September 2007
At Last Becoming a Parent, with the Support of My Congregation
By Pam Chernoff
Pam Chernoff originally read this essay at 2005 Rosh Hashanah services at Temple Beth Hillel in Richmond, California.
Five years ago, at the end of erev Rosh Hashanah services, a recent Bat Mitzvah turned to me, thrust out her hand, and said “L'shana tova.” My inner teenager shrieked, “You've been found out!” As if anyone at the Marin Civic Center would have been surprised to learn that there was a non-Jew in attendance. But it was the first Jewish worship service I'd ever attended, I was there with a boyfriend I hadn't been dating for very long, and I felt supremely self-conscious.
Less than two years later, I attended my first Jewish wedding. I was the bride... [Continued]
The Fall Holy Days... from A to Z
By Suzan Berns
The Jewish month of Tishrei, which falls sometime in the autumn, (depending on the vagaries of the Jewish calendar) is chock full of holidays. It begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and ends with Simchat Torah, the day we complete – then begin again – the reading of the Torah (the Five Books of Moses)... [Continued]
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Forgotten in the whirlwind of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is a wonderful and joyous holiday – Sukkot. In the days when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, there were three pilgrimage holidays – that is to say, holidays on which Jews were commanded to journey to the Holy Temple and engage in a marvelous and extensive celebration. One of those holidays was Sukkot, the fall harvest festival... [Continued]
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As we enter into a time of reflection and renewal, we might, as couples, begin anew to think about what it is we want in our relationships. What might bring both more intention and a sense of empowerment to our partnerships? Maybe it’s more time together, or healthier and more frequent communication, or perhaps a better understanding of each other's cultural and religious backgrounds... [Continued]
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Gan Halev, The Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, and The Russian River Jewish Community are two congregations in the North Bay that offer eclectic celebrations and observance of Jewish holidays for families living in their areas. Both congregations serve a large percentage of interfaith families... [Continued]
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If you’re not members of a congregation, Hillel at Stanford offers a variety of options for observing the High Holidays. Under the leadership of Rabbi Mychal Copeland, Reform/Reconstructionist, Conservative and Orthodox services all will be held throughout Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur... [Continued]
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