FEATURED EVENTS
02.08.12 Community of Elders Wednesdays at the Temple Full Day On the second Wednesday of the month - LBT’s Community of Elders offers classes and interactive presentations in the morning, followed by a bag lunch, and choice of Yoga with Norm Gee or Fun & Games.
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH . . . Arrive at 9:30am for coffee, tea, fruit - followed by:
10:00 - 11:15 CLASS with Bob Farrell, Freedom Rider and former Los Angeles City Council member for 17 years, speaking on: LA City Council . . . Then and Now.
11:30 - 12:30 CONVERSATION with Sandy Banks, Los Angeles Times journalist, activist/writer.
Then stay the afternoon for a 12:30 Bring Your Own Bag Lunch (Dessert & Coffee provided)
1:30 - 3:00 Yoga with Norm Gee (for ALL ages) OR
1:30 - 3:00 Fun and Games: Stay the day and play bridge, Scrabble or enjoy our lending library of books.
02.09.12 Research Training Action Community Organizing at LBT is taking off! "Research Training Action" takes place Thursday, February 9, 7:00-9:00pm at Leo Baeck Temple. Join us as we launch the research phase of our work. For the next two months we will be researching opportunities for strategic action on the economy, education and health care system, at the local and state level, with a goal of finding the most strategic focus for our campaign. Then, mark your calendar for Contact us by email at
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or call the temple office at 310.476.2861 to let us know to expect you.
02.09.12 People of the Book Club Join us for our monthly meetings on the second Thursday at 7:30pm in the LBT Community Lounge.
Book title for February 9 - The Last Jump: A Novel of World War II by John E. Nevola. All are welcome.
For March 8 begin reading The Last Resort by Douglas Rogers.
02.10.12 Shabbat Evening Service / Scholar-in-Residence with Professor Daniel C. Matt - "Shekhinah: the Feminine Half of God" (see details below and on 2/11 and 2/12)
Each year, since 1980, an outstanding scholar visits Leo Baeck Temple for a weekend of study and discussion. Join us this year, as we welcome our 2012 Scholar-in-Residence: Professor Daniel C. Matt
Topic: From Kabbalah to the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Spirituality
Professor Matt will introduce us to some of the central themes of Kabbalah. On Friday night he will focus on the concept of Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of God) in the context of Shabbat. In his subsequent presentations, he will show how the Zohar interprets and reimagines the Torah, and how the mystical tradition enables us to discover God in the material world. Finally, he will address the question of “God and the Big Bang,” exploring parallels between Kabbalah and contemporary cosmology, and seeking to find harmony between science and spirituality. Please see the February/March Bulletin (page 5) for additional information and to register.
02.11.12 Scholar-in-Residence Program with Professor Daniel C. Matt
Kabbalah to the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Spirituality
Shabbat Morning Minyan / Session One 9:30-12:00 Join our Shabbat morning minyan for song, prayer, and learning, as Professor Matt teaches a passage from the Zohar on the Shabbat Torah portion. Minyan is followed by a vegetarian potluch Kiddush lunch.
Session Two 1:30-3:00 The Mystical Meaning of Torah
Session Three 3:15-4:45 Raising the Sparks: Finding God in the Material World
Havdalah 5:00
See 2/10 and 2/12 for additional topic information. Go to page 5 of the February/March Bulletin to attend Saturday's program.
02.12.12 Scholar-in-Residence Program with Professor Daniel C. Matt
From Kabbalah to the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Spirituality
On Sunday morning - Session Four 9:30-11:30, Professor Matt will address the question of “God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality.” Please see 2/10 and 2/11 for additional topic details; to register go to page 5 of the February/March Bulletin.
Shabbat Services
KABBALAT SHABBAT:
Our Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) service includes lots of music with guitar and piano, singing, traditional and creative prayers and a short sermon or d'var torah. We begin with a short “PrOneg” at 5:45 in the temple Social Hall. This is an opportunity for a pre-service nosh and chance to greet each other. At 6:00pm, we gather together for traditional Sabbath blessings and songs leading into our service. Children’s Shabbat Programming is offered for pre-school to third grade children at appropriate times during the course of the worship service.
To accommodate those members of our community who find it difficult to get to Leo Baeck Temple by 6:00pm on a regular basis, we have begun to offer Shabbat services at 7:30pm on the third Friday of each month. These services offer the same music, traditional and creative prayers as our earlier service, but at a later start time.
Once a month, (typically on the first Friday of each month), we welcome Shabbat Alive! This service is almost entirely sung and includes our LBT worship instrumental group. Shabbat Alive! is carefully designed to be fulfilling for worshipers of all ages – for children, for their parents (our “sermon alternative” enables young children to enjoy a special Shabbat program while their parents are focused on the sermon), and for adults without young children.
In the summer, Kabbalat Shabbat services are held under the stars in our extraordinary Outdoor Chapel. These services typically meet at 7:30pm and are often preceded by community picnics. They include a short sermon or teaching and are outdoors and include the D'var Torah (short sermon).
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES:
Shabbat does not end after the Oneg on Friday nights. Be part of our Shabbat Morning Minyan, as we meet at 9:30am on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. Our clergy will join with members of the temple community to create an informal, musical, spiritual and intellectually stimulating Shabbat service. A potluck Kiddush lunch will follow each service.
Shabbat morning services are also held Saturdays at 10:30am in the main sanctuary on weeks when B’nai Mitzvah are celebrated.
Kaddish is offered at each of our Shabbat services for anyone who would like to commemorate a loved one. For a complete listing of Shabbat worship services, please visit the Temple Calendar Section.