This year Purim begins March 6th. A Purim custom that I have seen consistently observed in the more traditional movements of Judaism is the practice of giving food gifts, Mishloach Manot, to friends and acquaintances. It’s sort of the reverse of Halloween. Instead of getting goodies, you give them. Like any new behavior it can…
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Recently several people got into an argument on my Facebook page. The author of an article I posted described herself using the term “she/her”. One reader immediately dismissed all the author had written and complained about it. Others jumped in scolding the poster for her reaction. No one won. To be “woke” is to be…
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(This first appeared in my Mixed and Matched column in the J-Weekly, Monday June 9, 2021) Dear Dawn: I am Jewish and planning my wedding to a non-Jewish man. I have not been very involved in Judaism since my bat mitzvah almost 20 years ago. I don’t want to have a rabbi, but I want to…
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(Image is from www.noshartfun.com) Please don’t spend time worrying about the non-Jewish holidays you want to get rid of. Focus on making the Jewish holidays robust! Let them fill up your family’s life with warmth, celebration, ritual and good memories. I recently read an article, How to Hanukkahize other Jewish Holidays. In it the author suggests…
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You may be thinking, it’s still ONLY JANUARY! Who the heck is thinking about summer camp for kids? The camps are! So they are sharing information about their programs. There are many sleep-away camps but there are also the synagogue camps right there in town. Read more about it here and then go call Maytal. Thinking ahead…
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(The Shir Joy musicians) Another in-person and online opportunity to celebrate Shabbat! Join B’nai Tikvah of Walnut Creek for a musical service. This unique service, Shir Joy, occurs the third Friday of every week. —– Tonight’s service (January 20) is sponsored by the Membership Committee to welcome our new members and families who have joined…
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