Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.

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. 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.

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. 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.

5783 High Holidays at Beth Ami

Services are led by Rabbi Mordecai Miller, Cantor Cory Winter, and members of our congregation. Most of the High holiday services will be conducted in the Friedman Center, to make use of air conditionaing and fans, and to have plenty of room for social distancing. We will also be on zoom, as we are for all services. We will also make use of our shady green lawn under the redwoods for musical family services led by Leah Gerber and Lisa Iskin, and teen services led by Rick Concoff.

Services will feature both innovation and tradition, and an  opportunity to participate in prayer, song and discussion as a community. Beth Ami does not charge for High Holiday tickets for our friends, families, and visitors in the wider community. We do ask members and guests to contact the office with their RSVPs so we can set up chairs and prepare a safe healthy seating environment. Donations are very gratefully accepted; they enable us to provide everyone with this important and meaningful way to begin a Good New Year.

Here is a information and a schedule of Holiday services through Simchat Torah. We will be adding information soon.

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 2:30 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

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 July Aug 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.

Some Recent Blogs