Newsletter June 7, 2021 Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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Have you ever been a first? First girl on the boys' baseball team? First person in your family to graduate from college? First person to...? To be a first, to be a trailblazer, can be a challenge. There isn't a blueprint for how you should be. How you should live your life. No one around you has been given warning of what to expect. And indeed, you may be making it up as you go. This weekend, I have been contemplating these questions, especially with great appreciation for women everywhere who have been trailblazers as I have enjoyed time both at the Wellesley College reunion weekend, and also at the Women's Rabbinic Network convention. What I have noticed is that members of both of these groups strengthen one another as we weave together community as two, then four, then seven, then groups of tens, and hundreds. Maybe because we know the extra burden and isolation that can come from being a first, or "one of the firsts." We cherish community who understands as we uplift and support one another on our respective journeys. Even those of us who are not in the same field or same path, we inform one another with all that we have learned in our challenges, triumphs, and everything in-between. We know that when one of us is lifted up, all of us are. And together, we are blazing new paths in ever increasingly diverse spaces. Rabbi Sally Priesand, as the first woman rabbi ordained by an American seminary, has risen up, and broken the stained-glass ceiling for all of us. Beyond that, she has welcomed each of us into our calling. Another way of saying it is that she has opened the door and held the door open for each of us to pursue our sacred paths. For 49 years now, we have been supported by her lovingkindness, wisdom, and clear moral clarity. This week, we celebrate her 50th year in the rabbinate. 50 is the biblical number called a "jubilee" and we have certainly been jubilant celebrating this moment. When each of us becomes the first, may we always embody this spirit in lifting up those who would come after us as she has. In fact, may we each always lift one another up and encourage one another to become all that we can be. Afterall, Rabbi Priesand says, "The challenge of life is to become all that you are capable of becoming." May we each become our fullest selves with the love and support of one another. Together, we’re #keepingitsacred... Rabbi Heather Miller, Founder, Keeping It Sacred |
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A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT |
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The sages have taught us about the importance of being intentional about our actions, and to vision the future we wish to create. Over the past three weeks, we have spent time thinking about the year ahead-- remembering what went well, how we'd like to change things up next year. We analyzed the budget, and considered the results of the survey. After all of this, we have developed a new projected budget and programming plan for the year ahead! In keeping with the Keeping It Sacred commitment to communicating with transparency, we have crafted a budget that reflects our moral compass. It is based on the principles of: -text learning and community building at the center -accountable to a radically inclusive ethic -responsible stewardship of resources -collaboration with outstanding practitioners -excellence in ritual offerings, and -commitment to interfaith partnerships and tikkun olam/justice work If you would like further details, please set up a meeting with Rabbi Miller soon by emailing rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com to share details. And, stay tuned for plenty of opportunities to plug in and create meaning with a warm, welcoming, diverse, and dynamic community. Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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A WARM WELCOME TO JUDAISM |
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As you may know, Erin, Matthew and Alex recently were brought before a beit din to affirm their Jewish commitments. They will soon immerse in a mikveh to complete their entrance into the Jewish people. The entire Keeping It Sacred community is welcome to celebrate their entrance to Jewish peoplehood on June 27 at 10am PT/1pm ET on zoom. Their cousin, Marcia will share some special words. Please RSVP HERE. |
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AT WELLESLEY COLLEGE |
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A huge part of what it means to be Jewish is to both acknowledge that human beings make mistakes, but also that we have the opportunity to repair those missteps. Even mistakes made on a grand scale. Part of our responsibility, therefore, is to acknowledge that the land that many of us in the United States inhabit did not originate with us. In fact, it was often stolen from those in the Native American community. As Jews, this makes it incumbent upon us to engage in a process of teshuva/repair. And the first step of that is to acknowledge the roots of the blessing of the land that we inhabit, and the people who originally stewarded it, protected it, and were custodians of it. One way to begin to do that, is to acknowledge at public gatherings on the land, that we are on unceded land of the original tribal peoples. This recognition is called a land acknowledgement. Interestingly, land acknowledgements are consistently part of every gathering in Australia, and are increasingly becoming part of gatherings in the US. Cut to Wellesley College's graduation this year. A member of the graduating class, Kisha James, is a member of the tribe on whose lands the college sits. She and the senior class leaders, and indeed the entire senior class, requested that there be a land acknowledgement before commencement ceremonies. But there was resistance at the idea of adding to the program. So, many of us alumnae coordinated a strategy to push for the land acknowledgement to happen. And, indeed, just days before graduation, the college reversed its decision and decided to allow Kisha to become the first person to officially deliver the land acknowledgement at Wellesley College- ever. Together, we made history Friday, at the 146th Wellesley College commencement ceremonies. Kudos to the Wellesley College administration for reconsidering their position- may it be a beautiful first step towards repair of past wrongs. And, wherever we are, may we each find ways to bring greater healing and peace into the world. See the land acknowledgement HERE (at 19:30): https://www.wellesley.edu/classof2021/ |
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Keeping It Sacred's Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression, and what we can and should do about it-- from a Jewish lens. Understanding the way racial injustice works is the first step in remedying the problems, taking us one step closer toward a world affirming of all. Let’s make 2021 a year of actively remedying racial injustice, a year of Tikkun Olam/repair of the world. Schedule: 13th movie by DuVernay (IYYAR) Monday, 4/12, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET
Caste by Wilkerson (TAMMUZ) Thursday, 6/10, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET How to be an Antiracist by Kendi (ELUL) Sunday, 8/8, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET The Color of Love by Gad (CHESHVAN) Thursday, 10/7, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET N**** Theory by Armour (TEVET) Sunday, 12/5, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET If you have further questions, or to introduce yourself, please don't hesitate to reach out to Rabbi Miller: rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com To sign up, click HERE. |
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SAVE THE DATES FOR PRIDE MONTH! |
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INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF GREATER RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA |
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Due to our commitment to interfaith community building, Rabbi Miller has dedicated time to the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita and currently serves as its Vice President. She has been working with leadership to develop a Unity Statement affirming the appreciation of human diversity. You are invited to join the meeting to be held this TUESDAY night, June 8, at 7pm PT/10pm ET. Please contact Rabbi Miller for details at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. |
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HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY EVERY THURSDAY |
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Ever want to jump into a conversation with the rabbinic sages of old? Now you can! Join us as we study a page of Talmud every day, adding our perspectives and the relevance to our own lives as we go along. The more varied the participants the deeper the conversations. Thursdays 11am PT/2pm ET. Currently, we are 89 members strong from 21 different states and 4 countries! We are: People interested in becoming Jewish Members of various Jewish denominations Clergy Lay leaders Retired people People who are not Jewish We are in our 20s to 80s, and we are everywhere on the spectrum of gender. Build community affirming of one another’s journey in the sea of Talmud with us! Benefit from the wisdom of Jewish tradition! What people say: "Yesterday's class was superb!! I remain impressed by so many things that you do! You are able to keep us on track, share (some of) your knowledge with us, make all sorts of connections to the Jewish and secular worlds, and meet each of us where we are! Kudos to you!!" "Talmud study has opened a window to that world for me. I love the anthropology and sociology of it all." "The minority opinions may someday count as much as the majority opinions. It reminds us that things change the Halacha changes and we change each year that we read it." "We have the opportunity to compare the Halacha we are practicing today with the one they were writing and studying in the Talmud... It has been very interesting how things have evolved how we keep the tradition in our own way." "I feel very close to this amazing group and I'm grateful to Rabbi Miller for conducting it." AND just prior to our Talmud Study, we hold space for check-ins and healing prayers for loved ones in need, including ourselves. To join and of these gatherings, please send Rabbi Miller an email or DM on Facebook to be added to the closed, secret Facebook group and/or the weekly text study group. And look for us on Instagram daily HERE. Why is the democratization of Talmud Study so important? View Rabbi Miller's lecture (delivered to Temple Israel of South Africa) HERE. |
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Tuesday, June 8 at 12pm PT/ 3pm ET, Enjoy this Guest Lecture by Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Director, Dr. Bernard Heller Museum, HUC-JIR/New York. Marc Chagall was profoundly inspired by the Bible throughout his career, producing biblical works in a broad array of mediums, including paintings, etchings, sculptures, mosaics, tapestries, stained-glass windows, ceramics, and stage set designs. Discover how memories of his youth in Bitebsk, his 1931 visit to Palestine, the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust, his personal religiosity, and his admiration for the old masters informed his imagination to create uniquely modern visual interpretations of the core text of the Jewish people. Special discussion to follow. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Register at: huc.edu/HUCConnect and to get the link to the discussion afterwards, be sure to cite Keeping It Sacred as the Synagogue/Organization. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS: iCal USER? If you use iCal and would like the complete Keeping It Sacred calendar added to your calendar, click the link at the bottom of the page HERE. This way you won't miss an opportunity to connect via our LIVE activities. EVERY DAY Please enjoy our 7-episode web series and podcast: People Keeping It Sacred on YouTube HERE or on your favorite podcast player (like: Spotify Google Podcasts, Apple + Podcasts, RadioPublic, Breaker, and PocketCasts). To learn more about Jewish holidays, check out our "A bit about... the holidays" HERE. ONGOING: SPIRITUAL COUNSELING Rabbi Miller is available for 1-on-1 spiritual counseling; pay what you can. Topics are based upon the participant and can include your personal theological understanding of coronavirus, spiritually making space for others in your home, the spirituality of isolation and finding your way back to sacred connection. For more information, click HERE. EVERY WEDNESDAY: BLACK POWER One of the bright lights of the Black Lives Matter movement, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State Los Angeles, will offer an in-depth 8-week course dedicated to shifting power, privilege, and influence to support freedom for Black people. This course is run by SVP, but Rabbi Miller and others from Keeping It Sacred are enrolled, so please join us! Register HERE. EVERY THURSDAY: PRAYER CIRCLE Join us as we gather Thursdays for a Prayer Circle. Lift up names of those who are ill, and join together for support and community. All are welcome. 10:30am PST/ 1:30pm EST/ 3:30pm Brazil time, 6:30pm London-time. Register for this program HERE. EVERY THURSDAY: KEEPING IT SACRED-DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP Our Facebook group will host our next virtual meetup via zoom. For the link to attend this meeting Thursdays 11am PST, 2pm EST, 4pm Brazil time, 7pm London time. Register for this program HERE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEBREW UNION COLLEGE: CONNECT 6/8 Chagall and the Bible Tuesday, June 8 at 3pm PT/ 6pm ET, Enjoy this Guest Lecture by Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Director, Dr. Bernard Heller Museum, HUC-JIR/New York. Marc Chagall was profoundly inspired by the Bible throughout his career, producing biblical works in a broad array of mediums, including paintings, etchings, sculptures, mosaics, tapestries, stained-glass windows, ceramics, and stage set designs. Discover how memories of his youth in Bitebsk, his 1931 visit to Palestine, the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust, his personal religiosity, and his admiration for the old masters informed his imagination to create uniquely modern visual interpretations of the core text of the Jewish people. Special discussion to follow. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Register at: huc.edu/HUCConnect and to get the link to the discussion afterwards, be sure to cite Keeping It Sacred as the Synagogue/Organization. *6/8 INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF GREATER RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA June 8 at 7pm PT/ 10pm ET, uplift your commitment to interfaith community building and join Vice President Rabbi Miller at the meeting of the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita. Please contact Rabbi Miller for details at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. 6/27 WARM WELCOME TO JUDAISM 6/27 Sunday at 10am PT/1pm ET, join us as we give a warm welcome to Judaism to our KITS members Erin, Matthew, and Alex. Their cousin, KITS member Marcia, will share special words, too. RSVP at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1 6/27 THE LAVENDER EFFECT PANEL ON FAITH *NEW TIME* SUNDAY, June 27 atat 5:30pm PT, Rabbi Miller will participate on a panel for the non-profit organization called The Lavender Effect on Faith and the Queer Community. Stay tuned for information to register for this zoom experience! ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW SERIES: 6/10 Caste THIS Thursday, 6/10 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Isabel Wilkerson's powerful book, Caste. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read Caste on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1 8/8 How to Be An Antiracist Sunday, 8/8 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Ibram X. Kendi's powerful book, How to Be An Antiracist. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read How to Be An Antiracist on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1 10/7 The Color of Love Thursday, 10/7 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Marra Gad's powerful book, The Color of Love. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read The Color of Love on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1 12/5 N**** Theory Sunday, 12/5 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Jody Armour's powerful book, N**** Theory. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read N**** Theory on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1 THANK YOU! You are a cherished member of this community and we love to hear from you-- what questions do you have? Reach out to rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com or via phone at 818-312-8388 anytime to let us know what you’re finding meaningful, inspiring and what you’d like to see. Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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If you’d like to make sure that this kind of quality programming by Keeping It Sacred continues, please consider making a donation via: keepingitsacred.com/our-future Thank you for #keepingitsacred... |
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