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.

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. Despite the traditional expression, Refuah Sh'leimah, a full recovery, sometimes the body cannot be healed. How do you find hope when hope is not hope is not what you want it to be? How can we re-define hope when recovery and survival are no longer possible. Gretchen will bring insights from the world of palliative and hospice care that we may apply to healing our souls and our world. Click

Piryazev Bar Mitzvah Party