Dear Bay Area Interfaith couples and families,

Welcome to the electronic version of Bridges!  Bridges debuted in November 1991, and many of you have been receiving it – by mail – three times a year from the very beginning.  Although we are modernizing our medium, the message remains the same – to joyfully welcome interfaith couples and families to explore the rich Jewish community around the Bay and to consider making Jewish choices together... [Continued]

Featured Article
Shabbat Sholom – Taking Time Out

Photo: Jonathan Levine

And on the seventh day, God rested… It’s one of the first things we learn in religious school. And it’s the reason, we learn, for observing the Sabbath.

“If I were to rank things, the single most important thing we do as Jews is to observe Shabbat,” states Rabbi Michael Lezak of Congregation Rodef Sholom. Resting, however, doesn’t mean simply a little “r & r,” Lezak explains. The Hebrew word, which we liberally translate as “rest,” actually means “ceasing work.” “I think God is saying, ‘You’re working too hard, you’re not hugging your kids enough, you’re not taking time for yourself,’” he says. Cease work and take the time, Lezak suggests... [Continued]

Bridges was created to offer opportunities for interfaith couples and families to explore Jewish community and their own feelings about religious/cultural identity. But really, who is it that calls me to ask for some help around Jewish community? [Continued]		Interfaith Connection, a program of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, continues to evolve to meet the diverse needs of San Francisco interfaith/intercultural couples and families... [Continued]
The Open Tent committee at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael is a new group dedicated to developing programming for interfaith families to help them feel more comfortable in a synagogue and provide information on Jewish holidays... [Continued]		Peninsula Temple Beth El, a Reform congregation in San Mateo, is the recipient of a major grant from the Jewish Community Federation to provide programming for interfaith families and couples in partnership with the Peninsula JCC and Jewish Family and Children’s Services... [Continued]

•  Building Jewish Bridges •  Interfaith Connection •  InterfaithFamily.com •  j. The Jewish News Weekly •  Jewish Information & Referral •  Lerhrhaus Judaica •  Project Welcome		Friday Nights in Berkeley Community Shabbat with Bay Area musician Gary Lapow at the JCC of the East Bay, Berkeley. Enjoy a festive meal, singing and more.   Ongoing in Palo Alto An interfaith workshop providing an opportunity to discuss topics of interest with others in interfaith relationships with Yael Moses, LMFT. Call 415.449.1234 or Yaelm@jfcs.org. November 19 in San Rafael Exploring the World of Judaism features a panel focusing on interfaith families and the issues they face.   November 29 in San Francisco Editor Laurel Synder discusses Half/Life: Jewish Tales from Interfaith Homes, her engaging collection of stories.