Congregation Etz Chayim

The Torah of Disability Access with Rabbi Elliot Kukla In this talk we will look at the writing of contemporary disabled activists like Mia Mingus, Alice Wong, and Leah Lakshmi Piepezna-Samarsinha on the topic of disability access, and bring them into conversation with the rabbis of the Talmud. We will use this lens to uncover a new Jewish spirituality of accessibility where no one is left behind. Elliot Kukla (he/they) is a rabbi, author, artist, and activist. In 2006 he was the first openly transgender person to be ordained as a rabbi. From 2008-2021 he offered spiritual care to the ill, dying, and bereaved at the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. He is currently on the faculty at Svara: a traditionally radical yeshiva, where he is also the founder and director of the Communal Loss Adaptation Project (CLAP). Elliot’s writing regularly appears in the New York Times. He was named one of the 50 most influential Jews of 2019 by The Forward and in 2022, he was even a New Yorker crossword clue (April 12, 7 across).

Run for Their Lives is a global movement founded by Israelis in the Bay Area. Their mission is to raise awareness for the hostages held in Gaza. Each week, groups worldwide come together for family-friendly walks or runs lasting 18 (ח"י) minutes. Participants wear red shirts and carry flags representing the 28 nationalities of the hostages. So far there are 70+ groups across the globe, with new ones joining daily. Our Palo Alto group walks every Sunday at 12:30pm. People can join the silent WhatsApp group for location updates and to participate: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BeEgTk1MGlcDTJb6f5DqLX.

Book selections: For 12/10: Lisa Barr, A Woman on Fire For 1/14: Elizabeth Graver, Kantika (this year’s One Bay One Book selection) For 2/11: Norman Eisen, The Last Palace For 3/10: Anna Berest, The Postcard For 4/07: Naomi Ragen, An Unorthodox Match

Etz and Spark are joining together to explore the themes of being refugees in a strange land and hope as reflected in the Passover Haggadah texts and personal stories presented by our community members. It will be a potluck dinner. Click here to register and here to sign up to bring something. Contact Aviv with questions.

Join us in studying Jewish stories from the Talmud in English and use them to discuss what the Rabbis were trying to teach us about how to lead a meaningful and ethical life. While each session is a stand alone session, we encourage people to come to as many as possible. Register here.