Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami offers true hybrid services and classes. All Saturday morning services, most Friday evening services, and most events will be in person in the sanctuary as well as on Zoom. See
Events at a Glance for information.
Events at a Glance
Coming Shabbat happenings:
Friday January 3 at 6 pm, Kabbalat Shabbat in person and on Zoom with Rabbi Koas, including meditation with Rob Gitlin.
9 am Saturday January 4, Shabbat morning Torah Study, services with Rabbi Koas, and Shabbat lunch.
Friday January 10 at 6 pm, Musical Shir Shabbat in person and on Zoom with Rabbi Koas and KLEZMER CREEK MUSICIANS, including meditation with Rob Gitlin. FOLLOWED BY SHABBAT DINNER HONORING NEW MEMBERS
Saturday morning Torah Study 9:00 a.m. January 11, Shabbat services start 9:45 with Rabbi Koas, and Shabbat lunch.
Upcoming Events:
January 20, 2025 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM MLK Day of Service with Advocates for Social Justice
Web lectures recommended by the Israel Committee in January and beyond
Click to see the beautiful photos by John Burgess in the Press Democrat. He really captured the beauty of the holiday and the warmth of the community.
In January our monthly Shabbat dinner and musical Kabbalat Shabbat will be January 10, honoring new members and featuring the music of Klezmer Creek.
Join the Advocates for Social Justice Committee and Santa Rosa Parks and Rec volunteers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the clean-up at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
All are welcome to participate in our new programs with Rabbi Ron Koas. Learning and discussion can involve trails, breakfast, lunch, and even beer.
Click photo to read the article in the J Weekly about the Teddy Bear Project to comfort traumatized Israeli kids. See the Israel Committee blog to participate..
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
Men’s group awesome outing
We had a Men's Group day February 1, we went to the Redwood Empire food bank and did a 10 to one shift. We had six people, included: Raphael Kauffman, David Sokolsky, Arnie Herskovitz, Melvin Decker, richard kahn, and Jerry Newman. We were quite productive, bagging up...
A Lunar Calendar Shabbat Dinner for February
RSVP for February 2nd Shabbat dinner by Wednesday noon, January 31. OR YOU WILL ANNOY THE DRAGON! When Adar 1 begins, so does the Chinese Year of the Dragon. David Kahn will honor our lunar calendars by preparing a Kosher vegetarian Chinese dinner for February 2nd....
Book Group Reader’s Choice
Sunday, February 11, free choice. Each participant does a mini-book report (5-10 min.) on a fiction or non-fiction book of own choosing by a Jewish author or with a Jewish theme. Probably meet at CBA. Come inspire and be inspired! Sunday, February 25, we will discuss...
HaLayla HaGadol Congregation Beth Ami’s Big Night Fundraiser: February 10, 17 and 18
Our HaLayla HaGadol Big Night Fundraiser is big enough to spill into an added weekend. Our congregants, inspired by the film “The Big Night,” are hosting these tasty get-togethers to celebrate good food, fun and friendship, and to raise money for maintenance of Beth...
Tu B’Shevat food traditions
Tu means 15th; B’Shevat means of the month of Shevat. This was the date originally designated as the general birthday of all the trees that provided food in Israel no matter when in the year they were actually planted. It should come as no surprise to you that this...
A response to crisis
If our TaNaCh (Bible) represents the dawn of the human record, human conflict takes place by the first generation. We read about how Cain’s jealousy leads him to murder his brother Abel. There is little doubt that Cain feels totally justified in this treacherous act....
Social Action December dinner at The Palms
I want to thank everyone for another successful dinner and clothing and toiletries event at The Palms. The amount of care in making and serving the meal was beautiful to see. Thanks to the servers Andy, NANCY, Mike, Judi, Fredrika. Also a very special thanks to Susan...
Beth Ami Book Group reading Katinka for One Bay One Book
Elizabeth Graver’s acclaimed novel Kantika (Henry Holt & Company, 2023) is the One Bay One Book selection for 2023-2024. The Beth Ami Book Group will join with One Bay One Book for our next selection. All CBA members and friends are welcome to participate. For...
Take-Out Latke Fundraiser and Chanukah Latke Dinner
Take-Out Latke Fundraiser We will be making and selling the famed Beth Ami latkes as a fundraiser. Richard Kahn has spent decades refining his recipe and technique, and training his crew to produce the finest latkes known to man or woman. They will come 10 to a...
A Special Chanukah Guest: Beth Hamon Returns! December 7, 8, and 9
Beth Hamon is a creative force whose songs straddle the fuzzy line between Jewish and secular themes of justice, hope, renewal and love. Based in Portland, Oregon, she tours as an artist- and educator-in-residence and cantorial soloist at synagogues, community centers...
