Monica Steiner: Abraham the Woman Would Have Stayed

Monica Steiner Hooray!: Abraham the Woman Would Have Stayed Monica has served as a lay leader at CBB for 11 years and on our professional staff for the past 5+, most recently as Director of Donor Relations. This month, CBB wished Monica and her family farewell as they move across country so Monica can begin [...]

2022-05-31T21:52:59-07:00May 31st, 2022|

Charles Perkins: Public Affirmation Speech 

Charles during his mikveh immersion at Goleta Beach. Photo by Phoebe Light Charles Perkins: Public Affirmation Speech Author's note: With much gentle nudging and calm reassurance, our own Rabbi Daniel Brenner convinced me that my public affirmation ceremony would benefit from a few short words about my conversion process -- my "journey home" [...]

2022-01-20T09:47:50-08:00January 20th, 2022|

Elizabeth Mason: Thanksgivikuh

Elizabeth Mason: Thanksgivikuh Our Hebrew calendar found us segueing from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah within a matter of days this year. As such, the gestalt of Thanksgiving evoked a background for gratitude, light and dedication of the soul. Within the microcosm of the Mason family, there emerged a small-scale miracle around this period of time, its [...]

2021-12-15T10:51:16-08:00December 15th, 2021|

Liam Avolio: Reflections From My Bar Mitzvah

Liam Avolio: Reflections From My Bar Mitzvah The day had finally come. I suppose I knew that it was happening, but it always seemed so far away. But years became months, and months became weeks, and weeks became days. And now, here I was, catching up with family, outside the temple where my Bar Mitzvah [...]

2021-11-01T10:32:32-07:00November 1st, 2021|

Judy Karin: In the Fall We Build a Fort

Judy Karin: In the Fall We Build a Fort In the fall, we build a fort.   I have a childhood memory: we’re stuck in traffic, on the way to visit my grandparents in Queens. I glance out the window and see a field of - I don’t know, it looks like giant ferns. It’s [...]

2021-09-23T15:12:02-07:00September 23rd, 2021|

Lynn Altschul: Bringing Suicide Out of the Darkness

Lynn Altschul: Bringing Suicide Out of the Darkness I never thought that I would be someone who would be touched by suicide. But over five years ago my 35 year old son died by suicide and I have been engaged in a process of grief, deep reflection and tribute ever since.  Some people shine a light [...]

2021-09-14T10:37:23-07:00September 20th, 2021|

Beth Weinberg: Reflections on Yolanda Savage Narva

Beth Weinberg: Reflections on Yolanda Savage Narva ~~~ Editor's note: CLICK TO VIEW Yolanda Savage Narva's presentation on racial equality, diversity, and inclusion, from our June 20, 2021 Kenny Gaynes Memorial Sunday Morning Live. Savage Narva is the Director of Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Union for Reform Judaism. (She is also the aunt [...]

2021-07-14T16:27:17-07:00July 14th, 2021|

Debi Lewis: Ordination

  Debi Lewis: Ordination A huge mazel tov on behalf of the entire CBB community to our beloved Rav Debi Lewis!- Editor Deborah Lynn Lewis graduated from Gratz College with a BA in Jewish Studies. She is a member of Congregation B'nai B'rith (CBB) in Santa Barbara and credits her congregation for instilling within her [...]

2021-05-24T15:28:42-07:00May 24th, 2021|

Marcus James: My People, Place, & Purpose (Part 2)

Marcus James: My People, Place, & Purpose (Part 2) [CLICK HERE to read Part 1 of this series, Ed.] “Daddy, I have found my people, my place, and my purpose!” These were the words that drew me to Israel, which eventually led me on my own journey with Judaism.  Upon returning from my third trip there, I set about locating the local Jewish community -the people. While [...]

2021-04-19T15:09:21-07:00April 19th, 2021|

Marcus James: My People, My Place, and My Purpose

My People, My Place, and My Purpose  (Part 1) “Daddy, I have found my people, my place, and my purpose!” declared my eldest daughter Isabel (now Elisheva) over the phone from Israel. “I am not going to continue to Europe. I am staying.”   I found my daughter’s declaration intriguing. What was it she meant? Israel has been in the news all my life, but [...]

2021-04-19T14:58:46-07:00April 12th, 2021|
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