Jewish Learning

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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Pondering Outdoor Religious Services

(Image is of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette in their outdoor sanctuary in 2016. They currently have NO PLANS to have services here or in their building. You may join them online.) Can we have Jewish religious services out of doors?  Several local synagogues have been using Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal’s Jewish values statement to guide their…

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Black Lives Matter

I want to share this email that Rabbi Daniel Stein of B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek sent to his members this morning. White people can be useful in this movement to save our Black sisters and brothers from the nightmare of institutionalized racism and murder.   Dear Friends, Like many of you, I have spent…

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