Rabbi Tilchin's Shabbat Messages

Thinking about your end-of-year giving?
Now is a perfect time to invest in the Jewish Collaborative for 2024!
Our impactful 2023 initiatives are poised to expand so we can touch and inspire an even wider audience. 80% of our support comes from voluntary donations made by people like you who appreciate our distinctive work. Your gift today will make a meaningful difference! 

December 29, 2023 | 17 Tevet 5784 |  Parashat Vayechi

Enjoy Torah Sparks: Creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.

JCoOC CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Shabbaton Shirat Yisrael: A Tribute to Israel’s 150-Year Musical History at Temple Ner Tamid of Downey | December 29-31, 2023

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​No ALI January 1​​​​​​​ | See you next week
• ​​​​​​Online Jewish Bereavement Support Groups | This week: Spousal Loss | Thursday, January 4 at 5:00pm PT
• OC Egal Nightly Minyan at 6pm PT | Sunday-Thursday

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Advanced Learning Institute with Daniel Levine: The Medieval Debates that Gave Us Modern Judaism: "What All this Means for Us Today"  | Monday, January 8 at 9:30am PT ​​​​​​
• Jewish Great Britain ​​​​​​​​​​​Zoom Information Session ​​​​​for those interested in learning more about our upcoming excursion to Great Britain in June of 2024 | Thursday, January 11 at 9:30am PT | 12:30pm ET
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Online Jewish Bereavement Support Groups | This week: Teen and Adult Child Loss | Thursday, January 11 at 5:00pm PT
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sundays in Silence and Spirit: Jewish meditation session at the JCC with Rabbi K'vod Wieder | Sunday, January 21 at 9:30am
  
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Gan Laguna T”u b’Shevat Hike | At Aliso and Woods Canyon Regional Park in Laguna Niguel | Sunday, January 28 at 9:30am | Contact Sarah for more information
• A Sacred Music, History and Cultural Tour of Great Britain | June 19 - 28, 2024

• Gaining Insight into the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Exploring Attitudes within Israel and from Arab States with Professor Paul Liptz | January 7, 2024, 10:00am PT on Zoom
• 4th Annual Kol Tefilla Gathering in Los Angeles | January 19-21, 2024

A Message from Rabbi Marcia

On Thursday, December 21, Rabbi Tilchin was privileged to participate in the 8th annual Homeless Person’s Inter-Religious Memorial Service, honoring the 511 men, women and children who died on the streets of Orange County between December 21, 2022 through December 20, 2023. Every name was mentioned with care.

Since this program began in 2016, we have honored over 2,592 people of all ages who have passed away on the streets of Orange County while experiencing homelessness. Some were living in cars, in tents or under an overpass. Some died from suicide, while others passed away from drug use or chronic illness. No matter how they died, they were our neighbors, all members of the human family, and precious to God.

We hope you will take time to read this article about the event that appeared in The OC Register. May their memories endure as a blessing. 🕯️

JCoOC Programs This Week

NO ALI on January 1
Monday, January 8, 2024 at 9:30am PT 
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
The Medieval Debates that Gave Us Modern Judaism with Rabbi Daniel Levine
The Great Jewish thinkers of the Middle Ages were philosophers, poets, mystics and physicians - working out in their own minds how to reconcile evolved Jewish practice with primary philosophical schools of thought. Rabbi Daniel will take us on a 4-week journey into the great minds of the time and their enduring impact on the trajectory of Jewish thought and practice that are still manifest today.
​Click here to register.
Click here ​​​​​​to access recordings of previous sessions.

Wednesday, January 11, 2024
9:30am PT | 12:30pm ET
SUMMER ADVENTURE ZOOM INFORMATION SESSION
Thinking about joining us in England for our Sacred Music, History and Culture Tour of Great Britain in June of 2024? We’d love to travel with you! All are welcome to attend a zoom informational session with the trip leaders. RSVP here to receive the zoom link

Sunday through Thursday at 6:00pm
OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN
If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, observe a yahrzeit, or participate in an evening minyan, OC Egal meets online five nights a week. Click here ​​​​​to receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.

SPIRITUALITY, GRIEF AND HEALING

Click here to learn about ongoing support groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin, BCC, MSW and to express interest in participation. Weekly meetings will address issues associated with specific types of loss.
Co-sponsored by the Jewish Collaborative of OC and
the House of Ruach Foundation.

January dates:
4th - Spousal loss
11th - Child loss
18th - Parent and sibling loss
25th - Circle of Hope & Healing

February dates:
1st - Spousal loss
8th - Child loss
15th - Parent and sibling loss
22nd - Circle of Hope & Healing

ONGOING WAYS TO SUPPORT ISRAEL

Thank you to everyone who has donated to support grassroots tzedakah that is making a difference for Israeli soldiers and civilians every day.
Our fundraising efforts on Israel's behalf are ongoing.

Embrace Israel Bracelets
Another tzedaka opportunity to support our brothers and sisters in Israel
Order through Instagram here

COLLABORATIVE TRAVEL AND RETREATS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

All are invited to attend this annual shabbaton hosted by the USCJ, Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles and the Clergy Leadership Incubator. Treat yourself to a weekend of musical immersion and inspiration.
Click here to register

The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is a creative, collaborative, and compassionate community mosaic dedicated to innovating and supporting local and national programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life and encouraging individuals and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.