Shavuot starts on Saturday at sundown Are you wondering, what exactly is Shavuot and what are we supposed to DO? Here’s a quickie overview. Here’s an interesting article about why Shavuot is so short on rituals, and therefore, observance. Tikkun Leyl Shavout, the practice of staying up all night to study originates with the mystics and was not…
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Shavuot: Learning with Teachers from A to Z
I was pleased to note that the list of teachers for the East Bay Jewish Community Center Tikkun Leyl Shavuot truly does go from Adina to Zelig! These teachers range from Orthodox to Renewal to lay people to scholars and rabbis. You really should give yourself the gift of one crazy night of learning….
Read More »Multiracial Jews and May Activities
It’s May! I feel like I should burst into song. On the Jewish calendar we are in the midst of counting the Omer AND we celebrated the holiday of Yom HaAtzmaut, the birthday of the modern state of Israel, Wednesday night. POSTPONED I had to postpone my event, This Is Bay Area Jewry. It…
Read More »True Colors with the Jewish Women’s Theatre
Humorous, revealing and inspiring stories from Jews of Color exploring identity, community and being a Jew in modern times. Let’s meet at the Jewish High School and enjoy this unique performance together. Just email me, dawn@buildingjewishbridges.org so I know to expect you. I’m curious to see how the stories in this play similar or different…
Read More »Passover – How will you do it? Long or short? Traditional or modern?
Here comes Passover! The Christmas of Judaism! Unlike Christmas, Passover hasn’t been absorbed into other traditions and acquired reindeer, elves, plaid quilts, snowy sayings and more. But it has traveled to other parts of the globe and adapted to new foods and climates. Here’s a nice explanation of some of the details of a Sephardic observance of…
Read More »Should We Draw Attention to our Differences?
Why draw attention to differences? In interfaith homes there can be a strong desire to focus on what is the “same” between two faiths. This focus can become extreme when the adults teach the children that there “really is no significant difference” between say, Christianity and Judaism; they share universal values. It is quite true…
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