Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami is online every day for services and classes. See Events at a Glance for the virtual week calendar with zoom information. We are reopening the office, and began in-person services for Shabbat, following health guidelines to design reopening procedures.
Events at a Glance and Virtual Week Calendar
https://bethamisr.org/2021/05/sing-in-shabbat/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
Erev Shabbat on Fridays: First Fridays of the month, traditional Kabbalat Shabbat in person in the sanctuary and on Zoom, 6:00 p.m.
Other Fridays, on Zoom only: 6pm Sing in Shabbat, a short, music filled Kabbalat service led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller, some evenings 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.
7:45 p.m. on zoom: Mincha, 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 2:30 pm Mishnah
Wednesdays at 8:00 pm Midrash
The High Holidays are approaching! Our plans so far, including Cantor Cory Winter, are on the Worship page. We do not require purchase of tickets.
This Shabbat, the full moon marks Tu B’Av, a holiday of love in the Jewish calendar. And the 10 Commandments, Shema and Ahavtah are in the Torah reading.
Rabbi Miller is on zoom teaching Rashi, Mishna, Midrash and Tanach, and conducting weekday morning and evening minyans. See the virtual calendar.
Are you once again inviting people over for Shabbat? Now that the office is open five days a week, so is the Gift Shop! Make celebration even more beautiful.
The Social Action Committee supplies dinners to The Palms housing, and can always use more cooks to cook in your kitchen. Let the office know if you can help.
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, Mincha at 4:30 p.m. FIRST FRIDAYS of the month, a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat Service will be held in person in the sanctuary with Zoom available.
Other 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. Our next dinner at The Palms will be on Wednesday, August 18. 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 2:30 – 3:30 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 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
The Yemenite influence on Israeli dance and music
Hi dancers. The big news is that the Person Senior Center is putting me on their daytime drop-in schedule starting August 18. 2 Wednesdays a month, from 2-4 p.m. upstairs in the room 25 dance studio. This Wednesday we are still on Zoom, going over Mudbira, Achei Bnei...
Plans for the New Year
As we end the year and prepare for the early High Holidays the SAC is hoping for a return to more normal activities and programming this year. As stated in our yearly report this year was like none other. However, even with COVID restrictions we were able to continue...
Where do we go from here?
As a member of the Board of Directors and the Reopening Task Force, a lot of questions have been on my mind, especially now as the new CBA Board President. The main one is: how do we reopen and make everyone feel safe? How do we start to have congregant participation...
Prayers for Surfside
Dear Friends, By this time most of us have heard of the terrible tragedy when part of Champlain Towers in Surfside Florida, collapsed while people were asleep in bed, Just imagining going through such an experience sends chills down my spine. Every individual who...
Upbeat musings
Dear Congregants, Friends and BACNS Families, as our fiscal year and school year winds down, I have several Upbeat Messages about our future. I’m grateful to all of you who are here to share them with me. In addition, please join us for the Annual Meeting on June 13,...
Volunteering once again at the Redwood Empire Food Bank
Last week we volunteered at the Redwood Empire Food Bank, something we did regularly pre-pandemic. The work involves packing food for distribution as we did before. The setup is outside under a large tent. There is also opportunity to be completely outside. It is very...
Events Next Week (May 9 – May 16, 2021)
Israel Committee Communication Three events next week plus links to recordings of eight prior events: Jerusalem Day, The Scoop on Yemenite Jews’ Return Home, and Recordings We hope that you have enjoyed and learned from our prior “Voices of Israel” webinar. The next...
Preparing for the Congregation’s Annual Meeting June 13
Dear Congregants, This will be my last communication with you in the Shofar as your President. When I stepped into this role, I could not have anticipated the life-changing events that were to modify our world forever. I cannot say I’m reluctant to step down – the...
Fighting Hunger
The SAC made another delivery of a delicious home cooked meal to the residents of The Palms. Once again it was received with great thanks and gratitude. The residents know who we are at Beth Ami and always welcome us with a smile. Great job team! I have received...
Sing in Shabbat
On the first Friday evening of each month, Rabbi Miller conducts a traditional Erev Shabbat service in the sanctuary and on Zoom. Join us other Friday evenings on the Beth Ami Zoom page, as we Sing in Shabbat as a community. At 5:50 we have a song and a story with...