Coping with Covid-19
We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well.
Rabbi Mordecai Miller has written a letter explaining our decision to continue services on Zoom, including through the High Holidays. We will do everything we can to enable everyone to get online and attend. The letter, detailing measures we are taking, may be found here.
At the urging of congregants, we’ve established a “Calling, Caring & Connecting” effort, engaging a group of 25 members who are making calls each week to check-in with every congregant. Stay connected and let your caller know if you need something – from TP to prayerbooks!
At the urging of Nursery School parents and some CBA members, we’re creating a team of volunteers who “can do” for the vulnerable among us: go grocery shopping, for example, or read aloud to someone with poor eyesight. You’ll hear more as this develops.
Stay well friends,
Carolyn Metz, President, mzmetzpresident@gmail.com
and Rabbi Mordecai Miller rabbi@bethamisr.org
Rabbi Miller 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, Kabbalat Shabbat 5:50 pm with musical leadership by Lisa Iskin, Siddur Chadash Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday, 9:30 am, Siddur Chadash Shabbat Morning
Saturday night with Havdallah begins at 7:50 p.m., bring Havdallah candle, spicebox and wine
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday mornings will be conducted on Zoom.
Weekday: 8:00 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 and Adult Education: 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.
Are you concerned about racism in our country? Are you pondering what you can do to help improve civil rights? How can we help? Benjamin Mertz led us as we explored these questions through lecture, discussion and music. A recording of his talks will be available at a later date.
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. The next Palms dinner will be August 26.
Adult Education
Drop-in Book Discussion Group: Lately I’ve held a couple of book discussion gatherings for 6 in my backyard. We practice social distancing, sitting 12 feet apart in a circle, and can hear what each person has to say. In one group, each participant reported on a different book, fiction or n0n-fiction, whatever they chose to share. So this summer I will be hosting more of these small gatherings. i feel fortunate to have this space, and am opening up RSVP spots for other CBA members and friends for sharing congenial conversation and diverse points of view in a safe environment. I also plan to have a poetry discussion group. No politics, please. If anyone wants to offer another outdoor space, I’ll help. For more details and dates phone Linda Emblen, 544-4532. I’m very happy to coordinate.
Online weekdays: Rashi commentary on the week’s Torah reading, 7:30 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.
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 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Rabbi’s Study) 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 8:30am in the chapel
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 8:00 p.m.
Suspended: Israeli Folk Dancing See the Israeli Dance blog.
Check out our current newsletter: Shofar July August 2020 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.