
November 2023
Men’s Club Discussion Group
The purpose of the Men’s Discussion Group is to create a forum for men who are members of Congregation Beth Israel to meet together, enjoy camaraderie and to discuss relevant issues. Participation is not limited to Beth Israel members and a reservation is not required. Discussion topics depend on what participants wish to discuss. Meetings are held via Zoom every second and fourth Monday of each month. Please RSVP via email to Marty Stern at mrstern847@gmail.com.
Find out more »Chazzanus, Aesthetics and Non-Conformity
In this talk, scholar and musician Jeremiah Lockwood will discuss the role of cantors as stars of mass media in the early 20th century and the ways in which new outlets for performance allowed people with outsider identities to perform roles of sacred authority. Combining storytelling, deep listening to old records, and conversation, this event will offer a provocative and pleasurable entry into the world of early 20th century Jewish American musical life and its echoes into the present day.…
Find out more »A New Jewish Voice: Europe
The contemporary Jewish story has three voices: the mass immigration to the Golden Medina from the old country, the Holocaust and the birth of the State of Israel, and the third only now is beginning to be heard. It is the story of post-Holocaust Europe. It has its own compelling narrative, its own perspectives, and its potential to contribute to the choir of Jewish civilization. With the fall of Communism came the awakening of the third narrative and the past…
Find out more »Rosh Chodesh Kislev: Fighting Illness with Love : A Glimpse into the World of Chai Lifeline
Please join us for an informative and inspiring presentation on this global Jewish health network and learn how they are changing the lives of children and families impacted by serious illness. Randi Grossman, MPH Randi Grossman is the West Coast Regional Director of Chai Lifeline, a premier international Jewish children’s health services organization. As the founding director for the region, Randi has overseen the development and implementation of Chai Lifeline’s comprehensive support programs and services in eleven western states, helping…
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: What We Won’t Know About AI
Comments by: Scott Kahn Many of the questions being asked about AI cannot be answered now, or perhaps for a very long time, if ever. Ray Kurzweil predicts that AI machines will be able to pass the Turing test* by 2029. Others disagree, predicting 50 years, or 100. Machines have augmented human capabilities for millennia. What may be unique in today’s AI is that machine intelligence is seen as encroaching upon domains that humans have believed were unique to them.…
Find out more »Rabbi Phil Graubart “Great Jewish Ideas for the 21st Century”
In this class, we’ll discuss three essential Jewish ideas for the 21st century. These ideas flow organically from Jewish sources and Jewish history. But they also depart radically from traditional Judaism as we’ve understood it for centuries. During class, we’ll study the texts fueling these radical ideas, and the circumstances which brought them about. We’ll also examine these ideas critically, discussing the merits and drawbacks of each idea and text. The three ideas are: 1.New models of gender and sexuality.…
Find out more »Danger: Women with Books
The profession of safrut, of the sacred scribal arts, has, traditionally been thought of as “man’s work” both from an halakhic (legal) perspective and from a sociological one. Yet the very first illustrated Scroll of Esther that has come down to us has the signature of a female scribe, women copied Torah manuscripts in book form in societies as conservative as Yemen, and wealthy women in Italy wrote manuscripts, had liturgy “reformed” to reflect specifically female concerns, and are depicted…
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. Sources for 2023-2024 Book Lists There is no fee, but please RSVP below for planning purposes. After registering,…
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 visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rf--gqTgpE9Ey74eFhwi60yVUeUNpsp14 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 »Artist Spotlight Series Heritage, Tech, and Tradition
In this 3-part series, we step into the fascinating worlds of contemporary artists who blend age-old traditions with today's technologies. Each episode brings to life a different story, from art made using cutting-edge tech, memories captured in tangible forms, to the timeless beauty of old-school calligraphy. Dive in with us and meet three incredible artists who are giving a fresh twist to how we see and understand art. Session #1 - Tuesday October 17, 2023 Liat Segal - Technology, Intimacy,…
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 »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 visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rf--gqTgpE9Ey74eFhwi60yVUeUNpsp14 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 »TRUE COLORS: Stories from Jews of Color Exploring Identity and Community
Join us for "TRUE COLORS," a captivating online salon theatre show presented by The Braid (formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre). This enlightening production spotlights Jews of Color, delving deep into their personal stories of identity, resilience, and the quest for belonging. While reflecting on challenges unique to Jews of Color, TRUE COLORS reveals the universal human experience that binds us all. From a daughter born to a Jewish mother and a Black/Chinese father learning to celebrate her diversity to a woman grappling…
Find out more »Men’s Club Discussion Group
The purpose of the Men’s Discussion Group is to create a forum for men who are members of Congregation Beth Israel to meet together, enjoy camaraderie and to discuss relevant issues. Participation is not limited to Beth Israel members and a reservation is not required. Discussion topics depend on what participants wish to discuss. Meetings are held via Zoom every second and fourth Monday of each month. Please RSVP via email to Marty Stern at mrstern847@gmail.com.
Find out more »The Sephardic Holocaust: The Destruction of the Jews of Greece
Although often omitted from standard presentations of the Holocaust, the Jews of Greece suffered one of the highest mortality rates of any Jewish community under Nazi occupation. The largest of all Ladino-speaking communities, Salonica(Thessaloniki), known as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans,” where Jews comprised half of the city’s residents at the turn of the century and where the port closed on Saturday in observance of the Jewish Sabbath, was completely decimated. This lecture will explore the distinctive processes of destruction,…
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 »Danger: Women with Books
The profession of safrut, of the sacred scribal arts, has, traditionally been thought of as “man’s work” both from an halakhic (legal) perspective and from a sociological one. Yet the very first illustrated Scroll of Esther that has come down to us has the signature of a female scribe, women copied Torah manuscripts in book form in societies as conservative as Yemen, and wealthy women in Italy wrote manuscripts, had liturgy “reformed” to reflect specifically female concerns, and are depicted…
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