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 Events:
November 26, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30am Exercise Class
November 27, Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28 Friday
5:30 pm. Meditative Minyan on Zoom only
6:00 pm. Sing in Shabbat with Leah Gerber on Zoom only
November 29 Saturday
9:45 am. Shabbat morning service – Lay led, followed by lunch
December 7, Sunday, 2:00 pm Visiting Israel in a Time of War: congregants’ experiences
December 17, Wednesday Social Action Committee dinner and clothing distribution at The Palms
December 20, Saturday 10:30 am Tot Shabbat with Lauren Kalmanson
December 21, Sunday 4:30 pm, community Chanukah Party and Latke night
December 25, Thursday 4:30 pm Chinese dinner and comedians
December 25: Kung Pao Kosher Comedy Beth Ami Style! 5 course vegetarian Chinese dinner, 4:30 pm followed by comedians from the Barrel Proof Lounge. $60 BYOB
Chanukah Party & Latke Night! Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:30-7:00 p.m., 8th night. Latkes by the Board, singing by Susy Boimoil Starr and Jeremy Lipsin.
The Beth Ami Gift Shop has everything for Chanukah, from fine Judaica to all kinds of candles and dreidels to gelt and gifts. In the Beth Ami office, open during office hours.
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.
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.
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 6:00 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 November December 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
Beth Ami Book Group
Submitted by Linda Emblen Now we are reading DANCING ARABS by Sayed Kashua (fiction, 227 pgs, Hebrew, 2002; English translation, 2004.) This semi-autobiographical account of Arab Israeli life recounts the story of a Palestinian boy who wins a prestigious scholarship...
In Response to a Tragic Situation
How tragic, that last Shabbat, Shemini Atzeret, a Holy Day that is termed “the season of our joy,” we were awakened to learn the shocking news of a major terrorist attack. Hamas, the terrorist organization controlling Gaza, had breached the security fence, and...
Libi B’Mizrach– our hearts turn to Israel
As the holiday season ended with Simchat Torah and with the horrific events in Israel, I wanted to let you know the Sonoma County Rabbis are planning an event for the county within the week in support of Israel. More information will be announced in the next few days....
Group Exercise Class for Older Adults
A weekly, in-person group exercise class for active, older adults will continue throughout the year. The class promotes functional strength, flexibility, balance and fall prevention combining physical and cognitive exercises. We will combine chair and standing...
CBA BOOK GROUP : WAKING LIONS
Now we're reading Israeli writer, Ayelet Gundar-Goshen's WAKING LIONS (Fiction, 352 pgs. Hebrew 2014; English translation, 2017.) We participate in the SF Jewish Community Library's Book Club in a Box program. I've been warned that this is not a pretty book, but very...
Food events for Congregation Beth Ami, and the Beth Ami Kitchen
The Kitchen Committee and volunteers are creating celebratory meals and snacks for the holiday season. Come nosh! On Selichot (September 9th), there will be drinks, snacks available to help us study. For Erev Rosh Hashanah (September 15th), toast in the new...
Dr. Ziv Rubinovitz, Israeli political science professor, speaks at Beth Ami
Tuesday September 5 at 7:45 pm, in person at Beth Ami "The Israeli judicial overhaul and the future of US-Israel relations" Presented by the Israel Affairs Committee Join us for this opportunity to learn first-hand about current events in Israel from the perspective...
Reverse Tashlich Sunday September 10
Reverse Tashlich: Join the Beth Ami Advocates for Social Justice Committee Tikkun HaYam and Jewish Communities all over the world in a pre-Rosh HaShana beach cleanup. When: Sunday, September 10 Noon to 3:00 Where: Doran Beach Regional Park How: Register with...
It’s the Everything Bagel of Rummage Sales!
Community Rummage Sale to be held Sunday August 20th from 10 am to 2 pm at Beth Ami, 4676 Mayette Avenue, across from Spring Lake Middle School. We are collecting items in very good or excellent condition like.... Household items, kitchen ware Barbecue and cooking...
Friday Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 pm with Rabbi Miller on Zoom, with new story time for grown-ups at 5:30.
I’ve decided to read from the novel “Queen Maker” by India Edghill in the place of the “Children’s Story.” It’s a novel based on the Biblical character of Michal, daughter of Saul. One review of the book reads: “Bold yet precise, this novel weaves new threads of...