24 years ago, I was part of a group that advocated passionately for the US census to allow for people to “check all that apply” with regard to race, instead of only allowing people to check one box. And I still stand firm in holding space for the multidimensionality of identity, be it multiracial identities or other types of intersectionality. As someone who grew up as a product of two people with radically different backgrounds, I know it diminishes identity to allow only one to be represented. To make people choose one part of themselves over the other flattens their beautiful depth. 

I was recently listening to a discussion about Interfaith Marriage hosted by the wonderful organization, 18Doors.org. During the discussion, the host posed a question: is it okay to joke about “all Jews going to eat Chinese food on Christmas”? And they brilliantly broke down why this kind of statement is so problematic. Check out their responses here about 25 minutes in: https://youtu.be/4CSMzkJb0rU

I would add that when we make a statement like that we erase the experience of Jews who, in various ways, actually have Christmas plans, be they with in-laws or friends, colleagues, or if they mark the holiday with a Christian partner in their own homes. It also erases the experience of Jews who eat Chinese food because… they are Chinese! To say “all Jews”…anything erases the beautiful depth and complexity of what it means to be Jewish or love Jewishly. Where do Jews come from? Everywhere, actually. What do Jews eat? Everything, actually. What do Jewish families and communities look like? Ask. And recognize that we are beautifully complex. And that is the normative. 

This past weekend the AAPI community experienced a terrible tragedy as a shooting amidst a Lunar New Year celebration took place, killing ten people. With good intentions, I saw many posts from Jewish organizations standing against hate. But here’s the thing- many said things like “Jews stand with Asians” and a hashtag, #JewsforAsians was employed. I say this as someone typing on a countertop next to a box of lunar new year cakes that my Jewish Asian wife got for our house- Jewish Asians exist. And in this moment of pain and hurt and time trying to negotiate going to local Lunar New Year celebrations when the world feels so horribly violent, to be made invisible is additionally rough. And painful. Jewish and Asian identities do not always exist as two completely separate identities. There is much beautiful overlap. At Keeping It Sacred, we see you. We stand with you. And we ARE you. And we reaffirm that publicly especially in these tender times. 

The Keeping It Sacred community is one that has been built to hold space for all the beauty of all of our identities. Everywhere along the spectrum of gender and sexual orientation, ability and class and observance practices, we hold space for the vast array of spiritual beliefs, and nationality, and generations, and family structures, and geography and culture and the complexity, all at the same time. That is our normative. 

Here, our members came come as we are, in all that we are. And it is beautiful. Check all that apply. 

That’s how together, we are #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

ACCESS JUDAISM

NO ACCESS JUDAISM TODAY in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

But please join us for the Melanie Grohman z"l Access Judaism session 2 classes next week!

This program features a broad spectrum of thoughtfully curated Jewish subjects in the realms of history, rituals, culture, philosophy, law, and spirituality. These interactive classes, which include post-class reflection questions, can also count towards requirements of conversion or adult b'nai mitzvah ceremonies. (Think of it like a Judaism 201 type program for those who have already taken a 101 program or are already familiar with the basics of Jewish life). Classes are open to students entering with a diversity of backgrounds. There is no prerequisite for the class-- start with Session 2 if these classes appeal to you!

​This course is taught over Zoom in two sessions of 8 classes each. The classes are flexible and are designed so that a person can choose to take one class, several, a whole session, or both sessions. Suggested donation for one class is $25, one session is $180 and the full program is $300. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Access Judaism SESSION 2:

1/9 The Intelligent Design of the Prayer Service

1/23 Reform Renovations of the Prayerbook (REGISTER HERE)

1/30 Rituals as Markers of Transition (REGISTER HERE)

2/6 The Characteristics of a Good Jew (REGISTER HERE)

2/13 Slam Poetry in the Golden Age (REGISTER HERE)

2/27 Bad Theology: Terrible Explanations of Why The Righteous Suffer (REGISTER HERE)

3/6 Siblings or Cousins?: Jews and Christians in the First Century (REGISTER HERE)

3/13 Before You Die, Consider These Rabbinic Thoughts (REGISTER HERE)

SAVE THE DATES and then, register HERE for one or all classes designed to give you greater Access to Judaism.

*This series is named after our beloved Keeping It Sacred community member, the late Melanie Grohman, may her memory be for a blessing, who loved learning about Judaism and our community. Her memory is a blessing.

ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review group will explore another in our select collection of psalms and their messages about racial justice. This is our way of starting each month with a new vision of racial justice.

• February 21 (Psalm 137): REGISTER HERE

• March 28 (TBA): REGISTER HERE

• April 25 (TBA): REGISTER HERE 

Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

CCAR BOOK: PROPHETIC VOICES

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR Press) is soon publishing a book called Prophetic Voices. It helps readers renew and reimagine (and reconnect!) with the Haftarah readings of the liturgical cycle. Rabbi Miller has entries in the book and we are very excited to announce that it will soon be available! For more information: CLICK HERE.

SIYYUM FOR TRACTATE NEDARIM

THIS THURSDAY! Celebrate the conclusion of Tractate Nedarim during our Siyyum/Culmination Celebration on Thursday, January 26 at 12pm PT/3pm ET (right after our weekly Talmud Study). Be sure to REGISTER HERE and bring a reflection on the learning, and a funny hat to celebrate!

SHABBAT SERVICES: THE LAST FRIDAY NIGHT OF EVERY MONTH

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT and EVERY LAST Friday night of the month, give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Jeffrey Silverstein will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song the last Friday of every month. Together, we will lift up anniversaries, birthdays, and honor remembrances of our loved ones.

Keeping It Sacred programs are free for all because we uphold the value of keruv/accessibility; voluntary financial contributions to help offset the cost of these programs are greatly appreciated.

And, please mark your calendars for 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET and every LAST FRIDAY NIGHT of the month. Then, PLEASE register to join us HERE.

TU B'SHVAT: PLANTING THE SEEDS OF COMMUNITY

The holiday of Tu Bishvat is known as the birthday of the trees. But every tree begins as a seed. Join us as our local KITS Community members and prospective members gather to envision a new way to provide Jewish education for our kids. With ample mixer time for parents and programming for kids. Join us as we imagine, together, a world where our kids thrive! 2/5 at 10am PT in Sherman Oaks (address provided upon RSVP). Register HERE.

REPRO SHABBAT TEXT STUDY ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Save the Date! February 24 at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, Keeping It Sacred joins dozens of communities around the US for a discussion on the intersection between Jewish values and Reproductive rights. Come explore what the sages had to say about the start of life, protecting the health of the pregnant person, and more. Registration will be at: https://www.keepingitsacred.com/event-details/repro-shabbat-text-study-on-reproductive-rights

WOMEN RABBIS TALK PODCAST FLASHBACK

The Women Rabbis Talk podcast just updated their site including posting a transcript of the episode that featured our own Rabbi Miller! Please check it out HERE and check out their other wonderful interviews as well!

HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY EVERY THURSDAY

THIS THURSDAY AND EVERY THURSDAY! 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 100 members strong from 36 different states and 11 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. 

Keeping It Sacred programs are free for all because we uphold the value of keruv/accessibility; voluntary financial contributions to help offset the cost of these programs are greatly appreciated.

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.

Also, this past week Rabbi Miller's article on Nedarim 85: Rabbi Yohanan ben Nuri, The Optimist, was published by the Daily Dose of Talmud. Find it 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!

REFLECTING ON THE PAST YEAR

2022 in review- To all who contributed with your time, talent, or treasure, THANK YOU for such a successful and meaningful year! Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

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.

ACCESS JUDAISM

1/23 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: Reform Renovations of the Prayerbook. Home renovation shows feature flippers stripping old, outdated homes down to the bare bones only to rework them into beautiful sanctuaries of living. This is essentially what the Reform Rabbis of the early 19th century did to the prayerbook. Learn how they did it thoughtfully, and about the improtant practice of updating ritual that continues today. Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

1/26 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. 

1/26 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.  

1/27 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 1/27 at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET, give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Jeffrey Silverstein will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song. 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-1.

ACCESS JUDAISM

1/30 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: Rituals as Markers of Transition. Jewish ritual is meant to mark significant life transitions. See how Jewish lifecycle provide structure for living with sanctity. Learn also about contemporary rituals, like those for getting a COVID-19 vaccination, infertility, gender transitions, going into remission from cancer, and more. Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

2/2 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. 

2/2 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.  

2/5 TU B'SHVAT: PLANTING THE SEEDS OF COMMUNITY

Save the Date! The holiday of Tu Bishvat is known as the birthday of the trees. But every tree begins as a seed. Join us as our local KITS Community members and prospective members gather to envision a new way to provide Jewish education for our kids. With ample mixer time for parents and programming for kids. Join us as we imagine, together, a world where our kids thrive! 2/5 at 10am PT in Sherman Oaks (address provided upon RSVP) Rain date will be 2/11 at 10am PT. Registration will be at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

ACCESS JUDAISM

2/6 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: The Characteristics of a Good Jew. What are the characteristics of a good Jew? Learn about the Mussar movement and get an understanding of the spiritual legacy of mussar. Learn insights on humility, generosity and truth. Find inspiration to cultivate these quatlities in your own life. Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

2/9 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. 

2/9 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.  

ACCESS JUDAISM

2/13 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: Slam Poetry in the Golden Age. Medieval Spain birthed a Golden Age for the Jews. And, out of this era came a diverse array of poetry that is relevant today. From highly structured sacred praises of the Divine, to short quips about old age, to involved love poetry. Join us as we explore this vibrant literature. Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

2/16 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. 

2/16 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.  

2/23 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. 

2/23 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.  

2/24 REPRO SHABBAT: TEXT STUDY

Save the Date! February 24 at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, Keeping It Sacred joins dozens of communities around the US for a discussion on the intersection between Jewish values and Reproductive rights. Come explore what the sages had to say about the start of life, protecting the health of the pregnant person, and more. Registration will be at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

2/24 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 12/30 at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET, give yourself the gift of space to reflect and rejuvenate with monthly shabbat services. Rabbi Miller and Jeffrey Silverstein will lead the community with Jewish thought and sacred song. 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-1.

ACCESS JUDAISM

2/27 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: Bad Theology. Why do bad things happen to good people? We don't know. But we do know a bad explanation when we hear it. Join this class to begin to heal from spiritually corrosive explanations of your suffering, to learn how to best support a suffering loved one, and how to draw boundaries when someone shares an unhelpful word. Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

ACCESS JUDAISM

3/6 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: Siblings or Cousins? Jews and Christians in the First Century. Did Christianity spring forth from Judaism? Or did contemporary Judaism and Christianity emerge together? Learn the roots of both and you decide: Siblings or Cousins or parent/child? We'll make proto- rabbinic Judaism fun and accessible! Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming.

ACCESS JUDAISM

3/13 at noon PT/3pm ET join us as we discuss: Before You Die, Consider These Rabbinic Thoughts. What are the most important things to think about in life? What will we be held accountable for later? How can we live the best life possible? Learn from the wisdom that was shaped over millenia in the Jewish tradition. 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...

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!