Have you ever experienced a major surgery? Or a significant earthquake? This week in 1989, I experienced both. I was 10 years old and for the first time in my life was made acutely aware that to be human is to be vulnerable. I understood the fragility of life. And, the flip side of that- I understood that it is a miracle that any of us are alive at all. 

The rabbis intended for each of us to be in awe of the delicate nature of our own existence when they wrote the morning blessing thanking God that, “the tubes [in our bodies] that should be opened are open and the tubes that should be sealed up are sealed up, for if even one of these were amiss, we would not be able to stand and praise You, O Creator.”  

These past 23 months, the whole world has experienced the dread of vulnerability due to the global pandemic that has ravaged our communities and uprooted our sense of stability in the world. We have been forced to confront our own mortality.

And then, this past weekend, we heard the news that a rabbi and several worshippers in a synagogue in Colleyville, TX were taken hostage as they prayed the morning Shabbat Service— we know that the outcome could easily have ended in a mass slaughter. It didn’t, but the mental trauma of the ordeal is very much present. And we again are attuned to our very fragile existence.  

What do we do when we become aware that we are walking a thin line between life and death? How do we manage our fear and natural terror? Do we wall ourselves off from the rest of the world? Or do we find ways to put our minds together to architect solutions that improve our collective lot? 

It takes deep courage to not give into fear and instead stand up for goodness. The Rev.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us how to stand for justice even when obscenities were be yelled, faces were be beaten, bodies were be jailed. Dr. King’s example showed how to stand for a constructive building up of society in the face of the chaos of those who would malign human dignity. 

What would it mean to plant a seed of hope and goodness in your world? Among your community? 

We, at Keeping It Sacred, through the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita, decided to meet hatred and antisemitism and insecurity with a statement of solidarity. As Dr. King instructed us, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” And so, we gathered our friends and allies and were comforted to be reminded that there are good people in the world who stand shoulder to shoulder with us in caring about us and our well being. In the long list of names of those who support the Jewish community, we remember that though life is fragile, the bonds of friendship and solidarity are unshakable. May this be our strength. So may this be the beginning of our comfort.

Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller, 

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY NETWORK: IN THE SPIRIT OF MLK JR.

The Interfaith Solidarity Network, of which the Keeping It Sacred community is a proud member, looks forward to our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast again this year. Join us at 8:30am PT on January 18. Register on the Interfaith Solidarity Network website or HERE.

SCLC 2022 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR LEGACY AWARDS

Yesterday, our own Rabbi Miller delivered the invocation at the SCLC's 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Awards & Benefit Gala. The event was hosted by our cherished partner in justice, The Rev. William D. Smart, Jr., president of the SCLC-Southern California, and honoring visionary Pastor Cue Jn-Marie of The Row & the Hip Hop Smoothie Shop, among others. Click HERE to enjoy a recording of the event.

CLUE B'SHEVAT

Yesterday, as a proud partner of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), Rabbi Miller shared insights at the upcoming CLUE B'Shevat program. The program uplifted the social justice values in the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shvat known also as the birthday of the trees, and highlighted some of CLUE's great work in Orange County. Watch the recording HERE.

BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE

A thousand years ago, Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda decided to pull sacred texts about exceptional character qualities together. He felt this would be a useful tool to inspire people to live lives of meaning. He called his work Duties of the Heart, and it is the work upon which the Mussar Movement is based. The book is available for free on Sefaria.org, and we will take time each week to study teachings and explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today.

Join us for one class, several, or all 9 weeks worth of classes! Please invite your friends to take the series with you, too!

All classes are Sundays 10am PT/1pm ET on:

1/9 Unity

1/16 Reflection

1/23 Service

1/30 Trust

2/6 Devotion

2/13 Humility

2/20 Repentance & Self Accounting

2/27 Abstinence

3/6 Love

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. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Invite your friends! Registration is open HERE.

WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS

Engagement Season is HERE! If you or someone you know recently got engaged or married and would enjoy a series of free Wedding Planning Workshops to help navigate the big day and beyond, please check out these free 30-minute workshops!

Sundays at 11:30am PT or Wednesdays at 7pm PT

1/9 & 1/19: Keeping Your Partner at the Center

1/16 & 1/26: Finding a Time & Place & Officiant for Your Wedding

1/23 & 2/2: Honoring Your Loved Ones in the Ceremony

1/30 & 2/9: Making Your Wedding Accessible

2/6 & 2/16: Ceremony Ritual Planning Workshop

2/13 & 2/23: Infusing a Sense of the Sacred into the Ceremony

2/20 & 3/2: Including Various Cultural Traditions

2/27 & 3/9: Jumping Into Life Ahead!

Registration is open now HERE: please share this resource with engaged couples you know and our wedding page at: keepingitsacred.com/weddings

PLUS: Here's a fun video sharing the parts of a Jewish wedding! HERE:

MONTHLY SHABBAT SERVICES

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.

Please email Rabbi Miller your important dates so we know when to honor those sacred times at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com.

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 on 1/28, 2/25, 3/25, 4/29, 5/27 and 6/24, and PLEASE register to join us HERE.

HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY 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 96 members strong from 26 different states and 8 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.

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.  

1/18 INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY NETWORK REV. DR. MLK, JR. BREAKFAST

The Interfaith Solidarity Network, of which the Keeping It Sacred community is a proud member, looks forward to our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast again this year. Join us at 8:30am PT on January 18. Register on the Interfaith Solidarity Network website or HERE.

1/19 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Keeping Your Partner at the Center

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/23 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Service

Sunday, 1/23 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings and explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/23 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Honoring Your Loved Ones in the Ceremony

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/26 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Finding a Time & Place & Officiant

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/28 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 1/28 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.

1/30 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Trust

Sunday, 1/30 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings and explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/30 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Making Your Wedding Accessible

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/2 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Honoring Your Loved Ones in the Ceremony

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/6 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Ceremony Ritual Planning Workshop

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/9 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Devotion

Sunday, 2/9 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/9 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Making Your Wedding Accessible

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/13 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Humility

Sunday, 2/13 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/13 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Infusing a Sense of the Sacred into the Ceremony

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/16 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Ceremony Ritual Planning Workshop

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/20 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Repentance & Self Accounting

Sunday, 2/20 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/20 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Including Various Cultural Traditions

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/23 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Infusing a Sense of the Sacred into the Ceremony

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/25 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 2/25 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.

2/27 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Abstinence

Sunday, 1/23 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/27 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Jumping Into Life Ahead

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/2 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Including Various Cultural Traditions

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/6 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Love

Sunday, 3/6 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/9 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Jumping Into Life Ahead

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/25 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 8/27 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.

4/29 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 8/27 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.

5/27 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 5/27 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.

6/24 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 6/24 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.

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...

END OF YEAR 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...

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We'd love for you to forward this to a friend to invite them to sign up, too!