holidays concluded this past Wednesday with the celebration of Simhat Torah. We read, as we do every year, about the death of Moses and the hopeful future for the Israelites about to enter the promised land under Joshua’s guidance. This final scene in the Torah captures the essence of Jewish life: When one great chapter concludes, another awaits to unfold.
The Jewish Collaborative is now in its 10th year. Our first High Holiday Experience in 2016 was magical and set us on the road to be of service in Orange County in ways we could never have imagined. We are grateful to the many people that have supported our work through the years, making it possible for us to provide Jewish enrichment for a mixed multitude under our diverse and inclusive tent.
We are asking all who read our weekly curated newsletters and/or participate in any of our programs - including but not limited to Shabbat by the Shore, bereavement support groups, lectures and films, social justice campaigns or healing and spirituality programs - to please consider making a Gift from the Heart in the New Year 5786 to the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County.
The work we do is made possible through your generosity. As we stand on the cusp of our second decade, JCoOC looks forward to contributing to Jewish life in Orange County and nationally with distinction and purpose. Thank you!
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin, Chaplain Fran Chalin, Jason Feddy, Madalina Garza and our incredible Collaborative Team
Make a gift to JCoOC that keeps on giving Learn about how you can support the Jewish Collaborative of OC in perpetuity with a legacy commitmentin your will or trust through the Jewish Community Foundation Orange County
JCoOC’s Let’s Get Reel invites you to the West Coast Premier of THE FLOATERS Directed by Rachel Israel | Starring Steve Guttenberg and Rachel Tohn
Saturday, October 18, 2025 · 3:00 PM Newport Beach Film Festival Regal Edwards Big Newport, Screen 5 300 Newport Center Dr, Newport Center, CA 92660
This heartwarming film is a window into the world of Jewish summer camp and the life-time relationships forged in that setting. Please stay for a Q&A with writer Shai Korman after the screening.
If you enjoy playing Pickleball, want to learn or would like to spend an afternoon with friends, this is a beautiful way to bring OC together as one community of care.
This year, proceeds from our tournament are dedicated to buildingHesed Shel Emet - OC’s Jewish Burial and Comfort Society that helps families with chaplaincy and burial needs, community comfort and long-term grief support in a Jewish context.
We are looking for event sponsors to help us reach our $50,000 fundraising goal. If you are able to sponsor, either personally, through a family foundation or business, please consider doing so. You will be recognized in our advertising, general publicity and at the event. Thank you for your partnership and generosity!
Sundays in Silence and Spirit with special guest presenter Lou James | Sunday, October 19 at 9:30am | Merage JCC
Advanced Learning Institute:Where Do We Go From Here?: Jewish Perspectives on Soul Migration,the Afterlife and Reincarnation with Rabbi Rachel Shere | Mondays, October 20, 27 and November 3 at 9:30am PT | Register here
Bringing Heaven Down To Earth: Integrating High Holy Day Wisdom into Everyday Life | Sunday, November 16, 9:30-11:30am | Merage JCC - 1 Federation Way in Irvine
Garden of David Consecration Ceremony | Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 1pm | Harbor Lawn - Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary - 1625 Gisler Ave. in Costa Mesa | All are welcome. Reception to folllow
West Coast Premier ofTHE FLOATERS A new Jewish film directed by Rachel Israel, starring Steve Guttenberg and Rachel Tohn | Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 3pm | Regal Edwards Big Newport, Screen 5 - 300 Newport Center Dr | Get tickets
The Sacred Art of Listening with author Kay Lindahl | Sunday, October 26 from 3-5pm | Norman P. Murray Community Center - 24732 Veteran's Way in Mission Viejo
ILLUMINITE: A Festival of Light + Sound | Sunday, December 7, 4pm - 8pm | The Muckenthaler Cultural Center | Save the date
JCoOC PROGRAMS THIS WEEK
Saturday, October 18 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
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.
Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00pm Sivan Bamberger, International Development Director for Dror Israel Hosted at a private home in Orange
Hesed Shel Emet - OC’s Jewish Burial and Comfort Society invites you to attend
Garden of David Consecration Ceremony Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 1pm Harbor Lawn - Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary 1625 Gisler Ave. in Costa Mesa All are welcome. Reception to folllow
Join us as we consecrate Orange County’s newest section of Jewish cemetery space at Harbor Lawn - Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary. This sacred event is a special opportunity to engage in a mitzvah that will benefit the entire community.
Enjoy this JLife article written by Dalia Taft that highlights the history of Jewish cemetery space in Orange County
COMMUNITY EVENTS
New Study on Factors Leading to Homelessness in Orange County with featured speaker Doug Becht, Director County of Orange Office of Care Coordination Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. Online via Zoom
Join United to End Homelessness for their next Community Chat to explore findings from Falling Through the Safety Net: Understanding Individuals’ Journey and Contributing Factors to Homelessness, a new study completed by the Office of Care Coordination at the County of Orange.
This 45-minute session will unpack key findings that reveal what leads people into homelessness in Orange County, offering insights that can help inform local responses and long-term solutions.
The Interfaith Councils of Greater South Orange County and Laguna Beach invite the community to attend
The Sacred Art of Listening with renown author Kay Lindahl
Sunday, October 26 from 3-5pm
Norman P. Murray Community Center
24732 Veteran's Way in Mission Viejo
OC’s 11th annual Mega Hallah Bake November 13, 2025
1,000 women. One heart. Challah, shared song & prayers. Energy you’ll carry home for weeks. Together we rise.
SAVE THE DATE Weissman Arts presents ILLUMINITE: A Festival of Light + Sound Sunday, December 7 | 4pm - 8pm
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center
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!
Jewish Theological Seminary of America | Podcast | Torah Commentary | Lifelong Learning JTS offers online classes that create live, interactive opportunities for study with top-caliber scholars. Encounter compelling Jewish scholarship that brings the texts and wisdom of our tradition to bear on contemporary dilemmas. Courses delve deeply into specific areas of Jewish text, history, philosophy, religion, arts, and literature.
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. Jewish scholarship at its finest.
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.
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
