Teshuvah of the Month (Beit Midrash)
Saturday, December 20, 12:45–2:00 p.m.
with Rabbi Kunin
Traditional Judaism (including Conservative Judaism) is a religion of law. We build our lives around halakha (Jewish law). We understand our legal tradition to be based in the past yet growing and developing in every generation. These changes in interpretation are reflected in teshuvot, rabbinic legal decisions, a literature that has been growing over the last thousand or more years. Each month Join Rabbi Kunin as we examine fascinating examples of this important literature, stemming both from ancient and modern Conservative (and occasional Orthodox or Reform) sources.
Live Music, Lights and Latkes — Spend a cozy evening with us! (Beit Midrash/Social Hall)
Sunday, December 21, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Enjoy a relaxed, feel-good jazz concert featuring talented local musicians along with wine, fresh latkes, sweet sufganiyot, and great company and conversation.
Entertainment Schedule:
- 5:30 p.m. Hot Kugel (as seen at the APJCC Jewbilee)
- 6:15 p.m. Light refreshments including wine, fresh latkes, sweet sufganiyot
- 7:00 p.m. Fineprint – an LA based Jazz and Funk Band (as seen at the Mint LA on Pico Boulevard)
Pricing: $5 Members, $10 Guests, Patrons Free. Members RSVP [here]. Guests RSVP [here]. Sign-up closes on December 19 at 12:00 p.m. Miss the sign-up? Tickets available at the door for $15.
The Former Prophets (Beit Midrash)
Saturday, December 27, 12:45–2:00 p.m.
with Rabbi Roller
Discover some of the most exciting biblical stories you’ve never heard! Explore tales of war, love, betrayal, and revenge that rival anything on a bestseller list. We’ll primarily use Robert Alter’s translation, though other versions of the Hebrew Bible are also welcome. Please bring any Hebrew Bible you may have from home; a limited number of copies will be available for use during class
Purim Spiel Auditions (Sanctuary)
Sunday, January 4, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Come audition for our Purim Spiel, “Middle East Side Story”! All are welcome to audition. Please come prepared with 1 to 2 verses of any song.
Psalm 92: What it Means for Us Today (Zoom)
Mondays in January, beginning January 5, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Psalm 92 is a staple of the Shabbat Psukei d’Zimrah service. A closer look at this psalm reveals that its justice theme is also very relevant to our times. Join our rabbinic intern, Neal Cronin, for a detailed and fulfilling dive into what this ancient psalm means to us in our everyday lives, and how it guides us to engage more constructively with others. We’ll use the Lev Shalem Siddur as our study text. Sign up for Zoom [here].
Navigating the Sea of Sacred Jewish Literature (Zoom)
Tuesday, January 6, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
with Rabbi Roller
Join us on a journey through the rich and diverse world of Jewish sacred literature. Together, we’ll explore the distinct genres that make up this tradition, uncovering their unique features and historical contexts. Beginning with the foundational texts of the Bible, we’ll trace how rabbinic, medieval, and modern writings reinterpret, expand upon, and respond to these earlier works. Along the way, we’ll discover the deep intertextuality that weaves through centuries of Jewish thought—revealing an ongoing, dynamic conversation that continues to shape Jewish tradition across time. Sign up for Zoom [here].
Kids/Tots Shabbat, Potluck & Musical Kabbalat Shabbat (Classrooms/Beit T’Fillah)
Friday, January 9
- 5:30 p.m. Kids and Tots Service
- 6:15 p.m. Dairy/Pareve Potluck
- 7:00 p.m. Service with Beth David’s Musical Group
We’ll start with a kids and tots service at 5:30 p.m., a dairy/pareve potluck at 6:15 p.m., followed by an engaging service with Beth David’s musical group We’ll provide the challah and kiddush wine. Sign up for potluck [here].
Jewish Book Discussion Group (Beit Midrash)
Saturday, January 10, 12:45–2:00 p.m.
Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt by Oren Kessler, led by Shmuel Shottan
This book is a history of the 1936-1939 Arab revolt in British Mandate Palestine, detailing how the uprising against British rule and Jewish immigration solidified Palestinian national identity while also leading to a significant Zionist counter-rebellion. The book highlights this period as a pivotal turning point that laid the groundwork for the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shaping both Jewish and Arab national movements and influencing the eventual British withdrawal and the partition of Palestine.
Connecting with Purpose by Volunteering in Israel (Beit Midrash)
Sunday, January 11, 2:00–3:30 p.m.
In the past couple years, Beth David congregant Sue Maltiel has traveled to Israel multiple times for this purpose, as has her friend Elana Feinsmith. This afternoon, Sue and Elana will share their experiences on extended trips to Israel, where they have been deployed as needed for volunteer work such as: preparing homecooked meals for soldiers at the front, support for soldiers’ families, picking produce on site at border farms whose residents have been evacuated, or are called up for service, visiting wounded soldiers in hospitals who are undergoing rehabilitation, and packing medical supply kits, which must be replaced every 90 days, for army medics. Volunteers like Sue and Elana travel to Israel for several weeks at a time, for a heartening and rewarding experience helping the people of Israel at their time of need. This event is co-sponsored by Beth David’s Israel Action Committee and Beth David Wome
Jewish Women Throughout History (Beit Midrash/Zoom)
with Rabbi Kunin
Tuesday, January 13, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Jewish history and tradition has been focused primarily on men, leaving out the essential contributions of women over the ages. In this class we discover amazing Jewish women (some well-known and some who have largely been lost) from Hulda the Prophetess to Doña Gracia Nasi, to Golda Meir. If you want to sign up for Zoom attendance, please click [here]. If you want to attend in person, it is not necessary to register.
Hazak – Fun Game Afternoon (Social Hall)
Sunday, January 18, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Play some familiar games. Learn some new ones. Schmooze a little, too. Refreshments … but of course.
Games being considered: Canasta, Bridge, Mah Jongg, Poker, Mexican Train, Dominoes, Scrabble, Backgammon, Chess, Monopoly, Clue, Boggle, etc. $10 per person. RSVP by emailing Hazak [here]. Your account will be billed.
Aging with Confidence (Social Hall)
Sunday, January 25, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Join Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley for a thoughtful conversation designed to help older adults remain independent, connected, and supported while aging in place. Learn how to reduce isolation, access trusted resources, and explore programs from the Rick and Doris Davis Center for Aging and Caregiver Services that honor personal dignity, Jewish values, and individual choice. You’ll also learn more about our Chevra Chesed Committee and how this program connects with the Rabbi’s upcoming classes, Planning for the End Won’t Kill You: A Series on Death and Dying. Feel informed, empowered, and confident about the road ahead. Please sign up by January 23 [here].
CPR Training (Social Hall)
Friday, January 30, 10:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
Join us for CPR and First Aid Training with Bonnie Hirsch. This is a blended learning class, with an online training portion that must be completed prior to the in-person session. After completion, participants will receive certification valid for 2 years. Instructions for registering for the online portion will be emailed with your signup confirmation. This class is strictly limited to 12 participants and open to Beth David members only. The cost is $42.00 and may be paid by cash or check, made payable to Bonnie Hirsch, on the day of the in-person training. Sign up by January 26! Sign up [here].
Women’s Shabbat (Sanctuary/YouTube)
Saturday, January 31, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Sign up to participate in leading the congregation in an inspiring, Shabbat service. Make this year the year you learn something new! Or participate together with a friend! Please RSVP [here].