Newsletter December 21, 2020 Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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Tonight marks the darkest day of the year-- the Winter Solstice. And, as we mentioned before, many traditions customarily light up the night sky with lights. We have Christmas lights and Hanukkah menorahs (known as Hanukkiahs). There is also the ceremonial lighting of the kinara, the 7 branched candelabra that is used to celebrate Kwaanza. Many people associate Kwaanza with Christmas, perhaps because of its red and green candles. But it has nothing to do with Jesus, and the red and green (and black) candles represent the pan-African flag. For this reason, many Black Jews appreciate both Hanukkah and Kwaanza. Yesterday, I was privileged to participate in a celebration of both-- a celebration called Kwaanzakuh! You see, both holidays lift up the dignity of the ancestors, the principles of unity and strength, hope and light. It is customary to give gifts and exchange well wishes. And, it is a time of gathering in sacred community to tell stories (virtually this year!). And, you know what happens when you gather in sacred community? You begin to see the beauty of the diversity within; the layers of the community that enrich the whole. For instance, did you know that one out of seven Jews in the United States are Jews of Color, and that number is one out of every four on the west coast. The word "Hebrew" literally means "border crosser." And, you can bet that we expand beyond any border or identity. Beyond any ONE race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, geographic origin. And that is something to celebrate! Happy Kwaanza to all who celebrate. Together, we're #keepingitsacred... Rabbi Heather Miller, Founder, Keeping It Sacred |
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Please save the dates for our upcoming two-session adult learning program called Access Judaism. Full class lineup personally designed by Rabbi Miller. Classes have a suggested donation of $25 per class, or $180 per session. Please email rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com to RSVP. |
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If you are partnered and looking to boost your relationship in the new year, download our FREE Keeping It Sacred Relationship Booster January 2021 Calendar on our NEW Connections Page HERE: |
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HOMELESS REMEMBRANCE: THE LONGEST NIGHT |
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TONIGHT! Monday, 12/21 at 7pm PT/10pm ET, join us as we observe The Longest Night with our friends at Women Drivers and the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita. It is the Winter Solstice, literally the longest night of the year, and appropriately, we remember all those who have died on the streets. This particular observance will mark those who died in Orange County this year. Rabbi Miller will offer up the Mourner's Kaddish during this service. To register, please email Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. |
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TWO CHRISTMAS EVE INVITATIONS |
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In the spirit of interfaith appreciation, The Very Reverend Keith Yamamoto has invited Rabbi Heather Miller to participate in the St. Mark's Episcopal Parish of Upland Christmas Eve services. They will be broadcast December 24 at 5pm PT and again at 10:30pm PT on their Facebook Live page and on their YouTube channel. All are welcome. AND, in the spirit of interfaith appreciation, The Very Rev. Mike Kinman has invited Rabbi Miller to participate in the All Saints Church of Pasadena Christmas Eve services. They will be broadcast December 24 on their YouTube channel at HERE. All are welcome. Last year's service can be found HERE. |
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Seventeen years ago, Rabbi Miller wrote an article reflecting on her experience as a product of an interfaith marriage. The biggest threats to her Jewish identity were not from the church or her non-Jewish relatives. It was from the Jewish folks who argued that interfaith families are a threat to Jewish continuity who, by doing so, made her feel bothered and separate. Her friends had similar experiences. Synagogue and Jewish institutional policy shapes all Jewish families' experiences of Jewish life. The same is true now as it was then-- we must ensure that the Jewish identity is accessible and relevant for all. We are all proud that Keeping It Sacred is doing just that! Find the full article, which appeared in the June 2003 edition of Sh'ma: A Jewish Journal on Social Responsibility, here: |
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WELLESLEY RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE |
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Rabbi Miller has been participating in an in-depth racial awareness program through the Wellesley Racial Justice Initiative. The program requires reading, processing, reflection, and action. This week, Rabbi Miller was asked to present thoughts on The Spiritual Consequences of Racial Injustice. To discuss this topic with her, please contact: rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. |
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A Keeping It Sacred Milestone! This entry marks the COMPLETION of the FULL CYCLE of Torah Study! That means that when you travel to keepingitsacred.com/torah-gems, you will find commentary on every single Parasha in the Torah. That's a FULL YEAR's worth of insights on the values, morals, and lessons of our most sacred text. Happy new week! The reflection below is called "Too Sensitive," and reflects on this week's Torah Portion Vayigash, Genesis 44:18-47:27. It be found HERE: |
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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. Currently, we are 91 members strong from 17 different states and 3 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: "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, send Rabbi Miller an email or DM on Facebook to be added to the closed, secret Facebook group and/or the weekly text study group. And look for us on Instagram daily HERE. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS: EVERY DAY Please enjoy our 7-episode web series and podcast: People Keeping It Sacred on YouTube HERE or at: Or on your favorite podcast players (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. Please request a meeting by contacting her at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. 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. Contact rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com to request the link and password. 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, please contact Rabbi Miller directly at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. MONDAY, 12/21: THE LONGEST NIGHT Sunday, 12/21 at 7pm PT/10pm ET, join us as we observe The Longest Night. It is the Winter Solstice, literally the longest night of the year, and appropriately, we remember all those who have died on the streets. This particular observance will mark those who died in Orange County this year. To register, please email Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. THURSDAY, 12/24: ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Thursday, 12/24, Keeping It Sacred has been invited to enjoy St. Mark's Episcopal Church Christmas Eve services as an expression of interfaith outreach and love. Rabbi Miller will offer a reading from the Tanakh in Hebrew as she helps her friend, The Very Rev. Keith Yamamoto and his parish celebrate their holy day. This event will be made available live on the church's Facebook and YouTube channels at 5pm PT and 10:30pm PT. No registration required. THURSDAY, 12/24: ALL SAINTS CHURCH PASADENA CHRISTMAS EVE Thursday, 12/24 at 8pm, in the spirit of interfaith appreciation, The Very Rev. Mike Kinman has invited Rabbi Miller to participate in the All Saints Church of Pasadena Christmas Eve services. They will be broadcast December 24 on their YouTube channel at HERE. All are welcome. Last year's service can be found HERE. 2021: ACCESS JUDAISM: ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES Please save the dates for accessible, relevant, and empowering Jewish learning! Classes will be held at 10am PT/1pm ET via zoom. Session 1 dates are: 1/17 Personal Inventory of Belief, 1/24 Radical Responsibility for the World, 1/31 Demystifying Denominational Differences, 2/7 The Flavors of the Holy Books, 2/14 One for Every Mood: The Jewish Holidays, 2/21 Jewish Intermarriage: A History, 2/28 The Righteous Economic Vision of the Rabbis, and 3/7 The Kabbalistic Non-Binary God. Session 2 dates are: 4/11 The Intelligent Design of the Prayerbook, 4/18 Reform Renovations of the Prayerbook, 4/25 Rituals as Markers of Transition, 5/2 The Characteristics of a Good Jew, 5/9 Slam Poetry in the Golden Age, 5/16 Bad Theology: Terrible Explanations of Why the Righteous Suffer, 5/23 Siblings or Cousins?: Jews and Christians in the First Century, and 5/30 Before You Die Consider these Rabbinic Thoughts. Please see keepingitsacred.com/accessjudaism or email Rabbi Miller if you're interested in these courses at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. 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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We'd love for you to forward this to a friend to invite them to sign up, too! |
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If you’d like to make sure that this kind of quality programming by Keeping It Sacred continues, please consider making a donation via: PayPal using the link here Venmo username: @keepingitsacred, or Check may be made out to Keeping It Sacred and mailed to: 27068 La Paz Rd. #781, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Thank you for #keepingitsacred... |
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