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Rabbi Heidi’s Challah
1 cup hot water2 Tablespoons sugar1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast or one packet Mix the sugar in the hot water so that it melts. Make sure
Where is Hope?
(I wrote this at 9:00am this morning (Feb. 20, 2025). And at 3:27pm, we just learned that the body we thought was Shiri’s is not.
What We Can Learn and Do to Show Mercy and Love the Stranger
Show Mercy and Compassion This week, Bishop Mariann Edger Budde’s sermon at the post-inauguration service on Tuesday, drew the attention of the country. Religious or
Acheinu – Our Brothers and Sisters, Can You Finally Be Coming Home?
As we all heard, an agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas. We are elated because it means some hostages can start coming home. Families
Remembering President Carter, z’l
President Jimmy Carter was remembered today during a service at the Washington National Cathedral. Eulogizing someone and trying to encapsulate their whole life in just
Expanding the Table of Thanksgiving Traditions
Thanksgiving is a day that celebrates gratitude, togetherness, and—of course—traditions. Every family has its own way of marking the holiday, whether it’s watching the Macy’s
Holding Onto Hope and Doing the Work
Has it only been a week? It feels longer. Honestly, some days, it’s tempting to just stay in bed, pull the covers up, and wait
Feelings of Uncertainty and Fear
The past 36 hours have been filled with many intense emotions. Yes, democracy worked, and the election results show that a majority of those who
What is the Torah? We Each Have Our Own Answer.
Last night, we celebrated Simchat Torah, a time not only to conclude another year of reading the Torah but also to begin the journey anew.
HaNefesh Songs of Gratitude Event: A Successful Celebration of Four Years of Jewish Life
Music brings people together and our Songs of Gratitude event was successful in bringing HaNefesh together to celebrate four years of doing and living Jewish.
Take Two Minutes to Remember
This weekend we observe Memorial Day. This is a time that we are to remember the people who gave their lives in service to our
We Come From the Garden
Last weekend, we did a thing…we planted a garden. We started with some grow bags and then a trip to a nursery for vegetable plants
Let Us Celebrate Israel’s 76th Birthday!
Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day begins on Monday night, May 13. This year, as with many of the holidays since October 7th, it seems even
Never Again Is Now – Yom HaShoah in 2024
On January 30, 1933, 91 years ago, Hitler came to power and began the long road of building a case against the Jewish people that
Yes, It Can Happen Again
Why did we let it happen? Why didn’t we just get out? How could we just let them lead us to the gas chambers? How
There’s something for everyone at Passover
Passover is z’man cheiruteinu, the time of our freedom. We love this holiday and all that we get to do with it. From the mass
What does it mean to be free?
As we prepare for Passover, we ask an important question; What does it mean to be free? As Americans, we understand freedom to be, freedom
Keeping emotions in check
Our emotions can sometimes get the best of us. When we are angry or frustrated with something, we might forget to stop, think, and then
One Year Olds Should Not Be In Tunnels
Remember one year old celebrations? We might remember them from pictures of when we turned one or when we celebrated our own children turning one.
Help Maintain the Jewish People One Community At A Time
HaNefesh is a strong Jewish community that is radically inclusive of all and reaches people from all over. There are no borders, no time zones,
A Small Light Can Be a Great Torch for Justice
If you have not seen it yet, this is a must watch: A Small Light. This is the story of Miep Gies, the woman responsible
A Note of Thanks
I heard that someone called HaNefesh the Gay/Lesbian congregation in Orange County. This comment was said to others in hopes of being hurtful to HaNefesh.
Night 7 Song Lyrics 2022
Hamentaschen Latke Debate – Rabbi Joe Black Come answer the question: Which one is the best one? Latke(s)? Hamentaschen? Hamentaschen latke debate I like latkes
We’re Far From Irrelevant!
It’s Thursday and you all know what that means…Thursday night football! The 49ers are playing the Seahawks tonight and Jodi is wearing her 49er gear
HaNefesh Olive Oil Tasting
Recipes! There is so much you can do with olive oil, including baking. Here is the link to the Pasolivo recipes page.
Our Choices Are For the Future
Yom Kippur Morning Sermon/5783-2022 Rabbi Heidi Cohen How do our choices affect us? And do they only affect us? It’s like the pebble that, when
Integrity in 2022
Kol Nidrei Sermon – 5783/2022 Rabbi Heidi Cohen Recently, we’ve been wrestling with the state of our world, our country, our community? Why is it
Reproductive Rights Is A Jewish Value
Rosh Hashanah Sermon – 5783/2022 Rabbi Heidi Cohen On June 24 we were all shocked yet not surprised. 50 years after Roe v Wade was
What is Freedom? Especially Today
Judaism exists because of freedom. Our text says often, ‘remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Eternal freed you.’ Shortly after our leaving
Protecting Our Children Does Not Mean Silencing Them
We would like to think that we live in a progressive times. We include our pronouns on our zoom names and signatures to emails. We
Invest in HaNefesh at the End of 2021
Checks can be sent to: HaNefesh15333 Culver Dr.Suite 340-2AIrvine, CA 92604 HaNefesh is about building Jewish life without “Building Funds.” Our concrete and mortar are
We Are So Excited to be a Part of Something Big
This week, in our Torah portion, Vayishlach, we continue to see Jacob’s transformation. He comes from a family who shares a covenant with God. His
Halloween…Festival of Chocolate…Jews, Golems and Ghosts
This Sunday is Halloween, a night of dressing up in costumes, knocking on stranger’s doors and asking for candy! What kid doesn’t like this day!
The Megillah as Seen Today
Judaism has over 3000 years worth of text to immerse ourselves in. And we often ask, is any of it still relevant? The answer is,
The Mountain Over Our Heads
Have you ever felt like someone was holding a mountain over your head wanting you to choose something? This was exactly how one midrash suggests
Who will plant for the future?
This week brings together two observances. Today is Tu BiShvat, the 15th of the month of Shvat during which we celebrate the birthday or the
Tu BiShvat Seder January 26 at 6:30pm
Join Sheila and Rhea for a fun Tu BiShvat seder celebrating Mother Earth, the trees and all that comes from them. Click here to log
A Blessing for a Vaccine
The time has come for us to receive our Covid-19 Vaccine! (Well, when our number is called) And with every moment, there is an opportunity
Hope and Healing in the Days Ahead
Yesterday, we were in disbelief by what we saw take place in the halls of our US Capitol. Domestic Terrorists who breached the sacred halls of
L’Shana Tovah!
September 17, 2020 | 28 Elul 5780 What an amazing opportunity we have this year to be with our families during our high holy day
HaNefesh – September 10, 2020 / 21 Elul 5780
Selichot are a group of prayers and poems said in preparation for and during the High Holy Days, specifically Yom Kippur. These are words asking
HaNefesh – September 3, 2020/ 14 Elul 5780
We began our quarantine on March 13. Many of us thought this might only be a couple of weeks, maybe a month until we could
HaNefesh – 7 Elul 5780
HaNefesh: Breathing New Life into the High Holy Days Enjoy this inspirational video featuring Jewish thought leader Naomi Ackerman. Naomi Ackerman, the founder and executive
August 13, 2020 | 23 Av 5780
High Holy Days 2020/5781 are going to be like nothing we have ever experienced. We are going to be “virtual” and with our new community,
HaNefesh Issue #8 (It’s our Brit Milah Issue)
This is our 8th issue of the HaNefesh and Jew By You Newsletters. It’s awesome to see how far we’ve come in the past two
Do Not Separate Yourself from Your Community
In Pirkei Avot, Hillel teaches us, “Do not separate yourself from the community.” Yet here we are in the middle of a pandemic where we
Have a Community? Good to Have a Brit!
A group of people with shared values and vision come together to create a community. This is HaNefesh. We are a group of people with
Lettuce Know
July 9, 2020 | 17 Tamuz 5780 know…. I had a great conversation this week about how to be a part of HaNefesh community. (quick grammar
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Worship and Spirituality
Deepening faith through meaningful worship and spiritual connections.
Social Action/Tikkun Olam
Pursuing justice and equality through community-driven activism and outreach.
