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Newsletter March 25, 2024 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

It is a tree of life. That’s what we say of the Torah. The wooden spools that make up the scrolls were literally once part of a tree. And the values, morals, and lessons give life meaning  but beyond that, within the pages of the Torah are histories and genealogies going back to the first human, Adam. Telling the human story and understanding ourselves as part of one big family gives life. 

 

The rabbis explain that the Torah tells us of one common ancestor so that no person would lord it over another, saying, “my parent is greater than yours!” We also are taught that there is one common ancestor to teach us that within every person is an entire world of people (a universe within each of us). This shows that each person is infinitely precious. 

 

Torah is a text that we wrestle with and make meaning of. It is intended to occupy our lives and give us endless food for thought- it is meant to sharpen our intentional living. If not adding to the lengths of our days, then adding to the quality of each moment. 

 

Pictured above is a family tree of sorts created by our amazing member, Frieda, in our KITS Creativity Club hosted by exceptional and inclusive leaders, Wendy and Sheryl, and taught recently by our inspirational member Shari. And that’s just it- immersing ourselves in Torah in this way also provides us with a life of community that spans time and space. So as we nurture our relationship with Torah, we are nurtured by it. 

This is how we’re keeping it sacred. 

 

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred...


Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

IN THE NEWS: LA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCON MAKES HISTORY LAUNCHING FIRST INTERFAITH ADVISORY BOARD

This past week, Rabbi Miller was sworn in to serve on the first ever Los Angeles County District Attorney's Interfaith Advisory Board. Of the experience, Rabbi Miller wrote: "Today was such a powerful day. To be sworn in as a member of the first ever Los Angeles District Attorney Interfaith Advisory Board, surrounded by dear friends and community members who want a Los Angeles built upon truth and justice, and to follow that by a press conference for a man who was freed before our eyes- exonerated after the facts proved that he did not commit the crime he was incarcerated for (for 19 years)! His mama and aunt were there and his aunt told me that every day of his incarceration, she mailed him an 8 page letter from her home in Georgia filled with positive messages, biblical scripture to keep him strong, and love. Finding the truth of the matter, matters. My kids missed some school today to attend, but they definitely got an education. Please watch these videos especially about the exoneration as it will remind each of us of the power of a just legal system. And for my Talmud nerds!- we learned about the dangers of relying only on the testimony of one witness and why Jewish law requires at least two…"

 

Check out media coverage of the event here, and here, and here, and here.

CONGRATS LEAH AND WOLFGANG!

Recently, Leah and Wolfgang wed in an intimate ceremony officiated by Rabbi Miller on a balcony of a stunning Topanga Canyon Hills home. In the service, the couple toasted L’Chayyim and Prost with the bride’s bat mitzvah kiddish cup and the groom’s baptismal cup. Both were blessed in Hebrew, German, and English, and beyond. The entire global Keeping It Sacred community celebrates this worldly couple! Photo provided by the Tyler Chase Collective.

MARCH: QUEEN'S SHABBAT!

Give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate in community with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Max Winer will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song the last Friday of every month.

 

These services take place the LAST Friday night of the month both online and in person (in Sherman Oaks, CA) at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET. Please RSVP for both at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming and if you’d like to join in person, please email Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com for details.

 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

March’s service is Queen’s Shabbat in honor of Purim (3/29)

April’s service is Passover Shabbat (this may be a Saturday morning service*)

May’s Shabbat is Fire Pit Shabbat in honor of Lag B’Omer (5/31)

June’s service is Summertime Shabbat (6/28)

KITS CREATIVITY CLUB

Every Other Sunday 9am PT/12pm ET, enjoy a chance to hang out with other Keeping It Sacred community members, get to know each other better, and create. Our sessions are led by beloved KITS community members Sheryl Aronson and Wendy Stiver. The next gathering will be APRIL 7TH.

 

For this workshop: Our next KITS Creatively Club will meet Sunday, April 7 at 9 am PST, 12 pm EST, will be lead by Shari Pratt, and take 2 sessions. This will be our second session, but please don’t let it dissuade you from joining if you missed the first. We will be making Family Trees like you have never seen before! All you need is paper and a pen or pencil. REGISTER HERE!

NISAN ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

This is our way of ending each month with a new vision of racial justice. April 11th 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET: Register here! And mark your calendar for upcoming dates: Iyyar Rosh Chodesh Racial Jusice Book Review: May 9

  • Sivan Rosh Chodesh Racial Jusice Book Review: June 6

  • Rosh Chodesh Racial Jusice Book Review: July 5

  • Av Rosh Chodesh Racial Jusice Book Review: August 8

  • Elul Rosh Chodesh Racial Jusice Book Review: September 5

INTERFAITH ZOOM PASSOVER SEDER

Join us again this year for Keeping It Sacred’s 4th Annual Interfaith, Intergenerational, International Passover Seder hosted online by Grammy-winning musician, Joanie Leeds and our own Rabbi Heather Miller 5:30pm PT /8:30pm ET April 23rd (this is a second night seder)! REGISTER HERE.

GRIEF IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Hosted by Keeping It Sacred Muslims for Progressive Values: Hear from those living with Grief in the Middle East as we invite members of the Parents' Circle to share reflections on their experiences as parents who have lost children in violence. Explore human suffering and a new vision for the future. Bringing the Parents’ Circle (https://www.theparentscircle.org/en/pcff-home-page-en/) to a zoom event 9am PT | Noon ET on 5/20. Register here!

SHARE YOUR INTERFAITH WEDDING STORY WITH 18 DOORS

18Doors (formerly interfaithfamily.com) is looking to learn about the contours of interfaith weddings. Who officiated? In what ways were the elements of your traditions incorporated? What were special or memorable moments? Share your story with 18Doors here! “We want to see your Jewish Interfaith Wedding!”

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM

Our Introduction to Judaism® online course gives participants a strong foundation for authentic and empowered engagement in the Jewish community.  This 18-session program is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays, and rituals.

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This course is designed for spiritual seekers, interfaith couples, individuals pursuing or considering conversion, and Jews who want a meaningful chance to reconnect with their Judaism as an adult.

​

Classes will be held Mondays at 1pm PT/4pm ET from January 22 through June 3, with breaks March 25 (Spring Break) and May 27 (Memorial Day).

 

The program is led by Rabbi Heather Miller and her teaching style is interactive, and encouraging of questions. She is queer and a member of an interracial, international, interfaith family, and joyfully engages with folks of all backgrounds. Rabbi Heather Miller is known for her open, affirming, and joyful approach.

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Come for the program, stay for the community! Weekly classes are augmented by Shabbat and holiday programs and additional experiential components all found on the calendar (HERE). Our course of 18 classes is $360 for individuals, and $500 for couples. No experience necessary. All are welcome!

 

View the course outline HERE. Full course materials are provided upon registration.

​

Register for this program HERE.

JEWS OF COLOR JOURNEY TOWARDS HEALING

Our own beloved Keeping It Sacred member, Jill Housen of 3W Consulting, thanks to a generous grant from The Jews of Color Initiative, will launch the “JOC Journey to Healing” virtual program in April 2024 to provide a sacred space for the Jews of Color community to heal and center JOC leadership. JOCs- please join us! This program is free of charge (covered by the grant). If you have any questions before you register, please email tamarghidalia@gmail.com and oshun821@gmail.com. To register: bit.ly/JOC-Journey-Toward-Healing

HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY EVERY THURSDAY

JOIN our healing circle holding space for all looking for prayers for healing. This and EVERY THURSDAY -- at 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET.

 

Immediately following that: at 11am PT/2pm ET, join us as we jump into a conversation with the rabbinic sages of old. We enjoy studying a page of Talmud every day and reviewing together every Thursday, adding our perspectives and the relevance to our own lives as we go along. We enjoy participation from participants across the world who span the spectrum of race, gender, class, age, and connection to Jewish thought.

 

The rabbis could never have imagined such a wonderful group considering their thoughts!

 

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."

 

To join, please register HERE. Also, DM Rabbi Miller on Facebook HERE to be added to the closed, secret group where we question and discuss. And look for us on Instagram daily HERE.

LET'S CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Join us online at: keepingitsacred.com, Instagram accounts @hearabbi and @keepingitsacred, our Facebook pages HERE and HERE, YouTube Channel HERE and podcasts everywhere. Join us there for updated Talmud posts, Torah commentary, inspirations and invitations to gather online and in person.

 

Whether you found us through a friend, neighbor, a listserve or browsing the internet, we are glad you're here!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

 

iCal USER? 

If you use iCal and would like the complete Keeping It Sacred calendar added to your calendar, click HERE. This way you won't miss an opportunity to connect via our LIVE activities. 

 

EVERY DAY

Please enjoy TWO seasons of our 7-episode web series People Keeping It Sacred and our Jewish Holiday series called "A Bit About..." both available on YouTube HERE and via podcast on your favorite podcast player including: PocketCasts, Breaker, RadioPublic, Apple + Podcasts, Google Podcasts  Spotify and more 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.

 

3/28 HEALING CIRCLE

Join us as we gather every Thursday for a Prayer Circle. Lift up names of those who are ill, and join together for support and community. All are welcome. 10:30am PT/ 1:30pm ET/ 3:30pm Brazil time/ 6:30pm London-time. Register for this program HERE. 

 

3/28 PAGE-A-DAY OF TALMUD DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP

Thursdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 4pm Brazil time/ 7pm London time, join us as we review the past week's Talmud readings in sacred international community. No experience necessary, but be ready for some *interesting* discussions. Bring what you know about Torah, but also what you know to be true from your own life. Your insights are appreciated. Register for this program HERE.  

 

3/29 SHABBAT SERVICES

Give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate in community with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Max Winer will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song the last Friday of every month. Rabbi Miller is our rabbi! And, Max Winer is a storyteller, song leader, and musician who uses these creative expressions to help create community, facilitate learning, and inspire a love of Judaism. These services take place the LAST Friday night of the month both online and in person (in Sherman Oaks, CA) at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET.

 

4/1 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM®

This 18-session class is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays and rituals on Mondays at 1pm PT | 4pm ET. Come for the class, stay for the community! REGISTER HERE.

 

4/4 HEALING CIRCLE

Join us as we gather every Thursday for a Prayer Circle. Lift up names of those who are ill, and join together for support and community. All are welcome. 10:30am PT/ 1:30pm ET/ 3:30pm Brazil time/ 6:30pm London-time. Register for this program HERE. 

 

4/4 PAGE-A-DAY OF TALMUD DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP

Thursdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 4pm Brazil time/ 7pm London time, join us as we review the past week's Talmud readings in sacred international community. No experience necessary, but be ready for some *interesting* discussions. Bring what you know about Torah, but also what you know to be true from your own life. Your

insights are appreciated. Register for this program HERE.  

 

4/8 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM®

This 18-session class is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays and rituals on Mondays at 1pm PT | 4pm ET. Come for the class, stay for the community! REGISTER HERE.

 

4/11 NISAN ROCH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

This is our way of ending each month with a new vision of racial justice. 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET: REGISTER HERE.

 

4/11 HEALING CIRCLE

Join us as we gather every Thursday for a Prayer Circle. Lift up names of those who are ill, and join together for support and community. All are welcome. 10:30am PT/ 1:30pm ET/ 3:30pm Brazil time/ 6:30pm London-time. Register for this program HERE. 

 

4/11 PAGE-A-DAY OF TALMUD DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP

Thursdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 4pm Brazil time/ 7pm London time, join us as we review the past week's Talmud readings in sacred international community. No experience necessary, but be ready for some *interesting* discussions. Bring what you know about Torah, but also what you know to be true from your own life. Your insights are appreciated. Register for this program HERE.  

 

4/15 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM®

This 18-session class is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays and rituals on Mondays at 1pm PT | 4pm ET. Come for the class, stay for the community! REGISTER HERE.

 

4/18 HEALING CIRCLE

Join us as we gather every Thursday for a Prayer Circle. Lift up names of those who are ill, and join together for support and community. All are welcome. 10:30am PT/ 1:30pm ET/ 3:30pm Brazil time/ 6:30pm London-time. Register for this program HERE. 

 

4/18 PAGE-A-DAY OF TALMUD DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP

Thursdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 4pm Brazil time/ 7pm London time, join us as we review the past week's Talmud readings in sacred international community. No experience necessary, but be ready for some *interesting* discussions. Bring what you know about Torah, but also what you know to be true from your own life. Your insights are appreciated. Register for this program HERE.  

 

4/22 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM®

This 18-session class is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays and rituals on Mondays at 1pm PT | 4pm ET. Come for the class, stay for the community! REGISTER HERE.

 

4/23 INTERFAITH, INTERGENERATIONAL PASSOVER SEDER

Join us again this year for Keeping It Sacred’s 4th Annual Interfaith, Intergenerational, International Passover Seder hosted online by Grammy-winning musician, Joanie Leeds and our own Rabbi Heather Miller 5:30pm PT /8:30pm ET April 23rd (this is a second night seder). Register here!

 

4/25 HEALING CIRCLE

Join us as we gather every Thursday for a Prayer Circle. Lift up names of those who are ill, and join together for support and community. All are welcome. 10:30am PT/ 1:30pm ET/ 3:30pm Brazil time/ 6:30pm London-time. Register for this program HERE. 

 

4/25 PAGE-A-DAY OF TALMUD DAF YOMI GROUP MEET-UP

Thursdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 4pm Brazil time/ 7pm London time, join us as we review the past week's Talmud readings in sacred international community. No experience necessary, but be ready for some *interesting* discussions. Bring what you know about Torah, but also what you know to be true from your own life. Your insights are appreciated. Register for this program HERE.  

 

4/26 SHABBAT SERVICES

Give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate in community with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Max Winer will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song the last Friday of every month. Rabbi Miller is our rabbi! And, Max Winer is a storyteller, song leader, and musician who uses these creative expressions to help create community, facilitate learning, and inspire a love of Judaism. These services take place the LAST Friday night of the month both online and in person (in Sherman Oaks, CA) at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET. Register here!

 

4/29 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM®

This 18-session class is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays and rituals on Mondays at 1pm PT | 4pm ET. Come for the class, stay for the community! REGISTER HERE.

 

5/20 GRIEF IN THE MIDDLE EAST

9am PT/ noon ET on 5/20 join us for Grief in the Middle East. A program hosted by Keeping It Sacred Muslims for Progressive Values: Hear from those living with Grief in the Middle East as we invite members of the Parents' Circle to share reflections on their experiences as parents who have lost children in violence. Explore human suffering and a new vision for the future. Register here!

 

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

GO TO KEEPINGITSACRED.COM
27068 La Paz Rd. Suite #781 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
818-312-8388

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