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Hello Everyone!

This weekend we will be celebrating Veterans Day. Despite being a small part of the population, Jewish citizens of the United States have consistently played a key role in the nation’s military.  Benjamin Levy, Benjamin Kaufman, Isadore Jachman and John Letvitow have all won the Medal of Honor. Uriah P. Levy became the first Jewish naval commander in the United States navy while serving with distinction in the War of 1812. Colonel Aaron Bank founded the elite force the Green Berets. Major General Maurice Rose, who commanded the 3rd Armored Division in World War II, was one of the highest ranked Jewish officers in the army. Today, thousands of Jewish servicemen continue to serve in the armed forces. At the same time, in our reflections on their service, we also need to remember the challenges veterans potentially still face in their daily lives, including homelessness, PTSD, and other issues. Some are also haunted by what they witnessed on battlefields around the world, including unspeakable atrocities. So while holidays like Veterans Day are times for celebration, they are also times for reflection. This weekend, let us be grateful for all that veterans have done for us all. 

  As a reminder, our next Shabbat Evening Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney will take place this Friday, November 15, at 7:30 PM. Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM. TBH’s Movie Night, featuring The Princess Bride is this Saturday, November 9th at 4 PM.

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

And L’shanah Tova!  It was wonderful to see everyone at our Rosh Hashanah services and look forward to our Yom Kippur services this weekend.  We wanted to give our thanks to Rabbi Dean for leading our service for the final time and a special thanks to Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller for her assistance in the service as well.  And sadly, while we are observing these holy days, we have also marked the one year anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas against Israel.  That day will forever be etched in our minds and our grief remains ever present for those who lost loved ones or are still waiting for the return home of their loved ones.  Incredibly, the conflict continues to rage even a year later with no end in sight with ever higher levels of suffering.  Yet we cannot forget one of the key features of Yom Kippur: atoning for our sins and starting the new year with a clean slate.  Inherent in that theme is the message of hope; that we have the chance to restart.  Let us then hope and pray that this upcoming year will be a time of renewal, healing, and possibility. 

And as a reminder, our Yom Kippur services will begin with Kol Nidre on Friday, October 11, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The main morning service will be held on Saturday, October 12, starting at 10:00 a.m. along with various services throughout the day.  Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM.  Our next Shabbat Evening Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney will be on Friday, October 18, at 7:30 PM. 

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

L’Shanah Tova!  Starting this week we will observe the traditions that have sustained the Jewish community for thousands of years. As we celebrate the start of 5785, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the symbolism inherent in the observance of Rosh Hashanah. Specifically, when we sit down with our families for the seder on Erev Rosh Hashanah, every course provides a guidepost for the goals of this holiday. We are all aware of eating apples in honey to wish us a sweet new year but there is so much deeper meaning. We eat a circular challah to represent the cycle of life and the circularity of time. The pomegranate connects us to the 613 commandments in the Torah that we yearn to fulfill. Beets are included because the Hebrew word “Salak” means to depart, as we wish our enemies to do. Squash is included because its Hebrew word “Kera” means to rip apart or tear, as we wish to tear up negative judgements.  Even the apple itself has a deeper meaning because it has the same numeric value as “seh akeida”, meaning “the lamb of the binding”, relating the story of the near sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham in the hopes that the lessons of that legend will inspire us in the future. This year, as we gather around the dinner table, look for the not-so-hidden meanings in the food all around us to promote ever greater awe for this remarkable holiday. 

 Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM. Our next Shabbat Evening Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney will be on Friday, October 4, at 7:30 PM. And Finally, we look forward to seeing you all for Kol Nidre on Friday, October 11th at 7:00 PM, and Yom Kippur services, starting at 10:00 AM.

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

And Shanah Tova!  Next week we will begin our tradition of High Holy Day observances and celebrations.  For the next month, we will celebrate the new year, observe the Day of Atonement, put up a Sukkah, and roll the Torah back to its starting place.  At this joyous yet solemn time of year, it is a great time to reflect on one of the key themes of all these holidays: renewal.  Starting next week, our congregation at Temple Beth Hillel, along with communities all over the world, will welcome in the new year with Rosh Hashana services.  A new year brings new opportunities, new adventures, new challenges, and new commitments.  We all know we will face both highs and lows this upcoming year but Rosh Hashana allows us to re-center ourselves, reflect on all we have accomplished and endured in the past year, and consider all that we will experience in the coming year.  The best part, of course, is that we will not face these experiences alone.  Our families, fellow congregants, and friends will all be there with us as we make that journey.

For those who wish to attend our High Holy Day services, please fill out the registration forms and return them to Brandy in the Temple office. Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM.  We would also like to invite all our families to the first Family Shabbat service on Saturday, September 28, beginning at 5:00 p.m., right before the Selichot service.  And finally, our next Shabbat Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney will take place on Friday, October 4, at 7:30 PM, 

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

We want to thank all the volunteers who helped out at our booth in the Solano Stroll this past Sunday. We had a lot of interest in our synagogue, including spins of the fortune wheel and requests for information about our congregation and the upcoming High Holy Days. Thanks to all of your efforts, we have gotten the word out to even more people about our community and hopefully we will see TBH grow even more in the near future. 

As we get closer to the start of the High Holy Days, we wanted to take a moment and appreciate how fortunate we all are to live where we do. This week the United States will be celebrating Constitution Day to commemorate the announcement of a brand new constitution in 1787. Though we might take it for granted today, the Constitution written centuries ago had never been seen before or attempted before at that time. Most countries and empires had monarchs, dictators, oligarchs, etc. where most people had no say in government (Britain had and continues to have an unwritten constitution). The United States was the first nation in the modern era that attempted a written constitution to guide its future. One of the key features of that constitution was the lack of a state church. The authors specifically wrote that no religion would take precedence and no religious test would be required to hold federal office (though the states could have a state religion and require a religious test for state office). This kind of religious freedom was almost unheard of in the 18th century and allowed religious minorities, including Jews, the opportunity for citizenship, voting, officeholding, and participation in the affairs of state. As a result, many Jewish men and women have served in government for the last two centuries and will continue to do so. This upcoming Constitution Day, let us celebrate the possibilities and opportunities granted to our faith and many others.

Our Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM.  Religious School will also restart on September 15th at 9:30 AM.  And finally, our next Shabbat Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney is on Friday, September 20th, at 7:30 PM, 

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

We want to thank all the volunteers who helped out at our booth in the Solano Stroll this past Sunday. We had a lot of interest in our synagogue, including spins of the fortune wheel and requests for information about our congregation and the upcoming High Holy Days. Thanks to all of your efforts, we have gotten the word out to even more people about our community and hopefully we will see TBH grow even more in the near future.

 As we get closer to the start of the High Holy Days, we wanted to take a moment and appreciate how fortunate we all are to live where we do. This week the United States will be celebrating Constitution Day to commemorate the announcement of a brand new constitution in 1787. Though we might take it for granted today, the Constitution written centuries ago had never been seen before or attempted before at that time. Most countries and empires had monarchs, dictators, oligarchs, etc. where most people had no say in government (Britain had and continues to have an unwritten constitution). The United States was the first nation in the modern era that attempted a written constitution to guide its future. One of the key features of that constitution was the lack of a state church. The authors specifically wrote that no religion would take precedence and no religious test would be required to hold federal office (though the states could have a state religion and require a religious test for state office). This kind of religious freedom was almost unheard of in the 18th century and allowed religious minorities, including Jews, the opportunity for citizenship, voting, officeholding, and participation in the affairs of state. As a result, many Jewish men and women have served in government for the last two centuries and will continue to do so. This upcoming Constitution Day, let us celebrate the possibilities and opportunities granted to our faith and many others.

Our Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM.  Religious School will also restart on September 15th at 9:30 AM.  And finally, our next Shabbat Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney is on Friday, September 20th, at 7:30 PM, 

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

As we look ahead toward September, we will soon be celebrating the secular holiday of Labor Day. Although we often just think of this holiday as a great excuse to have a three day weekend, it in fact symbolizes a critical milestone for ordinary workers across the world. Back in the nineteenth century, one of the key demands workers fought for in labor strikes, and often suffered tremendous harassment doing so, was the establishment of the 8 hour work day. Most workers at the time (including children) had to work anywhere from 12-16 hours every day, with some workers even pulling a 24 hour shift on occasion. This allowed barely any time for the other necessities of life so the rally cry among workers was “8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, 8 hours for what you will.” This call for a balance between work and rest echoes directly to the concept of Shabbat, when we set aside at least one day of the week aside for rest, prayer, meditation, etc. It allows us to recharge our metaphorical batteries and prepare for the upcoming week. In the 21st century, we now have this opportunity not just on Shabbat but every day, thanks to the collective efforts of workers to make their lives more manageable and productive. This Labor Day, let us all be grateful for the benefits we enjoy in the workplace (and those that still need to be enacted).  

 In other news, our Religious School started up again this past Sunday and it went very well.  The kids are excited for all the projects and field trips they will be taking this year. Please continue to spread the word about our amazing program!

And don’t forget to mark your calendars for September 8th, when we will be hosting a booth at the Solano Stroll in Albany and Berkeley. We and the rest of the Board and the Religious School families will be volunteering to help spread the word about our wonderful community. We encourage all members who are able to do so as well! Larry will be sending out sign-up sheets as we get closer to the event.

Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM. And finally, our next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, September 6, at 7:30 PM, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney. 

Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

And it has begun!  West Contra Costa started the school year this week and we’re sure all the kids are excited (and nervous) about starting the new year!  We would love to see pictures of all the kids’ first day and share them among the community.  And of course, there will be plenty of pictures come Sunday when the Religious School starts its new year as well!  Everyone in the community is welcome to attend the first Religious School Tefillah Service on August 25 at 9:30 a.m.  We would love to see you there!

Now that another school year has started, it reminds us about the potential for changing routines.  Of course, routines give us comfort and stability, allowing us to anticipate the future from day to day.  Yet those same routines can limit our vision for what is possible.  Few understand this better than our kids, who move into a new grade in school each year (and sometimes even a new school) and constantly adapt their own routines to those changes in their lives.  Adults can do the same, even if it means simply trying a different coffee shop, or checking the headlines from a different newspaper, or not checking our phones before going to sleep.  Subtle shifts in routine opens the door for new ways to run our lives and redefine what it means to have comfort and stability.  It rarely hurts to experiment.     

And as we mentioned, In one of our own transitions, our Religious School will be starting again on August 25, less than a week away.  The teachers and staff are preparing to welcome the kids back to school and we deeply appreciate all of the hard work our intrepid volunteers contributed to get the classrooms and grounds ready.

On September 8th Temple Beth Hillel will be hosting a booth at the Solano Stroll in Albany and Berkeley.  We and the rest of the Board will be volunteering to help spread the word about our wonderful community, and we encourage all members who are able to do so as well.  Larry will be sending out sign-up sheets as we get closer to the event.

The Rabbi Search Committee continues in its efforts to search for a new rabbi for next year.  We will start submitting announcements and accepting job applications later this year, with interviews scheduled for the fall and winter.  The Board now plans to have a new rabbi selected by the spring of 2025, just before Rabbi Dean’s retirement.  We will provide more updates as we start to hear from our candidates.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, September 6, at 7:30 p.m., hosted by Rabbi and Cantor Marney.  Family shabbats will resume in the middle of September.  Torah Study will take place Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom. And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services once the kids come back for their classes in August.   Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

First of all, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who came to assist in getting our Religious School classrooms ready for the new school year.  They helped install new smoke detectors, spread new mulch on the grounds, and cleaned up the classrooms and hallways.  And we also wanted to extend our gratitude to Jane Kemp and Michael for putting on the recent Movie night.  We had a great turnout and thoroughly enjoyed the exploits of Young Frankenstein.

As we head further into August, we can reflect on this time of year that is full of contrasts in the same month.  We of course all know about the contrast between summer vacation and the start of school for our kids but other contrasts abound seemingly everywhere.  At the beginning of the month we can walk outside at 9:00 at night and still see the daylight sky but by the end of the month that same time of night will show darkness.  Out in the fields, many crops are just beginning to mature at the beginning of the month and ready to be picked by the end.  And here in the Bay Area, on the coast we can feel like it is winter with temperatures in the 50s in the morning but drive just 10 miles further east and the full heat of summer becomes readily apparent.  The unusual month of August, therefore, reminds that much can change in a short period of time or over a short distance.  What we started with at the beginning can transform dramatically by the end.    

In one of our own transitions, our Religious School will be starting again on August 25, less than two weeks away.  The teachers and staff are preparing to welcome the kids back to school and we deeply appreciate all of the hard work our intrepid volunteers contributed to get the classrooms and grounds ready.

On September 8th Temple Beth Hillel will be hosting a booth at the Solano Stroll in Albany and Berkeley.  We and the rest of the Board will be volunteering to help spread the word about our wonderful community, and we encourage all members who are able to do so as well.  Larry will be sending out sign-up sheets as we get closer to the event.

The Rabbi Search Committee continues in its efforts to search for a new rabbi for next year.  We will start submitting announcements and accepting job applications later this year, with interviews scheduled for the fall and winter.  The Board now plans to have a new rabbi selected by the spring of 2025, just before Rabbi Dean’s retirement.  We will provide more updates as we start to hear from our candidates.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by Jane Durango and Cantor Marney.  Family shabbats will resume in September.  Torah Study will take place Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom. And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services once the kids come back for their classes in August.   Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

       First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who came to the Jewish Heritage Night this past weekend at the Coliseum.  Even though the A’s ended up losing, it was still an exciting game and will be remembered as the final Jewish Heritage Night at the Coliseum in Oakland.  

Incredibly, August has arrived and that means it is time to think about the end of vacation trips and the beginning of school for our little ones.  As we know, Judaism highly values education both as a means to understand Torah and as a basis for developing the next generation.  The very act of B’nai Mitzvah is not only reading from the Torah but engaging and understanding the text of the portion and what it means.  For that reason, it is always important for our community never to forget the importance of teachers, students, and support staff in all of our schools.  Just this week, one of the nominees for President underscored that importance because, even though she ultimately did not pick the Jewish governor of Pennsylvania, Kamala Harris did select as her VP nominee the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, who happens to be a former public school teacher.  Education can never be taken for granted.  Therefore, this year, when school begins, we can all make a pledge to go the extra mile for our children’s teachers and their classrooms by providing as many of the supplies they requested as possible.  The well educated youth of today is the productive generation of tomorrow.   

On a related note, our Religious School will be starting again on August 25, just a few short weeks away.  The teachers and staff are preparing to welcome the kids back to school and we are in need of volunteers to help get the classrooms ready.  Accordingly, this Sunday, August 11, we will be hosting another volunteer classroom readiness event.  Please come and assist the teachers in making the opening of Religious School for the coming year an unforgettable experience for the Religious School families!  Equally important, the previous day, August 10, TBH will be hosting a movie night at 4:00 p.m.  We will be showing “Young Frankenstein” with insightful commentary from our own Michael Cohen.  There will also be pizza and snacks for everyone who attends.  Please contact Jane Kemp to RSVP.

Also, on September 8th Temple Beth Hillel will be hosting a booth at the Solano Stroll in Albany and Berkeley.  We and the rest of the Board will be volunteering to help spread the word about our wonderful community, and we encourage all members who are able to do so as well.  Larry will be sending out sign-up sheets as we get closer to the event.

The Rabbi Search Committee continues in its efforts to search for a new rabbi for next year.  We will start submitting announcements and accepting job applications later this year, with interviews scheduled for the fall and winter.  The Board now plans to have a new rabbi selected by the spring of 2025, just before Rabbi Dean’s retirement.  We will provide more updates as we start to hear from our candidates.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  Family shabbats will resume in September.  Torah Study will take place Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom. And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services once the kids come back for their classes in August.   Thank you everyone! 

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel