Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.

Some services and events returning to in-person as well as Zoom

Sonoma county public health orders are now allowing us to conduct in person Shabbat morning services, and indoor meetings. We will also have the sanctuary open on Friday evenings when Rabbi Miller is on site. Our Shabbat services are a true hybrid with active participants on Zoom. Mask mandates have been lifted for our situation, though people can and do wear them. See Beth Ami Virtual Week for details.

Fridays on Zoom, also the sanctuary will be open when Rabbi Miller is on site: We begin at 5:45 p.m. with a song and a story for the kids (and the kid at heart), followed by Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Miller on first Fridays. On other Fridays, Lisa Iskin leads 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.

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.

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.

Lag B’Omer and Shavuot

Members come join us for a Lag B’Omer Barbecue May 19th 5:00 p.m. in the Beth Ami Courtyard hosted by the Men’s Club. Kosher Beef Hot Dogs and Hamburgers and non-meat grilled items. Sides and condiments are parve or nondairy. Donations will be gratefully accepted. Please call 707-360-3000 or email the office by Monday, May 16th so we know how much food to make.

Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: study the Book of Ruth, and eat Cheesecake
Saturday June 4th, Shavuot begins at Havdallah, 9:15 pm. Join Rabbi Miller then in a Beth Ami in-person Tikkun Leyl Shavuot, the traditional late night (or even all-night) study session that kicks off the Shavuot holiday, with coffee, cheesecake and study of the Book of Ruth.
Beforehand, at 6:30 pm, the sanctuary will be open for those who want to watch a live streamed program by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism together. See the new Shofar for more information: page 15 for more about the holiday and morning services, and page 8 for more about cheesecake and blintzes.

Social Action, Civil Rights and Social Justice

Please join the members of the Beth Ami Committee on Racism and 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 came up with an idea to prepare individual portions. 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. MORE INFORMATION

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 2:45 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

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.

On Zoom: Israeli Folk Dancing every other Wednesday evening: See the Israeli Dance blog.

Check out our current newsletter: Shofar May June 2022 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.

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