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Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

Posted by webmaster on December 9, 2015   |   Comments Off on Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

LoopHanukkah, O Hanukkah – With Temple Or Olam

So…. if you are planning to attend our Hanukkah Party this Shabbat, please remember to…

  1. Bring a Hanukkiah and candles, and…
  2. Bring a White Elephant gift, and…
  3. Bring something to share at our pot-luck dinner.

Schedule below:

HanukkiahsFrom Darkness to Light: Crossing the Threshold at Hanukkah: Adult Education (4:30 p.m.)
Hanukkah is a story of heroism and rededication. But it is also a festival with deep mystical and spiritual significance. How does Hanukkah ask us to press the reset button so that we can continue the work of so many months before during High Holy Days? How is Hanukkah a rededication for our neshamot, our souls? How does it help us transition spiritually into the coming festivals of spring?

Hanukkah Dinner (5:30 p.m.) – Please bring your Hanukkah menoras!latkes
Latkes, applesauce, and other goodies for a pot-luck dinner that will make our mouths water! We’ll light the Hanukkiahs, sing blessings, and eat during, we hope, a theater in the round with stories, jokes, and songs. Please look for our evite and sign up for pot luck and talent offerings!

And after dinner…. (6:30-7:30 p.m.)

  • White Elephant gift exchange
  • A game of Family Feud Hanukkah
  • More songs and general revelry

The class and Hannukah party are free for members but we do ask that nonmembers make a $20 donation. We also ask that all who attend bring some food to share in our potluck and consider making a monetary donation for the use of the facility. We look forward to seeing you there!

Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord

Moishe HouseCharlotte’s Moishe House Might Be Looking for You…

Moishe House (a Jewish-themed programming house for Jews aged 22-30) is opening up a branch in Charlotte, and they’re hoping to identify awesome Jews who may be interested in becoming residents of it. Rent is subsidized, and, in the words of Southern Regional Director Lonnie Kleinman, “it’s a super-meaningful experience both for those who live there and for the individuals who they serve with fantastic programming.”

Are any of our congregants (or young Jewish alumni of UNC-Charlotte) interested in being a part of this (or at least in spreading the word to friends!).  Let Rabbi Barbara know and she’ll connect you with Lonnie by emailing her at Rabbi.Thiede@or-olam.org

Or check out the website and get in contact directly!

https://www.moishehouse.org/houses/charlotte

Hanukkah-gram, Day 4 – From Rabbi Barbara

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on December 9, 2015   |   Comments Off on Hanukkah-gram, Day 4 – From Rabbi Barbara

Day 4 HanukkahDuring Sukkot, the last of our harvest celebrations, we begin to pray for rain.  Until Pesach, our Amidah prayers will continue to ask for rain.  Why?

Because there are no great sources of water in Israel, harvests depended on the rainfall.  Drought was an ever-present threat to our ancestors.  Water remains at a premium in the region.

Hanukkah is, in turn, focuses on the light.  Light sustains us, light nourishes us.  Spiritually, psychically, emotionally, we crave the light that surrounds us in moments of wisdom, awareness, and strength.

As the candles increase in number, as flames flickering side by side, you might want to ask yourself: What is the kind of light I long for in the days to come?

Hag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

 

Hanukkah-gram, Day 3 – From Rabbi Barbara

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on December 8, 2015   |   Comments Off on Hanukkah-gram, Day 3 – From Rabbi Barbara

Day 3 HanukkahDid you know that the rabbis insist that even if all other festivals were annulled, Hanukkah and Purim would still remain?  Why?  Because Israel merited these festivals; the others were simply given to them.

How do some communities make what they have merited extend even further?  Sephardi communities in Yerushalayim arrange for joint meals to be arranged during the Festival of Light. Friends who quarreled during the year are reconciled at shared Hanukkah meals.

Hanukkah is about rededication.  May we rededicate ourselves to friends, family, and community — to our charge in the world, and to its healing.

Hag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

Hanukkah-gram, Day 2 – From Rabbi Barbara

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on December 7, 2015   |   Comments Off on Hanukkah-gram, Day 2 – From Rabbi Barbara

Day 2 Hanukkah betterSometimes, you just have to wonder: There was oil just for one day. Why do we observe eight days of Hanukkah when the burning was, for one day, no miracle at all?

Well, the rabbis have plenty to say about that.  Here are some of their answers:

  1. The first day of the festival commemorates the military victory of the 25th of Kislev when the Jews rested from battle.
  2. The discovery of the jar was, in itself, a miracle.
  3. The discovered oil was divided into eight portions to last the eight days for the production of new oil. Miraculously, the minute portions burned all day long.
  4. After the menorah was filled with all the available oil, the jar remained full (or variations on that theme).
  5. The jar actually absorbed some of the oil so there wasn’t really enough for one full day.
  6. The fact that the Jews did not despair and had enough faith to fulfill the commandment to light the light at all was itself a great miracle.

I wonder: Maybe we celebrate and include that first day because like beginnings can be, all on their own, miraculous.Day 2 Hanukkah

Consider the beginning of life, the beginning of love, the beginning of friendship, the beginning of the day…

Hag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

Hanukkah-gram, Day 1 – From Rabbi Barbara

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on December 6, 2015   |   Comments Off on Hanukkah-gram, Day 1 – From Rabbi Barbara

Day 1 HanukkahOne of our most beautiful rituals comes at the close of Shabbat, at Havdalah.  During that ritual we hold our hands up to the light of the braided candle and watch for the interplay of light and darkness.  The light casts shadows on our palms, across our fingers: Light and dark merge in our hands.

These same intersections of darkness and light emerge each night of Hanukkah, when we light candles and place our hanukkiahs (Hanukkah menorah) in dark windows.

This year, please take the time to watch the flickering of the candle flames against the sweet, rich darkness.  Sit not with separation and opposition, but with wholeness.  Honoring the interplay and interconnection of all things is necessary to the work of tikkun, of healing.

May you all be blessed on this first night of Hanukkah to stand conscious of the wholeness of the world despite our fractured times.  And may each and every one of you find healing in those tiny, fragile flames of Hanukkah.

Hag sameach,

Rabbi Barbara

P.S. On the first night three brachot, all three blessings are recited. L’hadlik ner shel Chanukah, She’ asa nissim, and Shehecheyanu. .. For a link to these blessings, click here.  On the other nights only the first two blessings are chanted.  Blessings are recited before lighting the candles. Al always, we don’t speak between a blessing and its corresponding action, so after singing, just let the blessing seep in as you light your candles!

Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

Posted by webmaster on November 30, 2015   |   Comments Off on Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

LoopHeads Up: Hanukkah!

Our Hanukkah Party will feature, among other things, an adult education session followed by dinner, local entertainment, a white elephant gift exchange and songs (see below for our schedule).

From Darkness to Light: Crossing the Threshold at Hanukkah: Adult Education (4:30 p.m.)blast

Hanukkah is a story of heroism and rededication. But it is also a festival with deep mystical and spiritual significance. How does Hanukkah ask us to press the reset button so that we can continue the work of so many months before during High Holy Days? How is Hanukkah a rededication for our neshamot, our souls? How does it help us transition spiritually into the coming festivals of spring?

Hanukkah Dinner (5:30 p.m.) – Please bring your Hanukkah menoras!

latkesLatkes, applesauce, and other goodies for a pot-luck dinner that will make our mouths water! We’ll light the Hanukkiahs, sing blessings, and eat during, we hope, a theater in the round with stories, jokes, and songs. Please look for our evite and sign up for pot luck and talent offerings!

And after dinner…. (6:30-7:30 p.m.)

  •    White Elephant gift exchange
  •    A game of Family Feud Hanukkah (or Hanukkah Jewpardy – We’ll let you know…)
  •    More songs and general revelry

Date and Time: December 12; see above schedule for activity times….
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC Up ahead….

In the Rabbi’s Library: Praying with Direction, Focus, and Feeling: A Workshop for Lay Leaderslibrary

During this workshop, we will learn the basic architecture of a Shabbat service, explore the trajectory and purpose of our prayers, and brainstorm different ways lay leaders can offer a prayerful experience to others.

We’ll begin by learning about the seven essential stages of the Shabbat service. Once we’ve understood both kevah (order) and kavanah (intention), we’ll workshop in small groups, using a set of different service models. These will include chant services, services structured around meditation and journaling, services structured according to text and story, and services centered on prayerful acts of study.

This workshop is open to our members – even those who might not want to actively lead a service, but hope to learn how services are led.

Date and Location: January 3, In the Rabbi’s Library (please email Rabbi Barbara for directions at Rabbi.Thiede@or-olam.org)
Time: 10 am – 12 p.m.

 

 

Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

Posted by webmaster on November 18, 2015   |   Comments Off on Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

LoopTOO Tikkun Olam for November 21

We are painting interior walls of a house for CCM and we need volunteers!

The address is 965 E. 13th Street, Kannapolis. Vice president Will King and crew will I will be there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with snacks and drinks. Lunch around noon.

Please contact Will SOON at vicepresident@or-olam.orgwork day

Heads-up Hanukkah! Mark Your Calendars for December 12…

Our Hanukkah Party will feature, among other things, an adult education session followed by dinner, local entertainment, a white elephant gift exchange and songs. See below for our schedule…

From Darkness to Light: Crossing the Threshold at Hanukkah: Adult Education (4:30 p.m.)

Hanukkah is a story of heroism and rededication. But it is also a festival with deep mystical and spiritual significance. How does Hanukkah ask us to press the reset button so that we can continue the work of so many months before during High Holy Days? How is Hanukkah a rededication for our neshamot, our souls? How does it help us transition spiritually into the coming festivals of spring?

latkesHanukkah Dinner (5:30 p.m.) – Please bring your Hanukkah menoras!

Latkes, applesauce, and other goodies for a pot-luck dinner that will make our mouths water! We’ll light the Hanukkiahs, sing blessings, and eat during, we hope, a theater in the round with stories, jokes, and songs. Please look for our evite and sign up for pot luck and talent offerings!

Package in handAnd after dinner…. (6:30-7:30 p.m.)

  • White Elephant gift exchange
  • A game of Family Feud Hanukkah (or Hanukkah Jewpardy – We’ll let you know…)
  • More songs and general revelry

Tonight’s Service — and Parshat Toldot

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on November 13, 2015   |   Comments Off on Tonight’s Service — and Parshat Toldot

Isaac and Jacob LegoDear all,

Tonight, we’ll be exploring, during our service, Parshat Toldot.  We will be focusing especially on themes of blessing and birthright, on acts of deceit and expressions of longing.  I’ll bring a selection and some questions for consideration with me, but if you should have the time to read a little and plan to attend, please head to the following link and take a close look at chapter 27.

https://www.jtsa.edu/prebuilt/ParashahArchives/jpstext/toldot.shtml

Please join us, and feel free to bring something to our oneg Shabbat to share with others.

Date: November 13
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Barbara

Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

Posted by webmaster on November 11, 2015   |   Comments Off on Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

LoopKabbalat Shabbat November 13

Our Kabbalat Shabbat service will, as always, include beautiful music and prayer.

In Toldot, we read of a sibling rivalry so intense that it separates a family for decades. Esau and Jacob yearn, struggle, and even contend over earning their place in the world. Which son receives blessings and birthright, and why? How does Torah evoke our own stories?

During our service, we will engage in a little group Torah study to consider the birthrights we have earned the blessings we ourselves have yearned for, using Parshat Toldot as our inspiration for reflection.

Please join us, and feel free to bring something to our oneg Shabbat to share with others.

Date: November 13
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC

Reminder: The Global Day of Jewish Learning – November 15!Global Day of Jewish Learning

On Sunday, November 15, the Aleph Society is sponsoring 24 hours of Jewish Learning with a program of free video learning open to everyone. This program was created by The Global Day of Jewish Learning with the generous participation of world-class scholars, artists, rabbis and authors.

Sessions are broadcast from both in-person events and web-based gatherings. Speakers will engage with this year’s Global Day theme of Love: Devotion, Desire and Deception. Viewers will be able to ask questions of the speakers and engage with their fellow far-flung viewers, live on Twitter, Facebook and Google.

Topics will include, among others:

  • Love Yourself More than Your Neighbor,
  • Desire-It’s Good for You
  • First Love-What we can discover about Love from the Garden of Eden
  • Lekha Dodi: The Most Famous Jewish Poem
  • Rachel and Leah: Sibling Rivalry and Jewish Unity

To get a full listing of the speakers and the times of their presentations, please google, www.TheGlobalDay.org. If you have any further questions, please contact Marilyn Atlas at adult-education@or-olam.org.

work dayTikkun Olam for November 21

We are painting interior walls of a house for CCM and we need volunteers!

The address is 965 E. 13th Street, Kannapolis. Vice president Will King and crew will I will be there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with snacks and drinks. Lunch around noon.

Please contact Will SOON at vicepresident@or-olam.org

Heads-up Hanukkah!Day 8 Hanukkah

Our Hanukkah Party will feature, among other things, an adult education sessions followed by dinner, local entertainment, a white elephant gift exchange and songs. Stay tuned for more information – coming very soon!

 

Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on November 4, 2015   |   Comments Off on Or Olam in the Loop – Our Weekly Bulletin on All Things TOO

LoopKabbalat Shabbat November 13 – On Blessings and Birthrights

Our Kabbalat Shabbat service will, as always, include beautiful music and prayer. We will also explore the story of blessings and birthright that is narrated in this Shabbat’s Torah portion, Toldot.

In Toldot, we read of a sibling rivalry so intense that it separates a family for decades. Esau and Jacob yearn, struggle, and even contend over earning their place in the world. Which son receives blessings and birthright, and why? How does Torah evoke our own stories?

During our service, we will consider the birthrights we have earned the blessings we ourselves have yearned for, using Parshat Toldot as our inspiration for reflection.

Please join us, and feel free to bring something to our oneg Shabbat to share with others.

Date: November 13
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC

The Global Day of Jewish Learning – November 15!Global Day of Jewish Learning

On Sunday, November 15, the Aleph Society is sponsoring 24 hours of Jewish Learning with a program of free video learning open to everyone. This program was created by The Global Day of Jewish Learning with the generous participation of world-class scholars, artists, rabbis and authors.

Sessions are broadcast from both in-person events and web-based gatherings. Speakers will engage with this year’s Global Day theme of Love: Devotion, Desire and Deception. Viewers will be able to ask questions of the speakers and engage with their fellow far-flung viewers, live on Twitter, Facebook and Google.

Topics will include, among others:

  • Love Yourself More than Your Neighbor,
  • Desire-It’s Good for You
  • First Love-What we can discover about Love from the Garden of Eden
  • Lekha Dodi: The Most Famous Jewish Poem
  • Rachel and Leah: Sibling Rivalry and Jewish Unity

To get a full listing of the speakers and the times of their presentations, please google, www.TheGlobalDay.org. If you have any further questions, please contact Marilyn Atlas at adult-education@or-olam.org.

CamelLove (and How to Water a Thirsty Camel)

Consider Joining us for Torah Study!

Each week, on Shabbat morning at 10 a.m., an intrepid group of TOO members pick up the phone to talk Torah. It’s easy, convenient, and you don’t even have to get out of your pajamas to join in the conversation.

This week, we will be studying Parshat Chayyei Sarah (Genesis 23:1 – 25:18), which includes the most romantic story in the Torah scroll – and an ancient yenta to arrange the pairing. If you want to be added to the list, please send a note to religious-services@or-olam.org and we will send you the call-in number.

Our parsha this week is Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1 – 25:18): https://www.jtsa.edu/prebuilt/ParashahArchives/jpstext/hayyeisarah.shtml.

The haftorah is 1 Kings 1:1-13 https://www.jtsa.edu/prebuilt/ParashahArchives/jpstext/hayyeisarah_haft.shtml.