Being an interfaith couple doesn’t protect you from anti-Semitism

 

Being an interfaith couple doesn’t protect you from anti-Semitism, not in Nazi Germany, not in America. Having one partner who is NOT a Jew doesn’t prevent people from hating the Jewish members of your family, and even hating the person who loves Jews. Sadly there has been a spike in anti-Semitism in the bay area. Several families have contacted me asking for help. A couple of them said the problem was in their public school. There will be a program next week in San Rafael about Jewish kids in public schools. The Marin Jewish Community Center is hosting a program with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). The RSVP link goes to a Facebook event. If you are not on Facebook contact the JCRC to get more information or to ask for help in your own community.

Jewish Students, Public Schools
Resources & Tools for Addressing Anti-Semitism, Intolerance & Bias
In the wake of Charlottesville, and in response to the J Weekly article about rising anti-Semitism in Bay Area schools, the Osher Marin JCC and the Jewish Community Relations Council is hosting a program designed to provide parents with the tools and resources to be advocates, resources and proactive partners in addressing challenges facing school age children and schools in Marin. Free event. For more information and to RSVP go to https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/JCRCSanFrancisco/schools.html

Date: Wednesday, October 25
Time: 7-8:30pm
Place: Center for Jewish Peoplehood, 200 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael

EVENTS
Practicing Power (Lafayette)
Pumpkin Carving (Foster City)
Jewish Meditation (Oakland)
Parenting and Grandparenting in an Interfaith Family (Pleasanton)
Introduction to Judaism (San Mateo)
Family & Friends Shabbat (San Francisco)
Patralineal Jews & Identity (Oakland)

Practicing Power: How to Think Jewishly About Accomplishing Anything Together
What comes to mind when you hear the word “power”?
Is it good, bad, or ugly?
Join Rabbi LeVine for a special three-part course examining the concept of power, what Judaism has to say about it, and how to practice power more effectively.

While attending all three sessions will allow you to make the most of the learning, please feel free to join for just one or two sessions as well.

Dates: Sundays, October 22, 29 and November 5
Time: 11:15am
Meets at the Contra Costa Jewish Day School, across from Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette
Offered by Temple Isaiah
Please RSVP to daniella@temple-isaiah.org or call (925) 284-9191.

Pumpkin Carving
(BYOP – Bring your own Pumpkin)
Please join us at the park for a little bit of fun in the sun before winter creeps in. This kid-friendly event will be fun for all ages. Don’t forget to bring your own pumpkin and cutting tools. Card games and light snacks will be provided.
RSVP to karenbberman@gmail.com if you are interested.

Date: Thursday, October 26
Time: 4:30-6:00pm
Place: Catamaran Park, 479 – 499 Catamaran St, Foster City
Sponsored by Peninsula Sinai Congregation, 499 Boothbay Ave., Foster City
www.peninsulasinai.org

Jewish Meditation
Please join us to chant, meditate, learn and share together in community. Open to everyone, absolutely no previous experience required.

Meditation supports the practice of presence. It boosts your immune system, calms your nerves, and helps us stay connected with what is most important.

The evening will be facilitated by Temple Beth Abraham member Jueli Garfinkle who is certified and been teaching Jewish meditation since 2004. Jueli’s classes are based on the Jewish mystical tradition and calendar, and always include meaningful everyday practices to cultivate presence, joy, and connection. She leads ongoing meditation groups, workshops, and retreats throughout the Bay Area, as well as meets one-on-one with individuals to provide support and guidance.

Dates: Thursday, Oct 26, Nov 16, Jan 18, 2018, Feb 22, March 22, April 19, May 26
Time: 7 pm to 8:30 pm
Place: Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland
Cost: $18 cash or check for each session
Please RSVP by email jueligarfinkle@gmail.com, if you know you are planning to attend. Walk-ins always welcome!
www.tbaoakland.org

Parenting and Grandparenting in an Interfaith Family
Techniques for listening and talking to adult children
Your child has married a non-Jewish person, maybe a Christian. Possibly they have not yet determined whether to have a Jewish home. The question of children may also be up in the air. You know that any children they have are THEIR children but you hope to impart some of your Jewish identity to your grandchildren. How can you talk to your own child and child-in-law about your desire while respecting them as parents? What is reasonable to say or request? How do you open the conversation?

Join other grandparents and Dawn Kepler to discuss this delicate conversation and come away with ideas for being the fabulous grandparent you know you can be!

Date: Monday, Oct. 30
Time: 7 – 9pm
Place: Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Ct, Pleasanton
Free, preregistration required.
Please register here

Introduction to Judaism
Join this 12-week course taught by Rabbis Dennis Eisner, Sara Mason-Barkin, and Lisa Kingston. This course is for anyone who wants to learn more about Judaism. Course will cover life cycles, holidays, culture, and belief. Text: Living Judaism by Wayne Dosick.

Dates: Thursdays, November 2, 9, 16, 30; December 7, 14; January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Place: Peninsula Temple Beth El 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
Cost: Public/$180 and members are free
www.ptbe.org

Family & Friends Shabbat
The whole family is invited to a short, joyful monthly Shabbat service led by Isaac Zones and Rabbi Copeland. Bring babies, toddlers, and young school aged kids for music, stories, and dinner.

Isaac Zones is a Bay Area musician specializing in Jewish, spiritual, folk and family music, and has led for years here at Sha’ar Zahav and at Camp Tawonga.

Dates: Friday, Nov 10 & Dec 15
Time: 6:00pm
Place: Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., San Francisco
RSVP to education@shaarzahav.org to accommodate for dinner. Thank you!
www.shaarzahav.org

Patralineal Jews: Navigating the Jewish World & Keeping Your Identity Strong
Are you the child of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother? At some point in life patrilineal Jews usually are told, “You know you’re not really Jewish, right?” Let’s talk about how to be a confident Jew even if others don’t affirm your identity. Share your stories and ideas with others. Join us for coffee at We’ll offer you an array of approaches for dealing to unwanted comments.

Date: Sunday, Nov. 12
Time: 10:30am to noon
Place: Café Dejena 3939 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland
Free, but preregistration is required.
Sign up here