SHALOM!

Yesterday, we had folks from three different continents engaging in Torah together! It is hard to describe the feeling of connectedness that happens when you are able to study the opinions of thinkers across the span of time with people across the span of space. But it is easy to name it-- Sacred Community.

We gather soon for our High Holy Day Services-- for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rabbi Schmelkin and I are putting great care into the way we all enter the digital space, and experience the Days of Awe together.

Everything will be LIVE, so you know you have our complete attention and responsiveness. We will be praying WITH you. 

Our goal is to uplift the digital space to be a place of sacred convening. A place to reflect upon our lives. A place to connect with ourselves and our fullest realization in the world. A place to get in touch with our best hopes for one another in the new year. All of this will imbue our services with the Sweet & Sacred.

If you are planning on joining these services, please register HERE. We will provide the words to the blessings on the screen, but if you'd like to purchase the physical prayerbook, it is available through the CCAR for purchase HERE. A FREE digital flip book version can be found HERE. 

The financial contributions of our generous donors who value making quality, accessible, relevant, and empowering Jewish programming available to all enables us to offer all of our programs for free. If you would like to uphold this value, please consider making a meaningful contribution via the links at the bottom of the page when you register HERE. 

We cannot wait to ring in the new year together with you. 

Thank you for #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller, 

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

ELUL REFLECTIONS

Members of the Women’s Rabbinic Network have created a video reflecting on each of the 29 days of Elul. Please sign up to receive emails from this project called Elul Reflections here, and be sure to check out Rabbi Miller’s entry on Day 2 here. 

Also, follow @HeaRabbi on Instagram for visual inspiration for each day of the month of Elul corresponding to Rabbi Miller's book, ReSOULutions: A Practical Guide for Self-Repair. Get it HERE.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

These are organizations that are #keepingitsacred. Our group, Keeping It Sacred, is proud to join in this full page statement in the New York Times affirming the dignity of Black lives which are constantly under threat, harm, and abuse.

Be sure to read the full message attached HERE. 

SUNDAY, 9/6 JONAH THE REBEL

10am PST/ 1pm EST Jewish communities around the globe have read the book of Jonah on Yom Kippur for thousands of years. What makes this work, about a rebel running away from God, so special that it would be read on the most sacred day of the year? And most importantly, what might we learn from this story that would deepen our own understanding of faith, doubt, and reconciliation? Register for programming 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. 

New visual depictions of the pages with thoughtful commentary are available every day on Instagram @keepingitsacred and Facebook. Every Thursday, we discuss the past week's selections in real time via zoom, too! 

The more varied the participants the deeper the conversations. Currently, we are 79 members strong from:

Canada, England, Brazil, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Upstate NY, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Washington, Indiana, Missouri, Maryland, Vermont, Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia.  

We are:

Professors of Jewish Studies

People interested in becoming Jewish

Members of various Jewish denominations as well as transdenominational

Some are Reconstructionist Rabbis

Reform Rabbis

Jewish Professionals

Temple Presidents

Reform Cantors

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! 

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 HERE.

TORAH OF THE WEEK:

Happy new week! The reflection called "Award-Winning Outlook," on this week's Torah Portion on Parashat Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8 , can be found HERE:

RE(SOUL)UTIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR SELF-REPAIR

In the month of Elul, leading up to the Days of Awe, Jewish tradition encourages every individual to prepare with deep introspective work. But how are we to take an accounting of our past year in order to clear out energy of the past year to make room for the new? Rabbi Miller has compiled and organized Jewish textual inspirations for each of the 29 days of the month of Elul in her e-book, Re(Soul)utions: A Practical Guide for Self-Repair, available here.

NEW REVIEW:

5.0 out of 5 stars 

Excellent day by day 10 minute reflections to prepare for the Jewish new year (or really any time)

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2020

"Rabbi Miller has created an appealing, easy to use, eloquently written guidebook for 'preparing our souls' for the Days of Awe (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur - the Jewish new year and day of atonement - the so-called High Holy Days of the Jewish year) which is a Jewish tradition during Elul, the last month on the Hebrew calendar. Intended for daily use throughout this month, Rabbi Miller has selected some gems of Jewish learning, offered insights based on them, followed by questions to prompt our own reflections on our lives and world."

Click here to purchase for just $8.99!

This month, Rabbi Miller will teach a free four-session class based on the book to deepen our experience of this time of preparation and personal contemplation. Please join us for this Sunday series 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/6 by clicking here:

NEW! KEEPING IT SACRED STORE

Some of you have asked about purchasing the Keep It Sacred t-shirt- now you can! And there's a whole collection of other Jewish apparel and products on the new keepingitsacred.com website. Check it out here!

KIDS CORNER

SHABBAT SINGALONG:

THIS SATURDAY9/5 and again 10/17, the Shabbat Singalong program for kids (and kids at heart) will take at 9am! Join Rabbi Miller and her mini-mes for songs, Hebrew learning, a Torah story, and space to express gratitude. Contact Rabbi Miller at rabbiheathermiller.com/contact for the link and passcode!

GREAT ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH OUR YOUNGEST MEMBERS:

Find a recipe to make something this weekend with honey or apples or anything yummy! HERE is one to try.

Have you ever made applesauce at home? HERE is one recipe to try or find one of your own.

FOR OLDER KIDS:

Learn all about pomegranates in Judaism HERE:

Try to find a pomegranate if someone goes to a store this month. They are messy and delicious!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

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 rabbiheathermiller@gmail.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/ 6:30pm London-time. Contact rabbiheathermiller@gmail.com to request the link and password.

EVERY THURSDAY: KEEPING IT SACRED-DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP

As noted above, our Facebook group will host our next virtual meetup via zoom. For the link to attend this meeting Thursdays 11am PST, 2pm EST, 7pm London time, please contact Rabbi Miller directly at rabbiheathermiller@gmail.com. 

JOIN US for our Sweet and Sacred Season!

This year is different from all other years. But, we at Keeping It Sacred are dedicated to lifting up the essence of the High Holy Day Season: Sweetness and Sacredness. We have designed a comprehensive High Holy Day experience that will emphasize these qualities and uplift the essence of the holy days. Join us for intentional programming rooted in the wisdom of Jewish tradition. All programs below are designed by Rabbi Miller to be accessible, relevant and empowering. And, unless otherwise noted, each are 1-hour. All are welcome. To register, click HERE.

SUNDAYS, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30 and 9/6: RE(SOUL)UTIONS: ELUL COUNT

9am PST/12pm EST Join us as we read Rabbi Miller's book, Re(Soul)utions: A Practical Guide for Self-Repair in the month of Elul.The book is written with one reading and introspective prompt for each day of the week of Elul, the month preceding the High Holy Days. Jumpstart your introspection this year, a year when so many of us are rethinking what is important in life. Clear out the energy of the year 5780 and prepare for the year 5781 with renewed sense of self and resolve to act in alignment with our values. Rabbi Miller will lead a four session class--9am PT/noon ET on Sundays, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, and 9/6. Register for programming HERE.

SATURDAYS 9/5 and 10/17: SHABBAT SINGALONG 

9am PST, noon EST, join Rabbi Miller and her mini-mes for an uplifting kid-friendly Monthly Shabbat Singalong. Pick up some Hebrew vocabulary and get in touch with gratitude in community! Email rabbiheathermiller@gmail.com for the link and password.

SUNDAY, 9/6 JONAH THE REBEL

10am PST/ 1pm EST Jewish communities around the globe have read the book of Jonah on Yom Kippur for thousands of years. What makes this work, about a rebel running away from God, so special that it would be read on the most sacred day of the year? And most importantly, what might welearn from this story that would deepen our own understanding of faith, doubt, and reconciliation? Register for programming HERE.

FRIDAY, 9/18 EREV ROSH HASHANAH NEW YEAR DINNER

5pm PST/ 8pm EST Join Rabbi Miller and friends for a truly universal celebration of creation. Tune in with friends from various traditions to reflect upon the power of creation and the season where we re-create ourselves anew. This year we will usher in 5781 with gratitude for the diversity of the world around us. Bring your dinner and your shofar and your best hopes for the new year. Register for programming HERE.

SATURDAY, 9/19 ROSH HASHANAH DAY I*

10am PST/ 1pm EST Join Rabbi Miller for a Zoom experience designed uplift the essence of Rosh Hashanah with prayer offerings, stories and lessons from our tradition, and invitations for thoughtful interaction. (75min.) Virtual Oneg to follow; enjoy your own apples and honey and round challah. Register for programming HERE.

SUNDAY, 9/20 HI: THE GAME ABOUT WHAT MATTERS MOST

10am PST/ 1pm EST The season of reflection is a perfect time to consider what matters most to you. We will play a game (yes a game!) about life and death and meaning that is sure to spark some of the deepest conversations strangers can have with one another. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to have fun while being purposeful. Register for programming HERE. (2hrs.) 

SUNDAY 9/20 TASHLICH

3pm PST/6pm EST Tashlich is the service where we cast away any old behaviors that we would like to rid ourselves from in the new year. Rabbi Miller will Zoom in LIVE from a living body of water to perform this ritual on behalf of all of us, but you may also Zoom in LIVE from our preferred favorite living body of water as well. Don't forget to bring bread crumbs! Register for programming HERE. (30min.)

SUNDAY, 9/27 KOL NIDREI/ EREV YOM KIPPUR*

6:30 PST/ 9:30pm EST Join Rabbi Miller and musical guest for a Zoom experience designed uplift the essence of Yom Kippur Evening Service, known as Kol Nidrei, with prayer offerings, stories and lessons from our tradition, and invitations for thoughtful interaction. Together, we will usher in this most sacred day of the Jewish Year. Register for programming HERE. (75min.)

MONDAY, 9/28 YOM KIPPUR MORNING*

10am PST/ 1pm EST Join Rabbi Miller and musical guest for a Zoom experience designed uplift the essence of Yom Kippur with prayer offerings, stories and lessons from our tradition, and invitations for thoughtful interaction. Register for programming HERE. (75min.)

MONDAY, 9/28 YOM KIPPUR YIZKOR*

12pm PST/ 3pm EST Virtual Yizkor Join Rabbi Miller for a Zoom experience designed uplift the essence of the Yizkor Memorial Service with prayer offerings, stories and lessons from our tradition, and invitations for thoughtful interaction. Register for programming HERE. (75min.)

MONDAY, 9/28 YOM KIPPUR NE'ILAH & VIRTUAL BREAK-THE-FAST*

5:40pm PST/ 8:40pm EST Join Rabbi Miller for a Zoom experience designed uplift the essence of the Ne'ilah Service with prayer offerings, stories and lessons from our tradition, and invitations for thoughtful interaction that will close out the most sacred day. Following this, let's break bread together (virtually)! Register for programming HERE. (75min.)

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 rabbiheathermiller@gmail.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

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...