December 19, 2019 ||
21st of Kislev, 5780
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כ״א בְּכִסְלֵו תש״פ
(please note that on December 26 we will NOT send a weekly email! Back Jan 2)
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HOLIDAY CRAFTS FAIR TO
SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS
TODAY 3-6pm & December 23 in the Kehilla Lobby
AND
Monday December 23 at our Hanukkah Party
All proceeds benefit urgent needs for immigrants hosted or accompanied by Kehilla members. Many small, affordable, exquisite handcrafted treasures for the whole family - perfect for the holidays! (See photos above). Please spread the word and invite friends and family! In the Fireside Room.
Questions?
Contact:
kehillacraft@gmail.com.
Learn more here.
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People of Color/Jews of Color Hanukkah Party
Sunday, December 22, 4:30-6:30pm
POC/JOC adults, children and their white parents,
partners and siblings are welcome to join.
Please bring your favorite hanukkiah & candles
to light the first candle in a community of love!
Hanukkah Party with Zahra Billoo &
Holiday Crafts Fair to Benefit Immigrants!
Monday, December 23
5:15-5:45pm:
Hanukkah Puppet Show, "Zaide Makes Latkes!"
with Jen Miriam and Alon Altman, for little ones and their grownups. Sliding scale of $20-$5 per family, no one turned away.
Learn more.
6pm: Hanukkah Candle lighting and Potluck Dinner –
Please bring a potluck item to feed 8-10 people
AND a hanukkiah & candles - latkes provided! (in the Social Hall)
7:00pm: Zahra Billoo, special guest from CAIR
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Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, December 20, 7:30 -9:00 pm
Join us for
Kabbalat Shabbat with Hazzan Shulamit, Jen Miriam Altman, and Julie Nesnansky.
Join us in the sanctuary for a song-filled and soulful evening of Shabbat music, prayers, meditation, and community as we welcome in Shabbat. Kiddush follows services. Please bring something veggie to share, sweet or savory. In the Sanctuary.
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Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, December 21, 10:30am-12:00pm
With Rabbi Dev, Hazzan Shulamit, and Julie Nesnansky.
Join us for shabbat morning prayers and music and an exploration of Parashat Vayeshev. Kiddush follows the service. Please bring something vegetarian to share. In the Fireside Room.
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Tot Shabbat
Saturday, December 21, 10:30-11:15am
Join us for Tot Shabbat with Jen Miriam and Alon Altman with their Puppet Friends. Geared towards babies and children up to age 5 with their grownups! We will share songs, stories, prayers, friends, challah and grape juice. Bring a snack to share if you’d like.
Learn more here
.
In the Back Classroom – Main Floor.
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Benefiting Kehilla's Immigration Committee:
The 27th Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy
December 24-26 in San Francisco
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Kehilla Administrative Offices Closed For the Winter Holiday
Wednesday, December 25 – Wednesday, January 1
Our administrative offices will be closed in observance of the Winter Holiday starting Wednesday, December 25 we will reopen on Thursday, January 2 during our normal business hours.
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Morning Meditation Sit CANCELLED
Wednesday, December 25 AND Wednesday, January 1
Meditation with Rabbi Dev is
CANCELLED
on these days and will resume on Wednesday, January 8.
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Shabbat Morning Service CANCELLED
Saturday, December 28
There will be no morning service on this day. Join us again for Shabbat Saturday January 4.
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700 Benches: Winter 2020 Class Info
Begins January 6 for new participants
In this 6-week beit midrash which will commence mid-January, you’ll learn ancient Jewish texts in their original language, explore Talmud study as a spiritual practice, and co-create a supportive, queer-normative community of study. All you need to begin is your alef-bet (Hebrew alphabet) and to be able to commit to all six sessions
.
C
o-taught by Rabbi Dev Noily and Rabbi Gray Myrseth.
Sessions will take place Monday evenings from 6:45-9:15pm, starting January 6 for new attendees, and on January 13 for repeat attendees. Other classes will take place on January 20 & 27 and February 3, 10 & 24.
Learn more here
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Interfaith Food Bank Volunteering, Come Join Us!
Tuesday, December 31, 8:30-11:30 am
Join members of the Faith Trio communities (Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Montclair Presbyterian Church) and Temple Sinai as we come together to volunteer at the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland. We will be doing tasks such as bagging fruit or vegetables.
More info here.
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Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, January 3, 7:30-9:00pm
Join us for a song-filled and soulful evening of both spirited and contemplative prayer. Kiddush follows the service. Please bring something veggie to share. In the Sanctuary.
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Shabbat Morning Service
Saturday, January 4, 10:30 am-12:15pm
An enlivening Shabbat morning of prayer, torah, and community. Kiddush sponsored by Beth Weinberger in celebration of her 80th birthday. In the Fireside Room.
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Tot Shabbat
Saturday, January 4, 10:30-11:15am
With Jen Miriam and Alon Altman and their Puppet Friends. Geared towards babies and children up to age 5 with their grownups! Join us for songs, prayers, friends, puppets, and stories and end with challah and grape juice. Bring a snack to share if you’d like. In the Back Classroom – Main Floor.
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Morning Meditation Sit
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 @ 7:50 am - 8:45 am
With Rabbi Dev. In the Fireside Room (Enter through the Patio entrance on Fairview). Doors open at 7:50 am, short teaching at 7:55 am, silent sit from 8:00 – 8:30 am, mourner’s kaddish & announcements at 8:30 am.
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Bereavement Spiritual Support Group in Formation
Fridays, 12-1:30pm, Feb 14 – April 3
Grief is a normal response to loss. We know from practical experience and from the ancient teachings of our tradition, that being with an understanding community can help bring comfort and healing to mourners. This group will provide a supportive, non-judgmental context with a spiritual framing to form empathetic connections.
Learn more here.
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Please Donate Children's Books!
We are seeking gently used books for children, pre-Kindergarten up through fifth grade levels. You can put book drive donations in a canvas bag decorated with pink elephants, located outside the sanctuary. We will deliver and donate the books to nearby schools in East and West Oakland. Right now many Oakland children live in houses with no books. Help build our community by sharing the books your child is no longer using, boosting the literacy and chances for success for other children. Questions? Contact
Jeanne Finberg.
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Teens and Adults, let’s do this, one aliyah at a time Join us for Shabbat morning services and share your skills and love of leynen with our community. If you’re interested but have never chanted torah before, or if it’s been a long time and you expect to need significant support, please contact Hazzan Shulamit first
here
.
See dates and learn more here!
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Alameda County's Community Food Bank Holiday Dinner Drive
Once again Kehilla is helping to provide healthy, hearty holiday meals to local families this season. Thanks to the generosity of The Koret Foundation all gifts will be matched -- so that for every $1 you contribute, the Food Bank will be able to provide $14 worth of food! This serves an immense need since 1 in 5 Alameda County residents turns to the Food Bank for help, especially given the rising cost of living in our area. Last year Kehilla raised enough money to provide 1,373 healthy holiday meals for families -- let's surpass that number this year! Please see the attached
letter and flyer
for details about how to contribute, and also look for a letter in the mail. You can donate online at
www.accfb.org/dinner
or send a check. Thank you!
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This is Aurora Levins Morales, a resident poet of Kehilla. You’ve heard me read my work during services for years. Now, other synagogues are using my poetry, too, and asking me to write pieces for them.
Learn more here.
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Norah Needs You!!
Norah is a 5 year old in our Kehilla Community who needs a bone-marrow donor. You might save a life by joining the marrow-donor registry, which is easy and free to do. If that isn't an option for you, there are other ways you can help!!
Learn more here.
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Donate Supplies to Help People Experiencing Homelessness
Please help Tayla Husbands-Hankin support our homeless population by donating
new
& used
tents, tarps, blankets, warm socks, warm men’s coats, sweatshirts & sweaters! A large box is located by the sanctuary door at Kehilla.
Please fill it with these items only
. Talya will pick up the items periodically and deliver them to people who need them. Questions? Contact Jeanne Finberg,
jeanne.finberg@gmail.com
. Thank you!
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KEHILLA MEMBERS
IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY
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Voter Registration by Mail (Swing Left)
Sunday, January 12 and Sunday February 9
Let's help register voters by mail, where we'll have the most impact!
Letters are printed, addresses provided. Add: why YOU think it is important to vote. In the Back Classroom. Please rsvp to Renee at
yidshlid@earthlink.net
for more details.
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"When I Dare to be Powerful" 4-Session Workshop Series with Penny Rosenwasser at Moishe House Oakland
Four Tuesday evenings, January 14-February 4, 6:30-9:10pm
We'll examine what gets in the way of empowering our leadership, through the lens of internalized anti-Semitism & misogyny. For intergenerational Jewish women/gender-queer/trans/non-binary folks.
Learn more here
/
register here
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JeWitch Camp with Rabbis
February 7-9
Celebrate shabbat & Tu B’Shevat (
the New Year for Trees)
with Rabbis Arthur Waskow & Phyllis Berman (fr4mo Philadelphia), Starhawk and Heaven Walker. while also exploring the impact of climate change & activism.
JeWitch Camp 2020 is a non-residential retreat for Jews, Pagans, and those who love them .
Prices go up 12/15. Humanist Hall, Oakland.
More info here
and
here
.
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Niguneem Chorus Havdalah/Chanukah Concert and Dinner
Saturday December 21, 5:30pm, latke dinner, 6:30pm Concert.
Join us! Refreshments & Performance. Tickets at Evenbrite.com - search Niguneem. At Jewish Communuty Center of the East Bay.
For more info
.
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Hear from our Community Leaders
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Need to book a room at Kehilla for an event or committee meeting?
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Kehilla Community Synagogue is comprised of people of all colors, genders, sexual orientations, including people with a wide range of religious and spiritual persuasions. We are committed to being a safe and welcoming place for everyone in our community.
510-547-2424
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