In honor of the mitzvah of matanot l'evyonim/giving gifts to those in need (emphasized during Purim), local members of Keeping It Sacred joined the Interfaith Council of Greater Rancho Santa Margarita in a service project yesterday. We tied blankets for kids receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).

Blankets are known to comfort and protect from the cold. Spiritually, they serve as a symbol for the Divine wings of blessings of the Shechinah (the feminine aspect of God). That’s probably why some bedding items are known as "comforters." The beauty of our project is that we were able to gather in fellowship, promote service learning opportunities of Just Serve (organizer extraordinaire Debbie Taylor produced the event), and create physical manifestations of our blessings-- through the creation of blankets. 

Some of our table discussions included sharing stories of travel, the significance of religious symbols, children’s education, the pandemic, and our local community. We engaged in the type of camaraderie that comes with the unifying activity of doing something good for kids (and their families) in challenging medical situations.

I delivered the invocation (HERE), among this great community. What a privilege it was to gather- though we were making blankets for others, we truly were blanketed with blessings.

Purim puts us back in touch with the good that we can do in the world as individuals— both because we are inspired by the act of heroism that Queen Esther made to save the Jewish people, and also because of the mandate for every person celebrating the holy day to do something for those in need. May we all always know deeply that within us we have the power to make a difference!

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller, 

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

INTERFAITH ZOOM PASSOVER SEDER

Join us April 16th, Saturday night at 5pm PT/8pm ET as Grammy winning artist, Joanie Leeds once again joins our own Rabbi Heather Miller to co-lead our Interfaith, Intergenerational Passover Seder! Celebrate key parts of the seder in a joyful, inclusive environment. No experience necessary. Bring your friends. REGISTRATION at bitly.com/KITSPASSOVER is open NOW!

And check out highlights from last year's gathering HERE:

WOMEN CLERGY IN THE JEWISH AND EPISCOPALIAN TRADITIONS

Join The Rev. Susan Russell (All-Saints Church, Pasadena) and Rabbi Heather Miller (Keeping It Sacred) over the course of three sessions to discuss women clergy in their respective religious traditions: Jewish and Episcopalian. The sessions will cover where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going. Come, reflect on your experiences and raise your questions with us. This program is over zoom and free, though donations to Keeping It Sacred or All-Saints Church are welcomed. This program is being hosted in honor of the 50th Ordination anniversary of Rabbi Sally J. Priesand which will take place on June 3, 2022.

Join us Sunday nights at 5pm PT/8pm ET, April 11th, 18th, & 25th. Register at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1.

SHABBAT SERVICES THIS FRIDAY NIGHT

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT! 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 3/25, 4/29, 5/27, 6/24, and every LAST FRIDAY NIGHT of the month. Then, PLEASE register to join us HERE.

UNTOLD STORIES OF THE BIBLE: A WORKSHOP

Have you ever wondered about the parts of the Bible that are not explained? So did the rabbis! And they filled in the gaps in the text with their own writing and understanding of what happened in a literary art form called midrash. Rabbi Miller will explain the concept and provide examples. Then, together, we will do a close read of selected texts to view gaps in the storylines, and write our own expositions based on our own life experience.

Sundays March 20, March 27, April 3, & April 10 at 10:15am PT/1:15pm ET Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

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

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

DEEPEST CONDOLENCES

The entire Keeping It Sacred community mourns the loss of Emmet Violet Cohene, stillborn March 10, 2022 to his devoted and caring parents, Aleesa and Jules. May they be comforted among all mourners everywhere.

KEEPING (OUR WEBSITE) SACRED

This past week, we premiered our new website featuring new navigation options and a new intro video- check it out- you may recognize some familiar faces there.

FROM OHIO TO CALIFORNIA

Friday, several Keeping It Sacred community members gathered to welcome Sheryl & David Aronson who drove to California from Ohio. We enjoyed homemade hamantaschen, beverages, and wonderful company. Sheryl even shared her artwork, too. Some of the great joys are delighting in one another's presence.

BAT MITZVAH AT 100

This photo above is of our esteemed Keeping It Sacred member, Laurie Brown, at her bat mitzvah. We share it here in honor of the centennial anniversary of the first public bat mitzvah ceremony in the US which first took place March 18, 1922!

In honor of this event, our Keeping It Sacred Shabbat Service in March will be dedicated to the topic of the bat mitzvah. Please share your reflections on the significance of your bar/bat/b'nai mitzvah, or the ceremony itself (including pictures!) with Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com and mark your calendar for 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET Friday night March 25. Register HERE.

Also, for additional impactful programming around this anniversary, see the Jewish Women's Archive here: https://jwa.org/stories/batmitzvah-at-100.

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 100 members strong from 28 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 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.  

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.

3/27 UNTOLD STORIES OF THE BIBLE

10:15am Sundays March 20-April 10 Have you ever wondered about the parts of the Bible that are not explained? So did the rabbis! And they filled in the gaps in the text with their own writing and understanding of what happened in a literary art form called midrash. Rabbi Miller will explain the concept and provide examples. Then, together, we will do a close read of selected texts to view gaps in the storylines, and write our own expositions based on our own life experience. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

4/2 ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW

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.

4/3 UNTOLD STORIES OF THE BIBLE

10:15am Sundays March 20-April 10 Have you ever wondered about the parts of the Bible that are not explained? So did the rabbis! And they filled in the gaps in the text with their own writing and understanding of what happened in a literary art form called midrash. Rabbi Miller will explain the concept and provide examples. Then, together, we will do a close read of selected texts to view gaps in the storylines, and write our own expositions based on our own life experience. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

4/10 UNTOLD STORIES OF THE BIBLE

10:15am Sundays March 20-April 10 Have you ever wondered about the parts of the Bible that are not explained? So did the rabbis! And they filled in the gaps in the text with their own writing and understanding of what happened in a literary art form called midrash. Rabbi Miller will explain the concept and provide examples. Then, together, we will do a close read of selected texts to view gaps in the storylines, and write our own expositions based on our own life experience. Register at: 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.

5/8 ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW

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.

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 M

iller 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.

6/30 ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW

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.
 

7/28 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.

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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