Spiritual and non-violent action this weekend

Here is a good map of Actvities for Peace this weekend in the San Francisco area. Scroll down for additional events and spiritual resources in a special letter from my Rabbi below.  If you can, please consider a donation to The Southern Poverty Law Center, the ADL and/or the Legal Defense Fund of the NAACP.

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“The events that occurred in Charlottesville and the response of the President have given rise to concern that racism, white supremacy, anti-Semitism, and neo-Nazism are being empowered and given sanction in the United States today. The repugnant attempts at moral equivalency between the perpetrators of hatred and those who protest against them only serve to fan the flames that burn division into our society.
This Saturday, white-nationalist rallies are scheduled to be held: one in Berkeley and one at Crissy Field in San Francisco. JCRC is working with Jewish, interfaith and civic leaders, as well as elected officials, across the Bay Area to create safe, welcoming and open spaces where we can come together in solidarity and show that hate has no place in our inclusive and diverse communities.
JCRC and Federation officials are recommending that we do not participate in counter-protests at these locations. None of us want to see a repeat of the violent clash that occurred in Charlottesville. A number of alternative events have been scheduled throughout the Bay Area.

Here are some possibilities for you to consider:

Friday, August 25, 2017, 7:30pm
Beth Israel Judea, San Francisco
Sacred Chant and Drum Service
Join in an evening of contemplative prayer, chanting and meditation as we focus on peace and unity as Shabbat ideals and a Taste of the World-to-Come.

Friday, August 25, 2017, 6:30pm
Peninsula Temple Beth El, San Mateo
“Fellowship and Freedom” with Peninsula Multifaith Coalition
Joining in Support of Our Turkish Muslim Friends

Friday, August 25, 5:30 p.m. oneg/nosh, 6:30 service followed by dessert
Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco
“Interfaith Gathering Against Hate,” an interfaith, interracial, community-wide Shabbat service with representatives from faith-based and civic organizations and San Francisco’s political leaders

Saturday, August 26, 2017, 8:45am Torah Study; 10:00am Shabbat Service
Beth Israel Judea, San Francisco
“Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof – Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue”Join is the theme of this morning’s Torah study and the topic of the D’var Torah by our Bar Mitzvah, Elias Albertson. A great way to start a day of advocacy and demonstration for a more peaceful and compassionate society

Saturday, August 26
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
A welcoming space filled with activities to counteract the Crissy Field rally in a positive, proactive way.

Saturday, August 26, 1:00-4:00pm
Better Angels San Francisco – Ocean Beach
We gather en masse at Ocean Beach to express our mutual love and solidarity and our absolute rejection of white supremacists and nazis. President Lincoln’s inaugural address calling for national unity with an appeal to the better angels of our nature will set the stage for our attempt at the Guinness world record for simultaneous mass sand angels. The existing record is 1,387. Let us come together in a safe environment and give our our children an opportunity for meaningful and non-violent counter protest.

Saturday, August 26, 2:00-4:00pm TWWSF Human Banner
Ocean Beach – Stairwells 3-6
Bring your body where your beliefs are and join us on Ocean Beach to create a human banner in a 100-foot heart designed by Brad Newsham. This will be a peaceful, family-friendly event countering the alt right rally on Crissy Field in a safe and positive way. Meet at Ocean Beach near the Cliff House by 2pm, fill out an address label and we’ll send you a photo card of the event. We will organize into the shape of a heart and a helicopter will arrive to take photos at 3:30.

This is not a time for silence. It is a moment in which we are called upon to make our voices heard. Please choose one of these event locations, and stand up and be counted among the voices calling for a rejection of hatred and an embrace of civility. And may we see the results of our desires realized speedily and in our days.”

Rabbi Danny Gottlieb
Congregation Beth Israel Judea
August 23, 2017

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