Have you ever experienced the pure delight of Torah study? The enlightenment that is achieved when one is given the space to reflect on what it means to be human in this world, and to live a life in the direction of ethical living? To give oneself the space to wrestle with the Divine or time to express endless gratitude?

In yesterday's Balancing Your Inner Life class, we read Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda's words from 1,000 years ago that encouraged us to study Torah. He describes Torah as a cure for sickness in the soul in the way it encourages self-reflection. He describes Torah as the means by which the human being can improve their condition and find a middle path between reason and desire. And, he says that Torah brings enlightenment, and fortifies the spirit with strength. 

Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda may agree with the idea that anytime a person opens up a sacred text to study, revelation itself occurs. A kind of revelation that enriches the mind, body and soul. And that is invaluable.

Even more worthy is getting to share these gifts with a community like each of you in the Keeping It Sacred community. Each time we explore text together,  we bring our own lived knowledge and wisdom to the discussion to enhance the understanding of the sages of old. We shine light on how the morals, values, and principles apply to life in 2022. Studying Torah together is a deep gift. See below for lots of opportunities to study together and infuse life with meaning.

Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller, 

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE

A thousand years ago, Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda decided to pull sacred texts about exceptional character qualities together. He felt this would be a useful tool to inspire people to live lives of meaning. He called his work Duties of the Heart, and it is the work upon which the Mussar Movement is based. The book is available for free on Sefaria.org, and we will take time each week to study teachings and explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today.

Join us for one class, several, or all 9 weeks worth of classes! Please invite your friends to take the series with you, too!

All classes are Sundays 10am PT/1pm ET on:

1/9 Unity

1/16 Reflection

1/23 Service

1/30 Trust

2/6 Devotion

2/13 Humility

2/20 Repentance & Self Accounting

2/27 Abstinence

3/6 Love

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. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Invite your friends! Registration is open HERE.

MONTHLY 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.

And, this month, we will try a new format for the sermon: a brief text study relevant to the Torah portion. Join us and let us know what you think!

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 1/28, 2/25, 3/25, 4/29, 5/27 and 6/24, and PLEASE register to join us HERE.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS & TORAH: A TEXT STUDY SESSION

Join together to explore Jewish texts on reproductive rights. Rabbi Miller, a longtime advocate for reproductive justice, will lead the study in a way that is accessible, relevant, and empowering. Keeping It Sacred is proud to partner with the NCJW to host this program for Repro Shabbat. Registration is open HERE. 

NEW EMAIL!

We are thrilled to share that our Digital Media Manager, Molly Flanagan, now has an official KITS email! Feel free to send her an email at the new address, 

mflanagan@keepingitsacred.com, to help with program registration, questions about the website, signing up, technical support, and/or program ideas. 

IN SOCAL JEWISH NEWS

Rabbi Miller, as the president of the Interfaith Council of a Greater Rancho Santa Margarita, recently organized an interfaith statement of unity in the wake of the hostage situation in Colleyville, TX. The SoCal Jewish News just wrote about it in an article titled "SoCal interfaith groups lend support following Colleyville hostage crisis."  To date, the statement has been signed by over 70 faith leaders and community members. To sign the statement, CLICK HERE. And may this be the beginning of our hope for a future free of violence.

IN THE MAIL!

Rabbi Miller recently spoke at a conference and one of the organizers shared this reflection. If you would like to bring Rabbi Miller to your community or organization or friend circle, please contact us at info@keepingitsacred.com so that she can craft a program for you. 

WOMEN'S RABBINIC NETWORK NEWS

Rabbi Miller's service on the Board of the Women's Rabbinic Network has been extended. She will now serve as Vice President of Membership and Outreach for the organization. For more on this amazing board and organization doing great work in the world, please see: https://womensrabbinicnetwork.org.

WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS

Engagement Season is HERE! If you or someone you know recently got engaged or married and would enjoy a series of free Wedding Planning Workshops to help navigate the big day and beyond, please check out these free 30-minute workshops!

Sundays at 11:30am PT or Wednesdays at 7pm PT

1/9 & 1/19: Keeping Your Partner at the Center

1/16 & 1/26: Finding a Time & Place & Officiant for Your Wedding

1/23 & 2/2: Honoring Your Loved Ones in the Ceremony

1/30 & 2/9: Making Your Wedding Accessible

2/6 & 2/16: Ceremony Ritual Planning Workshop

2/13 & 2/23: Infusing a Sense of the Sacred into the Ceremony

2/20 & 3/2: Including Various Cultural Traditions

2/27 & 3/9: Jumping Into Life Ahead!

Registration is open now HERE: please share this resource with engaged couples you know and our wedding page at: keepingitsacred.com/weddings

PLUS: Here's a fun video sharing the parts of a Jewish wedding! HERE:

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 98 members strong from 27 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 the link at the bottom of the page HERE. This way you won't miss an opportunity to connect via our LIVE activities. 

EVERY DAY

Please enjoy our 7-episode web series and podcast: People Keeping It Sacred on YouTube HERE or on your favorite podcast player (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. 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.  

1/26 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Finding a Time & Place & Officiant

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/28 REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND TORAH: A Text Study Session

4pm PT/7pm ET Join together to explore Jewish texts on reproductive rights. Rabbi Heather Miller, a longtime advocate for reproductive justice, will lead the study in a way that is accessible, relevant, and empowering. Keeping It Sacred is proud to partner with the NCJW to host this program for Repro Shabbat. Register HERE.

1/28 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 1/28 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.

1/30 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Trust

Sunday, 1/30 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings and explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

1/30 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Making Your Wedding Accessible

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/2 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Honoring Your Loved Ones in the Ceremony

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/6 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Ceremony Ritual Planning Workshop

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/9 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Devotion

Sunday, 2/9 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/9 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Making Your Wedding Accessible

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/13 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Humility

Sunday, 2/13 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/13 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Infusing a Sense of the Sacred into the Ceremony

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/16 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Ceremony Ritual Planning Workshop

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/20 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Repentance & Self Accounting

Sunday, 2/20 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/20 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Including Various Cultural Traditions

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/23 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Infusing a Sense of the Sacred into the Ceremony

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/25 SHABBAT SERVICES

Friday night, 2/25 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.

2/27 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Abstinence

Sunday, 1/23 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

2/27 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Jumping Into Life Ahead

11:30am PT/2:30pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/2 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Including Various Cultural Traditions

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/6 BALANCING YOUR INNER LIFE: Love

Sunday, 3/6 at 10am PT/1pm ET, Jewish tradition houses some of the most beautiful teachings on character qualities. We will take time each week to study teachings & explore how we might make sense of them in our lives today. Please register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

3/9 WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Jumping Into Life Ahead

7pm PT/10pm ET You’re ready to plan a succinct but meaningful ceremony that feels authentic to your relationship and that also doesn’t alienate any of your guests. But where do you begin and how do you bring it all together?  Now is the time to take a breath as you look to plan the perfect wedding that launches your marriage into the best future possible. Register at: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

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.

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.

5/27 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 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.

6/24 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.

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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We'd love for you to forward this to a friend to invite them to sign up, too!