Twenty four years ago we all stood in shock as we took in the images of planes crashing into American buildings. I texted a NY friend this morning just to say, I know this day is still hard for you. She worked next to one of the towers, ran down many flights of stairs, fled through the streets with others – confused, frightened, stunned and covered in ashes.
One of my keenest memories is an email from an Oakland firefighter, a man who had been in contact with me as he was dating a Jewish woman. His engine crew was sent to the disaster. He saw the destruction, death and dismay. He wrote to tell me that in the “hole” a priest had come to give comfort to the Catholic firefighters. He had knelt and prayed with the priest; it had made him realize how important Catholicism was to him. He didn’t see a way clear to staying with his Jewish girlfriend. I was happy for a number of reasons: he had learned where his heart lay, he had an intense spiritual connection, and he had found all of this before committing to a marriage and children. He and his Jewish girlfriend found this truth in time.
Don’t wait for a catastrophe. Really look into your deepest heart for your beliefs. If you are a dyed in the wool Democrat, maybe that beautiful, intelligent MAGA guy isn’t going to be a long-term success. If you are a devout Christian whose best friend is Jesus, maybe a Jew is not for you. DO NOT be ashamed of who you are. DO NOT hide who you are from yourself. I have seen the divorces that happen after the glow of first love and acceptance settles into a daily grind. I have spoken with couples who call hoping that I have a magical way to “make things work”. Only you and your partner can make your relationship work. I have lots of ideas, resources and suggestions. I am happy to help you. But you will have to work. Believe me, it’s worth the effort.
Again with the Free Services
A member of this list sent me this information about her congregation, Peninsula Temple Beth El:
“Thought you might be interested in knowing that PTBE in San Mateo is offering tickets to non-members for their family and tot HHD services which are targeted at kids (K-5th) and toddlers (ages 0-5) but open to all ages and very interfaith welcoming. Advanced registration is required. All other services will be available to the public via livestream.” (Thanks for thinking about others, Cathy) Go to this page and scroll to the very bottom where you will find:
NON-MEMBERS including our Wornick Partner Families
We are pleased to welcome non-member families to attend our Tots and Tree of Life Services. You can find specific service dates and times here.
Pre-registration required for Tree of Life Services and/or Tots Services. You can also find the registration links on our Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur service pages.
For services other than Tree of Life (Family) and Tots, we invite non-members to watch HHD services via livestream on our YouTube Channel here.
I’ll again share the Jweekly’s page of Free and Low-Cost High Holiday services. If your shul is offering services that ARE listed here, I won’t repeat them.
It’s rough out there folks. Be extra kind to everyone. Hand out kindness like it’s confetti,
EVENTS
Rainbow Shabbat Dinner (Oakland)
The Orchard New Year Shabbat Dinner (Los Altos Hills)
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation (Oakland)
Mishpacha Family Bridge Program (San Francisco)
ENGAJ Reverse Tashlich (Palo Alto)
KUMI: A Sukkot Morning Dance on the Farm! (Berkeley)
Rainbow Shabbat Dinner
Join Temple Sinai’s bimonthly Rainbow (LGBTQIA+) Shabbat Dinner. Come celebrate Shabbat with us! Bring your kids! Bring a dish to share! Challah, grape juice, and noodle kugel will be provided. This event is family-friendly and accessible.
Date: Friday, September 19
Time: 5:00 – 6:30pm
Place: In the Library at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland
Free, but please be sure to Register
The Orchard New Year Shabbat Dinner
Come join other adults in their 20s and 30s to celebrate the sweetness of the upcoming New Year with The Orchard! Gather with friends for an evening filled with delicious food, conversation, and festive apple-themed drinks. Let’s look forward to Rosh Hashanah together, savoring the flavors of the season and the warmth of community.
The Orchard is a Jewish community for adults in their 20s and 30s (with or without children) in Silicon Valley.
Date: Friday, September 19
Time: 7:30 – 9:30pm
Place: Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills
Register here
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation
Join Steve Goldstein as he leads a monthly Jewish Guided Meditation session in cultivating middot (attributes) such as gratitude, loving kindness, joy, forgiveness/self-forgiveness, and compassion. All are welcome, both experienced meditators and those who are new to meditation. As the High Holy Days approach, we are reminded to practice T’shuvah—returning to your own true self—in this month’s meditation class, with the intention of creating a more meaningful High Holy Days experience.
Date: Saturday, September 20
Time: 9:00am
Place: Temple Sinai, Stern Hall, 2808 Summit St., Oakland
Register
Mishpacha Family Bridge Program
A Shabbat Experience for Families with Preschoolers (ages 3-5)
Inspired by Daphna Noily’s pioneering model, Mishpacha Shabbat is a joyful, engaging Shabbat program designed specifically for families with young children. Each session offers parallel experiences for parents and kids—building connection within families and across the Am Tikvah community.
The children will enjoy hands-on fun with educator Mimi Greisman, while parents gather separately for meaningful discussion and learning. Mishpacha will meet twice monthly on Saturdays, aligning with the Tots Together schedule.
Dates: Twice per month on Saturdays, next session is Sept. 20th
Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Place: Am Tikvah, 625 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco
Cost: $18/session
More information and registration can be found here.
ENGAJ Reverse Tashlich
Join ENGAJ and Repair the World for a meaningful mitzvah, and service opportunity connected to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. We’ll meet at the Baylands in Palo Alto, and provide all the supplies to help clean the shoreline of trash and litter.
Reverse Tashlich is an innovative approach to Jewish environmental stewardship. In the ritual of Tashlich on Rosh HaShanah, we go to a body of water and symbolically cast our “sins” into the water to begin the New Year with a clean heart. With Reverse Tashlich, we’re turning symbolism into action by removing human “sin” from the water.
Reverse Tashlich provides an opportunity to come together and engage in a hands-on effort to clean up our beaches, rivers, and shorelines, removing the plastic, trash, and other debris that threaten marine ecosystems and our planet’s health.
This is our chance to not only reflect on our responsibility as stewards of the Earth, but also to act. The Mitzvah of Bal Tashchit is the Jewish prohibition against needless waste and destruction. By removing the waste we have allowed to accumulate, we can protect marine life and the very ecosystems that are essential for life on Earth to survive, while also fulfilling a Mitzvah.
Date: Sunday, Oct 5
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Place: Meet at Adobe Creek Loop Trail 3803 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto
Free
Register here
KUMI: A Sukkot Morning Dance on the Farm!
Back for one morning only, it’s KUMI!
DJ Bambi invites you to start your Sunday and deepen your celebration of Sukkot with soulful dance in Urban Adamah’s Sukkah at the heart of our farm.
KUMI is the Hebrew invitation to arise, to move, to soar. With this ancient summons to sway, weaving together bass, movement, and celebration, KUMI seeks to awaken and activate your heart, body, and sense of belonging to one another and the earth. Join us on the farm as the animals, flowers, veggies, and bodies sway as one, rising to greet the Sunday sun. We’ll integrate the botanical celebration of Sukkot in our opening circle & folks are most welcome to dance with willow-fronds as is tradition on Sukkot mornings. (Willows will be available when you arrive, but you are most welcome to bring your own, if you have!)
Event Flow:
10:30 – 11:00am: Arrival, Welcome, and a brief “Hoshanot/willow ritual”
11:00am – 1:00pm: Dance w. DJ Bambi
This program is open to all ages but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Youth under 16, when accompanied by an adult, get in free
Date: Sunday, October 12
Time: 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Place: Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth Street, Berkeley
Cost: Sliding Scale: $10 to $36 per person
Register here