Jewish Learning

An Ethical Kashrut

(Image by Kim Hansen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7421277) Keeping traditional kashrut is not for every Jew. Rabbi Larry Milder of Beth Emek in Pleasanton wrote a thoughtful email to his congregation about keeping an “ethical kashrut” and he describes his approach. I hope everyone, not just Jews, will consider how the daily…

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Jewish Wisdom on the Election Process

I was touched by Rabbi Larry Milder‘s email to his congregation about this very difficult week in our country. I am sharing it with you. For those of us who are Jews, or another repressed minority, it is heartening to remember that we can and must protect the right to vote. Our strength is democracy….

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Days of Hope and Awe

Today I received this beautiful message, sent to the members of B’nai Tikvah by their rabbi, Rabbi Jennie Chabon. I’m sharing her words with you because we are all challenged by these hard times and are grieved to not be able to be together for the High Holy Days. *** The smoke is less intense…

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The 3 Big Jewish Festivals: learn more!

What do most Americans know about Jewish holidays? Typically – Hanukkah, Passover and… not much else. The three big holidays are the pilgrimage festivals. Cantor Linda Hirschhorn of Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro wrote a lovely, brief description of them. Have a look.   In Parshat Re’eh we are given a description of the…

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