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, 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 5:45 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.

HIGH HOLIDAYS AT BETH AMI: The New Year is a gift we open together.

Congregation Beth Ami welcomes everyone to our holiday services and celebrations, from greeting the new year with prayer, music and honey cake, through the deep reflection of Yom Kippur, the thanksgiving of Sukkot, and finally joyous dancing with the Torahs on Simchat Torah. We don’t charge for tickets to High Holiday services at Beth Ami. Just contact Elizabeth Jarlsberg in the office at 707-360-3000 or office@BethAmiSR.org for yours if you are not a member, or if members want to bring friends and family. Donations are appreciated (and needed).  

Services led by Rabbi Mordecai Miller and Cantor Jessie Leider, with members of our congregation.
Here are pdfs with guides, schedules and order forms:
High Holiday Guide 2023,
High Holiday Schedule 2023,
Tashlich 2023
Order challah, lulav & etrog, break-fast meal 2023

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 September October 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