Newsletter June 28, 2021 Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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Places are beginning to open back up. People can once again gather in community. And, many people are thrilled. But even the most excited about getting life back to normal still hold some pain in their hearts. Grief. Overwhelming communal grief. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Jewish community suffered tragic communal grief when the Second Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem in the year 70 CE. And every year since, we have come together to mourn that loss through rituals and remembrances. Yesterday, was the 17th of Tammuz; it is a date when many Jews around the world fast in remembrance of the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem. This event marked the beginning of the end for the Temple which was destroyed three weeks later, on the 9th of Av, which is also a fast day. On the 9th of Av, we also read from the book of Lamentations as a way for our community to lament the atrocities that we experienced; as a way to process our deep grief. We experienced it together, and so we process it together. So, as we get back to life after this atrocious pandemic, we consider: how will we process the grief we experienced? We have lost loved ones. We have lost the ability to enjoy human contact. We have missed out on family gatherings and freedoms we previously took for granted. How will we mark this transition? Please join the Keeping It Sacred community on Sunday, July 18 at 10am PT/1pm ET to communally process our grief and move toward healing. Together, we’re #keepingitsacred... Rabbi Heather Miller, Founder, Keeping It Sacred |
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RESOULUTIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR SELF-REPAIR |
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Rabbi Miller's first book, RE(SOUL)UTIONS: A Practical Guide for Self-Repair (2019) is now available as a paperback, and is TRENDING as a #1 New Release on Amazon.com! The book invites the reader into a process of self-reflection for the sake of personal improvement and empowerment. Rabbi Heather Miller draws from thousands of years of Jewish traditional texts, infusing them with relevance and practical meaning to Jewish and non-Jewish readers today. Her writing is warm, accessible, and meaningful. Reviews: "Rabbi Heather Miller takes us through the sacred journey of Elul with wisdom, warmth and tremendous intellectual facility. Weaving Torah, Talmud, and Midrash, together with the spiritual guidance of her soul, she creates a compelling, meaningful and easy-to-follow guidebook for this Jewish month of preparation. Her teachings are as practical as they are uplifting, and as personal as they are universal." "Resolutions is Torah in its essence--uplifting and soul-stirring. This collection is a call to deeper self-knowledge and healing, both personally and universally. A powerful and inspiring addition to your bookshelf!" "This is a perfect way to enter the month of Elul, with an excellent step by step, day by day guide with delectable soul food along with daily new details to stimulate our intellect. A new MUST for the High Holy Days, and/or year round. Will join the ranks of seasonal Jewish classics!" "This text is clearly written, beautifully arranged, and thoughtfully presented in a way that allows the reader - at any level of knowledge or experience - to connect with their inner soul, and with their personal mission to improve their life. Highly recommend!" |
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ERIN, MATTHEW & ALEX- AFFIRMED! |
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Yesterday, our very own Erin, Matthew, and Alex were welcomed into the covenant of the Jewish people with a lovely sampling of Keeping It Sacred folks across three continents. Erin had discovered her Jewish heritage and met her cousin Marcia after an illuminating Ancestry.com test. She and her husband Matthew and son Alex had been living Jewishly for years and finally made their entry into Jewish peoplehood official. It was an absolute pleasure to affirm their identity with a prior beit din and mikveh. Yesterday's celebration was a welcoming embrace from the community. They each bring so many talents and strengths to the Jewish endeavor-- we are very lucky indeed! |
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Confirmation is a ceremony that confirms commitment to Torah study, depth-seeking, and engagement with community. We will gather to lift up this sacred activity that provides deep life purpose and meaning. Honorees: All members of the Keeping It Sacred community are encouraged to participate in this ceremony honoring your commitment. Together, let's honor your engagement! Please reserve a ticket HERE, and then find more information on participating in the service here: bitly.com/KITSConfirmation2021Form. You will be celebrated and receive a beautiful, custom-made original artist-commissioned certificate commemorating this joyful day. This is an INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY event-- all are welcome! Honored Guests/Friends & Family: All are welcome and encouraged to attend this ceremony celebrating our beloved community members. Come meet honorees and hear why folks love to engage. Keeping It Sacred honors the value of keruv/open welcoming, and as such, offers all classes and holiday observances free of charge. Please join in this momentous celebration! |
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CALIFORNIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR SB2 |
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Working with on the ground coalition partners, Rabbi Miller helped to draft this Jewish Community Letter of Support for SB2- The Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Bill of 2021. If you would like to support the bill, please complete the form found HERE. |
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Friday, July 9 at 10am PT/1pm ET, celebrate the Siyyum/Culmination of study of Tractate Yoma with the rest of the world! Bring friends and reflect upon the finer points of text. Grab your place at the table as we sit down with the sages of old and wrestle with their thinking, enjoy their stories, and glean their wisdom! “Rabbi Miller has a great sense of humor, and you can tell she really loves sharing her knowledge.” “She involves her students so it’s not a lecture format, and we were encouraged to ask questions or insert comments as the evening went along. She makes everyone comfortable in her presence and allows time for all of us to learn a little about the others in the group.” "Rabbi Miller made these wise and learned people viable for me, allowing me to connect on a more personal level with each one. I loved my experience with Rabbi Miller and am looking forward to more learning opportunities with her. She's a wonderful teacher." No experience necessary. All are welcome! Register HERE. |
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TISHA B'AV HEALING SERVICE |
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Join us Sunday, July 18 at 10am PT/1pm ET. The Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 CE. In contemporary times, we hold sacred space for contemplating the decay of our bodies and those of our loved ones; sacred temples that house the light of the Divine. As is customary, we will recite excerpts from the book of Lamentations and find strength in prayer and in our community. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1. |
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7/25 Sunday at 10am PT/ 1pm ET, guest lecturer Rabbi Jordan Parr will share with us insights into the sacred geometry of the mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Whether you're into math or not, this class will get you to think about deeper truths of the universe. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1. |
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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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THE LAVENDER EFFECT: PIONEERS IN QUEER FAITH PANEL |
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We concluded PRIDE month on Sunday, with the LGBTQIA+ Heritage Forum with Pioneering Panelists including our own Rabbi Heather Miller. Rev. Sheena Metal will moderate this panel for The Lavender Effect. Click HERE to view the discussion. |
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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 92 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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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 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. *7/9 DAF YOMI TRACTATE YOMA SIYYUM July 9, at 10am PT/1pm ET, those around the world who have been studying a page of Talmud each day (known as the Daf Yomi) will all celebrate the end of Tractate Yoma. We, at Keeping It Sacred, will host a special celebration. Grab your party hat or other celebratory hat, and register to gather together over zoom. Register at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1. 7/18 TISHA B'AV HEALING SERVICE 7/18 Sunday at 10am PT/1pm ET. The Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av commemorates the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 CE. In contemporary times, we hold sacred space for contemplating the decay of our bodies and those of our loved ones; sacred temples that house the light of the Divine. As is customary, we will recite excerpts from the book of Lamentations and find strength in prayer and in our community. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1. *7/25 SACRED GEOMETRY 7/25 Sunday at 10am PT/1pm ET, guest lecturer Rabbi Jordan Parr will share with us insights into the sacred geometry of the mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Whether you're into math or not, this class will get you to think about deeper truths of the universe. Please Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1. ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW SERIES: 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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SUPPORTING KEEPING IT SACRED |
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Every member of this community is a valued part of the whole. Membership starts simply by signing up for the newsletter email list. From there, each and every person contributes what they can to build this community in terms of: participation in programs, sharing of knowledge, skills and connections, and, where possible, financial support. In every case, everyone who builds this community is greatly appreciated. If you are able to offer financial support, please consider a contribution towards our wish list: - General Support: Helps maintain our general operating budget which funds things like music licenses, our zoom subscription, and generally keep KITS running. ($180)
- Website: Enables us to host and maintain our website. ($300)
- Visiting Torah: Allows us to enjoy use of a kosher Torah during the High Holy Days. ($500)
- Partnerships: Enables us to partner with key organizations and speakers who are mission-aligned. ($800)
- Internships: Enables us to host paid interns. ($1200)
- Curricular Development: Supports our development of accessible, relevant, and empowering curriculum. ($2400)
- Musicians: Elevates our services with musical accompaniment. ($6000)
To make a financial contribution, please visit our web page: keepingitsacred.com/our-future |
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We'd love for you to forward this to a friend to invite them to sign up, too! |
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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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