Here comes 5785!
High Holidays
Here in America we are tuned into the Gregorian calendar and from that perspective, the High Holidays are VERY late this year. Rosh Hashanah won’t come until October. The last time that happened was 1967! (On the Jewish calendar we are about to begin 5785.) There are a number of traditions during the High Holidays. Here are three of them.
Tashlich
One is Tashlich, the symbolic tossing of our sins into running waters. I love the tradition; it gives one a specific time to think about what you want to leave behind. However, in this age we know that it’s not always a good idea to throw things, anything, into the water. There is already enough pollution. An organization, Repair the Sea, has as part of its mission, “to share the spiritual wonders of water and the Sea from a Jewish perspective”. They have initiated a Reverse Tashlich. The idea is that instead of tossing something into the water, people will clean the beaches. If you’d like to participate you can go to their website and do a search for your own city and find which synagogues are hosting an event. You can sign up to join them. Temple Sinai and Temple Israel are hosting a Reverse Tashlich; it is listed below.
S’lichot
Another tradition is S’lichot (or Slichot) which involves gathering in the synagogue to recite “S’lichot” prayers. S’lichot is a Hebrew word meaning forgiveness. They are prayers of repentance, regret for our misdeeds. Typically there is some teaching done and the congregation may also change the covers on the Torah scroll from the ordinary ones to white ones for the holidays. S’lichot will be on Saturday, Sept. 28. The North Peninsula Collaboration’s service will be held this year in San Mateo and is listed below.
Teshuvah
Let me share Rabbi Sarah Weisman’s comments on Teshuvah.
As we make our way through the month of Elul leading up to the High Holidays, our essential task is to engage in the process of teshuvah, repentance. As is often noted, “teshuvah” literally means “return.” Through the acts of reflecting on our misdeeds and making amends for the wrongs we have committed, we return to the right path. Dr. Louis Newman describes it this way, “Teshuvah–returning–is the name Judaism gives to this process of retrieving our sense of direction. Repentance is the ultimate form of return. After turning our gaze away from God and straying from the straight path, we can still find our way back. And it is as simple as taking just one step in a new direction. For turning in a new direction, by as little as one degree, will lead us over time to a wholly different destination” (Repentance, pg. 76). Teshuvah, therefore, is a beautifully paradoxical term, meaning both a return to something old and a transformation into something new.
I hope you’ll join me this Sunday at 2:00pm for an exploration of how we can prepare ourselves for the High Holidays by engaging in this process of teshuvah, beginning with cheshbon hanefesh, taking an accounting of our souls. We’ll also get into the High Holiday spirit by discussing other ways to enrich our experience of this season. Honey cake will be served!
Rabbi Sarah’s program, Preparing for the High Holidays, is listed below.
Learning about Judaism
I always say, knowledge = empowerment. The more you know, the better informed your choices will be. Listed below is one of the basic Judaism classes taking place this fall. See the full list on my website here.
EVENTS
Tot Shabbat (San Jose)
Tots & Tunes: Family Jam (Redwood City)
Preparing for the High Holidays (Fremont)
Midrasha: A Jewish Teens Program (Berkeley)
S’lichot Service: A North Peninsula Collaboration (San Mateo)
Author Talk: What Jewish Looks Like (San Francisco)
Slichot Program: Mending our Broken Hearts (Palo Alto)
Dessert, Havdalah & S’lichot Service (Walnut Creek)
PJ Library Story Hour (Berkeley)
Reverse Tashlich (Alameda)
Make Your Own Sukkah Decorations! (Oakland
In Commemoration of October 7: An Evening of Remembrance & Hope (San Rafael)
Introduction to Judaism 101 (San Francisco)
Tot Shabbat
We are excited to be kicking off this school year’s Tot Shabbat! This service is designed for families with young children to sing Shabbat songs, and read a book with Rabbi Magat. After the service, all are welcome to stay for a free dinner, provided by our Sisterhood.
Date: Friday, September 20
Time: 6:00pm
Place: Temple Emanu-El, 1010 University Ave., San Jose
Join us for Tot Shabbat!
Tots & Tunes: Family Jam
Are you ready for some fun? We’re thrilled to invite you and your little ones to an unforgettable, kid-friendly Shabbat service and concert with the incredible Eliana Light on Saturday, September 21, at 12:00 pm at CBJ. Please plan to stay after and connect with our community for Kiddush lunch – a perfect opportunity to relax, connect with other families, and let the kids play.
This event is tailor-made for our little music lovers aged 0-7, free of charge -we’d love for you to join us. And feel free to bring friends- the more, the merrier!
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 12:00 pm
Place: Congregation Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City
https://www.bethjacobrwc.org
Preparing for the High Holidays
I hope you’ll join me this Sunday at 2:00 PM for an exploration of how we can prepare ourselves for the High Holidays by engaging in this process of teshuvah, beginning with cheshbon hanefesh, taking an accounting of our souls. We’ll also get into the High Holiday spirit by discussing other ways to enrich our experience of this season. Honey cake will be served!
Date: Sunday, Sept. 22
Time: 2pm
Place: Temple Beth Torah, 42000 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont
https://www.bethtorah-fremont.org
Midrasha: A Jewish Teens Program
Midrasha is an education program for East Bay Jewish teens (grades 8-12). Through classes, social programs, and retreats, our students find a sense of personal Jewish understanding, a nourishing space in the midst of their overly-full schedules, and a community of friends that will last a lifetime. Register today!
Dates: Sundays from September 22, 2024 – May 11, 2025
Time: 5:30-8pm
Place: JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley
Details and registration here
S’lichot Service: A North Peninsula Collaboration
Join your North Peninsula clergy for a moving Havdalah and reflective service in the PTBE sanctuary. The S’lichot service helps us enter a reflective space as we begin to prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days just ahead. A beautiful service is conducted in our stunning candle-lit Sanctuary as we enact a ritual of transition, changing our Torah mantles to their ‘holiday whites’ and hearing the moving, compelling call of the shofar.
Date: Saturday, September 28
Time: 8:00 p.m. Service (In person and Zoom)
Place: Peninsula Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
https://www.ptbe.org
Click here to register for Zoom. No registration required for in-person attendance.
Author Talk: What Jewish Looks Like
Join co-authors Liz Kleinrock and Caroline Kusin Pritchard in conversation about their new book What Jewish Looks Like—a children’s book that explores the unlimited and diverse ways to look and be Jewish. Learn about the authors’ inspiration to write this book together, some of their favorite moments in their writing journey, and gain insight into how they gathered the stories of some of the people in the book!
Saturday, September 28
Time: 12–12:30pm
Place: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., San Francisco
Cost: Free with Museum admission which is $16/adult
Details here.
Slichot Program: Mending our Broken Hearts
Rabbi Chaim will be joined by Rabbi Amy Eilberg and Rabbinic Intern Aviv Siegel to help us prepare our hearts for the High Holy Days. After this most difficult year, this special Slichot program will include singing, listening, and reflection. We will also dress the Torah scroll in its beautiful white cover, making the transition to the High Holy Days. All are welcome.
Date: Saturday, September 28
Time: 8:00pm
Place: Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto
https://www.etzchayim.org
Dessert, Havdalah & S’lichot Service
Join us in a beautiful, introspective service to prepare our hearts and souls for the upcoming High Holidays. We will sing familiar, evocative melodies, hear the call of the shofar, and awaken to this powerful season of transformation.
Date: Saturday, September 28
Time: 8:30 – 10:00pm
Place: B’nai Tikvah, 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek
Register here.
https://tikvaheastbay.org
PJ Library Story Hour
Stop by the Magnes on the last Sunday of the month for PJ Library’s Story Hour, presented in partnership with PJ Library Bay Area. Each month features a different theme and book suited for children of all backgrounds as they learn about themselves and the world around them. This special Story Hour will be Rosh Hashanah themed with crafts, snacks, and music from Tkiya at 11:30 am. Most appreciated by kids ages 5 and under.
Date: Sunday, September 29
Time: 11:00am-12:00pm
Place: Magnes Museum, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley
Admission is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Reverse Tashlich
Sinai Green is excited to co-sponsor this year’s Reverse Tashlich event with Alameda‘s Temple Israel. This is Temple Sinai’s 3rd year hosting this new, accessible, family-friendly High Holy Days ritual. This is the 7th annual international Jewish waterfront cleanup, as organized by the organization Tikkun HaYam (Repair the Sea).
We will gather for a picnic lunch, join in a short Reverse Tashlich service, attend a brief talk by a Park District Naturalist, then carry out cleaning up the beach. On September 29, 2024 we will join with Jewish communities from all around the world!
Date: Sunday, September 29
Time: 12:00pm
Place: Sand Castle Picnic Area at Robert W. Crown Memorial Beach (map)
Hosted by Temple Sinai of Oakland and Temple Israel of Alameda.
Details here
Email green@oaklandsinai.org to let us know you’re coming, or use the main registration form here.
Make Your Own Sukkah Decorations!
Let’s get crafty! Join us to make colorful decorations to hang in the sukkah. We will use a variety of craft materials to create Shalom Stars, Peace chains, and garlands and more. Make one item for the Temple Beth Abraham sukkah and lots more to take home. We will have traditional images for those that would like to incorporate the symbols of the holiday. Or invent your own autumnal design. There will be lots of paints, markers and papers to stimulate your creativity!
Date: October 6
Time: 2 – 4pm
Place: Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland
Free, but sign ups are required; I have to know how much materials we’ll need. Email me at Dawn@buildingjewishbridges.org to sign up.
In Commemoration of October 7: An Evening of Remembrance & Hope
Join us as we mark one year since the tragic attack on the people of Israel, as we gather to mourn the victims, honor survivors, and pray for those still in captivity. Our ceremony will include stories of resilience, prayer, song, art, and moments of silence. All are welcome as we come together to create strength in community.
Date: Monday, October 7
Time: 7 to 8pm
Place: Osher Marin JCC, 200 N San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
Registration is required. REGISTER HERE
A collaboration of Brandeis Marin, Congregation Kol Shofar, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and Osher Marin JCC.
Introduction to Judaism 101
Judaism 101 is an introduction to Judaism for people who are new or returning to Judaism and are looking for a starting point to dive into Jewish learning and/or Jewish practice. Anyone from any background is welcome. Our learning will be interactive and communal; come ready to be in the learning with us. This fall module will focus on the Jewish calendar (including Shabbat and holidays); Prayer and Spiritual Life; and Lifecycles. Open to members and non-members! Taught by Cantor Sharon Bernstein.
Dates: Tuesdays, Oct 29, Nov 12, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 10, Jan 7, Jan 14, Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18
Time: 7-9pm
Place: Zoom only (Link to be provided after registering)
Hosted by Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores St., San Francisco
Cost $149 No one turned away for lack of funds. For financial assistance requests please email Danny Shapiro before completing this form.
Register here