World AIDS Day

Rabbi Heather Miller
Dec 1, 2025
14 min read

Updated: Jul 29

Newsletter December 1, 2025 Together, we're #keepingitsacred...

The US Government doesn’t want anyone to commemorate World AIDS Day. The State Department issued an email last week to its grantees instructing them to, “refrain from publicly promoting World Aids Day through any communication channels, including social media, media engagements, speeches or other public-facing messaging.”

But we will commemorate it here at Keeping It Sacred. We will because our deeply held Jewish value of saving a life (called pikuach nefesh in Hebrew) compels us to do so. And raising awareness is proven to save lives. Silence endangers them.

HIV is spreading. Last year alone, 1.3 million people acquired HIV. But, this numbers is down from previous infection rates due to large-scale, evidence-based global efforts.

In 2004, US President George W. Bush enacted a program called “President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief” (PEPFAR) and it has reduced transmission by funding awareness programs, testing sites, work on reducing viral loads with antiretroviral therapy, and preventing the spread by providing PrEP injections. Through this critical work, an estimated 25 million lives have been saved.

Now, all of that progress is at risk. The current administration is retracting all of that progress by first erasing the public commemoration of World AIDS Day, and then also withdrawing support for PEPFAR. According to CNN, the full impact of these actions are yet unknown.

But we do know what the picture looked like before lifesaving PEPFAR programs existed, and we cannot return there. Each of us has a role to play in raising awareness, supporting prevention efforts, and advocating for continued funding.

At Keeping It Sacred, we do so because the memories of those who perished from the disease call upon us to honor their lives. Among them, Ryan White, Pedro Zamora, Freddy Mercury, and a dear friend’s dad.

We do so because the daily reality of the over 40 million people living with HIV compel us to honor their reality. Among them: Magic Johnson, Danny Pintauro, Billy Porter, and some of our beloved KITS members.

We do so because this disease disproportionately affects low income, queer, people of color, and withdrawing support signals an ugly devaluing of their lives.

We are a community that promotes human dignity and the ability to live. Today and everyday, we affirm commitment to this cause. This is how we are keeping it sacred.

Together, we’re #keepingitsacred…

Rabbi Heather Miller

Founder, Keeping It Sacred

HANUKKAH SHABBAT

DECEMBER 19TH 5:30PM PT/8:30PM ET – Celebrate the light of Hanukkah and the peace of Shabbat together with the Keeping It Sacred community! Join Rabbi Miller and Max Winer for an uplifting hour of sacred song, Jewish learning, and community connection.

Friday, December 195:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET

Online via Zoom + In person in Los Angeles, CA

Come welcome Shabbat during this season of light, renewal, and joy. No experience needed—just bring yourself. All are truly welcome!

Keeping It Sacred programs are free for all in the spirit of keruv (accessibility). Voluntary contributions are deeply appreciated and help sustain offerings like this.

Please note the start time of 5:30pm PT, and adjust for your local time zone if joining from outside the Pacific Time region.

Invite your friends and celebrate Hanukkah and Shabbat in community.

GET YOUR OFFICIAL KEEPING IT SACRED MUG

Do you like coffee? Tea? Or supporting your Keeping It Sacred community?

Now's the time to visit keepingitsacred.com/our-future

Those who newly sign up to become monthly contributors, or those who increase their monthly donation (if they're already monthly donors) will receive this beautiful Keeping It Sacred official mug, no extra charge for shipping or handling. It makes a great study companion. And the back side says, "Please Unmute" reminding everyone that their voice should be heard.

Please visit keepingitsacred.com/our-future to reserve your mug, today!

This is the last week we will be running this fundraiser. Help us meet our goal?

While supplies last, only!

SPIRITUAL GENTLENESS BOOK CLUB

TODAY DECEMBER 8TH 4PM PT/7PM ET — Are you interested in holding spiritual space for healing through reading and community? Then please consider joining our KITS Spiritual Gentleness Book Club (SGBC) led by members Ashleigh and Tracy. The SGBC explore books in monthly meetings, with topics and discussions centered on the questions that arise for those who are new to Judaism. With a collaborative approach to book discussion, we envision this book club as a place to make new friends, have nuanced and meaningful discussions, and deepen our relationships with Judaism. Gatherings held on Mondays at 4pm PT/7pm ET.

TORAH TOGETHER:

AN EVENING OF JOY, FOOD, AND WRESTLING WITH ANGELS

TOMORROW NIGHT: DECEMBER 9TH 7:30-9PM PT — For Jews of Color and their loved ones in Culver City! Come gather with Ammud: The Jews of Color Torah Academy for a night of creative storytelling, soulful stagecraft, and delicious dinner. We'll learn, laugh, and lift each other up—celebrating the magic of JOC Torah and the truth that Torah belongs to us. Come meet new and old friends as Ammud launches programs in L.A. The memorable evening will be led by Rabbi Sass Brown, Program Director at Ammud, and rabbinical student Rebeca Carrillo, Ammud's Rabbinic Intern.

This program is open to adults who identify as Jews of Color and their loved ones who might not identify as Jews of Color.

Please RSVP below. Space is limited, so sign up today!

TEVET ROSH CHODESH RACIAL JUSTICE BOOK CLUB

NEW BOOK! JUMP IN and JOIN US! Rosh Chodesh means “head of the month” and celebrates the new moon ushering the new Hebrew calendar month. So, at Keeping It Sacred, we are committed to beginning each month with a compassionate, principled vision of racial justice.

DECEMBER 11TH 9:30AM PT/12:30PM ET – We will be reviewing our NEW study text, In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space by Irvin Weathersby Jr.

During this session we will begin with the prologue and chapter 1. Please join us!

KITS CREATIVITY CLUB

DECEMBER 14TH 9AM PT/12PM ET – Calling all creative people and people who want to create! Enjoy a chance to hang out with other Keeping It Sacred community members, get to know each other better.

Bring something creative to work on, as we engage the day's theme. We will start lighting our candles for Hanukkah on the 25th of Kislev, which lands on the evening of 12/14. So when we gather earlier that day, please bring one or more of your Hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs) to show us and share their stories.

Please join us. Register here: keepingitsacred.com/upcoming

HANUKKAH PRAYER VIGIL FOR THOSE DISAPPEARED BY ICE

Please join us next Tuesday, December 16 at 12pm for a Jewish Community-led edition of the weekly Madrinas vigil at the Downtown Federal Bldg and Detention Center. Let’s stand in solidarity and pray for those kidnapped by ICE.

This was the vigil that takes place weekly planned by the Godmothers of the Disappeared: women of faith giving voice to those taken from us. Email us at info@keepingitsacred.com, if you plan to attend.

HAVE YOU HEARD?

Have You Heard about what's new in the KITS Newsletter?

We're launching a new column to highlight exciting things that people in the KITS community are doing, to raise awareness of important new publications, Jewish social justice resources, and so on. We're calling this column Have You Heard? and we look forward to hearing from you!

This week, we are hearing from KITS community member River Mudgett of Austin, TX. River recently published a commentary on Parashat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4–36:43) in the Disability Torah Project. River's commentary is titled "Jacob, Esau, and Access Intimacy" and can be read at https://www.disabilitytorahproject.org/writings/vayishlach-5786

Congratulations River!

THE LONGEST NIGHT: CANDLELIGHT

DECEMBER 21ST 5:30-7PM PT — Continuing our long standing Keeping It Sacred tradition, this year again, join us for an evening of remembrance and reflections as we honor the lives lost to homelessness. We gather each year on December 21, the literal longest night of the year-- the winter solstice. The longest night of challenge for the houseless community. The Longest Night at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church 31641 La Novia Ave. San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwfB0TgvSiU&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fkeepingitsacred.com%2F

NOW ON YOUTUBE: In case you missed it or if you just want to relive the celebration-- find clips from our 5th Anniversary Celebration! HERE

We are a community chok full of joy, and sacred connection on full display. at Keeping It Sacred’s 5th Anniversary Celebration — now available on our YouTube channel!

From inspiring reflections to heartfelt moments of gratitude, this milestone event captures the spirit of inclusivity, accessibility, and five years of meaningful community. SO MUCH joy and gratitude to all who made it possible!

HEALING CIRCLE & TALMUD TEXT STUDY EVERY THURSDAY

**We usually meet EVERY THURSDAY --

1/22 and 1/29 as planned but please mark your calendar that Healing Circle and Talmud for All scheduled for February 5 will be postponed.

JOIN our healing circle EVERY THURSDAY at 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET holding space for all looking for prayers for healing.

Immediately following that: at 11am PT/2pm ET, join us as we jump into a conversation with the rabbinic sages of old. We enjoy studying a page of Talmud every day and reviewing together every Thursday, adding our perspectives and the relevance to our own lives as we go along. We enjoy participation from participants across the world who span the spectrum of race, gender, class, age, and connection to Jewish thought.

The rabbis could never have imagined such a wonderful group considering their thoughts!

What people say:

"Yesterday's class was superb!! I remain impressed by so many things that you do! You are able to keep us on track, share (some of) your knowledge with us, make all sorts of connections to the Jewish and secular worlds, and meet each of us where we are! Kudos to you!!"

"Talmud study has opened a window to that world for me. I love the anthropology and sociology of it all."

"The minority opinions may someday count as much as the majority opinions. It reminds us that things change the Halacha changes and we change each year that we read it."

"We have the opportunity to compare the Halacha we are practicing today with the one they were writing and studying in the Talmud... It has been very interesting how things have evolved how we keep the tradition in our own way."

"I feel very close to this amazing group and I'm grateful to Rabbi Miller for conducting it."

To join, please register HERE. And look for us on Instagram HERE.

ALSO we have been studying the construction of the Second Temple-- check out this awesome link to a tour through a virtual representation of the Second Temple to help visualize what we're studying HERE.

ADD THE KITS CALENDARS TO YOURS AND NEVER MISS AN EVENT!

Keep up with KITS programming! KITS offers events at least twice a week, make sure you’re in the know by adding the Google Calendar here or

To subscribe on iCal, copy and paste the following link into your calendar app's 'Add Calendar by URL' option: webcal://p164-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/MTAwNTkyMDg4MjcxMDA1OQR0fuSCoir8-IUKE7Pl_mtLL6wCWL8UsFQl0SOGOutaVvSGypiGpw8QpGzN3GB97CHqafkuA4hx2U97b43we1c

LET'S CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Join us online at: keepingitsacred.com, Instagram accounts @hearabbi and @keepingitsacred, our Facebook pages HERE and HERE, YouTube Channel HERE and podcasts everywhere. Join us there for updated Talmud posts, Torah commentary, inspirations and invitations to gather online and in person.

Whether you found us through a friend, neighbor, a listserve or browsing the internet, we are glad you're here!

HELP US KEEP IT SACRED

Love the Newsletter? Help Keep It Sacred!

If you’re reading this, you’re part of the Keeping It Sacred community—no dues, no gatekeeping, just connection, learning, and inspiration.

Many of you tell us how much the newsletter means to you—like this note from a reader:“Rabbi, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of emails that flood my inbox daily. The majority are deleted without hesitation. Then there are those that are work related or personal. Then there are yours. When I read your emails, they fill a void I didn't even know was there. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.”

We’re so grateful to everyone who makes this possible through generous contributions.

If this newsletter brings you insight, comfort, or a sense of belonging, please consider making a donation today to help us keep it going strong.

Give here: keepingitsacred.com/our-future

Thank you for being part of our sacred community.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

iCal USER?

If you use iCal and would like the complete Keeping It Sacred calendar added to your calendar, click HERE. This way you won't miss an opportunity to connect via our LIVE activities.

EVERY DAY

Please enjoy TWO seasons of our 7-episode web series People Keeping It Sacred and our Jewish Holiday series called "A Bit About..." both available on YouTube HERE and via podcast on your favorite podcast player including: PocketCasts, RadioPublic, Apple + Podcasts, Spotify and more HERE.

ONGOING: SPIRITUAL COUNSELING

Rabbi Miller is available for 1-on-1 spiritual counseling; pay what you can. Topics are based upon the participant and can include your personal theological understanding of coronavirus, spiritually making space for others in your home, the spirituality of isolation and finding your way back to sacred connection. For more information, click HERE.

11/30 CREATIVITY CLUB

Enjoy a chance to hang out with other Keeping It Sacred community members, get to know each other better, and create. Bring your favorite form of creativity to work on, Art, Baking, Craft, Dance, etc. and share inspiration. Some weeks will include someone teaching how to do a project/technique, other weeks will be purely socializing while we do our own things.

12/4 HEALING CIRCLE