Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami is online every day for services and classes. We have reopened the office, and Shabbat services are both in-person and on Zoom. See Events at a Glance for the virtual week calendar with Zoom information and in-person health procedures.
Events at a Glance and Virtual Week Calendar
Beth Ami Virtual Week chart with Zoom links and reopening health and safety procedures
BETH AMI VIRTUAL WEEK CALENDAR
Streaming video on our Facebook page
Rabbi Miller’s Rashi classes on YouTube
Thursday December 2 4:30 – 7:45 p.m. Chanukah Latke party FLYER
Fridays, 6 pm on Zoom only: First Fridays of the month traditional Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Mordecai Miller. Other Fridays, Sing in Shabbat, a short, music filled service led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller, preceded by a story with Rabbi Miller for the kids (and the kid at heart) at 5:50 pm.
(4:30 p.m. Mincha led by Rabbi Miller)
Saturday morning Shabbat services 9:30 a.m. on Zoom as well as in-person in the sanctuary.
Mincha starts approximately an hour before Havdallah, followed by Maariv and Havdallah
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. morning 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
Happy Chanukah! Post photos of your Chanukah on our Facebook page, stop by our evening services 7:00 p.m. on Zoom, and check out our latke recipes.
Thanks to all the volunteers and all the congregants who brought joy, laughter and community to our Chanukah party.
Genesis: a great time to join in our study of the week’s Torah reading using Rashi’s commentary. 7:30 am weekdays on zoom or any time on YouTube.
Beth Ami children celebrated Shabbat with Rabbi Miller’s Woodwind Trio, who accompanied the singing of Bim Bam and There’s a Dinosaur Knocking at My Door.
The Social Action Committee will provide dinner and gift bags to residents of The Palms on December 15. Donations of toiletries and winter items needed.
Popular Blogs
Services online, and in person
Beth Ami is reopening, while continuing to bring services, davening and Torah study into our homes through Zoom sessions.
Starting June 26, we have welcomed congregants into the sanctuary for Shabbat services, as well as continuing to interact with congregants on Zoom. There are health guidelines and procedures outlined in Beth Ami Virtual Week, please check before coming, as these may change with changing situations.
Fridays on Zoom only: Sing in Shabbat led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller. We begin at 5:50 p.m. with a song and a story for the kids (and the kid at heart), followed by Lisa’s 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 both in person in the sanctuary and available on Zoom, 9:30 am,
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.
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday mornings will be conducted on Zoom.
Weekday: 7:00 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
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.
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 2:00 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 November December 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
Sign up for “Is Today’s College Campus Climate Safe for Jews?” Dec. 12 at 3:30pm
Is Today's College Campus Climate Safe for Jews? Please join us to hear Alyza Lewin, a leading voice in the fight against antisemitism on college campuses, address the problems Jewish college students and faculty are currently experiencing in a Zoom webinar Sunday,...
2nd night of Chanukah on zoom with Lisa, Leah and Scott
Scott and Leah Gerber join us for the 2nd night of Chanukah, Monday the 29th of November at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom, for our Maariv service led by Lisa Iskin. To begin, Leah and Scott will sing "Chanukah Oh Chanukah" in Yiddish and English. We will then light the candles...
Social Action Winter Projects
Tuesday November 16: members of the Social Action Committee demonstrating that volunteering at the Redwood Empire Food Bank is always good, but if you join with them it's even better, because it's also fun. The Social Action Committee is having a holiday party for the...
Suddenly, a Knock on the Door
Now, the Beth Ami Book Group is reading contemporary Israeli author Etgar Keret's short stories called SUDDENLY, A KNOCK ON THE DOOR (2012, 188 pgs.) Like his memoir (THE SEVEN GOOD YEARS., which we read last month.), most of his stories are concise vignettes, using...
What’s happening: Committee on Racism and Social Justice
Here’s what’s happening with our group. Our meetings include very rich and insightful conversations on books, movies, published articles and webinars that we have attended relating to Racism and Social Justice. We all are enjoying building friendships while learning...
Working on Chanukah plans
Our Staff and volunteers are working together to plan two large Chanukah parties with food and activities for all. The plans are to ensure that everyone is safe and can come on the campus during Hanukkah to enjoy the season. The congregation’s vaccinated adults' and...
Matzah Brei Fry Sunday Nov 14, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Thanks to the generous donation of David Kahn and Safeway we have a few extra cases of Matzah (Matzot? or Matzas?). By now, you should all have heard about the Matzah Brei Fry we are planning to do on Sunday, November 14th at 9:30 AM (as long as these positive health...
Latkes for every night– part two
Latkes, latkes, we like latkes. Not just a little but a lot of latkes. That's why the Kitchen Committee has so many different latke recipes... too many for one post. This is part two, but you might prefer to keep them in a pdf available here Latke recipes night by...
Latkes for every night- Part One
Latkes, latkes, we like latkes. Not just a little but a lot of latkes. That's why the Kitchen Committee has so many different latke recipes... too many for one post. This is part one, but you might prefer to keep them in a pdf available here Latke recipes night by...
A dancing update: Zoom continues
I have been keeping some track of folk dance groups that have resumed in-person dancing. I know of a group (Udy's) in the Santa Cruz area that dances outside on a deck without masks. Most groups seem to have resumed in-person dancing but with masks, and also proof of...