Events at a Glance
Coming Events:
October 22 Wednesday 10:30 am. Exercise Class
October 24, Friday
5:30 pm. Meditation and discussion with Rob Gitlin
6:00 pm. Kabbalat Shabbat with Bonnie Boren and Carolyn Orlik
October 25, Saturday
9:45 am. Shabbat morning service lay led, Potluck lunch
October 29, Wednesday 10:30 am Exercise Class
October 31, Friday
6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service with Rabbi Koas
November 1, Saturday
9 :00 am Torah Study with Rabbi Koas
9:45 am Shabbat Services followed by potluck lunch
November 5, Wednesday 10:30 – 11:30am Exercise Class
November 7, Friday
6:00 pm Shir Shabbat Service with Klezmer Creek
6:45 pm Shabbat Dinner by David Kahn and friends
November 8, Saturday
9 :00 am Torah Study
9:45 am Shabbat Services followed by potluck lunch
November 9, Sunday
9:00 am Morning Minyan & Breakfast
10:30am Torah on Trails
November 10, Monday
6 – 7:30 pm The Prophets Nevi’im Class
November 12, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30am Exercise Class
12 – 1pm Lunch & Learn
7 – 8:00 pm Introduction to Judaism
November 13, Thursday
6:30 – 7:30pm Torah on Tap
November 14, Friday
6:00 Erev Shabbat Service
6:45 pm Potluck Dinner
November 15, Saturday
9 :00 am Torah Study
9:45am Shabbat Services followed by lunch
1 – 2pm Conversational Hebrew
6 – 7pm Havdalah Service
After a 6 year hiatus, Absolute Music has returned. The Big Easy Jazz concert Sunday was a thrill. Don’t miss the String Circle classical quartet concert Sunday November 23. Flyer
Knitters, crocheters, fabric artists, join the Sunday morning creative sessions of the Teddy Bear Project. Click to find out more, and even learn how to help bears fly.
New Nevi’im (Prophets) class on Monday, November 10, at 6:00 pm, and then the third Monday of each month. Rabbi Koas will lead us in looking at the books of the Prophets.
The living hostages are home. In photo, tens of thousands pour into Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to rejoice. Our hearts are with them.
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 one Friday 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.
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.
Rabbi Koas’ classes and events
- 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.)
- Introduction to Judaism / Bnai Mitzvah Class 2nd Mondays, 7:00 pm, starting January 13. How to be Jewish for beginners. A step-by-step guide to gaining an understanding of Judaism and Jewish life. Contact Rabbi Koas if you are interested rabbi@bethamisr.org.
- Havdalah at CBA on 2nd Saturday of the month: You provide the beverage. We’ll provide the Nosh. Followed by Karaoke, Game Night, or other activities. 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. The ongoing Teddy Bear Project to craft and send Teddy Bears to children in Israel.
Shofar Newsletter
Check out our current newsletter: Shofar September October 2025 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
Social Action Summer News
Rabbi Koas is here and on Sunday there is a bbq at Beth Ami at 4:30. Please rsvp to the office. No cost, donations welcome. On Friday, Aug 2 at 7:00 the community is invited to hear Max Alper, executive director of North Bay Jobs with Justice. Carol and her committee...
Torah Study with Rabbi Koas Shabbat Morning
Torah Study Every Shabbat at 9:00 to 9:45 am when Rabbi Koas leads Services, which will follow at 9:45 a.m. Rabbi Koas teaches this class which focuses on a thoughtful reading of the parashah of the week and explores the historical, ethical and spiritual questions...
Tisha B’Av Monday August 12 8:00 pm
Join Rabbi Ron Koas Monday night August 12 at 8 pm to mark the beginning of the Fast of Tisha B'Av. It's customary to darken the sanctuary and read the book of Lamentations by the light of candles or flashlights. It is a solemn and moving experience. See below for a...
July in the Redwoods
I thought I would go back over our Thursday event. We will meet in Sebastopol at the Safeway parking lot on the south side in the shade, and then caravan to the Grove of Old Trees, which is on Fitzpatrick Lane outside of Occidental. As parking is restricted at the...
Meet Rabbi Ron Koas at our Board-Sponosored Barbecue on Sunday July 28, 4:30 pm
Rabbi Koas will first lead services at Beth Ami on July 19 and 20. A more casual opportunity for introductions will be offered at a Sunday barbecue. We hope that everyone in Beth Ami and the greater community will come meet Rabbi Koas at the board-sponsored barbecue...
THE LIAR by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
We will have THE LIAR by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen (fiction, 288 pgs., Hebrew, 2018; English translation, 2019) available to borrow in the beginning of July. Nofar is an unhappy teenager working in an ice cream shop when a frustrated customer unleashes an insulting verbal...
School and office equipment Rummage Sale
Rummage Sale at Beth Ami (click for flyer) Friday, June 28th, 2024 Noon to 3 PM for Beth Ami members 2 PM to 5 PM for local School Directors and teachers We have books, materials, housewares, child play items, manipulatives, office supplies, appliances, furniture...
Three historical dedications
On Saturday June 22, 2024, during Shabbat services, Congregation Beth Ami is inviting family members, friends, and the community to a celebration of three historical dedications. The first is acknowledging the creators of our Torah Mantles that first covered our...
Information for June 1 Pride Parade
Congregation Beth Ami will conduct a Shabbat morning service (Leanne leading) starting at 9:30 a.m. in Fremont Park. We look for a shady spot near the central statue area closer to 5th Street. Our parade check-in time is 10:15, and we should all be in place by 10:40....
Congregations Beth Ami and Bnai Israel Join for Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
Tikkun Leyl is a celebration specific to the holiday of Shavuot: it includes a late-night – or even all-night – study of Torah and Jewish texts that commemorates receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. Come enjoy the night with us in person as Rabbi Miller, Rabbi...












