Study & Torah
Torah with Soul
Shabbat mornings, 9:15 am, Inner Conference Room
Rabbi Lezak will be offering soul-lifting Torah in a safe space for learners of all levels and ages, along with a nosh. Note: on the 3rd Saturday of the month, January 21, weather permitting, Torah with Soul will become Torah on the Trails with a member of our clergy, leaving the parking lot promptly at 8:30 am for a good hike and some good learning. If it’s raining, we’ll meet in the ICR at our normal time.
Tot Shabbat
1st Saturday, February 4, 9:30 – 10:15 am
Jonathan Bayer, the rock star for the pre-school crowd, will be using movement and song to introduce young children to Shabbat morning services. Come with your child or grandchild and learn developmentally appropriate Jewish rituals and prayers that you can take home. Hear an interactive story and experience Shabbat in a new way, whether you are new to Jewish prayer or ready to help Jonathan lead! No RSVP necessary. Everyone welcome!
Shabbat Yeladim
Saturday, February 18, 9:30 to 10:15 am
Come to our new Saturday morning Shabbat service designed for a wider age range than our usual Tot Shabbat (more like birth to 7 or 8 rather than just pre-schoolers), with the fabulous Jonathan Bayer! Parents and grandparents and (even really little) kids welcome.
Social Action
In the bin for February – toiletries
This month, we are collecting toiletries for Ritter Center. Please bring something by for our bins in the lobby the next time you stop by the synagogue.
Winter Shelter at Rodef Sholom
We are proud to participate in the Winter Shelter program in Marin County for the fourth year. Every Wednesday through April 15, we host 40 unsheltered men in our Social Hall for the night. We need congregants to volunteer to bring food for our guests and to host and greet them. To sign up for these opportunities, please contact Jamie Weinstein in advance at dinyolla@gmail.com or 717.4808.
We need help in feeding the homeless in our community!
The Family Shelter and the Mill Street Emergency Shelter in San Rafael need our help more than ever, as the number of residents has grown. Congregation Rodef Sholom provides dinner twice a month to these organizations. If you can provide a main dish, salad, or dessert--either once a month or even every few months, at a time to suit your schedule—or if you are interested in knowing more, please contact Moji at 479.3441 or moji@rodefsholom.org.
Jewish Family and Children’s Services Food Pantry
Hard as it is to believe, even in Marin County, there are people who can't put food on the table. The JFCS barrel in the lobby collects food for Jewish Family and Children’s Services food pantry program. We stock our pantry through the goodness of individuals in the Jewish community. Every time you go shopping, especially with your children, pick up some non-perishable items such as peanut butter, dried lentils or tuna and drop them off at the lobby. It is a wonderful opportunity to incorporate a mitzvah into your weekly shopping routine.
A few important reminders:
Please check expiration dates before donating
Only unopened packages, boxes, and jars, please
Others items such as books or clothing can be accepted at JFCS, but not in the barrels
Creating Community
Shulchan Shabbat - First Friday Congregational Dinner
Friday, February 3, following 6:15 pm Shabbat Services Come for Shabbat Services, and stay for our First Friday Congregational Dinner in the JCC’s Hoytt Theater. Please RSVP to Pete at 479.3441 or pete@rodefsholom.org, and let us know how many to expect.
Shulchan Shabbat--our no-barriers, congregational dinners--are funded in part by Fred Levin and Nancy Livingston. We are grateful for their support of this sacred community program. We are also grateful to the Green and Werby family, who is supporting our February Shulchan Shabbat in honor of their daughter, Sabrina’s, Bat Mitzvah.
To learn about underwriting or sponsoring our weekly pre-service oneg or a First Friday Shulchan Shabbat, please contact Jane Friedman at jane@rodefsholom.org or 479.3441.
If you are attending our services with your children, please take note:
At Rodef Sholom, our intention is to create a worship experience that offers meaning to a wide range of ages and experience. We understand that sitting through a service can be hard for our youngest congregants, so we offer drop-in childcare for children ages 3 through 7. However, we expect that children ages 8 and up will remain in the sanctuary with their families. The synagogue’s courtyard is available if a child needs to take a break during services.
We ask that parents supervise their children at all times. Swig Field and the entire BHDS building are off-limits during Shabbat services (except for childcare).
Men’s Spiritual Journey Group
2nd Monday of each month (February 6) 7:30 pm, Sanctuary
Come join this group, which has discussed such things in the past as life journeys, religious backgrounds, differing relationships to God, Torah portions, roles as Jewish fathers, husbands or men, tzedakah, and our roles in Jewish or secular organizations. This group meets monthly. For more information, contact Rabbi Michael Lezak at 479.3441 or mlezak@rodefsholom.org.
Shabbat Schmooze
4th Friday (February 24) following Shabbat Services, Social Hall
Every 4th Friday of the month, following services, we open the social hall for everyone to linger and enjoy Shabbat together.
The Lunch Bunch
Last Tuesday of each month (February 28), 12 noon
Join senior congregants for a wonderful monthly lunch to try a new restaurant, eat some exotic food and make new friends. In the past, the Lunch Bunch has been to restaurants such as Lanna Thai, Four Points Sheraton, La Toscana, San Rafael Joe's, and many others. Members of the group help to choose the restaurant and look for new places to discover. To join this fun event, call Pete at 479.3441.
The Mitzvah Kitchen
Chef Jeff Kirshbaum and his volunteer crew bake challah and cook “Mitzvah” meals every Thursday for congregants facing times of need or celebrating a simcha. Volunteers are needed to help deliver these challot and meals. If you can deliver a meal, please contact Pete in advance, at 479.3441 or pete@rodefsholom.org; if you can deliver challah before the end of Shabbat, just come by the lobby on Thursday afternoon after 2 pm or any time on Friday to pick them up.
Subscription information!
All Mitzvah Kitchen subscription money goes to support youth education at Rodef Sholom. Subscription rates for ten weeks: $40 challah, $50/artisan loaf, or a special price of $70/both artisan and challah. Treat your tummy right. Contact Pete at 479.3441 or pete@rodefsholom.org for more information and to subscribe.
Challah Subscriptions
How would you like to take home a mouth-watering loaf of challah, straight from our Mitzvah Kitchen ovens, every Shabbat? Consider a challah subscription! Artisan Bread Club Chef Jeff Kirshbaum and his Mitzvah Kitchen team have been churning out 60+ challot and 18 hot meals for our congregants in deepest need weekly for close to five years now. You've tasted his challot. Now try his weekly artisan creations, such as French country, whole wheat, rye, semolina, rosemary olive, and more, by subscribing to the Mitzvah Kitchen's new Artisan Bread Club. Sign up for either challah or artisan bread, and every Thursday afternoon, a fresh hand-baked loaf of artisan bread will be waiting for you at the temple!
Job Connections Network
Our Job Connection Network allows congregants to support each other during these difficult economic times. If you have an employment opportunity available--even a temporary one--please consider a Rodef Sholom congregant and let us know; If you are looking for employment, also let us know, and we will do our best to help you. Contact Moji at 479.3441 or moji@rodefsholom.org. If you are looking for other employment services, contact Jewish Vocational Services at 391.3600; and Norma Barnes, Coordinator of Marin Professionals, a program of the Employment Development Department, at 507.2114 or norma.barnes@edd.ca.gov.
Lefferts Jewish Community Library
Stop by the Lefferts Jewish Community Library on Sundays from 10 am – 1 pm to borrow books, magazines, and DVDs on Jewish themes. We have a growing collection of new books and classics, as well as a children’s section. For more information, call 444.8159, or email lefferts.library@gmail.com.
Women of Rodef Sholom Gift Shop
Our gift shop has a lovely selection of Judaica merchandise, including tallitot, kippot, spice boxes, mezzuzot, and a variety of books, cards, jewelry, candles, tzedakah boxes, and other items to enrich a Jewish home. Now, if you can't find exactly what you want, you can still support the Gift Shop by shopping online! Just click here! Or visit http://rodefsholom.judaicabeautiful.com/
Regular hours are
•Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 3 pm;
•Friday, 11 am - 1:30 pm; and
•Most Sundays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm.
The Gift Shop is located in the Marin JCC lobby. It is operated by the Women of Rodef Sholom and a large percentage of the profit supports Rodef Sholom camperships - please shop here! For information, please call 444.8098.
Candelabra Rental
Illuminate your next simcha with a WRS candelabra! Simply call our gift shop in the JCC to reserve one for a modest rental contribution of $18. Special candles are available for purchase, as well.
Through the efforts of our Kulanu/ Inclusion of Those with Disabilities Committee, Rodef Sholom has been acknowleded as an accessible congregation by the National Organization on Disability. 