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Some Housekeeping and the Annual Meeting

Posted by webmaster on May 26, 2012 | Comments Off

First of all, please make note of the fact that we have only one service in June; we do NOT have a Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday the 1st.

Our annual meeting, however, promises to provide plenty of entertainment, noshing and information, along with ample opportunities to visit. (Just a reminder, the annual meeting is for members only, and the link to the evite is here.) The meeting highlights will include:

Granting special awards to the kids in our religious school and the teachers who teach them.
Granting recognition to particular congregants
Chowing down on a very fine pot-luck dinner
Conducting the coolest raffle ever – you only have to show up to have a chance to win!

Items so far on the raffle list include….

A beautiful glass mezuzah
Two hand-crocheted blankets
Judaica items that will make you smile (including a Star of David ice cube tray)
A lovely kippah (made by our rabbi)
Chocolate rugelach!
A Jewish surprise in a bag

We’ll also announce the candidates for our board this next year, review our financials and, if we’re lucky, end with a little Israeli dancing!

Other summer plans include a game night, a love song service, and a Rosh Hodesh meeting for the women—keep an eye out for more information in the Shmooze!

Kabbalat Shabbat Potluck – your questions answered!

Posted by webmaster on April 28, 2012 | Comments Off

We’ve had a few questions about our upcoming Kabbalat Shabbat Potluck @ Dorton Park, so in no particular order, here come the answers:

If you’re not so familiar with the area, the park is just down the street from McGill. Here is a Google Earth view of the park, and for GPS purposes, the address is: 5790 Polar Tent Rd, Concord, NC.
Your animals are welcome to come and be blessed along with the rest of us! The park is entirely pet friendly.
The potluck is “anything goes.” (Which means that those of us who eat meat will be eating it!) Additionally, there is a grill, so we could cook hot dogs.

Again, if you’d like to indicate what you’re bringing, it would be appreciated. So far, all we know is that there will be chicken nuggets!

By the By — Violins for Hope Exhibit is Free of Charge

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on April 9, 2012 | Comments Off

I forgot to mention that little fact in my previous post. The exhibit costs us nothing but our time and it is certainly worth that!

Please consider joining us for the Violins of Hope exhibit on April 22. We’ll meet at 2 pm at UNC-Charlotte’s Center City Building (320 E. 9th Street). It offers a great opportunity for fellowship, educational experience and sporting our Temple Or Olam T-shirts…. (and if you don’t have one, feel free to ask Robbin Smith, our treasurer how to acquire one gorgeously Carolina blue Temple T-shirt). 🙂

Rabbi Barbara

Visiting the Violins of Hope Exhibit — As a Congregation

Posted by Rabbi Thiede on April 9, 2012 | Comments Off

Dear All,

I wrote the thesis for my first master’s degree on the Holocaust. I have been teaching courses on the Holocaust and the history of European antisemitism for almost thirty years. I was recently privileged to be a part of the activities around the Violins of Hope exhibit by giving the opening lecture at the UNC-Charlotte exhibit “Spots of Light: To Be a Woman in the Holocaust.”

You all know that remembering, honoring, and acknowledging this history is very important to me. We are lucky to have the chance to remember merely by being together because our own congregation is blessed by the presence of Holocaust survivors Arthur and Ruth Kingberg.

I would very much like you all to invite you all to join with me in visiting the exhibit Violins of Hope at UNC-Charlotte Center City Building Gallery on April 22. The exhibit includes 18 violins that tell stories of the Holocaust – its victims and survivors. We may be making this trip as part of an interfaith experience with members of Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

We will meet at the gallery at 2 pm April 22. Please RSVP to Rabbi.Thiede@or-olam.org by April 18 if you would like to be a part of this amazing trip. Alan Coffman, one of our own, may be working as a docent there that very day!

Chag sameach to all,

Rabbi Barbara

Time: 2 pm
Date: April 22, 2012
Location: UNC-Charlotte Center City Building Gallery, 320 E. 9th Street

TOO Seder: What to bring for our trip out of the narrow space….

Posted by webmaster on April 2, 2012 | Comments Off

Items to bring for our community Seder this April 7 . (PLEASE remember that we will begin our march out of narrow spaces promptly at 5:30!)

1. Your most effective sunglasses.

2. One object you would take with you if you had to leave your home in a hurry.

3. Something you wish you could be free of (overwork? stress? a particular fear?) written down on a sheet of paper.

We will start by ritually separating ourselves from those things away that we wish to be free of. Then we’ll march through the narrow spaces (led by Moses, accompanied by the song, “Pharaoh, Pharaoh”). After making our way through the Reed Sea and through to freedom we will engage in a gloriously fun-filled seder punctuated by more laughter than you can imagine — have we got surprises (and great jokes) in store!

Don’t forget your three items and come prepared for the best ever seder at Temple Or Olam.

If you haven’t let us know you are coming, please do so soon so we have enough food well prepared… info@or-olam.org

Purim Party Reminder

Posted by webmaster on March 5, 2012 | Comments Off

Greetings, Temple Or Olamites!

Just a reminder that our Purim party is approaching quickly — it’s scheduled for March 10th (this coming Saturday) from 3pm-5pm at McGill. There will be bad singing, a lot of booing, and a brief visit from those two old guys from the Muppets.

Please keep in mind that costumes are encouraged on Purim, so don’t hesitate to dress up in your worst!

Also remember to bring the following:

hamantashen and/or a snack to share
canned goods to donate to the food bank

Can’t wait to see you all there!

The time is drawing near…

Posted by webmaster on February 13, 2012 | Comments Off

We have a wonderful event coming up this week to satisfy all congregational craving for more visiting time after services. On February 17th at 6:30, we’ll meet for a Shabbat congregational dinner rather than our regular Kabbalat Shabbat service. While Rabbi Barbara recovers her strength, we’ll be gathered around tables with friends, noshing with our community. Husbands will praise their wives (and probably praise them some more when the first time misses the mark), parents will bless their kids (once), songs will be sung, and we’ll (finally!) have plenty of time to visit. Guests are welcome!

If you have not yet signed up , please email your RSVP to Judah Malin (jmalin@trimarkusa.com) as soon as possible and let him know what kind of dish you’d like to bring (appetizer, entree, or dessert). We’re going to have a great time!

Latkes sweet and spicy, latkes standard and odd…

Posted by webmaster on December 13, 2011 | Comments Off

Dig out your favorite latke recipe and get to peeling–our Hanukkah party is happening early this year! Lots of exciting things are in the works talent-wise, and there will also be games, a craft table and an astoundingly awesome performance by our religious school kids. Bring your menorahs (we can practice lighting them…) and some amazing food to share, and we’ll see you there!

Hanukkah Party!
December 16th @ 7pm
McGill Baptist Church
Bring latkes, a snack to share, and menorahs!

Sukkot and CROP Walk

Posted by webmaster on October 10, 2011 | Comments Off

Sukkot at the Malin’s

This year’s festivities will take place on the 16th at the Malin residence. Children from the religious school will be on hand to decorate the sukkah and get a bit of education on the holiday, and all members are welcome to attend. Food will be provided, so a donation to help defray food costs would be appreciated (any excess collected funds will go to the religious school). Those who attend should also BRING CHAIRS to sit in.

Sukkot @ the Malin’s
October 16th, 9:30 a.m.
Bring chairs & a donation!

CROP Hunger Walk

After we finish celebrating the harvest at the Malin’s, some of us are making the trek to Forest Hill United Methodist in Concord for the CROP Hunger Walk to help those who are in need of a harvest of their own. If you would like to sponsor those who are walking or participate in the walk yourself, it’s not too late! Click here, find “Temple Or Olam” in the list, and choose either “Donate Now” or “Join Team.” (Don’t forget to invite your friends, family, and coworkers to sponsor our team as well!) Our vivacious and enthusiastic participants (wearing their TOO t-shirts!) will meet at Forest Hill UMC at 1pm to register for the 1 mile walk and turn in our donations. The walk starts shortly thereafter.

CROP Hunger Walk
October 16th
Forest Hill UMC in Concord
Meet @ 1pm for the 1 mile walk

Let’s Fight Hunger!

Posted by webmaster on September 27, 2011 | Comments Off

We all care about hungry people, but what can one person do? You can join in the local CROP Hunger Walk to raise your voice against hunger and raise funds to help hungry people around the world and here in our own area.

On Sunday October 16th, Temple Or Olam will participate in the Cabarrus County CROP Hunger Walk at Forest Hill United Methodist in Concord. Registration for the event starts at 1:00 pm and the CROP Walk begins at 2:00 pm. There is a one mile walk and a 3 mile walk.

If you would like to walk towards ending hunger and have a heap of fun with your fellow congregants, please contact Linda VanArsdale ASAP and let her know that you’re interested!

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