The rabbis knew that the quality of being human involves hardship. Pain. Discontent. The Mishnah puts it well, “Rabbi Tarfon said: The day is short, the work is abundant, the workers are indolent… and the Master of the house is insistent.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16)

Human existence is predicated on challenge. Sometimes even overwhelm. This is why it is so important to celebrate wins and take some time for play and rest and rejuvenation. To enjoy some levity.

So when joyful moments present themselves, it is important that we uplift them.

Our community recently celebrated our three year anniversary of beginning Daf Yomi/ our daily study of Talmud. We gathered and celebrated this great accomplishment together. We were able to lift up gratitude to one another for helping to shape our insights and understanding. And we were able to encourage one another to keep studying. We were able to reflect on the ways that this intellectual practice, in turn, fueled our spirits.

Plus, to make it even more playful and special, we wore funny hats! Human beings need these moments of joy and play together. And being in community (especially the tenderhearted, global community like ours is), celebrating wins is not only fun but can also be deeply spiritually rejuvenating-- and it was!

For each of us, it is critical to prioritize opportunities to rest and play and celebrate with loved ones. For some, winter break from the school year allowed that respite. For me, this was a time to enjoy community, colleagues, family. To show up for people in their holiday celebrations, and to stand with them in solidarity in their protests.  It was a time to get outdoors and marvel at nature- intense weather, and stunning sunsets. To enjoy board games and puzzles and basketball with my kids. 

Life can be hard and unsettling. It can throw us for a loop and cause us to worry about the future. Or, we may find that we are planning big things for the future, but then worry about the work that it will take to get us there. Life can be heavy. This is why, especially at the outset of a new year, it is important to replenish our souls to fuel us for the work ahead with delight. However you enjoy down time, I hope that it replenishes you in your soul.

Oh and by the way, that’s not all that Rabbi Tarfon said in the Mishnah. He also added that, “the reward is great.” With this statement, he all but guarantees that all the hard work will count for goodness cosmically-- and it will if we make it count by making time to enjoy it along the way. So may it be!

This is how, together, we’re #keepingitsacred….

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

ACCESS JUDAISM

TODAY WE BEGIN our Melanie Grohman z"l Access Judaism session 2-

PLEASE JOIN US!

This program features a broad spectrum of thoughtfully curated Jewish subjects in the realms of history, rituals, culture, philosophy, law, and spirituality. These interactive classes, which include post-class reflection questions, can also count towards requirements of conversion or adult b'nai mitzvah ceremonies. (Think of it like a Judaism 201 type program for those who have already taken a 101 program or are already familiar with the basics of Jewish life). Classes are open to students entering with a diversity of backgrounds. There is no prerequisite for the class-- start with Session 2 if these classes appeal to you!

​This course is taught over Zoom in two sessions of 8 classes each. The classes are flexible and are designed so that a person can choose to take one class, several, a whole session, or both sessions. Suggested donation for one class is $25, one session is $180 and the full program is $300. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Access Judaism SESSION 2:

1/9 The Intelligent Design of the Prayer Service

1/23 Reform Renovations of the Prayerbook

1/30 Rituals as Markers of Transition

2/6 The Characteristics of a Good Jew

2/13 Slam Poetry in the Golden Age

2/27 Bad Theology: Terrible Explanations of Why The Righteous Suffer

3/6 Siblings or Cousins?: Jews and Christians in the First Century

3/13 Before You Die, Consider These Rabbinic Thoughts

SAVE THE DATES and then, register HERE for one or all classes designed to give you greater Access to Judaism.

*This series is named after our beloved Keeping It Sacred community member, the late Melanie Grohman, may her memory be for a blessing, who loved learning about Judaism and our community. Her memory is a blessing.

INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF GREATER RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA

Tuesday night, Rabbi Miller completes her term as President of the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita.

Rabbi Miller writes,

"It has been my pleasure and honor to serve as President of the ICGRSM this past year and to have dedicated involvement in the years prior. Our community bonds are authentic and relational.

This year, the community has stood together through the crises of shootings at the synagogue in Colleyville, at the supermarket in Buffalo, and through two local attacks: one at Geneva Church in Laguna Woods, and one against Pastor Pitts of Second Baptist Church of Santa Ana at his home. It was incredibly strengthening to stand together in these moments of crisis. The community also pulled together to host an outstanding family-friendly blanket making day to benefit children at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). We hosted a genealogical database search day with cutting edge experts in the field and learned more about one another's family history. And ,we dedicated time to participate in The Longest Night vigil, remembering those who have died while facing housing insecurity. Their memories are a blessing, and we made it so.

In addition to this, regular monthly gatherings have fortified the invaluable bonds of community. Please email me at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com to join us Tuesday night at 7pm PT/10pm ET as I hand over the proverbial gavel to my successor and friend, Rick Varner, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. May the council go from strength to strength!"

SAVE THE DATE! KING DAY WITH THE SCLC

Join the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on January 12 in Los Angeles for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Interfaith Breakfast. This selection of righteous clergy, including our own Rabbi Miller, are guaranteed to inspire! Please register at www.sclc.sc.org.

ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Book Review group will explore another in our select collection of psalms and their messages about racial justice. This is our way of starting each month with a new vision of racial justice.

• October 26, 10am PT/ 1pm ET (Psalm 23)

• November 23, 10am PT/1pm ET (Psalm 92)

• December 21, 10am PT/1pm ET (Psalm 104) REGISTER HERE

• January 18, 10am PT/1pm ET (Psalm 30) REGISTER HERE

Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

CCAR BOOK: PROPHETIC VOICES

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR Press) is soon publishing a book called Prophetic Voices. It helps readers renew and reimagine (and reconnect!) with the Haftarah readings of the liturgical cycle. Rabbi Miller has entries in the book and we are very excited to announce that it will soon be available! For more information: CLICK HERE.

SHABBAT SERVICES: THE LAST FRIDAY NIGHT OF EVERY MONTH

EVERY LAST Friday night of the month, 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.

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 and every LAST FRIDAY NIGHT of the month. Then, PLEASE register to join us HERE.

TU B'SHVAT: PLANTING THE SEEDS OF COMMUNITY

The holiday of Tu Bishvat is known as the birthday of the trees. But every tree begins as a seed. Join us as our local KITS Community members and prospective members gather to envision a new way to provide Jewish education for our kids. With ample mixer time for parents and programming for kids. Join us as we imagine, together, a world where our kids thrive! 2/5 at 10am PT in Sherman Oaks (address provided upon RSVP). Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

REPRO SHABBAT TEXT STUDY ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Save the Date! February 24 at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, Keeping It Sacred joins dozens of communities around the US for a discussion on the intersection between Jewish values and Reproductive rights. Come explore what the sages had to say about the start of life, protecting the health of the pregnant person, and more. Registration will be at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

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 36 different states and 11 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.

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!

REFLECTING ON THE PAST YEAR

2022 in review- To all who contributed with your time, talent, or treasure, THANK YOU for such a successful and meaningful year! Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

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.

1/12 SCLC-LA KING ANNUAL INTERFAITH BREAKFAST

Join Rabbi Miller and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on January 19 in Los Angeles for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Interfaith Breakfast. Please register at www.sclc.sc.org.

1/12 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. 

1/12 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.  

1/18 ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK REVIEW

Join us at 10am PT/1pm ET to review selected Psalms. This is our way to welcome in the new month with inspiration for our journey towards racial justice. Register for this program HERE.  

1/19 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. 

1/19 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.  

1/26 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. 

1/26 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.  

1/27 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 1/27 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.

2/2 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. 

2/2 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.  

2/5 TU B'SHVAT: PLANTING THE SEEDS OF COMMUNITY

Save the Date! The holiday of Tu Bishvat is known as the birthday of the trees. But every tree begins as a seed. Join us as our local KITS Community members and prospective members gather to envision a new way to provide Jewish education for our kids. With ample mixer time for parents and programming for kids. Join us as we imagine, together, a world where our kids thrive! 2/5 at 10am PT in Sherman Oaks (address provided upon RSVP) Rain date will be 2/11 at 10am PT. Registration will be at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

2/9 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. 

2/9 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.  

2/16 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. 

2/16 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.  

2/23 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. 

2/23 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.  

2/24 REPRO SHABBAT: TEXT STUDY

Save the Date! February 24 at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, Keeping It Sacred joins dozens of communities around the US for a discussion on the intersection between Jewish values and Reproductive rights. Come explore what the sages had to say about the start of life, protecting the health of the pregnant person, and more. Registration will be at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

2/24 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...

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!