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Shabbat with Friends Blog


What are Shabbat with Friends Gatherings?
A Shabbat with Friends Musical Gathering with the Oneg Shabbat Ensemble in the foreground. Shabbat with Friends (SWF) gatherings embody...
1 day ago
On the Meaning of Chad Gadya-One Baby Goat A Passover Message from SWF Convener, Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
Thursday, April 10, 2024. A few years ago, a group of American scholars, journalists, and writers published the New American Haggadah....
Apr 11
A Rabbinic Letter: The Assault on Civil Rights
A Note from Rabbi Dov Gartenberg: I am a signer of this letter along with other rabbis across New Mexico. To Jewish Communities of New...
Apr 11


A Reflection on Purim in the Moment We Are In
Purim by Arthur Szyk Rabbi Dov Gartenberg Motzei Shabbat, Saturday night, March 8. 2025 We are living in an Ahasuerus moment. Every...
Mar 8


The Restoration of the Decree-the Gezerah
A Depiction of a Yom Kippur Service by Maurycy Gottlieb “U’Teshuvah, u’Tefilah, u’tzedaka, maavirin et roa’ hagezera. “But repentance,...
Mar 7


On Hamas' Release of the Four Hostages' Remains
Amidst the turmoil and consternation of the past few weeks, yesterday's news from Gaza and Israel was singularly devastating. Hamas...
Feb 23


The Power of the "Community Sing"
One of the first things I did after moving to Santa Fe in December was to join the Lensic Performing Arts Center to enjoy the outstanding...
Jan 5
A Peek at SWF in 2025
As part of the SWF end of year campaign, I wanted to share the programming we are planning for 2025. We hope that you will find this of...
Dec 31, 2024


A Unique and Transformative Gathering
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg December 25, 2024 Travis Rourk and Rabbi Dov Gartenberg at the Rising Song Singing Intensive I have never regretted...
Dec 25, 2024
A Match Made in Heaven with The Help of Song
Stories from Joey Weisenberg’s Rising Song Singing Intensive Post by Rabbi Dov Gartenberg Wednesday, December 18, 2024 This week I am...
Dec 18, 2024


What are Shabbat with Friends Gatherings?
By Rabbi Dov Gartenberg Tuesday, November 19, 2024 The Shabbat with Friends (SWF) Gathering is the signature program of Shabbat...
Nov 19, 2024
A Prayer for Difficult Times
By Rabbi Dov Gartenberg Composed on November 7, 2024. We turn to You with worry during these difficult times, for ourselves and for...
Nov 7, 2024
The Collateral Spiritual Damage of Anti-Semitism
By Rabbi Dov Gartenberg Kol Nidre Sermon in Santa Fe, New Mexico Kol Nidre 5785, October 11, 2024. The Book of Maccabees in the...
Nov 1, 2024


A New Approach to Jewish Community
A New Approach to Jewish Community Learn About Becoming a Chaver in Shabbat with Friends Several weeks ago, I shared with you Shabbat...
Oct 18, 2024


SWF HaShavua: The Weekly ENewsletter, Friday, August 30, 2024
Above: Ethan Stone and Becca Sheff, hosts of the Shabbat with Friends Musical Gathering at the end of Shabbat on Saturday, 9/07/24 in...
Aug 30, 2024


Introducing Shabbat with Friends' Vision of Community.
After two years of leadership deliberations, the SWF Leadership team publishes a draft of our vision of the Shabbat with Friends Community.
Aug 28, 2024
HaShavua: This Week at Shabbat With Friends: Behind the Scenes Blog Post by Rabbi Dov
August Shabbat with Friends Gatherings in SF and ABQ. Gemilut Hasadim-Song of Kindness Initiative July 25th 2024 at 5:21 pm MDT
Aug 6, 2024
Upcoming SWF Gatherings in August 2024
July 30th 2024 at 8:16 pm MD
Aug 6, 2024
Behind the Scenes at Shabbat with Friends NM During Summer 2024
Behind the Scenes at Shabbat with Friends NM during Summer 2024 Thursday, July 25, 2024-19 Tammuz, 5784 Dear Friends of Shabbat with...
Jul 25, 2024


Rediscovering the Joys of Shabbat Hospitality
We seek to restore Shabbat hospitality to a central Jewish practice in the liberal Jewish community.
Jun 29, 2024


SWF Announcements for July 2024
SWF SMS Campaign During July, we encourage our friends and supporters to sign up to receive SMS text messages from Shabbat with...
Jun 29, 2024


Transitions at SWF
We wish to extend our appreciation to Ruthie Maayan, the first president of Shabbat with Friends NM, who stepped down after serving of...
Jun 29, 2024
No Bad Jews: Noah Feldman's Take on Jews Today
To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People. Noah Feldman. 2024. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Review by Rabbi...
Jun 4, 2024
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