Rabbi Tarfon compared the Jewish people to a pile of walnuts. “If one walnut is removed, each and every nut in the pile is shaken and disturbed. So too, when a single Jew is in distress, every other Jew is shaken.” (Midrash – Shir HaShirim Raba 6:11) I’ve been receiving emails since October 7 from…
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“Judaism is a communal tradition.” But what does that mean? Living in America which has an individualist tradition it can be difficult to fully understand what “communal” means. You can be WHATEVER you want in the privacy of your own home, but to join with a community requires compromise. I urge couples and families to find a…
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Sunday, May 5 is Yom HaShoah, Remembrance Day for the Holocaust. In this time of spiking anti-Semitism it is especially painful to concentrate on the desire to destroy all Jews. Perhaps you can only light a candle at home, perhaps you are afraid to be in a group of Jews – that is human and…
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Just a few days till Passover. Plan ahead so you don’t drive yourself crazy. Passover Tips I’ve come across so many wonderful ideas, resources and activities! I’m just going to make a list of them all. Send a free Passover e-card from the Reform Judaism site. Personalized Passover Place Cards – This woman offers loads of downloadable (not…
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Time to plan where you’ll have Seder! At a community Seder, someone else’s home, or your home? Rarely are community Seders on the FIRST night of Passover. But if you don’t have time or an invitation it’s a lovely, easy way to share the event. Here’s a list of Bay Area Community Seders compiled by…
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It can be a challenge to have everyone from your neighbor’s toddler to your great uncle coming to your Seder. Will people be bored? Will they get hungry? Will the kids wander from the table eliciting grumbling from other guests? Come discuss ways to engage different ages from infant to school age to teen to…
Read More »Our weekly email goes out to hundreds of interfaith couples & families in the Bay Area. Topics cover the many questions and mysteries that interfaith couples want answered.