(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…
Read More »Jewish Learning
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…
Read More »East Bay International Jewish Film Festival 2020
(Image from Song of Names) The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival will run from Feb. 26 to March 15. The films are divided into 8 categories (sections) so that you can jump to Historical Dramas, Family Friendly, Mysteries, Documentaries, etc. There are some hard to find, FABULOUS films! A few of my favorites are: The…
Read More »Learning from Movies
(Image by Deborah Breen Whiting from Pixabay) I’ve had people specifically tell me that they are visual learners and that reading is not easiest learning method. Luckily there are hundreds of films from which you can learn A LOT about Judaism. One site that is particularly fun is Rabbi at the Movies. It’s a mini course just to…
Read More »Becky Nurse of Salem: A theater discussion
Time to relax, socialize and stimulate our brains all at the same time. Join me with Rabbi Chester to discuss the current Berkeley Rep play, Becky Nurse of Salem. You can see the play before or after the play; it’s up to you. Some folks don’t want any spoilers, others want to walk in looking…
Read More »Museum Trip to the Legion of Honor
A little reminder: do join us for this FUN activity! Islam and the Classical Heritage From the legendary life and exploits of Alexander the Great (known as Iskandar in the Islamic tradition) to the insights of Islamic mathematicians who first introduced the concept of algebra (al-jabr), this exhibition brings a larger awareness of how authors,…
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