June 20, 2014

22 Sivan 5774

God Talk at Camp?

Ever have one of those moments when your child reaches out to you and all you really want to do is collapse from exhaustion? It happens at home and it happens at camp. So what do you do?

I am up here at URJ Camp Newman, the Reform movement camp in Santa Rosa, CA, leading our delegation of 42 people from Congregation Or Ami (Calabasas, CA) for Jewish summer fun. After a full fantastic day of spiritual hikes, meditation teaching, service planning and camper counseling, I was hot, tired and worn out.

Rabbi, Want to Talk about God?

Yet, no sooner did I sit down for a little quiet time when I heard someone call out, "We're having a conversation here about God. Rabbi, do you want to join us?" So I thought to myself...

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Shabbat Schedule

Fri., June 20 - Celebration Shabbat Service - 6:00 pm

Join Rabbi Weisz, Soloist Sheryl Braunstein and Pianist Aaron Meyer for an inspiring Shabbat service.

[Torah portion: Korach Numbers 16:1-18:32]

Fri., June 27 - Tot Shabbat at De Anza Park - 5:30 pm

At De Anza Park in Calabasas, join Rabbi Julia Weisz and other families with young children for stories, singing and celebrating Shabbat in the Park. Picnic followed by stories and singing with your family at 5:30 pm. Please bring your own picnic dinner and chairs.

[Torah portion: Chukat Numbers 19:1-22:1]

Meanwhile at Camp Newman...

Israel Trip 2016

Or Ami's Multigenerational Israel trip travels in July 2016 (around July 13-23). Many people have already contacted Rabbi Paul Kipnes and Cantor Doug Cotler to share their interest in this trip. We will celebrate B'nai Mitzvah in Jerusalem. Older couples without children and single parent families are also attending. One set of grandparents is considering bringing their children and grandchildren

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Join us for Shabbat in Jerusalem and oceanside in Tel Aviv. Enjoy mystical Tzfat, climb Masada, and river raft down the Jordan River. Wine Taste in the Golan, get to know Ethiopian Jewish families, and break bread with Bedouins in their tent in the desert. Interested? Let Rabbi Paul know now. A trip planning meeting will be held in August.

Summer Camp...Nothing but Smiles!

Rave Reviews for Orami.org Website Upgrade

We have been busy at work updating our website. Take a look at the new homepage streamlined design, and the rotating picture links. Click on any picture to learn about how warm and welcoming Or Ami is. Also, our Membership (partnership) pages now include all the forms and brochures you and your friends will need to renew or join. Our youth, Israel, Interfaith, LGBTQ, Multicultural/multiethnic, special needs pages also have a new look.

Encourage Your Friends to Check Out Or Ami

You love being part of our warm, welcoming, innovative, musical Jewish community. So share the best kept Jewish secret in the West San Fernando and Conejo Valleys. Tell your friends why this is the place to reengage with your Judaism.

Then point them to our new Partnership webpage. Inspire them with Or Ami's welcoming of Jewish individuals, couples and families who are:

Of all shapes and sizes
Interfaith
Multi-cultural/multiethnic
With Special Needs
LGBTQ
Recovering from illness or addiction
New to Judaism
Veteran synagogue participants
With young, medium or teen children
With no children
Athletic or couch potatoes
Fishermen, businesspeople, musicians, mathematicians, seniors and more...

Then please reaffirm your partnership with Congregation Or Ami by walking into the synagogue in the month of June to update your information and, where appropriate, registering your child(ren) for our learning programs. We expect it will take 10-15 minutes. Or update and complete the forms you received (or these online forms) and return them to our synagogue office.

Please renew now (our office staff will thank you). The $25 school enrollment incentive discounts end on June 15th.

Why Do You Love Congregation Or Ami?!?

Arts, Music, Dance: Creative Teen Programs

Recently Leslie Kraut wrote, I was very inspired by the Festival of Jewish Arts Shabbat Service. Remembering back to when I was a teenager, my parents forced me to be involved in a local youth group chapter. I didn't want to go and definitely did not feel like I belonged. Our teens, including my own son Andrew, want to be at Temple. They are engaged, excited and most of all comfortable with their Judaism. It is so wonderful watching them interact with each other and knowing that they share a special bond and a sense that they definitely belong. Thank you, Congregation Or Ami! Read about using the ATM to bring teens to temple.

Discover how we engage our Teens in ways they love.

What's your story? Why do you (and your family) love being part of Congregation Or Ami? Email your story to Rabbi Paul Kipnes.

Support Group for Caregivers

You give the caring to your loved ones, perhaps it is time you took care of yourself. Come to our Support Group for Caretakers, facilitated by Elenna King, MSW, MAJCS, through the Ezra Network. Find strength in the community of helpers, as you guide each other through the ups and downs of caring for others.

Mondays June 16, 23, 30 & July 7

11am - 12 pm at Temple Aliyah (6025 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills).

RSVP required to Elenna at 818-854-9760

Working with synagogues, The Ezra Network is an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles in partnership with Jewish Family Service, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and Jewish Vocational Service. The Ezra Network is funded by the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

Cook Just One Day and You Nourish Someone for a Lifetime

Would you volunteer to help prepare and serve a meal for the homeless and hungry just one time this coming year? Feed the Hungry: Judaism's highest mitzvah is to care for the vulnerable. Every month, Or Ami prepares and serves dinner to the hungry as part of a coalition of synagogues and churches. Our Feed the Hungry Committee seeks individuals and families to help prepare one meal, once during the year. To volunteer (for a date TBD), please contact project chair Lenore Alexander.

Upcoming at Or Ami

View our Calendar

Sun., June 22 Conejo Food & Shelter Program, 6:00 pm (details on back)

Fri., July 4 - Temple Office Closed

Fri., July 12 - $100 late fee when registering for school programs AFTER this date

Rabbi Paul Kipnes * Cantor Doug Cotler * Rabbi Julia Weisz
Congregation Or Ami

www.orami.org

(818) 880-4880

Facebook: Congregation Or Ami

Twitter: @CongOrAmi

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