Dec 4th, 2025

WINDSOR HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 
JCCSoCo Tent & Menorah Dedications

• TODAY • 
THURS, DEC 4 • 5 - 8 PM 
Windsor Town Green

Come out to one of Sonoma County's largest holiday celebrations, and find community and fun under our tent!

MENORAH LIGHTING - At 6pm we'll turn our focus to the nearby stage to light our gigantic menorah.

🕯️Aryvut (MUTUAL RESPECT)

Congregation Ner Shalom

🕯️Chaverut (FRIENDSHIP)

PJ Library

🕯️Kavod (KINDNESS)

URJ Camp Newman

🕯️Kehillah (COMMUNITY)

JCC SoCo Preschool

🕯️L’or V’Dor (CONNECTING GENERATIONS)

JCC SoCo

🕯️Sliecha (FORGIVENESS)

Congregation Shomrei Torah

🕯️Tikkun Olam (REPAIRING THE WORLD)

Congregation Beth Ami

You won't want to miss out on this community convening!

ACTIVITIES - Ner Shalom's Nitzanim program and our JCC SoCo Preschool will have fun activities and creative take-aways for the whole family.



LIVE MUSIC - Sofia Fichera will amplify the cheer again with a live performance.

If you've been before, you know it's a PACKED event so we recommend you try the SMART train or coordinate parking at the High School and shuttle to our tent area directly.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Sing-A-Long!


Thank you to our 2025 Film Festival Sponsors and Rialto Cinemas 
for such a fun, thought provoking and Jewish year at the movies!

HANUKKAH PARTY

TUES, DEC 16 • 1:30 - 4PM 
Shomrei Torah, Santa Rosa

Join us for a fun afternoon. Schmooze, and shop from a wonderful array of local artisans. Bring your own menorah for a bright and sparkling candle lighting ceremony. Stay for latkes, Chelm story, games and door prizes.

We hope you'll join us! 
More details in the newsletter below:

MENORAH LIGHTING @

SEBASTOPOL TREE LIGHTING


THURS, DEC 4 • 6 PM

Sebastopol Town Plaza

Join folks to light menorahs at the Sebastopol Tree Lighting ceremony. Meet behind the gazebo in the town plaza, by 6:00pm with your menorah (if you want to bring one), and on stage by 6:10pm.

RABBI'S TISCH -

With Dr. Beth Cousens

FRI, DEC 5 • 6:15 - 8 PM

Shomrei Torah, Santa Rosa

Dr. Beth Cousens is known nationally for her vision for a more engaged and authentic Jewish experience. She helps organizations create and adapt projects that meet the opportunities and challenges of twenty-first-century Judaism, specifically programs that are accessible and rich with Jewish tradition. She has been a member of the senior professional teams at the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (San Francisco Bay Area), Jewish Federations of North America, and Hillel International. As a consultant, she has worked with dozens of community-based and national organizations on research and initiative design, program evaluation, strategic planning and organizational assessment, professional and leadership development, and more. 

Evening Schedule 

6:15–6:45: Shabbat blessings and meal

6:45–7:10: Mi Sh'beirach and Kaddish

7:15–8:15: Speaker presentation

If you are registering to attend after November 29, do still register to join us. When we release tables for dinner, please wait until a majority of those in attendance have gone through. In the unlikely event that we run out of food, a full refund will be issued. 

REGULAR JEWISH MEDITATION/ MINDFULNESS PRACTICE

TUESDAYS, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
DEC 16, 30  
Online via Zoom 

This free series of mindful/meditation practices continues! This will be a time for grounding, siting practice and a "Dharma/Torah" teaching. 
Everyone is welcome.

Please contact Shomrei Torah's office
cst@cstsr.org for the Zoom link.

FREE GENEALOGY CLASSES

Santa Rosa Junior College

Enrollment Opens

FRI, DEC 5

Class Starts

THURS, JAN 15 • 10:15 AM   

Online via Zoom 

Please see Category 505 Discussion Classes under Genealogy

THE LEGACY OF THEODORE BIKEL - Presented by Aimee Ginsburg Bikel

SUN, DEC 7 • 2 - 4 PM

Ner Shalom, Cotati

Join us for an afternoon of warmth, nostalgia, and inspiration as Aimee Ginsburg Bikel shares stories of her life with Theo - an extraordinary artist, activist, and humanitarian whose legacy continues to resonate.

If you’re a baby boomer (or simply a lover of great music and storytelling) you may remember the rich voice and soul of Theo Bikel, whose songs and performances left an indelible mark on generations.

Cost: $26.50

TOT SHABBAT &

MUSICAL FAMILY SHABBAT

SAT, DEC 13 • 9 & 10:15 AM

Ner Shalom, Cotati

Our musical family Shabbat service.

Fun for all ages!

9:00 - 9:45 am - Tot Shabbat 
With George Wilde and Reb Irwin Songs, Stories, Torah-touching, and Nosh at the end.

10:15 - 11:45 am - Musical Family Shabbat With Reb Mia, Reb Irwin, and George Wilde.

Please sign up so we have enough bagels!

FILM SCREENING - Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink

THURS, JAN 11 • 1:30 - 4:30 PM

Ner Shalom, Cotati

Ner Shalom Tzedek committee presents: STRIPPED FOR PARTS: AMERICAN JOURNALISM ON THE BRINK This 90-minute documentary film, this story of one secretive hedge fund that is plundering America’s newspapers and the journalists who are fighting back. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with local journalists.

Suggested donation $10 or pay what you can. 

HEBREW SCHOOL CHANUKKAH CELEBRATION

WED, DEC 17 • 4 - 4:30 PM

Sonoma Plaza Amphitheater, Sonoma

Congregation Shir Shalom’s Hebrew school will share the story of Chanukkah and perform traditional songs celebrating this joyous holiday.

COMMUNITY CHANUKKAH CELEBRATION - 8TH NIGHT 


SUN, DEC 21 • 3:30 PM 
Shir Shalom, Sonoma

Congregation Shir Shalom invites Sonoma friends, neighbors, and their families to celebrate the final night of Chanukkah. The festivities will include lighting the 8th candle on the menorah, dancing in front of the synagogue on W. Spain St. and enjoying potato latkes and hot chocolate.

Please note that W. Spain will be closed to traffic, between 2nd and 3rd streets, at approximately 3:30 pm.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for families and community members to come together, enjoy the spirit of Chanukkah, and experience the traditions that make this holiday so special”

- Shir Shalom Rabbi, Steve Finley.

TOT SHABBAT 
With a Hanukah Flavor!

SAT, DEC 20 • 10:30 AM
Beth Ami, Santa Rosa

December 20: Tot Shabbat! 

Congregation Beth Ami’s Tot Shabbat Program invites all with children ages one to five, for a Shabbat experience with a Hanukah flavor!

Saturday, December 20th, 10:30 am to noon, in the CBA lounge. Featuring Lauren Kalmanson from the Tot Shabbat team. Come enjoy music, storytelling, crafts, special Hanukah treats and enjoy our fabulous playground. We look forward to seeing you.

For more info: (707) 360-300

office@bethamisr.org 

COMMUNITY CHANUKAH PARTY

& LATKE NIGHT!

SUN, DEC 21 • 4:30 - 7 PM
Beth Ami, Santa Rosa

The eighth night of Chanukah we will host our traditional Beth Ami Board-sponsored latke dinner. Schmooze, card/board games, a short service witth Rabbi Koas, light candles (Bring your Chanukiah and 9 candles!) Chanukah songs with Susy Boimoil Starr and Jeremy Lipsin! Latke (and salad and dessert) dinner.

MUST RSVP to the Beth Ami office by Thursday Dec. 18, and have ID to show at gate. 707-360-3000 or office@BethAmiSR.org

Cost: FREE but donations are gratefully accepted, and keep this tradition going.

We are collecting non-perishable food for the Redwood Empire Food Bank, and winter items for the residents of The Palms.

CHINESE FOOD & COMEDY NIGHT

THURS, DEC 25 • 4:30 PM
Beth Ami, Santa Rosa

'Kung Pao Comedy' Beth Ami style! 5 course vegetarian Kosher Chinese dinner at 4:30 pm followed by comedians from the Barrel Proof Lounge.

$60 (BYOB)

Please sign up by Monday December 22 with the CBA office or online (Open link below, then click event or purchase.) 

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