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Services
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 All are welcome to come celebrate with us.
Shabbat Evening Service Friday, Oct. 28, 7:00 pm Simchat Torah
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Chesed
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CHESED UPDATE
Gladys Weitzner Gladys is very ill and in the ICU at San Ramon Regional Medical Center. We hold her in our prayers.
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Beth Chaim's Chesed Program translates a philosophy of love
and compassion to all,
inside and outside our community, into a program of acts and deeds that help to support and lift each other up in times of need, and at life cycle events.
Please contact us by calling the office at (925) 736-7146 or by email at [email protected]
if you have any Chesed needs.
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Milestones
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Kids' Birthdays
Emma Backshall
16 on October 25
Shannah Saul
13 on October 26
Hannah Rovner
17 on October 27
Erika Spargo
10 on October 31
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Wedding Anniversaries
Greg & Debbie Wiener
28 on October 29
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Yahrzeit Observances
Sylvia Shalon
Mother of Bob Shalon
October 24
Bobby Kelley
Brother of Kathie Bleier
October 28
Names will be read at the
Oct. 28th Shabbat Service.
To make a donation in their honor,
you may call us at 925-736-7146
or pay via PayPal by
clicking the button:
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Tikkun Olam Opportunities
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Holiday Dinner Drive Benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano For Every $1 you donate, the food bank provides $4 of food Donate Online HereSelect Beth Chaim from the drop down menu and complete your donation. Thank you for your generous support! For more information Click Here Contra Costa Interfaith Housing Opportunities for Involvement
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Toiletries Drive
We are collecting large, full size cosmetics and toiletries, as well as diapers, tissues and wipes for newcomer families of JCFS of the East Bay. Travel size toiletries are also still being accepted.
Donations will be presented as a "Welcome Bag" including: toothbrushes/paste, soaps, combs, deodorant, dental floss and other basic items.
Please bring your items to the drop box in the Beth Chaim foyer or to the office.
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Food Bank of Contra Costa Hunger is year-round battle. A reminder that we have a collection barrel in our lobby which is regularly picked up for distribution for those in need in our community.
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Yahrzeit Candles
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In our tradition, we say of loved ones who have died, "May their memory be a blessing" and mark this ongoing process of turning memory into blessing by lighting a yahrzeit candle and reciting the Mourner's Kaddish on the anniversary of their death. We will send you a reminder card two weeks before the anniversary of your loved one's passing and hope that you will consider attending Shabbat services to honor their memory.
A yahrzeit candle is available for you to pick up at the Beth Chaim office at no charge for your observance.
Thank you to Judith Markowitz and Glen Schabacker for underwriting the Yahrzeit program.
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Simchat Torah
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 Simchat TorahFriday, Oct. 28th @ 7:00pm
A celebration with dance & live music.
We celebrate our Torah by touching it, hearing it's stories, experiencing it's blessings, and dancing with joy together as a community.
We will have a talented Israeli dance teacher, Bruce Bierman (who led the joyful dancing at Chanukah), and live music with Eve Decker. For young, old, and everyone in between!
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Under One Tent
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Contra Costa's annual Jewish Book & Arts Festival has thirty-four programs on the fall/winter schedule, with more to come later in the spring. For more details: Click Here
Here are the events co-sponsored by Beth Chaim:
Under One Roof Author Event 
with musical performance by Samuel Oshay
Sunday, Oct. 30th, 3:30 pm @ Beth Chaim
Despite Jackie Robinson having smashed Major League Baseball's color ceiling in 1947, African American players could not room or socialize with their white teammates during spring training in Florida. Author Adam Henig etches a portrait of this troubled era to tell the unforgettable tale of Dr. Ralph Wimbish, a little-known civil rights activist, who risked it all to achieve racial justice. This event also features a short musical program by Samuel Oshay, a high school senior whose first album, A Random Walk Down Main Street, will be released in 2017.
Admission: $12; $5 students
Screening of "The Man I Am" with panel on Transgenderism
 Sunday, Nov. 6th, 3:30pm @ Beth ChaimThis 44-minute documentary tells the personal stories of five Israeli transgender men who were born and raised as females. It movingly portrays what it means to become "who you are really against all odds." Followed by a panel discussion on Judaism & transgenderism.
Moderator: Rabbi Dan Goldblatt.
Admission: $10; $5 students
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Board Matters
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Nominations for the 2017 Beth Chaim Board of Director s
As we continue to evolve our community in new and unique ways, we seek to engage those among us who would like to have a positive influence on this important process through a leadership position on the 2017 Board of Directors.
Membership on the Board enables you to have a direct impact on the way our community operates. Making a contribution of your time in this way can be a meaningful way for you to make a deeper connection with our community.
Any member interested in serving on our Board next year is invited to contact Nominating Committee Chair Drew Porter at [email protected]. Any member wishing to put forward the name of another member for nomination is also invited to contact Drew. Drew will be happy to answer any questions about the nominations process, what involvement in the Board entails, or to schedule a conversation with the Nominating Committee.
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The Beit Midrash Religious School & Midrasha
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"Jewish Entrepreneurship" featuring Stephen Pease
Sunday, October 30th, 9:30-11:15 am @ Beth Chaim
Everyone welcome!
We are coming up to the first of our grant-sponsored lectures, with Steve Pease, who wrote an amazing book entitled The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement. In it he explored how Jews were so very successful in the 19th and 20th centuries, and shares fascinating stories of success from fields of fashion to sports.
Religious School Schedule:
| Tues, 10/25 | Hebrew Power Hour, Jew Crew
5:00-6:00 pm | | Wed, 10/26 | Hebrew Power Hour, Jew Crew
5:00-6:00pm | | Sun, 10/30 | Religious school, 9:15-12:15
Speaker: "Jewish Entrepreneurship"
featuring Stephen Pease
9:30-11:00 | | Mon, 10/31 | Jew Crew, 3:30-4:30 pm | | Tues, 11/1 | Hebrew Power Hour, Jew Crew
5:00-6:00 pm
| | Wed, 11/2 | Hebrew Power Hour, Jew Crew
5:00-6:00 pm
| | Sun, 11/6 | Religious school, 9:15-12:15
Noah's Surpise @ 9:15 |
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Contra Costa Midrasha 2016-17
CCM is the place for Jewish teens in grades 8-12 to build their own Jewish community of friends, be mentored by Jewish young adults and connect to their own Jewish identity through discussion and hands-on learning. Join us on Wednesday nights and for special NEW Sunday programs this year.
For more information, to get questions answered, or just
to say "hi" contact Devra Aarons, CCM's Director at
Weekly Torah Portion Video
We invite you to share this week's video from G-d Cast with your children: |
| | Parshat Bereshit: Kabbalistic Questions on Creation |
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Sisterhood
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  UPCOMING EVENTS
(click on any of the linked titles to go to the sign-ups)
 Wednesday October 26, 2016
6:45 PM to 8:45 PM
Pacific Catch
Please join us for our monthly dinner group, as we drink, dine and dish together. Because of the Cork N Canvas event on September 19th, we will not be holding a dinner for September. October's dinner will be at Pacific Catch in Dublin. Mmmm.
 Tuesday November 1, 2016
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The Home of Deborah Wechsler
Join us to celebrate the New Year, and the new moon of Heshvan. We will meet at 7:00 pm for light refreshments and socializing and then begin the program promptly at 7:30 pm and end around 9:00 pm. This month's gathering will be at Deborah Wechsler's home. You don't need to have previously attended to enjoy this gathering.
 Sunday November 6, 2016
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Peasant & The Pear
It's time to celebrate another year together with the Annual Sisterhood Dinner. It's a great time to reconnect and to welcome new additions to our Sisterhood family. Please join us.
 Friday May 5, 2017 at 4:00 PM -to- Sunday May 7, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa
Please join your Sisters for the 2017 Sisterhood Sojourn held during the weekend of May 5-7, 2017, in Monterey, California, and unwind from it all. The weekend offers both space, and structure, to allow each of us to personalize our time spent in community, reflection, relaxation and spiritual renewal.
Upcoming Book Group Selections
November - The Beauty Queen, by Sarit Yishai-Levi
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Brotherhood
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Men's Gathering 
Thursday October 27th, 7:00 pm
Home of Scott Vaupen, 241 Aptos Place, Danville
We gather together to reflect on stories of meaning in our lives in a safe and confidential environment. All are invited to participate, but no one need feel compelled to share in the discussion. If you have never attended a Beth Chaim Men's Gathering, we invite you to come and experience one. Your presence makes this gathering worthwhile and you are invited to bring a friend.
Brotherhood Lunch Wednesday November 2nd, 12:00 p.m.  Melo's Pizza in Danville at 664 San Ramon Valley Blvd. next to the Lucky store.
Join us for a casual lunch at Melo's in Danville. This is just a chance to get together, have a nice lunch and schmooze with the Brothers. An RSVP to Mark Yarkin at [email protected], would be greatly appreciated but come by even if you don't RSVP since we should have plenty of room. See you there!
 21st ANNUAL BROTHERHOOD WINTER GETAWAY January 26th thru 29th 2017 This is Brotherhood's signature event - Reserve your spot now! A weekend in Lake Tahoe for the Brothers to spend time together, get to know each other and have fun. All activities are optional and include skiing (not required) and snowmobiling, hiking, gondola ride and lunch at the top of Heavenly, visiting the casinos, hitting the gym, going to the movies, playing cards, catching up on your sleep and just hanging out. The Men's Gathering discussion and the Brotherhood Man of the Year Roast are also popular parts of the weekend. Total cost for the weekend is $475 double occupancy and $775 for single occupancy at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. Brotherhood dues of $50 must be paid prior to the trip. Deposit of $250 double room or $400 single room is due by November 15th and is payable by check to Beth Chaim Brotherhood, c/o Darrell Davidson, 1575 Harlan Dr., Danville, CA 94526 or by PayPal on the Beth Chaim website Here. Final payment is due December 15th.
 Brotherhood Hiking Group
Every Wednesday, 8:30-10:30am
Meet at Danville Peet's Coffee (may change). Join us for local hikes and enjoy the beauty right in our backyard. Usually 3-5 miles depending on weather and group consensus. Dogs are welcome! For more information, contact: Harry Kulwin at [email protected]
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Upcoming Community Events
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Witness our Welcome - WOW! 
14th Annual Interfaith Worship Celebration cohosted by Beth Chaim
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4:00 pm at Lafayette Christian Church
584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette
"Whose Religion? Whose Freedom?" by Rabbi Mike Rothbaum
Reception to follow hosted by PFLAG.
_________________________  Join us, Tuesday, November 1, at 6:30 pm as San Francisco celebrates the life of Shimon Peres. __________________________
Handling the Holidays Workshop
If you have experienced the death of a loved one, the decor and songs that echo through the halls can be painful reminders that the season won't be the same. It is important to take care of yourself during this time. Please join us to talk about ideas and choices that can make a difference in the way you handle the holidays.
Two Sessions Available:Tuesday November 15 2016 (6:30-8:30pm) orThursday December 8, 2016 (2:00-4:00pm)
Location: Hope Hospice Grief Support Center
6377 Clark Avenue, 2nd floor, Dublin, CA
Pre-registration is required. Call 925-829-8770 to reserve your space in the workshop For additional information Click Here
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On-going Events at Beth Chaim
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Sacred Jewish Rhythms Drumming Group
Learn to play and accompany Jewish liturgical music at home, in the synagogue, or under a tree. Instructor Bruce Silverman will highlight traditional middle-eastern rhythms and simple all-purpose rhythms, perfect for prayers, singing, dancing, and playing along with other instruments. This is a completely beginner friendly class!
Sessions are Mondays from 7:30-9:00pm in the Sanctuary
Contact Bruce Silverman for further info about
prices and dates at 925-685-5585 or at:
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