Or Atid Hosts Hazzan for Celebration of Music 

Congregation Or Atid recently hosted Hazzan Dr. Evlyn Gould for a three-day weekend celebration  entitled “Shir Delight: A Shabbat of Music.”  

The weekend’s celebration began with a musical Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner featuring a variety of Shabbat Z’mirot (Shabbat songs) and live accompaniment on Friday night. 

Hazzan Gould is both the high holiday cantor at Temple Har Zion in Mount Holly, New Jersey, and also serves as ba’al tefillah offering monthly services. She also teaches at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, OR, as well as replacing the rabbi when needed.

Additionally, she is a distinguished Professor of Romance Languages at the University of Oregon. Her work there has included issues in Jewish and European Studies.

“Our portion this week opens a new book in the Torah. A translation of this book is Numbers,” Gould said. “Why is the Torah given in the wilderness? In the wilderness there are no restrictions. The Torah is open to all.”

The scheduled discussion for Saturday afternoon was directed at the Songs of Hallel. 

“The chanting of Hallel for Festivals and their intermediate days, for Hannukah, for the Sedar for Pesach and for Rosh Hodesh offers celebrations in praise of the Holy One, source of all life,” she explained. “Whether through words, song or movement, praising is almost synonymous with the expression of the life force – chiyyut – thus suggesting that this ‘aliveness’ is itself a fundamental Jewish value.” 

During the final service of Rosh Chodesh Sivan held Sunday night, Gould addressed the concept of receiving, asking whether receiving is an exchange between conferring and receiving? 

“You have to be open and listen to make room for this,” stated Gould who then led the congregation with the song “Living Tree” followed by the song “We Rise!” 

The service concluded with “Ha Meirah l’aretz” (The Holy one who lights up the world.)

Through the Gift of Mincha and the Joy of Rosh Chodesh we welcome the new month of Sivan with the Rising Song Circle featuring an evening of songs, learning, and reflection – culminating in the mitzvah of counting of the Omer, a beautiful close to a weekend full of music and meaning.

Celebrating a Year of Friendship and Fun

The Jewish Middle School Community (JMC) kicked off a standout year of connection for Richmond’s pre-teens, starting with a festive December gathering. 

Nine students launched the program by making homemade sufganiyot and participating in a lively white elephant gift exchange, setting a joyful tone for the months to come. 

The momentum continued to build in February, when 14 participants headed to Surge Adventure Park for a high-energy afternoon of bonding and burning off steam. 

These early successes, coordinated by Congregation Or Atid – in partnership with the Weinstein JCC and supported by a generous grant from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond (JCFR) –  proved that there is a vibrant appetite for local Jewish youth programming.

As spring arrived, the JMC focused on blending holiday education with lighthearted competition. In March, eight students took over the lanes at Bowl America, beginning the day with a Passover puzzle before diving into "wacky bowling" challenges like one-footed strikes and backward rolls. 

The season reached its peak on April 19th at Patterson Golf Park where 11 students celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut with a trivia quiz about Israel’s independence before hitting the mini-golf course. 

From the trampoline park to the putting greens, this year’s events successfully fostered lasting friendships and a strong sense of community spirit, leaving the group eager for the adventures still to come.

To learn more about JMC, please go to our website at https://www.oratid.org/jmc

Senior Nosh and Schmooze Mo’adon

The most recent monthly meeting of Congregation Or Atid’s senior schmooze club (Mo’Adon) featured guest speaker Jackie Storrs from AARP. Storr’s presentation focused on practical and motiving insights into active living. 

Following her main presentation Storrs held an informative question and answer session.

Garden Growing Season Begins Anew

Despite Richmond’s recent heat waves, weeding, planting and watering efforts are underway for the 2026 season of Or Atid’s Gan Chesed Kindness Garden.  

While the weather is presenting a challenge to the garden’s caretaker volunteers, eggplant, onions, carrots, basil, peppers, and tomatoes have already been planted. Additional plantings including spinach, zucchini and cucumbers from seeds, are planned to happen soon. The garden’s organic vegetables and herbs will continue to be delivered to the Jewish Community Center’s Elmer Toth Food Pantry during the 2026 harvest season.

Updates will be reported as the season progresses.

For more information on involvement with the garden project at Or Atid, contact Sue Geller at (804) 387-7643 or email her at susanrgeller@gmail.com.

Thanks to Joel Cone for editing and submitting Or Atid articles.