Newsletter November 13, 2023 Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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Yesterday, my family and I stopped by the stunning Malibu Hindu Temple for the rituals of their Diwali observance. Diwali is the Hindu holiday that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Anywhere people celebrate that value, I want to be there. Removing my shoes at the entryway, feeling the cold marble floor on my bare feet as I walked the temple grounds, seeing the bright colors of saris and marigold garlands, I was transported back to a trip I took to India to study the Gandhian legacy in 2001 with Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, Arun. As some of you know, I became friends with Arun on that trip (and even recorded an episode of People Keeping It Sacred with him which you can view HERE). Sadly, he died this past May. He worked every day of his life for peace and understanding, often through the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, and his passing felt like a dimming of a great warm light of peace in the world. Yesterday, I felt an acute chill of sadness and grief, as I stood in front of the Hindu Temple missing Arun and his calming and positive energy, contrasting that with the tumult that has entered the world in the past month. Where did his precious energy and wisdom go? I have been missing it and desperately trying to get it back, especially now. I experienced this similar chilling feeling, too, when I learned of the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin. And also when I learned of the death, to cancer, of a dear friend and activist/philanthropist, Wally Marks. Each of their deaths represented more than the end of an individual; they represented the dimming of hope for a brighter future, personified. Today, I felt that cold chill again when we found out that the body of Canadian-Israeli peacemaker Vivian Silver, founder of Women Wage Peace, and the Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation, was found. Though we had thought she was taken hostage and had been holding onto hope that she would be released one day soon to return to her holy work, we learned today that she had been murdered at Kibbutz Be'eri in the initial attack, on October 7. She had dedicated her life towards affirming humanity in the Middle East conflict, often shuttling ailing Palestinian children across the border to Israeli hospitals to get care. She was a force of light and love in the world. We are left to ask: where did her energy go? Another win for darkness. It feels like no coincidence that tonight, Jewish communities welcome in the new month, the month of Kislev-- known as the darkest month of the year (at least in the northern hemisphere), and one that calls us to prepare to observe Hanukkah with the lighting of the menorah. In this way, kindling light at the darkest time of the year becomes a religious act of courage and strength, and, I suppose, faith, that eventually the darkness of ignorance and fear and suffering will give way to the light of goodness and love and peace. Much like the message of lighting clay oil lamps for Diwali, or for Christians, illuminating the neighborhood with Christmas lights. The moral of the story of each of these traditions is that in life, when we are faced with the chill of darkness, it is incumbent upon us to boldly kindle light. To cultivate it. To nurture it and magnify it so that darkness has nowhere to hide. So that the light of truth and peace can again take hold and we can bask in its warmth. And it doesn't take much. As Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda, writing in the 11th century in Spain once said, "A little bit of light dispels much darkness." It is a timeless principle that I find myself hanging onto tightly these days. Please join me as we hold onto this principle and kindle all the light and goodness we can in our homes, among our friends and community, and in the world. This is how we keep the month of Kislev sacred. Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…
Rabbi Heather Miller
Founder, Keeping It Sacred |
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Update: we have 3 new subscribers! Please help us get to 20 new subscribers by the end of the year.... Would you like to help Keeping It Sacred expand its capacity to spread more love, compassion, connection and learning in the new year? If so, please join our NOVEMBER SUBSCRIPTION CHALLENGE-- we are hoping to earn the monthly support of 20 new subscribers at any meaningful level to sustain and expand our work.
Your generous support helps Keeping It Sacred:
Unlock access to learning the wisdom of ancient texts Create an open, authentic, and empowered community Build connections with our interfaith family members, neighbors and friends Create a courageous community that brings about positive social change
Visit our web page keepingitsacred.com/our-future to say YES to subscribe with a recurring monthly contribution. AND, to THANK YOU for your monthly recurring subscription, you will get not one but TWO gifts from our beloved KITS Community Members: -the new zine (artistic, informative magazine) called The Grieving Imperative written by Jethro Heiko, expert on grief and trauma in individuals and communities, and -a handmade original Thank You card by our KITS Creativity Club members. To subscribe, please go to keepingitsacred.com/our-future and be sure to click on the "monthly" option. Thank you for your support! |
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THE GRIEVING IMPERATIVE ZINE: IN CONVERSATION |
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Explore the process of grieving as individuals and as a community with grief specialist Jethro Heiko. His 25 years of grief work has yielded some reflections that are sure to offer new insight into the path of the mourner. Find new ways to honor grief as a transformative force Bring an open heart and your questions. This session will not be recorded. Register through our calendar HERE. |
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KEEPING IT SACRED IN PARIS |
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Recently, our cherished KITS Community member from Strasbourg, Nassim, visited Paris. There, she met up with Rabbi Miller's classmate from rabbinical school, Rabbi Delphine Horvillieur at the Marche Contre L'Antisémitisme/March Against Antisemitism. It is so beautiful when our members can meet up with one another, especially to stand up for a cause so important, and in a crowd of over 180,000, in Paris, no less! Ours is a community of connection and deep principles. Read more about Rabbi Hourvillieur HERE. Thank you, Nassim for this report. |
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ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW |
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At the start of every Hebrew calendar month, we take time to focus on our work for racial justice through the Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review. We are currently exploring the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Interim Report linked HERE. Register HERE to join the discussion and make a difference. |
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Interested in exploring a modern Jewish take on spirituality, values, and community? You are invited to three part Our A Taste of Judaism® online course designed for you! We will begin next on November 27, 2023 at 1pm PT | 4pm ET, and will continue the 3 part series on December 4th and December 11th. Come and learn! If you have always wanted to learn more about Judaism but haven't been sure where to start, this is the opportunity for you. Encounter the big ideas and texts that make up Judaism's rich tapestry. A Taste of Judaism® provides an open door to community, connection, and meaning. Everyone is welcome. Whether you are in an interfaith relationship, raising Jewish children, a spiritual seeker, considering conversion, or curious about Judaism, this class is for you! A Taste of Judaism® is designed to be a safe and affirming place for you to explore, regardless of where you are on your journey with Judaism. We affirm individuals and couples from all backgrounds and are LGBTQIA+-friendly. A Taste of Judaism® assumes no previous Jewish knowledge and is taught by Rabbi Heather Miller, known for her open, affirming, and joyful approach. Register for one or all sessions at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming |
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HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY EVERY THURSDAY |
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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 at at least 38 states and 12 countries across 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 and of these gatherings, 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. |
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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 November 19th. And as always, 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: https://www.keepingitsacred.com/upcoming |
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ICAL USER? JOIN OUR CALENDAR TO SEE OUR EVENTS! |
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If you use the calendar App, iCal, on your Apple device(s) 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. Or, to add it manually, go to your Apple device’s “Calendars,” then go to “Add Subscription Calendar,” and paste the following URL: webcal://p164-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/MTAwNTkyMDg4MjcxMDA1OQR0fuSCoir8-IUKE7Pl_mtLL6wCWL8UsFQl0SOGOutaVvSGypiGpw8QpGzN3GB97CHqafkuA4hx2U97b43we1c and add! You will receive updates to the calendar by “allowing notifications” too! |
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MAZAL TOV TO GABE & EMILY! |
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The entire Keeping It Sacred community rejoices over the beautiful wedding of Gabe and Emily which recently took place at The Fig House in Eagle Rock, CA. Bride and groom were glowing that day, as were their parents who wholeheartedly rejoiced at their fortuitous meeting- evidence that they were meant to be, or as we say in Yiddish, bashert. Mazal tov to the newlyweds! Photo courtesy of @caitlinalohilaniphoto |
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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 generally 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. Our next gathering will be online only November 24th! PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR: November's service will be on the 24th and online only, and December's service will be on the 15th (early in the month!) to include a Hybrid Hanukkah Reprise (online and weather permitting, in person). Please register for these at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming, and email rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com if you would like to attend in person. |
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IT IS HERE! MOMENTUM: A KITS Family Education offering! Check out our website Family Education page (keepingitsacred.com/family-education) to learn more about the design of this special program that is both personalized and communal, affirms the interests and development of every student, and motivates the work through game theory. We couldn't be more excited about sharing more! MOMENTUM: A KITS Family Education is a Jewish educational offering for the whole family that: Empowers parents Considers who your kid is uniquely Integrates into your family’s life organically Provides content and questions to explore Develops a meaningful relationship with the Jewish textual tradition Instills values and encourages critical thinking Motivates learning through celebration, and Fosters community
We will share more with anyone interested in attending an information session. To attend, please email Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com several times and dates that work for you and she will send along a zoom link. This signature program is for anyone in the LA region or beyond, anyone with kids or without. |
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LET'S CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
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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! |
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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 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. 11/14 ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW 9am PT/12pm ET: The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review group will explore Chapter 9 (Cultural and Intellectual Life) of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans INTERIM REPORT. This is our way of ending each month with a new vision of racial justice. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming. 11/16 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. 11/16 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.
11/19 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 first session was wonderful with the leadership of Sheryl Aronson and Wendy Stiver. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming. 11/23 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. 11/23 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. 11/24 SHABBAT SERVICES Sing, eat, gather in community at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET, give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Max Winer will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song. THIS gathering will be ONLINE ONLY.Together, we will lift up anniversaries, birthdays, and honor remembrances of our loved ones. This program runs the last Friday night of every month. Please email Rabbi Miller your important dates so we know when to honor your sacred times (birthdays, anniversaries, remembrances) at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. And please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming. 11/27 TASTE OF JUDAISM, Part 1 1pm PT/4pm ET, Come and learn! If you have always wanted to learn more about Judaism but haven't been sure where to start, this is the opportunity for you. Encounter the big ideas and texts that make up Judaism's rich tapestry. A Taste of Judaism® provides an open door to community, connection, and meaning. Please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming 11/28 GRIEVING IMPERATIVE WITH ZINE CREATOR, JETHRO HEIKO 10am PT/1pm ET, Explore the process of grieving as individuals and as a community with grief specialist Jethro Heiko. His 25 years of grief work has yielded some reflections that are sure to offer new insight into the path of the mourner. Find new ways to honor grief as a transformative force. Please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming 11/30 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. 11/30 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. 12/04 TASTE OF JUDAISM, Part 2 1pm PT/4pm ET, Come and learn! If you have always wanted to learn more about Judaism but haven't been sure where to start, this is the opportunity for you. Encounter the big ideas and texts that make up Judaism's rich tapestry. A Taste of Judaism® provides an open door to community, connection, and meaning. Please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming 12/07 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. 12/07 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. 12/11 TASTE OF JUDAISM, Part 3 1pm PT/4pm ET, Come and learn! If you have always wanted to learn more about Judaism but haven't been sure where to start, this is the opportunity for you. Encounter the big ideas and texts that make up Judaism's rich tapestry. A Taste of Judaism® provides an open door to community, connection, and meaning. Please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming 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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