A contemporary congregation serving the entire Ojai Valley. Offering a wide array of services to Jews of all denominations.
Week at a glance
Monday, January 14
Community meeting regarding racism, held at Matilija Middle school, 6pm
Tuesday, January 15
JCO Board meeting, 6:30pm
Thursday, January 17
Walk with Sheila at 8am
Friday, January 18
Community Shabbat, 6pm
Your Temple in the Ojai Valley
The weekly Torah portion can be found at the Union for Reform Judaism website.....click here
or, get another point of view at the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism...click here
Interested in the dates of the Jewish Holidays? Click here
Todah Rabah!
Want to thank someone who has done something special for the Temple and our members? You can do it by simply sending us a note. Click here to see how it works...
Your donations are always appreciated. If you wish, you can use your credit card to pay your membership dues, purchase commemorative plaques, enroll in our special classes, or just make a contribution to our general fund. Click here for more information...
You've asked us to provide a means for telling other congregants about things of personal interest to you. You can post items of interest to you, and others may add comments to your postings.
Visit the Bulletin Board by clicking here or on the menu button on the left side of the screen.
Wanna go for a Walk with Sheila?
It's never too late to start exercising and what better way than with a group friends. You can catch up on their lives, gossip a little and enjoy the fresh Ojai morning air. We do a different walk every week...usually about 3 miles or 7-8,000 steps, almost a whole day's quota. Hope to see you at 8am on the west side of the Ojai Valley Museum courtyard on Thursday mornings, rain or shine.
Become a Member
Please read a message from the Chairman of our Membership Committee that explains how you can greatly benefit from becoming a member of our Jewish Community of Ojai. Access our message by clicking here....
Please consider leaving a bequest to Jewish Community of Ojai in your will or estate plan. This is an excellent way to help ensure the long-term economic strength of our congregation. For more information, please email us at info@ojaitemple.org
Monthly Food Collection-HELP of Ojai Food Pantry
Sponsored by the Social Action Committee, JCO will collect non-perishable foods & household supplies for the HELP of Ojai’s Food Pantry -- one of its Community Assistance Programs for low income and homeless residents.
Food collection bags will be distributed at the last Friday Night Service of each month. They should be returned before or at the first Friday Night Service of the next month and will be be stored in the Rabbi’s Study/Library. A continuous supply of bags will be available there. Guidelines for food & supplies purchases are printed on the bags.
We hope that members of the JCO community will combine shopping for this valuable program with their regular shopping trips. Every little bit helps someone in need in the Ojai Valley.
One of the most important issue we have taken up is having a full set of committees, as they are the underpinnings of our organization. JCO members approved the concept that every member should serve the JCO a minimum of 2 hours per year.
Serving on a committee will certainly satisfy this obligation. Please join a committee. Your JCO needs your talents, your assistance, and your participation. You can decide just how much energy you want to put forth to benefit the committee you choose and the JCO.
The Social Action Committee was formed to create projects that benefit the general community and to participate in ongoing social action projects led by other local groups.
JCO is initiating a new service for our members. This new service will alert you whenever a departed loved one's Yahrzeit date is approaching.
In addition, the name of your relative or friend will be spoken by the religious leader on the Friday Shabbat service that is closest to the Yahrzeit date.
This is a FREE service that depends on you to complete the information about your departed loved ones.
Many Jews are surprised to learn that Judaism has always held that there is something beyond the grave – a life in the “world to come.” Beginning November 5 Rabbi Mike Lotker offers a free series of on-line classes dealing with Jewish beliefs about the afterlife. Click here for more info and registration...
Rabbi Lisa has a message and more information about her background.
On Wednesday, January 23, at 7 p.m., to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jewish Community of Ojai (JCO) will host an encore performance by Lanny Kaufer of his musical multimedia presentation, “My Summer Working for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Kaufer will share the experiences he had in the Voting Rights Movement, including meeting and volunteering for Dr. King in the South in 1965, and share socially conscious music of the era.
The Program committee is very pleased to announce that on Sunday, March 3rd at 3pm, Michael Lella, the son of the main character in the novel, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, will make a very enlightening presentation. The committee recommends that you read this book, which will soon be a major motion picture.
