Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami is online at least twice every day for services and classes. See Events at a Glance for the virtual week calendar with zoom information. Check in, say hello.
Events at a Glance and Virtual Week Calendar
Beth Ami Virtual Week chart with Zoom links BETH AMI VIRTUAL WEEK CALENDAR
Streaming video on our Facebook page
Rabbi Miller’s Rashi classes on YouTube
Friday January 22 5:00-5:40 p.m. Kindershul with Robin Cooper for ages 4-7, 2nd and 4th Fridays Flyer
Wednesday January 27 7:00 p.m. Erev Tu B’Shevat with photographer Ronnie Rosenbach in our Zoom room.
Erev Shabbat on Fridays
4:30 p.m. Mincha led by Rabbi Miller, candlelighting 4:45
5:50 p.m. Sing in Shabbat led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller, concluding with Kiddush
February 5th Scott Gerber joins us!
Saturday morning Shabbat services 9:30 a.m. on Zoom; 4:30 Mincha, 5:45 Havdallah
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. mornings 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
Join us on Erev Tu B’Shevat, Wednesday January 27 at 7:00 p.m. in our Zoom Room to celebrate the holiday with music, poetry, and photographer Ronnie Rosenbach.
A new children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, 5-5:40 p.m. Music, stories, dance, and more, around Jewish themes and holidays. FLYER
Voices of Israel speakers Monthly through May, Sundays at 10 am. February 14, Naya Lekht; March 14, Olga Meshoe Washington Sign up for Zoom url.
Liska Iskin Sings in Shabbat with Rabbi Miller 5:50 p.m. Fridays. February 5th singer Scott Gerber will join her! Hear a story and make Kiddush together.
Beth Ami Community Nursery School is a Reggio-inspired Jewish nursery school, providing all children a joyful, safe, and rich learning environment.
Popular Blogs
Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees
Tu B’Shevat is a full moon festival that celebrates the gifts of nature and the renewed cycle of the seasons. Join us on Erev Tu B’Shevat, Wednesday January 27 at 7:00 p.m. in our Beth Ami Zoom Room for an appreciation of the holiday with music and poetry, and featuring photographer Ronnie Rosenbach. Ronnie will take us through selections from her stunning portfolio, as we get an understanding of seeing nature through art. Songs forTu Bishvat
Kindershul for ages 4 to 7
A new children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. Led by Robin Cooper, a full-time educator, former Sunday school teacher with music by Lisa Iskin and assisted by Rabbi Miller. FREE TO ALL! Music, stories, dance (and more!) around Jewish themes and holidays. Starting Friday January 22 and then on 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, 5 – 5:40 p.m. in Beth Ami’s Zoom Room. Please bring a favorite stuffed animal or doll to introduce! Kindershul Flyer
Services 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, Mincha at 4:30 p.m. followed by candlelighting.
Sing in Shabbat is at 5:50 pm led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller. We begin with a song and a story for the kids (and the kid at heart), followed by an abbreviated musical Shabbat service at 6:00 pm, concluding with our communal Kiddush at about 6:45 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, 9:30 am, Siddur Chadash Shabbat Morning
Saturday night Mincha at 4:30 p.m. followed by Maariv, with Havdallah at 5:45 p.m., bring Havdallah candle, spicebox and wine
Weekday: 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday mornings will be conducted on Zoom.
Weekday: 5:00 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
In July, the Social Action and Adult Education Committees co-sponsored three evenings of education on Civil Rights and Social Justice. Benjamin Mertz led us as we explored these questions through lecture, discussion and music. Material for study and action available here.
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.
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: 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 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 5:00 p.m.
On Zoom: Israeli Folk Dancing every other Wednesday evening: See the Israeli Dance blog.
Yoga and Hebrew singing with Hannah Schoen Caratti Tuesdays 4 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. Through January. Contact Hanna for Zoom url. hannahyoga@sonic.net
Check out our current newsletter: Shofar January and February 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
Upcoming Voices of Israel talks online
view "Dry Bones" talk by Yaakov Kirschen view "Stand With Us" talk by Charlotte Korchak view talk by Rabbi Sacks on challenges faced by non-orthodox Jewry in Israel VOICES OF ISRAEL Series of Webinars on the People Israel and the Land of Israel Sign up at...
Kindershul for ages 4 to 7
A new children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. Led by Robin Cooper, a full-time educator, former Sunday school teacher with music by Lisa Iskin and assisted by Rabbi Miller. FREE TO ALL! Music, stories, dance (and more!) around Jewish themes and holidays. Starting...
Looking for requests
Hi dancers. So many dances out there. Please send requests by email Leanne[at]sonic[dot]net and I'll compile a playlist. I figure you will want a chance to practice things you are dancing with other groups. One dance i jotted down from Udy's playlist was Tfilot. When...
A Message for January 6
Dear Friends, By the time you read this, we trust that the Capitol in Washington, DC, will have been made secure. This has truly been a day of sadness for the United States. We know that there are many among us who have been visibly shaken. How many of us ever...
2021 resolution: dance more!
Hi dancers. Happy New Year. The playlist below is mostly what we have been doing, but I switched in some songs that are particularly about new beginnings or of the "chin up, things will be better" variety. You can make requests too... Scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic:...
Chanukah Message: Kislev 24, 5781
Sooner or later, we discover that finding ways to cope with adversity is essential, if we are to experience a measure of happiness in the course of our lives. Adversity takes on an infinite number of forms. Sickness, financial insecurity, cultural attitudes that...
Another Dinner for The Palms
Shalom all, Thanks to everyone who made the holiday dinner and gift distribution at The Palms such a huge success. Special thanks to Judi and Michele for delivering all the goods. There was a lot besides the dinner. There were hats, scarves, socks, toiletries etc....
Israeli zoom dancing in December
Hi dancers. I didn't even eat a real Thanksgiving dinner, but I need exercise anyway. Have to make room for latkes. Our following meeting, Dec. 16, will be the 7th night of Chanukah, we can light candles on zoom.I guess we should do the one Chanukah dance then, Al...
Family Friendly Drive-Through Chanukah now video
BECAUSE OF RAINY WEATHER, THE DRIVE-THROUGH DESCRIBED BELOW HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A VIDEO PRESENTATION. YOU CAN SEE IT AT ANY TIME HERE. It's the Festival of Lights! Beth Ami & our Community Nursery School, The JCC Sonoma County, and PJ Library Bay Area...
CHANGING FACE OF THE JEWISH COMMINITY
Two weeks ago, several members of our congregation and I attended a virtual conference entitled, "Kol Tzedek: A Conference on Racial Justice," presented by United Synagogue, our umbrella organization. It was an exceptional 6-hour experience. The focus of the...