A Summer Sunday Sampler

If you looking to learn more about Congregation Beth David or even considering membership, then I recommend checking out their upcoming program, a Summer Sunday Sampler.

 

A Summer Sunday Sampler
Sunday, August 26, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Click here to view flyer.

Traditional values. Unconventional approaches. Experience being Jewish at Beth David with music, crafts, food, fun and fellowship! Discover our: welcoming, caring community; engaging learning for children and adults; joyous worship; activities for every age; dynamic rabbis; plus a “meet & greet” with our teachers, staff and congregants. You’ll leave with a song, a craft, some new friends, and an understanding of what CBD has to offer you! RSVPs are appreciated. Please call us at 408.257.3333 if you plan on attending.

Editors note: You don’t have to be a CBD member to participate in our Young Adults Group, all Jewish 20 and 30 somethings welcome.

Free High Holiday Tickets to Congregation Beth David

Come bring in the new year and cleanse your soul at Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services with Congregation Beth David. If you’re a member look for your tickets in the mail.

For those that aren’t members, tickets for those 19-33, college students or military personnel are Free! You just have to ask. Call the CBD office (408) 257-3333 or stop by during regular office hours.

Tu B’Av: Singles Frolic in the Fields and Freedom Abounds

Today is Tu B’Av (15^th of Av) the most joyous and mysterious day of the Jewish Calendar. It’s the greatest social singles event of the year, and Yom Kippur closely followed behind.

Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel stated, “Israel had no holidays as joyous as Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur, when the young women of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards” [Mishna Ta'anit 4:8].

It is traditional to wear white for both the 15^th of Av and Yom Kippur representing purity. On Tu B’av it’s traditional to borrow white garments to eliminate the appearance of class status. While the full moon shines in the sky, all the single women go out into the vineyards and males without out a wife would go there to frolic in the fields, and find himself a bride.The origins and significance to this holiday is vague, but 6 events are associated to this date by various Jewish sources, all of which remove some kind of restriction.

• The generations who came out of Egypt, who were condemned to death and not entering the holy land, stopped dying on this day.
• Intermarriage between the tribes was permitted, when the bans were lifted on this date [Num 36.8]. This is also a source for the many weddings celebrated on Tu B’Av.
• Members of the excommunicated tribe of Benjamin were allowed to appear in the community, and marry members of this tribe was permitted, after the incident of the concubine of Gibeah
  

  “Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards. And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin”. [Judges 21:20-21]

• This is the date when the Romans permitted the Jews to bury Bar Kochba’s supporters who had fallen at Betar.
• The victory of the Pharisees over the Sadduccees was on either 14 or 15 Av.
• Northerners could again make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, when King Hosea removed the barriers installed by King Jereboam. [I Kings 12:29, II Kings 18:4]

Besides the theme of freedom to formerly restricted things, a major theme is unity amongst the Jewish people. Apparently some of the restrictions on separating the sexes are suspended on this day, as everyone danced and met that special person. In 70CE, after the 2nd temple was destroyed the parties stopped. Only to be revived in recent years by the Kibbutz movement and young Jews. It’s a popular day for weddings as the couple is exempt from the traditional fasting on their wedding day. In modern times, it is dubbed the “Jewish Valentines Day.” The only observances are we omit tachnun (confession of sins) and similar portions from the daily prayers and no eulogies are given at funerals.

This day also marks the conclusion of the cycle of retribution experienced during Tammuz and the first part of Av, and begins the new cycle of renewal, consolation and repentance, leading towards the High Holy Days. A time to reconcile our relationship with each other and with Hashem.

Have a very Joyous day!

Tradionally the night is a time for study, beginning today one should increase their study as the nights begin to grow longer. Here’s some sites discussing this holiday, many were used in the creation of this post. [in no order]

• Tu B’av on Torah Tots
• Tu B’Av on Everything2.com
• The Day of the Breaking of the Ax on Chabad.org
• The Dancing Maidens of Jerusalem on Chabad.org
• Audio teachings on the 15th of Av by Chabad.org
• 15th of Av by OU
• A Day for Love on Jhom.com
• Rejoicing in a Month of Misfortune on Torah.org
• The Meaning of Tu B’av on aish.com
• What’s that you say, a Jewish Valentines Day? from Jewish Outreach Institute

A Mid Summer’s Night Dream in Review

SF Shakes presented a very modern version of the Shakespeare classic A Mid-Summer’s Nights Dream at Free Shakespeare in the Park. On July 22, CBDYAGers enjoyed the costumes and humor. While I felt it was a bit slow in the first half, the second half had great flow and punch. A few pictures of some of us before the show.

Your prayers have been answered: Help is here to learn the prayers

Has it been a while since you we’re in a service? Having problem remembering song from Jew-camp? Think it’s been too long since you open a sidur? Looking to brush up on your prayers?

If any of these fit you or not, There’s a audio sidur in town, Rabbi Mark Zimmerman has created a site of audio clips to go the New Siddur Sim Shalom. There’s prayers for a variety of services. There’s also Zemirot and the Passover Seder. Listen online or buy it on CD.

So give it a listen, and feel confident the next time you open a siddur in public or want to join in singing around the shabbos table.

For those that don’t read Hebrew check out Kakatuv (as it is written) for PDFs with transliteration. Congregation Beth David also has transliteration books available for Shabbat services, marked with pages numbers corresponding to the Sim Shalom Siddur used so you can follow along as well.

Two Great Events This Weekend

Bring a friend and come discover how much the Torah rocks at Torah Study on Saturday and then we’re getting nautical on Sunday with paddle boating in San Francisco.

Saturday, July 28, 1:30pm, Young Adult Torah Study

Come together with fellow Jewish young adults including Rabbi Schonbrun in an informal setting to study some of the weekly Torah portion. We’ll meet in the library or room 1 around 1:30 at Congregation Beth David (19700 Prospect Rd, Saratoga, Ca) following Shabbat morning services (start at 9:30am) and Kiddish Lunch. We’ll sit together during lunch for those that come. Contact oyster [at] oy-bay.org

Sunday, July 29, 10am, CBDYAG Goes Nautical

Meet us at the Boat house (rental booth) at 50 Stowe Lake Drive San Francisco, CA for some paddle boating fun. Then we’ll explore Stowe Lake Island (great view), walk through the Botanical Gardens on our way to Park Chow for lunch. We’ll visit the Japanese Tea Gardens or the DeYoung Museum after lunch. Please bring $10 cash for boating and cash for lunch, bring water and a jacket. Please wear comfortable shoes. RSVP to cbdyag[at]gmail.com. Check out the evite

Directions to Stowe Lake after the jump

Update: Bus to Jewish Heritage Night

This just in folks, there will be a bus leaving Congregation Beth David (19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga) at 5:30pm to AT&T Park for Giants Jewish Heritage Night. It will return to CBD after the game. Round trip on the bus is $20 a person. Light snacks will be provided on the bus. Please RSVP for a spot on the bus, but you can pay as you board.

Jewish Heritage Night is just a couple weeks away. We’re almost out of tickets, so reserve yours today!

Come sit with CBDYAG and your Rally Rabbi Bobblehead at Giants Jewish Heritage Night 2007.

Wednesday, August 8 7:30 PM Game Time

SF Giants vs. Washington Nationals

at AT &T Park, SF

Your $20 game ticket comes with a voucher for a free Rally Rabbi Langer Bobblehead. Everyone needs a rabbi, come out to the ball game to claim yours. Find out the history from Oyster here.

Dress warm, it will be windy, we’re right by the Bay!

Contact cbdyag[at]gmail.com to reserve your ticket(s) or spot on the bus.

New Recipes on the Exchange

Our recipe exchange is growing. There’s everything from Sangria to Brisket, Banana Bread to Carrot Cashew Paté and more. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you try something out.

Help feed our recipe exchange by e-mailing your recipe(s) to share to cbdyag[at]wordpress.com

And remember to keep it kosher kinderlekh

SF Jewish Film Festival in Palo Alto

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is in full swing. Look for them in Palo Alto starting this weekend, at their new digs, the Aquarius Theatre (430 Emerson Street, Palo Alto). They play in Palo Alto July 28 to Aug 2.

July 28 2007 Cemetery Club, The This mesmerizing documentary profiles a vital group of octogenarians who gather weekly to discuss art, politics, philosophy and love. It’s a brilliant and witty portrait of older people who seek an understanding of the narrative of their lives. Just an Ordinary Jew A journalist in Hamburg wrestles with the contradictions of being a Jew in modern Germany in this tour-de-force monologue from the director of Downfall. Hot House Filmmaker Shimon Dotan probes a startling truth: Israeli prisons are a breeding ground for the next generation of Palestinian leaders and a hotbed for terrorism. My Mexican Shivah When the patriarch of a Mexico City family dies suddenly, he leaves behind a complicated web of secrets. This sly and charming dysfunctional-family drama is an affectionate, tearful party that’s hard to leave. See Friar’s Yid’s Review My Fuehrer: The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler A depressed Adolf Hitler hires a Jewish acting teacher to reclaim his charisma in this wicked and controversial parody from Germany by Jewish director Dani Levy. July 29 2007 Film Fanatic Film Fanatic is a captivating portrait of Yehuda Grovais, an energetic Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jew who has made over 50 feature films geared toward members of his community (who are prohibited from watching mainstream movies, but watch his films on disc). Screening with Yoel, Israel and the Pashkevils I Am – You Are I Am You Are presents films by Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers in the award-winning youth media program at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. Preceded by Gary’s Story. Yiddish Soul & Concert Yiddish Soul This two-part concert film and documentary showcases the stars of Europe’s new Yiddish and klezmer music revival, a diverse and intergenerational assortment of musicians. Bad Faith She’s Jewish, he’s Muslim, they’re having a baby – and that’s when the troubles start in this charming romantic comedy from France. Preceded by A Kiss Is a Kiss Is a Kiss. Giraffe, The In this sexy, taut thriller by SFJFF Freedom of Expression Award winner Dani Levy, a mysterious death links two generations of families in Germany and America. July 30 2007 My Son, The Hero Ulmer’s 1943 slapstick farce showcases boxer “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom and Roscoe Karns as a con man impressing his war hero son. Preceded by Max Baer’s Last Right Hook. Longing, The: The Forgotten Jews of South America Five hundred years after the Spanish Inquisition, descendants of crypto-Jews in South America attempt to affirm their Jewish faith against all odds. Three Mothers A tale of three beautiful triplets from Egypt, told over 60 years, as they come to terms with long-buried secrets and passions. Between Two Notes A filmmaker travels across the Middle East in search of the roots of classical Arabic music while uncovering a hidden aspect of her own heritage.

July 31 2007 Mr. Cortisone, Happy Days In this intimate tour de force, the director battles cancer and charms one and all looking for salvation and finding it by creating a cinematic masterpiece. Praying With Lior Deeply human coming-of-age portrait of Lior Liebling, a child with Down syndrome preparing for his bar mitzvah, who is filled with an unquenchable spirit of prayer and singing. Preceded by I’m Charlie Chaplin. Gorgeous! A snappy romantic comedy set in Paris, Gorgeous! celebrates the au courant Parisian woman. Tons of wit, smarts and not an insignificant amount of sex. Knowledge Is the Beginning In the 1990s, conductor Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian-born writer and professor Edward Said created the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. This unusual hybrid of a concert movie and a political documentary chronicles the life of the orchestra. August 1 2007 Ladino – 500 Years Young Yasmin Levy, an electrifying Israeli singer, is trying to preserve the musical culture of Ladino, the ancient language of the Jews of Spain, now in danger of disappearing. Wasted Nurit Kedar’s Wasted is a candid look at Israeli soldiers who served in the fortress of Beaufort in Southern Lebanon before Israel’s withdrawal in 2000. Aviva My Love Aviva (Asi Levi) writes magical stories she hopes to publish, but she must also keep her family afloat even if it means sacrificing her own ambitions. Orthodox Stance A fascinating journey into the two worlds of Dmitriy Salita, a strictly Orthodox young Russian immigrant in Brooklyn who is also an undefeated professional prizefighter. August 2 2007 Chosen Ones, The Wendla Nolle travels to Manhattan in search of the face of young Jewish music and serves up a sampler of this hip new generation.   So Long Are You Young The unusual story of Samuel Ullman, a Jewish merchant from the deep South, and his remarkable poem, “Youth,” which inspired a generation of postwar Japanese. Preceded by Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow’s Ezekiel’s Wheels. Sweet Mud One of the year’s most acclaimed international dramas: A 12-year-old boy must care for his emotionally fragile mother on an Israeli kibbutz, learning poignant lessons about thwarted love and human failings. Winner, Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Making Trouble Making Trouble is a laugh-out-loud, impeccably researched documentary that explores six legendary American Jewish women comics: Molly Picon, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker Joan Rivers, Wendy Wasserstein and Gilda Radner.

Alas! We are Forsaken! Today is Tisha B’Av

Please follow this link to my thoughts this Tisha B’Av.

An easy fast to all.