There is a Yiddish term for the parents of your son or daughter-in-law. The word is Machatunim and is plural. I think it’s a very useful word. When your adult child falls in love and gets married you want very much for your two families to get along and share happiness. As you are building this relationship…
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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…
Read More »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….
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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…
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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…
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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 »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.