Congregation Etz Chayim

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

The monthly Mah Jongg game is open to newcomers.

Prepare to be surprised by the Talmud! This ancient text, written by our Rabbis nearly 2,000 years ago, is filled with stories that still resonate with us today. You'll find inspiring, thought and heart provoking tales of love, jealousy, pride, competition, shaming, kindness, courage, relationships, and more.We will go on an interactive journey through some Talmud: we will explore some stories together and discuss their implications for our lives today.

This past year has been a year of profound broken-ness. Our people, our world, our spirits, our planet. We are exhausted, scared, anxious and in deep need of healing. As we enter the new year, let us focus on ways to heal our fractured world and ourselves. Ha-Makom, The Place, is one of the many names for G0d in our tradition. It is most frequently heard in the expression used to comfort mourners. This session imagines how we create spiritual spaces that we can turn to when we are overwhelmed, spaces that can provide comfort and healing, spaces that are worthy of sharing a name with G0d.