One of the most sacred roles a member of the clergy can fill is that of helping to support a family considering organ donation for a loved one. And we know it. That's why two dozen of us showed up for a special clergy training focusing on organ donation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center today.

Knowing the ins and outs of organ donation can help us support the families with information, and from there they can make decisions.

Today, we learned the medical criteria that indicate brain death: it most often occurs with independent evaluations of a neurologist, a general medicine physician, and then an apnea test with several staff present to evaluate if the patient can breathe on their own. If there is, after all of that, no sign of brain stem activity, the person would be declared brain dead. After this diagnosis, the medical staff must then direct an organ procurement organization to harvest or to not harvest organs. These decisions fall on the shoulders of the newly grieving family.

As spiritual leaders, we need to be equipped with a clear understanding of our tradition's values when it comes to making this sacred decision. We can support loved ones begin to process their grief, and relatively soon, make decisions that could ultimately save up to 9 other lives with donations of the heart, 2 kidneys, intestine, pancreas, 2 lungs, and in some cases splitting the liver to save an additional two lives.

A better way to equip our people with spiritual clarity in these moments is to do what I'm doing right now-- to encourage folks to consider end of life decisions well before they are ever necessary. This way, an awful situation with excruciating decisions can be made with greater clarity and honor of a loved one's wishes.

Traditionally, in Judaism, a person is encouraged to bury a loved one's body quickly after death, and to bury it whole. But, these new technologies have brought about new opportunities to save lives that didn't exist before. So modern thinkers stress that the Jewish value called pikuach nefesh/ to save a life, which is the highest value of all, takes precedence. Accordingly, organ donation has become a strongly held value to many.

And that is significant because there are 104,000 people across the United States currently on organ transplant waitlists (23,000 alone in California). And 17 people die each day waiting for these precious gifts.

And they are gifts. And many in the hospitals regard them as such. With the help of on-staff chaplains, hospitals and organ transplant centers have found beautiful ways to give honor and respect to the patient before their bodily death and subsequent organ harvesting-- including holding an honor walk where the patient is wheeled to the operating room for the final time through hallways lined by hospital staff honoring the gravity of the gift they are about to give, the doctors reading a text supplied by the family or playing a favorite song the patient loved, or holding a moment of silence before the proverbial plug is pulled.

This transforms the decision to donate organs from a purely transactional event to a sacred occasion. Organ recipient, Renee, shared with us today, a story about the young man whose liver she was given. She told us that his mother, before the impediments to his death were removed, said to him one last thing, "It doesn't end here." Meaning that his life was going to continue on as blessing to many other people who would receive his organs and other tissues (corneas, skin, etc.). His memory would continue to be a blessing. And it has.

Considering these deep questions is how we're keeping it sacred.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

*Photo above is one of a mannequin used for educational purposes at the simulation center. No actual patients are shown.

SPIRITUAL GENTLENESS BOOK CLUB: COMING SOON!

NEW KITS COMMUNITY CLUB: COMING SOON! Are you interested in holding spiritual space for healing through reading and community? Then please consider joining the new KITS Spiritual Gentleness Book Club (SGBC) led by members Ashleigh and Tracy. The SGBC will explore books in bi-monthly meetings, with topics and discussions centered on the questions that arise for those who are new to Judaism. With a collaborative approach to book discussion, we envision this book club as a place to make new friends, have nuanced and meaningful discussions, and deepen our relationships with Judaism. Gatherings will be held Mondays at 1pm PT, and will be scheduled soon. Stay tuned — registration information will appear in our upcoming newsletters.

SUMMERTIME SHABBAT

June 28, REGISTER HERE for Summertime 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.

KITS CREATIVITY CLUB

Shalom! 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 on June 30th at 9am PT | noon ET. REGISTER HERE!

TAMMUZ ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

This is our way of beginning each month with a new vision of racial justice. Tammuz Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review: July 5th 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET. Register here! We are reading Grieving While Black by Breeshia Wade. And mark your calendar for upcoming dates:

• Tammuz Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review: NEW DATE! July 11, Chapter 8

• Av Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review: August 8, a special session on the intersection of antisemitism with racism, links will be provided.

• Elul Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review: September 5, we begin a new book: We Refuse, by Kellie Carter Jackson-- see her on CBS talking about this book HERE-- we are excited! (And bonus: she was a professor of our own Molly Flanagan when a student at Wellesley College!)

LA PRIDE NIGHT AT DODGER STADIUM

PRIDE month continues! Rabbi Miller attended LA PRIDE Night at Dodger Stadium. The home team won- Go Dodgers! KITS friend LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath threw out the pre-game (kick)ball. Another friend, Gerald Garth, President of PRIDE LA, judged the Vogue Contest. Another friend, Rev. Susan Russell, made two parts of the joke- “A rabbi and a reverend go to a baseball game….” And, as a bonus, Rabbi Miller got to watch the fireworks with another dear friend of hers from college, and their kids. Weather was perfect. Churros were delivering perfection. And most of all, Rabbi Miller saw the LGBT community celebrated on such a prominent stage. Happy Pride!

HAPPY SHAVUOT AND HAPPY LOVING DAY!

Last week on June 12, as the holiday tradition of Shavuot encourages, we celebrated the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai by studying it all night. And as the holiday of Loving Day encourages, we celebrated love across difference as Loving Day honors the Supreme Court ruling of Loving vs. Virginia which legalized interracial marriage in the US. Today, we celebrate! And if you’d like a copy of the texts we studied, please email rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. Happy Shavuot and Happy Loving Day!

MAZAL TOV TO ADAM AND SYDNEY!

A hearty Mazal Tov to Arizona couple Adam and Sydney who recently met dear friends and family in Joshua Tree, CA to wed. Nuptials, performed by Rabbi Miller, were met with cheers from local rock climbers watching the ceremony from the side of a nearby cliff. The celebration continued with dancing under the starry desert sky at a lovely Auto Camp location. The whole Keeping It Sacred community wishes them the best years ahead!

VIRTUAL FINANCIAL WORKSHOP FOR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY*

KITS members Avi and Shiffy Crane are hosting a complimentary Virtual Financial Workshop for LGBTQ+ community, their families and friends through their business: Rimon Consulting Group, Inc. on June 25 at noon PT | 3pm ET. To register, scan the QR code above, or, visit the link here.

PRENTIS HEMPHILL’S WHAT IT TAKES TO HEAL BOOK TOUR!*

Check out the Prentis Hemphill Book Tour for What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World: prentishemphill.com/book.  Packed with chapters encouraging spiritual transformation to change the world.

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.

*Please note we will not be meeting July 4th.

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.

AND, join us for the festivities as we conclude the reading of Tractate Bava Metzia on June 27th at noon! Register at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming. (see below!)

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!

If you are a subscriber, you are a member! We have no membership dues!

Events with an asterisk * are hosted by organizations and communities outside of Keeping It Sacred. We want to pass along this news as important information.

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, 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.

6/20 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. 

6/20 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.  

6/25 QUEERING YOUR FINANCES

KITS members Avi and Shiffy Crane are hosting a complimentary Virtual Financial Workshop for LGBTQ+ community, their families and friends on June 25 at noon PT | 3pm ET. To register, scan the QR code above, or, visit the link here.

6/27 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. 

6/27 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.  

6/27 SIYYUM TRACTATE BAVA METZIA

Grab your place at the table as we sit down with the sages of old and wrestle with their thinking, enjoy their stories, and glean their wisdom! Register for this program here!

6/28 SUMMERTIME SHABBAT: 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. Register here!

6/30 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!

7/11 TAMMUZ ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

This is our way of ending each month with a new vision of racial justice. 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET. We are reading chapter 8 of Grieving While Black by Breeshia Wade. Register for this program HERE. 

7/11 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. 

7/11 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.  

7/14 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.

7/18 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. 

7/18 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.   

7/25 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. 

7/25 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.   

7/26 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. Register here!

7/28 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.

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!