I am struggling with fear I feel for all minorities and those with multiple minorities. In my own family are people of color, LGBTQ, immigrants, disabled, Jews – and that’s just reflecting on those closest to me. But hours have passed and we must fight on. The Jewish social justice organization, Bend the Arc, said, in…
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Chag Sukkot Sameach!
Dear Life, Slow down! The High Holidays followed quickly by Sukkot and Simchat Torah always make me a little crazed. MASSIVE CELEBRATIONS! My synagogue’s sukkah went up the day after Yom Kippur and the next day mine went up. One of the nice things about Sukkot is that it lasts 8 days (here in the USA)….
Read More »What Makes a Home “Jewish”? Online
A Jew may ask their spouse to agree to have a “Jewish” home. But what does that mean? To a non-Jewish loved one it may simply mean that some of the people in the house identify as Jews. But our partners deserve a more in-depth answer. One Jew may say, a Jewish home has Jewish…
Read More »Yom Kippur and Sukkot
Yom Kippur is not everyone’s favorite Jewish holiday. No food, an ancient liturgy, and a mournful feeling. Let’s have a new take on it. Yom Kippur Tonight is Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement and Repentance. The theme of this holiday is Teshuva. Doing teshuva (often translated as repentance, but literally meaning ‘return’) is…
Read More »The High Holidays bring old traditions and new programs
Here comes 5785! High Holidays Here in America we are tuned into the Gregorian calendar and from that perspective, the High Holidays are VERY late this year. Rosh Hashanah won’t come until October. The last time that happened was 1967! (On the Jewish calendar we are about to begin 5785.) There are a number of…
Read More »Fall 2024 Basic Judaism classes
(Image is of kiddish cups at Afikomen in Berkeley. So beautiful!) Basic Judaism classes are the best way to build your knowledge of Judaism. No matter your level you can profit from having a rabbi teaching you and having a roomful of other adult students to spark your ideas and to share theirs. For an…
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