The Quiet Days of November

Copper_Beech_Autumn_Leaves from Wikip

After all the high speed of the Jewish fall holidays we move into a quiet time until Hanukkah. It’s a good time to catch your breath. Use November to explore the Jewish community around you. Go to a lecture, a film, a musical service. You can also start thinking about how you’ll handle the December holidays this year.

Some November activities:

Roots & Branches
with Rabbi Kahn
You are welcome to join Rabbi Yoel Kahn’s open-ended, on-going exploration of the texts and ideas of the Jewish tradition continues this Fall. This year’s topic is Ketuvim, The Writings, the third section of the Hebrew Bible. Everyone is welcome.

Date: Began November 2, continues every Sundays through May 2015, join anytime
Time: 9:15 – 10:30 am
Place: Beth El, 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley
www.bethelberkeley.org

Is it Good for the Jews?
A Lecture Series with Professor Marc Dollinger
The civil rights movement, long considered the high point of Jewish liberal activism, actually masked deeper and more complex dynamics in American Jewish life. Join us for a year-long exploration of Jews and power, culminating in a two-generation presentation on American Jews and our relationship to the rebirth of Jewish life in modern Poland.

The promise of freedom and equality in modern times granted Jews, especially those in the United States, unprecedented access to the corridors of power. Jews, especially since World War II, have enjoyed the privileges of whiteness, even as their population has become even more diverse. We will explore the impact, benefits, and profound challenges of realizing the most elusive goal in all of diaspora Jewish history: civil equality in a Christian-dominated society.

Dates & Times: Tuesdays, November 11, January 13, February 10, March 10 & May 12
8:00pm on February 10, March 10, & May 12.
7:30pm on November 11 & January 13
Place: Room E-104 at the Palo Alto JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto
Cost: $50 Members, $60 Non-Members per series in advance | $15 per lecture at the door
Registration information

Religion Chat: Courtship & Marriage Traditions
For the next several months the group, Religion Chat, will discuss “Courtship and Marriage Traditions.” The speakers will be Jim Ghilardi from the Catholic faith and Catherine Hamze from the Muslim faith. Following the speakers the group will divide into triads and have a chance to talk with each other.
This topic was chosen to help prepare for the “Three Weddings” event in February next year.

Date: November 12
Time: 5 to 6pm
Place: Church of Latter-Day Saints, 3574 Vineyard Avenue, Pleasanton
For more information contact Ruth at ruthgaston at sbcglobal dot net.

Religion Chat is one of the programs sponsored by Interfaith-Interconnect, a Tri Valley group of 15 congregations. Our Mission Statement is “To enrich, inform, and educate ourselves and others about the great diversity of faiths and cultures in our Valley.” We include Christian, Jewish, Hindu Muslim, Baha’i, Unitarian congregations.
Religion Chat meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at one of our member congregations.

Rock and Roll Shabbat!
Join Rabbi Bloom and the Temple Beth Abraham Band for a rockin’ Shabbat service! To be followed by a Family Shabbat Chicken dinner! A vegetarian option is available ONLY when requested in advance.

Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 6:15pm
Place: Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
Cost: $18/adult; $7/child (4 years and under are free)
You must send your check to Virginia at Beth Abraham by Nov 10. Her email confirming receipt is also your confirmation.
www.tbaoakland.org

You’re Funny, But You Don’t Look Jewish – Comedy Show
Gina Gold, Samson Koletkar, Mike Capozzola and Joseph Nguyen — Black, Indian, Italian and Vietnamese American Jewish comedians — will share the stage and their own experiences about being a member of the “tribe.” Join us for a hilarious evening.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 7:30pm
Place: The old Contra Costa JCC building, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd. Walnut Creek
Cost: $15; $10 for those 35 and under. Buy tickets at the door.

An Evening with Maggie Anton
Acclaimed Author of Rashi’s Daughters
Fantastic tales of demons and the Evil Eye, magical incantations, and powerful attractions abound inEnchantress, a novel that weaves together Talmudic lore, ancient Jewish magic, and a timeless love story set in fourth-century Babylonia.

The author of the acclaimed Rashi’s Daughters series and the award-winning Rav Hisda’s Daughter has conjured literary magic in the land where “abracadabra” originated. Maggie will discuss the research behind her exciting new historical novel, Enchantress.

Admission is free. Copies of all of Maggie Anton’s novels will be available for sale and signing.

Date: Wednesday, Nov 19
Time: 7:30p
Place: Congregation Beth Emek, Social Hall, 3400 Nevada Ct, Pleasanton
More info: Leslie Silberman – programs@bethemek.org

Junior Jews
Want to give your kid or grandkid some deeper Jewish roots?
Want to empower them to become the biggest mensch s/he can be? Then join us once a month for some great singing, some great playing and some great learning. Join our clergy and educators for this family-friendly hour in the JCC Lounge. RSVP to Molly at molly@rodefsholom.org Bring your friends and/or come and make some new ones!

Dates: December 7
Time: 10:00 – 11:00am
Place: In the Marin JCC Lounge, 200 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
Sponsored by Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 North San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
www.rodefsholom.org