Community Circles
Community Circles
Building community and friendships through shared interests.
Beth Am Community Circles are your place to connect more intentionally with other members around a shared interest or life stage. Community Circles are affinity groups open to members of Congregation Beth Am and coordinated by congregants. Help start the group you are looking for! Beth Am staff is available to help connect members to and/or create a Community Circle. Current Circles include hiking, board games, single adults and parents of young adults.
Community Circles are an opportunity to try something new with other members of the Beth Am community. A Community Circle can be organized around anything; an activity, craft, age and stage in life, cultural interests, Jewish or not. Specific examples could include: hiking, volunteering together, photography, pickleball, wine tasting, celebrating Shabbat together or single parents. If you’re interested in doing it and already have some folks in mind or want help finding others who share your interest, please contact Rabbi Heath Watenmaker.
Community Circle Offerings
Our current Community Circle offerings are listed below. Please reach out to Rabbi Heath Watenmaker with your questions and interest. He will get back to you with more details about the meetings and activities, and add you to your Circle list(s) of interest.
Don’t see a Circle for you? Please share your idea with us for a Community Circle.
We look forward to building community together!
Hiking
Youth Ed Parent Hiking Circle
Meet and chat with other youth ed parents while getting some exercise in the beautiful Los Altos Hills. Please email Rabbi Heath if you are interested.
Additional Hiking Circle
Don't have kids in Youth Ed? Join fellow Beth Am hikers for moderate Sunday morning hikes in the area. Dates, times and hike locales TBD by the Circle. Please email Rabbi Heath if you are interested.
Art & Wine
If you enjoy getting creative and want to share/learn new forms of art with fine (or not so fine) wine, join this Circle of six fellow enthusiasts that will meet monthly or every other month to craft together. Please email Rabbi Heath if you are interested.
Board Games
Come play with us over dessert. We enjoy games such as 6 Nimmt, Concept, Just one, Hanabi and Codenames. If you want to know more, join on every other Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 PM in Room Alef at Beth Am. Email Marcy with questions or to be added to the group.
Parents of tweens and teens.
Connect with other parents of tweens and teens. This group is now forming. Dates and events TBD by the group. Please email Rabbi Heath if you are interested.
The Tahiti Project
(A Community Circle for parents with older teens, young adults in college and beyond)
Coordinated by Jennifer and Nicole, this Community Circle is for those with older kids and adult children whose original connection to Beth Am was through their kids, who want to meet new people, to find a smaller community within Beth Am, and are looking to do an empty nest, post-COVID reset. This fun group’s name “The Tahiti Project” started as a joke about the kinds of activities they might do together — why not a trip to Tahiti?! This Circle is full, but if it sounds like something you’d enjoy, please contact Rabbi Heath and he’ll connect you with others. Who knows where your group might go!
B’Yachad (Together)
This Community Circle is for single adults over 40 years of age. B'Yachad is fun, with unlimited possibilities and easy to participate in. Come join this welcoming group if you are a single member of Congregation Beth Am in your 40’s, 50's or 60's and up for experiences built around socializing, community service, temple, nature and more. If you are not yet part of B'Yachad, but would like to consider joining us or have some questions, contact circle coordinator Zach. He will be happy to include you in this Community Circle.
Mon, March 18 2024
8 Adar II 5784
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 19 , 2024Introduction to Judaism Class
Tuesday, Mar 19th 7:30p to 9:00p
Explore our wonderful tradition for the first time -- or all over again. -
Wednesday ,
MarMarch 20 , 2024Beth Am Women Virtual Mah Jongg
Wednesday, Mar 20th 7:00p to 9:00p
Beginners who have learned to play, as well as experienced players, are welcome to join in this virtual game. -
Thursday ,
MarMarch 21 , 2024Thursday Morning Minyan
Thursday, Mar 21st 8:00a to 9:00a
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome. -
Thursday ,
MarMarch 21 , 2024Adult Hebrew Mastery
Thursday, Mar 21st 7:00p to 8:15p
This course is taught in Hebrew and is aimed at experienced Hebrew learners. -
Friday ,
MarMarch 22 , 2024Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, Mar 22nd 1:00p to 2:00p
Join us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings. -
Friday ,
MarMarch 22 , 2024Israel Discussion Gatherings
Friday, Mar 22nd 5:15p to 6:30p
Join with other Beth Am members every Friday before the Erev Shabbat service for time to reflect, discuss and listen to one another as we navigate this terribly challenging time for Israel and Jews around the world. -
Friday ,
MarMarch 22 , 2024Erev Shabbat Service (Zimriyah Jr. Choir Sings)
Friday, Mar 22nd 6:15p to 7:30p
Our worship services are musical, participatory and informal in spirit; they focus on helping us experience the spiritual renewal, peace, joy and sense of celebration that Shabbat can bring. Our Zimriyah Jr. Choir will be singing. -
Saturday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2024Torah Study
Shabbat, Mar 23rd 9:00a to 10:00a
On Shabbat morning, join a member of the Beth Am clergy for a session of Torah Study. Stay for the Good Book Cafe! -
Saturday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2024Good Book Cafe
Shabbat, Mar 23rd 10:00a to 10:20a
Join other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing. -
Saturday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2024Torah Minyan Shabbat Morning Service
Shabbat, Mar 23rd 10:30a to 11:30a
Join Beth Am clergy and/or lay leaders for a musical Shabbat morning worship service focused on learning and spiritual growth.