Dear Interfaith Families and Friends,
What is Jewish community in America?
One of the confusing things about Jewish community is the feel of it – it’s different from mainstream American community. For folks who aren’t Jewish it can seem to make sense that Jews are different - even if they can’t quite put their finger on why. But for American Jews it can be baffling - why do I feel different or out of place? After all, I grew up here. At the heart of the matter is this: Jewish culture is communal - group oriented - in nature and American culture is individual. Think of John Wayne, Indiana Jones, Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark - all American heros who rode off into the wilderness - alone. The American dream is that an individual through hard work can rise to wealth and greater independence. If you become wealthy enough you can pay for your own home, car, health care, vacations, etc.
On the other hand, Judaism’s greatest hero is Moses. When Moses rode (or walked) off into the wilderness he took the whole Jewish family along, the women and children, the weak as well as the strong, the complainers with the enthusiasts. Moses complained to God about the incredible hassle the children of Israel were, but he also defended and protected them from everyone, including God. The Jewish dream is a time of peace for all the Jews, an end to persecution and the return to Zion. The expectation is that each Jew will care for all the other Jews, sublimating his or her own personal desires for the greater good.
Now sit with that for a moment. That means as an American Jew you are both told to work hard, get ahead, become wealthy enough to be self sufficient... and to take care of your community. In America that can be felt as a burden. We are all so busy being independent that people often fear communal responsibility will impinge on their happiness.
But when I talk to individuals about what exactly is communal responsibility they often warm to the idea rapidly. Do you want there to be: people who bring meals when you are sick? Someone who picks up your kids from school because you’re working late. Someone to help pay for medicine for an elderly woman next door. Someone who clears the brush from around your house before fire season. Someone who raises money for the Food Bank. Someone to sit with you when your parent dies. Someone to visit you when you are sick, and do a bit of vacuuming while they are here.
In America we create Jewish community in synagogue. There the multiple burdens - responsibilities - are spread out over the many members so that no one person is expected to do it all.
Perhaps you will be rich enough to buy all that you and your family will ever need; I know I won’t be. And for those like me, there is community. Perhaps you have a close knit group of friends who will do this for you. I know that I don’t have enough friends for all my needs. Most of my friends work and can’t be available at all times.
But I’m not Jewish
Maybe you are thinking I’m not Jewish, I’m not sure how that would work for me. Here’s how - if you belong to a community you belong. A Catholic friend of mine told me she was being supported in the lost of her mother by her rabbi. Another told me she has a disease that she is fighting and her community has supported her emotionally in her health struggles. A man told me, “Guys aren’t so good at making friends, but I joined the mens group and we are bonding.” A non-Jewish man told me that the Caring committee had taken care of him and his daughters as his wife slowly died of cancer. A Jewish mom walked into Torah study at her congregation and said, “My husband isn’t Jewish, I don’t have a lot of relatives. I need for all of you to come to our daughter’s bat mitzvah so there will be plenty of voices carrying the songs and prayers.” When my nephew leaves for Iraq next month I am asking my synagogue’s women’s group to help me send him and his unit a monthly care package.
None of us can actually make it alone. Not physically. Not emotionally. Even if you are Hans Solo (note that last name!), eventually you need the rest of the Jedi Knights to back you up. Admitting our weaknesses can be our greatest strength. Don’t be afraid to be helped and to give help.
Summer is a great time to check out synagogues to see if there is one that fits you. I’m happy to help. Just call me. 510-839-2900 x347.
What if you are still saying, I’m not ready. Or I just don’t want to join anything. That’s fine. You can still drop in and visit when you feel like. The welcome sign is out!
Introduction to Judaism
There is an Introduction to Judaism class THIS SUMMER. It started on Wednesday, May 21 and continues until Aug. 6 so if you call right away you have only missed the first night.
It is offered by the Union for Reform Judaism at the two Reform congregations in Burlingame and San Mateo. The cost is $160 for members of Reform congregations that are URJ affiliated. And $240 for couples. If you are not affiliated call Hannah and discuss it with her. This class is a great idea if you are serious about conversion. You'll learn a lot, meet other interesting students and get to meet rabbis at two congregations. I've always said the more rabbis you meet the better. You want to have several to choose from as you decide the one you'll want to work with.
Call Hannah at 415-392-7080 x17- she can answer questions and sign you up.
EVENTS
Out & About Potluck (Oakland)
Songs & Stories around the Bonfire (Berkeley)
Israel in the Gardens (San Francisco)
<strong>First Jews in America (San Francisco)
Welcoming Your Jewish Baby - Whether You’re Jewish or Not (Oakland)
Monthly Family Potluck and Shabbat Service (Richmond)
DAWN '08 (San Francisco)
Grand Opening of the Contemporary Jewish Museum (San Francisco)
Bagel Brunch with Discussion and Slide Show on Darfur (Richmond)
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: An All Night Study Session (Berkeley)
Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Palo Alto)
<strong>Celebrate The Joy of Shabbat & The Joy of Cantor Brian (Berkeley)
L'Chaim—the Spirituality of Wine (Berkeley)
Out & About Potluck
Join us for this fun Potluck dinner! Everyone is invited to attend! Out and About furthers Temple Sinai's mission of being a welcoming and inclusive congregation for all - including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning Jews, along with our families, friends and allies. We'll provide the juice, challah, and chicken and you supply the rest!
Date: Friday, May 30
Time: 6pm
Place: Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland
Call Susan at (510) 865-1215 for more information or to RSVP (by 5/29).
Songs & Stories around the Bonfire
Join the YeaShOre Community, Nishmat Shalom and the East Bay Jewish Folk Chorus for
the first Bonfire of the season. A fun evening around the Bonfire. Come for Havdalah, share your voice, or just listen, as we watch the flames dance!
Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 8pm to around midnight
Place: Berkeley Marina
Details and directions to the Bonfire at yeashore.org.
Israel in the Gardens
Northern California's Largest Annual Jewish Cultural Festival
Join close to 20,000 members of the Bay Area Jewish community for Israel in the Gardens- a day for local Jews to celebrate our culture and to toast the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence and 60 years of cooperation between America and Israel.
Activities will include music, dance, art, fashion, fun for kids and teens, and lots of food!
Admission to this family-friendly event is free and open to the public. For more information, including a detailed schedule of the day's events, visit www.israelinthegardens.org.
Date: Sunday, June 1
Time: 11am - 5pm
Place: Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco
www.israelinthegardens.org
First Jews in America--
The Jews of the Caribbean
Historian, author and attorney Harry Ezratty has spent a lifetime studying the history of Jews in the Caribbean and their influence on the rest of America. He will share his tales at a talk, which will include a brief history of our sanctuary, a tour of the dome, and dessert and coffee.
Date: Monday, June 2
Time: 7pm
Place: Sherith Israel, 2266 California St., San Francisco
Cost: Tickets are $10 for Hadassah and CSI members, $18 for nonmembers.
Bring your friends for a wonderful evening!
Cosponsored with the San Francisco chapter of Hadassah.
For more information, contact Aviva Hicks at atahicks@sherithisrael.org or 415-346-1720 ext 24.
Welcoming Your Jewish Baby...Whether You’re Jewish or Not
Join us for a discussion group for Moms and Babies (age newborn to 6 months). Topics include: Support for Moms with new Babies; Jewish Resources for Mom, Baby and Family; Getting your Groove Back and Adjusting to the New Normal. Jewish topics include: Jewish baby welcoming ceremonies, home celebrations, making memories.
Dates: Five sessions starting Tuesday, June 3
Time: 1:30 to 3pm
Place: We are being hosted by Beth Jacob for this session, 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland
Cost: $36
For more information or to register, call Dawn at 510-839-2900 x347 or email dawn@jfed.org
Monthly Family Potluck and Shabbat Service
Potluck and service for families that provide a chance for Temple Beth Hillel families and new members (and potential new members) to get to know one another and schmooze in a warm, informal setting. Services are led by Rabbi Dean Kertesz and Cantor Howard Cohen. Children from the religious school and members of the congregation often participate in the service.
Date: First Friday night every month. Next one on Friday night, June 6th
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central Blvd, Richmond, CA. Just off the Hilltop Drive Exit on I-80.
Cost: a vegetarian dish for 6 to share
For more info contact - Arlene Lisby, Synagogue Administrator, 510-223-2560
DAWN '08
The Contemporary Jewish Museum and Reboot, are pleased to announce DAWN '08, an all-night, arts and culture festival and celebration of Shavuot at the grand opening of the Contemporary Jewish Museum, offering guests the opportunity to groove, learn, explore and mingle at the Museum's new building and exhibition space before the doors open to the public the following morning.
Date: Saturday, June 7
Time: 8pm - Sunrise
The Contemporary Jewish Museum - The new building is located on Mission Street between 3rd & 4th streets in San Francisco
Co-presented with Reboot
Grand Opening of the Contemporary Jewish Museum
Everyone is invited to attend the Grand Opening of the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Join them for their first Target Family Day and enjoy FREE admission, live music, architectural tours, family-friendly activities, storytelling, drop-in art-making, and more!
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: 11 am - 5:30 pm
Place: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street (between 3rd & 4th Streets), San Francisco.
Reserve your free ticket in advance at www.thecjm.org or call 655-7800. If you have any questions, please contact the Museum's Education Department at 655-7850 or tours@thecjm.org.
Bagel Brunch with Discussion and Slide Show on Darfur
From American Jewish World Service whose slogan is "Pursuing Global Justice Through Grassroots Change" we have Rabbi Bycel who will be facilitating a discussion as well as a slide show on current events in Darfur and how we can help the victims of genocide in the 21st century.
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Place: Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central Blvd, Richmond, CA. Just off the Hilltop Drive Exit on I-80.
Cost: $5, suggested donation
For more info call Arlene Lisby, Synagogue Administrator, 510-223-2560
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: An All Night Study Session
A unique community-wide celebration and night of Torah study a spiritual journey bringing together Jews with varied perspectives and affiliations. Stay for an hour or stay until dawn. We will be led in study by teachers from our diverse Jewish community. Celebrate Shavuot!
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: 6:45pm until dawn
Place: JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St, Berkeley.
Co-Sponsored by many great community partners! For more information, contact Robin Braverman or Erica Zilbermann at 510.839.2900 ext. 235 or email tikkun@jfed.org
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
A COMMUNAL NIGHT OF STUDY! On Sunday, June 8, our Peninsula Jewish community comes together at Congregation Kol Emeth for an invigorating and meaningful night of study. Starting at 8 p.m. with a brief evening service, we will celebrate z’man matan Torateinu, the time of the giving of our Torah. Drop in anytime for nosh & coffee through the night & dairy breakfast at 1:30 a.m. Study sessions begin at 9 p.m. Teachers from the community include Rabbis Janet Marder, Josh Zweiback, Adam Allenberg, David Booth, Sarah Graff and Ari Cartun. Sessions go all night long so feel free to drop-in anytime (and go home to go to sleep anytime!).
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: Begins at 8pm
Place: Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto
Co-sponsored by Congregations Kol Emeth, Beth Am, Etz Chayim and Keddem.
For information call 650-493-4661
Celebrate The Joy of Shabbat & The Joy of Cantor Brian
Hearty appetizers, nosh & visit
Celebrate the Joy of Shabbat with the Joy of Shabbat musicians and special guests; then celebrate the Joy of Cantor Brian with a look back at Purim Spiel moments and other fond memories of Cantor Brian's 20 years at Beth El.
Oneg dessert, visiting and an opportunity to express your appreciation to our dear Cantor Brian
Date: Friday evening, June 20
Place: Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley
RSVP This evening is free of charge, but we need to know how many people are coming so that we can ensure bountiful food. 510-848-3988. Deadline June 9
L'Chaim—the Spirituality of Wine:
Connecting and Gathering in the Garden
In this delightful afternoon program, learn how to use the Kiddush, the Jewish blessing over the wine, as a delivery system for Kadosh, "to make the moment holy." Join friends and family at Chochmat Halev for a special wine tasting in the garden and conversation with Rabbi David White who will share a taste of WineSpirit Vintage Judaism and his teachings on wine's connection with spirituality and opening up to spiritual access points throughout the day.
Date: Sunday July 13
Time: 4-6 pm
Place: Chochmat Halev, 2215 Prince St., Berkeley
Cost: $15 for one adult, $25 for a couple or family: Wine and cheese included!
Please RSVP to 510-704-9687 by Wednesday, July 9 so we know how much wine to bring.
