Jewish Life

Coffee Talk: Weekly Conversations in Current Events and Arts & Culture

Fridays; 10:30, FREE

We are thrilled to have so many members back at the J! But we long for the days of building friendships and engaging in casual conversations like we used to—in lounge areas, after yoga, at a Member Mingle, or before a lecture. To help get the community back together again, we are introducing a new weekly program—Coffee Talk, where we will meet on Zoom (and hopefully in-person soon!) and chat about a variety of topics and subjects, and importantly—socialize! Let’s meet next Friday and talk about what we are doing during the pandemic—our challenges, opportunities, and simply how we have spend our time (have you read any great books or discovered a new show on Netflix?). Conversations will be casual but facilitated by Rabbi Ben Newman. You do not need a JCC membership to participate. 

Reserve Time in the Shames JCC Sukkah!

Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is named after the booths or huts (sukkot in Hebrew) in which Jews are supposed to dwell during this week-long celebration. According to rabbinic tradition, these flimsy sukkot represent the huts in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after escaping from slavery in Egypt. Sukkot reminds us of the fragility of life, and the need to be grateful for everything we have.

This year the Shames JCC has built a beautiful new sukkah which will be put up in the quad on the JCC grounds on Friday, October 2. This year more than ever, it is important to be grateful for the gifts of nature and community. Whether you are Jewish or not, we invite you to reserve a time to sit in the JCC sukkah, share a meal that you bring, and feel thankful for the fragile beauty of life.

Sitting in the Sukkah: Sukkot Meditation

Thursday, October 8; 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

By reservation only. Members $5/Non-Members $10

As the wind blows a little colder and the leaves begin to change color, we can sense in our bones the coming of Fall. The fall season and the Jewish holiday of Sukkot teach us resilience and the deep truth of impermanence. The Jewish tradition provides spiritual tools to open to the spiritual lessons contained in nature and the changing seasons. Join Rabbi Ben outside in the new JCC Sukkah as he leads us through several replenishing meditations to help open us to the powerful and transformative lessons of this season in our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls. This session will include mindfulness meditation, study,  and light movement. At the end of this session, you will come away feeling renewed and open to the spiritual power of the Fall season.