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

LoopDinner, Dancing & Dessert

12-Day Countdown!

We are approaching a full house, so get your tickets ready!

Our auction and raffle prizes total over $11,000 in value and include Southwest Airlines tickets, Disney World passes, skydiving for two, amethyst jewelry and much, much more!  We can promise: This will be an unforgettable night.

We also need volunteers to manage the auction tables and clean up.  Give Arlene or Cheryl a shout if you can devote some hours to our anniversary celebration.  We want EVERYBODY to be involved and in attendance.

Cheryl  cg@greenwalds.net

Arlene afilkoff@gmail.com

 

 

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

LoopKabbalat Shabbat Service: We Will Lift You Up

This Friday, January 24, we will hold our monthly Torah service closer to Charlotte and convenient to the UNCC area, two frequent requests expressed by our members. Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church on Mallard Creek Road has offered use of their sanctuary space so that we can test these more populous waters.

We need your feedback, so ask you all to put January 24 and March 7 on your calendars for services at Piedmont.  Please bring your friends and neighbors who have expressed interest in a closer Jewish community.

We know you are all keeping your eyes and hearts open to opportunities for Or Olam.  We look forward to seeing everyone there and at a hearty oneg afterwards!

Friday, Jan. 24, 7:00 pm
Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church
9704 Mallard Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28262

Countdown to 3D

We still need 9 shoe boxes for 3D decorating.  Please bring them to the service this Friday.  See Arlene for further arrangements.

We are also in need of volunteers to help at Dinner, Dancing, and Desserts.  We need volunteers to monitor the merchandise that is being offered for auction and answer questions, sell raffle tickets, and help with clean up after the event.  We are currently assigning shifts.  If you are interested in this portion of the fundraising event, please email or call:

Cheryl Greenwald
cg@greenwalds.net
704-528-1432

Arlene Filkoff
afilkoff@gmail.com
704-875-2353

How Our Website Operates

Some updates had to be made to this site on Jan. 20 because of problems caused by a compromised plug-in.  The problem is now resolved.  However, the old plug-in did leave our site vulnerable to a spam bot for a while.   If you have experienced a garbled display or had spam ads pop up when accessing this site, please scan your own computer for any infections before you log into our protected membership area again.  You will also notice that our site is now protected by a security service, SiteLock.  You can click on the icon in the lower right corner of the screen to check the daily security certification.  Thanks for your patience and cooperation.

January 2014 Shmoozeletter

The first Shmoozeletter of 2014 is on line (please click here).

Highlights:

  • Services Jan. 03 and Jan. 24
  • MiLev HaPardes: Rabbi Thiede on Jewish Community
  • From the President: Launching a New Year
  • Israeli Dancing Jan. 11 (4:00 – 6:00, McGill)
  • News: Board minutes, fundraising, dues
  • Kvelling Corner
  • The letter Tet
  • Calendar, Birthdays, a Yahrzeit, and Donations

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

LoopMake Your Donations Now!

We’re in the last hours of 2013 – if you want to make a donation to Temple Or Olam (and that includes dues, which are tax deductible), please go to www.or-olam.org and click on our PayPal button.  Or make out a check and make sure to write the date correctly (December 31, 2013) and mail it in to:

Temple Or Olam, Treasurer
PO Box 362
Huntersville, NC 28070-0362

Please let us know what the donation is for (dues, Torah fund, Ruth G. Kingberg Children’s Education Fund).  Many thanks!

Israeli Dancing with Penny

January 11, 2014  4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at McGill Baptist Church in Concord

Ask those who participated: Our first Israeli dance class at Hanukkah was fabulous.  If you couldn’t join us then, now’s your opportunity.  We need at least twelve preregistered adults to make our class happen, so please register today!  We are encouraging advance payment to avoid handling money on Shabbat if at all possible.  To preregister, please go to www.or-olam.org and click on the PayPal link; specify “Israeli Dancing.”  Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Any questions?  Please call Arlene Filkoff at 704-875-2352 or e-mail afilkoff@gmail.com.

Kabbalat Shabbat Services this Friday

January 3, 2014, 7 p.m. at McGill Baptist Church in Concord

Be prepared for a musical service (that’s our specialty) with a chance for everyone to participate in real Torah study.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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

LoopDec. 13 Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 7:00

Together with our guest, Brian Yesowitch, we’ll be considering the role of memory in our tradition – both through ritual and storytelling.  Our Kabbalat Shabbat will be a gentle family-friendly and musical experience (we might even begin with a little Israeli dance!).
This service would be a wonderful time to invite guests and friends with children.  Relax with us in an atmosphere of warmth and joy as we close out 2013.  We will congregate in the large classroom (not in the sanctuary).

Wrap it up! Fundraising gift-wrapping at Bass Pro Shop

We had a taste of the holiday rush at Bass Pro Shops a couple of weeks ago and picked up some easy fundraising income for our budget.  We will have the granddaddy of all wrapping opportunities again on Christmas Eve.  We need everyone to take a 1 or 2-hour shift.
Fundraising gift wrapping at Bass Pro Shop (Concord Mills Mall)
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Contact Cheryl Greenwald at cg@greenwalds.net

December 2013 Shmoozeletter

The December 2013 Shmoozeletter is on line (click here).  Highlights:

  • Shabbat services Dec. 13 and Jan. 03
  • MiLev HaPardes: The Pew Study
  • Adult Education initiatives
  • Israeli Dancing Jan. 11 – preregister at www.or-olam.org
  • Board of Directors’ Meeting minutes (Nov. 24)
  • Committee on Facility Needs
  • Dinner, Dancing, and Dessert Feb. 08, Mooresville Citizen Center
  • Chanukkah Party Dec. 8, McGill (3:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
  • Gift Wrapping Dec. 24 fundraiser (Concord Mills): Volunteers needed
  • Kvelling Corner: The children of Temple Or Olam
  • Geh gezunt: Yiddish wisdom translated into English
  • Precious Moments: pictures of congregational events
  • Calendar
  • Birthdays, yahrzeits, donations, and contact information

November 2013 Shmoozeletter

The November 2013 Shmoozeletter is on line (click here).  Among the highlights:

  • John Jensen’s bar mitzvah service, Nov. 30, in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) weekend Nov. 8-10 with Elaine Barenblat
  • Kabbalat Shabbat service Nov. 8
  • MiLev HaPardes: Chanukkah and Thanksgiving coincide: reflections
  • Announcing the ‘Kvelling Corner’ (upcoming column by Marilyn Atlas)
  • Calendars: ISJL Weekend, Congregational Month of November
  • Board of Director’s meeting highlights
  • Fundraising Initiatives
  • Planning for Dinner, Dancing, and Desserts with Dove House (02-08-2014)
  • ‘Chrismakkuh’ – a joint celebration with our hosts at McGill Baptist Church
  • Know your Aleph Bet: The Letter Chet
  • Birthdays, yahrzeits, donations… and a timely joke in the Geh Gezunt column

Or Olam in the Loop: Our Weekly Bulletin on Everything TOO

LoopUpcoming: An Weekend of Wonder at TOO

We have an amazing weekend planned for early November.  We’ll kick off the weekend with a Kabbalat Shabbat service led by our Religious School children together with Rabbi Barbara. Weekend events will also include programs offered for Temple Or Olam’s adult crowd, teachers, and students from our Institute for Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) intern, Elaine Barenblat.  Look for an evite soon for Saturday night dinner and Havdalah.

Here’s a brief overview of our schedule:
Friday night, 11/8, 7:00 – Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Barbara and the Religious School students
Saturday, 11/9
2-4 pm – Religious school teacher training with Elaine, at McGill.
4-6 pm – Movie for kids with Keri; adult discussion with Elaine.
6-8 pm – Potluck supper and Havdalah
Sunday, 11/10
Elaine teaches our young’uns about tzedakah and Jewish heroes and heroines

Victory Lane for John Jensen

John Jensen’s bar mitzvah will be held Saturday, 11/30, 10:00 am, NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.  Yup, you read that right.  SAVE THE DATE!

Feeding the Hungry: Our Next Gleaning Opportunity

We have the opportunity to glean apples on Saturday, October 26th near Hendersonville, NC.  The orchard is approximately 2 hours from central Charlotte.  If you’re looking for a crisp fall activity that will help feed a LOT of folks, contact Arlene Filkoff at afilkoff@gmail.com

Upcoming Meetings at TOO

Fundraising committee meeting, Sat., 10/26, 1:00 pm, Filkoff’s
TOO Board meeting, Sunday, 10/27, 7:00, conference call

Or Olam in the Loop: Our Weekly Bulletin on Everything TOO

LoopBar Mitzvah This Shabbat

Help us support our youngsters at this special time by making every effort to attend.  Please reply to your evite that came on October 4 if you have not already done so.

Saturday, 10/19, 10:00 am
Radbourne Clubhouse, 3325 Radbourne Blvd,Charlotte NC 28269
Bagel brunch following

Last Call for Beginning Hebrew Classes

This will be the first and last time Rabbi Barbara teaches Hebrew for at least the next three years.  Course components: learning the Aleph Bet, how to read Hebrew, acquiring some basic vocabulary, and understanding the general content of basic Shabbat prayers.  The course meets by conference call on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m.  Please write to Rabbi Barbara at Rabbi.Thiede@or-olam.org by this Sunday, October 20 if you want more details about the class.

All the Area News in the Charlotte Jewish News — For Free!

Feel like you are missing something?  Metro-Charlotte synagogues (including TOO) produce a boatload of great programs, many of which are open to the public.  The best place to find out about meetings, lectures, performances, classes is in the monthly Charlotte Jewish News, which is free of cost.  If you are not receiving the News, shoot an email to amontoni@shalomcharlotte.org.  Or Olam has been publishing a monthly article in CJN for several years.  Don’t be left out!

Or Olam in the Loop: Our Weekly Bulletin on Everything TOO

 LoopGleaning Opportunity

We have the opportunity to glean tomatoes on Saturday, October 12th, at 8:30 a.m. in Rowan County.  Please let Jean Siers know if you’re interested and she will send you paperwork and directions.

gleanclt@endhunger.org

Please RSVP for our Bar Mitzvah in Red

Don’t forget to respond to the evite for Preston’s bar mitzvah on Saturday the 19th.  The family needs to know how many chairs to set out.  As Preston announced, it will be a beautiful service.  You can be certain that there will be lots of red….