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A SCROLL TO SHARE:
Jewish Milestones Dedicates a Lending Torah to Community
12.12.08
by Stacey Palevsky
j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California
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The
Torah arrived in Berkeley from Israel in a large TV box. All traces of
the previous technological inhabitant had been removed, save for one
slip of paper that was accidentally left behind. It read: "Imagine the
possibilities; the centerpiece of your home."
When Rachel Brodie unpacked the Torah to find that paper at the bottom of the box, she thought it most appropriate.
After all, she had been imagining the possibilities for years.
As the director of Jewish Milestones - a Berkeley-based nonprofit that
guides unaffiliated individuals and families through lifecycle events -
she had longed to provide the Bay Area Jewish community with a lending
Torah.
"The Torah is meant to be looked at, touched, worked with.
It's meant to be accessed. And in essence, that's our mission," Brodie
said. "Jewish Milestones is all about access...."
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Beautiful music, food, and décor, generously donated by professional musicians, caterers, a photographer, other vendors and supporters
greatly enhanced the experience.
We are abundantly grateful to: |
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Below:
Jen Taylor Friedman, soferet/Torah scribe offering an inspired tour of our Torah, unscrolled on tables in the middle of the room.
The Jewish Milestones Lending Torah is one example of the many ways we seek to make Jewish
lifecycle rituals authentic, accessible and meaningful to all Jews, and
to those whose lives are not structured around a synagogue community in
particular.
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The celebration of Hannukah invites us to reflect not only on the kindling
of hope during a time of darkness but also on the sources of that hope:
gratitude and rededication.
The Jewish Milestones Lending Torah, restored through the generosity of
over 100 individuals and families, and rededicated for use by an untold
number of Bay Area Jews, inspires hope and gratitude in us, the staff of JM.
That hope and gratitude extends to people like you, people we turn to for
support in realizing our vision of an accessible, inspiring, and vital Judaism as experienced through Jewish lifecycle events.
We hope you will invest in Jewish Milestones at this critical time.
To make a secure, tax-deductible contribution
click the "donate" button below:
Or mail a check made out to Jewish Milestones to our office:
748 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
THANK YOU!
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WORD OF MOUTH IS THE #1 WAY PEOPLE FIND JEWISH MILESTONES:
Call: 510.559.3636
or visit us on the web:
 www. .org
With wishes for an illuminating Hannukah from Rachel, Julie, Deb and Jenni!
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