Events at a Glance
Coming Events:
May 11, Monday
5:30 pm Class on Siddur
6:30 pm Class oon Neviim, Prophets
May 6, Wednesday
10:30 – 11:30 am Exercise Class
12 noon, Lunch and Learn
77:00 pm Introduction to Judaism
May 15, Friday
6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Koas
6:45 pm Potluck Shabbat Dinner
May 16, Saturday
8:45 am Torah Study
9:45 am Shabbat Services with Rabbi Koas
10:30 am Tot Shabbat
12 noon potluck lunch
1:00 pm Conversational Hebrew
8:00 pm Havdallah gathering
May 17, Sunday
9:00 am Morning Minyan and breakfast
10:30 am Torah on Trails
May 18, Monday 7:00 pm Israeli Dancing
May 20, Wednesday
10:30 to 11:30 am Exercise Class
6:30 pm Torah on Tap
May 21 Thursday 7:30 pm to 1:30 am Tikkun Leil Shavuot at B’nai Israel, Petaluma
May 22 Friday 6:00 pm Shavuot service followed by celebration and dinner
May 23, Saturday
8:45 am Torah Study
9:45 am Shavuot Day 2 Services with Rabbi Koas followed by potluck lunch
Shavuot began as a harvest festival of first fruits, and became the day we remember receiving Torah at Sinai. Celebrate with song, food, study and prayer.
Beth Ami has hoops! Read Rabbi Koas’ article in the Shofar newsletter to find out why, and why we also get involved with bicycles, hiking, dancing, food and wine..
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 May June 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 back: On Monday, March 30th at 7 pm, please join Robin Lowitz and others in the wonderful art of Israeli dancing 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
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...
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...













