SHALOM!

My heart was lifted with pure joy as I officiated the wedding of an amazing couple this past weekend in the presence of their parents. Others zoomed in to the service, and among them was a woman in actual labor! The world is brimming with newness and possibility- a new marriage, a new baby- each beautiful reminders of the possibilities ahead; each inspiring hope in the future.

By the end of this week, we will gather together to express gratitude for the possibilities that await us in the Jewish New Year. Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin and I have taken great care into the way we gather in 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 in real time. We will be together in the digital space, elevating it to be a place of sacred convening during this Sweet & Sacred Season.

If you haven't yet, please register here (and share this link with loved ones you want to jump into the new year with): rabbiheathermiller.com/high-holy-days

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

Check out our Keeping It Sacred YouTube channel featuring a series of reflections for this season. The final episode comes out Thursday night! And, view a SNEAK PREVIEW of our upcoming 7-episode web series called People Keeping It Sacred-- be ready to be inspired!

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.

EREV ROSH HASHANAH INTERFAITH CELEBRATION OF CREATION

This Friday night, September 18 at 5pm PST/8pm EST, join Rabbi Miller and friends from the Christian, Muslim, Baha'i, Afro-Cuban Indigenous, and Mormon traditions for a truly universal celebration of creation in alignment with the spirit of the holy day marking the creation of the world. Zoom in 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 this unforgettable celebration HERE. 

ROSH HASHANAH MORNING

Saturday, September 19 at 10am PST/ 1pm EST, join Rabbi Miller and Rabbi Schmelkin for a Zoom experience designed uplift the essence of Rosh Hashanah with prayer offerings, music, stories and lessons from our tradition, and invitations for thoughtful interaction. Virtual Oneg to follow; enjoy your own apples and honey and round challah. To welcome in the new year together, please register HERE. 

"HI" HOLY DAYS

Sunday, September 20, at 10am PST/1pm EST, we're gonna play a game the second day of Rosh Hashanah called "Hi"! It's a game about living and dying and what matters most. These are the sobering questions that can help us have important conversations in a supportive and fun environment. Whether you play with loved ones or strangers, you're bound to learn something profound about yourself. Check out the longer version of "Hi" called "Hello" meant for in-person play. "Hi!" is the version meant for LIVE online play over zoom. Register to play with us for free 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.

This week, Rabbi Miller's commentary on the Daily Daf was published to thousands via the MJL Daily Dose of Talmud e-blast. Check it out: HERE. 

TORAH OF THE WEEK:

Happy new week! The reflection called "Strength and Courage," on this week's Torah Portion on Parashat Vayeilech, Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30, 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!

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!

JEW IT AT HOME

Keeping It Sacred has now joined the great communities of Temple Emanu-El of Beverly Hills, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles, and others to share all of our online programming in one place. There will be programming for all ages, from toddler to older adults, so please check it out. To sign up please visit JewItAtHome.com.

KIDS CORNER

SHABBAT SINGALONG:

Saturday 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:

Celebrate Rosh HaShanah with Shalom Sesame: Sounding the Shofar | Reform Judaism

Teaching Children about Rosh HaShanah: "Be the Best Me" | Reform Judaism

FOR OLDER KIDS:

Nitzavim for Teens: Shabbat Sha-raps | Reform Judaism

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/ 2:30pm Brazil time, 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, 3pm Brazil time, 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. All are welcome. To register, click 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. (60min.)

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. Virtual Oneg to follow; enjoy your own apples and honey and round challah. Register for programming HERE.

(75min.)

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.)

SATURDAY 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.

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...