Events at a Glance
Coming Shabbat happenings:
Friday December 6 at 6 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat in person and on Zoom with Rabbi Koas, including meditation with Rob Gitlin, and Shabbat Dinner following.
Saturday morning Torah Study 9:00 a.m. December 7, services with Rabbi Koas, and Shabbat lunch.
Upcoming Events:
December 8 Book Group discussion
December 8 to 14 All are welcome at Beth Ami’s new programs, led by Rabbi Koas
Sunday December 8 9:00 am Prayers and Breakfast
Sunday December 8 10:30 am Torah on the Trail
Wednesday December 11 noon- 1:30 pm Lunch and Learn
Thursday December 12 6:30 pm Torah on Tap
Saturday 9:00 am Shabbat morning Torah study before services
Saturday 7:00 pm Havdalah and Game Night
December 18 Social Action Committee dinner and clothing and toiletries distribution at The Palms
December 25 Chinese food and a movie at Beth Ami, on the first night of Chanukah
Sunday December 29 at 4:00 pm, Chanukah Latke Dinner
All are welcome to participate in our new programs with Rabbi Ron Koas. Learning and discussion can involve trails, breakfast, lunch, and even beer.
Two Chanukah dinners at Beth Ami! Chinese food and a movie Wed. Dec. 25, and on Sun. Dec. 29, Beth-Ami-made latkes for dinner! (also available for takeout!)
Popular Blogs
(See more blogs here)
SERVICES AND EVENTS ARE A MIX OF IN-PERSON, ZOOM AND HYBRID
Our Shabbat and festival services are a true hybrid with active participants on Zoom. We have a NEW ZOOM ADDRESS. See this page for information and links.
On two Fridays a month Leah Gerber leads 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 Torah Study 9:00 am, Shabbat morning services in person and on Zoom, 9:45 am, lead by Rabbi Ron Koas and congregants. There are hearing assistance devices for in-person attendees and captioning available on Zoom. Lunches after Shabbat morning services are prepared by the Kitchen Committee with potluck donations, see food guidelines and recipes here.
Siddur Chadash Shabbat Morning
Weekday: Sunday through Friday mornings to be determined
Weekday: evening services to be determined
weekday Shacharit SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
weekday afternoon SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
weekday maariv SIDDUR SIM SHALOM
A source for Torah and Haftarah is here Another source: https://www.sefaria.org/texts
Closed Captioning/ Live Transcript instructions Closed Caption Instructions for Beth Ami
Rabbi Koas’ classes and events at CBA starting November 2024
- Every Shabbat morning when Rabbi is in town: Torah Study at 9 AM at CBA
- 2nd Sunday of the month at 9 AM Morning minyan services and Breakfast at CBA
- 2nd Sunday of the month at 10:30 AM Torah on Trails. Please RSVP to Rabbi Koas at 732-998-1029
- 2nd Wednesday of the month at noon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch and Learn at CBA Order a Veggie Wrap or Tuna Sandwich (box lunch, chips and a drink for $12). Please order through the office at 707-360-3000 by the Monday prior to class.
- 2nd Thursday of the month 6:30 PM Torah on Tap at CBA. We provide the drink. You provide the Nosh (Veggie only please follow potluck guidelines.)
- Havdalah at CBA You provide the beverage. We’ll provide the Nosh. Nov 16th 7 pm followed by Karaoke, Dec 14th 7 pm followed by Game Night
Future Havdalah nights ideas include a Painting night, Storytelling/Poetry Mic night/Movies. Send your ideas to office@bethamisr.org Put in the Subjject line Havdalah gatherings. - And every Tuesday when Rabbi Koas is in town. Join him at the Taco Tuesday Ride For details call Rabbii Koas at 732-998-1029
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.
Shofar Newsletter
Check out our current newsletter: Shofar November December for essays, news, more events and details about the events listed above. Archived issues of the Shofar are also available online.
Ongoing activities
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.
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
Two events for Chanukah at Beth Ami
The first night of Chanukah is Wednesday December 25, so... Happy Chinese Food and a Movie Day! Have nothing to do December 25th? Come join us at Beth Ami for Chinese Food and a Movie at 4 pm. Vegetarian fare by Mark Dierkhising and David Kahn. Movie is Frisco Kid....
‘Goyhood’ and ‘Ain’t No Grave’ are our next books
This Jewish calendar year the SF Jewish Community Library has 2 short OneBayOne Book selections. Both novels take place in the South of the U.S. First we’re borrowing 12 copies of GOYHOOD by Reuven Fenton which will be available to CBA members and friends on November...
Be Thankful
Gratitude is the essence of our identity. Gratitude leads to happiness. We get so busy with chasing after the things we want, that we forget to enjoy the present moment and therefore forget to be happy. I hear people all the time saying: ”Oh, I will be happy when I...
December Holiday Collection for The Palms
Shalom all, I want to thank everyone who contributed and or served at The Palms last week. We had a lively turnout and I really think we and the residents really enjoyed the company and the food. Special thanks to Rabbi Koas and to Arnie and Chris for joining the...
All are welcome at Beth Ami’s new programs, led by Rabbi Koas
Torah on the Trail Second Sunday of the month at 10:30 am This is a walk that’s not about the walk. We’ll speak about God and the wonders of creation. We’ll stop along the way to admire the beauty of nature and share thoughts and feelings. How often have you walked...
Pizza in the Hut Shabbat dinner in the Sukkah
Pizza in the Hut: Shabbat Dinner in the Sukkah October 18 Friday at 6:00 pm We will be serving cheese and veggie pizza, salad, dessert kugel and drinks. Price is $8, children 5 and under free. We will eat inside if weather doesn't cooperate. Pizza will be from Whole...
Reverse Tashlich October 20
Join the Advocates for Social Justice Committee on Sunday, October 20th for Reverse Tashlich. We will be cleaning up Santa Rosa creek at Olive Park in Santa Rosa from 10:00am - Noon, with a potluck lunch to follow. Bring a chair and water bottle (we will have drinking...
J Jewish Weekly interviewed Rabbi Koas and Rabbi Miller
https://jweekly.com/2024/09/30/beth-amis-new-rabbi-appreciates-californias-down-to-earth-attitude-as-former-rabbi-moves-to-semi-retirement/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFwA8RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHR1KTxuuhC9VVBeyW_zkt0Egz_JJ1BNbf6bGvAgFVsg4K1UcBzjrC6e76Q_aem_8EOMGVpbCpj2ZCPZTW0Rmg
TO THE END OF THE LAND
CBA BOOK GROUP current read is TO THE END OF THE LAND by highly acclaimed Israeli writer David Grossman (Fiction,576 pgs, Hebrew, 2008; English translation, 2010. All 12 copies of the book borrowed from the SF Jewish Community Library have already been distributed,...
October News from Social Action Committee
We had a very spirited meeting at Judi's. A great lunch attended by, Judi, Judy,karen Michelle, Bobbie, Susan, Rabbi Koas, Leanne and Lyla The next next Palms will be Oct 23 at 4:00 Menu:chili. Lyla, Michelle, karen, Leanne Mac and cheese: Judi, Judy Salad: Judi Corn...