And here we are... we have finally come to the last week of an exhausting year. Truly, this year has been unlike any other. We have all had to switch up our lives dramatically, radically.

The first few months were alright. We were able to adapt. We were creative in our response. But then, we began to realize this was taking a bit longer than we anticipated.

Still, we busied ourselves with our daily activities and caring for loved ones, our housework, and the rebalance of our lives. Making sure we were getting the nutrition needed. Making sure to evaluate what was necessary in our lives. But necessary is not what gives life color. Or joy. And, so, we had to become intentional about bringing joy into our lives. But now winter is setting in. And this task feels heavy as well.

The days are short and it is cold outside. Even in Southern California. And we realize: we are exhausted. Time to sit and reflect. What has the past year taught us? But first, a doze.And, cheers to a new year.

וְנָתַתִּ֤י שָׁלוֹם֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּ֖ם 

I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down.

-Leviticus 26:6

Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller, 

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

ACCESS JUDAISM

Please save the dates for our upcoming two-session adult learning program called Access Judaism. Full class lineup personally designed by Rabbi Miller. Classes have a suggested donation of $25 per class, or $180 per session. Please email rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com to RSVP. 

RELATIONSHIP BOOSTER

If you are partnered and looking to boost your relationship in the new year, download our FREE Keeping It Sacred Relationship Booster January 2021 Calendar on our NEW Connections Page HERE:

HOMELESS REMEMBRANCE: THE LONGEST NIGHT

We were honored to participate in The Longest Night program with our friends at Women Drivers and the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita. It is the Winter Solstice, literally the longest night of the year, and appropriately, we remembered all those who have died on the streets.

To view the service, click the image above.

To view news coverage of the event:

TWO CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

In the spirit of interfaith appreciation, The Very Reverend Keith Yamamoto has invited Rabbi Heather Miller to participate in the St. Mark's Episcopal Parish of Upland Christmas Eve services, and The Very Rev. Mike Kinman invited Rabbi Miller to participate in the All Saints Church of Pasadena Christmas Eve services. Find the St. Mark's service HERE

Find the All Saints service HERE

HIAS NATIONAL JEWISH CLERGY LETTER IN SUPPORT OF REFUGEES

We are proud to support the work of HIAS, formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. This statement encourages the new administration to reinvent and modernize the refugee and asylum protection systems. 

STATEMENT AGAINST GAY CONVERSION THERAPY

This week, Rabbi Miller proudly joined hundreds of faith leaders to sign the statement of the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives against gay conversion therapy and all acts of discrimination against the LGBT+ community.:

Declaring The Sanctity Of Life And The Dignity Of All

• We come together as senior religious leaders, academics, and lay leaders from around the world to affirm the sanctity of life and dignity of all.
• We affirm that all human beings of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions are a precious part of creation and are part of the natural order.
• We affirm that we are all equal under God, whom many call the Divine, and so we are all equal to one another.
• We, therefore, call for all to be treated equally under the law.
• We recognize with sadness that certain religious teachings have often, throughout the ages, caused and continue to cause deep pain and offense to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.
• We acknowledge, with profound regret, that some of our teachings have created, and continue to create, oppressive systems that fuel intolerance, perpetuate injustice and result in violence. This has led, and continues to lead, to the rejection and alienation of many by their families, their religious groups and cultural communities.
• We ask for forgiveness from those whose lives have been damaged and destroyed on the pretext of religious teaching.
• We believe that love and compassion should be the basis of faith and that hatred can have no place in religion.
• We call on all nations to put an end to criminalisation on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, for violence against LGBT+ people to be condemned and for justice to be done on their behalf.
• We call for all attempts to change, suppress or erase a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – commonly known as “conversion therapy” – to end, and for these harmful practices to be banned.
• Finally, we call for an end to the perpetuation of prejudice and stigma and commit to work together to celebrate inclusivity and the extraordinary gift of our diversity

Coverage of this story can be found here:

TALMUD TEXT STUDY!

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.

Currently, we are 91 members strong from 17 different states and 3 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:

"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."

To join, 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.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

EVERY DAY

Please enjoy our 7-episode web series and podcast: People Keeping It Sacred on YouTube HERE or at: Or on your favorite podcast players (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. Please request a meeting by contacting her at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com.

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. Contact rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com to request the link and password.

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, please contact Rabbi Miller directly at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. 

2021: ACCESS JUDAISM: ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES

Please save the dates for accessible, relevant, and empowering Jewish learning! Classes will be held at 10am PT/1pm ET via zoom.

Session 1 dates are:

1/17 Personal Inventory of Belief,

1/24 Radical Responsibility for the World,

1/31 Demystifying Denominational Differences,

2/7 The Flavors of the Holy Books,

2/14 One for Every Mood: The Jewish Holidays,

2/21 Jewish Intermarriage: A History,

2/28 The Righteous Economic Vision of the Rabbis, and

3/7 The Kabbalistic Non-Binary God.

Session 2 dates are:

4/11 The Intelligent Design of the Prayerbook,

4/18 Reform Renovations of the Prayerbook,

4/25 Rituals as Markers of Transition,

5/2 The Characteristics of a Good Jew,

5/9 Slam Poetry in the Golden Age,

5/16 Bad Theology: Terrible Explanations of Why the Righteous Suffer,

5/23 Siblings or Cousins?: Jews and Christians in the First Century, and

5/30 Before You Die Consider these Rabbinic Thoughts.

Please see keepingitsacred.com/accessjudaism or email Rabbi Miller if you're interested in these courses at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. 

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...

And now on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, RadioPublic, PocketCasts!

We'd love for you to forward this to a friend to invite them to sign up, too!

If you’d like to make sure that this kind of quality programming by

Keeping It Sacred continues, please consider making a donation via:

PayPal using the link here

Venmo username: @keepingitsacred, or

Check may be made out to Keeping It Sacred and mailed to:

27068 La Paz Rd. #781, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Thank you for #keepingitsacred...