BIJ Photo Albums | Welcome to Beth Israel Judea

A 'Grease' Shushan Purim Feast & Purim Carnival 2012

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:21:30 -0700

Queen Esther sings to save her people.

Mom's Get into the Purim Spirit

Is that Rabbi behind those glasses?

Haman with a 3-cornered cheese hat

Ricki directs the Purim traffic

Arthur Becker's 99th Birthday Celebration

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:48:51 -0800

The BIJ community in the first week of January 2011 celebrated the 99th birthday of our own Arthur Becker. A beautiful (and delicious) cake offered a hearty "mazel tov" to the birthday boy.

Women of the Wall Photo Project

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:35:25 -0700

The challenge to promote religious pluralism in Israel is great. One champion is the Women of the Wall (WOW), whose mission is to achieve the social and legal recognition of the right of women to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah collectively, out loud at the Western Wall.

The WOW have been verbally abused and physically threatened at monthly Rosh Hodesh services. Members have recently been interrogated and arrested. In response, WOW created a wise and clever campaign to gather 10,000 pictures of women holding Torah scrolls, which will be sent to Israeli government officials by Simhat Torah.

BIJ's own Sara Heckelman proudly took up the cause at BIJ, and invited Jewish women–temple members and their friends–to be photographed holding a Sefer Torah at a number of times. You can read an article in the J. Weekly about the effort: Local women put focus on campaign for equality at Western Wall.

Here is a photo gallery of BIJ women and friends who participated in the effort:

Shabbat Chanukah 2009

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:55:00 -0800

Following the lighting of the Chanukah and Shabbat lights, we had a dinner and sing-along. Here are some photos from the lighting of the Chanukah lights.

San Francisco Pride Parade

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:29:59 -0700

President Carol Mills invited members to join her and our BIJ staff members in marching with the Jewish community at the annual Pride Parade.

Here's what Inara Morgenstern said about the experience:

"Marching behind the beautifully enthusiastic youth groups was an inspiration ... while we were sweating in the mushed-together crowd waiting to start they broke into a rousing "Haveinu Shalom Aleichem." It brought a little tear to my eye.

In the parade itself, they stopped every once in a while to stage a little mock marriage between 2 young guys or young girls under the giant rainbow chupah. Way in front of us I could see spontaeous hora dancing, some people brought shofars, and the truck leading us was blasting zippy klezmer-y tunes.

We took turns holding up our little hand-painted synagogue banner.Tons of Jews!! A very excellent experience."

Craft n' Schmooze Group

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:02:31 -0700

The name of the new Craft n' Schmooze group says it all. Check out the scene at with these pix from BIJ's first meeting of Craft 'n' Schmooze!

Among the projects done in first meeting was to make cards for the Care & Concern committee to send out. More to follow. If you're interested in the group, please contact Susanne Raynard or Ann Morgenstern.

You're never too young to begin crafting!

Starting the embroidery

Schmoozing n' knitting is happening!

Sherrie is beading

Gail wonders if she missed a stitch?

Janice is showing how it's done

Yvonne faces the blank canvas

Card stamping anyone?

The custom-made cards are happening!

End-of-the-school-year Community Picnic

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:33:36 -0700

To celebrate the end of the school year, we celebrated at the Walter Haas Playground in San Francisco. An inflatable castle was a big hit with the kids, while the sunny weather was welcome by everyone.

Many thanks to the Kerner-Goodman family for their help and support of the picnic.