Parashat Va-ethanan Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11 Shabbat Nahamu – Sabbath of Consolation

This week, we travel through the mourning of Tisha B’Av (9thof Av) to receive the comfort, optimism and Divine reassurance that culminates in the celebration of the full moon of Av, Tu b’Av’ (15th of Av) when we dance to know that wonder and joy, as well as brokenness and pain, are all integral to the Oneness. Moses reassured us with this important lesson: at moments of hopelessness we can find Divinity if we try to seek It with all our heart and soul – b’khol l’vav’kha u’v’khol naf’shekha. Even in the midst of pain and narrowed consciousness, we can return to The One and are able to hear the Divine Voice (D’varim 4:29-30). Moreover, it is especially because of the experience of distance and abandonment, that we yearn to Return – to do T’shuvah – and Moses promises us Help on this path.

As a community we walk this path together. We suffer each others’ pain; we are made whole by each other’s healing; we support each other in the profound work of T’shuvah.

With blessing for hearts of wisdom that truly know and understand the deep truth of our Unity,

Rabbi SaraLeya

9 Av 5770 July 20, 5770

On Friday after services did you find a blue North Face jacket? If so, the owner is looking for it. If you find it, please bring it to the office.

Mazel tov to Adam and Delilah Gutride on the birth of their son (pictured), after 41 hours of labor!

Mazel tov to Marla Kolman-Antebi and Eric Antebi on the birth of their son, Ronen Isaiah, early this week.

Heartfelt gratitude to Lainey Feingold, Susan Berg and John Gertz for their recent donations to Chochmat in honor of Ronen Isaiah.

Mazel tov to Chochmat HaLev Board Member Jeffrey Fry, who is pleased to announce that his company, Metaweb, has joined Google! Click here to read a blog post about it.

Comedy Night Benefit for Chochmat.

Aug 26, from 7:30 - 9:30pm.

$18 at the door or via Brown Paper Tickets

Hal Feiger, Bill Schechner, and Grateful Yid Productions Presents:

Stand up comedy at Chochmat HaLev with the Viet Jew, Joe Nguyen; Performance Monologist, Jeff Raz; U.C. Jewish Joke Expert, Dr. Mel Gordon; Nicky Silver, who plays tunes on the Shofar, and Jewish Comic, Steve Budd.

Plus: Bring your best jokes for Jewish Joke Open Mike Night!

Hebrew Free Loan would like to take this opportunity to inform the community about their services.[download the .pdf]

Be the Match Campaign will help match bone marrow donors to those persons in need of Bone Marrow Transplant. [download pdf]

Help Wanted Sara Nicoletti Bearman and family are seeking one or several persons for a paid family support and childcare / home-packing assistant in a time of crisis. Sara is pregnant with her third child, and recently injured her back. The other children are 3 and 1. The family is moving August 31, and the house must be packed. Sara’s husband works all day outside the home, so they need some help with child care and moving for the next few weeks, between the hours of 8am – 6pm. Sara says, “The perfect match would be someone who comes with high recommendations, is skilled & loves to care for kids, and is a great driver so they are able to take them on small adventures to the park and such., and when at the house could also pack up boxes if time allows. If you are, or know of, our new angel of a friend please be in touch!! “ Contact Sara at 510-559-8940 to lend a hand.

Grief and Growing weekend sponsored by the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. This weekend is dedicated to supporting folks in mourning and is filled with grief supportive activity. August 27-29, Camp Newman in Santa Rosa. Scholarships are available and absolutely no one is turned away for lack of funds. The weekend is for individuals and families in grief over the loss of a loved one. We welcome all genders and all family constellations. Register online at http://www.jewishhealingcenter.org.

Looking for a unique summer Jewish study opportunity? Join Estelle Frankel and 4 other gifted teachers at Isabella Freedman Center aug 9-15 for the "Tikkun in All Four Worlds" retreat.

LA 2010 - the 20th World Conference of GLBT Jews, UCLA, August 13-15 See website for details/agenda.