Message from Rabbi Moshe : Coastside Jewish Community

NO CJC SHABBAT SERVICE TONIGHT – Our next Friday night service is in three weeks. Until then we’ll be celebrating Shabbat on Saturday mornings.

This week’s Torah portion, Shemot (Ex 1:1-6:1), is the first portion in the Book of Exodus. With the Israelites having been enslaved in Egypt, Moses is born, placed in a basket on the Nile, and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. He later encounters God at a burning bush and begins his mission of demanding that Pharoah let the Israelites go. It’s such a great story that it’s worth spending a few minutes with any of the commentaries that you’ll find here.

[Click to read Rabbi Moshe’s Message including pictures and announcements ]

“MY HEAD AND MY HEART” A Shabbat message from CJC Member Laura Alster-Martin

For years, or should I say decades, I avoided thinking, learning, and talking about Israel. While part of me felt a yearning for Israel, I couldn’t handle what I perceived as “My People” being unjust to the Palestinian People. I saw the situation as hopeless, and felt alone. So I stuck my head in the sand. The irony, is I now think I was only alone because so many of us were keeping our heads in the sand.

In recent years, thanks to Vaughn, I’ve learned of many organizations who are striving for peace, justice, democracy, and connection between Jewish and Palestinian Israelis. But which ones to support? And how do I know they’re doing legitimate work in Israel? The easy answer is to support “New Israel Fund” (https://www.nif.org/) who vets and provides financial assistance to many groups on the ground in Israel -both Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel who are doing wonderful work toward what they call “shared society.”

It is not my responsibility to finish the work, but neither am I free to desist from it.

But what could I do here? In the United States, on the San Mateo County Coastside? That’s how I came to focus on J Street. Reading about J Street’s policies, I found myself in agreement with everything I read. They were also very helpful, as I was able to attend several online courses that helped me to understand more deeply Israeli history and the current reality — exactly what I’d been hiding from most of my life.

That also inspired me to read some other sources, just to make sure what they were telling me was accurate. All that new knowledge was upsetting, and I found myself in need of like minded companionship. I also found myself wanting to do something about it. I’m not a naive fool, I know I’ll probably never see peace in Israel. But as Rabbi Tarfon said in Pirkei Avot 2:16: It is not your responsibility to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.

I have found both companionship and the opportunity to act through my association with J Street. My official role with J Street is “Synagogue Liaison” with CJC. I have committed to helping raise awareness of J Street and what we, as Americans, can do to help our elected officials to support Israel to achieve a lasting peace someday. In March, I’ll be going to Washington DC with J Street to participate in some lobbying.

In a nutshell, J Street encourages the United States government to use its influence to encourage the Israeli government to embrace just and democratic practices in order to achieve that peace. That makes sense to me, it appeals to my head and my heart. It is not my responsibility to finish the work, but neither am I free to desist from it.

Shalom,
Laura Alster-Martin
J Street Synagogue Liaison to CJC
hmblaura@gmail.com

To watch yesterday’s J Street Briefing on the Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal, click here.

Shabbat Shalom…

Shabbat morning is a great time to nourish your soul. Here are a few opportunities for the next three Shabbat mornings, starting tomorrow. Email Reb Moshe is you’d like to join us!

Tomorrow (Jan 18) – Shabbat morning service at The Kitchen in San Francisco

Jan 25 – Shabbat morning service at Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley

Feb 1 – Shabbat Morning Hike to Pilarcitos Lake, a hidden gem of the Coastside

In photo below: Reb Moshe with Steve Slomka, Juliette Freestone, and Gail Evenari on a Shabbat morning hike last Saturday. Pilarcitos Lake is hidden and not accessible to the public except by permit. Join us on Sat, Feb 1 at 9am for this unique Coastside Shabbat experience.

Also tomorrow – “People’s Marches” in cities around the U.S. and in Pacifica

Participants will meet at noon on the beach side of the Highway 1 at Crespi Drive. They’re asking people to register here. If you’d like to meet up with folks from CJC, email Laura.

Sun, Jan 19 – Mitzvah Day 2025 / Mon, Jan 20 – MLK, Jr. Day of Service

Join us on Sunday, January 19 and Monday, January 20 for two days of service. Bring your friends and family to work together on various fun and meaningful projects to bring to life Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspirational legacy of community service, justice and equality for all.

Mitzvah Day will be held in person at the Oshman Family JCC, Gideon Hausner Day School, Los Altos United Methodist Church and other satellite locations. Register here.

Mon, Jan 20, 11am – Reading of Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail

The Peninsula Solidarity Cohort invites you to an action of public witness on the morning of January 20, which is both Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day. We will gather that morning as Reb Moshe and representatives from other organizations, faiths and communities in our county read aloud Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Dr. King’s letter is as relevant and powerful today as it was 62 years ago. Email Brianne to carpool.

Weds, Jan 22 – WWWW: Wild Women Walking Wednesdays

All walkers welcome every Wednesday, regardless of gender. OK to bring dogs. We meet at Pillar Point at noon near the restrooms. Email Lisa for more info.

Weds, Jan 22 – “What is Jewish Renewal?” at 7pm

This is the third and final session of a three-part series exploring the Jewish Renewal movement and its many forms of expression. This week we will meet Rabbi Diane Elliot, who inspires her students to embody and deepen their Jewish spiritual lives through awareness and movement practices, chant and expressive arts, and nuanced interpretations of Jewish sacred text. She leads retreats, teaches nationally, and works with individuals in spiritual direction. She will share her unique insights into the Jewish Renewal movement, also having been married to Rabbi Burt Jacobson (z”l) for 16 years. Use this link at 7pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3059621923

Fri, Jan 31 – Challah Baking Class in El Granada

Learn how to make, braid, and bake the perfect challah for Shabbat. While the dough is rising, there will be time to walk, shmooze, or catch up on your email. Class size is limited to the first six CJC members to RSVP. Email Brianne for more info and to register.

February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM)

The purpose of JDAIM is to unite Jewish communities to raise awareness and champion the rights of Jews with disabilities as respected and valued members of our community. As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of JDAIM, we reflect on the intersections of ableism and antisemitism that make our commitment to inclusive communities more important than ever before.

Explore recommended books, podcasts, and films that highlight disabled and Jewish talent, and virtual events that highlight authors, creatives, and other disabled individuals sharing their lived experience at the intersection of faith and disability. More info can be found here.

Thurs, Feb 13 – Tu Bishvat Virtual Lobby Day

The moral challenge of climate change demands an urgent response. CJC is joining forces with the Jewish Earth Alliance and other Jewish groups to raise a collective voice for policies that reflect our values. We’re part of a network of communities working together to engage in the policy process at the Federal level as Jewish Americans. Tu Bishvat Virtual Lobby Day brings together Jews from across the country to magnify our voices to the 119th Congress.

We need ten people from CJC to be on two Zoom calls on Feb 13 with Senator Padilla and Senator Schiff. We don’t yet know what time the calls will be, but please email Brianne to let her know you are willing to join us. A planning meeting is scheduled for Tues, Jan 21 at 5pm.

April 23 – Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day (local events on 4/23 & 27)

CJC will be participating in two community-wide events this year. Volunteers are needed to deliver candles to our local survivors and to help at the events. Email Brianne for details.

Recent Shabbat Messages:

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