Dear Interfaith Families and Friends,
Wishing the Muslim folks on this list a Happy Ramadan!
Ramadan began on September 1. It is important to remember that our Muslim relatives and friends are celebrating an important holiday at the same time we as a nation will observe 9/11. This will be a difficult day for many who lost loved ones AND for those American citizens who are treated with unkindness and suspicion simply for being of Middle Eastern descent. We as Jews must remember that we have often been the strangers. The most repeated commandment in the Torah is to be kind to “the stranger in your midst for you were strangers.”
Let’s all make a point of seeing the best in others this week. Remember that in every faith there is a belief in love, compassion, and respect. Let’s honor this week by being the best citizens and neighbors we can be. And let’s teach our children to do the same.
Are you a New Mama of a Jewish (or maybe Jewish) Baby?
I will be starting another Welcoming Your Jewish Baby group in October. Email me if you are interested. Look at the description at www.BuildingJewishBridges.org – you’ll also see one sweet mama and her little one.
Solano Stroll - Jewish booths
I’ll be at the Solano Stroll this Sunday. They are grouping the Jewish booths together. Come by and say hello. I’m with the Jewish Coalition for Literacy folks. They offered me a chair at their booth and I accepted – I’m in favor of literacy! I tutored for 11 years in the Oakland public schools. Come see if you’d like to tutor. Or come talk to me about your interfaith relationship.
To Life! Street Festival
Then on Sunday, Sept. 21 I’ll be in Palo Alto at L’Chaim, To Life Street Festival with Rabbi Bridget Wynne of Jewish Gateways. We are two peas in a pod! Both of us do outreach, love people and are on a mission from God (just like the Blues Brothers). Our mission is to offer doorways into Jewish life - what ever you want to explore, we want to help you find it.
I’m out of town for four days, back for Shabbat on Friday
I’ll be out of town this week from Tuesday afternoon to Friday. I’ll be thinking of you all everyday as I’ll be at an Outreach to Interfaith conference - what fun! If you call or email, I’ll get back to you on Monday, Sept. 15.
I’ll be talking to you next week about finding High Holiday services if you’re unaffiliated. We’ll talk...
EVENTS
Preparing for the High Holy Days (Lafayette)
Family Shabbat Morning Service (Pleasanton)
Elul Retreat (San Mateo)
High Holy Days - Family Picnic, Walk & Talk at Baker Beach (San Francisco)
Demystifying the High Holydays (Pleasanton)
Gathering of Blessings (San Francisco)
Port Wine & Chocolate in the Sukkah (Pleasanton)
Sukkot Gatherings (Los Altos)
Demystifying Judaism (Pleasanton)
Caspian Rain: Author Talk (Walnut Creek)
Shabbat in Nature (Sunol)
Preparing for the High Holy Days
Rabbi Graetz will be offering three sessions in the month of Elul to help you prepare for the holidays. The Talmud teaches: "Four things change a person's fate, namely tzedakah, crying out, changing one's name, and changing one's conduct... and some say: changing one's place." Through text, contemplation and conversation, Rabbi Graetz will guide you in exploring how the High Holy Days can become a transformative experience.
Date: Thursdays, September 11, 18 and 25
Time: 7:15pm
Place: Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
Questions: Call Michael at 925-
FREE
Family Shabbat Morning Service
Family services provide an opportunity for young children to actively participate in the warmth and joy of Shabbat with their families. The service has been specially prepared by Cheryl Cohen for families with young children and children in our Religious School. The music, however, is for people of all ages and is led with great ruach and style by Josh Cohen. We strongly encourage grandparents, siblings and friends to come and pray with us. Snack is provided following the service.
Date: Saturday, September 13
Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Place: Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Ct., Pleasanton
For more info call Cheryl Cohen at 925.931.1055 x21
Elul Retreat
Join meditation teachers Wendy Lash, Bobbi Bornstein and Laurie Williams for a 1/2 day of reflection and spaciousness to help you tap into this special time. We will begin the journey to "open the books of our lives," releasing and transforming ourselves through meditation, art and ritual.
Date: Saturday September 13
Time: 12:15 - 5 pm
Place: Peninsula Temple Beth El,1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
Cost is $36 for PTBE members and $46 for non-PTBE members. Scholarships are available.
To register contact Lolli Freedman at PTBE at 650.341.7701 or lfreedman@ptbe.org.
This program is generously underwritten by Or HaLev Center for Jewish Spirituality at PTBE.
High Holy Days - Family Picnic, Walk & Talk at Baker Beach
With Helena McMahon, LMFT and Rabbi Eve Ben-Ora
Discuss the meaning of the High Holy Days at beautiful Baker Beach in San Francisco. Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch - there will be activities for children 10 and under. All couples and families are welcome to attend this workshop.
Date: Sunday, September 14
Time: Noon - 2:00 pm
Place: Baker Beach in San Francisco, for more information contact the San Francisco JCC at (415) 292-1200.
Cost: $10/couple
Demystifying the High Holydays
As part of our S’lichot observance, Rabbi Winer will present this preparatory practice leading into the High Holyday season. Everyone is invited to continue with further study and worship throughout the evening. Please join us for this opportunity to explore and better understand the Days of Awe before Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Monday evening, September 29.
Date: Sat., Sept. 20
Time: 7 to 8:15pm
Place: Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Ct., Pleasanton
Info: 925.931.1055
Gathering of Blessings
Honoring the Jewish Community Relations Council
At its annual Gathering of Blessings interfaith celebration, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio will honor the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area as a "Bay Area Interfaith Treasure." The celebration will include stories, prayers, blessings, and music honoring partnerships that provide support to build bridges of peace and service among religions, here at home and around the world.
Date: Sunday, October 5
Time: Reception 4:30 pm; ceremony 5:30 pm.
Place: Interfaith Chapel, Presidio of San Francisco, 130 Fisher Loop.
Free event.
Port Wine & Chocolate in the Sukkah
Are you 21 or older? Then you are invited for a sophisticated evening under the stars showcasing Fine Livermore Valley Port and dessert wines poured for your tasting enjoyment. Wines paired with decadent chocolates & cheeses. Hot beverages and other sweet delights.
Date: Sat., Oct. 18
Time: 7:30 to 10pm
Place: Congregation Beth Emek, 2400 Nevada Ct., Pleasanton
Cost: $20 per person ($10 for no-alcohol admission)
RSVP to Sharon Cohen at 925-931-1055 x11
Mail check to Beth Emek.
Sukkot Gatherings
This year's Sukkot Gatherings will bring together Beth Am members and friends toschmooze, eat, relax and meet new friends in sukkot at members’ homes. To attend, please RSVP on the Beth Am website, and we’ll match you up with a Sukkot gathering in your neighborhood.
Date: Sunday, Oct. 19
Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Place: Homes around Los Altos Hills
For information call or e-mail: Lori Shaffer at shaffer.family@comcast.net or 650-494-7008 or Diana Friedman at friedx4@pacbell.net or 650-965-2265
Last year I think it was Lori Shaffer that I called to ask how non-members could participate. She was excited that non-members would be interested and said to have them call her. If you want to go, either call and get a spot or, if you feel shy, call me and I’ll get you a spot. But call me NEXT week as I’m going to be out of town from Tuesday thru Friday this week.
Demystifying Judaism --
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Judaism but Were Afraid to Ask…Beginning in September, Rabbi Richard Winer will present a year-long course on “Demystifying Judaism” – for newly-engaged Jews, lifelong learners and those who haven’t cracked a book since b’nai mitzvah, for Jews-by-choice and Jews-by-birth and everyone in between, for non-Jewish spouses and the Jews who love them, and for anyone who has a question about Jewish ritual, practice, faith or religion.
Rabbi Winer will present this class once a month. Bagels, coffee and orange juice will be provided.
Dates: Sundays beginning Oct. 19
October 19: Demystifying Torah
November 16: Demystifying Worship I
January 11: Demystifying Worship II
February 22: Demystifying the Jewish Holidays -- a Jewish Holiday Primer
March 15: Demystifying Passover
Time: 10:30 – 11:45am
Place: Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Ct., Pleasanton
FREE
Info: 925.931.1055
You can register for “Demystifying Judaism” on-line at www.bethemek.org or drop in and join us as often as you can during the year. There is no charge for this class.
Caspian Rain: Author Talk
“Chai Tea” is back again, so join us for gourmet teas, great desserts and a lively book discussion with Gina Nahai, author of Caspian Rain. Nahai, who herself left Iran as a teen, offers a rare glimpse into the life of Iranian Jews. This is a compelling novel about class pressures, life under the Shah and what happened to Iranian society after the Khomeini Islamic revolution.
Date: Thursday, October 23
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek
For more information call Riva Gambert at the East Bay Jewish Federation (510) 839-2900 x253
Co-sponsor: Temple Isaiah Book Group
Shabbat in Nature
Come and Enjoy a Glorious Autumn
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. -- Rachel Carson
Participate in any or all of the following:
Minyan starting at 10:30 a.m. led by Rabbi Dana Magat and Canter Intern Meeka Simerly
Lots of singing (bring your instrument!)
Potluck lunch and discussion
Walk to (paved road) and around “Little Yosemite” – appropriate for all ages – or any of the wonderful trails
It’s your Shabbat!!
Date: Saturday, Oct. 25
Time: 10am
Place: Sunol Regional Park
No RSVP Necessary
For Info call Ginny at (408) 993-1139; email ginandbrad@gmail.com or
Nancy at (650) 694-4604; email nancyweintraub@sbcglobal.net
Directions: Go south on 280 which becomes 680 north. Continue on 680 and exit at Calaveras Road in Sunol (do not take the Calaveras exit in Milpitas). Turn right on Calaveras and proceed to Geary Road (watch carefully). Turn left on Geary; Geary leads directly into the park. Drive until you get to the toll booth. Bring $5 for entrance fee ($2 extra per dog). Continue through and drive straight until the road forks. Go left towards the picnic area. With the creek running on the left, drive to the last parking area you see before the road empties into a large lot. The cars will be on the right side of the road – look for a car with a sign in the back window – TEE – and park. You will see the picnic tables and the group on the left side of the road. The site is very accessible and is a very short easy stroll from the parking area. See map on back. For more about the park, go to http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol.
This event is sponsored by Temple Emanu-El in San Jose.
The was sent to me by Ginny with the message to invite everyone. Looks like a gorgeous day is planned!
