In this week's Torah portion, Shemini (Lev 9:1-11:47), we encounter a bizarre story in which God smites Aaron's sons after they offer a "strange fire." This story inspired the title track of the Indigo Girls' 1987 debut album, Strange Fire, critiquing the rigid boundaries of organized religion in favor of the love we can offer each other. See them perform the song live here.

Tonight's Kabbalat Shabbat service will begin at 7pm at Holy Family Church in HMB, featuring a guest speaker (see below) and new musical selections. Stay for the oneg! If you want to join us virtually, here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/862473039

In our April Update email from earlier this week, there were a dozen photos from recent events and gatherings, like this one from last Friday's Family Shabbat.

You will notice that our Family, Community, and Adult Learning Chavurot (affinity groups) have been very active lately, but there is one group that has not been as visible.

CJC's Spirituality Chavurah has had a quiet presence in our community. We are happy to take a supportive role in coordinating Shabbat and holiday observances and we connect with one another informally, but tonight our presence will be a little more obvious.

We'll be hosting a Kabbalat Shabbat service at 7pm at the Holy Family Church. (The last CJC event there was Maya's Bat Mitzvah service three months ago!) The inspiration for tonight's service comes from a brief passage in this week's Torah portion about Aaron's sons, Nadav and Abihu, who "offered before God a strange fire" (Lev 10:1).

Researchers discovered a few years ago that this strange fire might have been from the use of cannabis, which was an active compound in the incense burned by the ancient Israelites.

I recall that a turning point in my life occurred when smoked some cannabis with a college friend about 45 years ago. Since then, I learned that mind-altering substances have played an important role through the ages as a catalyst for spiritual growth and discovery. That was certainly my experience.

Tonight, CJC member Aryae Coopersmith will share some experiences he had in the 1960s that caused him to dedicate his life to spirituality. This was common phenomenon for thousands of young people in that era, as we all know.

Soon after his experiences, Aryae met Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and helped to establish the famous "House of Love and Prayer" in San Francisco in 1968. He wrote about this extensively in his book Holy Beggars: A Journey from Haight Street to Jerusalem.

In the 50+ years since, Aryae and his life partner, Wendy Berk, have been active in many circles, advancing Jewish and spiritually-related initiatives that have impacted the lives of countless souls. We are fortunate to have them as fellow Coastsiders and will enjoy reconnecting with them at our Kabbalat Shabbat service tonight.

Even though we've been in the background, the Spirituality Chavurah has been very active. That's because our spirituality connects us to each other and to everything else, often in quiet and imperceptible ways. But every now and then, it's good to openly and consciously affirm our connection, and make our presence a little more obvious.

Shabbat Shalom,

Reb Moshe

TOMORROW: Join Aryae and Wendy tomorrow at 12:20pm for their virtual Torah Circle, when they will explore parashat Shemini. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Register now for our upcoming Passover Seder. Seating is limited. Those who register early can choose their tablemates. For info and to register, email Michal.

"Just For Us" Begins Streaming on HBO Tomorrow

In the wake of a string of anti-Semitic threats pointed in his direction online, standup comic Edelman decides to go straight to the source; specifically, Queens, where he covertly attends a meeting of White Nationalists and comes face-to-face with the people behind the keyboards. What happens next forms the backbone of the shockingly relevant, utterly hilarious, and only moderately perspirant stories that comprise Just For Us. (Click on photo to watch trailer)

A Special UnXeptable Briefing - Six Months Past Oct 7, with Rabbi Gilad Kariv - Monday, April 8 at 11 am via Zoom

MK Gilad Kariv is a leading voice for a democratic and free Israel in the Knesset, and an active partner in the protest to return the hostages and replace the government, who even makes sure to go to police stations after every demonstration to ensure that the arrested protesters are released.

Join us to hear recent updates on Kariv’s extensive work, publicly and behind the scenes, and his analysis of the current situation, with a special focus on what we can do to preserve the Jewish, liberal and democratic character of Israel and limit the power of Ben Gvir, Smotrich and their colleagues who are pushing Israel towards being a fundamentalistic, messianic state. Register here.

Love Our Earth Festival - Saturday, April 13, 10am-2pm in East Palo Alto

Don’t miss the 3rd annual Love Our Earth Festival, where you’ll learn how to Go Electric to Build Healthy and Resilient Communities, from people who’ve done it. Check out electric appliances, as well as many different EV models in one place. This free, educational event is fun, family-friendly and outdoors. Look forward to art, story times, reptile shows, vegan-cooking demos and delicious lunch options at the Plant-Based Market.

Also, CJC's Hearty Heartlife will perform from 10:20-11am in his exciting one-man show which combines unicycling, skateboarding, juggling, comedy and storytelling to teach audiences how to safely walk and roll to school and beyond, while protecting the planet. For more info and to register, click here.

Sheymot Day - April 15th!

Once a quarter, Sinai Memorial Chapel invites members of the Northern California Jewish community to drop off discarded sacred items that were once used for a holy purpose and now (for any reason) need to be discarded with dignity. There is no charge. 

Items must be biodegradable (paper, bentcher/birchonim, machzorim, siddurim (prayer books or booklets), talesim (prayer shawls) and tefillin (phylacteries). Sinai does not accept plastic or laminate. Kippot/kippah/yarmulke/koppel (skull caps), Jewish newspapers, Hebrew language books, flyers, or items that are secular in purpose are not eligible.

For more info or to drop off items to be discarded, email Reb Moshe.

Our next Friday evening Shabbat dinner & service will be on April 19 at Cheryl & David's home in Moss Beach. Reb Moshe & Lissin will lead the service.

CoastPride Seder hosted by CoastPride Multi-Faith Partners - April 26, 6-8pm in HMB

Join a diverse gathering of queer folks and allies to celebrate the LGBTQ community's "coming out" of bondage, with songs, readings and a delicious vegetarian dinner. The event is designed for adults ages 13 and up, though people of all ages are welcome.

The seder will be conducted by Rabbi Mychal Copeland, a queer rabbi who serves Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco, one of the first synagogues established as an explicitly safe space for queer Jews.

The registration fee is on a sliding scale with a suggested amount of $10 to cover the cost of the vegetarian dinner. If you would like to help or be a reader, leave a comment when you register here.

Let My People Pho! A Vegan Passover Experience - April 26 in San Francisco

​Hosted by Adam Swig, Executive Director of Value Culture. Adam will lead a spiritually inspired Climate Week themed Shabbat experience. Think "friendsgiving with extra gratitude."

​The mission of Value Culture is to produce and support artistic, educational, charitable, and spiritual events to inspire individuals to give back to their communities. 

​This event is also supported by the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and Jewish Veg. This event is also part of Value Culture's Soy Vey series, the intersection of soy sauce and Oi Vey! Find more info and to register here.

Join us for our Shabbat service on May 3 with special guest Gen Slosberg

Growing up in China as one of very few mixed-race kids, Gen was frequently bullied and excluded. (Her father descended from Ashkenazi Jews from Poland and Lithuania.) After she moved to the US with her family when she was in high school, she connected with her Jewish roots. She now works as an organizer for T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.

Outside of her work as a Jewish professional, Gen is a researcher and analyst of China's role in the Latin America and relationship to the US -- she was recently a Junior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from UC Berkeley. Would you be interested in hosting this service on May 3?

SHABBAT SERVICE HONORING LISSIN LEV CHAYA

for her many years of serving CJC as our Sheli'ach Tzibbur.

Friday, May 17 at 7pm at Holy Family Church in HMB

Special guests will include Rabbi Ted Riter and Rabbi Jane Litman.

Save the date!

Call on your California Assemblymember to vote YES on SB252

California has about $15 billion in public pension funds that are invested in fossil fuel companies, and your taxpayer dollars contribute to these funds alongside state employees' contributions. But guess what - YOU can do something about this!

CalPERS and CalSTRS divested from companies doing business in Apartheid South Africa because profiting from racial oppression is wrong. They divested from tobacco companies because knowingly selling and promoting a product that causes cancer is wrong. There is a global fossil fuel divestment movement because fossil fuel companies are using their tremendous political power to block desperately needed climate legislation around the globe and right here in California. That is also terribly wrong. For more info and to sign, click here.

CJC members send greetings from around the world

Alan & Lori Haffner send their regards (and photos) from the Jewish Quarter in Barcelona! Many famous rabbis and kabbalists came from there. Alan & Lori are there now and will soon be traveling to Morocco and Portugal.

Roberta Gelt is in Colombia now, which she discovered a Jewish restaurant. "The woman is probably the only Jew amidst all the Catholics in this country. I was totally surprised!!" She also found a driedel, which she bought for 12,000 pesos! (That converts to $3.13.)

Send us your greetings and photos from wherever you are in the world.

Wondering what else is coming up? You can always check our website and calendar here.

Rabbi Moshe Heyn serves as CJC's Spiritual Leader, along with our Sheli'ach Tzibbur, Lissin Lev Chaya.

The Mission of CJC is to provide an inclusive community that supports connection to Jewish life, both cultural and spiritual, on the coast from Pacifica to Pescadero.

We rely on the generosity of our members and friends. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation using the Donate button below.