Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami is online every day for services and classes. All Saturday morning services, some Friday evening services, and some events will be in person in the sanctuary as well as on Zoom. See Events at a Glance for the virtual week calendar with Zoom information.
Events at a Glance and Virtual Week Calendar
to 2:00 pmBeth Ami Virtual Week chart with Zoom links, reopening health and safety procedures, and Closed Captioning/ Live Transcript instructions
BETH AMI VIRTUAL WEEK CALENDAR
Rabbi Miller’s Rashi classes on YouTube
Wednesday December 6 Evening Gift Shop Hours, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
December 7, 8, and 9 Singer-Songwriter Beth Hamon with musicians’ workshop, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Saturday night Havdallah Cafe Concert.
Sunday December 10 at 4 pm, Chanukah latke dinner. Frozen latkes can be ordered to take home.
Fridays, 6 pm: First Fridays of the month in person and on Zoom: traditional Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Mordecai Miller followed by dinner. Fourth Fridays lay led on Zoom. Other Fridays, Sing in Shabbat, a short, music filled service led by Leah Gerber and Rabbi Miller, preceded by a story with Rabbi Miller for the kids (and the kid at heart) at 5:30 pm. Next dinner will be November 3.
Saturday morning Shabbat services 9:30 a.m. in person and on Zoom.
Mincha starts approximately an hour before Havdallah, followed by Maariv and Havdallah
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. morning and evening prayers will be conducted on Zoom. Beth Ami Virtual Week
Rabbi Miller’s remote classes:
Weekday Mornings 7:30 a.m. Parsha and Rashi study, also streaming and recorded on YouTube
Tuesdays at 2:00 pm Mishnah
Wednesdays at 8:00 pm Midrash
A letter from Rabbi Mordecai Miller in response to the tragic news of the massacre of Israelis by Hamas, the terrorist organization controlling Gaza..
Special Chanukah Guest: Beth Hamon December 7, 8, and 9 with a musicians’ song share, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Havdallah Cafe concert 7pm Saturday.
Our Chanukah Latke dinner will be Sunday Dec. 10 at 4 pm. We will also be selling frozen latkes as a fundraiser. Beth Ami latkes are the best.
Popular Blogs
(See more blogs here)
SERVICES AND EVENTS ARE A MIX OF IN-PERSON, ZOOM AND HYBRID
We are now conducting in person Shabbat morning services, and some indoor meetings, while most evening services and meetings remain on Zoom. We will also have the sanctuary open on Friday evenings for special speakers and occasions, including Shabbat dinner on the first Friday of the month. Our Shabbat services are a true hybrid with active participants on Zoom. Mask mandates have been lifted for our situation, though people should and do wear them. See Beth Ami Virtual Week for details.
First Friday in person service with Rabbi Mordecai Miller at 6:00 pm followed by Shabbat dinner (RSVP). Other Fridays will be on Zoom: We begin at 5:30 p.m. with a song and a story for the kids (and the kid at heart), on 2nd and 3rd Fridays followed by Leah Gerber leading a short and very sweet musical Shabbat service at 6:00 pm, concluding with our communal Kiddush at about 6:30 pm. We hope that joining as a community in this way, will lift all of our spirits, with the beauty and holiness of Shabbat. Fourth Fridays will be led by congregants.
Saturday Shabbat morning services in person and on Zoom, 9:30 am, lead by Rabbi Mordecai Miller and congregants. There are hearing assistance devices for in-person attendees and captioning available on Zoom. We have resumed lunches after Shabbat morning services. They are prepared by the Kitchen Committee, and tables are set up in the breezeway outside.
Siddur Chadash Shabbat Morning
Saturday night Mincha starts about an hour before Havdalah time, followed by study of a prayer, Maariv and Havdalah: bring Havdallah candle, spicebox and wine.
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday mornings will be conducted on Zoom.
Weekday: 7:00 p.m.
weekday Shacharit SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
weekday afternoon SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
weekday maariv SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
A source for Torah and Haftarah is here Another source: https://www.sefaria.org/texts
Beth Ami Virtual Week chart with Zoom links Beth Ami Virtual Week
Closed Captioning/ Live Transcript instructions Closed Caption Instructions for Beth Ami
Singer-Songwriter Beth Hamon December 7, 8, and 9
Beth Hamon is a creative force whose songs straddle the fuzzy line between Jewish and secular themes ofjustice, hope, renewal and love. Based in Portland, Oregon, she tours as an artist- and educator-in-residence and cantorial soloist at synagogues, community centers and coffeehouses across the country.
Musicians’ Song Share: 7:30pm Thursday, December 7 at CBA, for Jewish musicians from throughout Sonoma County. Focused on the power of music to facilitate community and connection. RSVP a must! call Elizabeth: 707-360-3000. Free, donations welcome.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service 6:00pm December 8 in person and Zoom. Beth will lead the service with Rabbi Mordecai Miller
Havdalah Cafe: 7:00pm, December 9 at CBA; Ticket Donation purchased in advance by contacting our office $20, at the door $25.
Social Action, Civil Rights and Social Justice
Please join the members of the Beth Ami’s Advocates for Social Justice as we explore together:
• Have time together with your community at CBA to share experiences and perhaps some sensitive discussions.
• Explore racism and white privilege in the world today and how it has directly and indirectly been a part of our lives.
• Increase our understanding and learn how racism has molded our perceptions.
• Discover ways to be antiracist and support people of color.
• Gain tools and resources to initiate and build social justice in our community.
Social Action continues to provide food to The Palms. We are now serving hot food from crockpots in person. Social Action Committee meets periodically to plan the next Palms dinner. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact Lyla.
We have resumed volunteering at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. You need to sign up online. We usually work the 10:00- 1:00 shift and then go out for a simple meal. This is a great activity with your children or grandkids over 13. Or for any friend.
To get more info, please call Lyla Nathan at 526-7438 or Elizabeth Jarlsberg at BA office 360-3000.
Beth Ami Israel Committee
The Israel Affairs Committee collects links and descriptions of national and international webinars and online viewing about Israel and antisemitism.
Adult Education
Online weekdays: Rashi commentary on the week’s Torah reading, 7:30-8:00 a.m. The text is shared on screen, and translation is always provided. This is pitched towards the person who is beginning to look at traditional Jewish learning. Videos now posted on YouTube
Online: Mishnah Class with Rabbi Mordecai Miller on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The collection of Oral Torah edited and compiled by Rabbi Judah the Prince in the year 200. We will examine the Hebrew text and the classic commentary of Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinora. All Hebrew will be translated and explained.
Please feel free to catch a lesson and join us weekly if you find this speaks to your desire to learn about our traditions.
Online: TaNaCh Class with Rabbi Mordecai Miller: Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. A study and discussion based on the Parsha of the week or Neviim (Prophets.) In English with lively discussion.
Online: Midrash Class with Rabbi Mordecai Miller: Wednesday evenings 8:00 – 8:45 p.m. We examine the original text of the Midrash Rabba (the Great Midrash) on Genesis as well as an 18th Century commentary called “Eitz Yoseph”. These provide original insights into the Biblical text. Discussion is encouraged.
There is no charge for Rabbi Miller’s classes. A source for Torah and Haftarah is at Bible.ort.org or here Another source: http://www.lashon.net/CL/
Beth Ami Virtual Week chart with Zoom links Beth Ami Virtual Week
Shofar Newsletter
Check out our current newsletter: Shofar November December 2023 for essays, news, more events and details about the events listed above. Archived issues of the Shofar are also available online.
Ongoing activities
On Zoom: Morning Minyan 8:00am
If you need to say Kaddish or memorialize a special event, contact the office at 360-3000 one week in advance, and we will do our best to secure a minyan.
On Zoom: Evening service 7:00 p.m.
In the Social Hall: Exercise for Older Adults 10 am Wednesdays
Israeli Folk Dancing is on a break: See the Israeli Dance blog.
Congregation Beth Ami is located in Northern California,in the heart of Wine Country in Sonoma County, about one hour north of San Francisco, and about one hour west of Napa.
Some Recent Blogs
Take-Out Latke Fundraiser and Chanukah Latke Dinner
Take-Out Latke Fundraiser We will be making and selling the famed Beth Ami latkes as a fundraiser. Richard Kahn has spent decades refining his recipe and technique, and training his crew to produce the finest latkes known to man or woman. They will come 10 to a...
A Special Chanukah Guest: Beth Hamon Returns! December 7, 8, and 9
Beth Hamon is a creative force whose songs straddle the fuzzy line between Jewish and secular themes of justice, hope, renewal and love. Based in Portland, Oregon, she tours as an artist- and educator-in-residence and cantorial soloist at synagogues, community centers...
Beth Ami Book Group
Submitted by Linda Emblen Now we are reading DANCING ARABS by Sayed Kashua (fiction, 227 pgs, Hebrew, 2002; English translation, 2004.) This semi-autobiographical account of Arab Israeli life recounts the story of a Palestinian boy who wins a prestigious scholarship...
In Response to a Tragic Situation
How tragic, that last Shabbat, Shemini Atzeret, a Holy Day that is termed “the season of our joy,” we were awakened to learn the shocking news of a major terrorist attack. Hamas, the terrorist organization controlling Gaza, had breached the security fence, and...
Group Exercise Class for Older Adults
A weekly, in-person group exercise class for active, older adults will continue throughout the year. The class promotes functional strength, flexibility, balance and fall prevention combining physical and cognitive exercises. We will combine chair and standing...
CBA BOOK GROUP : WAKING LIONS
Now we're reading Israeli writer, Ayelet Gundar-Goshen's WAKING LIONS (Fiction, 352 pgs. Hebrew 2014; English translation, 2017.) We participate in the SF Jewish Community Library's Book Club in a Box program. I've been warned that this is not a pretty book, but very...
Food events for Congregation Beth Ami, and the Beth Ami Kitchen
The Kitchen Committee and volunteers are creating celebratory meals and snacks for the holiday season. Come nosh! On Selichot (September 9th), there will be drinks, snacks available to help us study. For Erev Rosh Hashanah (September 15th), toast in the new...
Dr. Ziv Rubinovitz, Israeli political science professor, speaks at Beth Ami
Tuesday September 5 at 7:45 pm, in person at Beth Ami "The Israeli judicial overhaul and the future of US-Israel relations" Presented by the Israel Affairs Committee Join us for this opportunity to learn first-hand about current events in Israel from the perspective...
Reverse Tashlich Sunday September 10
Reverse Tashlich: Join the Beth Ami Advocates for Social Justice Committee Tikkun HaYam and Jewish Communities all over the world in a pre-Rosh HaShana beach cleanup. When: Sunday, September 10 Noon to 3:00 Where: Doran Beach Regional Park How: Register with...