February 2, 2020 at 4 pm, Congregation Emanu-El, 1461 Blanshard Street—Congregation Emanu-El Education Team invites you to a talk about Jewish Shamanism by Francis Landy on Sunday, February 2, 4 pm at Congregation Emanu-El, 1461 Blanshard Street, Victoria V8W 2J3. Admission is by donation; light refreshments will be served. Information: heshi@me.com
Shamanism is a term for a cross-cultural religious orientation which seeks to access alternative states of consciousness in order to effect societal or personal transformation, outside of or in addition to normative institutions and practices. The shamanic tradition in Judaism extends from the biblical prophets to contemporary Hasidism, and may involve trance, dance, psychotropic substances, and strange rituals, like nefilat apayim (“falling on one’s face”) and yihudim, when the adept seeks to unite the soul with that of a departed saint. Francis Landy will discuss aspects of the tradition, from the prophets through medieval and post-medieval Kabbalah to the present day.
Francis Landy is a biblical scholar who has recently made his home in Victoria, after a career of over thirty years at the University of Alberta. He has published a number of books and many articles, and is a specialist in the poetry of the Hebrew Bible. He is a member of Congregation Emanu-El.
This is the fourth presentation in the Alternative Realities in Judaism series.
Greater Victoria Acting Together (GVAT) is a growing alliance of civic organizations working for the common good that currently has about two dozen member organization representing more than 50,000 individuals and in which Congregation Emanu-El is an active member. The GVAT process is not geared towards demonstrations or protests but to pinpointing issues that all member organizations can fully support and for which GVAT will advocate for a say in policy decisions— and for which GVAT will hold our political leaders accountable. 
A warm welcome to Rani Earnhart, who is joining us as our new Kitchen Coordinator, taking care of preparing many of our Kiddush meals and snacks. Rani previously owned the Bagga Pasta deli in the Fairfield plaza. She currently runs her own catering business, called Left Coast Catering, which provides meals to various social and environmental activist groups around Victoria as well as Jewish community events. She also volunteers with the Mustard Seed’s commercial processing kitchen, which uses waste food from grocery stores and turns them into prepared hot meals for the Mustard Seed’s Queens Avenue location. Rani is the chair of Victoria’s chapter of Fair Vote Canada, a lobbying group dedicated to electoral reform that results in more effective democratic government. When not busy in the kitchen, Rani enjoys hiking and gardening. Rani is very pleased to have the opportunity to serve Victoria’s Jewish community. Please drop by the kitchen and say shalom to Rani.
Sunday, January 19, 2020, 10:15 am to noon, 710 Pandora Avenue lobby—Kafe & Kibitz is back! Come schmooze with other parents in a warm & welcoming environment. For January 19, the theme is “Judaism and the Environment.” Dr. Rick Kool, who teaches at Royal Roads University in the School of Environment and Sustainability will join us. Parents are welcome to bring young children along. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Karmona at (
POSTPONED from Sunday, January 5, 2020 due to illness. Will announce new date when available. —The Emanu-El Adult Education Team invites you to the third presentation in the Alternative Realities in Judaism series when Lee Henderson will take a look at the life and work of the great 20th century Jewish writer Franz Kafka and his relationship to Tanakh, the tales of Rabbi Nachman, the Midrash, Kaballah, as well as contemporary secular political ideologies.
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 3:00 pm, Jewish Community Centre of Victoria—In view of recent increases of attacks against Jews, the Victoria Society for Humanistic Judaism invites you to A Conversation about Jewish Community Security with Ed Fitch, Security Member, Board of Directors Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) on Sunday, January 12th, 2020 at 3:00 pm at the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria, 3636 Shelbourne Street. Everyone Welcome. Refreshments will be served.