A few years ago I encountered someone who told me they were going to convert out of Judaism because, they stated, their new tradition offers them “a God of love.” I’m absolutely supportive of each person finding their own path, but to characterize Judaism as a tradition lacking a sense of Divine love is simply inaccurate. 

“With a great love have You loved us…” opens the daily Ahavah Rabah blessing. In the prayer, God is seen as the Ultimate, greatest force of love and guidance, wisdom and compassion, salvation and peace. And cited among the expressions of God's love is the precious gift of Torah, the word that binds God's love to the people. Some even say that the Torah itself, and the wisdom that flows from it, is the ultimate love letter from God to the people.

In extensive rabbinic literature, ancient, medieval, Hasidic, contemporary, God’s love for the people is lauded and counted throughout history. Most obvious is perhaps the love that brought to the people through the miracle of the Red Sea, and the continued support through personal struggles daily. 

And, in the gematriya, Jewish numerology, the word expressing God’s One-ness (echad/אחד), is equal to that of the word for “love” (ahavah/אהבה). That means that another name for God is, in fact, Love.

This week, we focus on love because Friday is known as a sort of “Jewish Valentine’s Day.” The holiday, Tu B’Av, celebrates a different kind of love- romantic love. The Talmud shares that in ancient times, Tu B'Av was a day when the single people would go out into the fields wearing white to dance and find a lifelong partner.

There are many blessings in partnerships. It is important to remember, too, that universally available to each of us is a deep and loving relationship with the Eternal. May we each take Tu B’Av to honor all kinds of love in our lives. And may we be embodied expressions of love in everything we do.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

OUR SECOND ANNUAL CONFIRMATION CEREMONY

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:

Members of the Keeping It Sacred community are encouraged to participate in this ceremony honoring your commitment to Torah study. Together, let's honor your engagement! Please join us by participating in the service through this link HERE. You will be honored and receive a 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. Please register HERE: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

Join us Sunday, August 21, 2022 10am PT/1pm ET.

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!

ELUL BOOK CLUB WITH RABBI MILLER

Get your year started off with intention and inspiration, join us Fridays 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23 at 1pm PT/4pm ET as we discuss Rabbi Miller's Amazon charting book, ReSOULutions: A Practical Guide to Self Repair. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

WORLD INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK

The World Interfaith Network is hosting World Interfaith Awareness Week THIS WEEK- a festival of interfaith programming. Join us Wednesday evening at 6pm PT/9pm ET, as Rabbi Miller, president of the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita, on the work of the council among others in the Orange County Interfaith Network. It is sure to be a night of inspiration and celebration of the power of interfaith community. Full programming information can be found HERE.

OVERCOMING DEEPEST GRIEF

Please join AJRCA's Chaplaincy School in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Spiritual Department for a virtual seminar and conversation with Acclaimed Author, Mary Aviyah Farkas, on Sunday, September 4th from 7:00pm to 8:15pm PT.

Rabbi Miller writes, "Please join our beloved Keeping It Sacred member, the very thoughtful and compassionate Mary Aviyah Farkas, as she shares reflections on grief and her book, Overcoming Deepest Grief. I have found the book to be chok full of relateable stories and resources for myself and others on the path of the mourner."

In order to fully engage in the event, you may purchase and read the book, Overcoming Deepest Grief: A Woman's Journey, Grief, Acceptance, Gratitude and Joy prior to attending. 

The virtual event is free and open to all, but you must register to attend. Please click here to register.

HIGH HOLY DAYS WITH KEEPING IT SACRED

Please SAVE THE DATES to enjoy a complete High Holy Day Season with Keeping It Sacred this year. Together, we will Honor the most sacred days in the Jewish Calendar.

Our theme this season is "Gathering for Goodness." Like the fringes on the tallit, we gather up our loved ones, our memories, our unique gifts, and from there flows goodness.

We consider: What kind of goodness is needed in the world today? What is the goodness that I can uniquely offer? Who and what needs to be brought together to make it happen?

Join us for comprehensive communal experience with insights from Rabbi Miller, music from Cantorial Soloist Elizabeth Lange, reflective space with Kimberly Dueñas from Jewtina y Co., a youth experience & tashlich LIVE from the beach with Jeffrey Silverstein, and so much more! 

Please mark your calendars for:

9/2, 9/9, 9/16, and 9/23 Elul Book Club 1pm PT/4pm ET

9/25 Erev Rosh Hashanah Seder @5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET

9/26 Rosh Hashanah @10am PT/ 1pm ET

9/27 Second Day Rosh Hashanah with Jewtina Y Co. @3pm PT/6pm ET

9/30 LIVE from the Beach a Youth experience, Tashlich, and Shabbat Services starting @4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET

10/4 Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Service @530pm PT/8:30pm ET

10/5 Yom Kippur @10am PT/1pm ET

10/5 Yizkor Memorial Service noon PT/3pm ET 

10/5 Neilah/Havdallah @6pm PT/9pm ET

What people say about our services:

"Such a warm feeling of community."

"Rabbi Miller, you are such an upbeat, enthusiastic spirit,and one who is truly devoted."

"Thank you for this wonderful experience. As always, my heart is full!" 

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. Invite your friends and family! Register HERE.

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 31 different states and 9 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.

This week, our own Sue Parker Gerson shared a reflection on Ketubot 17 on My Jewish Learning's Daily Dose of Talmud Check it out HERE!

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK: MONTHLY

Are you inspired & empowered by the work we are doing?

Would you like to help us build our growth and capacity for goodness?

If so, please consider becoming a monthly donor to Keeping It Sacred. Our platform on the Our Future page allows you to choose how to support the work. Set it and forget it! Your financial contributions help ensure that we can keep bringing quality programs to the community that are accessible, relevant, and empowering. 

If everyone of our newsletter subscribers could contribute just $36/month, we could really get to the NEXT LEVEL of our organizational capacity.

Please scroll below and see the depth of the work we are doing, and consider monthly support. HERE is the link to do so. Thank you for all the ways you're building this community!

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.

8/10 INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK CELEBRATION

The World Interfaith Network is hosting World Interfaith Awareness Week THIS WEEK- a festival of interfaith programming. Join us Wednesday evening at 6pm PT/9pm ET, as Rabbi Miller, president of the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita, on the work of the council among others in the Orange County Interfaith Network. It is sure to be a night of inspiration and celebration of the power of interfaith community. Full programming information can be found HERE.

8/11 PRAYER 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. 

8/11 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.  

8/18 PRAYER 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. 

8/18 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.  

8/21 SECOND ANNUAL CONFIRMATION CEREMONY

8/21 at 10am PT/1pm ET, join us for our Second Annual confirmation ceremony. 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-- come and affirm your commitment to study in the year ahead, and invite your friends and family. To join as a participant, please fill click the link here: . And to register for the ceremony, please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

8/25 PRAYER 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. 

8/25 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.  

8/26 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 8/26 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.

9/1 PRAYER 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. 

9/1 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.  

9/2 ELUL BOOK CLUB ON SELF-REPAIR

Get your year started off with intention and inspiration, join us Fridays 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23 at 1pm PT/4pm ET as we discuss Rabbi Miller's Amazon charting book, ReSOULutions: A Practical Guide to Self Repair. And please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

9/4 OVERCOMING DEEPEST GRIEF

Please join AJRCA's Chaplaincy School in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Spiritual Department for a virtual seminar and conversation with Acclaimed Author, Mary Aviyah Farkas, on Sunday, September 4th from 7:00pm to 8:15pm PT. Register for this program HERE.

9/8 PRAYER 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. 

9/8 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.  

9/9 ELUL BOOK CLUB ON SELF-REPAIR

Get your year started off with intention and inspiration, join us Fridays 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23 at 1pm PT/4pm ET as we discuss Rabbi Miller's Amazon charting book, ReSOULutions: A Practical Guide to Self Repair. And please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

9/15 PRAYER 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. 

9/15 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.  

9/16 ELUL BOOK CLUB ON SELF-REPAIR

Get your year started off with intention and inspiration, join us Fridays 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23 at 1pm PT/4pm ET as we discuss Rabbi Miller's Amazon charting book, ReSOULutions: A Practical Guide to Self Repair. And please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

9/22 PRAYER 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. 

9/22 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.  

9/23 ELUL BOOK CLUB ON SELF-REPAIR

Get your year started off with intention and inspiration, join us Fridays 9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23 at 1pm PT/4pm ET as we discuss Rabbi Miller's Amazon charting book, ReSOULutions: A Practical Guide to Self Repair. And please register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

9/25 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING Erev Rosh Hashanah Seder

9/25 at 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET (75m) Celebrate the birth of the world by breaking bread together as one beautifully diverse human family. Please register for this program: HERE. 

9/26 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING Rosh Hashanah Day I

10am PT/ 1pm ET(75 min) Celebrate the birth of the world in gathered community. For more information and to register, please visit: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

9/27 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING Rosh Hashanah Day 2

3pm PT/5pm ET (75 min) Gain the tools needed for spiritual growth with Kimberly Dueñas & Jewtina y Co. For more information and to register, please visit: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

9/29 PRAYER 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. 

9/29 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.  

9/30 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING

Youth Service, Tashlich, Shabbat Services

4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET LIVE from the beach in California, join Rabbi Miller and Jeffrey Silverstein in person or via LIVESTREAM for a special Youth-oriented High Holy Day service, followed by Tashlich leading into Shabbat Services. Gather in community and sing, pray, dance, schmooze. Start the year with spiritual renewal. For more information and to register, please visit: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

10/4 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING

Kol Nidrei/Erev Yom Kippur

5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET (75 min) Enter into the holiest day of the year with the soul-work of reflection and repair. For more information and to register, please visit: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

10/5 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING

Yom Kippur Day

10am PT/1pm ET (75 min) Focus on the texts, melodies and actions needed to rejuvenate the soul in community not bound by geographic limitations. For more information and to register, please visit: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

10/5 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING

Yom Kippur Yizkor Remembrances 

noon PT/3pm ET (75 min) Gather in community to remember loved ones we have lost but hold dear in our hearts this and every year. For more information and to register, please visit: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

10/5 GATHERING FOR GOODNESS HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAMMING

Yom Kippur Ne'ilah & Virtual Break-the-Fast

6pm PT/9pm ET (60 min) Rejoice in the conclusion of the day. For more information and to register, please visit: 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...

GIFTS TO KEEPING IT SACRED

All of us at Keeping It Sacred would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to each and every person who has extended a financial gift to the KITS community this past year. You power the work and ensure that quality relevant & empowering programming and resources remain accessible for all regardless of economic capacity. 

If you like what we're doing and would like to make a meaningful gift in this new year of any amount, please visit our contributions page at:

keepingitsacred.com/our-future

Thank you for #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 sign up, too!