Welcome to Congregation Beth Ami of Santa Rosa, California.
Congregation Beth Ami is online every day for services and classes. We have reopened the office, and Shabbat services are both in-person and on Zoom. See Events at a Glance for the virtual week calendar with Zoom information and in-person health procedures.
Events at a Glance and Virtual Week Calendar
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
Sunday, November 14 Matzah Brei Fry
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday November 16, Volunteer at the Redwood Empire Food Bank 10:00 a.m.
Fridays, 6 pm on Zoom only: First Fridays of the month traditional Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Mordecai Miller. Other Fridays, Sing in Shabbat, a short, music filled service led by Lisa Iskin and Rabbi Miller, 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.
Mincha starts approximately an hour before Havdallah, 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 2:00 pm Mishnah
Wednesdays at 8:00 pm Midrash
Beth Ami children celebrated Shabbat with Rabbi Miller’s Woodwind Trio, who accompanied the singing of Bim Bam and There’s a Dinosaur Knocking at My Door.
Matzah Brei Fry Sunday, November 14 at 9:30 AM It’s eat inside or outside, takeout option too. Donations are gratefully accepted. RSVP by Nov. 12.
Genesis: a great time to join in our study of the week’s Torah reading using Rashi’s commentary. 7:30 am weekdays on zoom or any time on YouTube.
Friday evenings 6 pm on Zoom: first Fridays of the month with Rabbi Miller, on the others we Sing in Shabbat with Lisa Iskin. We end with Kiddush.
Volunteering at the Redwood Empire Food Bank with the Social Action Committee will be Tuesday, November 16. We volunteer a 2 hour stint from 10:00 a.m. -12 noon.
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 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. 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 2:00 – 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 2:00 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 September October 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
Hear Dr. Paul Liptz – Yemenite Jews
Voices Of Israel May 16, 2021 (Sunday) 10 a.m. PST Hear Dr. Paul Liptz teach us about the Yemenite Jews' journey to return home. The Yemenite Jews dreamed of returning to Israel through the centuries and beginning in the 1880s, small groups arrived. However, in the...
Six Free Events to Celebrate Israel (some require prior signup)
Join with thousands of others around the US to celebrate Israel’s 73rd birthday for the 6 free events. Advanced sign up required for most. Monday April 12 Mon / Apr 12 / 9:30 am The Renaissance of Israeli Judaism with Dr. Ruth Calderon and Karin Lagziel Watch via...
Zoom Bombed
Hi dancers. Well, we got zoom bombed, so I've been studying about Zoom bombing and getting familiar with security. I was completely unprepared since I thought our group was too obscure to attract notice. But I've learned that Zoom bombing gangs use algorithms to...
Pesach 5781 Message from Rabbi Miller
Dear Friends, We’ve all taken a long journey over this past year. Just over a year ago - it was right after Purim - the world was thrown into the grips of a new plague. Our lives were altered almost overnight, and we were forced to face a formerly unexplored disease;...
Dances for Spring and Passover
Hi dancers. Send requests, i'll also repeat dances from last time.-- since I'm preparing for Passover, I'll do some spring themed dances... Song of Songs is read during Passover. There is a lot from Song of Songs that we dance to: though most are couple dances, there...
SONOMA COUNTY YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION APRIL 11
Please join us for the Annual Sonoma County Yom Hashoah Commemoration on Sunday, April 11, 2021 from 2:00-3:15 p.m. via Zoom. The focus of this year’s commemoration will be on local Holocaust survivors. It will include both live and pre-recorded elements featuring...
Ellie Flier Sings in Shabbat March 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for a Special Sing in Shabbat with Ellie Flier and Lisa Iskin, March 19th at 6:00 p.m. An inspiring performer, cantorial soloist, and song-leader based in Nashville, Ellie has found her passion and purpose in writing Jewish music. She has also led services for...
Passover Preparations
Why are the holiday preparations for Passover this year different from all the other times we prepared for Passover? The way I see it, from the very beginning, Passover preparations have been different and challenging. In Exodus we read about two preparations of...
Save the Date: April 14 at 5 We are part of a national virtual Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, featuring Craig Taubman
Congregation Beth Ami and the Sonoma County Israel Committee are co-sponsors of a national virtual Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence) celebration, featuring Craig Taubman. Save the date: April 14 at 5:00 pm PST
Kindershul and Passover
Learn about Passover with our children’s program, for those ages 4 – 7. Led by Robin Cooper, a full-time educator and former Sunday school teacher with music by Lisa Iskin and assisted by Rabbi Miller. FREE TO ALL! Music, stories, dance (and more!) around Jewish...