Today, the Fourth of July, is a day to celebrate independence. The value of freedom to create your own destiny in the world is central to this holiday. But tomorrow, let us also honor interdependence, and the webs of connection that allow for the vast array of choices set before us. 

For example, you may be reading this newsletter on a screen assembled in Mexico, in a room cooled by air conditioning technology from China, while sitting on an Italian crafted chair, gazing out the window at lands first cared for by the Tongva people, reading characters and a language developed by the Romans. All of the intellect and efforts and careful attention of these communities, have brought your experience to bear today- and your choices moving forward rely on their past endeavors. So, are we truly independent? No. We are the beneficiaries of all that has come before, and all of those on the planet right now.

It would do us well to recognize the truth of it all: we are part of a great web of existence. This interdependence, says Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda of the 12th century in Spain, leads us back to the understanding of the Unity of the Creator. He writes eloquently:

When we contemplate the world, it will become apparent that - it is the design of one Thinker, and the work of one Creator.... we find that it is interdependent for its maintenance and welfare; no part is completed without the help of another part, like the links in a coat of armor, the parts of a bed, the limbs of the human body, or other things which have interdependent parts for their functioning. 

Can you see that the moon and the planets need the light of the sun, and the earth needs the sky and the water, and that the animals need each other, and some species feed on other species, such as predatory birds, fish, and beasts of the forest all need each other? And the human's need for everything, and the rectification of everything through humankind (which gives a higher purpose to everything). Countries, towns, sciences and trades are interdependent.

Imagine that. The way all of creation fits together so seamlessly, points to the existence of the Creator who formed it! 

So, today, celebrate independence but also marvel at the phenomenon of interdependence all around us. Who do we rely upon and who relies upon us. What impacts are we making with the gifts we bring to the world? 

Today we should celebrate our personal freedoms of choice, to the extent that we have them, but also be stunningly aware that every next move impacts those around us and those who will exist in the future. Let us value both independence as well as interdependence. 

And, together, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller,

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

OUR SECOND ANNUAL CONFIRMATION CEREMONY

PLEASE SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE!

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

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!

CLUE & CHIRLA INTERFAITH IMMIGRATION RALLY

Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), along with many co-sponsors including Keeping It Sacred (KITS), will hold an Ecumenical and Interfaith community vigil to Honor the Lives of the Souls Lost and to Demand Action on Immigration.  All faith leaders and concerned community members may join us in our efforts to honor the memories of and the grieving of all touched by the recent deaths in San Antonio. This event will take place Tuesday, July 5th, 9:00am-10:00am 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90012 (City Hall West).

ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW

 Rosh Chodesh is the celebration of the new month. And over the next six months, our Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review series will take time to explore 12 Steps to Changing Yourself and the World: An Abolitionist’s Handbook by Patrisse Cullors. Each month, we will discuss two chapters of this work which will simultaneously address transforming our inner personal lives and also the institutional infrastructures of injustice around us. 3pm PT/6pm ET: 3/3, 4/2, 5/8, 5/31, 6/30 and 7/28 Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

AND! Co-founder of Black Lives Matter, artist, and author Patrisse Cullors will JOIN US 7/28 to discuss her book!

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 7/29, 8/26, 9/30, 10/28, 11/25, 12/30 and PLEASE register to join us HERE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOLLY!

Our AMAZING Digital Marketing Manager, Molly Flanagan (she/they), is celebrating a birthday this week! Please join me in sending her a note of gratitude, to mflanagan@keepingitsacred.com, for being such an integral part of building this community- from organizing our newsletters, to posting all of our events online, to helping troubleshoot digital challenges, and welcoming people into our programmatic sessions, Molly blesses us with their skills, talent, and commitment to this sacred work. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOLLY! 

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, KITS member Sue Parker Gerson shared a reflection on Yevamot 116 and KITS Founder Rabbi Heather Miller shared reflections on Yevamot 117 and Yevamot 118 this week on My Jewish Learning's Daily Dose of Talmud.

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.

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.  

7/5 IMMIGRATION RALLY

Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), along with many co-sponsors including Keeping It Sacred (KITS), will hold an Ecumenical and Interfaith community vigil to Honor the Lives of the Souls Lost and to Demand Action on Immigration.  All faith leaders and concerned community members may join us in our efforts to honor the memories of and the grieving of all touched by the recent deaths in San Antonio. This event will take place Tuesday, July 5th, 9:00am-10:00am 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90012 (City Hall West).

7/28 ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW & PATRISSE CULLORS

3pm PT/6pm ET, join Rabbi Miller for a discussion of Patrisse Cullors' latest book, 12 Steps to Changing Yourself and the World: An Abolitionist’s Handbook. Patrisse Cullors herself (the author & co-founder of Black Lives Matter) join us 7/28! Explore how to transform yourself and the world around you amidst thoughtful, committed, tender-hearted community members. All are welcome. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

7/29 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 7/29 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.

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.

8/26 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.

9/30 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 9/30 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.

10/28 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 10/28 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.

11/25 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 11/25 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.

12/30 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.

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...

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