Qi Gong: Movement, Meditation, & more!

Come join Rabbi Matt as he leads us in this calming and centering movement form. Qi gong (pronounced “chee gong”) is an ancient Chinese meditative martial art that is often likened to yoga for its physical, spiritual and emotional benefits. Held on Thursday mornings at 10 am, the sessions consist of 30 minutes of movement followed by meditation and sharing that involves a wide range of topics including how members connect to the Qi Gong practice, kabbalistic insights from the rabbi, some music and more. The discussions are always stimulating and you never know what will come up!

Location: As long as weather permits we will continue to meet outdoors for qi gong. We will go indoors once the colder weather sets in. You must register for class at info@congregationemanuel.ca if you’re interested and you will be given location info and be updated if anything changes.

Choose your own High Holy Day experience

COVID-19 has forced us to become creative and expansive in order to sustain the soulful connected experience we yearn for at the High Holy Days. (Please note that all plans are fluid and may need to change based on COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island.)
Please choose your first and second preferences for the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and let the shul office know by email at info@congregationemanuel.ca  or by phone at 250-382-0615 by September 15, 2020. 

For Rosh Hashanah Day 1
We offer three different experience blocks at different times and venues. Each block will accommodate up to fifty participants. Congregants will need to choose which block to attend and cannot migrate from one block into another. Some of the blocks are traditional and some are alternative; one block is tailored to families and children.
You will have to book your choice with the shul office  (We will do our best to accommodate congregants’ first choice. )
Block A Traditional with a Twist: 10 am to 12 noon at the synagogue (and on Zoom)
A condensed traditional service in our beautiful sanctuary. We will begin with Shaḥarit and do our utmost to cover the prayers and tunes that are most integral to us. We will read Torah, listen to a sermon followed and participate in a spirited yet abbreviated musaf service.
Block B Experiential Alternative Service: 2 – 3:30 pm at St. Ann’s Academy, 835 Humboldt Street
Led by Rabbi Harry, we will focus on contemplation, movement, niggunim/chanting and Bibliodrama and include an alternative musaf service.
Block C Family Encounter: (Block C. 1. 11 am – noon and Block C. 2. 12:30- 1:30 pm) at St. Ann’s Academy 835 Humboldt Street
Led by Rabbi Matt, this is a very special Rosh Hashanah experience tailored to families and children including music, movement, contemplation and story telling. You must choose Block C 1 or Block C 2.

For Rosh Hashana Day 2
Morning Service: 10 am to 12 noon at the synagogue (and on Zoom). We are offering a condensed traditional service similar in nature and content to Block A Day 1.
Shofar Service and Tashlikh: To keep our numbers safe and compliant we will offer three opportunities to participate in a meaningful Shofar service followed by an interactive Tashlikh service:
· Banfield Park (Esquimalt ): 2pm
· Dallas and Cook (the usual Emanu-El venue):  2pm and 3:30pm

For Yom Kippur
Kol Nidre: September 27: 6 pm in our beautiful sanctuary an evening of haunting liturgical music letting go of unfulfilled promises marking the beginning of the Day of Atonement.  Doors will open at 5:45 and close at 6:15. 
Yom Kippur Morning service: September 28: 10 am – 1 pm with a special yizkor  at noon. Doors will open at 9:45 am and close at 10:15 am.  
Yom Kippur Nei’lah :  September 28 : 6:30 pm the final powerful closing prayers of Yom Kippur and the cathartic sounding of the final shofar. Doors will open at 6:15 and close at 6:45.

Congregation Emanu-El High Holy Day Zoom Links

The following table contains the Zoom links for the High Holy Day Services. The dial-up number is for BC. The dial up number for other locations may be found here https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ksfZ9VA4O.

LEIL SLIHOT 12 SEPT.  7:30 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83460052081?pwd=anJld3lPdUMwL0UwNzVWbG1pYUFnQT09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 834 6005 2081 Passcode: 825182

EREV ROSH HASHANAH 18 SEPT.  6:30 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81895616837?pwd=a1pZRk1oc3N6Z2NUeTBZeCtKNlcxZz09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 818 9561 6837 Passcode: 612595

ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 19 SEPT. 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81667870187?pwd=SWV3YU5Qb0lLSEw1dWdFS0lFUi9vUT09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 816 6787 0187 Passcode: 058730

ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 20 SEPT. 10:00-12:00 Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82494782385?pwd=M0hNWW8vSExzM0tVNi9iOXBvUWlsUT09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 824 9478 2385 Passcode: 325484

SHABBAT SHUVAH 26 SEPT. 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89886423813?pwd=ZXJ4ejA1WjBISGV3STF3ejZ2TVFzQT09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 898 8642 3813 Passcode: 183635

EREV YOM KIPPUR / KOL NIDRE 27 SEPT. 6:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85397022080?pwd=eUZ3bEVPU0F1Y0F1bzNuVFdIT3gyUT09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 853 9702 2080 Passcode: 828506

YOM KIPPUR  MORNING SERVICE  YIZKOR 28 SEPT. 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87375185094?pwd=ZEg4bUZFNk4wL29qMGFTY3JCcmtEZz09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 873 7518 5094 Passcode: 281391

YOM KIPPUR NEI’LAH 28 SEPT. 6:30 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85974591819?pwd=THJta1gxbkZBd3NRaDUzTytCZ1lRZz09 Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 859 7459 1819 Passcode: 250836

SUKKOT DAY 1 3 OCT.  10:00 AM-12:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88430647767?pwd=SkV1Q01XL0R2NnJaYWs4U2JLb1BjQT09 Meeting ID: 884 3064 7767 Passcode: 340661

SHIMINI ATZERET 10 OCT. 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82880462001?pwd=enpmZm9pNDRVa25jS1B2dVJGdDIzdz09 Meeting ID: 828 8046 2001 Passcode: 820919

SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICES TBA

High Holy Days 2020/5781 Service Schedule

The following table contains the schedule of services and candle lighting times along with the Zoom online link (CLICK on the service title), the dial up number for BC and the meeting ID and passcode.

Saturday, Sept. 12 Leil Sliḥot	7:30 pm Sliḥot Service (on Zoom) “Human Flourishing – looking at blessings and choosing life during a pandemic” Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 834 6005 2081 Passcode: 825182
Friday, Sept. 18 Erev Rosh Hashanah	6:30 pm Candle lighting with simanim and song (on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 818 9561 6837 Passcode: 612595 7:00 pm Light candles
Saturday, Sept. 19 Rosh Hashanah Day 1	10:00 am – 12:00 pm Traditional Service with a Twist (at synagogue and on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 816 6787 0187 Passcode: 058730 11:00 am – 12:00 pm & 12:30 – 1:30 pm Family Encounter (at Saint Ann’s Academy) 2:00 – 3:30 pm Experiential Alternative Service (at Saint Ann’s Academy) 8:03 pm Light candles
Sunday, Sept. 20 Rosh Hashanah Day 2	10:00 am – 12:00 pm Traditional Service with a Twist (at synagogue and on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 824 9478 2385 Passcode: 325484 2:00 pm Interactive Tashlikh service & shofar blowing (at Banfield Park & at Dallas and Cook) 3:30 pm Interactive Tashlikh service & shofar blowing (at Dallas and Cook) 8:01 pm Havdalah
Saturday, Sept. 26 Shabbat Shuvah	10:00 am – 12:00 pm Shabbat Service (at synagogue and on Zoom) Parashat Ha’azinu Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 898 8642 3813 Passcode: 183635
Sunday, Sept. 27 Erev Yom Kippur	6:00 pm Kol Nidre Service (at synagogue & on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 853 9702 2080 Passcode: 828506 6:41 pm Light candles
Monday, Sept. 28 Yom Kippur	10:00 am – 1:00 pm Morning Service (at synagogue and on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 873 7518 5094 Passcode: 281391 12:00 pm Yizkor (approximately) 6:30 – 7:30 pm Nei’lah (at the synagogue and on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 859 7459 1819 Passcode: 250836 7:44 pm Fast ends
Friday, Oct. 2 Erev Sukkot	6:31 pm Light candles
Saturday, Oct. 3 Sukkot Day 1	10:00 am – 12:00 pm Morning Service (at synagogue and on Zoom) Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 884 3064 7767 Passcode: 340661 7:33 pm Light candles
Sunday, Oct. 4  Sukkot Day 2	10:00 am – 12:00 pm Morning Service (at synagogue only) 7:31 pm Havdalah
Friday Oct. 9 Hoshana Rabba	No Service 6:17 pm Light candles
Saturday, October 10 Shmini Atzeret   Erev Simḥat Torah	10:00 – 12:00 pm Morning Service plus Yizkor (at synagogue and on Zoom   Regular Dial-in: 1 (778) 907-2071 Meeting ID: 828 8046 2001 Passcode: 820919 Service details TBA 7:19 pm Light candles
Sunday, October 11 Simḥat Torah	Service details TBA 7:17 pm Havdalah

Simanim kits for Rosh Hashanah

In Talmud we learn about simanim—different foods that serve as portents for extra blessings at Rosh Hashanah. I do not understand the use of symbolic foods as a form of religious magic (theurgy) but I do see them as a way to spark dialogue and open our hearts towards blessings for the coming year. As part of Congregation Emanu-El’s, “Choose your own Rosh Hashanah spiritual adventure” we are offering congregants simanim kits. Each kit will have six different foods to add to your apples and honey and some instructions on how to create your own blessing.

Most of the traditional foods come from a play on words. For example, the word in Aramaic for pumpkin is kara which means read in Hebrew, so when we eat pumpkin we can bless that the reading of the next chapter in our lives be full of joy. Our synagogue caterer Rani Earnhardt will be preparing delicious and exotic symbolic foods for all congregants who are interested. Rabbi Harry and Rabbi Matt will share some blessings on the first night of Rosh Hashanah at a special candle lighting pre-meal Zoom encounter. Hopefully this exercise will get you in the right frame of mind to generate your own meaningful and creative blessings with your family. One way of understanding these symbolic foods is that they are road signs and indicators, that we are sending positive intentions even in the midst of a pandemic and that our paths forward are pathways of joy, peace and connectedness.

If you want your own simanim kit simply call the office at 250-382-0615 or email Zelda at info@congregationemanuel.ca and let us know how many people with whom you will be sharing the kit so we can make sure you have enough goodies. The kits will be available for pick up at the synagogue on Sunday, September 13 between 2 and 4 pm.

Human Flourishing: Our Leil Sliḥot program

Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 7:30 pm on Zoom…What does human flourishing look and feel like? We talk about plants flourishing and growing luxuriously but how can that translate into our lives. Sliḥot is a time when we put our prayer engines into gear and begin our new year’s prayers for forgiveness and renewal. The period directly before the Days of Awe is a time of contemplative soul accounting and personal reckoning.

This unique Leil Sliḥot program focuses on examples and visions of human flourishing and of living with goodness, generativity, resilience, spirituality and beauty as a means of envisioning our lives in order to make meaningful change.
This program brings together a unique panel of congregants who have found fascinating life niches in which to flourish and congregants who serve as healers who help to bring others to a place of health and flourishing. Keeping our intentions on hope, goodness and self realization and actualization feels vital during this difficult time of pandemic.

The program will conclude with a short traditional Sliḥot service to help us get our hearts directed towards High Holy Day prayer.

Jewish Cemetery Tour

Sunday, September 6, 2020 at 2:00 pm RSVP required … Fraternal organizations were an important part of community life in early Victoria. With the help of Mark Anderson and Diana Pedersen, Amber Woods (author of the OCS’s publication Guide to Victoria’s Historic Jewish Cemetery), will tell stories of the Jewish Freemasons and Woodmen of the World buried here. Meet at main gates Fernwood Road at corner of Cedar Hill Road. Men, please wear a hat.

Cost is $2 for members of the Old Cemeteries Society and $5 for non-members.

COVID-19 Protocols for Old Cemetery Society’s tours for safety:
1.     Social distancing will be required.
2.     Masks are optional.
3.     Maximum capacity of this tour will be 20 people.

Registration is required. Space will be filled on a first come first serve basis. A second tour at 3:30 pm will be offered if needed. Please send an email with your name, contact information and number in your party attending to oldcem@pacificcoast.net. Please put Jewish Cemetery Tour in the subject line.

Copies of the Guide to Victoria’s Historic Jewish Cemetery will be available for purchase outside of the cemetery. Please bring cash or a check made out to Old Cemeteries Society.  Books are also available at Simcha Gift Shop at Congregation Emanu-El, Munro’s and Bolen Books.

5781 USCJ Jewish Art Calendar

Congregation Emanu-El was chosen for inclusion in the 5781 Jewish art Calendar printed by the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ)! 
We were invited to submit a photo with a Torah theme and sent in Penny Tennenhouse’s beautiful photo of scribe/soferet Aviel Barclay in the sanctuary surrounded by a few congregants. The calendars are available now. You can order them by using this link.

2020 Apples & Honey Notice

Order Deadline:  Tuesday,  September 8, 2020 …

Rosh Hashanah is coming! Give apples and a honey cake to everyone on your Rosh Hashanah list and support programming for our Jewish youth. Honey Cakes are $18 each. All cakes are parve (dairy free), baked in Emanu-El’s kosher kitchen. A gift box with apples and a honey cake costs $18. (We will issue a tax receipt for $12 per box.)

Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday evening, September 18. To best comply with COVID-19 guidelines, we will arrange scheduled pickup after 3 pm on Sunday, September 13, 2020. You will have to let us know whether you plan to pick up your gift boxes and deliver them or whether we should call the recipients and arrange for them to pick up their gift box. Limited deliveries will be made for those who may be house bound. Call the office with address information for house bound recipients for whom you are unable to provide delivery.

If you plan to pay by credit card, you may do so through our secure ShulCloud website. Here is the link…

If you wish to pay by check or would rather email your gift list, you can download an order form here. This form becomes fillable after opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you plan to email us the form, please do not complete the credit card information.

Breaking News!

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg has formally accepted the donation of Mænni Ruben’s Teresienstadt 1945 Autograph Book which belonged to our beloved Susi Deston’s first husband Mænni Ruben z”l. The book will become part of their permanent collection. We are very pleased the book will stay in Canada and at a museum focused on human rights. For more information about the book…