Celebrate Chanukah at Beth Am CHANUKAH BEGINS SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24

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1 T H E B E TH A M DECEMBER/JANUARY KISLEV/TEVET/SHVAT 5777 IN THIS ISSUE: A Musical Thank You Event PAGE 3 Celebrate Chanukah at Beth Am CHANUKAH BEGINS SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24 The eight-day festival of Chanukah (meaning Dedication ) reminds us of the victory of the Maccabees against the forces of the Seleucid Empire ( BCE). We light candles against the darkness to honor our ancestors determination to preserve their Jewish identity, and the power of the few against the mighty. Learn more about Beth Am s Chanukah celebrations at Chanukah5777. Sunday, December 11 3:30-5 P.M. Jewish Baby Network Chanukah Celebration Friday, December 23 5:30 P.M. Chanukah Tot Shabbat Sha-Boogie (for children ages 0-5th grade and their families) Wednesday, December 28 5th Night 7:30 P.M. Beth Am Women Rosh Chodesh Tevet Chanukah Discussion Friday, December 30 7th Night 6 P.M. Congregational Chanukiyah Lighting Lighting of the 7th Candle 6:15 P.M. Shabbat Service 7:30 P.M. Congregational Chanukah Dinner 5777 Akselrad Lecture PAGE 7 Feast of Jewish Learning PAGE 8 BETH WELCOMES Rabbi Sharon Brous 5777 Saxe Family Scholar-in-Residence FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 TO SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 In keeping with this year s education theme, Evolution and Revolution, we are delighted to welcome our scholar-in-residence, Rabbi Sharon Brous. Rabbi Brous is the founder of IKAR, a laboratory for bold, imaginative Jewish practice, one of the fastest growing Jewish communities in the country and a model for inspiring Jews from the most marginalized to the most engaged. We will have four opportunities to learn with Rabbi Brous during the weekend: FRIDAY, 6:15 P.M., SANCTUARY (DURING THE SERVICE): I Asked for Wonder Reflections on Parashat Vayeitzei FRIDAY, 7:30 P.M., SOCIAL HALL (DINNER & LEARNING): Amen Effect: I Can t Heal You But I Can See You Reclaiming the power of community how saying Amen to someone s Kaddish could change both of your lives. Before the talk, you re invited to enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by the Poltava Committee. All proceeds support our sister synagogue, Congregation Beth Am of Poltava, Ukraine. Sign up by Friday, December 2 using the form at SATURDAY, 9 A.M., BEIT KEHILLAH (DURING TORAH STUDY): Reclaiming the Dream: The Failure of Religion & Its Antidote SATURDAY, 3:30 P.M., BEIT KEHILLAH: Game Changers An exploration of failed and successful models of leadership in biblical and rabbinic texts. What can we learn about social and communal change today? CONTACT US AT (650)

2 From Rabbi Jonathan Prosnit Jews are called the People of the Book. Our history demonstrates this. We Really Are the People of the Book I heard a story a few years back about a person reading on an airplane. As the plane began its final descent, the flight attendant got on the intercom and reminded the passengers to put away their tray tables, pull their seats forward and gather all trash for disposal. She also reminded people to please turn off their books. What a world we live in. This request would have baffled people 10 years ago. Please turn off your book. Jews are called the People of the Book. Our history demonstrates this, whether the book in question is a scroll, a legal code, a collection of poetry, a personal diary, a bound volume, a paperback novel or a Kindle. Books have been at the center of our evolution as a people from the opening words of Genesis to the best Israeli novels of As Rabbi Larry Hoffman notes in the introduction to his book 100 Great Jewish Books, Whatever Judaism might be, it has consistently demonstrated a particular fondness for books. Since books are nothing if not records of things said, Judaism may be best defined as an ongoing conversation. Rabbi Hoffman, and others, ask us to find our place in the conversation. The phrase People of the Book is actually rooted in the Koran. The original phrase most likely refers to non-muslim religious groups, whom the Prophet Muhammed thought were following a sacred literature, primarily Jews and Christians. As our religion has grown and evolved, it is often seen as a positive phrase that promotes the desire for Jewish communities to be engaged in intellectual pursuits. Some even suggest that our relationship with our sacred literature has kept us connected as a people. In 1915 in his essay entitled The Educated Jew, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote: Our intellectual capacity was developed by the almost continuous training of the mind throughout twenty-five centuries. The Torah led the People of the Book to intellectual pursuits at times when most of the Aryan peoples were illiterate. Religion imposed the use of the mind upon the Jews, indirectly as well as directly. It demanded of the Jew not merely the love, but also the understanding of God. This necessarily involved a study of the Law. The conditions under which the Jews were compelled to live during the last two thousand years promoted study in a people among whom there was already considerable intellectual attainment. Throughout the centuries of persecution practically the only life open to the Jew which could give satisfaction was the intellectual and spiritual life. Other fields of activity and of distinction which divert men from intellectual pursuits were closed to Jews. Thus they were protected by their privations from the temptations of material things and worldly ambitions. Driven by circumstances to intellectual pursuits their mental capacity gradually developed. And as men delight in that which they do well, there was an everwidening appreciation of things intellectual. So if we are the People of the Book, what does that mean for us here at Beth Am today? We engage with books often: the chanting and study of Torah, two of Judaism s most sacred acts; our weekly classes ranging from beginning Hebrew to deep Talmud study; programs put on by our amazing library; the PJ Library subscriptions our preschoolers and their families enjoy; and Beth Am Men and Beth Am Women book groups. We are actively part of the process of engaging with our tradition s sacred literature, as discussed by Rabbi Hoffman. There are two other exciting People of the Book opportunities at Beth Am that I specifically want to highlight. One is the role of literacy and books in our Equal Start Initiative, our effort to make high-quality early learning accessible to all children ages 0-5. Ever see the look on a child s face when he or she is deeply engaged in a book? It s a look of pure delight. Beth Am volunteers bring the magic of reading and books to children all the time as volunteers through a partnership with local preschools and nonprofits, specifically 10 Books A Home. Please consider volunteering to help us fight local inequality through reading and literacy. If you would like to learn more, please ask any Beth Am clergy member or check out the Equal Start page at The second is a new program called Beth Am Reads through which Beth Am clergy members will lead (often with Beth Am members) a discussion on various books over the course of the year. Some of these books will be Jewish in nature, others more universal. We will consider all of these books through a Jewish lens. How amazing it is that we all have the opportunity to discuss and think together on a variety of topics that impact us and our lives. At the first Beth Am Reads meeting to be held this December, I will lead a discussion of Bryan Stevenson s Just Mercy with Beth Am congregant Debbie Mukumal. Stay tuned throughout 2017 for information about future Beth Am Reads meetings. Airline rules have changed. You no longer have to turn off your book for takeoff and landing. Rather, all you have to do is be a part of the conversation of our tradition as a member of the People of the Book. PAGE 2

3 You re invited to the 2017 Annual Campaign Thank You event, featuring Beth Am musicians delighting us with a variety of Jewish music, from traditional Yiddish to modern to classical, ending with a rousing set of Klezmer tunes. Beth Am performers include: Cantor Jaime Shpall Cantor Kay Greenwald Claudia Bloom (violin) Danny Cher (violin & accordion) Glenn Fisher (cello) Erev Musika A Free Musical Thank You Event Celebrating the Generosity of the Beth Am Community SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 7 P.M.: PERFORMANCE, SANCTUARY; DESSERT RECEPTION, SOCIAL HALL Be eri Moalem (viola) Dan Pitt (alto horn) Jeff Wolfeld (clarinet) Jennifer Wolfeld (piano) The performance will be followed by a dessert reception. Free of charge but RSVP to Mandy at meisner@betham.org, (650) , ext The Annual Campaign helps Beth Am fill the gap between what we collect in dues and fees and what it costs to run the congregation. Thanks to your generous gifts, we continue to offer outstanding opportunities in education, worship, social action and pastoral care all surrounded by a community that shares your values and supports you through the ups and downs of life. SMALL GROUP House Parties THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AND JANUARY Sh ma let us listen. On Yom Kippur, we learned through our inaugural Small Groups meetings that many Beth Am members want to connect with one another in a deeper way. Through a series of House Parties, running throughout December and January, we will continue our facilitated one-time small group conversations, each with 8-12 participants, aimed at learning and connecting with each other. This will be a great opportunity to get a taste of the Small Groups experience. If you re interested in attending or hosting one of these conversations in your home, please visit SmallGroups (click on Read more once you are there) and fill out the interest form. The Outrageous Sophie Tucker SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 3:30 P.M., BEIT KEHILLAH No woman singer of the vaudeville era was more famous than Sophie Tucker, the smoky-voiced, happily zaftig, Last of the Red Hot Mamas. This gossipy, affectionate movie follows the rags-to-riches journey of the daughter of Jewish Ukrainian immigrants and her survival as a star into the mid-1960s. It was crafted from recently rediscovered personal scrapbooks retracing the story of this iconic superstar. Sophie Tucker ruled the worlds of vaudeville, Broadway, radio, television and Hollywood throughout the twentieth century. Presented by Beth Am s Jewish Film Series. Screenings Are Free; Refreshments Will Be Served Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 3:30 P.M., BEIT KEHILLAH Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict is Lisa Immordino Vreeland s sleek, entertaining portrait of the collector and gallerist who transformed a modest fortune and impeccable taste into one of the premier collections of twentiethcentury art. Born into an elite German Jewish family in New York City, Peggy Guggenheim was not only ahead of her time, but helped to define it. As Guggenheim moved through the cultural upheaval of the twentieth century, she collected not only art, but artists. While fighting through personal tragedy, she maintained her vision to build one of the most important collections of modern art, now enshrined in her Venetian palazzo. PAGE 3

4 December Calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY BETH HOSTS HOME & HOPE CONGREGATION BETH DECEMBER :00 Beit Midrash 9:00 Sunday Morning Walkers 9:15 Mussar Class 11:45 Teen Torah Study 3:30 Gesharim Program: Have the Conversation 9:00 Sunday Morning Walkers 10:00 Hagigah Performance 11:45 Camp Beth Am 12:00 Confirmation 2:30 Yad l Yad Workshop 3:30 Jewish Baby Network Chanukah Celebration :00 Thursday 8 SAXE SCHOLAR-IN- 9 SAXE SCHOLAR-IN :00 Adult Hebrew Level F 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 6:00 Confirmation 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B2 7:30 Adult Hebrew Level A2 6:00 Adult Hebrew Level D 6:00 Meditation Class 6:30 Ballroom Dancing 7:00 BAW Book Group 7:15 Adult Hebrew Level A 9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A2 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 6:45 Tinnitus Support Group 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew :00 Thursday :00 Jewish Meditation 17 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B 11:00 Adult Hebrew Level F 4:45 Saslsa Bar 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 5:45 Mussar Class 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B2 7:30 Adult Hebrew Level A2 7:30 Family Learning Task Force 9:00 BAW Yoga 6:00 Adult Hebrew Level D 6:15 Beit R fuah 6:30 Ballroom Dancing 7:15 Adult Hebrew Level A 7:30 B Photography Group 7:30 Beth Am Reads Book Discussion BETH HOSTS HOME & HOPE 8:00 Thursday 9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A2 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:00 BAW Board Meeting 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew 7:30 Building Blocks Class 7:30 Family Learning Task Force Meeting 9:00 Adult Hebrew A2 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:00 BAW Chai Mitzvah 7:00 Knitzvah Group 7:30 Advanced Conv. Hebrew 7:30 Board Meeting 7:30 Building Blocks of Judaism 1 NFTY CWR FALL INTER 2 BETH HOSTS HOME 3 BETH HOSTS HOME & HOPE 5:00 Lay-Led Gates of Prayer 6:15 Tizmoret Service with Equal Start Speaker Dr. Emmett Carson 7:30 Shabbat Committee Dinner RESIDENCE WEEKEND 6:15 Shabbat Service with Saxe Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Sharon Brous 7:00 Scholar-in-Residence/ Poltava Dinner 6:15 Shabbat Service in the Round: Tzedek Shabbat 7:30 Confirmation Shabbat Family Dinner & HOPE 8:00 Jewish Meditation 3:00 Chaggers RESIDENCE WEEKEND with Saxe Scholar-in-Residence 10:30 B nei Mitzvah Service: Moos/Moos 3:00 Chaggers 3:30 Talk with Scholar-in- Residence Sharon Brous 5:00 Hagigah Performance 10:30 Bat Mitzvah Service: Gladfelter 3:30 Jewish Film Series: The Outrageous Sophie Tucker 10:00 Chicken Soupers :00 Thursday ST NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 24 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B 11:00 Adult Hebrew Level F 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level B2 7:30 Adult Hebrew Level A2 9:00 Adult Hebrew Level A2 6:00 Adult Hebrew Level D 6:30 Ballroom Dancing 7:00 Mah Jongg 7:15 Adult Hebrew Level A 10:30 Adult Hebrew Level C 6:15 Adult Hebrew Level E 7:30 Advanced Conversational Hebrew 5:30 Chanukah Tot Shabbat Sha-Boogie 6:15 Shabbat Service 7:30 College Shabbat Dinner 8:00 Jewish Meditation 2ND NIGHT OF CHANUKAH BETH CLOSED 25 OFFICE CLOSED 26 4TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 27 5TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 28 6TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 29 7TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 30 8TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 31 3RD NIGHT OF CHANUKAH 8:00 B Breakfast 8:00 Thursday 8:00 Jewish Meditation 6:30 Ballroom Dancing 7:30 BAW Rosh Chodesh Tevet 6:00 Congregational Chanukah Discussion Chanukiyah Lighting 6:15 Shabbat Chanukah Service 7:30 Congregational Chanukah Dinner

5 january Calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 9:00 Beit Midrash 9:00 Jewish Literature Class 9:00 Sunday Morning Walkers 10:00 Chicken Soupers 11:45 Teen Torah Study with Rabbi Sarah Weissman 12:30 Teen Seminar with Rabbi Heath Watenmaker (offsite) :00 Jewish Meditation CP NEWMAN WEST 13 8:00 Jewish Meditation 14 OFFICE CLOSED 4:45 Salsa Bar 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 6:00 Confirmation 7:30 Family Learning Task Force Meeting 6:00 Meditation Class 7:00 BAW Book Group 9:00 BAW Yoga 4:30 Hebrew Through Movement 6:15 Beit R fuah 7:30 B Photography Group 7:00 BAW Board Meeting 7:30 Building Blocks of Judaism 7:30 Executive Committee 4:30 Hebrew Through Movement 7:30 Board Meeting 5:00 Pre-Service Gathering with Rabbi Jonah Pesner 6:15 Tizmoret Service with Akselrad Speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner COAST PARTY JR. 5:15 Tot Shabbat 6:15 Shabbat Service 10:30 Bat Mitzvah Service: Brill 3:30 Screenings of Episodes 2 & 3 of Shtisel 10:30 Bat Mitzvah Service: Lehrer 3:30 Jewish Film Series: Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict 3:30 Gesharim Program: Jewish Funeral Practices 15 MARTIN LUTHER KING :00 Jewish Meditation 21 JR. DAY OFFICE CLOSED Community-Wide Mitzvah Day 4:45 Salsa Bar 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 4:20 3rd Grade 7:00 Mah Jongg 4:20 3rd Grade 7:00 BAW Chai Mitzvah 7:00 Knitzvah Group 7:30 Building Blocks of Judaism 6:15 Shabbat Service in the Round with Guest Speaker Jonathan Greenberg 7:30 Liebhaber Community Oneg Shabbat 10:30 B not Mitzvah Service: Bogomilsky/Levy 10:30 Friendship Minyan 12:15 Friendship Minyan Lunch 7:00 Feast of Jewish Learning 9:00 Beit Midrash 9:00 Sunday Morning Walkers 9:30 4th Grade Family Day 11:45 Camp Beth Am :00 BAW Cooking Event 9:00 BAW Yoga 4:45 Salsa Bar 5:30 Tuesday Night Program 6:00 Confirmation 7:30 Guest Speaker Rabbi Miri Gold 7:30 BAW Rosh Chodesh 7:30 Building Blocks of Judaism 7:30 Executive Committee 5:30 Shabbat Sha-Boogie 6:15 Shabbat Service 8:00 Jewish Meditation 10:30 B nei Mitzvah Service: VanTassel/ Kirschenbaum 9:00 Beit Midrash 9:00 Family Education Day 9:00 Sunday Morning Walkers 11:30 Tikvah Training 7:00 Erev Musika: Annual Campaign Thank You Event :00 BAW Cooking Event 8:00 B Breakfast 4:45 Salsa Bar 5:30 Tuesday Night Program For a more detailed calendar, visit CONGREGATION BETH JANUARY 2017

6 Tzedek Shabbat Gun Violence Prevention FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 6:15 P.M. SANCTUARY EVOLUTION AND REVOLUTION: Jewish Funeral Practices An Open Discussion Presented by Beth Am s Gesharim SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 3:30 P.M., BEIT KEHILLAH A rabbi and a funeral director walk into... the Beit Kehillah. We will sit and nosh in a time of no emergency. We will get to ask the rabbi and funeral director whatever we want to know, long before any critical decision must be made. What actually happens before and during a Jewish funeral? How did our traditions and customs originate? Have they evolved or radically changed at any point? Which ones do we typically maintain in Reform rites? Are there any new practices in modern times? What about cremation? How do we begin to think about the kind of funeral we will want? These questions, and others, will be answered during this open discussion. Beth Am and Beth Am Women are participating in Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, a special project of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. Faiths United is a coalition of more than 50 denominations and faith-based organizations united by the call of our faiths to confront America s gun violence epidemic and to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire. On the Shabbat of the 4th anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, come together with Beth Am clergy and fellow congregants to remember those killed and injured by gun violence, and discuss how we can make our community safer for everyone. Co-sponsored by Beth Am Men. MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Meet Kelly and Greg Kleiman, wonderful members of the Beth Am community, proud parents of David (17, a senior at Kehillah Jewish High School) and Jakob (10, a student at Pinewood School). Kelly grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was active in her local Lutheran church through high school. Greg hails from Erie, Pennsylvania; he grew up there and in New Jersey, where his family belonged to a Conservative synagogue. Jobs brought both of them to the Bay Area Greg started out at Hewlett-Packard in 1986 and Kelly DECEMBER/JANUARY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT PROFILE: Kelly and Greg Kleiman started at Apple right out of college in Kelly s project leader at Apple was Greg s roommate, and in 1992 he set Greg and Kelly up on a blind date. Soon they were dating regularly, and in September 1995 they were married. Greg had told Kelly that he wanted their children to be raised as Jews, and she fully embraced that commitment. Three years later the Kleimans joined Beth Am. It was important to both that they find a synagogue where Kelly would feel comfortable and welcome as a non-jew, a place where their family could get involved and that would offer both spiritual and social support. Kelly says: Beth Am has been a great place for our family. Everyone has been welcoming. At Beth Am, you can be as busy or involved as you like, without being pressured you can choose activities that are meaningful to you. And Greg says, It s important to me that my kids have a strong and positive Jewish identity I appreciate all that Beth Am has done to cultivate that. (Learn more about the Kleimans at Be sure to say hi when you see the Kleimans on the Beth Am campus! PAGE 6

7 5777 AKSELRAD LECTURE: Rabbi Jonah Pesner Prophetic Power & Politics: How Reform Jews Can Bring Healing & Justice to Our World FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 5 P.M.: GATHERING WITH APPETIZERS, SOCIAL HALL; 6:15 P.M. SERVICE & TALK, SANCTUARY We are honored to welcome Rabbi Jonah Pesner to deliver our 5777 Akselrad lecture, entitled Prophetic Power & Politics: How Reform Jews Can Bring Healing & Justice to Our World. The annual Akselrad Lecture honors Beth Am Rabbi Sidney Akselrad (z l), who stood up for justice and peace through all of his actions and words. Our guest lecturer, Rabbi Pesner, has committed his life to social justice, exemplifying many of the qualities of our beloved Rabbi Akselrad. Rabbi Jonah Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and as Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is an inspirational leader, creative entrepreneur and tireless advocate for social justice. Before the service from 5 to 6 P.M., you re invited to enjoy light appetizers and an opportunity to socialize informally with the Akselrad family and Rabbi Pesner in the Social Hall. End-of-Year Giving Don t Forget to Get Your Contributions in Before Friday, December 30 There are many ways to make end-of-year gifts to Beth Am that can offer tax advantages for this year s filing. Gifts to the Annual Campaign and dues payments can be made by cash, credit card or stock (a great way to avoid capital gains taxes on highly appreciated securities!). For donors 70-1/2 or older, you can also make contributions to Beth Am directly from your IRA. The IRA Charitable Rollover counts toward your RMD (required minimum distribution), and is tax-free. Thanks to your generosity, Beth Am never turns away people who want to join or give their child a Jewish education for lack of financial resources. The Annual Campaign goes straight to the day-to-day operations of our congregation, supporting our staff team and infrastructure, subsidizing our Youth Education programs and keeping the lights on! Help us reach the top of our thermometer! Visit to learn more, or contact Mandy at meisner@betham.org, (650) , ext A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT Merry Chanukah When my children were small, I simply didn t take them shopping during the month of December. Too many guys in red suits with bells. Too many decked halls and lit trees. Too many questions and too much uncertainty for me. It just wasn t worth it. The Christmas season is hard enough when your family is unambiguously Jewish; for us as an interfaith family, it was even more fraught. We worked hard to make sure that our kids knew that even though mom wasn t Jewish (a status which has since changed), our family was. We took great pains to go for the Jewish gusto at every opportunity. We lit Shabbat candles regularly something neither of us had grown up doing. We sold our chametz to our Presbyterian neighbors with great fanfare every Pesach. Campfires and baked potatoes on Lag BaOmer? We re in! Our bookshelves were a veritable feast of Jewish children s literature. But even after eleven months of active engagement, facing the American Christmas season filled me with dread. What if they asked about Santa? Could Chanukah hold its own against the Christmas industry? How could I explain that, yes, we were a Jewish family, even though Grampa had the biggest Christmas tree you ve ever seen? I needn t have worried. Turns out, children are way more flexible and perceptive than I realized. And mine were perfectly able to be happily Jewish kids all twelve months of the year even when visiting my extremely festive parents back East. Read on at L Shalom, Loree Farrar President@betham.org PAGE 7

8 50% Recycled Chlorine Free Printing CONGREGATION BETH Arastradero Road Los Altos Hills, CA NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #121 CONGREGATION BETH LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA Hunger and Homelessness Drive Please Give Generously This Holiday Season Beth Am has a long and beautiful tradition of bringing warmth and loving concern to the people in our community and beyond through our annual fundraising drive to sustain the hungry and homeless. Through this program, Beth Am supports numerous organizations that are committed to fighting hunger and homelessness. Groups we have supported include Jewish Family and Children s Services, Home & Hope, Ecumenical Hunger Program and Second Harvest Food Bank. During the month of December, you will receive a letter in the mail. We ask that you be as generous as possible and that you dig deep to help the most vulnerable. Additionally, you can donate online to our Hunger and Homelessness Fund at (select Hunger and Homelessness Fund from the listing). Gifts of any size are welcome and appreciated. DON T MISS THIS YEAR S Feast of Jewish Learning SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 7 P.M., BETH CPUS Feed your mind and spirit at the Feast of Jewish Learning, a community-wide smorgasbord of all things Jewish. Select from a wide range of workshops and study sessions on Jewish text, tradition, movement, ethics and more, led by the best teachers and artists in the Bay Area. A complete schedule of the evening will soon be available online. Past teachers include: Rabbi Janet Marder Rabbi Sarah Weissman Rabbi Mychal Copeland Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan Julie Emden Rabbi Serena Eisenberg Carol Booth Rabbi David Booth Dr. Joyce Moser Shani Gross Taylor Epstein Dylan Russell Gabriella Safran Zachary Baker Zvi Weiss Rabbi Laurie Hahn Tapper Tova Birnbaum Joel Stanley Karen Bergen Anthony Russell Rabbi Sheldon Lewis Ariella Radwin Rabbi Ilana Goldhaber- Gordon and more! To learn more, Feast@jewishlearningworks.org.