Last year Cantor Linda Hirschhorn of Beth Sholom in San Leandro explained the VERY confusing issue of HOW MANY DAYS IS SUKKOT? I saved her remarks to share with you at the appropriate time. At services I was asked if Sukkot was seven or eight days and I first said eight and then immediately corrected myself…
Read More »Jewish Learning
Basic Judaism Classes for Fall 2021
Wow, here’s the new year, 5782, and I owe you a list of basic Judaism classes being offered around the Bay. I’ll start now and add on as I gather more. Introduction to the Jewish Experience This is a 24-week online class in Basic Judaism. The series is for anyone who hasn’t had a…
Read More »All Jews are One Family
(Mt. Meron by Lior Golgher • ליאור גולגר – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2277766) Last night there was a tragedy in Israel, people were killed in a terrible accident in the midst of their celebration of Lag B’omer. Rabbi Larry Milder sent this message to his congregation. I want to point out to you…
Read More »Does this DNA test mean I’m Jewish?
(This letter is from my Mixed and Matched column in the J-weekly and appeared Jan. 19, 2021.) Dear Dawn: My uncle recently had his DNA tested, and it turns out that we are from Jewish lineage. I had always wondered because my mother’s great-grandfather’s last name was Jewish. I’m trying to find out more about…
Read More »An Ethical Kashrut
(Image by Kim Hansen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7421277) Keeping traditional kashrut is not for every Jew. Rabbi Larry Milder of Beth Emek in Pleasanton wrote a thoughtful email to his congregation about keeping an “ethical kashrut” and he describes his approach. I hope everyone, not just Jews, will consider how the daily…
Read More »Jewish Wisdom on the Election Process
I was touched by Rabbi Larry Milder‘s email to his congregation about this very difficult week in our country. I am sharing it with you. For those of us who are Jews, or another repressed minority, it is heartening to remember that we can and must protect the right to vote. Our strength is democracy….
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