D'VAR TORAH: A LOOK AT THE TORAH PORTION OF THE WEEK Each week we will share different commentaries on the Torah portion and/or the holiday. D'var Torahs we shared in 5780 September 4, 2021 NITZAVIM, DEUTERONOMY 29:9-30:2 From MyJewishLearning.com: Writing Women into the Torah by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses From SouthStreetTemple.org: Nitzavim August 28, 2021 KI TAVO, DEUTERONOMY 26:1-29:8 From MyJewishLearning.com: When you Enter In by Nancy Reuben Greenfield From ReformJudaism.org: From Temple Sacrifices to High Holiday Rituals by Cantor Evan Kent August 21, 2021 KI TEITZEI, DEUTERONOMY 21:10-25:19 From ReformJudaism.org: The Power of Collective Memory by Cantor Evan Kent Ki Teitzei for Teens , Shabbat Sha-raps August 14, 2021 SHOFTIM, DEUTERONOMY 16:18-21:9 From ReformJudaism.org: Social Justice in My Bones by Evan Kent Shof'tim for Teens , Shabbat Sha'raps August 7, 2021 RE'EH, DEUTERONOMY 11:26-16:17 The Office of Rabbi Sacks: Defining Reality by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks MyJewishLearning.com: Telling and Retelling by Anat Barber July 31, 2021 EIKEV, DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25 From MyJewishLearning.com: Winning the Divine Lottery by Rabbi Dan Ross From ReformJudaism.org: Survival and S ustenance by Jonathan Cohen From RabbiSacks.org: To Lead is to Liste n by the Late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks July 24, 2021 VAETCHANAN, DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11 From MyJewishLearning.com: Inverse Tablets by Mindy Berman The Smallest of Peoples by Pamela Katz July 17, 2021 DEVARIM, DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22 From Chabad.org: Recalling the Story, Long After It's Told by Karen Wolfers-Rappaport From RabbiSacks.org: Family Edition by the Late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks July 10, 2021 MATOT-MASEI, NUMBERS 30:2-36:13 From ReformJudaism.org: Out of the Shadows and Beyond the Fear: Zelophehad's Daughters' Daughters by Rabbi Carol Bailin Ph.D. From RabbiSacks.org: Family Edition by the Late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks July 3, 2021 PINCHAS, NUMBERS 25:10-30.1 From MyJewishLearning.com: Dispossession of Women’s Land by Rachel Farbiarz Zeal and Peace by Rabbi Howard Alpert June 26, 2021 BALAK, NUMBERS 22:2-25.9 From ReformJudaism.org: How to Avoid Getting Stuck in Balak's Trap by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, Ph. D. Whose Word is it Anyway? by Steven Kushner June 19, 2021 CHUKAT, NUMBERS 19:1-22:1 From ReformJudaism.org: In the End, There Was Love by Rabbi Alex Kress Experiencing Torah Through Reckless Abandon in the Wilderness by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, Ph.D. Shabbat Sha-raps (for Teens) From MyJewishLearning.com: Responding to Thirst by Jordana Schuster June 12, 2021 KORACH, NUMBERS 16:1-18:32 From Schechter.edu: The Elusiveness of Honor by Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin From Reform Judaism.org: How Leaders Can Use Guilt to Control a People by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, Ph.D. June 5, 2021 SH'LACH, NUMBERS 13:1-15:41 From MyJewishLearning.com: The Perils of Groupthink by Rabbi Asher Lopatin From SouthStreetTemple.org: Torah Portion Sh'lach May 29, 2021 BEHA'ALOTCHA, NUMBERS 8:1-12:16 From MyJewishLearning.com: Leaving Childhood Behind b y Rabbi Shimon Felix From ReformJudaism.org: Bringing Up Israel--Parenting a New Nation by Rabbi Lisa Grushcow May 22, 2021 NASSO, NUMBERS 4:21-7:89 From MyJewishLearning.com: In the Priestly Blessing, Seeing Parenthood’s Trajectory by Noah Arnow Children and Jealousy by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses May 15, 2021 BAMIDBAR, NUMBERS 1:1-4:20 From MyJewishLearning.com: When Women are Invisible by Sivan Rotholz From American Jewish World Service: Bamidba r by Rabbi David Singer May 8, 2021 BEHAR, LEVITICUS 25:1-26:2 From The Office of Rabbi Sacks: The Power of a Curse by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks From ReformJudaism.org: Joining God as Resident Strangers in the World by Rabbi Ben Spratt May 1, 2021 EMOR, LEVITICUS 21:1-24:23 From Jewish World Service: Dvar Tzedek by Rachel Farbiarz From MyJewishLearning.com: The Cruel Demands of Purity and Beauty by Dr. Shulamit Reinharz April 24, 2021 ACHAREI MOT-KEDOSHIM, LEVITICUS 16:1-20:27 From The Office of Rabbi Sacks 2021: Sprints and Marathons by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks 2017: Judaism's Three Voices by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks April 17, 2021 TAZRIA-METZORA, LEVITICUS 12:1-15:33 From MyJewishLearning.com: Illness, Isolation and Lessons Learned by Rabbi Hazzan Rachel Tilchin From Aish.com: Fred Rogers and the Power of Words by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Lesson in Humility by N.Y. Safran (Family-focused discussion) April 10, 2021 SHEMINI, LEVITICUS 9:1-11:47 From ReformJudaism.org: You Are What You Eat: The New World of Kosher Food by Rabbi Lance Sussman Shemini for Teens , Sha-raps March 27, 2021 TZAV, LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36 From ReformJudaism.org: From the Altar to the Bimah—What is Expected of a Leader? by Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg Never Too Proud to Wield the Sacred Shovel by Rabbi Ben Spratt Tzav for Teens , Shabbat Sha-raps March 20, 2021 VAYIKRA, LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26 From ReformJudaism.org: The Power of Sacrifice, Then and Now by Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg From MyJewishLearning.com: The Pending Guilt Climate and the Global Climate by Shlomo Levin March 13, 2021 VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI, EXODUS 35:1-40:38 From website dedicated to teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks: Celebrate From Aish.com: Revenge is a dish best not served by Harry Rothenberg Coloring Pages for Ages 2-6 March 6, 2021 KI TISA, EXODUS 30:11-34:35 From Aish.com The Injustice of Judgement by Rabbi Yitzchak Zweig For Children--Caring for Others by Nesanel Y. Safran February 27, 2021 TETZAVEH, EXODUS 27:20-30:10 From Aish.com Crushed for the Light by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Balancing Our Children's Education . A Video with Eitiel Goldwicht Coloring Pages for Ages 3- 7 February 20, 2021 TERUMAH, EXODUS 25:1-27:19 From MyJewishLearning.com: Hidden Gifts by Rabbi Nicole Auerbach From Keshet online: A Mandatory Donation by David Katzenelson February 13, 2021 MISHPATIM, EXODUS 21:1-24:18 From ReformJudaism.org: A Continuity of Law by Rabbi Reuven Greenvald Mishpatim for Tots - Kids and Compassion February 6, 2021 YITRO, EXODUS 18:1-20:26 From the Office of Rabbi Sacks: A Nation of Leaders by the late Rabbi Lord Sacks From ReconstructingJudaism.org: Hearing the Voice of God by Rabbi Howard Cohen January 30, 2021 BESHALACH, EXODUS 13:17-17:16 From AJWS.net (American Jewish World Service) Parshat Beshalach by Alana Alpert From MyJewishLearning.com: Parashat Beshalach: Summary by Nancy R. Greenfield January 23, 2021 BO, EXODUS 10:1-13:16 From Aish.com: The Story We Tell About Ourselves by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Finding Courage (for Parents & Kids) by Nesanel Yoel Safran Visualizing the Exodus Experience by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski January 16, 2021 VA-EIRA, EXODUS 6:2-9:35 I (God) Appeared [to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob] From ReformJudaism.org: What It Takes to Fulfill the Promise by Rabbi Stephanie M. Alexander Why So Many Plagues by Rabbi Mary Zamore Shortness of Breath, Shortness of Spirit by Rabbi Sarah Bassin From MyJewishLearning.com: Who Really Hardened Paharaoh's Heart? by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg January 9, 2021 SHMOT, EXODUS 1:1-6:1 From Aish.com: How We Relate to God Depends on How We Relate to Others by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski Coloring Pages for Kids From MyJewishLearning.com : These are the Names by Rabbi Bradley Artson January 2, 2021 VAYECHI, GENESIS 47:28-50:26 From MyJewishLearning.com: The Legend of You and Me by Rabbi Devin Maimon Villarreal From ReformJudaism.org: Shabbat Sha-raps for Teens December 26, 2020 VAYIGASH, GENESIS 44:18-47:27 From MyJewishLearning.com: When Dreams Come True by Hanan Schlesinger Preparing for Exile by Rabbi Yitzchok A. Breitowitz From ReformJudaism.org: Shabbat Sha-raps for Teens December 19, 2020 MIKETZ, GENESIS 41:1-44:17 In parshat Miketz we learn of how Joesph arrived in Egypt and his plan to bring Benjamin there as well. From MyJewishLearning.com: Coercion vs. Love by Rabbi Noah Arnow From Aish.com: Coloring pages for children Ages 3-8 Three Approaches to Dreams by Rabbi Lord Sacks December 12, 2020 VAYEISHEV: GENESIS 37:1-40:23 Jacob now settled in the land of his father's sojourning, in the land of Canaan. - Genesis 37:1 From ReformJudaism.org: The Most Painful Parts of Joseph’s Story Can Teach Us about Ourselves by Rabbi Michael Dolgin Who is the Support Cast in the Story of Your Life by Rabbi Dan Moskowitz December 5, 2020 VAYISHLACH, GENESIS 32:4-36:43 Jacob now sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, in the countryside of Edom. - Genesis 32:4 From Aish.com: Coloring Pages for 3 – 6 year olds Who’s In Control by Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman The Jewish Journey by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks November 28, 2020 VAYETZEI, GENESIS 28:10-32.3 From MyJewishLearning.com: The Place with No Name by Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn From ReformJudaism.org: Shabbat Sha-raps for Teens November 21, 2020 TOLDOT, GENESIS 25:19-28:9 From MyJewishLearning.com: Why Rebecca Pushed Jacob to Get Esau's Blessing by Rabbi Nathan J. Diament From ReformJudaism.org: The Greatest Threat to Civilization by Rabbi Michael Dolgin November 14, 2020 CHAYEI SARAH, GENESIS 23:1-25:18 From ReformJudaism.org: What Torah Can Teach Us about Overcoming Loneliness by Rabbi Michael Dolgin Chayei Sarah for Teens--Shabbat Sha-raps From Aish.com: Coloring Pages on Chayei Sarah for Toddlers and Elementary Students November 7, 2020 VAYERA, GENESIS 18:1-22:24 From Jtsa.org: Itzik's Journey by David G. Roskies Women of Faith by Amy Kalmanofsky From ReformJudaism.org: Vayeira for Teens--Shabbat Sha-raps October 31, 2020 LECH LECHA, GENESIS 12:1-17:27 From Aish.com: An 8 Year-Old Behind the Wheel by Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich (Torah for children) From Rabbisacks.org: The Courage Not to Confirm by Rabbi Lord Sacks From usy.org: Lech Lecha by Aviya Cammy (for teens) October 24, 2020 NOACH, GENESIS 6:9-11:32 From Reformjudaism.org: Noach for Tots—How do We Understand Our Children? by Diana Fersko Noach for Teens—Shabbat Sha-raps From MyJewishlearning.com: The Earth was Filled with Violence by Daniel Bloom (for adults) October 17, 2020 BERESHIT, GENESIS 1:1-6:8 Bereshit is perhaps the most read part of the Torah as it starts our collective story. Summary from My Jewish Learning: In this Torah portion, God creates the world. After Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, they are banished from the Garden of Eden. Later Cain kills Abel. God then considers destroying all of Creation. From Reformjudaism.org: A Special Podcast with Singer David Broza ( One can select to hear the podcast or read the transcript) What does it Mean to be Human by Rabbi Michael Dolgin From Myjewishlearning.com: The Two Creation Stories by Rabbi I. Schorsch The Power of a Name by Rabbi Andrew Davids Commentary for Sukkot From My Jewish Learning: This portion covers all the “sacred occasions” that are mentioned in the Torah. It is only at the very end that Sukkot–and its symbols of the sukkah and four species–is mentioned. In the Reform tradition only the part that specifically focuses on Sukkot (Leviticus 23:33-44 ) is read on the holiday 22:26. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 22:27. When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall stay seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as an offering by fire to the LORD. 22:28. However, no animal from the herd or from the flock shall be slaughtered on the same day with its young. 22:29. When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, sacrifice it so that it may be acceptable in your favor. 22:30. lt shall be eaten on the same day; you shall not leave any of it until morning: I am the LORD. 22:31. You shall faithfully observe My commandments: I am the LORD. 22:32. You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people -I the LORD who sanctify you, 22:33. I who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God, I the LORD. 23:1. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23:2. Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: These are My fixed times, the fixed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions. 23:3. On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion. You shall do no work; it shall be a sabbath of the LORD throughout your settlements. 23:4. These are the set times of the LORD, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time: 23:5. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the LORD, 23:6. and on the fifteenth day of that month the LORD’s Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days. 23:7. The first day shall be for you a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. 23:8. Seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the LORD. The seventh day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. 23:9. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23:10. Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: When you enter the land which I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. 23:11. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for acceptance in your behalf; the priest shall wave it on the day after the sabbath. 23:12. On the day that you wave the sheaf, you shall offer as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb of the first year without blemish. 23:13. The meal offering with it shall be two-tenths of a measure of choice flour with oil mixed in, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD; and the libation with it shall be of wine, a quarter of a hin. 23:14. Until that very day, until you have brought the offering of your God, you shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears; it is a law for all time throughout the ages in all your settlements. 23:15. And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of wave offering – the day after the sabbath-you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: 23:16. you must count until the day after the seventh week-fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD. 23:17. You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as a wave offering; each shall be made of two- tenths of a measure of choice flour, baked after leavening, as first fruits to the LORD. 23:18. With the bread you shall present, as burnt offerings to the LORD, seven yearling lambs without blemish, one bull of the herd, and two rams, with their meal offerings and libations, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD. 23:19. You shall also offer one he-goat as a sin offering and two yearling lambs as a sacrifice of well-being. 23:20. The priest shall wave these-the two lambs together with the bread of first fruits as a wave offering before the LORD; they shall be holy to the LORD, for the priest. 23:21. On that same day you shall hold a celebration; it shall be a sacred occasion for you; you shall not work at your occupations. This is a law for all time in all your settlements, throughout the ages. 23:22. And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the LORD am your God. 23:23. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23:24. Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts. 23:25. You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall bring an offering by fire to the LORD. 23:26. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23:27. Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: you shall practice self-denial, and you shall bring an offering by fire to the LORD; 23:28. you shall do no work throughout that day. For it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on your behalf before the LORD your God. 23:29. lndeed, any person who does not practice self-denial throughout that day shall be cut off from his kin; 23:30. and whoever does any work throughout that day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people. 23:31. Do no work whatever; it is a law for all time, throughout the ages in all your settlements. 23:32. It shall be a sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall practice self-denial; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall observe this your sabbath. 23:33. The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23:34. Say to the Israelite people: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month there shall be the Feast of Booths to the LORD, [to last] seven days. 23:35. The first day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations; 23:36. seven days you shall bring offerings by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall observe a sacred occasion and bring an offering by fire to the LoRD; it is a solemn gathering: you shall not work at your occupations. 23:37. Those are the set times of the LORD which you shall celebrate as sacred occasions, bringing offerings by fire to the LORD – burnt offerings, meal offerings, sacrifices, and libations, on each day what is proper to it- 23:38. apart from the sabbaths of the LORD, and apart from your gifts and from all your votive offerings and from all your freewill offerings that you give to the LORD. 23:39. Mark, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the yield of your land, you shall observe the festival of the LORD [to last] seven days: a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day. 23:40. On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 23:41. You shall observe it as a festival of the LORD for seven days in the year; you shall observe it in the seventh month as a law for all time, throughout the ages. 23:42. You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, 23:43. in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the LORD your God. 23:44. So Moses declared to the Israelites the set times of the LORD. This English translation is reprinted with permission from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures published by the Jewish Publication Society . Saturday, September 26, 2020 HA'AZINU, DEUTERONOMY 32:1-32:52 This is the 53rd weekly Torah portion ( פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) and the 10th in the Book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Deuteronomy 32:1–52. Here, Moses shares a song to the Israelites that emphasizes their covenant with God. From MyJewishLearning.com: When It’s Better to Do Verse by Rabbi Arnow From Aish.com: Don’t be Spoiled by Neshanel Safran (Commentary for Children & Their Parents with questions to ask) The Arc of the Moral Universe by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (Advanced Commentary) Torah Commentary for Rosh HaShanah 2020 From ReformJudaism.org: Yom Sheini shel Rosh HaShanah for Tweens by Barbara Kadden From Reform Judaism Blog: How Midrash and Commentary Help Us Read Between the Lines

How to Host a Seder & More Just like Passover 2020, this year for Passover we may have to recreate our own charoset made of fruits and nuts our parents and grandparents never contemplated using. We will probably find horseradish and purchase matzah, but we may still have to lead our own seder and not join our relatives or friends. Still social distancing this Passover season, we may still be looking for items for our Seder dinner(s), consider being innovative. Over the centuries, different Jewish communities made the food their own while maintaining the symbolism which “told” the Exodus story. The many different charoset recipes reflect the foods available to each Jewish community. Think ahead and check with your rabbi, cantor and/or religious leader for resources, stores and food substitutions. Let the story of the Exodus be the “centerpiece” at your Seder. And we hope you use the links below to help you prepare for this year's Seder and beyond! Passover 101 from MyJewishLearning.com, a great website where you can learn from how to prep for the holiday to understanding the terms, to picking the right Haggadah. One Table Passover 2021 has excellent resources that provides information on leading your own Seder, as well as recipes. PJ Library Passover Hub is perfect for kids. American Jewish World Service's downloadable Haggadah is oriented towards social action. Let’s Make Your Passover Haggadah Together! The haggadot.com website enables you to create your own Haggadah and emphasize different parts of the Passover story. How to celebrate Passover during the Pandemic , from Kveller.com How to cook for Passover during a Pandemic , from My Jewish Learning.com/The Nosher Passover Tips for Seders in the Time of the Coronavirus from Forward.com How Different Will This Night Be? 10 Tips to Your Virtual Seder by Jewish Journal. How to Host a Virtual Passover Seder , from Heyalma.com How to Plan an Online Passover Seder from Forward.com Digital Content to Enliven This Year's Virtual Seders from URJ.org . Watch How to set your table for a Passover Seder with Rabbi Nicki Greninger of Temple Isaiah . This Kveller article is ideal to share with teachers and parents of young children . From a Red Sea diorama to hand puppets, from a matzah print to "kinetic rice and sand," there is something for everybody for a fun-filled experience and/or to add to one's holiday decor. Like Facebook? Join the group Jewishlive . ReformJudaism.org 's Passover checklist can be found here . If you are hosting a Passover Seder for the first time, here is what to do . The 14 Steps for a Traditional Seder is a wonderful guide by My Jewish Learning . How to Host a Seder by Mash Up Americans. The Complete Guide to Hosting a Seder by Forward.com . Jewish Study Network has on-line sessions if you want to join. Alephbeta.org is offering free online accounts during our self-quarantine. It is a favorite site for parents with teenage children.

VENUES Acalanes High School: 1200 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lafayette, CA, 94549 (925.280.3970) Beth Chaim Congregation: 1800 Holbrook Dr, Danville, CA 94506 (925.736.7146) - bethchaim.com Chabad of Contra Costa: 1671 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 (925.937.4101) - jewishcontracosta.com Chabad of the Tri-Valley: 3370 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588 (925.846.0700) - jewishtrivalley.com Congregation B'nai Shalom: 74 Eckley Ln, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925.934.9446) - bshalom.org Congregation B'nai Tikvah: 25 Hillcroft Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (925.933.5397) - tikvah.org Congregation Beth Emek : 3400 Nevada Ct, Pleasanton, CA 94566 (925.931.1055) - bethemek.org Contra Costa Jewish Day School: 955 Risa Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549 (925.284.8288) - ccjds.org Danville Village Theatre: 233 Front St, Danville, CA 94526 (925.314.3400) Gateway Clubhouse Rossmoor: 1001 Golden Rain Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94595 - rosmoor.com Temple Isaiah: 945 Risa Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549 (925.283.8575) - temple-isaiah.org Vine Cinema & Alehouse: 1722 First St, Livermore, CA 94550 (925.447.2545) - vinecinema.com

MOROCCAN HAROSET BALLS Ingredients 1 cup walnuts (almonds can be substituted) 1 peeled and cubed green apple 1/2 cup pitted dates 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup pitted prunes 2 tsp. grape juice 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. sugar Preparation In a blender or food processor, add all ingredients. Blend to desired consistency. Some prefer this charoset to have more texture while others refer a smoother consistency. Roll the charoset mixture into balls, refrigerate for 1-2 hours, and then place individual balls on each plate. HEDVA'S YEMENITE CHAROSET (with thanks to the Jewish Journal magazine) Ingredients 1 cup walnuts 1 cup almonds 10 dates, seedless Water 1/2 cup raisins 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 cup grape juice or sweet red wine Preparation In a food processor, lightly grind walnuts and almonds. Set aside. Soak dates in water for 1 hour and cut each date into halves. Grind dates, raisins and diced apple in the food processor. Add walnuts, almonds and remaining ingredients. Add the grape juice or sweet wine and mix well. SEPHARDIC HAROSET Ingredients 1/2 cup pecans chopped 1/2 pound pitted dates 1 1/2 cup raisins 2 peeled apples 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground ginger 1/4 cup orange juice Preparation Put all of the ingredients in a food processor with a steel blade and process until coarsely chopped. ASHKENAZI CHAROSET Ingredients 6 grated apples 1 cup finely chopped walnuts 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 2-3 Tbsp white sugar 1/3 cup sweet red wine Preparation Place the apples and walnuts into a large bowl. Combine the cinnamon and sugar, sprinkle over the apples. Stir in the sweet wine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving. SABRA HAROSET (Thank you to Be’chol Lashon’s website for this tasty charoset. Ingredients 2 peeled and cored apples 6 peeled bananas 1 lemon, juiced 1 orange, juiced 20 pitted dates 1 cup peanuts (switch to another nut, if allergic) 1 cup dry red wine matzah meal as needed 2 tsp. cinnamon sugar to taste Preparation Put fruit, nuts, cinnamon and sugar into a food processor and blend to a slightly chunky texture. Add wine, lemon juice and orange juice. Then add enough matzah meal to form the consistency that you want.

ISRAEL'S BIRTHDAY SCAVENGER HUNT & HIKE Apr 17, 2021, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT In Danville, TBA upon registration Perfect for young families! Join us for a scavenger hunt & hike starting at a local park followed by snacks & refreshments. Details

TISHA B'AV Tisha B'Av is an annual fast day in Judaism, on which four disasters in Jewish history are supposed to have occurred. The two primary ones are the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 586 BCE and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in 70 CE. The third one is the Fall of Betar, Bar Kochba's last stronghold during the Third Jewish War against Rome (132-135 CE), and the fourth is the expulsion from Spain in 1492. Tisha B'Av is regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. Tisha B'Av falls in July or August in the Gregorian calendar. The observance of this day includes five prohibitions, most notable of which is a day-long fast. The Book of Lamentations, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem, is read in the synagogue, followed by the recitation of kinnot. The latter are liturgical dirges that lament the loss of the Temples and Jerusalem. In 2024, the year 5784 in the Jewish calendar, Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av), starts on the evening of Monday, August 12 and ends on the evening of Tuesday, August 13. The following are some online resources: From My Jewish Learning, Why Tisha B'Av is Not Really About Mourning Tisha B'Av Rituals and Practices

Celebrate Israel's 75th Birthday at Sunday, April 30, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Stone Valley Middle School, Alamo Event Schedule Register here Donate for IsraFEST75 This festive, community-wide event is convened and underwritten by We wish to thank our co-sponsors and community partners for their generosity and support. Platinum Sponsor Co-sponsors Community Partners Admission is free. Pre-register by Friday, April 28, and save time on entry on Sunday, April 30. Before you check out, enter the number of adults and children tickets you need and fill the registration form once. You will immediately receive your order confirmation email, including your ticket(s), to scan on that day. Registrations that include multiple tickets will have a pdf attachment in the confirmation email. If you don't see this email, please check your spam/junk folder to retrieve it. We suggest adding sender notifications@wixevents.com to your contacts in advance. Directions to Stone Valley Middle School in Alamo: https://goo.gl/maps/FL5k6hUwpzATkfdf9 Important: There is parking in front of the school and along the adjacent streets (Ina Drive, David Drive, etc.) However, there is no parking on Miranda. We recommend carpooling with friends and family. All bags are subject to security checks. We also recommend bringing transparent bags if possible. For questions, email underonetent@ccjcc.org . There is something for everyone at IsraFEST75 . Here is the list of some of our activities. Check back by April 16 for our complete schedule. Visit our “Shuk HaCarmel” for Israeli food & snacks including borekas and hummus, plus Israel@75 souvenirs. Youth 3 – 13 will enjoy interactive activities: observing desert fauna; visiting a Bedouin tent for mint tea & a poetry reading; making a mezuzah; discover the wonders of Israeli innovation; journeying to Tel Aviv for a round of Matkot; visiting a replica of the Kotel, and much, much more. Enjoy live musical performances by Eric Schoen, "The Three Cantors" with Temple Isaiah Mizmor Band and Rabbi Larry Milder. At 1:15 PM, Israeli singer Noa Levy and her band will present a concluding concert! If movies are your thing, drop by for our Israeli short film series. Learn about the FIDF’s “Lone Soldier” program from a participant. Curious about your roots? Genealogist Margalit Ir will share her inside tips for discovering more about your ancestors. Rabbi Lawrence from Temple Isaiah will lead a discussion on Israeli music. Kick up your heels at our Israeli folk dancing classes. Take a group picture at our photo booth with beautiful backdrops of Israeli scenes. Food trucks will join us onsite: Kona Ice and StarChaat Indian vegetarian food. L ooking forward to celebrating Israel's 75th birthday with you!

HOW TO WATCH YOUR ONLINE EVENT You may watch the movies on your tablet, computer, or phone in addition to your TV . For all devices except TV, streaming the movies should be as simple as clicking the link you receive in the confirmation email (after you complete registration and during the period of time that streaming will be available). You may also open your preferred browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc.) and copy and paste the same link to your browser. Note: For online film screenings co-sponsored with EBIJFF and presented on Eventive's platform, you will need to log in to your Eventive account that you created when you first signed in and/or purchased a ticket, paid or free. Once you are logged in, you have full access to your content library, you can watch the programs in there and for support, you may use their need help link. Please pay attention to the movie unlock periods and watch periods as these may differ depending on the platforms or streaming providers. For Zoom presentations, you would also use the link in the confirmation and/or reminder email you receive before the event begins. You may either directly click the link provided that will prompt Zoom and ask you to allow downloads and then launch meeting, or join in the meeting with the meeting ID and password provided. Watching the Event on Your TV There are two methods for watching the event on your television: Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay. Chromecast: If you have an external Google Chromecast set up with your TV or a TV with built-in Google Chromecast (TV’s listed here ) , open the online event link in Chrome and follow these steps to cast the webpage’s video experience to your TV. Apple AirPlay: If you have an external Apple TV or a TV with built-in Apple Airplay (TV’s listed here ) , open the online event link in Safari and follow these Play a web video on your HDTV steps. To watch movies streamed on Vimeo's platform (such as online screenings co-sponsored with EBIJFF) using the Vimeo App on a smart TV (Android) or Roku, follow the steps listed here . Watch here how to connect an android phone to a TV for screen mirroring (or screen casting). Compatible Browsers for Online Viewing Chrome 77+ Edge 17+ Firefox 71+ Safari 12.1+ Chrome for android 78+ Firefox for android 78+ iOS safari 12+ If you have a Mac device that you use, but an Android Smart TV (ex: Sony Bravia that has chromecast), follow these steps: Download the Google Chrome app onto your Mac device , if you don’t already have it. Once you are in Google Chrome, copy the movie link to the Chrome browser and start your video. On the top right of your screen, above the video playing, you will see 3 vertical dots, Click the 3 dots. There will be a list of options opening up. Find and click “Cast” and choose the tv name you want to cast the movie to. Make sure the TV you choose is in the same WI-FI network and it is ON. You should be able to continue watching the movie immediately where you left off. If you encounter other playback issues while watching your movie on Vimeo , here are some troubleshooting tips . Important Tip: If you are connecting your IPad or IPhone to your TV with a lightning and an HDMI cable, to view the film fullscreen on TV, please make sure your phone or tablet is in horizontal position. Otherwise, the image will be smaller, in portrait mode, and will not fill the TV screen.

With the Under One Tent program Contra Costa JCC is partnering with synagogues, schools and Jewish organizations to bring the Jewish community together. UNDER ONE TENT The One Stop for Jewish Culture & Community in Contra Costa & Tri Valley JoAnn Jacobson, Chair, Under One Tent Larry Jacobs, President, Contra Costa JCC The Contra Costa JCC is proud to bring Under One Tent to the community. This innovative program is more than a listing of events. We reflect the renaissance of Judaism and Jewish life in Central Contra Costa and Pleasanton and showcase the dynamic partnerships between synagogues, schools, and Jewish organizations. Through cultural, educational, spiritual and social action programs, our community comes together — the affiliated and unaffiliated — to celebrate, explore and learn. By being inclusive, we become: O NE W elcoming A ctive V ibrant E xciting Jewish community.

VENUES Due to social-distancing protocols at many of our locations, the majority of our events remain virtual (online). If a program is held in-person, that information will be included in its write-up. The location of our “Young Families' Programs," which are usually outdoor events, will be listed in the program description, or in some cases, communicated after registration is complete.

HOW TO REGISTER For All Events, Virtual & In-Person Before the pandemic, all our events were in person and pre-registration was strongly recommended. By signing up early, you enjoyed lower admission fees and guaranteed yourselves a place "at the table." Now, with all programs being virtual, registration is required. However, you can sign up for most events up until an hour before the start time, attend webinars hosted on the East Coast, stream movies you can watch only at local film festivals in the comfort of your home. And they are all a few clicks away. Other than online registration becoming a must, not much else has changed. Under One Tent programs -- whether virtual or in-person -- still have sponsors, and the first listed sponsor collects RSVPs, sells event tickets, and provides the link to sign-up for a virtual event. For example, if the main sponsor is CCJCC, tickets are available for purchase here. If it is a different sponsor organization, we redirect you -- through the RSVP button -- to their websites or registration links. This is also the case, when CCJCC is the main local sponsor of an event that many different organizations around the United States are paticipating together. You have registered for an event but are looking for more information on its sponsor, visit our "Sponsors" page. For other questions you may have regarding registration process, please email underonetent@ccjcc.org Thanks for registering! Browse Calendar of Events