As this is the holiday in which we traditionally celebrate the torah- we celebrate other books that have meaning for us. So we get together to share the best books we’ve read the past year….and with Covid- I am sure those lists are pretty long.
We will gather on Zoom at 10:30 on May 16.
Zoom Meeting ID is 568 599 7884
We are very excited about this year’s conference. While we are unable to meet in person due to the pandemic, we are still able to be together and share in some wonderfully inspiring workshops and other fun activities – all because of the wonders of the virtual world.
Of course. we will begin the weekend with our shabes program and oneg. It will be a chance to see old friends and meet new ones. Saturday will be filled with workshops and some Saturday night fun. We will meet again on Sunday for more inspiring workshops and then our famous talent show. Throughout the weekend, we will set time aside to schmooze, have rousing political discussions, plan to save the world and just relax with some friends.
In honor of our theme, we will have a number of speakers from organizations whose missions speak to us on many levels. Here is just a sample of what to look forward to;
Rebecca Ireland: social justice activist, member of our Tri-Valley Affiliate and youth representative to our Board of Directors
Liv Randall from US Together: Their mission is to “coordinate, organize, and initiate services to refugees and immigrants through education, advocacy, support services, information, referrals, and networking opportunities…”
Rebecca Markert from Freedom From Religion Foundation
Mark Tiborsky from Northern Ohio FreeThought Society
Kevin Bolling from Secular Student Alliance
More information will be coming soon. Registration is currently open!
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/congressofsecularjewishoragnizations/504707
Please join Interfaith Interconnect at our virtual Interfaith Interconnect Religion Chat!
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 5:00–6:15 p.m.
Online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81203340837
Meeting room opens at 4:45. Program begins at 5:00.
Topic: How does your community provide for those who come in need of forgiveness?
Speakers: Rev. Ellie Kilpatrick, Unitarian Universalist Church, Livermore; and Bishop Roger Persson, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After the presentations, there will be time for questions, followed by optional participation in break-out groups.
We look forward to having you join us April 14!
Ruth Gasten and Marcia Elchesen
Interfaith Interconnect Leadership Committee
If you don’t do what I say, then I’m going to hurt someone you don’t care about! Does that sound like a good way to force someone to do what you want? No? But that’s what happens in the story of Pesakh (Passover).
Ancient Egypt was ruled by an absolute monarch who owned all land and whatever it produced. The entire populace worked for him. We read in Genesis that all the grain in the country belonged to the Pharaoh and that the people who grew the grain then had to pay the Pharaoh if they wanted some to eat. Clearly, the Pharaoh did not care about the residents of Egypt.
The story tells us that after Moses asked the Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave and the Pharaoh’s refusal, 10 plagues befell Egypt to force the Pharaoh to accede to Moses’ request.
Why didn’t the first 9 plagues work? Water pollution, frogs, lice, wild animals, livestock disease, boils, hail and locusts devastated ordinary Egyptians. Even if the locusts ate the crops, whatever was left went to the Pharaoh. Giant hail didn’t hurt the Pharaoh’s palace as it might the homes of poorer people. Livestock disease meant that the ordinary farmers had nothing to eat and didn’t have livestock to sell to buy food from the Pharaoh. All these terrible plagues did nothing to change the Pharaoh’s mind because they happened to people he did not care about. Not until the 10th plague that killed his heir did he relent.
So, why did the authors of the story have the god send the first nine plagues, these destructive natural disasters? It was pretty obvious that they wouldn’t work to affect the ruler. They only hurt ordinary people who weren’t responsible for the economic system of the country.
Well, I don’t really know why the authors included this story – although one can assume it was to show the power of their god – but I do know what we can learn from it because we see the lessons playing out in our time. We see that natural disasters devastate ordinary people but that big shots like, say, US Senators, can always escape them. If we’d paid attention to the plague story, we’d have been less shocked. We see that economic sanctions that countries put on other countries really hurt only the ordinary people – not the Ayatollahs or the Putins. If we’d paid attention to the plague story, we’d have known this.
So let’s remember when we try to influence other countries that hurting ordinary people is not the best way to achieve our goals. And let’s remember that we should elect officials who actually care about ordinary people.
For Tu B’Shvat, all TVCJ members received a package of parsley seeds, along with instructions on how to plant and care for them. The seeds we planted then are growing nicely, and will be a wonderful addition to our upcoming Passover Seder.
The TVCJ annual community Seder will be held virtually on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 5 p.m via Zoom. Everyone will participate in the comfort of their own home. Our progressive, secular humanistic Seder includes English-language readings highlighting the power of community and the value of freedom, along with songs in English, Yiddish and Hebrew. The hour-long ceremony is followed by optional schmoozing time while your family eats the dinner that you’ve prepared in your home. The event is family-friendly. We will provide a shopping list for your seder plate, suggested recipes, and the Passover Haggadah. We ask non-member adults to give a donation of $10 if you are able to support our programming.
If you have any questions or if you would like to be put on the evite list for this event, please email culturaljews@gmail.com
When: January 24, 10:30 – 12:00
Cost: Free to members. $10 suggested donation per non-member adult
Our monthly Havdalah will be on November 14 7-8 pm.
We will be having our short secular, humanistic observance If you’d like to participate have a braided candle, glass of wine/juice, and spices.
Zoom meeting ID : 568 599 7884 If a password is requested, enter 123123If you have questions, please contact Jamie at culturaljews@gmail.com
Come join us for a secular humanistic menorah lighting and naming ceremony. Bring your menorah and candles. We will also play dreidel virtually.
Friday, December 11th from 7-8pm.
We ask for a donation of $10 for non-member adults.
Please contact Jamie at culturaljews@gmail.com for the registration link.
