January 2021
Wisdom in Isolation: A Study of Pirkei Avot with Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel
Dates: Wed. January 6, 13, 20, 27, 2021 from 10:00am-11:30am Pirkei Avot — a book which means “The Teachings and Wisdom of our Ancestors” — was codified during a short time after the expulsion from Jerusalem (the second time). During this period of figuring out their own “new normal,” the rabbis wrote down their words of wisdom, which we still study and use today. From humility to what happens when we do mitzvot to why b’nei mitzvah is at 13…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Thursday mornings from 10:00-10:40 am (moved to Thursdays only for January) Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation…
Find out more »DayTimers Speaker Series: Rabbi Jason Nevarez “The Rabbi’s Lens: A Personal Journey Through the Promised Land”
Join us as Beth Israel's Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Jason Nevarez, takes on a virtual journey of his favorite places in Israel - from historical to the cultural adventure and beyond. Originally from New York City, Rabbi Nevarez graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, and went to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he received his BA in 1998. He was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 2006, where he earned…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Community-Wide Virtual Tu BiShvat Event
Jewish National Fund of San Diego and Beth Israel invites you to join us for a community-wide virtual Tu BiShvat event taking place Sunday, January 24, 2021 from 1 – 2:30pm on Zoom. A Virtual Tu BiShvat Celebration and Gardening Workshop Join us for a dynamic, community-wide virtual Tu BiShvat celebration! Nan Sterman, award-winning gardener, will lead us through an interactive, step-by-step gardening workshop (supplies list provided below) where you will learn to plant succulents from the comfort of your…
Find out more »Wisdom in Isolation: A Study of Pirkei Avot with Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel
Dates: Wed. January 6, 13, 20, 27, 2021 from 10:00am-11:30am Pirkei Avot — a book which means “The Teachings and Wisdom of our Ancestors” — was codified during a short time after the expulsion from Jerusalem (the second time). During this period of figuring out their own “new normal,” the rabbis wrote down their words of wisdom, which we still study and use today. From humility to what happens when we do mitzvot to why b’nei mitzvah is at 13…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Thursday mornings from 10:00-10:40 am (moved to Thursdays only for January) Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »TRIBE Virtual Oneg: What’s your origin story?
TRIBE is for adults in their 20’s-40’s who Jew together. Virtually meet, mingle, and celebrate Shabbat with your fellow TRIBESTERS! Join us for a Virtual Oneg on Friday, January 29, 2021, at 7:30 pm on Zoom. What are the anchors in your origin stories that ground you today? What can you learn from others when they share their origin story with you? At this interactive virtual event, we will make space to share with one another about our origin stories. A few…
Find out more »February 2021
Jews and Jazz! with Yale Strom
Enjoy the music of some of the greatest musicians of the jazz and swing era of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s! Listen to Benny Goodman, the King of Swing and Artie Shaw play alongside great black musicians like Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton. Yale Strom, one of this country’s foremost scholars on Jewish klezmer music and jazz, will share his insights and research about why and how the world of entertainment, especially jazz and the blues, attracted Jewish and African-American…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »B’Makom: Courageous Conversations Series
In the Torah, we are taught to accept others, without prejudice or bias: "You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Eternal" (Leviticus 19: 17-18). Our Jewish tradition illuminates various instances of moral reckoning when we are asked to be present and accounted for. As a Reform Jewish community, we are committed to the spirit of this ongoing teaching.…
Find out more »DayTimers Movie Mavens: Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably when a home birth ends in unimaginable tragedy. Thus begins a yearlong odyssey for Martha, who must navigate her grief while working through fractious relationships with Sean and her domineering mother (Ellen Burstyn), along with the publicly vilified midwife (Molly Parker), whom she must face in court. The movie can be found on Netflix. This spirited cinema discussion group is…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Jews and Jazz! with Yale Strom
Enjoy the music of some of the greatest musicians of the jazz and swing era of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s! Listen to Benny Goodman, the King of Swing and Artie Shaw play alongside great black musicians like Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton. Yale Strom, one of this country’s foremost scholars on Jewish klezmer music and jazz, will share his insights and research about why and how the world of entertainment, especially jazz and the blues, attracted Jewish and African-American…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »Virtual Fireside Chat with Jill Wine-Banks, author of “The Watergate Girl” and Rabbi Jason Nevarez
Jill Wine-Banks takes us inside her trial by fire as a Watergate prosecutor. It was a time, much like today, when Americans feared for the future of their democracy and women stood up for equal treatment. At the crossroads of the Watergate scandal and the women’s movement stood a young Jewish lawyer named Jill Wine Volner (as she was then known), barely thirty years old and the only woman on the team that prosecuted the highest-ranking White House officials. Called…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Women of Beth Israel: Rosh Chodesh Adar
We are so excited that our very own Nicole Nevarez will be leading our next Rosh Chodesh event. Nicole moved to San Diego in July with her husband, Rabbi Jason Nevarez, and their children, Ethan and Sophie. Mi Shenichnas Adar, Marbim L’simcha. "When you enter the Hebrew month of Adar, our joy should increase.” That is the Talmudic mandate for the month of Adar. In these challenging times, joy may feel truly elusive at times or for some of us,…
Find out more »Jews and Jazz! with Yale Strom
Enjoy the music of some of the greatest musicians of the jazz and swing era of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s! Listen to Benny Goodman, the King of Swing and Artie Shaw play alongside great black musicians like Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton. Yale Strom, one of this country’s foremost scholars on Jewish klezmer music and jazz, will share his insights and research about why and how the world of entertainment, especially jazz and the blues, attracted Jewish and African-American…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »DayTimers Speaker Series: Dr. Alan Molk and Dr. Robert Shapiro “Saving Lives. Saving Dignity: A Unique End-of-Life Perspective From Two Emergency Physicians”
The doctor approaches you and says, “Your mother is seriously ill and we have to put her on a ventilator to keep her alive. Do you want us to do everything?” Your answer is, of course, “Yes, I want you to do everything.” Then you think, “Why is he asking me this question?” You assume that by doing everything, your mother will be saved. What you may not realize, however, is that this decision may subject your loved one to…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »We All Belong: A Discussion about Inclusion and Accessibility (Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month Panel)
Three synagogues will be represented: Adas Israel, a large Conservative congregation in Washington, DC (Judy Heumann); Kol Ami, a small Reconstructionist congregation in Arlington VA (Rayna Aylward and Toni Popkin) and Ohr Shalom Synagogue (Jeanne Argoff). We will begin by briefly discussing how each synagogue initially addressed inclusion and accessibility issues, what they do now, what they plan for the future, and what we can learn from each other. We will segue into Judy's story, which interweaves her Jewish upbringing,…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »Virtual Trivia Night for Adults
With celebrations including costumes, skits and songs, noisemakers, and gifts of food, Purim is definitely full of fun! This year, we are hosting a fun virtual trivia night for adults. Register today for Zoom Team Trivia with Brian Jones: All the fun of pub quiz from the comfort of your own home! With several years of experience hosting in-person games throughout the DC metro area, Brian brings his fun and accessible approach to trivia online. Using Zoom's Breakout Rooms feature,…
Find out more »March 2021
Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »B’Makom: Courageous Conversations Series
In the Torah, we are taught to accept others, without prejudice or bias: "You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Eternal" (Leviticus 19: 17-18). Our Jewish tradition illuminates various instances of moral reckoning when we are asked to be present and accounted for. As a Reform Jewish community, we are committed to the spirit of this ongoing teaching.…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »Virtual Passover Seder Plate Fused Glass Workshop
Beth Israel is proud to present this unique virtual seder plate workshop led by Ilanit Shalev. Glass artist Ilanit Shalev takes you step-by-step in creating your own one-of-a-kind creation. Learn the process of fused glass making and let your creative side shine. What a wonderful gift for someone you love or for yourself. Ilanit was born and raised in Israel and studied at the World Center for Glass while residing in Portland, Oregon. Create your own Passover Seder Plate with…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Scholar-In-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan
Dana Evan Kaplan is Rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley in Sun City, Arizona. He was ordained as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. He holds a Ph.D. in American Jewish history from Tel Aviv University. He has led congregations in the United States, Jamaica, South Africa, Australia, and Israel, and has taught in several colleges and universities. Kaplan has written numerous articles and academic papers on a diverse range of topics relating…
Find out more »Ultimate Passover Food Guide and Cooking Demo with Leah Koenig
Join Leah as she explores how we can take our Passover foods to the next level. She will present a live demonstration of two dishes, and recipes will be provided. Get ready to learn how to craft a delicious mina (Sephardic matzo pie with leeks, dill, and feta), and a sweet and simple dessert of chocolate dipped figs. Leah Koenig is the author of six cookbooks including The Jewish Cookbook (Phaidon, 2019) – a 400+ recipe collection of Jewish dishes from around the globe, and Modern Jewish…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »B’Makom: Courageous Conversations Series
In the Torah, we are taught to accept others, without prejudice or bias: "You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Eternal" (Leviticus 19: 17-18). Our Jewish tradition illuminates various instances of moral reckoning when we are asked to be present and accounted for. As a Reform Jewish community, we are committed to the spirit of this ongoing teaching.…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker
Wednesdays mornings from 10:00-10:40 am Give yourself the gift of calm. Join Julie for this grounding way to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these forty-minute mindfulness sessions, you will experience bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the…
Find out more »April 2021
Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »Introduction to Judaism: Fundamentals of Belief and Practice
All sessions are held virtually on Zoom until future notice. Thursdays, October 15, 2020 – April 8, 2021 (no class Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, 2020 / Feb. 25, 2021) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., except as noted. (Friday, February 5, 2021, Learners Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, Graduation Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.) Instructors: Beth Israel Rabbis Fee: Beth Israel members $225 per individual, $250 per couple*; Nonmembers $275 per individual,…
Find out more »