Bereavement Committee
Beth Shalom is a caring community that supports our congregants who have lost a loved one. Our Bereavement Committee reaches out to congregants to provide support and to offer a meal to the immediate family during shiva. While the family is sitting shiva, we provide minyan leaders and prayer books at the family’s home, as needed. Daily minyanim are held throughout the year to help those saying kaddish after the shiva period is over.
Book Club
Our book club gets together once a month to chat about our selected book, socialize, and enjoy some munchies. Each book we read has something Jewish about it, whether it’s the characters, the subject, or the author. Most are novels or memoirs, plus other occasional nonfiction.
Our get togethers are generally on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., in congregants’ homes with a Zoom option. Come for one meeting or become a regular. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact Sharon Schreiberg for the Zoom link or to find out whose home we are meeting.
Here are the books we will be discussing over the next few months:
May 10: LA Weather, by Maria Amparo Escandon
June 28: Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, by Elyssa Friedland
July 16 (Sunday brunch): Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik
The Chosen Meeple
The Chosen Meeple is our drop-in board gaming group. We meet once a month following Shabbat services and kiddush, from about 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to join in one of the various board games that are being played and stay as long as you like. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Don’t know what a Meeple is?
Come and find out!
Check the calendar for the upcoming Meeple dates.
Evening
Discussion Group
The Discussion Group tries to dig as deep as possible to learn more about the world in which we live. Topics are picked by attendees — and may be changed on the spot as long as everyone present agrees — and can range from sweeping looks at history and culture to nitty-gritty subjects such as water reclamation projects in Israel. We generally share an interesting idea (from books, articles, personal experiences, etc.) and then examine that topic from as many different viewpoints as possible. Since we are in an election period, there will likely be political discussions, but only if everyone agrees to them.
The discussions are virtual (currently Google Meet) and are held on Mondays at 7:45 pm, but we reschedule when that time conflicts with Sisterhood or other synagogue functions attended by our members. Contact Barbara Pollack for information. and emailed meeting invitations.
Talmud Study Group
The Talmud Study Group reads and analyzes Mishna and Gemara. They are now studying the second volume of Bava Metzia (civil laws and damages) and have studied tractates Berachot (blessings), Pesachim (Passover), Taanit (public fast days), Bava Kamma (damages), Avodah Zarah (Idolatry and superstitions), and Sanhedrin (judiciary and capital punishment). No Hebrew background is required, but one must be comfortable learning a limited Hebrew and Aramaic vocabulary to understand recurring phrases that are not easily translatable. The study sessions are conducted by conference call. Contact Lisa Hemmendinger for more information.
Vatikim
Vatikim hosts Friday night Shabbat dinners for empty nesters and mature couples and singles without children at home. Dinners are held the second Friday of each month between November and June.
Once COVID restrictions are lifted, we will return to holding our dinners at the home of a congregant, with participants bringing pareve dishes to share. The dinner finishes in time to get to Beth Shalom for Friday night services. RSVP to the office when you’d like to attend and sign up for something to bring. (It doesn’t matter if you don’t cook, as we also need items such as challahs, salad dressing, and paper goods.)