High Holidays

Spiritual Guardrails

For a month before the High Holy Days begin with Rosh Hashanah, we have the month of Elul. It is a time to reflect on who we are, how we are doing morally and spiritually, and what we want to do better in the coming year. Rabbi Avi Schulman of Temple Beth Torah in Fremont…

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Where Can I Access Shabbat Services Online?

(Image: Services at Beth Am) With COVID-19 impacting the entire world synagogues have moved rapidly to online services where ever possible. Orthodox congregations are not allowed to use electricity on the Sabbath. You can get on the email list for those synagogues and they will email members, and you, when they have programming available. They…

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Don’t Orthodox Jews HAVE to fast on Yom Kippur?

Some Jews are commanded NOT TO FAST. Thus, the local Orthodox shul, Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, has sent out this reminder to their members several times in the last couple weeks. Location for Medically Required Food and Nursing Mothers: While the holiest day of the year involves five forms of physical restriction (see below for…

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