This past weekend, I tried something new- the Triathlon (3 miles running, 9 miles bicycling, and 150m swimming). Though I had competed in the Duathlon 5 years ago, I knew this would be a new personal challenge.

I spent a couple months training which involved tuning up my old bike, swimming at the Pasadena Aquatics Center (a legit Olympic sized swimming facility built for the 1984 Olympics), and a bunch of trips to the Will Rogers State Beach bike path.

I committed to this challenge after having turned 45, as a kind of expression of gratitude to God for my health. Forced to focus on tweaking the angle of my knee, the bend in my neck, and most importantly, the rhythm of my breath during training, I was again reminded of the brilliant design of the human body and the preciousness of being spiritual creatures embodied in this way.

And, I met a great community of volunteer members of the Pasadena Triathlon Club who equip newbies like myself with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to compete. Their example was a great lesson in how human beings can support one another in facing difficult challenges.

As I trained, I realized how connected the mind, spirit, and body truly are. Each step on the trail, every cycle of the gear on the path, every flutter kick in the water helped me move forward in the race but also made me realize how stuck I have been feeling. Stuck in grief and trauma accumulated throughout the past 5+ months. Repeatedly going the distance 12 miles and 150m gave me the time to ruminate over the atrocities in Israel and Gaza. I thought a lot about the powerful geopolitical forces keeping the war machine raging, and my ability or inability to make a real difference in the lives of friends and family, and family of friends, all over the region.

Sometimes, it is helpful for big mental and spiritual moments to be processed through ambitious physical challenge.

Though mentally and spiritually I feel stuck in the endless cycle of awful news reports that I can’t effect, at least in the physical space I can find progress forward.

Though I get wrapped up in waves of terror over what the future holds for children affected by this violence everywhere, at least for a few hours a day I was forced to concentrate on my breathing here and now.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that the violence in the Middle East can make us feel stuck and taken for a ride that we never wanted to get on, and committing to the triathlon helped me get back into my own sense of power and ability to move forward. Spiritual and mental blocks can sometimes be worked through in the physical space.

Now the challenge will be applying that reconnection with my own power to the work of building the future I’d like to see. It won’t be easy. It will be a challenge, but with a newfound confidence that I can, of course, rise to the challenge of difficult things. There are things I can do, and things we can do.

We are a community that holds space to mourn and lament the feelings of being stuck in hard places, but then we also help one another move through those kinds of feelings of despair and helplessness to reconnect with our own collective power to make a positive difference. This experience didn't solve world peace, and it wasn't healing for me, but it did help me get unblocked.

May we each try something new and find our own way out of the stickiness/ out of the stuck-ness and back into our own power for good.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

ADAR II ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

Join our next Racial Justice Book Review on March 14th at 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET for Adar II! This is our way of ending each month with a new vision of racial justice. We will be exploring Chapters 2 and 3 together of the book Grieving while Black by Breeshia Wade. Register at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

CHAT-OMG PURIM

Join us at 9am | Noon ET Friday, March 22 for a Purim Party like you’ve never experienced. Capitalize on our online experience with an interactive chat box retelling of the story of Esther. Join us for A Purim ChatOMG! REGISTER HERE.

INTERGENERATIONAL HAMANTASCHEN JAM SESSION

This Purim, all ages are invited on March 23rd to enjoy making the Jewish culinary delicacy: hamantaschen! Beloved Keeping It Sacred member and master baker Diana Braker will prep and guide our experience so that we can enjoy the satisfaction of making fresh baked desserts, and eating them, too. Please note this event is held both online and in person! Please email mflanagan@keepingitsacred.com for our in person location. (LA area!) REGISTER HERE NOW! Please note welcoming is at 10am PT | 1pm ET and baking begins at 10:30am PT | 1:30pm ET.

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 MARCH 24TH.

For this workshop: Our next KITS Creatively Club will meet Sunday, March 24 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!

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)

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.

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.

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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.

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Register for this program HERE. (we have hosted four classes but there's still one more week to sign up if you would like).

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.

3/11 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.

3/14 ADAR II ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

This is our way of ending each month with a new vision of racial justice at 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET. We will be reviewing Chapter 2 & 3 together. REGISTER HERE.

3/14 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. 

3/14 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.  

3/18 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.

3/21 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. 

3/21 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.  

3/22 CHATOMG PURIM

Join us at 9am PT | Noon ET Friday, March 22 for a Purim Party like you’ve never experienced. Capitalize on our online experience with an interactive chat box retelling of the story of Esther. Join us for A Purim ChatOMG! REGISTER HERE.

3/23 INTERGENERATIONAL PURIM JAM SESSION W/ DIANA BRAKER

This Purim, all ages are invited on March 23rd to enjoy making the Jewish culinary delicacy: hamantaschen! Beloved Keeping It Sacred member and master baker Diana Braker will prep and guide our experience so that we can enjoy the satisfaction of making fresh baked desserts, and eating them, too. Please note this event is held both online and in person! Please email mflanagan@keepingitsacred.com for our in person location. (LA area!) REGISTER HERE NOW! Please note welcoming is at 10am PT | 1pm ET and baking begins at 10:30am PT | 1:30pm ET.

3/24 CREATIVITY CLUB

Every other Sunday at 9am PT | noon ET! Enjoy a chance to hang out with other Keeping It Sacred community members, get to know each other better, and create. Bring your favorite form of creativity to work on, Art, Baking, Craft, Dance, etc.. and share inspiration. Some weeks will include someone teaching how to do a project/technique, other weeks will be purely socializing while we do our own things. REGISTER 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.

4/4 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.  

4/11 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.  

4/18 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.  

4/23 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).

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.  

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 join us, too!