Deep moments of awareness about the nature of the world, insights into the human condition, and truths about life are revealed in sacred revelation. Last night, Jewish communities around the world celebrated the original communal revelation moment. This holiday, known as Shavuot, marks the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The rabbis ask: why is this the holiday marking the giving of the Torah-- not the receiving of the Torah? Because revelation is not marked by a singular moment in time. It is possible at any time, if we are only open to it. 

Every time we turn our eyes to textual traditions, meet with others to share in our humanity, or hold space for reflection, revelation is bound to happen. Last night, was no exception. Our Keeping It Sacred community studied together all night long and delved deep into our tradition's wisdom, exploring the themes of tenacity, perseverance, resilience, and persistence. We shared how we have exhibited grit this past year, and wisdom about what has been the source of our strength. Music, community, friends, family, prayerful meditation, nature walks, the stories of our people, self care, and the Keeping It Sacred community ranked among the top sources of strength-- definitely worth celebrating.

Truly, together, we’re #keepingitsacred...

Rabbi Heather Miller, 

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

KITS SURVEY!

Several survey participants have actually THANKED US for putting together this survey which spurs introspection about where you want to go in your spiritual life, and how Keeping It Sacred might help you get there. SO we are going to hold this survey open for one more week. Please take a moment to share your thoughts by Monday, May 24.

You are helping to build the Keeping It Sacred (KITS) community, and we want to hear from you-- what are our strengths, what are are weaknesses? What would you love to see? How are we keeping the sacred at the center?

This practice of a cheshbon hanefesh-- an annual accounting of ourselves-- will help to direct our work in the coming year. Your answers to these 18 questions bring our future to life! Please take a moment to fill out the survey attached HERE. Many thanks to those who have completed the survey already-- the time you dedicated will help shape our future!

FINAL TWO ACCESS JUDAISM CLASSES

Please join Rabbi Miller and a beautiful collection of people who are exploring Jewish learning through the inaugural experience of the Keeping It Sacred Signature Program: Access Judaism.

Participants have shared:

"It was such a great group. It was an amazing start to my day. Looking forward to next week."

"It was a pleasure to study with you today. Reading and listening to others' views and understanding of God brings into light my perception of God."

"It was a wonderful class and it seems like it can only get better as we share and learn more about each other." 

"It’s exhilarating."

To register, please click on the images above, or the button below.

PRAYERS THAT EVOKE LOVE OF HUMANITY

On Thursday, our Weekly Healing Circle took some time to reflect upon all that we were experiencing and feeling in our souls with regard to the recent increase in violence in the Holy Land. Participants remarked that it was soul settling to have a place of deep relationship to explore the various perspectives of our KITS members. Rabbi Miller wrote a prayer for this occasion, inspired by her time at the Museum on the Seam, shared here: 

On Olives

By Rabbi Heather Miller

There was an olive branch

in the beak of the dove that returned to

Noah’s ark.

A sign of peace.

A sign of calm.

A sign that the devastation and annihilation of everyone

and everything

would be over.

The rainbow emerged and the

sacred covenant

between God and humanity

would once again be established.

There is an olive tree.

In front of a small museum

on the border of communities in East Jerusalem.

Behind it

the walls of the building are pock-marked

with bullet holes and

chipped stone that shrapnel from warfare

stole from its face.

“Olive trees will be our borders,”

so says the neon sign hanging along the balcony

from the second story.

But again just outside

across the street tonight

families are being evicted from their homes.

Above its roof, rockets that would

rain down on quiet neighborhoods

explode

lighting up the night sky.

If they would all just stop we might yet

see the dove return.

---

Joyce Swaving, of St. George's Episcopal Church, shared that Rabbi Heather Miller's poem "Bound Up" was shared at the Lamentations & Racial Justice Vigil held in Irvine, CA in April. She reflected, "Bound Up was such a lovely poem to have been read at the vigil because of its message of how humanity is bound together in shared pain and grief alongside our strength and ability to love." The words of the poem can be found here:

Bound up

One day, 

we are told in the Jewish tradition,

that we will be bound up

in the bonds of everlasting life

tied to our Creator,

the ineffable, the Eternal,

God of All.

But until then, what are we?

Freely floating through existence?

No, we choose to be bound up 

in the bonds of our 

shared humanity. 

We belong to one another.

We join together today

to declare

that I am bound to you

my ability to flourish

is tied up in your ability to flourish.

At times:

Together,

we may be bound by bandages from piercing wounds,

aching from the pain we share.

Together,

we may be bound by the kind of clothes mourner's wear,

hunched over by the weight of our grief.

But,

we work together to be bound

in the regal robes of dignity and self-actualization,

crowns of intellect and vigor shining on top of our heads,

full of light and joy.

However we are bound,

we are bound by love.

And the shared humanity

that we recognize in one another.

May our bonds ever strengthen us in life.

Amen.

INTERNATIONAL OCD FOUNDATION

Rabbi Miller is a big advocate for mental health treatment. And so the International OCD Foundation asked that she participate in this important awareness-raising video about the ways that mental and spiritual health can work in tandem with one another for a more holistic approach to wellness. View the video HERE:

ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW

Keeping It Sacred's Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression, and what we can and should do about it-- from a Jewish lens.

Understanding the way racial injustice works is the first step in remedying the problems, taking us one step closer toward a world affirming of all. Let’s make 2021 a year of actively remedying racial injustice, a year of Tikkun Olam/repair of the world.

Schedule:

13th movie by DuVernay (IYYAR) Monday, 4/12, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET

Caste by Wilkerson (TAMMUZ) Thursday, 6/10, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET

How to be an Antiracist by Kendi (ELUL) Sunday, 8/8, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET

The Color of Love by Gad (CHESHVAN) Thursday, 10/7, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET

N**** Theory by Armour (TEVET) Sunday, 12/5, 3pm PT/ 6pm ET

If you have further questions, or to introduce yourself, please don't hesitate to reach out 

to Rabbi Miller: rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com To sign up, click HERE. 

SAVE THE DATES FOR PRIDE MONTH!

June 1 at 5pm, Rabbi Miller will kickoff PRIDE Month by being featured on the Raising the Vibration of the LGBTQIP2SAA Community Radio Show. Stay tuned for information on how to TUNE IN!

June 4 at 5:30pm, Rabbi Miller will participate on a panel for the non-profit organization called The Lavender Effect on Faith and the Queer Community. Stay tuned for information to register for this zoom experience! 

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 89 members strong from 21 different states and 4 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. 

To join and of these gatherings, please 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.

Why is the democratization of Talmud Study so important? View Rabbi Miller's lecture (delivered to Temple Israel of South Africa) HERE.

WOMEN'S RABBINIC NETWORK CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

CHAGALL AND THE BIBLE

Tuesday, June 8 at 12pm PT/ 3pm ET, Enjoy this Guest Lecture by Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Director, Dr. Bernard Heller Museum, HUC-JIR/New York. Marc Chagall was profoundly inspired by the Bible throughout his career, producing biblical works in a broad array of mediums, including paintings, etchings, sculptures, mosaics, tapestries, stained-glass windows, ceramics, and stage set designs. Discover how memories of his youth in Bitebsk, his 1931 visit to Palestine, the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust, his personal religiosity, and his admiration for the old masters informed his imagination to create uniquely modern visual interpretations of the core text of the Jewish people. Special discussion to follow. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Register at: huc.edu/HUCConnect and to get the link to the discussion afterwards, be sure to cite Keeping It Sacred as the Synagogue/Organization.

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 WEDNESDAY: BLACK POWER

One of the bright lights of the Black Lives Matter movement, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State Los Angeles, will offer an in-depth 8-week course dedicated to shifting power, privilege, and influence to support freedom for Black people. This course is run by SVP, but Rabbi Miller and others from Keeping It Sacred are enrolled, so please join us! Register 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.  

2021: ACCESS JUDAISM: ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES SESSION 2!

Please save the dates for accessible, relevant, and empowering Jewish learning! Classes will be held at 10am PT/1pm ET via zoom. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

4/11 The Intelligent Design of the Prayerbook

COMPLETED

4/18 Reform Renovations of the Prayerbook

COMPLETED

4/25 Rituals as Markers of Transition

COMPLETED

5/2 The Characteristics of a Good Jew

COMPLETED 

5/9 Slam Poetry in the Golden Age

COMPLETED

5/16 Bad Theology: Terrible Explanations of Why the Righteous Suffer

COMPLETED

5/23 Siblings or Cousins?: Jews and Christians in the First Century

Did Christianity spring forth from Judaism? Or did contemporary Judaism and Christianity emerge together? Learn the roots of both and you decide: Siblings or Cousins or parent/child? We'll make proto-Rabbinic Judaism fun and accessible! 

5/30 Before You Die Consider these Rabbinic Thoughts

What are the most important things to think about in life? What will we be held accountable for later? How can we live the best life possible? Learn from the wisdom that was shaped over millenia in the Jewish tradition. 

Please see keepingitsacred.com/accessjudaism and register for, one class, one session, or the whole program HERE. These classes are free with suggested donation of $25/class, $180/session, $300 for the entire program; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All are welcome!

*6/1 RAISING THE VIBRATION RADIO SHOW

June 1 at 5pm, Rabbi Miller will kickoff PRIDE Month by being featured on the Raising the Vibration of the LGBTQIP2SAA Community Radio Show. Stay tuned for information on how to TUNE IN!

*6/4 THE LAVENDER EFFECT PANEL ON FAITH

June 4 at 5:30pm, Rabbi Miller will participate on a panel for the non-profit organization called The Lavender Effect on Faith and the Queer Community. Stay tuned for information to register for this zoom experience! 

6/6 WRN JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Sunday, June 6 at 2:30pm PT/ 5:30pm ET, Join the Women's Rabbinic Network and Rabbi Miller, who proudly serves on the Executive Board, to celebrate 50 years of women in the rabbinate! This part of the biannual convention, usually reserved for the 700+ Reform women rabbis around the world in the WRN membership, will be open to the public to enjoy. It will be held Sunday, June 6 at 2:30pm PT/ 5:30pm ET. If you'd like to attend, you may register here. 

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEBREW UNION COLLEGE: CONNECT

6/8 Chagall and the Bible

Tuesday, June 8 at 3pm PT/ 6pm ET, Enjoy this Guest Lecture by Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Director, Dr. Bernard Heller Museum, HUC-JIR/New York. Marc Chagall was profoundly inspired by the Bible throughout his career, producing biblical works in a broad array of mediums, including paintings, etchings, sculptures, mosaics, tapestries, stained-glass windows, ceramics, and stage set designs. Discover how memories of his youth in Bitebsk, his 1931 visit to Palestine, the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust, his personal religiosity, and his admiration for the old masters informed his imagination to create uniquely modern visual interpretations of the core text of the Jewish people. Special discussion to follow. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Register at: huc.edu/HUCConnect and to get the link to the discussion afterwards, be sure to cite Keeping It Sacred as the Synagogue/Organization.

ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE REVIEW SERIES:

6/10 Caste

Thursday, 6/10 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Isabel Wilkerson's powerful book, Caste. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read Caste on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

8/8 How to Be An Antiracist

Sunday, 8/8 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Ibram X. Kendi's powerful book, How to Be An Antiracist. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read How to Be An Antiracist on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

10/7 The Color of Love

Thursday, 10/7 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Marra Gad's powerful book, The Color of Love. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read The Color of Love on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1

12/5 N**** Theory

Sunday, 12/5 at 3pm PT/6pm ET, join us as we discuss Jody Armour's powerful book, N**** Theory. The Rosh Chodesh Racial Justice Review will provide structured space to explore the nature of systemic racism from top thinkers, and help us to reflect upon the ways we participate in, and are impacted by systems of oppression. Please read N**** Theory on your own, and come ready to discuss. Register for the discussion, facilitated by Rabbi Miller, at 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 sign up, too!

If you’d like to make sure that this kind of quality programming by

Keeping It Sacred continues, please consider making a donation via:

keepingitsacred.com/our-future

Thank you for #keepingitsacred...