What a wonderful Saturday night out. Lively entertainment, great company, coffee, tea and wine. This was a great event that OJC is sure to repeat in the future. Thank-you to all who submitted a great selection of video-songs of a variety of styles. Special thanks to Laura McPheeters for MC’ing the evening and to David Spevakow, alias “the tech nerd” for figuring out how to best share these selections on your screens.
What a great week we had together, lighting the Hanukkah candles as a community on ZOOM! First time we have ever done this, and to boot, each evening the lighting was hosted by a Rabbi that has contributed significantly to OJC’s development over the years. Thanks to David Spevakow for arranging the week of lightings and to all the Rabbis and community members and friends who participated. The week culminated with the full menorah being lit on a cross-Canada event of Israeli entertainment brought to the Canadian small Jewish communities by Canadian Zionist federation. Kol ha’Kavod to all who made it possible!
Conversion/Adult Education classes are continuing on a regular basis every Tuesday night at 6:30 on ZOOM. We are now in our 5th week of a 30 lesson curriculum. Approximately 20 persons are attending the class on a regular basis. Thank-you to Rabbis Bright, Parnes and Cantor Jayne for contributing to the teaching.
OJC members were finally able to get together outside in a COVID-safe environment for a Historical Tour of our “Gates of Peace” cemetery. Over 20 persons braved the unseasonably cold weather to hear Barb Pullan’s presentation including the history of our Community and highlighting several members who are at rest in our Cemetery. Thanks to Barb Pullan for the excellent job and to the members and friends who participated.
We all appreciated seeing the lulav being shaken at our Shabbat/Succot service on Saturday, October 10th. Thanks to Rabbi Orenstein for again leading an inspirational service and especially his guest, Fran Avni, for her musical accompaniment. Looking forward to our next visit together.
How fortunate we are to have Evan Orloff in our Community to lead our High Holiday services for 5781. No easy task, yet done so well, with organization, singing and relevant comments. Services were held on the ZOOM platform and were very well attended – very similar numbers as previous in-person services. Thank-you to Evan and to all who attended and enjoyed the services. Have a Happy and Healthy 5781!
OJC hosted its first Adult Education/Conversion class on Tuesday, September 15th. Over 20 students attended the ZOOM event, whether it was for conversion purposes or for Adult Jewish Education. The timely topic of the evening was “Rosh Hashana”, led by Rabbi Alan Bright from Montreal. This was a very informative class for all who attended. Next class is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th at 6:30 on ZOOM platform. Those wishing to attend the Adult education classes need to register formally in order to receive the ZOOM invite. Registration is best accomplished on the home page of the website, on the right column entitled “events”, and then push on the link to Adult Education for registration and payment.
OJC was delighted to have welcomed back Rabbis Orenstein and Gilbert to lead a “Soulful Shabbat” Saturday morning service on August 29th on ZOOM platform. The service was interactive, meaningful and innovative! It originated in the synagogue in Quebec City! Thank-you for all our local OJC participants and the two congregants who participated from Quebec City and Vancouver. Great event!
OJC’s sponsored a Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 25th, where our 11 conversion students were able to meet each other and in particular out three clergymen running the program. We thank Rabbi Alan Bright of Montreal, Rabbi Jeremy Parnes of Regina and Cantor Russell Jayne from Calgary for leading our classes. Congratulations to the students for their commitment to the process and to OJC!
OJC was delighted to have back Rabbi Schachar Orenstein and Rabbi Sherril Gilbert to lead our virtual Shabbat morning service on Saturday, July 11th. The service was an inspiration to the 40-50 members and friends who were able to join us on line. Great teaching and great thought-provoking sermon. Thanks from all of us at OJC to the two Rabbis.