Dear Interfaith Families and Friends,
I have always liked these two teachings:
“Make a teacher for yourself and acquire for yourself a companion.”
Pirkei Avot/The Ethics of our Fathers 1:6
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
Zen proverb
Haven’t you notice that once you become interested in something new - a word, a author, a constellation you never saw before - suddenly it’s everywhere and everyone is telling you something about it? Then, if you are really stimulated to learn more, you soon stumble upon a teacher. Recently a friend sent me one of those emails that is intended to unearth things you’ve never talked about before - from the light-hearted, “What’s your favorite food?” to the serious, “What do you want to do before you die?” Surprisingly I knew instantly what I wanted to do. I want to be as good a person as I believe I am able to be. As soon as I told myself this, I began to find instructions all around me. And, yes, a couple of teachers appeared. They were there before, but it was rather like running my cursor over them and they lit up. Fine, I have teachers, I have books and articles. But what is the core thing I must do? Commit time. The rabbis teach that we should set aside time each day to study Torah. So the real question for me is, when will those ten minutes of Torah be? I tuck them in here and there. But I enjoy them most when I learn with others. I’m not talking about a mind bogglingly hard classes. Let me give you some examples -
A friend suggested that I subscribed to “Ten Minutes of Torah” from the Reform movement. It’s a daily email. You can too at:
http://urj.org/torah/ten/index.cfm?
I went to the all night study at Beth Abraham, the Conservative congregation in Oakland. Rabbi Bloom hosted scholars and rabbis from his own congregation and two rabbis from Temple Sinai. He provided the coffee, the cheesecake and the warm smile. You can subscribe to any and all of the newsletters and emails of your local synagogues, I do. Just call me and we’ll figure out who is near you.
I will be with Rabbi Dardik, the rabbi of Beth Jacob, the Orthodox congregation in Oakland, out at the JCC in Walnut Creek this Thursday night to watch film clips and learn about the Jewish view of Paradise. Why don’t you come too? I love watching people try to figure out where I found this funny, brilliant guy – he’s orthodox? Like if you’re orthodox you grow a black hat on your head.
Join me anytime, anyway you like. Personally, I love learning and I enjoy sharing. Just email or call me, dawn@jfed.org or call 510-839-2900 x347 or 925-943-1484.
New Beginnings
Have you or your partner converted to Judaism in the last year? I know that sometimes a non-Jewish partner converts to Judaism and you remain on this email list as a way to stay connected. If that’s true for you, I want you to know that I’m doing a group just for folks who have converted and are going through the changes of becoming Jewish. If you’re in a couple, your partner can come with you.
We’ll be discussing the social and psychological changes that occur along the journey. Relating to family, friends and co-workers. Moving the holidays around. Becoming part of a minority. Becoming a double minority if you’re LGBT or a person of color. You must have a sponsoring rabbi to participate – that would be the rabbi with whom you did, or are, converting.
I plan to meet evenings (Tuesday or Wednesdays) starting in June
Give me a call. I have some excited folks eager to get started.
Dawn
510-839-2900 x347 or dawn@jfed.org
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Dawn C. Kepler, Director
Building Jewish Bridges: Outreach to Interfaith Couples
300 Grand Ave.Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 839-2900 x347 or (925) 943-1484
www.jfed.org/bjb
