Temple Or OlamHome http://www.or-olam.org Teach us to count our days rightly so that we may obtain a wise heart. (Ps 90.12) Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:47:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 The Days of Awe: A Time for Joy http://www.or-olam.org/2010/09/03/the-days-of-awe-a-time-for-joy/ http://www.or-olam.org/2010/09/03/the-days-of-awe-a-time-for-joy/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:47:29 +0000 board http://www.or-olam.org/?p=756 High Holy Days offer Jews a special time for reflection. Most associate High Holy Days with heartfelt prayer, deep reflection, even mournful melodies. But how can we atone with joy and gratitude, not with anguish and pain? Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg once reminded his congregation that the Day of Atonement is a day of joy. “God’s hand is open,” the rabbi said; “let the tears we shed on this day be tears of joy, for we have merited the approach and the attachment unto the Lord, we who are ‘alive everyone one of us this day.’”

At Temple Or Olam we will approach that task with joy. Please join us!

• September 8: Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 7 p.m. Central United Methodist Church; Fellowship Hall
• September 9: Rosh Hashanah Morning Services, 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. followed by brunch and Tashlich: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
• September 17: Kol Nidre Service, 7 p.m.: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
• September 18: Yom Kippur Morning Service, 10 a.m. – 12 a.m.: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
• September 18: Neilah Service: 6:30 p.m., Havdalah, and break fast: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC
Babysitting provided.
Suggested donations for non-members:
• Families: $180
• Individuals: $90
• Students: gratis
High Holy Day donations can be applied to membership dues if guests join within three months
Please visit www.or-olam.org for more information or call 704-720-7577.

]]> http://www.or-olam.org/2010/09/03/the-days-of-awe-a-time-for-joy/feed/ “When you have set aside in full the tenth part of your yield…” http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/24/%e2%80%9cwhen-you-have-set-aside-in-full-the-tenth-part-of-your-yield%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/24/%e2%80%9cwhen-you-have-set-aside-in-full-the-tenth-part-of-your-yield%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:44:02 +0000 board http://www.or-olam.org/?p=750 Parsha Ki Tavo begins with the law of tithing, a law that is intended to help ensure a just society, a society that takes care of “the stranger, the orphan, the widow” so that they may be nourished and sustained.
How do we learn to give without regret? How can we make sure to understand that to give tzedakkah is not a simple act of charity, but an act of social justice, of tikkun olam, of healing?

Join us for our Fourth Friday service when we will explore these questions as a community, one which strives to care.

Event: Kabbalat Shabbat Fourth Friday Service
Date: August 27
Time: 7 pm
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord.

]]> http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/24/%e2%80%9cwhen-you-have-set-aside-in-full-the-tenth-part-of-your-yield%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/feed/ Rosh Hodesh Elul: A Month for Reflection http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/10/rosh-hodesh-elul-a-month-for-reflection/ http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/10/rosh-hodesh-elul-a-month-for-reflection/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:44:36 +0000 board http://www.or-olam.org/?p=725 It is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the first day of the month of reflection that ends each year. In olden days, the shofar blower would wake everyone up with a loud blast each morning, reminding them that the Days of Awe were approaching.

Thinking through and evaluating where we have been is critical to understanding how we want to grow. Judaism asks us to think – all year around, of course – about how to become the mensches we want to be.

According to tradition, Rosh Hodesh Elul marks the beginning of a special forty-day period. Those forty days began with Moses returning to Mount Sinai after the Golden Calf incident to pray for forgiveness for his people. It ended on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. God answered Moses’ prayers by giving him the task of creating the second set of tablets to bring back to the Israelites, commandments which are the foundation of the mitzvot listed below.

Our liturgical year sets aside the month of Elul for concentrated spiritual and emotional housecleaning. With that task in mind, I invite you all to consider what it means to “do the mitzvot” during this month. Which mitzvah you be interested in taking on? Which have you successfully integrated into your daily, weekly, or monthly practices?

This very morning, one of our congregants (I am not overstating) saved a person’s life. Pikuach nefesh (doing what it takes to save someone’s life) is one of the mitzvot listed below.

Opportunities to become better persons present themselves daily for each and every one of us. Let’s keep that in mind as we take our first steps towards a wonderful new year.

B’shalom,

Reb Barbara

Bal Tash-hit Living with environmental consciousness.
Shalom Bayit Adopting ways that yield greater peace at home.
Shmirat Haguf Treating your body as sacred space; good food and care.
V’hadarta P’nei zaken Honoring the experience and needs of senior citizens.
Shmira Lashon Speaking ethically, guarding against gossip and slander.
Tza’ar Baalei Chayyim Preventing cruelty to living things.
Ma-ah-chil R’evim Feeding the hungry.
Yizkor Remembering those who have died whom you knew.
Ezrat Cholim Helping those who are ill.
Kashrut Being conscious of eating, food production, and preparation.
Heshbon HaNefesh Reflecting on one’s deeds errors, seeking insight.
Kibbud av v’em Giving honor to living parents.
G’nivat data Promoting truth in advertising.
Mezuzah Marking your home and work place as sacred place.
Pikuach nefesh Doing what it takes to save someone’s life.
Hachnassat orchim Treating all those around you as your guests.
Shabbat Connecting with loved ones, community, and God one day each week without
work and with sweet rituals.
Minyan Showing up to create Jewish community.
Tefillah Keeping a rhythm of expressing the prayer of your heart.
Limud Torah Using Torah as a prism for growth and awareness.
Teshuvah Working honestly with hurts to heal a relationship.
Hadlakat Ney-rote Welcoming Shabbat with candle-light and blessings.
Al tifrosh Min haTzibor Not separating yourself from the community.

]]> http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/10/rosh-hodesh-elul-a-month-for-reflection/feed/ August 2010 Shmoozeletter is available http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/05/705/ http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/05/705/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:23:50 +0000 rthiede http://www.or-olam.org/?p=705 august-2010

The August 2010 Shmoozeletter is available.  Special points of interest:

  • Shabbat services: August 13 and August 27
  • Torah Restorer Hora Galore-a raises nearly $1,000
  • You have until August 15 to pick oneg days — dates will be assigned thereafter.
  • We need a media representative: Please volunteer.
]]> http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/05/705/feed/ “Let him read in it all his life…” http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/02/%e2%80%9clet-him-read-in-it-all-his-life%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ http://www.or-olam.org/2010/08/02/%e2%80%9clet-him-read-in-it-all-his-life%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:44:40 +0000 board http://www.or-olam.org/?p=702 Parsha Shoftim includes explicit instructions for rulers. A king, the text says, may not have too many horses or amass gold and silver in excess. A worthy ruler must read and reread the Torah so that he can observe the laws in the Torah. Then – and only then – can the people be sure he will not act haughtily towards others or behave inappropriately.

At this Friday night service we will hear a tale of a certain king and ask ourselves: What, if anything, has this particular ruler been reading?

Join us for our family service on August 13. Come prepared for sweet song, joyful community and, as always, something to take home and think about!

Event: Kabbalat Shabbat Family Service
Date: August 13
Time: 7 pm
Location: McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord.

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