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L’Shana Tova Everyone!

And so another successful High Holidays draws to a close here at Temple Beth Hillel.  We would like to give a special thanks to all the people who made it happen, including Rabbi Dean, Cantor Marney, the Ritual Committee, Jane Durango for helping organize the Break Fast, those who have made donations for our High Holiday Appeal and Food for Thought, and many others.  We also extend a warm welcome to all our new members along with visitors who came to our amazing temple for the first time.  With all of your efforts, we will have many more stirring High Holidays to come.

And now it is time for the Holiday Rush.  The passing of the autumnal equinox generally indicates we are right in the middle of a slew of holidays in the Jewish calendar, including the recent High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and now, Sukkot and Simchat Torah.  Each one represents a critical period in Jewish history and/or keeping our ancient rituals alive through prayer, fasting, feasting and Torah study.  The fact that all four of them happen so close together symbolizes how great joy can be combined with great contemplation and reflection to create a holistic experience for Jewish communities around the world.  In that sense, autumn can claim to be the most important season of them all.  So let us enjoy the balmy days of autumn and the many colors of nature before the calendar gives way to winter (or wildfire season).

Looking ahead, this coming Sunday on October 1, we invite all congregants to attend the Urban Tilth lecture and Sukkot gathering in the Temple’s own sukkah at 2:00 p.m. (and a huge thank you to all those who helped put up the sukkah this past Sunday!)  For those who don’t know, Urban Tilth is a Richmond non-profit whose mission is: to inspire, hire, and train local residents to cultivate agriculture, feed our community, and restore relationships to land to build a more sustainable food system, within a just and healthier community. The work Urban Tilth is doing in Richmond is a perfect topic for Sukkot, our fall harvest festival! So plan to socialize, fulfill the mitzvah of the four species (shake the lulav and etrog), enjoy some snacks and drinks, and learn!  

And for those who wish to make a difference in our own community, we highly encourage you to consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  And as we have discovered, serving on the Board makes us appreciate how much Temple Beth Hillel means to us and our children.  In addition, we would like to thank all those who have made donations for our High Holiday project of replacing the window coverings in the sanctuary.  And for those who wish to volunteer for Food for Thought this year, there is a sign up sheet in the main hallway.   

Finally, our regular services will continue through the rest of the year.  Our next regular Shabbat Service will take place on Friday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m.  Torah Study will continue every Saturday at 10:15 p.m.  And of course, our wonderful Religious School has restarted and we encourage everyone to come to our Tefillah services every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  Lastly, the next Family Shabbat service will be held on Friday, October 20, at 6:15 p.m. just before our regular Shabbat service.  Please help spread the word.  We’ll see y’all in our sukkah on Sunday!  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

L’Shana Tova Everyone!

It was so wonderful to see everyone at our Rosh Hashana services this past weekend.  Somehow it seems even more special when we are able to witness the new year alongside Shabbat.  A special thank you to Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney for leading our services along with everyone who helped put together the social gathering in the courtyard after the service.  And soon we will reach the next important event in our calendar: Yom Kippur.  This holiday always seems so hard because we have to abstain from food and drink for an entire day.  Nevertheless, there is something quite profound in the exercise because, at least in one interpretation, the reason for this abstention is because on the Day of Atonement we can be so engaged in the study of Torah that an entire day passes without even thinking about eating and drinking.  This week, take a moment to think about a time in your life when you were so engrossed in an activity hours flew by like minutes.  That kind of engagement brings pure joy and contemplation, which is at least partly what Yom Kippur is all about.  

Looking ahead,  the High Holiday services will continue with our Yom Kippur services starting next week.  Kol Nidre services will be on Sunday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. and Yom Kippur morning services will occur on Monday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m., with afternoon services beginning at 4:30 p.m. and Yizkor services at 6:30 p.m.  We hope to see everyone there.  And the following week on October 1, we invite all congregants to attend the Urban Tilth lecture at 2:00 p.m. We can use some assistanceassist in putting up our Sukkah in the morning. Please join us at 10:00 AM to help.   Perhaps we can set a new record this year!

And for those who wish to make a difference in our own community, we highly encourage you to consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  And as we have discovered, serving on the Board makes us appreciate how much Temple Beth Hillel means to us and our children.  In addition, we would like to thank all those who have made donations for our High Holiday project of replacing the window coverings in the sanctuary.  And for those who wish to volunteer for Food for Thought this year, there is a sign up sheet in the main hallway.   

Finally, our regular services will continue through the rest of the year.  Our next regular Shabbat Service will take place on Friday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m.  Torah Study will continue every Saturday at 10:15 p.m.  And of course, our wonderful Religious School will be restarting on September 24 every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  Lastly, the Family Shabbat service will be held on Friday, September 22.  Please help spread the word.  We’ll see y’all at the High Holiday Services!  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

L’Shana Tova Everyone!

First of all, we wanted to thank all of our volunteers who helped out at our booth in the Solano Stroll this past Sunday.  We had a lot of interest in our booth, 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.  We also wanted to thank Rabbi Dean for leading our Slichot Potluck this past Friday.

It is also that wonderful time of year when the High Holy Days are upon us again.  Starting this Friday evening we will be welcoming in a new year through Rosh Hashana and continuing through the reflections of the Day of Atonement.  There will be apples, honey, round challahs, sumptuous meals, and plenty of family time for all.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone at services.  And along with being one of the most important holidays of the year, Rosh Hashana is also a great time to think about what it means for us to be Jewish.  Does being Jewish mean simply attending the High Holidays once a year in synagogue?  Or observing Shabbat each week?  Or performing mitzvahs?  Or volunteering time to assist those in need?  Or engaging in Torah Study?  All of these activities, or a combination of them, can all solidify our identities as Jews.  This holiday season, consider what actions or beliefs form your Jewish identity and express them with pride.  When we all bring those actions and/or beliefs together, we create the Jewish communities we all know and love.     

And for those who wish to make a difference in our own community, we highly encourage you to consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year.  Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision.  And as we have discovered, serving on the Board makes us appreciate how much Temple Beth Hillel means to us and our children. 

Looking ahead,  the High Holiday services will be taking place between September 15 and September 25.  Erev Rosh Hashanah Services will begin on Friday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Rosh Hashanah Morning Services will be on Saturday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m, and all are invited to a small reception out in the courtyard following the service at 1 pm.  The following week, Kol Nidre services will be on Sunday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. and Yom Kippur morning services will occur on Monday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m., with afternoon services beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Finally, our regular services will continue through the rest of the year.  Our next regular Shabbat Service after Rosh Hashana will take place on Friday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m.  Torah Study will continue every Saturday at 10:15 p.m.  And of course, our wonderful Religious School will be restarting on September 24 every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  Lastly, the Family Shabbat service will be held next week on Friday, September 22, so as not to interfere with Erev Rosh Hashana.  Please help spread the word.  We’ll see y’all at the High Holiday Services!  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

Happy September!  With the passing of Labor Day, we now enter the transition period between summer and autumn.  Traditionally, this means the weather will start to get cooler, the leaves start falling from the trees, students start to get settled in their new classrooms, and farmers all over the world will soon be bringing in the harvest.  Yet here in California we get to break some of those stereotypes.  Especially in Nor-Cal, the weather usually gets warmer as Indian Summer reaches our shores (and consequently a greater risk of wildfires, sad to say).  The leaves do fall from the trees but not to the same degree as on the East Coast.  And though most kids do get settled in their classrooms at this time, the climate in California means we look forward to harvests virtually all year round.  All this means that stereotypes do not always apply everywhere and our local conditions can guide our actions far more effectively.  Let us take pride in our diversity as we head toward the High Holidays.   

We are also pleased to announce that September also has so many great events for the Temple Beth Hillel community.  This upcoming Saturday, September 9th, there will be a Slichot Potluck Gathering and serviceat the Temple starting at 7:00 p.m.  The following day, September 10th, 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 has sent out the sign-up sheet and we hope to see everyone there.  Also, High Holiday services will be taking place between September 15 and September 25.  Erev Rosh Hashanah Services will begin on Friday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Rosh Hashanah Morning Services will be on Saturday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m, and all are invited to a small reception out in the courtyard following the service at 1 pm.  The following week, Kol Nidre services will be on Sunday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. and Yom Kippur morning services will occur on Monday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m., with afternoon services beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held at the same time as Erev Rosh Hashanah.  We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

First of all, we would like to thank everyone who attended the “Faeries of the Moonlight” play in Berkeley to show support for Mercedes Cohen.  It always feels so uplifting when a Temple member has a special event and everyone comes out to celebrate!  There will be more such events in the future so stay tuned!

And as we bid farewell to August and look forward to September, along with the High Holidays 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, when businessmen became ever more wealthy and powerful, workers were able to express themselves and call for change through the formation of labor unions.  In those early days, unions insisted on changes to the workplace that we often take for granted today, including a 2 day weekend, an 8 hour work day, the elimination of child labor, safety conditions in the workplace, workers compensation, pensions, and many other benefits.  They did not always succeed (in fact they rarely did before the 1930s) but union organizers and members kept up the fight through thick and thin to provide safer and better lives for hundreds of thousands of workers.  Jewish workers especially played a prominent role in this struggle, including such luminaries as cigar-maker Samuel Gompers, who helped form the American Federation of Labor, along with thousands of Jewish men and women who assisted in strikes, gave speeches, and looked out not only for their own communities but for the wider class of industrial workers.  This Labor Day, let us all be grateful for the benefits we enjoy in the workplace (and those that still need to be enacted) and the sacrifices made by Jewish and non-Jewish workers alike in bringing about those needed changes.   

In other news, on September 9th there will be a Slichot Potluck at the Temple starting at 7:00 p.m.  The following day, September 10th, 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 shortly and we hope to see everyone there.  Also, High Holiday services will be taking place between September 15 and September 25.  Erev Rosh Hashanah Services will begin on Friday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Rosh Hashanah Morning Services will be on Saturday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m.  The following week, Kol Nidre services will be on Sunday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. and Yom Kippur morning services will occur on Monday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m., with afternoon services beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, September 1, at 7:30 p.m., hosted by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

And we are off!  We would like to thank all of the members who joined us for our Tefillah service and First Day of Religious School Party this past Sunday.  It is always so nice to see the Religious School families and general membership interact (especially with pizza and cupcakes!)  And there will also be a great time for interaction this Saturday, August 26, when members are invited to see our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” at John Hinkle Park in Berkeley.  It starts at 4:00 p.m. but we will also have a carpool for those who need a ride that will meet at the Temple at 2:30 p.m.  We hope everyone will be able to join!

Events like these also remind us how important it is for communities to stick together.  With so much craziness happening in the world, including wildfires in Maui and even hurricanes drenching southern California(!), being able to rely on only ourselves or immediate families may not always be enough.  As we speak, contributions are pouring in to Hawaii to assist those affected by the wildfires while neighbors assisted each other in San Diego when flooding started.  We can all do our part as well.  We encourage everyone to make a donation to the relief funds in Maui and/or donate supplies to flooded communities in southern California.  The day will come when a freak weather event could hit the Bay Area and if/when it does, we will all be grateful knowing that communities around the country will readily assist our own.  The world works best and most effectively when it can cooperate rather than conflict.  Whether contributions are physical or symbolic, they all make the difference.

In other news,  as September is fast approaching we have many exciting events for our congregation.  On September 9th there will be a Slichot Potluck at the Temple starting at 7:00 p.m.  The following day, September 10th, 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.  Also, High Holiday services will be taking place between September 15 and September 25.  Erev Rosh Hashana Services will begin on Friday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Rosh Hashana Morning Services will be on Saturday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m.  The following week, Kol Nidre services will be on Sunday, September 24, at 7:00 p.m. and Yom Kippur morning services will occur on Monday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m., with afternoon services beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, September 1, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

And it has begun!  West Contra Costa started the school year this week and we’re sure all the kids are excited (and bummed) 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 20 at 9:30 a.m.  We would love to see you there!

Now that another school year has started, it reminds us about routines.  We all have our favorite routines, whether its a nice cup of coffee in the morning, a brisk job in the evening, retelling the day’s events around the dinner table, etc.  And of course for our community, celebrating Shabbat service every Friday!  At the same time, routines can be disrupted or changed, as when we shift from a summer schedule to a school schedule.  It can feel daunting at times but we can always remember that the new routine will eventually be as comfortable as the old most of the time.  In the meantime, we can rely on our support networks, family, friends and our community for when we need an added boost of confidence.  Let us all extend a helping hand or ask for support when we need it.  The best part about community is knowing that in routine or disruptive times, they will always be there for us.

And as we mentioned, the big news is that our Religious School will be starting again on August 20, this upcoming Sunday.  The teachers and staff are preparing to welcome the kids back to school and we have exciting projects and events planned.  Also, starting on August 19 and continuing through September 4, our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” will be showing at John Hinkel Park in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.  A carpool “field trip” to this event is in the works and we will fill in more details later.  And on September 10th, 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.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held this Friday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  On the same day, Co-President David Z. will also be hosting the first Family Shabbat event of the year at 6:15 p.m., focusing on the ins and outs of Shabbat traditions.  Please spread the word! We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Hello Everyone!

Incredibly, we are now in August.  The summer just seems to fly by so quickly every year.  Thankfully, we can now add the trips and experiences of this summer to our memories, scrapbooks and Facebook and Instagram pages!  

Soon we will all see our little ones back to school (including our Religious School!)  At this time of year, it is critical to keep in mind the importance of educators in our communities.  Although it might look like teachers get the summer off, in reality they are always thinking and preparing for the upcoming school year and the best ways to make learning more fun and exciting.  Judaism especially puts a premium on learning.  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 to never forget the importance of teachers, students, and support staff in all of our schools.  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.  We’re sure you have all seen the teacher wish lists sent out by the districts, so if we all work together, we can help provide everything our kids’ teachers need to start the school year off right!  Because the well educated youth of today is the solid citizenry of tomorrow.   

On a related note, our Religious School will be starting again on August 20, 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 13, 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!  Also, starting on August 19 and continuing through September 4, our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” will be showing at John Hinkel Park in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.  A carpool “field trip” to this event is in the works and we will fill in more details later.  And on September 10th, 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.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, August 18, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  On the same day, Co-President David Z. will also be hosting the first Family Shabbat event of the year at 6:15 p.m.  Please spread the word! We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

We hope everyone has been enjoying their summer travels or staycations.  David’s family is actually off on another trip, this time to San Diego, after just coming back from Lake Tahoe.  We would love to hear from other congregants about their adventures as well!

On a more somber note, this past week we observed Tisha B’Av, which according to tradition was the day the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, marking it as one of the saddest days in the Jewish calendar.  Jews around the world often fast, read the Book of Lamentations, and remember other horrific events in Jewish history, including the slaughters of the Crusades and the Holocaust.  Sobering as this day can be, events like Tisha B’Av can also force us to confront the difficulties and tragedies of the past and vow to never let them occur again.  Those dangers still haunt us today, even if they are often on a much less violent scale, such as what recently occurred in Israel with the passage of a bill limiting the authority of the Israeli Supreme Court and sparking mass protests across the country.  Incredibly, the observance of Tisha B’Av carries the lesson of what can happen when the Jewish community is divided against itself, which is sadly what Israel now finds itself facing.  We should all pray that a solution will be proposed that can avoid further tragedy.  

Additionally, we would like to thank all the members who attended the Movie Potluck night this past weekend.  It was a festive affair with plenty of great food, excellent commentary from our own Michael Cohen, along with a wonderful movie going experience.  We are planning similar events in the near future and we will keep you updated.  

For the upcoming month, our Religious School will be starting again on August 20, 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 6, we will be hosting a 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!  Also, starting on August 19 and continuing through September 4, our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” will be showing at John Hinkel Park in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.  A carpool “field trip” to this event is in the works and we will fill in more details later.  And on September 10th 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.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, August 4, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel

Shalom Everyone!

We hope everyone has been enjoying their summer travels or staycations.  David’s family actually just came back from Lake Tahoe, where incredibly there are still piles of snow on the mountains! (Caleb was so excited to see snow for the first time!)  We would love to hear from other congregants about their adventures as well!

On a more somber note, we observe this week Tisha B’Av, which according to tradition was the day the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, marking it as one of the saddest days in the Jewish calendar.  Jews around the world often fast, read the Book of Lamentations, and remember other horrific events in Jewish history, including the slaughters of the Crusades and the Holocaust.  Sobering as this day can be, events like Tisha B’Av can also force us to confront the difficulties and tragedies of the past and vow to never let them occur again.  Those dangers still haunt us today, even if they are often on a much less violent scale, such as what just occurred in Israel with the passage of a bill limiting the authority of the Israeli Supreme Court and sparking mass protests across the country.  Incredibly, the observance of Tisha B’Av carries the lesson of what can happen when the Jewish community is divided against itself, which is sadly what Israel now finds itself facing.  We should all pray that a solution will be proposed that can avoid further tragedy.  

In other news, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who came out to the Temple this past Sunday to help with cutting the weeds around the property.  It is your volunteer efforts that help keep our grounds beautiful!

Also, this upcoming Saturday, July 29 at 4:00 p.m., we will host our Movie Night Potluck with a showing of the classic film The Producers, with our own Michael Cohen providing background, trivia, and other fun facts about the movie.  There will be plenty of snacks and popcorn!  And please bring a main dish, salad or side dish to share.  Then starting on August 19 and continuing through September 4, our own Mercedes Cohen’s play “Faeries of the Moonlight” will be showing at John Hinkel Park in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.  A carpool “field trip” to this event is in the works. Stay tuned! On September 10th 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.

Finally, the next Shabbat Service will be held on Friday, August 5, at 7:30 p.m., hosted as always by our own Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney.  We hope to see y’all there.  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 B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel