Congregation Or Chadash

Mishloah Manot

ellie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:27:36 +0000

Purim is right around the corner. What’s in your Purim basket? The mitzvah of giving Mishloah Manot comes from Megillat Esther, the Book of Esther. You can purchase Purim gift bags – Mishloah Manot – for your friends and family through our Kadima and Jr. USY Youth department….and they deliver! Click here for the order form to send Misloah Manot. Orders must be received no later than Wednesday, February 22.

Welcome Nancy Lad!

ellie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:11:38 +0000

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Nancy Lad who replaces Jan Mann as our bookkeeper. Nancy comes to us with an extensive background in accounting and has bookkeeping experience working in the in non-profit world. We thank Jan for her service to Congregation Or Chadash. Please welcome Nancy to our office team when you have an occasion to call or visit Or Chadash.

Weekly Question – February 2

ellie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:14:58 +0000

This week’s assignment: What is the special name for this Shabbat and why is it called such? Please send your response directly to Rabbi Caplan: rabbi@congregationorchadash.org.

Last week’s assignment –
Q: Yesterday, we began a new Hebrew month; can you name it. Hint: see top of this week’s eBulletin. (No extra credit points this week.)
A: We began the month of Shevat.

United Synagogue SULAM Leadership Program

ellie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:10:18 +0000

We are pleased to announce the participants in our first SULAM leadership development program, a program created by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, targeted toward emerging leaders in the synagogue. Congregation Or Chadash is one of 24 congregations nationwide participating in this pilot program. We had many deserving candidates from within our congregation, and we ultimately chose this group from almost 70 qualified members. The group of 12 consists of: David Brooks, Betsy Cohen, Rachel Feitlinger, Toby Fox, Michelle Goren, Kim Green, Julie Krell, Sandee Levine, Matt Levine, Lane Rabin, Mike Sharkey, and Carrie Ward. Thank you to everyone who applied for the program, and congratulations to those who have been selected to participate.

Upcoming Kadima/Jr. USY Events

ellie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:55:07 +0000

Kadima (4th & 5th grades):

– Lounge Night: Wednesday, February 8, 6:15-7:30 pm. Five dollar fee includes dinner.

Jr. USY (6th, 7th and 8th grades):

– Lounge Nights: Wednesday, February 8, 6:15 ro 7:30 pm and Saturday, February 25, 7:15 to 8:30 pm. Five dollars includes dinner.

– Berlin 36 presented by the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival (Harkins Camelview 5) on Sunday, February 12 from 10-11:45 am. The film tells the story of a female Jewish athlete and her fate during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. For parents and kids grades 7-12. Cost: Free. 6th and 7th Graders will be attending from Or Chadash Religious School. If you wish to attend this and Tu B’Shvat at Tolmachoff Farms, there will be a carpool. For tickets and more information contact Andre Ivory at orchadashyouth@gmail.com.

Combined Kadima/Jr. USY event:

Tu B’Shevat at Tolmachoff Farms on Sunday, February 12 from 12:15-4:00 pm. RSVP Deadline: 12 noon, Friday, Feb. 3; Cost: $15 members/$20 for non-members. Fun on the farm with a farm tour, bottle feeding baby goats, picking fresh produce and much more. For more information on this program, click here.

Save the Date: April 27-29: 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Jr. USY Kinnus in Los Angeles

Please remember to RSVP for EACH event to orchadashyouth@gmail.com.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR 6th GRADERS: The chapter has decided that, for this year, you will be included in the Jr. USY programming. You are welcome to attend the Kadima programs, too, but the focus will now be on Jr. USY.

Important links: Kadima USY membership form, Spring 2012 calendar, Kadima-USY Lounge Nights.

Weekly Question – January 26

ellie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:35:35 +0000

This week’s assignment: Yesterday, we began a new Hebrew month; can you name it. Hint: see top of this week’s eBulletin. (No extra credit points this week.) Please send your response directly to Rabbi Caplan: rabbi@congregationorchadash.org.

Last week’s assignment –
Q: Can you name the ten plagues in order? We start reading about them this week.
A: Blood, frogs, lice, vermin, cattle disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, slaying of the first born.

Weekly Question – January 19

ellie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:38:08 +0000

This week’s assignment: Can you name the ten plagues in order? We start reading about them this week. Please send your response directly to Rabbi Caplan: rabbi@congregationorchadash.org.

Last week’s assignment –
Q: What does Moshe, the Hebrew name for Moses, actually mean and what language is it derived from?
A: The word Moshe means “being drawn from the water.” The daughter of Pharoah is the one who named him. Therefore, Moses is an Egyptian name.

Weekly Question – January 12

ellie — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:40:38 +0000

This week’s assignment: What does Moshe, the Hebrew name for Moses, actually mean and what language is it derived from? Please send your response directly to Rabbi Caplan: rabbi@congregationorchadash.org.

Last week’s assignment –
Q: Can you list the seven species in the Torah that grow in the land of Israel? Hint: You can find them in fifth book of the Torah.
A: They are found in the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), Chapter 8:8. The items are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranets, olives and dates. It is a custom for us as Jews to enjoy all of these on the holiday of Tu BiShevat, which is rapidly approaching.
The next Jewish holiday is Tu BiShevat, otherwise known as “Jewish Earth Day.” We will celebrate this holiday at the beginning of February.

Shlepping Service

ellie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:17:58 +0000

Does your child need a ride to and from Or Chadash for Shabbat or holiday services? We are arranging carpools by geographic region. To arrange transportation to the synagogue for your child, please contact Cantor Berman at cantor@congregationorchadash.org.

Passover Candy Sale

ellie — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:48:04 +0000

For the second year in a row Congregation Or Chadash is conducting its Passover Candy Sale with the help of the religious school students. This is a major fund raiser for the synagogue as 35% of the sale proceeds return to us. Funds raised support general synagogue and religious school programs. If you do not have or do not know a religious school student, you may order your candy directly by completing the order form ( and handing in/mailing it to the synagogue office with your check made out to Or Chadash no later than February 28th.