I attended a program of remembrance for our hostages last night. Several people spoke of individuals they had lost on October 7th. There were many tears. We must let the grief out. Yet, we are just beginning the holiday of Sukkot, which has been called the Season of our Joy. We will try to shift and embrace the joys of this holiday – harvest time, one of our oldest and most mysterious holidays.
A few years ago Rabbi Milder wrote about Sukkot:
Sukkot is called The Festival by the rabbis, HaChag in Hebrew, meaning the holiday par excellence. Nothing compares with Sukkot. That was true in ancient times, and is still true today.
Two thousand years ago, our ancestors would make their way to the Temple in Jerusalem on Sukkot, carrying with them the bounty of their harvest. There are three pilgrimage festivals, three times when the Israelites were commanded to appear before God at the Temple: Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. Pesach and Shavuot, the spring and summer harvests, were joyous occasions, but not quite like Sukkot. Pesach is marked by numerous restrictions. The pleasure that we find in the return of green vegetables to our plates (represented by Karpas), is moderated by the reenactment of slavery in the form of Matzah. Freedom is in hand, but redemption is not yet complete.
Shavuot, the summer festival, was a time when the hard work of the barley harvest was complete. But the holiday is brief, only one day, and virtually no rituals are mentioned in the Torah concerning Shavuot.
Only on Sukkot is there unremitting joy (“Zman Simchateinu”). The year’s harvest is in, the work is done, and the miracle of this natural world can be acknowledged in all its glory. Hence, the colorfully decorated Sukkah, and the Lulav and Etrog that are designed to appeal to the whole array of our senses: sight, taste, smell, touch, and in the waving of their leaves, even sound.
Judaism has always taught this awareness of nature and of our place in the cycle of existence. Our rituals are at once ancient and contemporary, powerful and poetic. Something about this season heightens people’s sense of the sacred. I hope that you will join us in celebrating the festival of Sukkot, and reclaim for yourself the sacred meaning our ancestors found in this time of year.
My friends, reach for some of this exuberance this week. We need some peace and joy.
Some light in the darkness
Here is an article by a Muslim Syrian who hopes for and predicts a return to harmony between Jews and Muslims of Syria.
Family events for Sukkot and Simchat Torah around the Bay Area
EVENTS
Sukkot Oneg Shabbat (Los Altos Hills)
Exploring Judaism (Lafayette)
Shabbat in the Sukkah for Tots! (Lafayette)
Cooking in the Sukkah (Foster City)
Sukkot Party in the Sukkah (Redwood City)
Israeli Dancing (Walnut Creek)
Erev Simchat Torah (Palo Alto)
Get to Know Wornick Day School: Info Session (Foster City)
Talmud for Everyone (Pleasanton and on Zoom)
NextGen Shabbat with Senator Scott Wiener! (San Francisco)
Exploring Judaica for Your Home (Berkeley)
Sukkot Oneg Shabbat
Our Shabbat service and Sukkot celebration will have a focus on Half Moon Bay Farmworkers. We will gather to enjoy our beautiful Sukkah with a festive Oneg Shabbat. We welcome all who wish to join us in supporting Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (Helping Latinos Dream), a social service organization and farmworker advocacy group.
Date: Friday, October 10
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills
Details here
Exploring Judaism with Rabbi Torop
This course is a year-long exploration of the history, beliefs, traditions, and practices of the Jewish people. Exploring Judaism will be interesting and meaningful whether you are becoming an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah, you are just beginning to explore Jewish studies, you are considering choosing Judaism, you are in an interfaith relationship, or you are simply looking for a deeper and more mature understanding of Jewish history and tradition. Books for the course will be announced; please note that books are not included in the price for the course.
Dates: Sundays starting October 5*
Time: 9-10:15am
Place: Temple Isaiah, in the CCJDS Building, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette
Tuition: $180/member; $360/non-member. For more information and to register for this class, please click here.
*Year-long Course (21 sessions): Oct 5, Oct 12, Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16, Dec 7, Dec 14, Jan 11, Jan 25, Feb 1, Feb 8, Feb 22, Mar 1, Mar 8, Mar 15, Mar 22, Apr 19, Apr 26, May 3.
Shabbat in the Sukkah for Tots!
Calling all Tot Families – Bring a picnic dinner and celebrate Shabbat in the Sukkah with Temple Isaiah! Enjoy a festive evening with fall crafts, Shabbat songs, and blessings as we come together for one of the most joyous events of the Jewish year. This is a wonderful way to celebrate Sukkot for families with children ages 0-5! Let’s celebrate together as a community! Fall crafts, Shabbat songs, blessings in the Sukkah, dessert will be provided!
Date: Friday, October 10
Time: 5pm
Place: Temple Isaiah, in the Gan Ilan Sukkah. 945 Risa Rd., Lafayette
Suggested donation: $25 per family. Bring a can of food to donate to the local food bank. Click here to RSVP.
Cooking in the Sukkah
Start your day with fun hands-on activities, including cooking, art, and more! This event is co-sponsored by PJCC and PJ Library. This event is geared toward families with children 3-5 years old.
Date: Sunday, October 12
Time: 10-11:30 am
Place: Wornick Jewish Day School, 800 Foster City Blvd, Foster City
Free admission; advanced registration required by Thursday, October 9 at 12 noon.
Sukkot Party in the Sukkah
Join Beth Jacob members and PJ Library folks with other Peninsula families under the Sukkah for a festive Sukkot celebration. For kids 0-5 years and their grownups.
Date: Sunday, October 12
Time: 3:30 – 5pm
Place: Congregation Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas Redwood City
Sign up here
Israeli Dancing
Join our dance teacher, Yardena, for an afternoon of dancing. Yardena has been guiding adults and teens through the “grapevines” of vintage and current dances for many years. If you’ve always wanted to learn but you have felt intimidated about being a beginner, try our group. We are supportive, helpful and fun. Yardena arrives at 3:30, one half hour before the regular dancing starts, to work with beginners and review dances that were taught in previous sessions. Starting at 4:00 pm a new dance is taught and the group then dances to requests. Stay for an optional potluck dairy/salad dinner at the end of the session if you can.
Date: Sunday, October 12
Time: 4:00 – 6:00pm
Place: B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Ln, Walnut Creek
Cost: $6 per session
Details here
Erev Simchat Torah
Join Kol Emeth for a wonderful Simchat Torah celebration!
5:30 pm: Young Family Program – Families with babies and tots are invited to a special Simchat Torah celebration with Morat Derech Sarah Miller, Music Specialist Tyler Dean, and Rabbi Booth who will take us on a “tour” of the Torah!
6:15 pm: Around the World Dinner & Dancing – Everyone is invited! We are excited to welcome back West African Dance Instructor Naby Bangoura. Join us for a global celebration featuring circle dancing, cocktails and mocktails with international inspirations, and a delicious dinner of cultural cuisine (vegan Chinese food). After dinner, the celebration continues with services and dancing, caramel apples, and crafts.
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Time: 5:30 to 7:30pm
Place: Kol Emeth Congregation, 4175 Manuela Ave, Palo Alto
Details here
Get to Know Wornick Jewish Day School: Info Session
Prospective families are invited to learn how Wornick recognizes the gifts of every student and empowers them to become engaged leaders steeped in the richness of Jewish tradition and values. Hear from a current Wornick student, parent, and Head of School.
Date: Wednesday, October 22
Time: 8-9 pm
Place: Zoom
Zoom link will be provided to registered attendees prior to the event. Free admission; advanced registration required by Monday, October 20 at 12 noon.
Register here
Talmud for Everyone: The Passages that Every Educated Jew Should Know
We will be reading and discussing the most beloved, fascinating and controversial passages of Talmud.
Talmud is the great compendium of rabbinic law, wisdom, folklore and theology, often revealed in the form of dialogue between competing points of view. That’s why Talmud is always studied in dialogue.
Each session will consider a few of the most famous passages of Talmud, and, just like the rabbis who wrote these texts, we will debate them, too.
CBE adult ed classes are always open to anyone who is interested: CBE members and non-members, novices and the Jewishly literate. There is no prerequisite, no knowledge of Hebrew (or Aramaic, for that matter) required, and no barriers. This class is truly Talmud for Everyone.
Students may attend Talmud for Everyone in person or online (and may switch from week to week).
Dates: Thursday evenings, Oct 23 & 30; Nov 6, 13 & 20; Dec 4 & 11
Time: 7:30 to 9:00pm
Place: Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton or on Zoom
Cost: $90 nonmembers; for couples: $115 nonmembers
Sign up here
NextGen Shabbat with Senator Scott Wiener!
Open to all young adults (people in their 20s – 40s) in the Bay Area
You’re invited to a special Shabbat evening with California State Senator Scott Wiener, part of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services NextGen Leadership Speaker Series. This Shabbat dinner is put on in collaboration with JCRC Bay Area (Jewish Community Relations Council).
Senator Wiener has spent his career fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, affordable housing, and the health and safety of all Californians. He’ll be joining us to share how his Jewish identity has shaped his journey in public service.
We’ll hear personal stories, honest reflections, and powerful insights on what it means to lead with values in today’s world. There will be time for your questions, meaningful conversation, and a delicious Shabbat dinner served in a warm and welcoming setting with other thoughtful young adults from around the Bay Area.
The JFCS NextGen Leadership Speaker Series is a new program highlighting inspiring Jewish changemakers. Shabbat with Senator Scott Wiener is presented in collaboration with JCRC.
Date: Friday, October 24
Time: 8pm
Place: Jewish Family & Children’s Services, 2150 Post Street San Francisco
Cost: Suggested donation of $18 to $36
Register here
Questions? Reach out to Danit at dhetsroni@jfcs.org. We’d love to hear from you.
Exploring Judaica for Your Home: A Fieldtrip to Afikomen
Judaica definition: any object, artifact, or text related to Judaism, encompassing religious books, ceremonial items, artworks, and historical materials and covers a wide range of items from ancient manuscripts and Torah scrolls to modern pieces of jewelry and decorative art.
Join me for a tour of the Jewish store, Afikomen Judaica, in Berkeley. We’ll see items for weddings, Shabbat, holidays and life cycle events. The owner, Nell, will give a tour and then answer any questions you have.
We will have time to browse! Supervised children are welcome.
Date: November 9
Time: 2 to 4pm
Place: Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave, Berkeley
Free
RSVP by emailing dawn@buildingjewishbridges.org