Newsletter May 31, 2021 Together, we're #keepingitsacred... |
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Each one of us is a hyphenated beauty! Today is the final day of May which is both Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage and Jewish Heritage month. Tomorrow is June which begins the celebration of the LGBT community, PRIDE month. This coming weekend, we celebrate the Women's Rabbinic Network Jubilee milestone of 50 years of women in the rabbinate. And, mid-month, we celebrate the final emancipation of slavery on Juneteenth. As a community, we honor these special times honoring various identities because taken together, they inform our Judaism. That's right, Judaism is and has always been multidimensional. Jewish people have always been much more than a "flat Stanley" monolith. And we are richer for it! This is like the phrase from the Midrash Rabbah that says, "Torah has 70 faces." There are so many ways to look at and learn Torah. I am continually grateful for this beautifully textured community of varied backgrounds and perspectives. And more, I am grateful for community members who hold precious space for their own viewpoints, and one another's. Here, at Keeping It Sacred we celebrate it all! Together, we’re #keepingitsacred... Rabbi Heather Miller, Founder, Keeping It Sacred |
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The Survey Results have been reviewed, but your feedback is always welcome! Our community keenly understands what it means to keep it sacred. Here's what you shared: Keeping It Sacred means… …finding time to learn, pray, feel comfort, and be inspired. …looking for spiritual meaning in today’s world. …making sure I preserve and perpetuate the ideas, feelings, beliefs, relationships, family and traditions that I cherish. …taking time to mark, celebrate, and take note of even the most basic of things. …connecting with the larger meaning of things, of seeing something bigger than ourselves in our lives. …any action or discussion that elevates the human condition. …a contentment in my soul. …my rabbi, amazing programming, community eager to learn and full of genuine people. Folks are eager to learn mussar/Jewish values and how to increase decency in the world, and more about gender in Judaism. Sunday mornings and Thursday mornings are still by far and away the most useful times for folks, and Wednesday nights for west coasters. So, stay tuned for more programming in the year ahead on these topics and during these times! And, it was clear that gathering in community has provided deep meaning and value to those who were able to participate. We have proven that forging deep bonds of community, serious text study, and meaningful ritual can happen across various time zones and over zoom. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and built this community together with us-- whether by your presence, financial support, or both. We are looking forward to the year ahead! |
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A WARM WELCOME TO JUDAISM |
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As you may know, Erin, Matthew and Alex recently were brought before a beit din to affirm their Jewish commitments. They will soon immerse in a mikveh to complete their entrance into the Jewish people. The entire Keeping It Sacred community is welcome to celebrate their entrance to Jewish peoplehood on June 27 at 10am PT/1pm ET on zoom. Their cousin, Marcia will share some special words. Please RSVP HERE. |
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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. |
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SAVE THE DATES FOR PRIDE MONTH! |
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Thursday, June 3, at 5:30pm PT, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) will honor the 2021 Giants of Justice. The advocates who are honored for lighting the way for justice in the Greater LA area this year are truly phenomenal movers and shakers and include Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, who organizes with Clergy 4 Black Lives, of which our own Rabbi Heather Miller is a proud member. Rabbi Miller also was named a Giant of Justice by CLUE back in 2018-- hear her inspiring acceptance speech HERE. And be sure to register for the 2021 CLUE Giants of Justice Awards HERE. |
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STANDING AGAINST ANTISEMITISM |
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There has been a surge in antisemitism in the United States and around the world. This hate is unacceptable, and inaction is inexcusable. During the Day of Action Against Antisemitism virtual rally, we heard from prominent government officials, leaders from the Jewish community and civil rights organizations, among others, and demanded action. Keeping It Sacred is proud to partner with the CCAR, the URJ, the USCJ, the RA, Reconstructing Judaism, the RRA, and other organizations to amplify our voices and continue to raise awareness around the surge in antisemitism. #ActAgainstAntisemitism |
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HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY EVERY THURSDAY |
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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. |
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Rabbi Miller proudly serves on the Executive Board of the Women's Rabbinic Network. This year, 2021, marks 50 years since the ordination of Rabbi Sally Priesand, the first woman rabbi in the American Reform Movement, and wow will we celebrate! Please join us for the Jubilee 50th Year Celebration! It will be held Sunday, June 6 at 2:30pm PT/ 5:30pm ET. If you'd like to attend, you may pre-register here. |
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PLUS: If you'd like to purchase some swag, like the T-shirt Rabbi Miller is wearing in the photo here ----> please click below. Thank you for your support of the WRN! | | |
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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. |
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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. 6/1 RAISING THE VIBRATION RADIO SHOW TOMORROW, 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! 6/3 CLUE GIANTS OF JUSTICE Thursday, June 3, at 5:30pm PT, join Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) for the 2021 Giants of Justice awards. The advocates who are honored for lighting the way for justice in the Greater LA area this year are truly phenomenal movers and shakers Register for the 2021 CLUE Giants of Justice Awards HERE. 6/4 THE LAVENDER EFFECT PANEL ON FAITH Friday, 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. *6/27 WARM WELCOME TO JUDAISM 6/27 Sunday at 10am PT/1pm ET, join us as we give a warm welcome to Judaism to our KITS members Erin, Matthew, and Alex. Their cousin, KITS member Marcia, will share special words, too. RSVP at keepingitsacred.com/upcoming-1 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... |
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We'd love for you to forward this to a friend to invite them to sign up, too! |
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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... |
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