Dear Interfaith Families and Friends,
You’ll see below that I have loads of seders! My gratitude goes to my dear friend and colleague, Rabbi Bridget Wynne and her associate, Bon, who gathered most of the seders! Rabbi Bridget is the director of Jewish Gateways in El Cerrito. Take a look at her website to see the innovative and engaging events she offers. If you live in San Francisco and wish you could go but just can’t make the drive on a Friday night, please put yourself on her list. She hopes to start serving the City in the coming year!
www.jewishgateways.org
There are more Community Seders than I could list here. Be sure to check planitjewish.com or just call me (number at the bottom of the email) or call Gail at Jewish Community Information and Referral at 415-777-4545 if you can’t find anything or are confused.
Passover
I enjoyed seeing a number of you at the workshop on Sunday. For the remaining 700 of you who didn’t make it, here’s what we covered.
Rabbi Mates-Muchin described the elements of the Passover table and each of the elements on the seder plate, why some plates have five and some six designated items. You can go here for an online visual of the plate and it’s parts.
http://urj.org/holidays/pesach/plate/
She talked about the pillow, the salt, the different foods for different Jewish cultures and the different haggadot (the book read for the seder) and why there are so many.
Rabbi Mates Muchin in action
Workshop participants browsing through haggadot.
The First step preparing for Passover - cleaning
In most cultures there is a “spring cleaning” that takes place. For Judaism, it is specifically attached to the commandment to get rid of all leavening and associated products.
The commandment is to get rid of chamatz. Chamatz is defined as:
Fermented or leavened wheat, rye, oats, spelt and barley. When these grains come in contact with water, they leaven within 18 minutes. In the case of hot or salted water, leavening takes place instantly.
Chametz may not be consumed either by eating or drinking, and may not be held in one's possession, nor may any benefit be derived from Chametz. Grain flour is commonly produced from grains that have been washed and tempered. Tempering is the process by which grains are softened by soaking in water, and this flour and all products made with it are, therefore, chametz.
(From the OUKosher.org website)
For lots of Passover information from a traditional perspective check out:
http://www.ou.org/chagim/pesach/
No matter how far you intend to go with your observance of the Passover rules it is good to know what they are. Then you can make an informed decision about what you will do.
If you go to a Jewish website, yahoo group or other communal spot you’ll see people refer to “the C word” – cleaning the house for Passover. You don’t have to make it a burden. My kids loved the search for chamatz. True, I did the real cleaning but they went through all the pantry and shelves pulling out cereal, pasta and beans. Everything went into a box that we “sold” to our next door neighbor. She gamely gave me a dollar that went up on the frig under a magnet.
Find the fun in each step of Pesach (Passover)! There is so much fun to be had.
General Passover Information
If you would like a liberal overview of Passover take a look at www.urj.org (the Reform movement’s website) where you’ll find lots of information. Go to their home page and click around on the Passover links:
www.urj.org
Locally the SF Federation has a great page with info -
www.jholidays.org
This will take you straight to the Passover page:
http://www.sfjcf.org/resources/jholidays/links/default.asp?holidayurl=passover&holidayname=Pesach
But don’t click on the “Mishmash” link - it isn’t a Passover page and it won’t let you click “back” to the previous page. I’ve ask Judy and Gail to fix it.
Cooking
Start exploring the recipes that are either specifically for Passover or can work for Passover because they don’t contain any of the forbidden foods.
Haroset/Charoses - by any name, it’s darn good!
Check out some charoses recipes that I posted online at:
www.jewishinterfaith.blogspot.com
Clink on Passover and you’ll be sure to find it.
Most of them are from the Charoset tasting at Sunday’s Passover workshop. One is a California charoset made with avocado. Another is one I got from the Multiracial Jewish Network and is Haitian with tropical fruits. I also list the standard Ashekenazi apples and walnuts recipe. Try something new this year. Have at least two charoses recipes and have your guests do a taste test for themselves.
Some recipes using matzah:
http://urj.org/holidays/pesach/recipes/
Kosher for Passover recipes
http://oukosher.org/index.php/passover/recipes
http://www.koshercooking.com/recipes/passover/asso.html
EVENTS
Freedom: The Legacy of Passover (Oakland)
Kabbalat Shabbat (San Francisco)
The Role and Place of scripture in the Sikh and Jewish Faiths (San Jose)
Yeashore Chanty Sing & Bonfire (San Francisco)
Women’s Seder (Walnut Creek)
Spring Holidays - Cooking & Rituals Workshop (San Francisco)
Fractures Within The Abrahamic Faiths (San Francisco)
Do-Ahead Passover Seder (San Francisco)
Beginning Jewish Living, Part 2: Living a Life of Holiness (San Rafael)
Passover Congregational Seder (Richmond)
Community Second Night Seder (Livermore)
Congregational Family Seder - Second Night of Passover (San Francisco)
Seder for Adults on the Second Night of Passover (San Francisco)
12th Annual Passover Freedom Seder (San Francisco)
Women’s Seder (Redwood City)
Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths (Palo Alto)
Freedom: The Legacy of Passover
Please join us this Saturday, April 5 for a Synaplex Shabbat! Start your day with yoga at 9AM, or if you’d prefer, join former Lehrhaus Judaica president Ken Cohen for a discussion of whether the Biblical story of the exodus really happened. For the children, we have the parent-led Shabbat Mishpacha and Junior Congregation led by Susan Simon. During the main service, SFSU Professor Marc Dollinger will speak about the impact of the civil rights movement on American Jewish politics.
After the Kiddush lunch, our program continues with a Passover-themed speed shmooze, followed by two programs: Ben Goldstone and Danielle Saunders will explore inner journeys toward freedom and Sandy Margolin will examine haggadot and the seder (order) of the seder.
Childcare is provided during the program sessions.
Come for one program or spend the day. We look forward to seeing you there!
Date: Saturday, April 5
Time: starts at 9am
Place: Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
phone: 510-832-0936
For program details, please check out the Shabbat programming link at the www.tbaoakland.org
Kabbalat Shabbat
Join us for Shabbat Services with our Koleynu Choir followed by a delicious Oneg of Middle Eastern food catered by Sunrise Deli.
Date: Friday, April 4
Time: 6pm
Place: Sherith Israel, 2266 California Street, San Francisco
FREE of course
For more information contact Aviva Hicks at ahicks@sherithisrael.org or 415-346-1720 ext 24.
The Role and Place of scripture in the Sikh and Jewish Faiths
The Living Word series will offer 12 monthly lectures, each exploring some aspect of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and a talk on a similar theme about the scripture of another faith, to be followed by a discussion session. Speakers: Dr. I. J. Singh - The Role and Place of scripture in the Sikh Faith; Dr. David Mesher - The Role and Place of scripture in the Jewish Faith.
Date: Saturday, April 5
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Place: Room BBC 004, Business Classroom Bldg, San Jose State University, San Jose
Free event.
Sponsored by the Chardi Kalaa Foundation in conjunction with the Guru Nanak Heritage Institute of Punjabi Studies at SJSU.
Yeashore Chanty Sing & Bonfire
The Yeashore Community invites all ye ashore to a Chanty Sing with the National Park Service, after Havdalah!
Look for a windsock that looks like a fish. (Rain or Shine! - Bring an umbrella.)
At 8 p.m., after Havdalah, we will join the National Park Service for a free public sing-along. We will have a fun evening singing songs sailors sang sailing the seas, aboard ship, inside, at the Hyde St. Historic Pier, in San Francisco. If you are late, just tell the person at the gate you are with the Yeashore Community.
No facility in music or singing needed - only a desire for song and spirit!! We will share our voices into the night. Don't want to sing? Then come down and listen. Please bring many friends and musical instruments, a mug for hot cider or hot chocolate, plus a blanket if it's cool, and join the fun!
Date: Saturday, April 5
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: We meet at Hyde and Jefferson Streets in S.F. by the Hyde St. Pier.
(For maps please visit: yeashore.org)
Info: Yeashore@aol.com
Women’s Seder
This is a seder just for women - daughters are welcome to join their moms. Led by Cantor Jennie Chabon, this is a wonderful way to get ready for Passover. There is no cost for the event, just bring a Sephardic dish to share.
Wondering what a "Sephardic" dish is? The Sephardic Jews are the Jews that originated in the area that was ancient Spain. They developed slightly different food customs for Passover. They allow the eating of corn and beans. Call Diane Leventhal for food ideas and to RSVP at 925-837-1026.
Date: Sunday, April 6 Sunday
Time: 1pm
Place: B’nai Tikvah, 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek
Synagogue office number is 925-933-5397
Spring Holidays - Cooking & Rituals Workshop
Creating Your Own Rituals - Passover highlights the theme of liberation from slavery and is commemorated with a traditional seder meal, where the order of rituals reminds us of past and current injustice. Easter, the most holy of Christian sacred days, highlights the themes of rebirth and renewal and is a time of celebration and feasting. Explore these themes and rituals, discuss your own past experiences and learn how to prepare foods that are traditionally eaten at the seder and at this season.
Date: Sunday, April 6
Time: 1:00pm
Place: JCCSF, 3200 California St., San Francisco
Cost: Couple/Family $10.00
Contact Helena McMahon at (415) 292-1252 or hmcmahon@jccsf.org
info: http://www.jccsf.org/content_main.aspx?catid=212#2212
Fractures Within The Abrahamic Faiths:
Can We Get Along In Our Own Families?
Speakers: James Donahue, president of GTU, Mahmoud Ayoub, distinguished Islamic Studies and Comparative Religions professor at Temple University, and Marvin Goodman, director of the Board of Rabbis of Northern California.
Date: Sunday, April 6
Time: 4:30-7:00 pm
Place: Islamic Society of San Francisco, 20 Jones Street, San Francisco
Cost: $20 includes dinner.
Info: Paul Chaffee - (415) 775-4635
Do-Ahead Passover Seder
Learn how to prepare the Passover Seder entirely in advance. The delicious menu combines traditional favorites with contemporary innovations, drawing from American, Sephardic and Ashkenazi cuisines. We will also discuss cleaning and koshering your house for Passover, the Haggadah, the Seder plate, Kosher for Passover foods and resources to guide you easily through the spring holiday. Some of the dishes you will prepare include Matzo Ball Soup, California Gefilte Fish, Mixed Vegetable Tsimmis, Pavlova and Viennese Chocolate Truffle Torte. Students will receive written recipes and get to taste lots of samples!
Date: Tuesday, April 8 Tuesday
Time; 6:30pm
Place: JCCSF, 3200 California St., San Francisco
Cost: Members $45.00; Public; $50.00
Contact: JCCSF Registration Hotline
Phone: (415) 292-1278 or info@jccsf.org
info: http://www.jccsf.org/content_main.aspx?catid=331#63
Beginning Jewish Living, Part 2: Living a Life of Holiness
with Rabbi Noa Kushner
The word 'spirituality' seems to be everywhere these days, but what does it truly mean to pursue a modern life of holiness? Required book: A Book of Life, by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld.
Date: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 7:30 - 8:50 pm
Place: Rodef Sholom, 170 No. San Pedro Road, San Rafael
for more info call Jerrine at (415) 479-3441
www.rodefsholom.org
Passover Congregational Seder
Please join the Temple Beth Hillel community at a Congregational Seder on the Second Night of Passover.
Date: Sunday, April 20
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Place: Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond
Cost: Adults $30/each, children (7-12) $18, children (3-6)$8/each
Reservations are required.
Reservations must be returned to the Temple Office with payment in full no later than April 15. Send your check made out to Temple Beth Hillel to PO Box 20910, El Sobrante CA 94820-0910
Please bring Kosher-for-Passover Desserts to share.
Sacramental wine will be provided. Please feel free to bring your own wine (Kosher for Passover) to accompany dinner.
Community Second Night Seder
The Tri-Valley Cultural Jews' Passover seder celebrates the heroism and courage of the human participants in the original freedom struggle of the Jewish people and in all struggles for freedom throughout the world. All of the traditional symbols are there, but their meaning is interpreted in a non-religious manner. The children ask the four questions, the four cups of wine are drunk, and a festive meal is held - all without mention of any supernatural forces affecting human lives or human history.
Date: Sunday, April 20
Time: 5 pm
Place: Bothwell Center, 2466 Eighth St. in Livermore
The seder is a potluck and reservations are required. A donation of $10/adult (over 13) is requested. For reservations and food assignment, call (925) 485-1049.
Congregational Family Seder - Second Night of Passover
A family style Seder with communal singing and participation for congregants and their families, and special activities for children. Led by Rabbis Peretz Wolf-Prusan and Jonathan Jaffe, with musical accompaniment by Jonathan Bayer.
Date: Sunday, April 20
Time: 6pm
Place: Congregation Emanu-el, 2 Lake, St. San Francisco
Cost: Adult members $55; Adult Non-members $70; Children under 10 - $25; Children 10 – 15 - $35.
Reservation deadline April 11. After April 11, if space is available, reservations will be accepted at the non-member price. Pre-registration is required: Online – http://www.emanuelsf.org/register or email Vera at veraz@emanuelsf.org .
Seder for Adults on the Second Night of Passover
at the Concordia-Argonaut
Rabbis Stephen Pearce and Lawrence Kushner and Cantor Roslyn Barak augment the Passover Seder with song, commentaries, humorous stories, and legends. This enriched Seder will be interspersed between the first courses, and before the main meal is served.
Date: Apr. 20
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: Concordia-Argonaut Club, 1142 Van Ness Avenue (at Post Street), San Francisco
Parking across Van Ness Ave. at the Cathedral Hill Hotel.
Cost: Adults only - $105.
Reservation deadline April 11. After April 11, if space is available, reservations will be accepted at the non-member price. Pre-registration is required:
Online – http://www.emanuelsf.org/register or email Vera at veraz@emanuelsf.org .
12th Annual Passover Freedom Seder
With Rabbi Elisheva Salamo
Experience an innovative Seder and delicious holiday meal. special guest speakers address various aspects of social and economic justice through moving peresonal stories
Date: Friday, April 25
Time: 6:30pm
Place: San Francisco JCC, 3200 California St., San Francisco
Cost: $30
Info: 415-292-1200
www.jccsf.org
Women’s Seder
Dessert, fruit, wine and chocolate! Mmm! Bring your mothers, sisters and friends to Temple Beth Jacob’s first Women’s Seder.
Date: Sat., April 26
Time: 7pm
Place: Temple Beth Jacob Social Hall, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City
650-366-8481
Cost: $10 per person
Kindly RSVP by April 18 to Wendy at wendy@templebethjacob.org, or simply send your check to the above address made out to "Temple Beth Jacob Sisterhood."
Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths
The city of Jerusalem stands as a religious crossroad unlike any place in history. Karen Armstrong, a former Roman Catholic nun who teaches Judaism and is an honorary member of the Association of Muslim Social Services, has written Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths, a walk through the city's fascinating 3,000-year history. Kevin Dincher's class draws on Armstrong's book to explore the city's religious turning points from historic battles to earthquakes to events, such as invasions by the Romans and the Crusaders, that nearly wiped out the city to current strife.
KEVIN DINCHER, M.A. counseling, M.A. philosophy, M.A. divinity
Dates: Tuesdays May 6, 13, 20 & 27
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Place: Cubberley Campus, Studio D, ALSJCC, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Fee: $60 members, $80 non-members
To register call Osher Life Long Learning at 800-660-8639, ALSJCC members receive Osher member prices. For more information contact Michelle Rosengaus, 650-852-3515,
