Events

Update: There was a confusing error in the last message that went out. Please refer to this one instead.

Shabbat Services will be held Friday, February 5th at 7PM. This is a change from the originally scheduled date of February 12th. Babysitting will be provided.

If the weather prohibits us from holding services on February 5th, then the raindate will be February 19th. Please check the front page of the website before driving to services. If the February 5th service has to be cancelled, we will update the website.

“And God hardened Pharaoh’s heart…”

It seems in these past two weeks of Torah readings that God is acting strangely, even cruelly. Apparently, God is willing to force Pharaoh into a harder stance than he might have taken. The Israelites’ pain is prolonged and additional and terrifying plagues are visited on the land of Egypt. Innocents suffer on both sides.

What is God up to? Can we make sense of these passages? Why does God harden Pharaoh’s heart? What does that enigmatic phrase mean?

This Saturday’s service will include a look at this thorny theological question. Feel free to join us in our ruminations, and please don’t forget: Temple Or Olam’s Second Tot Shabbat is this Saturday, too! We look forward to seeing our little ones chanting, dancing, and singing their way through a lively children’s service. (Older children are welcome to come, but please keep in mind that this service is being designed for ages 1-3.)

Date: January 23
Time: 10 am for Tot Shabbat; 10:40 for Adult Service p.m.
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Rd, Concord

Coffee, Cake and Comedy Purim Hour with Temple Or Olam

Join us for the grand opening of the never-before-seen Purim Shpiel Erev Shabbat Fever. See King Ahaseurus do the moonwalk. Discover why Esther’s career is at serious risk!

There’s more! Hilarity, song, and maybe even a magic trick or two are also on the docket, accompanied by delicious desserts, coffee and tea.

Wear a costume! Wear a silly hat! Come as you usually aren’t, and join us on March 6 at 3 p.m. at McGill Baptist Church for Temple Or Olam’s Purim festivities….

If you would like to propose a skit, song, or dance, let us know. We’ll take the first ten offerings from our members. A caveat: Each performance must be limited to 2-3 minutes, be appropriate for children, and well-rehearsed beforehand. Just let us know!

Members: Bring a basket of baked goods to share. In keeping with the tradition of Mishloach Manos, one should give a gift of two different types of food, one of which is prepared (cooked or baked). This law is described in the Book of Esther (9:22) as part of the proper celebration of Purim.

Non-members are asked to bring a donation.

• Imagine putting our youngest under a big tallit. We create the tent we sing about in Ma Tovu.

• Imagine the youngest pulling out musical instruments and accompanying a Shabbat prayer just like the Levites once did, with timbrel and drum.

• Imagine thirty minutes filled with song and movement and designed so that our youngest ones can dance, play, and delight in their own Shabbat service.

That’s what we have planned for December 12.Older children are welcome to come, but please keep in mind that this service is being designed for ages 1-5.

Bagels and cream cheese, anyone? We ask that everyone bring something to nosh after our service.

PLEASE RSVP to rabbi@or-olam.org by December 9 and let us know if you are coming!

Event: Tot Shabbat
Date: December 12
Time: 10 – 11ish
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord.

“I’ll build a stairway to paradise…”

This Friday we’ll be exploring Jacob’s first nighttime encounter with angelic and divine beings who travel upstairs and downstairs at will. Who and what is the maqom Jacob finds in the morning?

If you are among those who have foregone the rigors of travel this Thanksgiving, please feel free to join us for Temple Or Olam’s annual Thanksgiving service, where the oneg is very likely to be salted and peppered with delicious leftovers. Feel free to bring some of your own!

Join us for our second Friday Shabbat, where our very own Temple Or Olamniks (the kids, of course) will be demonstrating just how many prayers and new melodies they’ve learned this year. We’ll hear the story about three inexplicable moments of merriment from the Baal Shem Tov and enjoy each other’s company at our oneg Shabbat. Hope to see you there!

A Hanukkah singalong in four languages (Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish and even a little English), Israeli dancing, a skit from our very own Religious School Olamniks, ceremonious candle lighting and a beautiful havdalah ceremony are on the docket for this year’s Hanukkah celebration at Temple Or Olam. Mark the date and please join us for an afternoon of celebration, song, and joy!

Let’s spread the light: We encourage everyone to bring their own menorahs and Hanukkah candles.

Charge:

Members and college students are free.

Guests: non-members are asked to contribute $18 for individuals and $36 for families to help defray food and rental costs. Payment can be made at the door.

RSVP (Temple Or Olam members and guests!) to 704.720.7577 by December 12.

From Reb Barbara:

I’d like to remind everyone that we are reading Noach this Friday (Noah) and that everyone who wants to wear a rainbow should!

From Jody:

The religious school studied Noah last year and it was one of the students’ favorite Torah stories…maybe because of the visit from Noah, who answered many of their questions. So this would be a great service to bring the kids to, even though it’s not a family service. Also, in the last couple weeks of religious school, the students have been constructing their own pictorial Torah, and we will be sharing it at this service. So please do come and bring the kids.