Jewish Learning

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…

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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…

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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…

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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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Orthodox? Atheist? Intermarried? What’s Your Job?

There is nothing so satisfying as learning a new perspective on a story you thought you understood. This week I read Maggid Jhos Singer‘s drash/teaching on the Torah portion Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32).  This is the story of Korach and his rebellion against Moses in the Wilderness.  I’ve heard it taught many times, but Jhos brought…

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