Kol Kehilla
April 2019
The Newsletter of Kehilla Community Synagogue
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the April issue
of  Kol Kehilla , our monthly newsletter. 
Have you fulfilled your
Avodah commitment for the current membership year?
We have only 3 months left,
and so many great opportunities!
Or call Maya at 510.547.2424 x 106
ARTICLES
by Rabbi David J. Cooper
Between our Kehilla’s Annual Community Seder, our on-line downloadable Haggadah, Kehilla takes Passover seriously and provides the means to make it meaningful and accessible to every household. Our Kehilla Home Haggadah is free for anyone to use and is usable even by those who know no Hebrew and includes instructions for a flexible seder that can be geared for people of different ages and backgrounds.

by Rabbi Dev Noily
On March 15, we learned of the horrible attack against people praying in Masjid Al Noor and the Linwood Masjid in New Zealand. We continue to mourn and to build our relationships with local Muslim communities in the wake of the attack.

Sometime later I was talking with Kehilla’s board co-chair, Karen Cohn, and I shared our process as we learned about the attacks and began to respond...

by Michael Saxe-Taller
If you have stopped by Kehilla during the workweek recently, you may have noticed me in a meeting, on the phone or intently writing on my computer. We have hit a very busy time for me and for all of Kehilla. I find my head spinning with the many exciting projects on my plate. I tried to come up with a big picture topic for this column, but gave up and decided to let you in on some of these many great efforts...

by Maya Joshua
One of the things I love most about Kehilla is that we don’t shy away from what’s difficult. When I was a kid and I’d complain to my father that something was hard, he’d always respond with enthusiasm: “Good! Hard is good!,” he’d say. The gist was: if it’s hard and you’re tired and maybe it’s a little messy, you’re probably busy with something worthwhile. That’s how I know that the Kehilla retreat this summer is going to be fantastic: it’s only March, and we’re already weeks deep into some good challenges.

Over the next few months we will introduce you to the members of the Kehilla Board of Trustees.  Remember you are invited to join the board at it’s monthly meeting – the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the back classroom.
Ali Cannon: Ali has been a Kehilla member since the fall of 2016. When not at Kehilla you might find him stand up paddle boarding, or writing poetry...
Marcie Rubel: Like many, Marcie’s connection with Kehilla started with High Holy Day services back when those services were...
Catherine Lyons: Catherine also first came to Kehilla for High Holy Days when they were held at the Congregational Church in Oakland...

By Bill Lazarus
Rabbi Gray Myrseth grew up in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood. Their father is Jewish and from the midwest, while their mother is from Norway and is not Jewish. Although their family did not, at the time, find a Jewish community that felt like a good fit, home practice and holiday observance “was the center” of their Jewish upbringing...

Dear Kehilla community,
You are invited to join us as at the following Shabbat morning services as some incredible humans become B’nei Mitzvah! Some of us may feel a little hesitant about coming to a Shabbat service when a young person we do not know personally is becoming B’nei Mitzvah. Please be assured that having Kehilla community members present brings immense joy and liveliness to the service, which is greatly appreciated by the family and their young person.
Spearheaded by the Economic Justice Committee, which sought and received Board and Rabbinic approval, Kehilla is now a Participating Congregation in the Tiny House Village Project designed to provide housing for homeless youth.
There are 1,700 homeless youth (age 14-24) in Alameda county, and only 36 youth-designated shelter beds...

by Lea Delson and Steven Falk
The Faith Trio is Kehilla’s alliance with local Muslims and Christians through the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California and Montclair Presbyterian Church.... 

On March 5, a six-person group consisting of members of Kehilla’s Economic Justice Committee and Plymouth United Church of Christ’s Social Justice group, presented a workshop on Criminal Justice Reform in Alameda County. The workshop took place at Plymouth, a church just a short walk up Oakland Avenue from Kehilla...

SERVICES, EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kehilla’s Community Passover Seder 2019/5779 :
TRUTH AS RESISTANCE
with  Rabbis David J. Cooper & Burt Jacobson
music by  Linda Hirschhorn
and with a special message from
Rabi’a Keeble
Founder of Qal’bu Maryam Women’s Mosque, “America’s first all-inclusive mosque”
Norah Needs You
Norah is an expert joke-teller, modern-dancer, ice cream-licker, and loving big
sister. At five years old, she takes her jobs pretty seriously.

Norah was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Fanconi Anemia (FA). Essentially, FA interferes with her body’s ability to properly repair its DNA. If untreated, it increases her risk of leukemia or bone marrow failure to 90%.

Norah will need a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, none of Norah's family members are a match for her. Norah has a donor match out there – it could be YOU. Join the “Be The Match” registry with a simple, painless cheek swab to help save Norah’s life. Adding donors to the registry increases the likelihood of finding a life-saving match for Norah and others in need.
Save the Date
Kehilla’s Annual Community Meeting
Wednesday, May 22, 6:45-9:30pm
Glitter Passover Seder

Plans for glitter Seder are in process ~
watch the Glitter Facebook page for updates!
Kehilla's Annual Community Retreat
July 12-14 at Bort Meadow
Mark your calendars!
And join the planning committee today,
help make the magic! Email Maya for info,
it's going to be a grand adventure :)
Tot Shabbat
Saturday, April 6, 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! 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. Learn more here.
The following Shabbat morning services will include the following young people becoming B’nei Mitzvah:


April 13 – Zachary Schwerin-Daro (private, offsite ceremony) 


Three Generation Havurah
Sunday, April 7th 10:30-12pm
in the Back Classroom - accessible entrance on Fairview Ave
For members of our community who want to connect across different life phases- from infants to elders.

April Book Discussion Group:
Mondays, April 8 , 7-9pm
Don't Call it Night by Amos Oz
All Kehilla members are welcome to join us for our customary meetings on the second Monday of the month at 7pm. See our selections for our upcoming 2018-19 meetings here .
For more information about the Book Group, contact Terry at mcglynnmandel@gmail.com. Learn more here.
Kehilla Sings!
Tuesday, April 9, 7-8:30 pm

A new monthly gathering with Hazzan Shulamit to circle round and sing together. We’ll nourish our bodies, minds, and spirits with nigunuim (wordless melodies), new tunes for ancient prayers, and songs to take out into the streets.

New Music for Shabbat and Protests and More: Listen and Learn!
A message from Hazzan Shulamit:
Over the past few months, I've learned many new melodies that we're slowing integrating into some of our prayer services, as well as songs for taking out to the streets for rallies and protests. There's more to come, and Kehilla Sings! is a great opportunity to sink into song and lift up your soul as we learn 2-3 new melodies each month. The next Kehilla Sings! event is on Tues, March 12, 7:00-8:30 pm. Enjoy listening and learning and sharing in new melodies here .
Kabbalat Shabbat: Liturgically Traditional, Radically Inclusive
Friday, April 12, 6pm
Join us for a more traditional davenning style of Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv, the Shabbat evening service, songful and in Hebrew, following the full liturgy. ALL are welcome to come pray, sing, hum, clap and celebrate building our beloved community. Kiddush and light oneg (ritual snacks) after the service. Cosponsored by Kehilla and Glitter Kehilla. Learn more here.
Tikkun Ha-Nefesh (Repair of the Soul) Healing Racism, Unpacking White Privilege – Affinity Group
Sunday, April 21, 10am-12pm
This group is part of the community’s larger project of addressing racism and de-centering whiteness within and beyond our congregation. It is an outgrowth of Kehilla’s affinity group for those who identify as white or as benefitting from white privilege. This will be a safe space in which to engage in the emotional and spiritual journey of healing and repairing the soul around these critical issues. You do not have to participate in the larger affinity group in order to attend these sessions, and you are welcome to come to as many or as few sessions as will facilitate your healing journey. Learn more here.

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– shulamit@kehillasynagogue.org .
If you are experiencing abuse in an intimate relationship,
please be in touch with one of our clergy members (Rabbi Dev, Hazzan Shulamit, Rabbi Gray, Rabbi David or Rabbi Burt), or with one of these organizations:
www.thehotline.org - National Domestic Violence Hotline 1−800−799−7233
www.shalom-bayit.org   - Shalom Bayit (East Bay) 866-SHALOM-7 /
or (510) 845-SAFE
www.thehotline.org/help/for-abusive-partners/ - National Domestic Violence Hotline (for abusive partners)
Donate Supplies to Help
People Experiencing Homelessness
Please help Tayla Husbands-Hankin support our homeless population by donating tents, blankets, tarps & socks! A large box is located by the sanctuary door at Kehilla. Please fill it with listed 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!
Folks with White Privilege Affinity Group Meeting
Sunday, May 5, 3:30-5:30pm
Kehilla community members are welcome whether or not you have attended before – we’d love to have you! This is part of Kehilla’s Racial Justice Initiative. For more info or to get on the email list, contact Susan Schulman, susanschulman60@gmail.com. In the Fireside Room. Learn more here.
Thank you all who swabbed & ran drives for Norah!

Over 40 people were added to the Bone Marrow Donor registry over the last couple of weeks through the efforts of multiple community members who hosted Norah Needs You drives at our Purim parties and CHAI Shabbat – thank you to everyone who hosted and swabbed!
Thank You for Your Generosity   
         
So many of you give to Kehilla - you give money, you give time, you give love and community in a wide variety of ways.

Kehilla Community Synagogue | 1300 Grand Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94610 | 510-547-2424 www.KehillaSynagogue.org