Saturday August 2 at 9:30 AM

Pot-luck (dairy) Kiddush lunch follows the service

Everyone is welcome

Are you an artist or craftsperson ?

Do you consider yourself Jewish?

Or, do you express Jewish themes in your work?

Then, we are looking for you!

Interested?

For information, please contact

Laura Clein, at sales@consciousconsignment.com or by phone at 707.938.3858

“Challenge and Inspiration!”
the week before Tisha B’Av
August 4-8th, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

“Spiritual Empowerment”
the week before Rosh HaShanna
September 21-25th, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Bircas HaTorah Women’s Seminars are designed to inspire today’s Jewish woman to approach her Judaism with greater professionalism and joy. Being in the presence of such great Torah educators as the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Shimon Green, Rabbi Zahavie Green, Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit, as well as guided discussions with Rebbetzen Ayelet Wegbreit, and other staff members, participants are awakened to their potential as Torah observant Jews. Textual analysis in small groups preceding each class challenges participants to establish their own relationship with the material being discussed. Discussion-style lectures draw upon the insights and questions of all participants in the context of the teacher’s expertise to form a deeper understanding of the Torah’s illumination for our lives.

Naomi Persky
Women’s Seminars
Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah
+972-2-991-0232 +972-54-811-9348 (203) 445-6659 US business hours EST
womenslearning@bircas.org
www.bircas.org

Potluck Dairy Kiddush - Lunch follows the Services

Sunday July 20th at 4pm
Congregation Beth Sholom
Donations requested & refreshments served
For More Information:
707-253-7305

Still there was a part of me that was not keen to be a part of an institutional Judaism. I had basically grown up in the “Conservative System” and felt like it had stripped much of what it could have offered up in the form of spirituality. My wife and I were looking for something else - something that was created and run by the participants. There were other like minded Jews in Napa, those that felt like CBS was not the place for them or that they needed some supplement to what CBS had to offer. The model we used was simple - we met once a month at each other’s homes for Friday Night services and a potlock and whomever was the hosting the service lead it (with everyone chipping in as best we could).

To be clear none of use were Jewish Scholars and everyone had their own style for services. I tended to want to have a learning service while others varied from more traditional services to chanting services (more meditative). Kids were welcome and encouraged and we had the services with all the craziness (and wonderfulness) that having them around involved. For a while we were in bliss. These services were something I looked forward too and would talk about eagerly with friends. I remember having talked to close college friends and the concern in their eyes that we had somehow joined a cult. We had many memorable services at some beautiful homes throughout the Napa Valley. The settings were gorgeous and the energy we created was amazing. We had created Chavurat Napa and we reveled in our creation.

So what happened? Chavurat Napa in its original makeup is no more. Well in my analysis several things brought down the Chavurah from its pinnacle of greatness.

First, was constant pressure from CBS to bring the Chavurah into the synagogue fold. That our presence was somehow taking away from the Jewish Experience in Napa and that we needed to put our efforts into unifying the Jews of Napa rather than splitting the up (remember this is my perspective and I how I saw it - whether correct or incorrect).

Secondly, a majority of Chavurat members wanted to bring in “experts” to lead services. To me this is what killed the Chavurah for me. As soon as I moved from leading to just participating and being part of the audience the experience deteriorated. We soon were paying for our Jewish Experience. It felt like I was back into institutional Judaism where you supported the Synagogue and occasionally go to watch the show.

So where am I now? I look back fondly at those days of Chavurat Napa though I am not sure I have the energy at the moment to try to recreate it. We are firmly ensconced in CBS and our Kids attend the hebrew school and sunday school. I attend Friday Night services but rarely (my Wife more frequently) and of course I attend synagogue on High Holidays. Firmly back in the hands of institutional Judaism.

As a final note - I share this with you so you can share your own experiences and comment on what I see is part of the Jewish Condition for many. I firmly believe that I am where I am because of my own actions and only through my own actions will I be able to re-experience the magic that was Chavurat Napa.

Now discuss amongst yourself and leave your comments.

Thanks

Louis

Transforming Negative Emotions
2 - 4 pm
Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa 94559

Forgiveness - The Key to Resiliency
7 - 9 pm
Congregation Beth Sholom
1455 Elm Street, Napa 9455

Sponsored by Janna Waldinger & Lowell Downey
Call to reserve space (707) 257-1166 or email: artclarity@aol.com

Download the PDF of the Event here.

With Roy, Sue, Jesse and Ben on Saturday, June 7 at 9:30 A.M. Traditional Minyan at CBS. Potluck (dairy) Kiddush lunch will follow the service. Everyone is welcome.

Shabbat morning services - Saturday, June 7 at 9:30 A.M. (Congregation Beth Sholom)

Services followed by potluck dairy Kiddush lunch - Families are welcome!

Thanks

Louis