December 1, 8

Jewish Ideas You Thought Were Only Christian, Part 1

Ever think terms like Resurrection, Messiah, Kingdom of Heaven, and Holy Spirit fall exclusively under Christian theology? Well, they do not! Join Rabbi Sara Abrams and come learn. No prior knowledge is needed. Please note the “only” in the title as we want to be sensitive that these ideas are also Christian!

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Coffee and schmooze

11:00 a.m. Class session

$18 Members (suggested donation)

$36 Non-members

In-person at Valley Outreach Synagogue*

All registrants will have access to:

● Live audio-only on Zoom

● Registrants will receive the audio-only recording

December 2

Valley Outreach Sisterhood

Holiday Party via Zoom

Join us for an absolutely fun evening!

Thursday, 7:00 p.m.

Entertainment: Rena Strober

Members only

For more information and Zoom link, contact Judy Handelman

jbeth10@yahoo.com or 818-594-0450

December 2

Men’s Club of VOS Monthly Meeting

Monthly meeting at Bob Brandt’s residence.

Thursday, 5:45 p.m. 

Free Food starts at 5:45 p.m.

Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Men’s Club of VOS supports our synagogue.

Please be over 55.

For more information, contact Bob Brandt at 818-535-0067

or Harvey Rose at 323-940-8881.

December 6

Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group

Rosh Hodesh (‘the head of the month’), is a monthly holiday that celebrates the arrival of the new moon, and provides a unique space for women to claim this Jewish ritual as their own. Our group will bond through the tradition of Rosh Hodesh as a women’s holiday, celebrating the New Moon through rituals and activities. Each month we will explore a variety of topics including biblical characters, blessings, rituals, holidays, artistic expression, meditation, and food.

Monday, 7:15 — 7:30 p.m. Schmooze 

7:30 — 9:00 p.m. Session begins

In-person at Valley Outreach Synagogue*

Registration is closed. 

For more information, contact Susi Weissman at adulteducation@vosla.org.

December 7

VOS Intergenerational Chanukah Celebration

VOS has paired with the ‘Better Together Program’ and the ‘Breslow Foundation’ in an effort to foster respect, cohesion, and understanding between VOS members of all ages via curated experiences and interactions, and to strengthen our VOS community and establish VOS as a synagogue intent on enriching and celebrating intergenerational relations. Join us for a fun Chanukah event and cooking challenge—with a surprise twist! 

Friday, 6:45 — 8:15 p.m. 

In-person at Valley Outreach Synagogue*

Registration is closed. 

Contact VOS Teen Advisor Jenny Lerner for more information at jenny@vosla.org.

December 07, 21, 13, 27, 06, 20, 14, 28, 08, 22

Mussar: Character Development for the Jewish Soul

with Helen Rifkind

Mussar is a path of character development, soul growth, and holiness through a Jewish lens of wisdom. It is the process by which Middot (character traits) are integrated into our everyday lives so that we live by the central command of the Torah: To love your neighbor as yourself.

Beginning Mussar: Tuesdays, 6:30 — 8:30 p.m.

Mussar Level 2: Mondays, 2:00 — 4:00 p.m.

Mussar Level 2: Mondays, 6:30 — 8:30 p.m.

Mussar Level 3: Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 noon

Mussar Level 4: Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 noon

Registration is closed.

December 9, 23

Torah Inspired Learning with Rabbi Li-Paz

Join Rabbi Li-Paz and your friends to read The Contemporary Torah, A Gender-Sensitive Adaptation of the JPS Translation, to explore its beauty and relevance to your life. No prior knowledge of Hebrew or Torah is necessary. We’ll continue our journey through Exodus.

Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. Informal schmooze 

10:00 — 11:00 a.m. Class session

Join us on Zoom or in-person at Valley Outreach Synagogue*

$5 donation

December 10

VOS Shabbat Service

Miracles and Divine Providence

Friday, 7:30 p.m. 

In-Person at Valley Outreach Synagogue* 

December 13

VOS B’nai Mitzvah Workshop for Families

It takes a village! Rabbis Ron Li-Paz and Sara Abrams, clergy assistant Sharona Jacobs, Rebbetzin Bronwen Li-Paz, event coordinator Claudine Pelc, tutor Raya Kaufman, teen advisor Jenny Lerner and Director of Lifelong Learning Carla Adivi will share important information about what to anticipate, how to prepare, mitzvah project ideas, and options for continuing teen involvement beyond B'nai Mitzvah. Students in 4th—7th-grade, and their parents, are encouraged to attend this informational workshop. 

Thursday, 7:00 — 8:15 p.m.

For the Zoom link, please contact Sharona Jacobs at Rabbisassistant@vosla.org by Friday, December 3, with the number of people who will be attending. 

December 15

Bagels and Banter

Join Rabbi Ron Li-Paz for a monthly discussion and a nosh.

Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. Schmooze

10:00 —11:00 a.m. Class session

In-person at Valley Outreach Synagogue*

$5 donation

December 22

VOS Estate Plan Event 

Join us for an informational Zoom gathering in which you can learn more and ask questions of estate planning professionals from within our community. Designating funds for VOS in your estate plan is an act of vision and of personal outreach. 

Wednesday, 3:00 p.m.

Winter Bereavement Group Starting in January

Rabbi Sara Abrams and Psychologist and volunteer Laurie Eisenberg, Ph.D., will be offering a bereavement group for individuals who have undergone the loss of a spouse within the past two years. The group aims to offer solace, comfort, tools, community connection, and wisdom from the Jewish tradition to support members in their experience with grief. There will be 10 sessions, held in-person at VOS.

$180 for members

$250 for non-members

In-person at Valley Outreach Synagogue*

If you are interested in joining, please email Rabbi Sara Abrams at rabbisaraabrams@vosla.org.

* For classes and services held in person at Valley Outreach Synagogue, all attendees must present proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to be admitted. This is to ensure the safety of all participants. All attendees will need to wear masks, except when eating or drinking.