Rabbi Tilchin's Shabbat Messages

FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY....

Those who are sensitive to anniversaries of impactful experiences may remember that it was Friday the 13th of March in 2020 when we packed up our offices for what we thought might be a few weeks of "staycation" until the mysterious and deadly virus in our midst named COVID -19 abated. It was a blessing at the time to not know what we did not know, so that the radical life adjustments we all had to make in the coming days, weeks and months felt somewhat gradual and psychologically more manageable.  It was an eerie and discombobulating experience.

As of March 13, 2024, the tragic worldwide death toll from COVID-19 is a tad over 7 million with a little over 1.2 million deaths occurring in the United States. When I am in synagogue this weekend, I will try to honor the memories of COVID-19 victims during the recitation of the Mourners Kaddish. I will also be thinking, with great admiration, about the millions of essential workers who risked their lives for more than a year in order to protect and care for others prior to the creation of an effective vaccine. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.

I encourage all who have made it through these last four years with our health, sanity and (God willing) livelihoods intact to consider the many blessings that have emerged in response to the world shut down imposed four years ago in mid-March. I invite all of us to recite the Shehechianu blessing at some point this weekend - as we do whenever we reach an annual milestone - thanking God for granting us life, sustaining us and enabling us to reach this unforgettable anniversary in world history. 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v'kiy'manu, v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

Wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and a year ahead of good health,
Rabbi Marcia Tilchin

ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY!
REGISTER NOW AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS 🏓
Kosher Dill Pickleball for a Cause!
Join us as a SPONSOR and multiply your impact. 
Together we support Israel and our community.
Register here ​​​​​​​for our March 31st fun-raising afternoon
New to pickleball? Join our beginners clinic!

Pack your bags and join us in Great Britain this summer!
We still have room for more travelers on this specially curated mission that will bring needed light and joy to the many Jewish communities we will be visiting.
Please consider joining us.
Learn more here ✈️ 

March 15, 2024 |  5th of Adar II, 5784 |  Parashat Pekudei

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

JCoOC programs are seeded and grow through
🌱 your generosity 🌱

JCoOC CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

• 12 Steps & Torah |  Saturdays at 2:00pm PT on Zoom
• Sundays in Silence and Spirit | Jewish meditation at the JCC with Rabbi K'vod Wieder | Sunday, March 17 at 9:30am
• Advanced Learning Institute with Rabbi Jack Shlachter: Jews in Theory | Mondays, March 18 and 25 at 9:30am PT 
• NEW: Tuesday Online Jewish Bereavement Support Group | This week: Spousal Loss | Tuesday, March 19 at 12:00pm PT​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• ​​​​​​​Thursday Online Jewish Bereavement Support Group | This week: Parent & Sibling Loss | Thursday, March 21 at 5:00pm PT
• Gan Laguna Pint-size Purim Party | March 23 at 3:30pm
• OC Egal Nightly Minyan at 6pm PT | Sunday-Thursday

• ​​​​​​​Circle of Hope & Healing Virtual Film Screening and Discussion​​​​​ - March 28: 3pm PT - Screening | 5pm PT - Discussion
• 2nd Annual Kosher Dill Pickleball Tournament: Dink It Forward | March 31st at 1pm | RSVP here

• Sundays in Silence and Spirit ​​​​​​​| Jewish meditation at the JCC with Rabbi K'vod Wieder | Sunday, April 21 at 9:30am
• A Sacred Music, History and Cultural Mission to Great Britain | June 19 - 28, 2024 | Registration is open

• ​​​​​​​Introduction to Judaism - 18 week series | Begins July 22, 2024

• Zooming Into Purim with the Schechter Institure | Sunday, March 17 at 9:00am PT
• Fast of Esther Community Prayer and Sharing Circle | Thursday, March 21 at 9:00am PT
• ​​​​​​​Interfaith Iftar with OCIN and Pacifica Institute | March 28, 2024
• ​​​​​​​Weissman Arts - Be the Change | April 7 –  June 30

This Week

SOUL SPARK AND JERUSALEM SHABBAT 
Friday, March 15 at 6:30pm
Saturday, March 16 at 9:15am
Join Rabbi Kvod Wieder, Musician-in-residence Mikey Pauker and other musical guests for two multisensory prayer experiences guaranteed to soothe the soul. At Temple Beth El of South Orange County - 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo
Watch the Livestream

Sunday, March 17 at 9:30am in person
SUNDAYS IN SILENCE AND SPIRIT
Monthly Jewish Meditation with Rabbi K'vod Wieder at the Merage JCC.
This program is hosted by JCoOC's OC Jewish Meditation and Spirituality Collective. Open to all. Participants new to meditation are welcome. Pre-registration is required.
Register here

Monday, March 18, 2024 at 9:30am PT 
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
Jews in Theory with Rabbi Jack Shlachter
Jews at Los Alamos
During the Manhattan Project
The exigency of developing an atomic weapon forced the creation of the Manhattan Project and the Los Alamos secret science community in 1943. In Theoretical Division, the division leader, deputy division leader, chief consultant, six of the eight group leaders and four future Nobel Laureates were of Jewish heritage. Rabbi Jack will explore the lives and Jewish roots of some key personalities involved with the project.
​Click here to register.

Groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin, BCC/MSW

Click here for more information and to express interest

Tuesdays at 12pm PT | 3pm ET
March 5th - Parent & sibling 
March 12th - Open group
March 19th - Spousal loss
March 26th - Child loss

Thursdays at 5pm PT | 8pm ET
March 7th - Spousal loss
March 14th - Child loss
March 21th - Parent/sibling loss
March 28th - Circle of Hope & Healing

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.

PURIM STUDY SESSIONS AND CELEBRATIONS

Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 9:00am PT
Join some of Israel's most noted scholars for an insightful exploration into the meaning of Purim for our time.

Thursday, March 21st - 9:00 am 
A SPECIAL TA’ANIT ESTHER (FAST OF ESTHER) PROGRAM
With Machon Hadar
Drawing Strength From Queen Esther:
A Community Prayer and Sharing Circle

With the current rise in anti-semitism, the horrific war in Gaza and growing tensions in the Middle East, many of us are grieving, in turmoil and uncertain about the future and safety of the Jewish people.
Megillat Esther reminds us that history repeats itself in every generation.                                                                 JCoOC joins with community members on Thursday, March 21 (Taanit Esther) to learn, share, sing, pray for peace and safety for Jews all over the world, the State of Israel and all innocent civilians in harms way.

Temple Beth El of South Orange County
 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

RSVP for Gan Laguna's Pint-size Purim Party at 3:30pm
FULL MEGILLAH READING AT 5:00pm  🎭 
RSVP for Purim dinner and magic show at 6:15pm

UPCOMING EVENTS & CLASSES

LET’S GET REEL PRESENTS: THE LAST FLIGHT HOME
A Circle of Hope and Healing Presentation & Conversation
Thursday, March 28
3pm - Film Screening | 5pm - Discussion

NEW PATHWAYS INTO JUDAISM COURSE
Introduction to Judaism | Begins July 22, 2024
Register here

ONGOING WAYS TO SUPPORT ISRAEL

JCoOC has been raising funds for grassroots relief efforts to help civilians and soldiers in Israel. A percentage of the proceeds from our upcoming Kosher Dill Pickleball Fundraiser will be dedicated to supporting continuing needs of victims of terror, displaced persons and Israeli soldiers in need of supplies.

Please join us for this fun, community-building event and consider becoming a sponsor. Thank you!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Pacifica Institute and the OC Interfaith Network are hosting an Interfaith Iftar on Thursday, March 28 at 6pm.

To learn more and register, visit www.tinyurl.com/ififtar24

WEISSMAN ARTS - BE THE CHANGE
APRIL 7, 2024 – JUNE 30, 2024 2024

Be the Change is an “artivism” initiative inspired by the Jewish tenet of justice as expressed through our ritual of giving tzedakah. This exhibit is about making space to talk about injustice and providing the necessary action steps to be agents of change in our local and global communities.

JCFOC Weissman Arts is pleased to collaborate with the Skirball Cultural Center by including many of the boxes from their recent mounting of Be the Change. Four new boxes are being commissioned for the Orange County community.

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.