the BULLETIN January/February 2018 Tevet/Shevat/Adar 5778 Purim Celebrations February 28, 2018 See Page 7 for details of our Temple Purim Celebration Worship Schedule Holiday Dates Times SHABBAT Friday January 5 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, January 6 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Shemot SHABBAT Thursday, January 11 7:30 am Morning Minyan Friday, January 12 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service 7:00 pm Bring your Own Dinner Saturday, January 13 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Va’eira Thursday, January 18 7:30 am Morning Minyan Bat Mitzvah Alexa Leitman SHABBAT Friday, January 19 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, January 20 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Bo Thursday, January 25 7:30 am Morning Minyan SHABBAT Friday, January 26 5:30 pm TOTally Shabbat 6:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, January 27 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Beshalach Shabbat Shira SHABBAT Friday, February 2 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, February 3 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Yitro Thursday, February 8 7:30 am Morning Minyan SHABBAT Friday, February 9 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service 7:00 pm Bring your Own Dinner Saturday, February 10 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Mishpatim Shabbat Shekalim SHABBAT Friday, February 16 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, February 17 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Terumah Thursday, February 22 7:30 am Morning Minyan SHABBAT Friday, February 23 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, February 24 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Tetzaveh Shabbat Zachor 4:30 pm TIRS Purim Program PURIM Wednesday, February 28 5:30 pm TIRS Purim Reading/Spiel See Page 7 6:00 pm Purim Dinner 7:00 pm Adult Megillah Reading with ORH SHABBAT Friday, March 2 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, March 3 10:15 am Shabbat Service, Parsha Ki Tissa 2 | TEMPLE ISRAEL BULLETIN - January February 2018 From the Pulpit President’s Message New Temple training program for As I am writing this message to immigrants aims to further you, my first as your president, we Reform Judaism core value of are just a short time away from social justice the secular New Year. For most of us this is a time when we each Imagine the incredible experience take stock, make plans and prom- of celebrating Shabbat worship ises. We reflect on where we stand and where we are headed. Temple with 6,000 participants, with the Israel and its leaders will certainly voices of thousands of Reform do the same. Jews filling a convention centre with such wonderful energy and I am pleased to serve as president spirit! of Temple Israel. I feel privileged to follow in the footsteps of great leaders and I will do my That’s what I experienced as I recently attended the best to emulate them. Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial convention, the largest biennial in our 175-year-old history. Temple Israel is a vibrant, caring community with an amazing array of talented people. Let’s use those tal- Throughout the event, we heard from many Jewish and ents. non-Jewish leaders who helped articulate the vision of Temple is a committee based organization. Volunteers our movement, of which social justice has always been are our lifeblood, both as committee members and com- a core value. mittee chairs. Upcoming bulletins and weekly updates will highlight various committees, their roles, responsi- On the first evening of the convention we heard from bilities, and activities. I look forward to working with you Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, a Protestant minister in the months and years to come. Please remember that and political leader in North Carolina, and a member of without you, there is no us. the national board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). If you have ideas as to how to make Temple better, please and send them to me at president@templeis- Dr. Barber, along with our Reform Movement’s leaders, is raelottawa.ca . Be prepared to commit time and effort starting a grass roots campaign to address the systemic to move things forward. The words “someone should” issues of poverty. While poverty has many root causes, need to be replaced by “I’m prepared to do”. It is true and many of the ones that Rev. Barber spoke about are that many hands make light work. unique to the American community, his central message Let me tell you about a few initiatives on the horizon. A is just as important for us as Canadians: “We must revival of Temple Israel Sisterhood is under way, under demand a moral agenda,” said Rev. Barber, “an agenda the leadership of Janet Cohen. On November 28th, Sis- that says there are issues that are not about left versus terz’n the Hood (their new name) held their first formal right and Republican versus Democrat. program with over 30 women in attendance. We look for- ward to hearing about more ideas and future programs “Pro-labour, anti-poverty, anti-racist policy are moral from the Sisterz. issues. Living wages and guaranteed income for the poor are moral issues. Transitioning away from fossil A successful November workshop on fundraising and fu- fuels and guaranteeing labor rights and affordable hous- ture Temple plans was attended by Board members and ing, these are moral issues. Fair policies for immigrants several past presidents. This workshop was facilitated are moral issues.” by consultants with extensive experience and expertise in fundraising and project management, particularly for faith based communities such as ours. A big Thank You For Temple Israel, social justice has always been a moral to Patsy Royer for her leadership and initiative on this issue, and our decision to adopt a Syrian refugee family file. Participants discussed ways to position Temple for was a moral decision. In support of that decision, we future success, including related infrastructure and fa- have been awarded a grant by the Ontario ministry of cilities. More information on the Board Renovation Vision Citizenship and Immigration to run a 10-12 week train- Project will be coming over the next few months. ing program for new immigrants and refugees. The program will help train them on how to effectively work We are awaiting the finalization of several significant -be in Canada’s multicultural/multi-faith workforce. Our goal quests. Portions of these bequests will be used to pay is that the program will help dispel commonly held prej- down the mortgage and to support the Board Renovation udices and stereotypes. Vision Project. But we need your help to make this training program a I’m counting on your help and that of our strong Exec- utive and Board. Our professional staff are at the core, success. We we need volunteers to help welcome partic- ensuring that day to day activities are handled in a com- ipants, organize activities and make sure the weekly petent, efficient manner while providing leadership, sessions run smoothly. (continued page 4) Continued page 4 January February 2018 - TEMPLE ISRAEL BULLETIN | 3 If you are interested in learning more about this project, guidance and support to our congregation and its com- please give me a call or write an email. mittees over a wide range of programs. If you are interested in reading or viewing the addresses Among my areas of focus are fiscal prudence, fundraising from the Reform Biennial in full, and I encourage you to do and philanthropy, upgrading and maintaining our facili- ties, security and accessibility, and making Temple Israel that, they can be found on the URJ’s web site - https:// urj.org/blog/2017/12/11/reliving-urj-biennial-speech- the place where Jewish life happens in Ottawa. es-video-and-more In closing, one phrase that you’ll hear periodically from me is “Abraham Lincoln”, meaning “You can’t please all Creating a society that understands, appreciates and can of the people all of the time”. Please keep that in mind effectively work together is a moral issue! Come join the as we continue to move this sacred community forward. effort to make our world a better place. Together we can do great things. Shalom, Ellen and I hope that you enjoyed a happy Chanukah and wish you a healthy, happy New Year. Rabbi S. Robert Morais Stephen Asherman President Celebrating a milestone, simcha or a special Temple is please to announce our new Junior Youth event? Group advisor is Sophie Giaccone. If you would like to make a donation in honour of this Watch our website and weekly emails for upcoming occasion, please see our website, contact our volun- events for kids in Grades 6-8. teers (see TIOF page 10 or Temple information page 11) or the office and we will make it easy for you! Condolences Condolences are extended to the families of: Abraham Gencher Beloved brother of Rita Mortimer Jane McKeague Beloved mother of Paul McKeague (Katya Feder) Josephine Mary Izenberg Beloved mother of Judy Snider (Jeremy Wallis) Estelle Weiss Beloved mother of Ron Weiss (Debbie Halton Weiss) Ruth Shane Jacques Bencheton Carole McGeough Beloved mother of Joe (Alanna) McGeough Michael Feldman Beloved husband of Tanya Feldman May their memory forever be a blessing. 4 | TEMPLE ISRAEL BULLETIN - January February 2018 School News moment! Our school enrollment has continued to grow. When I became the Princi- In November, Grades 7-12 had private tour of the National pal of TIRS 2.5 years ago, we had 67 Holocaust Monument followed by a talk given by Kati students in our school. This year, I am Morrison, a survivor living in Ottawa.