Dear Haverim,
It’s “Back To Shul” Shabbat this Friday evening. Join us for food, singing and learning as we invite everyone to conclude the summer together with old friends and the opportunity to meet new ones.
For prospective members, there’s our 5:00 p.m. “Introduction to Reconstructionism and University Synagogue,” and for them and everyone else our outdoor BBQ at 6:00 p.m., Shabbat Alive services with our band at 7:00 p.m., and our wonderful speaker, Prof. Joellyn Zollman, who has enlightened and entertained us several times over the years.
Her topic is about all of us – Pacific Jews. No matter where we were born, raised, or have lived in the past, we are all Pacific Jews now, and the creativity of Jewish life on the West Coast, pioneered in San Francisco and Los Angeles, has enriched Jewish life across the United States.
We “Jews of the Best (West) Coast,” Dr. Zollman’s topic, are adaptive and open to change and experimentation. We are “Solelim”/Trail Blazers – creating a new fusion of our two identities – American and Jewish – and riding the waves of curiosity, individualism, and community.
Openness to intermarriage and the LGBTQ community, as well as meditation and new music, have become just some of the ways that we express our Judaism – challenging and enriching more conventional Jewish communities throughout our country.
Dr. Joellyn Zollman holds a Ph.D. in Jewish history from Brandeis University with her two areas of specialization in Jewish art and Jewish history. Professionally, Dr. Zollman has worked with the Jewish material culture collections at the Smithsonian Institution, the Skirball Museum, and the American Jewish Historical Society.
She has taught classes on Jewish history, American religion, and religious art and architecture at San Diego State University, UCSD, and the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture. Most recently, Dr. Zollman curated the San Diego History Center’s blockbuster exhibit “Celebrate San Diego: The History and Heritage of San Diego’s Jewish Community” and served as an associate producer of the documentary film that grew out of the exhibit, “To The Ends of the Earth: A Portrait of San Diego’s Jews.”
One more invitation: Before our 6:00 p.m. Shabbat dinner, we will hold our newest “Introduction To Reconstructionism And University Synagogue,” so please bring or send your unaffiliated or under-affiliated friends to learn about all that University Synagogue has to offer. I will be speaking about how we want to spread the message of a humanistic approach to Judaism – where we respect each person’s autonomy, level of Jewish observance and knowledge, doubts and questions. We want to create a more honest and open Judaism, as well as a community of friends who truly care about each other.
Don’t miss our exciting “Back To Shul” night! So much will be happening and there will be so many people – new and old – with whom to schmooze. Livestream is okay, but “live” is so much better! (Click here to RSVP for our in-person services. If you want to watch on Livestream, there’s no need to RSVP – just click the link on our homepage at the time of the service or anytime thereafter.)
Shavua Tov/Have a joyous week,
Rabbi Arnie Rachlis
