….To Renew the Old and Make Holy the New
Celebrating 50 Years!
Please Note our new google voice number: (510) 761-7710
"Fear not, for I am with you, don't be frightened, for I am your God, I strengthen you and help you. I uphold you with my Justice and Strength"
Lech L'cha - Genesis 12:1-17:27
Haftarah Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Weekly Kabbalat Shabbat Services are at 7 PM
To read this week’s Aquarian Minyan Newsletter click HERE
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Aquarian Minyan Yeshivah
יְשִׁיבַת מִנְיַן אַקְוֵרִיאַן
Adult Jewish education shifting the paradigm one class at a time.
We are dedicated to the vision of renewing Judaism and Jewish education for the 21st century
OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE SUPPORTED BY YOUR DONATIONS. YOU CAN HELP SUSTAIN THE YESHIVA BY DONATING TO INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS OR MAKE A GENERAL CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT ALL
CLICK HERE
NEW CLASSES FOR FALL 2024!
The Divine Feminine and Rebbe Nachman of Breslov with Rabbi Shlomo Barya Schachter
12pm Pacific Time
Nov. 4, 11*, 18, 25 and December 2 (Rabbi Jonathan Seidel subs for Rabbi Schachter on Nov.11)
To Register Click HERE
*There is a suggested minimum donation of $72 for all five sessions of this class. Class recordings will be provided to all who register
The kabbalistic tradition has long embraced and articulated the idea of the Shekhina as the indwelling Feminine presence of the Divine. Personified as the Shabbat Queen, She is also the beloved bride, the mourning widow and the long-suffering mother. Rebbe Nachman has extensive teachings regarding the Feminine Face of God. In particular, his epic stories give a vision of the Shekhina as proactive, powerful and wise. Join Rabbi Barya Shlomo Barya Schacter as we delve into a five week discussion of Rebbe Nachman's portrayal of the Divine Feminine and examine his teachings on how we can best interact with Her.
About Rabbi Barya Schachter
Rabbi Barya Schachter, grew up in the Jewish Renewal movement as it coalesced around his father, Reb Zalman and received Orthodox Semicha from Rabbi Riskin of Efrat after spending nine years studying in Israel. A modern Breslever Chassid, he strives to draw on the experiential piety of Hasidut in order to face the challenges of the contemporary world. He sees halacha more as instructions for shamanic rights rather than a system of law, and as such particularly enjoys DIY mitzvah projects like doing his own Shechita, making homemade Matzah and tying Tzitzit. Striving to integrate his experiences with martial arts, football and alternative medicine, he approaches Torah and prayer with an eye towards embodiment practice as an emerging modality in serving Hashem. He can be reached at:
Exploring the Talmud: God, Self, and Family
with Rabbi Jonathan Freirich
Tuesdays at 12pm Pacific
October 22, 29 ; November 12,19 (no class November 6 in observance of Election day)
To Register Click HERE
*There is a suggested minimum donation of $60 for all four weeks of this class. Recordings will be provided to all who register
Join us for an exciting discussion guided by Rabbi Jonathan Freirich who draws his inspiration from Rabbi Amy Scheinerman’s fascinating conversations about Talmud. Over the four weeks of this class, we will explore the following topics in her text and the original sources from the Talmud, Mishnah, and Midrash:
* Why Jews have both Written and Oral Traditions, Torah and Talmud
* Prayer and Worship - Ideas and Reflections from Rabbinic Sources
* Honoring Our Parents - Obligations and Exceptions Between Generations
* Balancing Family and Study - Ancient and Contemporary Work-Life Balance
About Rabbi Jonathan Freirich
Rabbi Jonathan Freirich, a Reconstructionist and Reform rabbi who learned at the Conservative Yeshiva and Hebrew University in Jerusalem, also has training in public policy and community organizing. Originally from New York City, Rabbi Jonathan now coalition-builds, facilitates, listens, learns, and writes, in Buffalo, New York. Dedicated to compassion and cooperation, thoughtfulness and thinking, and effective collaborative actions, Jonathan aims to contribute to a better connected, more peaceful, and more sustainable world. He is an experienced and compassionate teacher dedicated to making Jewish texts accessible to beginners and beyond.
The Nigun: Mystical Melodies That Awaken, Purify and Elevate Our Souls with Ami Goodman
Tuesdays 12PM Pacific Time / 3 PM EDT
December 3/10/17/24
To Register Click HERE
*There is a suggested minimum donation of $60 for all for sessions of this class. Recordings will be provided to all who register.
Join us as we deeply explore the transformative power and nourishing gentleness of the wordless melodies known as Nigunim, reflections of the rhythms and vibrations of all that exists. In this 4-session series, we’ll discover the nature of the nigun and review a number of the many references to nigunim and melody in the Torah, Talmud and Chassidic mystical wisdom literature. We will learn the unique and distinctive musical styles of nigunim from a variety of Chassidic communities, from Modzits to Belz to Lubavitch. Many examples of nigunim will be presented and shared. Musical notation and, when possible, recordings will be provided, but no facility in reading music needed. Everyone will be invited to discover their own personal nigunim.
About Ami Goodman
Ami Goodman has had a lifelong love of Jewish music in all its forms. He enjoys discovering new melodies to incorporate into the liturgy, and new music to heal and help transform a broken heart and a broken world. He especially loves to guide the community in t’fila and facilitate the renewal of the prayers. He is a retired physician in San Francisco and lives with his wife Abby, a poet and physician, and their elusive and wise cat Cosette. He can be contacted at:
Who Is A Jew? How Persons of Multiple Judaisms Connect to God and the Jewish People with Yoreshet D’vorah Grenn, Ph.D
NOTE: THIS CLASS IS NOW RESCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 8.
Registration will re-open soon-watch this space!
How do people of multiple Judaisms connect with God and the Jewish people? There are cultural Jews, secular Jews, religious Jews, Jews by birth, Jews of color, Jews by choice, political Jews, Goddess Jews, “Jewitches”, Jewish pagans, and those who describe themselves as Jews who may not affiliate with any religious organization or who identify with any categories. In addition, this class taught by author Yoreshet D'vorah Grenn we will explore multiple and intersecting theologies: the ways we imagine, construct and connect with God? What are the limits of self-definition as “Jewish”? Come explore the exciting contemporary challenges of Jewish identity with an outstanding educator who brings a brilliant and inclusive perspective to the topic.
About Yoreshet D’vorah Grenn
Yoreshet D’vorah Grenn, Ph.D (she/her) is an educator, writer, Mashpi’ah Ruchanit / Spiritual Guide and Yoreshet. She founded The Lilith Institute, A Center for Feminist Spirituality in 1997, Co-Directed the Women’s Spirituality MA Program at ITP/Sofia University for eight years, and was a founding theorist of the Kohenet movement. She has taught Jewish Magic and Folklore, and The Sacred Feminine in Judaism for Hebrew College and Ner Shalom/Cotati, and Humanities and Philosophy classes at Napa Valley College. D’vorah also just completed a Women’s Sacred Conversations with G’d class for Hebrew College as well.
The Texture of Time: The Hasidic Masters on the Temporal Journey with Rabbi Or Rose
Thursdays at 12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern
Nov 7/14/21/December 5 (there will be no class Nov 28 in observance of Thanksgiving Day)
To Register Click HERE
*There is a suggested minimum donation of $72 for all four sessions of this class. Recordings will be sent to all who register
Join Rabbi and author Or Rose as we explore the teachings of the Hasidic masters on the temporal journey, including insights on daily life, Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh, and the festivals (major and minor). Through close readings of Hasidic homilies, stories, and spiritual practices we will gain greater understanding of how these mystical leaders sought to enact their ideals as embodied practitioners. As we make this textual journey together, we will ask ourselves how these teachings might enrich our lives as contemporary Jewish seekers.
About Rabbi Or Rose
Rabbi Or Rose is the founding director of the Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership of Hebrew College. He is the author or editor of several academic and popular works, including Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi: Essential Teachings and With the Best of Intentions: Interreligious Missteps & Mistakes (both co-edited, Orbis Books). He is a highly respected and devoted educator and his classes at the recent ALEPH Kallah were very well received. Rabbi Or brings a very personal perspective to his study of Reb Zalman that is unique to the Aquarian Minyan.
The 50th Anniversary Celebration has no Expiration Date !!
To read the J Weekly article about our 50th celebration click here:
Reviving, Renewing and Celebrating the Old Aquarian Minyan Spirit, Serving up Joy to the Divine in Difficult Times - Mazal Tov to all of us and thank you to the Planning Committee that worked HARD on the Jubilee
Aquarian Minyan Groups and other offerings
Healing Circle
with Rabbi Diane Elliot
NOTE: HEALING CIRCLE WILL NOT BE HELD THIS WEEK IN OBSERVANCE OF ROSH HASHANAH. PLEASE JOIN US THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY OCTOBER 11 AT OUR REGULAR TIME AND LINK
Weekly, Fridays, 8:30am – 9:30am Pacific Time
Zoom link here
The Aquarian minyan book club — meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month at 2:15PM
JOIN THE AQUARIAN MINYAN BOOK CLUB IN AN ONGOING DISCUSSION OF THE OUTSTANDING STUDY BY DR. SHOSHANA FERSHTMAN. THE BOOK CLUB NOW MEETS TWICE MONTHLY!
Join the book club at this link
*New members are cordially welcomed. For more information, please contact Shoshana Dembitz (sdembitz@gmail.com)
Sunday Nights Minyan Sharing
Weekly, Sundays, 7pm - 8:30PM or more Pacific Time
in Memory of Martin Potrop Sept. 23, 1951- April 1, 2024. Z”L
