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November/December President's Column by Amy Gerstein: Sparking Connection
As we approach the joyous season of Chanukah, our community is filled with warmth and anticipation. This time of year not only brings the light of the menorah and the celebration of miracles but also offers us a moment to reflect on our shared journey and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

 

Welcoming Cat Bernard, Our New Office Manager/Executive Assistant to the Senior Rabbi
Please welcome Beth Am’s newest staff member, Cat , who serves as our new Office Manager/Executive Assistant to the Senior Rabbi. Cat is responsible for managing the many details that keep our community humming.

 

Member Spotlight: Rosenberg Family
Meet Tzachi and Shirit Rosenberg, and their four daughters: Agam (13), Stav (10), Hadas (7) and Edden (2). The family joined Beth Am in 2020. Tzachi was born in Israel and has moved around the world, including the Philippines and Venezuela, following his father’s agricultural consulting business. Eventually,  in his teens, he ended up in Detroit. Shirit is also Israeli, and moved to Ann Arbor with her family as a young child. The couple was set up by a mutual friend at a friend’s grandmother’s celebration of life.

 

The Orchard: An Update
The Orchard has been bustling with activity over the past few months, bringing our community together through a series of memorable events. It's been a season of growth and joy at The Orchard, and we can’t wait for what’s next!

 

Support Israel
We continue to grieve for the families who lost loved ones on October 7th and pray for the immediate return of all the remaining hostages being held in Gaza. As a community, we know that we are not whole; a rise in antisemitism locally and nationally, the threats of an expanded regional war, the constant anxiety and discomfort of going to school or work. Learn how you can become involved.

 

Worship

December Clergy Column by Rabbi Heath Watenmaker: Rededicating Ourselves to Gratitude
Back in 2013, there was a lot of excitement around the celebration of “Thanksgivukkah.” Named, of course, for the coinciding holidays of Thanksgiving and Chanukah. There’s even a Wikipedia page dedicated to this momentous occasion. As a rabbi, I kind of loved it. First, it got lots of people talking about Chanukah, and, instead of focusing on the “December Dilemma” — the tensions between Chanukah and Christmas, the tensions of celebrating our Jewishness in a secular world — instead, it focused on the themes of gratitude, family and “rededication” to those things we hold most dear, inherent in our Festival of Lights.

Celebrate Chanukah With Beth Am
Chanukah, which means “dedication,” is the festival that commemorates the purification and rededication of the Temple following the defilement caused by the Greeks during their occupation of that holy place. Today, the holiday reminds Jews to rededicate themselves to stand against forces that would destroy Judaism, and to keep alive the flame of Jewish religion, culture and peoplehood so that it may be passed on to the next generation. Click through for a schedule of Beth Am Chanukah celebrations as well as Chanukah resources and Chanukah shopping suggestions.

Help Beth Am Thrive

December 2024 Fund in Focus: Hunger and Homelessness Fund
Local organizations providing food and shelter face a high demand for services from people whose incomes cannot keep pace with inflation and the already high cost of living in our area. Many local individuals and families, including members of our Jewish community, rely on support from organizations that we fund with our Hunger and Homelessness appeal. Your contribution helps the Beth Am community fulfill our sacred obligation to comfort and support the less fortunate in our midst. 

                     

https://images.shulcloud.com/7738/377405_orig.jpgEnd of Year Giving: 2024
There are many ways to make year-end gifts to support our community and provide you with tax advantages for this year’s filing. We hope you will consider Beth Am in your charitable plans, and we thank you in advance for being as generous as possible this year! 2024 Tax-deductible contributions must arrive by Tuesday, December 31.

 

Does your employer have a matching gift program? You may be able to double or even triple your contributions to Beth Am! Many Bay Area companies will match charitable donations dollar-for-dollar, or even two dollars for every one you donate.

Justice

December Tzedakah Box Supports Beth Am Hunger & Homelessness Winter Campaign
As our calendar turns to winter months and the temperatures on the thermometer drop, we at Beth Am we take the time to recognize that there are many in our local community who are struggling to find adequate housing and food. The need continues to be great, and demands on local organizations serving people in need continue to grow.

Reproductive Justice Is a Jewish ValueOn October 27, Beth Am Post-Abortion Kit Coordinator Sara Guido, in partnership with National Council of Jewish Women-San Francisco (NCJW-SF), held a Post Abortion Care Packing event, cosponsored by Beth Am Women. The event was held in an effort to provide our community with an opportunity to practice the Jewish value of Reproductive Freedom, and also to increase awareness of the importance of a woman's right to choose.

 

Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good Launches, Pledging Community Solidarity Beyond Election Outcomes
On the eve of a pivotal national election, nearly 600 leaders and community members from 17 founding organizations, including Congregation Beth Am from Los Altos Hills, and several guests gathered to launch Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good (SVACG). It is the first broad-based community organization in the region affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation. The event marked a new era of multi-faith collective commitment to building power and fighting for concrete change in one of America’s most influential—and most unequal—regions. Congregation Beth Am was one of the original institutions involved in this effort. So far, Beth Am is the only Jewish institution involved, but several other synagogues have expressed interest.

Education

Adult Education Opportunities: Start 2025 With Learning Something New!
We have an exciting schedule of learning opportunities this winter, including: a new Modern Jewish Literature Class series with Ariel Horowitz; an environmental justice book talk, with guest speaker Rabbi Shelly Lewis; (re)Intro to Judaism with Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff; the return of Charlotte Korchak, who will present another Update on Crash Course on Israel; and of course, our “oldies but goodies” classes. Whether you are a talmid chacham (Torah scholar) or new to Judaism, Jewish learning is for you! Please visit the Adult Education webpage for full class descriptions and registration information.

 

Tue, January 21 2025 21 Tevet 5785