November 2020
Cheshvan-Kislev 5781
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November (all virtual Zoom Room gatherings)
- 2 Kugelettes
- 3 Election Day – VOTE!
- 5 Vos Tut Zich?
- 7 Shabbat Morning Meditation
- 16 Kugelettes
- 20 Gratefulness Shabbat
- 30 Kugelettes
December (all virtual Zoom Room gatherings)
- 5 Shabbat Morning Meditation
- 10 First Night of Chanukah
- 14 Kugelettes
- Shabbat-tbd
- 28 Kugelettes
VOS TUT ZICH?
Thursday, November 5th, Post-election Vos Tut Zich check-in. As of this writing, we don’t know what is in store for us. We do know that we will need to talk about what has happened or is happening. We will gather at 6pm in the Shir Hayam Zoom Room!
SHABBAT MEDITATION
Meditation with the Goldens– Dick and Linda Golden are generously continuing to lead us in a silent meditation the first Saturday of the month. This month’s date and time is Saturday, November 7th from 9-9:30am. It’s been a lovely way to get together. Hope to see you there. Shir Hayam Zoom Room.
SHABBAT
Friday, November 20th 6pm Shabbat We are aware that this may be a very difficult Thanksgiving for many of us. Perhaps our usual family or friends gatherings are not happening. As the rains and cold weather have arrived, even the little outdoor gatherings that we may have had, are disappearing. Financial worries may be weighing on you or your families. Sometimes focusing on the things we have to be grateful for can be a helpful antidote to feeling overwhelmed. In this spirit, and the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are offering a Gratefulness Shabbat. We would like folks who want to participate to share a reading, poem, painting etc that shares your feelings or thoughts about gratitude. If you can, I would love to make your sharings into a PDF that can be mailed out ahead of time. That way, those participating can absorb your words or get to look at your images more completely. Please send them to Robin.
KUGELETTES
Kugelettes will be meeting in the Shir Hayam Zoom Room every other Monday at 5:30pm beginning Monday, November 2nd.
POETRY
During Rosh Hashanah, the tradition of Jews over many centuries writing their own poems and liturgy in response to their lived experiences was described, and a few of these were read during Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. Some of you have asked about the Open Siddur Project which was the source of some of them. Also, on Rosh Hashanah, Nina suggested continuing in this tradition with the idea of chavurah folks writing a poem expressing our experience of these days; a number of you responded and a poem compilation of your written words was read at Yom Kippur. Some of you are writers, and I’m sure many of you have thoughts about these times that you would like to put into written words, poems or essays. The site above is just one place where you might want to look for ideas or submit your words, but we would also love to hear them and read them in our own services – so please contact us with your inspirations – Sharon
Below is the beautiful poem by W. B. Years, published in 1890, which was read by Dee during our Sukkot service when we were contemplating “Home.”
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree”
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
PRE-ELECTION ANGST
Perhaps a few of us (okay, perhaps all of us) have Pre-election Angst.
FROM The Institute for Jewish Spirituality, which is continuing to do it’s daily sits with a different Rabbi or Cantor every weekday, also has several offerings for this election season, ranging from prayers, to learnings, to meditations. I know several of us have been tuning in when possible to their daily meditation sits and there have been some wonderful teachings. If you are signed up, they send you a Zoom link daily. Free for the taking. Here is the link for their election offerings. Hope you find it useful! https://www.jewishspirituality.org/spiritual-resources-for-the-election-season/
FROM Jewish Voice for Peace, Resolve and Compassion: Election Week Daily Morning Rituals November 1–6, 8am ET / 5am PT Beginning this Sunday, we’ll host a daily 15 minute morning ritual of prayers, songs, and poems. Join us to begin each day cradled in tradition and community. Register here.
Election Day Community Center
Tuesday, November 3, 8am–6pm ET / 5am–3pm PT On Election Day, we’re hosting an all-day open Zoom room to study, sing, pray, take action, laugh, cry, and be together. You can participate however suits you best – hop in with audio while you wait in line at the polls, join from your computer at home if you’re feeling anxious or lonely, or dial in whenever you need a boost of community on this momentous day.
Join us for Creating a Culture of Reparations and Repair with Rabbi Lynn Gottleib, Zac Barghouti, and Dr. Dave Ragland, where we’ll explore how to repair from the ongoing wounds of white supremacy; for an hour of movement and release with artists and performers Una Osato and Michi Ilona Osato, and healer Dori Midnight; for Psalm readings with Rabbi Brant Rosen; for Song Circle for Resilience and Resistance with Let My People Sing; and much more. View the full schedule. Register here.
Virtual Care Package All week
The JVP rabbis have compiled a collection of offerings for any moment you need a lift, an idea, a song, a prayer, or simply some company. This care package includes poetry and writings that speak to our moment; podcasts and recordings offering wisdom and information; a selection of songs, prayers, and blessings to bring comfort and strength; and more. Open our care package.