Beyt Tikkun

Rabbi Cat’s Musings on Pekudei
2025-03-28
Shabbat Shalom.
(Watch Rabbi Cat’s musings here)
This week’s parsha, Pekudei, tells the story of the Israelites completing the building of the Tabernacle—the Mishkan—a holy dwelling place for the Divine.
With the remnants of the materials, Aaron’s sacred vestments are crafted for his service in the sanctuary. Just as the instructions for the Tabernacle are explicit and exacting, so too are those for these garments: a breastplate, band, shoulder pieces, headpiece—woven with colorful yarns, linen, stones, and more.
But why is all this necessary?
The Mishkan is a remedy. After the sin of the Golden Calf, the people had lost touch with the Divine—and with Moses as their intermediary. The Mishkan was built from the same materials as the Golden Calf. The very gold and linen used in their idolatry are now transformed, repurposed to create a sacred space. The negative energy of the Golden Calf becomes uplifted into Divine connection.
It gave the people a tangible place to feel close to the Divine. Their yearning was real. The Mishkan was a homeopathic remedy—a spiritual repair for how that yearning was misdirected.
I believe Aaron’s vestments are also a remedy—this time, for his own spiritual ailment. He allowed, even participated in, the building of the Golden Calf. Perhaps he didn’t yet have the inner strength to guide the people through their fear and doubt. Perhaps the vestments were intended to help fortify him—so that when he wore them, he felt the self-confidence needed to stand before the Divine on behalf of the people.
Today, we are witnessing a different form of idolatry—one of nation-states.
In Israel and the United States, we see participation in:

Genocide and ethnic cleansing

Silencing of freedom of expression

Attacks on refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, and anyone daring to stand-up to empire

All of this done in the name of “national” and “religious” security.
Just as fear was stirred among the Israelites, today’s leaders—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—are stirring fear and hatred of the so-called “other.”
Our Torah teaches us that when we fall into idolatry, we need healing and repair.
So I ask:

What homeopathic remedies do we need today?

What strategies will give us the courage to reject false promises of safety built on violence?

How can we challenge the messages that tell us security comes from the slaughter of Palestinians, or from silencing those who dissent?

How do we build a holy place where the Divine may dwell among us once more?

What are the vestments we need to face this moment—with courage and truth?

When I see others being courageous, it becomes the remedy I need to strengthen my own resolve. Lest you think that we’ve become silent and complacent, research has shown that since January 22nd, we’ve seen more than twice as many street protests than took place during the same period eight years ago. In response to police brutality, both in the U.S. and in Israel, people continue to show up and demand liberation and justice for all people. In Gaza, prior to Israel’s resumption of the bombing, Palestinians returned to their homes and from the shattered cement began rebuilding their homes and their lives. The sumud, steadfastness, determination, and courage of Palestinians and people all around the world refusing to succumb to cynicism and despair, insisting on their humanity and dignity and the humanity and dignity of one another is a healing balm that strengthens my capacity and courage.
There are many, many people who need us now—to tap into our inner resources, to stand up, to reject the efforts of those in power who seek to divide us, and to help grow our movement for love, justice, and liberation.
May you find time this Shabbat to connect with the Divine source within and around you. May your heart and soul be nourished, and may you find the inner strength to show up—as your most full and courageous self today and every day.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Cat Zavis

Weekly Action for Peace
2025-03-24
✊ Take Action ✊
We are horrified by the renewed bombing of Gaza, which has killed over 400 civilians, including many innocent children. Under the Trump administration, the intensity of violence is escalating — and we must raise our voices now.
This week, we are joining with Demand Progress in calling on Congress to demand a permanent ceasefire and an end to U.S. support for Netanyahu’s government.
👉 Click here to sign the Demand Progress petition
We are also standing with Code Pink to confront Keren Yarhi-Milo, Dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, who previously served as an intelligence analyst for the Israeli occupation forces.
👉 Click here to tell Dean Yarhi-Milo: “Your job is to educate, not suppress students!”
📣 Join Us at International Al-Quds Day
The world is united against Zionism
🗓 Friday, March 28
🕒 3–5 PM
📍 Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco
Stand in solidarity with people around the globe in calling for justice and liberation for Palestine.
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb will be speaking at the event.
📚 Explore & Learn More
To understand the growing influence of the Christian Zionist movement and its role in the current crisis, we encourage you to read this powerful piece by journalist Chris Hedges:
📖 “Trump’s Christian Fascists and the War on Palestine” – The Chris Hedges Report
Thank you for standing with us in the pursuit of peace and justice.
With gratitude,
Rabbi Cat Zavis and the Israel/Palestine Social Action Committee

Young Adults Havdalah + Potluck
2025-03-22 17:45 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Looking for a vibrant, radical Jewish community? If you’re in your 20s–40s(ish) and in the Bay Area, join Beyt Tikkun for a COVID-cautious in-person Havdalah gathering! We’ll mark the end of Shabbat with soulful ritual, meaningful connection, and a delicious potluck meal. Plus, we want to hear what you’re looking for in a radical Jewish community! If folks are into it, we can stay later and share songs together. 🎶✨
March, 22nd 5:45pm PT – 8:00pm PT
Rabbi Cat’s home in Oakland, about 0.5 miles from MacArthur BART (address provided upon registration).
🌱 Please bring:
🥗 A vegan & gluten-free dish to share.
🎸 Optional: A musical instrument or song (if you’d like to stay and sing!)
Please share with your friends! We can’t wait to gather, connect, and build community with you 💫
In-Person Accessibility Info
😷 COVID Safety: K/N-95 masks required when not eating.
Outdoor eating space available.
Please stay home if you have any symptoms.
Air filter provided, and windows can be opened upon request.
Rabbi Cat will not be masked but will be testing the morning of.
Accessibility:
Entry: 4 steps to enter the house, 4 steps to the backyard if you choose to eat outside
Seating: Couches, chairs, and floor pillows available.
Bathroom: Not wheelchair accessible.
Scent-free space requested.
A retriever/labrador dog lives in the home (but won’t be present), and a cat has previously lived there.
Questions or accessibility needs? Email us with any questions or accessibility needs. We’d love to make this space as welcoming as possible!

Palestinian peace activist Mohamad Jamous in conversation with Rabbi Cat Zavis
2025-03-19 11:30 - 12:30
Want to hear what's happening on the ground in Ramallah and the West Bank? Rabbi Cat Zavis will be in conversation with special guest, Mohamad Jamous, a Palestinian peace activist. We will take questions from the Zoom attendees as well. You don't want to miss this opportunity. We hope to see you there!
When: March 19th @ 11:30am
Where: On Zoom
Mohamad Jamous is a Palestinian peace activist, humanitarian, and community leader from Ramallah, Palestine. He is dedicated to promoting unity between cultures, religions, and nationalities. With over 15 years of experience working with global peace organizations, he has led initiatives to support vulnerable communities and advocate for justice, dignity, and coexistence. His work goes beyond community activism, as he actively participates in humanitarian efforts to support those in need, striving to create real impact despite the challenges facing his homeland. Mohamad has participated in international forums, sharing firsthand insights into life in Palestine while advocating for a more just and peaceful world. His unwavering commitment to humanity, freedom, and cultural preservation continues to drive his mission forward.
You can reach out with any questions to rabbi@beyttikkun.org. We’d love to hear your feedback.
You can watch a short clip of Rabbi Cat speaking with Mohamad here.
All funds raised will be shared with Mohamad and his community and Beyt Tikkun. Please be as generous as possible. No one turned away for lack of funds; please email us at rabbi@beyttikkun.org.

Replay available below

Weekly Action for Peace
2025-03-17
Mahmoud Khalil: Demand His Immediate Release
Under the Trump administration, the level of repression is unprecedented and unconstitutional. Recently, Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil, a Green Card holder, had his constitutional rights traumatically violated. He was literally disappeared by ICE for 24 hours and is still being held in custody, far from his family in Louisiana.
📢 Stand Against This Injustice
Help us oppose this draconian precedent and demand Mahmoud Khalil’s immediate release.
👉 Click here to take action
For a deeper understanding of this case and its broader implications, read an analysis by Rabbi Brant Rosen of Tzedek Chicago Synagogue.
📖 Read the blog here
🌍 Explore & Learn More
Virtual Tour: Umm al-Fahm – The ‘48 City of Resistance
Join us for a virtual tour of Umm al-Fahm, which the late Naji al-Ali called “the code name for Palestine.”
🗓 Date: Wednesday, March 26
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
💻 Format: Virtual tour followed by discussion & Q&A
✍ Register Here
📢 Stay Engaged. Stay Informed. Make a Difference.
For more updates and events, stay connected with us.
📩 Have questions? Contact us at Rabbi@beyttikkun.org

Shabbat Service & Torah Study | Ki Tisa
2025-03-15 09:30 - 12:30
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Parsha Ki Tisa
Saturday, March 15th
Emeryville, CA & online
9:30am Shabbat service // 10:30am Torah study
Register Here
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others. For those joining us online, we invite you to also bring food to eat after the service. We will keep the room open so folks can connect with each other after the service.
A peek into Torah study with us and the parsha this week
This week, we will discuss the Torah parshat Ki Tisa. In this parsha, the Israelites build the Golden Calf. We will explore:

Why the people may have wanted or needed an idol.
What they hoped it would replace or how it would serve them.
Whether there are any similarities today.

We will also discuss Purim and the Book of Esther, which is read during Purim, taking place this week on March 13th-14th.
Purim is traditionally a time of joy and celebration. We are taught that Purim reveals how the boundaries between good and evil are blurred and confusing—a reminder that we too can become the oppressor.
In the Book of Esther, particularly the often-omitted last chapter, Esther orders the genocide of an entire people, believing that murdering the other is the only way to save the Jews. This raises deep and relevant questions for today.
Some Israelis attack Palestinians during Purim, believing that the mandate to wipe out the other to protect Jews is justified both biblically and ethically.
In our discussion, we will explore:

The meaning of this story.
Whether we should read the Book of Esther or celebrate Purim.
And more.

We hope you can join us for these rich and thought-provoking discussions.

Access Information

Location: Rabbi Cat’s home in Oakland, about 0.5 miles from MacArthur BART Station. Address will be provided once you register.
Accessibility: There are 4 steps to enter the house and 4 steps to the backyard (if people choose to go there.) The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible. There are couches, chairs, and floor pillows for seating. Please try to be scent-free. A retriever/labrador dog lives in the home but will not be present. A cat has lived there previously.
COVID: Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. Air filter provided. Windows can be opened if requested.
Please email us if you have questions or other accessibility needs.

Book Group: A 100 Years War on Palestine
2025-03-13 17:30 - 19:30
Beginning Thursday September 12th at 5:30pm PT (8:30pm ET), we will meet once a month on the 2nd Thursday of each month (after the High Holidays we may as a group decide to meet 2x/month) to discuss this book. Rabbi Cat will guide our discussion. Together we will create a safe container to hold our questions, grief, anger, compassion, yearning, and hope. We’d love to have you join us. You can read about the book and purchase through independent bookstores here.
Everyone is welcome. No one turned away for lack of funds. If you want to join us, please email us at rabbi@beyttikkun.org

Walk, Pray, Eat with Rabbi Cat
2025-03-11 08:00 - 09:00
On the second Tuesday of each month, Rabbi Cat will lead a morning Walk, Pray, Eat.
You can meet R’Cat in Emeryville, CA (she will also have her phone and do it on Zoom as well!) and join her (and her lovely dog Dodi!) for morning prayers while walking and if you want, you can stop and grab some food (along the way or at the end).
We will walk along the Emeryville Greenway, which is accessible to all people (flat, level, wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc.). Bring your dog if you want as well. We will meet at 8:00am PT at the park and leave for our walk at 8:10am.
The prayers will last about 30-45 minutes.
You can stay as long or short as you are able. We will have the prayers (in English and Hebrew transliteration) available on paper as well as online.

Weekly Action for Peace: Justice Cannot Wait: Call for an Arms Embargo & Student Protection
2025-03-10
We need your voice today. The U.S. must take immediate action to uphold human rights, stop arms sales to Israel, and push for a just peace. Please take a moment to email your representatives and demand the following:
✅ Vote YES on S.J.RES.20 and H.J.RES.68 to block the transfer of 10,000 artillery shells to Israel.
✅ Support an immediate arms embargo to halt all U.S. weapons shipments.
✅ Enforce U.S. laws that prohibit military funding for human rights violations.
✅ Push for full ceasefire compliance and ensure unobstructed humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
👉 Click here to email your representatives now.
Explore & Learn More
🌍 Nobel Peace Prize Nominees: Webinars Next Week
Three activists—Issa Amro, Jeff Halper, and Mazin Qumsiyeh—have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their courageous work in Palestine and Israel. Join us for two special webinars:
📅 Wednesday, March 12 (Issa & Jeff) – Register Here
📅 Thursday, March 13 (Mazin) – Register Here
📚 New Online Course: Fighting Fascism at Home & Abroad
Join us for a six-session online course exploring the link between rising fascism in the U.S. and the struggle for a free Palestine. Learn how to build a powerful movement capable of confronting injustice everywhere.
✍️ Click here to register.
Demand Justice for Palestinian Student Activist Mahmoud Khalil
Columbia University, which recently published a new protocol on its plans to cooperate with ICE, has repeatedly targeted Mahmoud Khalil for his Palestinian identity and outspoken activism. Over the past 17 months, he has faced harassment for his role as a lead negotiator during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and for speaking out in media interviews and press conferences.
Columbia’s continued collaboration with federal agencies and outside partisan institutions has enabled this injustice. Like many other Arab and Muslim students, Khalil has been the target of Zionist harassment campaigns, fueled by doxxing websites like Canary Mission, designed to instill fear in pro-Palestine activists and silence dissent.
We demand the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from DHS detention and a reversal of Columbia University’s protocol permitting ICE on campus without a warrant.
✍️ Add your name to demand justice.
Thank you for taking action. Together, we can demand accountability, protect human rights, and work toward lasting peace.

Rabbi Cat’s Musings on Tetzaveh
2025-03-07
Shabbat Shalom.
(Watch Rabbi Cat’s musings here)
Last week, Moses was given instructions on how to build the holy sanctuary, the mishkan, for the Divine. This week, God instructs Moses on all the vestments and adornments needed for the priests, Aaron and his sons. He is told to make these vestments of dignity and beauty (kavod and tiferet).
In kabbalah, tiferet signifies a balance of the flow of chesed, loving-kindness, with the strength and clarity of gevurah, boundaries. These two together—chesed and gevurah in the form of tiferet—help ensure a proper measure of Divine light and life-force. It is a place of compassionate action, fierce love.
One of the vestments is the breastplate of mishpat. This breastplate sits on the chest, over the heart. It is translated in the parsha as “decision,” but mishpat means judgment. The root letters for mishpat are משפ (mem, shin, pey).
In the book of Genesis, God tells Abram that He is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, appalled that God would destroy an entire city if there are some righteous people living there, says to God, “Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly?” The root for judge and justly is mishpat.
The priest goes before God seeking judgment or justice on behalf of the people. I read this as a reminder to the priest (and to each of us) that when they come before the Divine with the breastplate of judgment over their heart, they are to remember to balance in their heart the qualities of dignity and beauty. The priest (and each of us) needs to stand before God like Abram did—advocating for humanity with fierce love and compassion.
In this parsha, God also instructs Moses to command the Israelites to bring oil for kindling lamps eternally (ner tamid). The instructions continue: these lamps shall burn from evening to morning. In addition to the lamps, there shall also be a “perpetual offering” (korban tamid) two times a day, morning and evening.
Why? What might be the significance of lighting candles every night to burn until morning and making an offering twice a day?
One of the words for sacrifice or offering is korban, which means to draw close or near. Sacrifices are a way to draw close to the Divine.
Now that the people have experienced their physical liberation from Egypt, seen the miracles, and are wandering lost and scared in the desert, they need another way to connect with the Divine. Rather than God manifesting through amazing miracles, the people are being encouraged to keep faith.
God provides an embodied way for them to do so each and every day—draw close to God in the morning and evening through sacrifice (which we now do through prayer) and light the candles every night to burn through the morning, sustaining the people’s connection to God’s light and life-force through the night.
In these incredibly distressing times, when the indwelling presence of God, Shechinah, seems so absent, perhaps this is a time for us to step up and build a holy place for the Divine to dwell.
To stand before the Divine and seek justice with fierce love and compassion.
To find ways each and every day to draw close to the Divine, so we can manifest Divine holiness in our lives and in our world. One way we can do this is through daily acts of resistance and action.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Cat Zavis

Urgent Actions & Upcoming Event – Take a Stand for Justice
2025-03-03
🔴 Action 1: URGENT – Block Weapons to Israel
The Senate will soon vote on blocking weapons to Israel as Gaza rebuilds and tanks roll into the West Bank.
For the first time in 20 years, Israeli tanks are advancing through the occupied West Bank. Just yesterday, Israeli forces killed two 13-year-old Palestinian children. These horrifying escalations continue as Israel violates ceasefire terms in Gaza and obstructs rebuilding efforts.
We cannot look away while our tax dollars enable these atrocities.
📢 Tell your senators to vote YES on Senator Bernie Sanders’ bill, S.J.RES.20, which aims to block 10,000 155mm artillery shells from being sent to Israel—the same weapons fueling violence and displacement across Palestine.
👉 Click here to contact your senators now.
🚨 Action 2: Stop Mike Huckabee’s Confirmation
Tell your senators to oppose the confirmation of Mike Huckabee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel. His record makes it clear why he must be blocked:
❌ He actively denies the existence of the Palestinian people
❌ He supports the Israeli government’s violent forced displacement of Palestinians
📢 Send a letter to your senators today!
👉 Click here to take action.
🎬 Explore & Learn More: Online Film Salon
Join us for an online film salon on March 16, 2025, focusing on:
🎞️ The Consequences of Zionism on the Lives of Ordinary People Living in the Holy Land
Prior to the event, you’ll receive access to related films, followed by a panel discussion featuring Israeli, Palestinian, and American panelists.
🗣️ Moderator: Seth Morrison, member of Beyt Tikkun Synagogue
📅 Date: March 16, 2025
📌 Register here: 👉 Click here to sign up.
📢 Local CA Action: Stop the Censorship of Ethnic Studies
A dangerous new bill, AB 1468, has been introduced in the California legislature that would censor the teaching of anti-Arab racism, anti-Palestinian racism, and Islamophobia in high school Ethnic Studies classes.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has launched a petition urging the legislature to oppose AB 1468. As CAIR states:
“AB 1468 is a deeply problematic bill that seeks to undermine Ethnic Studies in California by stripping control from educators and scholars, imposing political censorship, and erasing critical histories.”
📢 Take action now: Sign the CAIR petition
The bill, introduced by Assembly members Rick Zbur and Dawn Addis, originates from the Jewish Legislative Caucus (JLC) and mandates that all Ethnic Studies curriculum and materials be approved by the State Board of Education with input from a newly formed “advisory” committee. Given the pro-Israel bias of the bill’s backers, discussions of Israeli apartheid, ethnic cleansing, settler colonialism, and genocide will likely be prohibited under the guise of combatting “antisemitism.”
Local school districts would be required to comply—or face legal consequences.
JVP Bay Area and other JVP chapters will be mobilizing over the summer to stop this bill.
📢 Sign the CAIR petition now: 👉 Click here
For further information on the struggle for Ethnic Studies, explore the following:

Article in California Politico: “Ethnic Studies Clash Coming” (02/24/2025) – An overview of AB 1468.
Coalition of Liberated Ethnic Studies – A progressive Ethnic Studies curriculum providing an example of what genuine Ethnic Studies should look like.

In solidarity,
Rabbi Cat Zavis & the Beyt Tikkun Israel/Palestine Social Action Committee

Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Terumah
2025-03-01 09:30 - 12:30
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Terumah
Saturday, March, 1st
Emeryville, CA & online
9:30am Shabbat service // 10:30am Torah study
Register Here

You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others. For those joining us online, we invite you to also bring food to eat after the service. We will keep the room open so folks can connect with each other after the service.
A peek into Torah study with us and the parsha this week
We’ve left Egypt and continue on our liberation journey in the desert. We have received the 10 speech acts and some concrete laws to help us live together as a community. This week we read parshat Terumah. In this parsha, we are given the first instructions for building a sanctuary in which the Divine can dwell. The Divine tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and tell them to bring gifts to the Divine. Interestingly, this is not a requirement, but rather an invitation – only those whose heart is so motivated to do so. The word for “gift” is terumah. The root of that word is resh, vav, mem (רום), which means to uplift. In other words, you are invited to bring a gift to help build the sanctuary for the Divine to dwell and in so doing, you are uplifted. You give the gift to uplift yourself, to draw yourself closer to the Divine. If we participate in building a sanctuary for Divine presence to dwell, we end up being uplifted.

This Shabbat marks the first day of the month of Adar. We are taught that when Adar arrives, we are to cultivate joy. (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit 29a) Even in the face of struggle and difficulties, it is upon us to cultivate joy. Joy can help us navigate these challenging times and stay engaged.

As we try in our movements and in our lives to build a holy world worthy of Divine presence, a world where all life is seen and treated as a manifestation of the Divine, what is your unique gift that you want to contribute from your heart? And how might that help you cultivate joy in your life?

We hope you will join us either in person or on Zoom for spiritually meaningful prayers and a rich discussion.

Location: Rabbi Cat’s home in Oakland, about 0.5 miles from MacArthur BART Station. Address will be provided once you register.
Accessibility: There are 4 steps to enter the house and 4 steps to the backyard (if people choose to go there.) The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible. There are couches, chairs, and floor pillows for seating. Please try to be scent-free. A retriever/labrador dog lives in the home but will not be present. A cat has lived there previously.
COVID: Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. Air filter provided. Windows can be opened if requested.
Please email us if you have questions or other accessibility needs.
rabbi@beyttikkun.org

Kabbalat Shabbat with Community Shabbat
2025-02-28 18:00 - 21:00
We are excited to invite you to an in-person Kabbalat Shabbat dinner in collaboration with Community Shabbat. Community Shabbat is a place to come together to sing, pray, and eat in a way that is aligned with Beyt Tikkun’s values of inclusivity, collaboration, spirituality, Judaism beyond Zionism, anti-racism, and anti-capitalism. Rabbi Cat Zavis and Kayla Pollak (of Community Shabbat) will co-lead a spiritually and politically infused service. We hope you will stay for a delicious vegan, gluten-free potluck dinner. All are welcome and invited. Details: Friday, February 28, 6-9pm Location: Home in North Berkeley, address sent following registration Please bring: A vegan, gluten free dish to share for 20 people. Register here. We hope to see you there! ​
Access info:

The house is on a medium-sized hill. There are two steps up to the front door. We will have chairs of different sizes, both with and without arms.
COVID info: KN95/N95 masks are required. Please take a rapid test before coming and stay home if you are sick.

Shabbat services and Torah study | Mishpatim
2025-02-22 09:30 - 12:30
Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Mishpatim
Saturday, February 22nd
Emeryville, CA & online
9:30am Shabbat service // 10:30am Torah study
Register Here
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
To obtain the Zoom link to join us online or the address where we meet in person (centrally located in Emeryville, only a short walk from the MacArthur Bart Station), please register here. Feel free to invite others as well by forwarding this email or link.
We begin our Shabbat service at 9:30am PT with meaningful prayers, balancing the awe of being alive with the call in our tradition for radical transformation of our world.
Then we turn to our Torah study at 10:30am PT. This week we begin reading the book of Exodus, the foundational text of liberation theology, the seeds of which were planted in the book of Genesis. This parsha once again begins with naming all the sons of Israel (i.e., Jacob) who came to Egypt. The Israelites, we are told, are fertile and multiple in the land. Pharaoh expresses fear that they will become stronger than the Egyptians and join in solidarity with others and rise from the land.
The fear of the power of refugees to align with other oppressed and vulnerable peoples to challenge empire has a long history. Pharaoh, like modern tyrants today, chooses to respond to their presence and strength by stoking fear in the Egyptians and imposing slave masters over them to increase their oppression. We will reflect on the similarities in our Torah to what we can expect under a Trump administration and how Israel has and continues to respond to and treat Palestinians today.
Registration is FREE for both Zoom and in person participation.
Click here to register
We’d love to have you join us!
9:30 am Pacific Time (12:30 pm Eastern Time)Shabbat morning prayers and celebration of the universe
10:30 am Pacific Time (1:30 pm Eastern Time)Torah Study | Mishpatim Exodus 21:1–24:18
12:15 pm Pacific Time (3:15 pm Eastern Time)Kaddish, Kiddush, and vegetarian potluck for those able to join us in person!
​*Please save this link for information on upcoming Torah Study and Special Events
You can watch Rabbi Cat’s musings from last week and Beyt Tikkun’s Torah Study from the previous week
| Rabbi Cat’s Musings on parshat Yitro
| Torah study on parshat Beshalach
Shabbat Services and Torah Study are held at Rabbi Cat’s home, address will be provided once you register. She has a large, sweet golden retriever/labrador mixed breed dog. Masks are optional. Please don't come if you have any symptoms. Air filter provided. Windows can be opened if requested. There are 4 steps to enter the house. The house is one story. There are 4 steps out the backdoor to the backyard if we decide to go out there. There are couches, dining room chairs, and a floor for seating (along with pillows one can sit on on the floor). Please try to be scent-free.

Community Chit Chat with Rabbi Cat
2025-02-19 17:30 - 19:00
On theThe third Wednesday of each month, R’Cat will host a Zoom “Community Chit Chat with Rabbi Cat.” It’s an opportunity to visit together in community, ask questions, share celebrations, or anything else that moves you. It will be at 5:30pm PT. Click here to receive the Zoom link.

Hamze Awawde & Rabbi Cat Zavis in Conversation
2025-02-11 19:00
You’re invited to a powerful and timely conversation with Hamze Awawde, a Palestinian peace activist, and Rabbi Cat Zavis as they explore the past, present, and future realities of Palestine—and the possibilities for justice, reconciliation, and peace.
📅 Tuesday, February 11
📍 Lakeshore Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
🕖 Doors open at 6:45 PM | Talk begins at 7:00 PM (PST)
🎥 Live Stream: bit.ly/3E2aKdX
About Hamze Awawde:
A lifelong advocate for peace and human dignity, Hamze Awawde is committed to amplifying Palestinian voices and fostering dialogue beyond cycles of violence. His latest initiative, the Center for Palestinian Renewal (CPR), is a groundbreaking think-and-do tank dedicated to empowering Palestinian perspectives and promoting citizen diplomacy.
Join us for an evening of deep discussion and hopeful vision-building. Whether in person or online, we hope you can be part of this essential conversation.
If planning on attending in person, you can just show up at the time of the event, no registration necessary.

Walk, Pray, Eat with Rabbi Cat
2025-02-11 08:00 - 09:00
On the second Tuesday of each month, Rabbi Cat will lead a morning Walk, Pray, Eat.
You can meet R’Cat in Emeryville, CA (she will also have her phone and do it on Zoom as well!) and join her (and her lovely dog Dodi!) for morning prayers while walking and if you want, you can stop and grab some food (along the way or at the end).
We will walk along the Emeryville Greenway, which is accessible to all people (flat, level, wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc.). Bring your dog if you want as well. We will meet at 8:00am PT at the park and leave for our walk at 8:10am.
The prayers will last about 30-45 minutes.
You can stay as long or short as you are able. We will have the prayers (in English and Hebrew transliteration) available on paper as well as online.

Register here

Tu B’Shvat Celebration: Shabbat, Torah Study, and Environmental Seder
2025-02-08 09:30 - 12:30
On Saturday, Feb. 8th at 9:30am, in addition to our regular Shabbat and Torah Study, we will be hosting our special Tu B’shvat Seder – the Jewish environmental holiday. We will begin with our morning celebration of the universe, study Torah, and then have a celebratory environmental seder. All with great teachings and music led by Rabbi Cat Zavis and Dr. Ami Goodman.
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person.
To obtain the Zoom link to join us online or the address where we meet in person (centrally located in Emeryville, only a short walk from the MacArthur Bart Station)
Please register here.
Feel free to invite others as well by forwarding this email or link.
We will use the Beyt Tikkun Tu B’shvat mahzor and follow the Chasidic path, coupled with the wisdom of tikkun olam.
The seder will involve enjoying various fruits, helping us connect with the beauty and bounty of our planet. If you join us on Zoom, we encourage you to get some of the relevant fruit and grape juice or wine (some red and white) so you can participate fully in the experience. If you join us in person, we will provide the fruits and juice. The tradition is to move from less permeable fruit to more permeable. All you need is one fruit for each of the following stages:

First, those with tough shells and soft edible inside (e.g., walnuts, coconuts, pomegranates, or melons).
Second, fruit with a soft outside but hard inside (e.g., peaches, dates, apricots, olives, cherries, dates, plums, etc.).
Third, fruit that is soft both on the outside and the inside (e.g., strawberries, figs, blueberries, pears, grapes, apples, etc.).
In the 4th stage, we will visualize a higher level of connection to the earth and the cosmos (no fruit needed!)

You only need one fruit for each of these stages. If you don’t get them, then just imagine them when we get to each stage.
And at each stage we also drink some grape juice or wine – ideally you’ll have white grape juice or wine and red wine or grape juice. Come and enjoy!
9:30 am PST: Shabbat celebration of the universe
10:30 am PST: Torah study: Beshalach – God continues to harden Pharaoh’s heart and sends Pharaoh and his army after the Hebrews. Exodus 13:17 (sefaria.org)
11:30 to 12:30 pm PST – Tu B’Shvat Environmental Seder.
You are invited to all or any segment you want.
Hope to see you there!
Rabbi Cat Zavis & the Beyt Tikkun Team
Please register here.
Shabbat Services and Torah Study are held at Rabbi Cat’s home, address will be provided once you register. She has a large, sweet golden retriever/labrador mixed breed dog. Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. Air filter provided. Windows can be opened if requested. There are 4 steps to enter the house. The house is one story. There are 4 steps out the backdoor to the backyard if we decide to go out there. There are couches, dining room chairs, and a floor for seating (along with pillows one can sit on on the floor). Please try to be scent-free.
