Events at a Glance
Coming Events:
February 11, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30 am Exercise Class
12 - 1pm Lunch and Learn
7 – 8pm Introduction to Judaism
February 12,Thursday
5:30 pm Master class exploring Siddur Hadash, our prayerbook
6:30 pm Torah on Tap
February 13, Friday
6:00 pm. Kabballat Shabbat with Rabbi Koas, followed by potluck dinner
February 14, Saturday
8:45 am Torah study with Rabbi Koas
9:45 am. Shabbat morning service, followed by potluck lunch
7:00 pm Havdallah followed by board games
February 18, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30 am Exercise Class
February 20, Friday
12:30 pm Men’s Group Lunch at Dierk’s Parkside Cafe
6:00 pm. Kabballat Shabbat lay led
February 21, Saturday
9:30 am Psukei d’Zimra lay led
9:45 am. Shabbat morning service lay led, followed by potluck lunch
10:00 am Tot Shabbat with purim treats
1:00 pm Conversational Hebrew after lunch
February 22, Sunday start baking Hamentashen
10:30 am Teddy Bear Project meeting
February 25, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30 am Exercise Class
February 27, Friday
6:00 pm. Sing In Shabbat with Leah Gerber on Zoom only
February 21, Saturday
9:30 am Psukei d’Zimra lay led
9:45 am. Shabbat morning service lay led, followed by potluck lunch
March 2, Monday
6:30 pm the real Gantze Megillah chanted by Asher Nathan
March 4, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30 am Exercise Class
March 5, Thursday
5:30 pm Master class exploring Siddur Hadash, our prayerbook
6:30 pm Torah on Tap
March 6, Friday
6:00 pm. Kabballat Shabbat with Rabbi Koas NO dinner (postponed to 3/13)
March 7, Saturday
8:45 am Torah study with Rabbi Koas
9:45 am. Shabbat morning service, followed by potluck lunch
March 8, Sunday
4:00 pm Happy Hour Viva Las Vegas Purimspiel
March 8, 4:00 pm Viva Las Vegas Singalong Purimspiel Starring Sinatra, Elvis, dancing showgirls and a shark. Happy Hour cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, hamentashen!
Beth Ami invites you to Tot Shabbat, a Jewish experience for the whole family, especially for young children 1 to 8 years old. Siblings encouraged to come.
Torah on the Trail, Lunch and Learn, Torah on Tap, Prophets, Introduction to Judaism, Shabbat Torah study, check the newsletter and online calendar for dates.
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 8:45 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 Monday of the month at 5:30 – 6:30 PM Siddur Master Class, exploration of Siddur Hadash, the prayer book that shapes our communal worship.
- 2nd Monday of the month at 6:30 PM study of Nevi’im, the books of the Prophets, starting with Joshua. Bring snacks.
- 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 January February 2026 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
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...
Another wonderful Men’s Club Barbeque for Lag B’Omer!
Another wonderful Men’s Club Barbeque for Lag B’Omer! Hamburgers and hotdogs plus Klezmer Creek! Join us on May 26 at 4:00 p.m. On the 33rd day of the Counting the Omer is Lag Ba’Omer (May 26th 2024) one relaxes the semi-mourning tradtion and celebrates this minor...
May 3 Shabbat dinner with Gary Saperstein of Face to Face
For our May 3rd Shabbat dinner the Social Action Committee is bringing us a speaker: Gary Saperstein, Development Director for Face to Face. The mission of Face to Face is to end HIV in Sonoma County while supporting the health and well-being of people living with...
In Every Generation
"In Every Generation They Tried to destroy us. God saved us” “Let’s eat!” This formula certainly applies to the two approaching holidays of Purim and Pesach. Interesting to note that the former comes at the end of the holiday cycle and the second, at the beginning. At...
Bernard Malamud
Our next read is the classic Bernard Malamud's THE FIXER (fiction, 352 pgs. 1966.) It won both the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize, and is highly recommended by Rita Kagan. Set in Kiev in 1911, a non-observant Jewish handyman refuses to confess to a crime he...
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....













