Yom Kippur is not everyone’s favorite Jewish holiday. No food, an ancient liturgy, and a mournful feeling. Let’s have a new take on it.
Yom Kippur
Tonight is Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement and Repentance. The theme of this holiday is Teshuva. Doing teshuva (often translated as repentance, but literally meaning ‘return’) is not just about looking at your failings and pledging to eliminate your bad actions. The rabbis teach that it is also a time to note what you have done right and to pledge to increase those actions.
Are you kind to people in your life? Do you give people the benefit of the doubt? Do you show patience to annoying people and try to make their day a little better with a smile or a pleasant comment? Are you recycling and composting? Do you give money to the needy? Do you celebrate Shabbat with family and friends? Do you refrain from stealing, cheating and harming others? GOOD! Make note of that. Determine to continue your positive actions and to increase them.
I would love to hear from all of YOU about the positive actions you practice. Email me 3 things that you do that you are proud of. Tell me one thing you’d like others to adopt as a routine behavior.
Sukkot
Here comes the happiest of holidays – Sukkot! Sometimes referred to as ‘the season of our joy’ it is ancient, predating its appearance in the Torah. It is so old that we don’t have the original meanings of its ritual objects. But don’t worry; the rabbis have been quick to give meaning to the etrog and the lulav. Sukkot is a harvest festival, a common practice of all ancient cultures. If the harvest has been good the people know they will not starve through the coming winter.
The most child (and adult) friendly practice is building and living in the SUKKAH. This temporary hut reminds us of the fragility of life and the hardships of our ancestors as they traveled for 40 years in the desert. BUT! It is also the ultimate club house, fairy house, camping out in the backyard opportunity to play! Annually building and decorating the sukkah together is a family ritual that reminds me of the Christian equivalent – putting up and decorating a Christmas tree. Years ago a rabbi told a non-Jewish spouse to use their Christmas ornaments on their sukkah. That’s not going to work for all your ornaments, but it did work for a friend who was a musician and had lots of musical instrument decorations.
For the decorating workshop I led last week we made felt pomegranate garlands, paper lanterns (lit by LED votives) and doves, stars of David, hamsas and more. Many adults, LIKE ME, love crafting and they threw themselves into creative mode.
As usual I’m listing events below, but I want to also share –
The J-weekly’s list of Where to Celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah in the Bay Area
EVENTS
The Orchard Pizza Yom Kippur Break Fast Party (Campbell)
Sukkot & Autumn Moon Festival Gathering (Bay Area)
Celebrate Sukkot with us! (San Rafael)
Sukkot Community Dinner and Shabbat (Lafayette)
Family Sukkot (Berkeley)
Party in the Sukkah (Redwood City)
Tots Together in the Sukkah (San Francisco)
¡Cantamos! (Berkeley)
The Orchard Pizza Yom Kippur Break Fast Party
Are you in your 20’s or 30’s? This is for YOU! After a day of reflection, let’s come together to break the fast in the best way possible — with pizza and friends! Whether you’re craving classic cheese, veggie toppings or something a little adventurous, we’ve got the pizza covered. Bring your appetite and good vibes as we gather for a relaxed evening.
Date: Saturday, October 12
Time: 6:45 PM – 8:15pm
Place: Blue Line Pizza, 415 E Campbell Ave, Campbell
RSVP: All are welcome — let’s break the fast together in community and celebration. RSVP for the break the fast.
Hosted by Beth Am
Sukkot & Autumn Moon Festival Gathering
Let’s celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival and Sukkot, as only Asian Jews can! We will begin at a garden in Berkeley to picnic as we nibble on mooncakes and fruit while chatting about harvest traditions in both Asian and Jewish cultures. We will then conclude the night at a local Deli for a communal dinner.
This event is open to Asian American Jews. LUNAR defines ‘Asian American Jews’ as folks who identify as both Jewish (whether by heritage, religion or culture) and Asian American – this includes mixed-race folks, transracial adoptees, Asian Jews by Choice, and more.
Date: Oct. 13
Time: 5:30
Place: Bay Area, address given upon sign up
RSVP here
Hosted by Lunar
Celebrate Sukkot with us!
Bring in the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot at our special Shabbat Shmooze with live music, drinks, and farm-fresh treats. Just drop into the JCC Lobby from 4:00 to 6:00 pm for some fun “shmoozing.” Make new friends and visit with old ones. All are welcome.
Date: Friday, October 18
Time: 4:00 pm
Place: Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael
https://www.marinjcc.org
Sukkot Community Dinner and Shabbat
Join your Temple Isaiah community for Cuban dinner and a beautiful Sukkot festival service in the sukkah! We’ll eat and celebrate together, shake the lulav and etrog, sing, study, and worship.
Date: Friday, October 18
Time: Cuban Dinner at 5:30pm
Evening Service with the Mizmor band in the sukkah at 6:30pm
Place: Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Rd, Lafayette
Cost: Dinner is $20/adult and $12/child (12 and under). Please register here by 10/17.
Family Sukkot
Get your shake on! We’ve partnered with Camp Tawonga, Eden Village West, and Jewish Gateways to bring you a fun and interactive afternoon. Shake a lulav and etrog, make pickles, create multicultural sukkah decorations, and more! This Sukkot program is geared for children ages 2-8. All are welcome.
Date; Sunday, October 20
Time: 3-5pm
Place: East Bay JCC, 1414 Walnut St, Berkeley
Cost: $36
Register here
Party in the Sukkah
Join us and our friends from Beth Jacob in their beautiful Sukkah! We will celebrate the Fall harvest with snacks, nature-themed play, crafts, and songs and lulav shaking.
Date; Sun, Oct 20
Time: 3:30 – 5:00pm
Place: Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas Redwood City
Free, register here
Tots Together in the Sukkah
Join us and friends from Am Tikvah to shake the lulav, smell the etrog and celebrate Sukkot! We will have special snacks, crafts, puppets and music with Bay Area loved Mimi Greisman!
Date: Saturday, Oct 26
Time: 10:00 – 11:30am
Place: Congregation Am Tikvah, 625 Brotherhood Way San Francisco
Hosted by Am Tikvah and Jewish Baby Network
Register
¡Cantamos!
Come celebrate Sukkot! Experience the rhythmic fusion of Jewish and Latin traditions with Verónica Freidkes, our creative musician and child educator. Embrace our shared cultural bond in this lively musical rendezvous. Tailored especially for families with children ages 0-8. All are welcome!
Date; Sunday, October 27
Time: 3:30-5pm
Place: East Bay JCC, 1414 Walnut St, Berkeley
Cost: $23.18 (No, I don’t know why this odd amount)
Register here