Chayei Sarah 5780
To Have a Why The name of our parsha seems to embody a paradox. It is called Chayei Sarah, “the life of Sarah,” but it begins with the death of Sarah. What is more, towards the end, it records the death of Abraham. Why is a parsha about death called “life”? The answer, it seems […]
Rabbi Nadya Gross
Temple Beth El presents Rabbi Nadya Gross (sister of Cantor Ilan Davidson) speaking Monday, November 25, 7:00 p.m. on ~ Aging in the 21st century: a new frontier in human development ~ Author of the first handbook to help you discover how to access the secrets of the second half of life, whose reward is […]
Parashat Vayeira
Friday, November 15, 2019 /17 Heshvan, 5780 Parashat Vayeira Genesis 18:1-22:24 Dear Friends, During a Torah portion jam packed with stories such as the Binding of Isaac, Abraham and Ishmael’s circumcision, and the birth of Isaac, the Torah gives us a powerful lesson in rebuke. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were known for their […]
Taus Lecture Series 2019-2020
Taus Lecture Series 2019-2020 Dr. Don Schwartz, Professor Emeritus of History At CSU Long Beach, “America’s First Superhero: Harry Houdini” Evening Lecture Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Rabbi Ed Feinstein, Senior Rabbi Valley Beth Shalom, “Your Soul—An Owner’s Guide” Lunch & Learn Wednesday, January 22, 2020, Noon Dr. Marc Dollinger, Professor of Jewish Studies, SFSU, “Academic […]
Vayera 5780
Negative Capability I have written about the binding of Isaac many times in these studies, each time proposing an interpretation somewhat different from the ones given by the classic commentators. I do so for a simple reason. The Torah, and Tanach generally, regards child sacrifice as one of the worst of evils. Child sacrifice was […]
Golden State Pops Orchestra will be performing our congregant’s Hanukkah song
The Golden State Pops Orchestra will be performing Sandy Sherman’s Hanukkah song “There’s Something About Those Candles” The Golden State Pops Orchestra’s “Holiday POPS Spectacular” returns with a festive musical program at the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro on Saturday, December 21 at 8:00 p.m. The Golden State Pops Orchestra is a professional orchestra […]
Parashat Lekh L’kha
Friday, November 8, 2019 /10 Heshvan, 5780 Parashat Lekh L’kha Genesis 12:1-17:27 Please note: This post is a special guest Parashat from Cantor Ilan Davidson Dear Friends, In every person’s life, there are moments when we, like Abraham, hear a voice inside saying, “Lech Lecha — Go forth!” It is up to us whether or […]
November 2019 – The Library Book, Susan Orlean
“Moving… A constant pleasure to read… Everybody who loves books should check out The Library Book… Orlean, a longtime New York writer, has been captivating us with human stories for decades, and her latest book is a wide-ranging, deeply personal, and terrifically engaging investigation of humanity’s bulwark against oblivion: the library… As a narrator, Orlean […]