January 2023
History & Philosophy of Islam
There is a public perception that the Muslims and the Jews have an eternal animosity and have been in conflict through out their histories. However, Islam recognizes Judaism and Christianity as legitimate monotheistic faiths, and the Jews and the Christians as People of the Book who have received divine guidance. Moreover, in contrast to the Christians, Muslims did not consider the Jews as killers of God or God’s son. Thus, there was no inherent theological conflict between the Muslims and…
Find out more »Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Torah Study will be via diverse access: in person in the Feuerstein Family Activity Center or on Zoom You can connect via your computer or telephone using Zoom. You can register just once for all future sessions, by clicking HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Come occasionally or come every week. These eclectic and lively discussions about the week’s Torah portion consider the text through traditional and modern commentaries, as well…
Find out more »Shabbat Lay Led Service
An informal service, open to all, featuring prayer, singing and Torah discussion in a relaxed and friendly setting. Located in the Foster Family Chapel, or via the Beth Israel Chapel YouTube Channel. Please contact Gordon Glenn at gaglenn@prodigy.net to be added to the Lay Led Service list. For those attending virtually and who do not have your own Mishkan Ti’filah for Shabbat, you can get a Kindle version for $4.99 at the following link: Amazon/Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Mishkan-Tfilah-Shabbat-Reform-Siddur-ebook/dp/B016R0HSLU/ref=sr_1_2 If you have an…
Find out more »Using the Jonah Narrative to Shape a Jewish Guide to Healing and Wholeness with Rabbi Nevarez
In our 3-session series, we will explore how the Book of Jonah powerfully illustrates a spiritual journey, not only as general guide and model for healing, but how it specifically serves as a primary Biblical model for individual wrestling, struggle, teshuvah, and recovery. *This series will be heavily informed by Rabbi Nevarez’s Rabbinic Thesis on the Book of Jonah. Session 1: Jonah and Self-Deception Session 2: God’s Mercy and Grace Session 3: Teshuvah (Repentance) and Recovery Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Senior Rabbi @ Beth Israel,…
Find out more »A Visit to the Heart of the Ancient Silk Road: The Jews of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia south and southeast of the Aral Sea (bordered by Kazakhstan in the west and north east, by Turkmenistan in the south west, Afghanistan in the south, and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the east), is the most populous country in Central Asia and is rich in history, culture, and diversity. It has been a part of numerous empires and was once the main centerof the Silk Road. The meaning of the name Uzbek is…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »Men’s Club Speaker Forum: Antisemitism in Visual Art Since the Middle Ages
In general, when we talk about antisemitism, people think about the Nazis, the Holocaust, or contemporary antisemitism. The aim of this presentation is to show that antijudaism has been expressed in visual art since the early Middle Ages. This, and other types of discrimination have been encouraged by political and religious powers and these actions paved the way to persecution and genocide. Jews have been depicted as monsters, subhumans, animals, or demons. Medieval depictions of monsters were not designed simply…
Find out more »History & Philosophy of Islam
There is a public perception that the Muslims and the Jews have an eternal animosity and have been in conflict through out their histories. However, Islam recognizes Judaism and Christianity as legitimate monotheistic faiths, and the Jews and the Christians as People of the Book who have received divine guidance. Moreover, in contrast to the Christians, Muslims did not consider the Jews as killers of God or God’s son. Thus, there was no inherent theological conflict between the Muslims and…
Find out more »Adult Evening Book Club
Are you a reader looking to connect with others and discuss great literature? Join our monthly book club! We welcome adults of all ages to come together and engage in thought-provoking discussions about a diverse range of books. Whether you're a seasoned bookworm or a newcomer to the reading scene, we encourage you to join us for an enjoyable and enriching experience. Date Book Facilitator September 15, 2022 Apeirigon Carol Levy October 20, 2022 The House of Fragile Things Barbara…
Find out more »Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Torah Study will be via diverse access: in person in the Feuerstein Family Activity Center or on Zoom You can connect via your computer or telephone using Zoom. You can register just once for all future sessions, by clicking HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Come occasionally or come every week. These eclectic and lively discussions about the week’s Torah portion consider the text through traditional and modern commentaries, as well…
Find out more »Shabbat Lay Led Service
An informal service, open to all, featuring prayer, singing and Torah discussion in a relaxed and friendly setting. Located in the Foster Family Chapel, or via the Beth Israel Chapel YouTube Channel. Please contact Gordon Glenn at gaglenn@prodigy.net to be added to the Lay Led Service list. For those attending virtually and who do not have your own Mishkan Ti’filah for Shabbat, you can get a Kindle version for $4.99 at the following link: Amazon/Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Mishkan-Tfilah-Shabbat-Reform-Siddur-ebook/dp/B016R0HSLU/ref=sr_1_2 If you have an…
Find out more »Women of Beth Israel: Rosh Chodesh Shevat Virtual Celebration
Women of Beth Israel invite you to join us on Zoom to hear from a well-known author and illustrator of Judaic texts, former San Diegan Debra Band. Debra will speak to us about her book Arise! Arise! Deborah, Ruth and Hannah (Honeybee in the Garden, LLC; 2012; available on Amazon and elsewhere; www.dbandart.com/books). Debra’s paintings, calligraphy, and scholarship explore the Biblical stories of Deborah, Ruth and Hannah, creating amazing treats for the eyes and the spirit, bringing to life the…
Find out more »Using the Jonah Narrative to Shape a Jewish Guide to Healing and Wholeness with Rabbi Nevarez
In our 3-session series, we will explore how the Book of Jonah powerfully illustrates a spiritual journey, not only as general guide and model for healing, but how it specifically serves as a primary Biblical model for individual wrestling, struggle, teshuvah, and recovery. *This series will be heavily informed by Rabbi Nevarez’s Rabbinic Thesis on the Book of Jonah. Session 1: Jonah and Self-Deception Session 2: God’s Mercy and Grace Session 3: Teshuvah (Repentance) and Recovery Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Senior Rabbi @ Beth Israel,…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:45 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie Potiker for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-five-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. For past sessions, visit: https://blubrry.com/balancedmind/ About Julie: Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her…
Find out more »History & Philosophy of Islam
There is a public perception that the Muslims and the Jews have an eternal animosity and have been in conflict through out their histories. However, Islam recognizes Judaism and Christianity as legitimate monotheistic faiths, and the Jews and the Christians as People of the Book who have received divine guidance. Moreover, in contrast to the Christians, Muslims did not consider the Jews as killers of God or God’s son. Thus, there was no inherent theological conflict between the Muslims and…
Find out more »Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Torah Study will be via diverse access: in person in the Feuerstein Family Activity Center or on Zoom You can connect via your computer or telephone using Zoom. You can register just once for all future sessions, by clicking HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Come occasionally or come every week. These eclectic and lively discussions about the week’s Torah portion consider the text through traditional and modern commentaries, as well…
Find out more »Shabbat Lay Led Service
An informal service, open to all, featuring prayer, singing and Torah discussion in a relaxed and friendly setting. Located in the Foster Family Chapel, or via the Beth Israel Chapel YouTube Channel. Please contact Gordon Glenn at gaglenn@prodigy.net to be added to the Lay Led Service list. For those attending virtually and who do not have your own Mishkan Ti’filah for Shabbat, you can get a Kindle version for $4.99 at the following link: Amazon/Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Mishkan-Tfilah-Shabbat-Reform-Siddur-ebook/dp/B016R0HSLU/ref=sr_1_2 If you have an…
Find out more »Cooking with Caring Community with Rabbi Emeritus Michael Berk
By popular demand, our program recipe has been changed from Cheese Cake to Rabbi Berk’s famous Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe! You don’t want to miss out on this delicious demonstration! Join us for another wonderful evening of Cooking with Caring Community! Our Host is Rabbi Emeritus Michael Berk and we will be making Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies. This program offers an opportunity for community members to virtually prepare a dish together both for themselves, and to donate to our…
Find out more »Using the Jonah Narrative to Shape a Jewish Guide to Healing and Wholeness with Rabbi Nevarez
In our 3-session series, we will explore how the Book of Jonah powerfully illustrates a spiritual journey, not only as general guide and model for healing, but how it specifically serves as a primary Biblical model for individual wrestling, struggle, teshuvah, and recovery. *This series will be heavily informed by Rabbi Nevarez’s Rabbinic Thesis on the Book of Jonah. Session 1: Jonah and Self-Deception Session 2: God’s Mercy and Grace Session 3: Teshuvah (Repentance) and Recovery Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Senior Rabbi @ Beth Israel,…
Find out more »The Radical Responsibility of Rabbi Sacks: The Problem of Evil as a call to Action
How do we manage the dissonance between the world as it is and the world as it ought to be? This question has haunted mankind since its inception and is the driving force behind our constant desire to understand why evil and suffering exist in the world. In this class we will be exploring this perennial human dilemma through the prism of Rabbi Sack’s iconic book Radical Then Radical Now. Through studying both Biblical and Midrashic sources as well as…
Find out more »