Service led by Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf, rabbinic intern Shirah Kraus and cantorial soloist Noa Levy with music director Jonathan Dimmock and a drash by Rabbi Greg Wolfe. Followed by a festive Oneg in honor of Romualdo Melo's conversion. 

Mayans, Mitzvahs and Meaning
Drash by Rabbi Greg Wolfe: We are excited to invite Rabbi Greg Wolfe back to his home congregation to share his recent experiences in Guatemala with the organization MayaWorks. Rabbi Wolfe traveled with a small Jewish group to meet the amazing Mayan women in a variety of villages to hear their stories and see their incredible handiwork, which includes kippot, tallitot, challah covers and more.

MayaWorks has long supported these Mayan women, who often still facing terrible prejudice and discrimination, to ensure they get fair payment for their work, opportunities to gain new skills and educational support for the girls. Join us to learn how Mayan women came to make Judaica, what’s so Jewish about this journey to these communities in Central America and how it relates to Judaism’s highest level of tzedakah (Jewish justice). You will also hear about Rabbi Wolfe’s visit with the Jewish community in Guatemala City, see many of the beautiful crafts created by the Mayan women, and learn how you, too, can join on the next trip to Guatemala in January. (Click this link to find out about the upcoming tour and more about MayaWorks. Rabbi Wolfe will speak during our Shabbat service and also meet with our teens afterwards for a special interactive program.

Rabbi Greg Wolfe grew up in San Francisco at Sherith Israel, received his BA at UC Berkeley and his ordination at HUC-JIR in New York. Rabbi Wolfe served as the rabbi of Congregation Bet Haverim in Davis, CA for 27 years and is currently the rabbi emeritus after retiring in 2022. Rabbi Wolfe continues to live in Davis with his wife, Julie Hochman, and serves as the Secretary of the Northern California Board of Rabbis.