Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami is online at least twice every day for services and classes. See Events at a Glance for the virtual week calendar with zoom information. Check in, say hello.
Events at a Glance and Virtual Week Calendar
aBeth Ami Virtual Week chart with Zoom links BETH AMI VIRTUAL WEEK CALENDAR
Streaming video on our Facebook page
Rabbi Miller’s Rashi classes on YouTube
Friday March 12 5:00-5:40 p.m. Kindershul with Robin Cooper for ages 4-7, 2nd and 4th Fridays Flyer
Sunday March 14, 10:00 a.m. Voices of israel
Erev Shabbat on Fridays
4:30 p.m. Mincha led by Rabbi Miller, candlelighting 4:45
5:50 p.m. Sing in Shabbat led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller, concluding with Kiddush
March 19, Singer-Songwriter Ellie Flier joins us!
Saturday morning Shabbat services 9:30 a.m. on Zoom; 4:30 Mincha, 5:45 Havdallah
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. mornings 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
March 19, 6 p.m. Sing in Shabbat with special guest Ellie Flier, an inspiring performer, cantorial soloist, and songleader in Nashville but with Sonoma County roots. Don’t miss this!
Beth Ami will help you celebrate Pesach. March 28 (Sun.) 9:30 a.m. First Day Pesach Service on Zoom, 7 p.m. Community Second Seder on Zoom, plus, the Gift Shop!
A children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, 5-5:40 p.m. Music, stories, dance, and more, around Jewish themes and holidays. FLYER
Lisa Iskin Sings in Shabbat with Rabbi Miller 6:00 p.m. Fridays. Hear a story for families, experience a short and musical service, and make Kiddush together.
Voices of Israel speakers Monthly through May, Sundays at 10 am. The next presentation is March 14, with Olga Meshoe Washington Sign up for Zoom url.
Popular Blogs
Kindershul for ages 4 to 7
A new children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. Led by Robin Cooper, a full-time educator, former Sunday school teacher with music by Lisa Iskin and assisted by Rabbi Miller. FREE TO ALL! Music, stories, dance (and more!) around Jewish themes and holidays. 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, 5 – 5:40 p.m. in Beth Ami’s Zoom Room. Favorite stuffed animals or dolls are also invited! Kindershul flyer
Services online
Beth Ami is bringing services, davening and Torah study into our homes while our building is closed. We are conducting Zoom sessions, plus streaming video on our Facebook page at these times, along with pdfs of prayerbooks for following along:
Friday, Mincha at 4:30 p.m. followed by candlelighting.
Sing in Shabbat is at 5:50 pm led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller. We begin with a song and a story for the kids (and the kid at heart), followed by an abbreviated musical Shabbat service at 6:00 pm, concluding with our communal Kiddush at about 6:45 pm. We hope that joining as a community in this way, will lift all of our spirits, with the beauty and holiness of Shabbat.
March 19 (Friday)— 6 p.m. Sing in Shabbat with special guest Ellie Flier
An inspiring performer, cantorial soloist, and songleader based in Nashville but with Sonoma County roots, Ellie Flier has found her passion and purpose in writing Jewish music. Listeners can’t help but feel a palpable connection to her songs, whether calling for social justice or rising up in joyous celebration.
Saturday, 9:30 am, Siddur Chadash Shabbat Morning
Saturday night Mincha at 4:30 p.m. followed by Maariv, with Havdallah at 5:45 p.m., bring Havdallah candle, spicebox and wine
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday mornings will be conducted on Zoom.
Weekday: 5:00 p.m. Evening services often include the musical leadership of Lisa Iskin
weekday Shacharit SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
weekday afternoon SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
weekday maariv SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
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
Social Action, Civil Rights and Social Justice
In July, the Social Action and Adult Education Committees co-sponsored three evenings of education on Civil Rights and Social Justice. Benjamin Mertz led us as we explored these questions through lecture, discussion and music. Material for study and action available here.
Social Action continues to provide food to The Palms. We came up with an idea to prepare individual portions. Social Action Committee meets periodically to plan the next Palms dinner. To get more info, please call Lyla Nathan at 526-7438 or Elizabeth Jarlsberg at BA office 360-3000.
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: Mishna 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. in the Library. 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
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 5:00 p.m.
On Zoom: Israeli Folk Dancing every other Wednesday evening: See the Israeli Dance blog.
Check out our current newsletter: Shofar March and April 2021 for essays, news, more events and details about the events listed above. Archived issues of the Shofar are also available online.
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.
Latest Blogs
Ellie Flier Sings in Shabbat March 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for a Special Sing in Shabbat with Ellie Flier and Lisa Iskin, March 19th at 6:00 p.m. An inspiring performer, cantorial soloist, and song-leader based in Nashville, Ellie has found her passion and purpose in writing Jewish music. She has also led services for...
Upcoming Voices of Israel talks online
View Past Presentations in this Series view "Dry Bones" talk by Yaakov Kirschen view "Stand With Us" talk by Charlotte Korchak view talk by Rabbi Sacks on challenges faced by non-orthodox Jewry in Israel view "Antisemitism for Dummies" by Dr. Naya Lekht (see a...
Hamentashen recipes
Lee Feinstein writes: Click pdf link below for the Recipe I use that has been featured in the past few years. I tend to go overboard. It has Pareve dough and uncooked fillings. I made 2 batches of dough and got 114 cookies, put 100 in the CBA freezer for the Purim...
Scott Gerber, the Yiddish cowboy, February 5
Please join us on zoom for Sing in Shabbat with Lisa Iskin and Scott Gerber, Friday, February 5th, from 6:00 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. You will hear Scott Gerber's original songs as well as some old favorites such as “Tumbalalika” and "Oifen Prepichick" woven into the...
Kindershul for ages 4 to 7
A new children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. Led by Robin Cooper, a full-time educator, former Sunday school teacher with music by Lisa Iskin and assisted by Rabbi Miller. FREE TO ALL! Music, stories, dance (and more!) around Jewish themes and holidays. Starting...
Looking for requests
Hi dancers. So many dances out there. Several of us zoomed in to the Oldies dance conducted by Allen King. Those old dances are more of a workout than the newer ones! In other news, I am so happy that other people are learning how to lead dances. Please send requests...
A Message for January 6
Dear Friends, By the time you read this, we trust that the Capitol in Washington, DC, will have been made secure. This has truly been a day of sadness for the United States. We know that there are many among us who have been visibly shaken. How many of us ever...
2021 resolution: dance more!
Hi dancers. Happy New Year. The playlist below is mostly what we have been doing, but I switched in some songs that are particularly about new beginnings or of the "chin up, things will be better" variety. You can make requests too... Scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic:...
Chanukah Message: Kislev 24, 5781
Sooner or later, we discover that finding ways to cope with adversity is essential, if we are to experience a measure of happiness in the course of our lives. Adversity takes on an infinite number of forms. Sickness, financial insecurity, cultural attitudes that...
Another Dinner for The Palms
Shalom all, Thanks to everyone who made the holiday dinner and gift distribution at The Palms such a huge success. Special thanks to Judi and Michele for delivering all the goods. There was a lot besides the dinner. There were hats, scarves, socks, toiletries etc....