Shabbat candlelighting

Today is Shabbat friends! Shalom shalom!
I thought I'd share what my family does to celebrate Erev Shabbat, the beginning of Shabbat.
We just finished lighting candles to welcome in the Shabbat. Why do we light candles on Shabbat? For us it is symbolic of Light from the Most High YHWH. We are commanded to be a light to the nations, and we know the light originates from YHWH (Isaiah 42, 49, & 60, Genesis 1, Revelation 21, John 1 & 8, Matthew 5, Psalm119).

Messianic Shabbat Candlelighting Prayer

So, how do we do this practice? We turn off all other sources of light. My wife lights two candles which will be the only source of light during our collective prayers. We sing our prayers in Hebrew.

Blessed are you YHWH Elohenu, king of the universe who had sanctified is in Your Word, and given us Yeshua our Messiah, and commanded us to be a light to the world. Amen.
Baruch atah Yahweh Elohenu Melec haolam asher keedshanoo beedvarecha v'natahn lanoo et Yeshua m'shechaynoo, v'tzeevanoo l'heoat oar laohlahm. Ahmein.

After the candlelighting we pray the Hamotzi and Hagafen.

Hamotzi

The hamotzi thanks YHWH for providing our bread. "Bread" can be a colloquial term for any food that gives us sustenance. We know that Yeshua is the bread of life, the manna that sustains our spirit. His body was broken in the offering of his life for our transgressions. It's with this knowledge we break/ tear and share a piece of bread, usually challah, and pray the following:

Blessed are you YHWH Elohenu, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Baruch atah YHWH Elohenu, Melec haolam, Hamotzi lechehm min ha'eretz.

After the Hamotzi, we pray the Hagafen.

Hagafen

The Hagafen thanks YHWH for providing the fruit of the vine. There is lots of symbolism here. First and foremost is the juice, the blood of the fruit, symbolizing the blood of our Messiah Yeshua. His blood was shed to purchase our debt of sin. Our account has been paid in full by his spotless offering. Messiah is the vine (John 15). Or hope is to always remain fruitful and hold strong to the vine that supports is, so the vinedresser will not cut our branch off to be tossed in the fire. It is with this knowledge that we pour a small glass of grape juice or wine coming from crushed fruit and pray the following:

Blessed are you YHWH Elohenu, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Baruch atah YHWH Elohenu, Melec haolam, borei pri hagafen.

Then we sing a few songs, and that is how we usher in the Shabbat. The following Shabbat day we join with other Sabbath keepers in fellowship at a local congregation. I hope this has blessed you.

Hi all, I'm sure this is asked ten thousand times per minute here, but I figured it was worth a shot.
I am (shocker) Jewish, but I didn't go to Hebrew school growing up, and while I can get through Shalom Aleichem, anything more advanced than basic Shabbat prayers/songs (either rote memorized or read in transliteration) are above my skill level. At bare minimum, I'd like to get to the point where I can feel confident pronouncing actual Hebrew text with niqudot. I'm not planning to move to Israel or anything (and I don't know any native Hebrew speakers in real life), so my desire for truly conversational Hebrew skills is not super high, but getting comfortable with the Jewish texts that are already in my life would be very cool (and after that, we'll see where it goes).
The main problem is that I'm currently in college, work almost full time, and have a dozen other commitments that make it hard to spend a lot of time learning a new language. I could probably carve out 30min a day to practice, but I don't have large blocks of time to devote. I'd be willing to pay for a subscription service kinda thing if it was reasonably affordable and effective, but an actual book (preferably one intended for adults) would be my preferred method. I live in a smaller town with exactly one synagogue and a college with about a dozen Jews (generously) who show up for Shabbat candlelighting every week. Besides rabbis, I don't personally know any Hebrew speakers (or other people trying to learn), so conversation practice would likely be pretty difficult.
Has anyone found success in a similar situation? Are there any particular pitfalls? What's the best approach you've found?

I'm trying to make a list of all of the things to do in Denver this winter. Please let me know if there's anything else I should add! PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK BEFORE YOU GO. THIS LIST MAY NOT BE UP TO DATE!
Also, Colorado Gives Day runs from November 1st to December 6th. If you are able, please consider donating to any of the amazing causes listed in their site here !
-----------------------Lights-----------------------
• 11/17-12/24 Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland Light Walk Almost 1 Million Sparkling Lights / 600 Trees / Synchronized to Music / Shopping Giveaway / Saturday Performances 5-7PM ALL AGES FREE Cherry Creek North 2401 E. 2nd Ave, Suite 150 Denver, CO 80206
• 11/17-12/24 Camp Christmas Six Acre Winter Wonderland / Carosel / Santa / Cocoa / 3 Themed Bars / Immersive Art Exhibits ALL AGES $16-$24 4PM-9PM Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park 801 South Yarrow Street, Lakewood, CO 80226
• 11/18-01/01 Christmas in Color Drive Through Light Tour of 1 Million+ Lights / Synchronized to Music ALL AGES $35 5:30PM-9:30PM 25690 E Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO, 80016 US
• 11/18-01/07 Blossoms of Light Walking Light Tour ALL AGES $17-$25 (Must Purchase in Advance) 4:30PM-9PM Denver Botanical Gardens 1007 York Street Denver, CO 80206
• 11/25-01/01 Trail of Lights Walking Light Tour ALL AGES $10-$16 (Must Purchase in Advance) 5PM-8:30PM Denver Botanical Gardens Chatfield Farms 8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road Littleton, CO 80128
• 11/25-01/01 Luminova Millions of Lights / Some Rides / Carolers / Treats and Cocoa ALL AGES $29 5PM-8PM? Elitch Gardens 2000 Elitch Cir, Denver, CO 80204
• 11/27-12/27 Merry & Bright Lights Light Show / Projection / Sparkling Lights ALL AGES FREE 5PM-10PM Union Station 1700 Wewatta St, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/03-01/15 Zoo Lights Over 1 Million Lights / Live Ice Carving / Cocktails and Treats / Some Animals ALL AGES $10-$15 Kids; $20-$25 Adults 5:30PM-8PM 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205
• 12/06 Holiday Tree Lighting Holiday Activities / Live Entertainment / Food ALL AGES FREE 5PM-7PM Aurora Municipal Center 15151 E Alameda Parkway
-----------------------Holiday Markets-----------------------
• 11/17-12/24 Cherry Creek Holiday Market 80+ Rotating Vendors ALL AGES FREE Hours Vary between 11AM and 9PM Cherry Creek North 2401 E. 2nd Ave, Suite 150 Denver, CO 80206
• Weekends 11/25-12/18 Apres Ski Holiday Market Holiday Market in Heated Alley / Food / Crafts ALL AGES FREE Denver Milk Market 1800 Wazee St #100, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/01-12/11 Holiday Pottery Sale Ceramics Education Studio Sale ALL AGES FREE Hours Vary between 10AM-8PM Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003
• 12/02 Milly Rose Pop-Up Shopping at Thompson Denver Local Artisans ALL AGES FREE 4PM-7PM Thompson Denver 1616 Market St Denver, CO 80202
• 12/02-12/04 & 12/16-12/18 Downtown Lakewood Holiday BAZAAR 80+ Local Vendors / Live Music / Ice Skating / Indoors / Bars ALL AGES FREE Hours Vary between 12PM and 9PM Belmar Plaza 439 S Upham St Lakewood, CO 80226
• 12/02-12/04 & 12/16-12/18 Denver Christkindlmarket Authentic German Holiday Market / Mile High Tree / European Food and Artisan Crafts ALL AGES FREE Hours Vary between 11AM and 10PM Civic Center Park 101 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80204
• 12/03 Mercury Cafe Holiday Market Party Local Artists All Ages Free 6PM-9PM Mercury Cafe 2199 California St. Denver CO 80205
• 12/03 Denver Makers Market Holiday Bazaar Local Vendors / Crafts / Food / Prize Giveaway ALL AGES FREE 10AM-3PM Lamar Plaza (Casa Bonita Parking Lot) 6677 W Colfax, Denver, CO
• 12/03 Jagged Mountain Holiday Market Local Vendors / Beer ALL AGES? FREE 12PM-5PM 1139 20th St, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/03-12/04 Horseshoe Holiday Market 40+ Holiday Vendors ALL AGES FREE 10AM-4PM Breckenridge Brewery 2920 Brewery Lane Littleton, CO 80120
• 12/03-12/04 Georgetown Christmas Market Outdoor European Market / 30 Vendors / Wagon Rides / Santa Visits / Children's Processions ALL AGES FREE 11AM-4PM Historic Sixth St Near 409 Sixth St, Georgetown, CO 80444
• 12/04 Denver Makers Market Holiday Bazaar 100+ Vendors / 10 Food Trucks / Santa Claus ALL AGES FREE 1PM-6PM Aspen Grove Littleton 7301 S Santa Fe Drive Littleton, CO 80120
• Sun-Mon 12/04-12/19 Belleview Station Holiday Bazaar 50+ Vendors / Live Music / Pop Up Bars ALL AGES FREE 11AM-5PM Denver Tech Center 6785 East Chenango Avenue Denver, CO, 80237
• 12/04 Mountain Toad 4th Annual Holiday Market Brewery and Artisan Market with 7+ Vendors FREE 12PM-5PM Mountain Toad Brewing 900 Washington Avenue Golden, CO
• 12/07-12/24 3rd Annual Holiday Market Art Market ALL AGES FREE 11AM-2PM Michael Warren Contemporary 760 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO, 80204
• 12/10 Denver Makers Market Holiday Bazaar Local Vendors / Crafts / Food / Prize Giveaway ALL AGES FREE 10AM-3PM Midtown @ the Shed 1625 W 67th Ave, Denver, CO 80221
• 12/10 Holiday Arts and Pottery Sale Pottery Made by Students of Professors of Washington Heights Arts Center ALL AGES FREE 10AM-4PM Washington Heights Arts Center, 6375 W 1st Ave., Lakewood, CO, 80226
• 12/11 Denver Makers Market Holiday Bazaar Local Vendors / Crafts / Food / Prize Giveaway ALL AGES FREE 10AM-3PM 8200 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO
-----------------------Pop Up / Themed Bars-----------------------
• 11/21-12/31 Miracle on 7 Christmas Themed Pop Up at Cousin Pat’s Pub and Grill 21+ NO COVER? Reservation Recommended Times Vary between 11AM-1AM 451 S. St. Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO, 80517
• 11/22-12/30 Rouge Wine Bar Miracle Christmas Themed Wine and Cocktails / Pizza 21+ $5 Cover Reservation Recommended Hours Vary between 10AM-4PM 7939 E Arapahoe Rd Suite 190 Greenwood Village, CO 80112
• 11/22-12/24 Miracle on Main Street Christmas Themed Pop Up / Indoor and Outdoor Seating / Gingerbread House Decorating 21+ $5 Cover Reservation Required 4PM-8:30PM 836 1/2 Main St, Louisville, CO 80027
• 11/23-12/30 Miracle at the Eddy Christmas Themed Pop Up / Outdoor Igloo Dining 21+ NO COVER? Reservation Required 4PM-10PM? 1640 8th St Golden, CO 80401
• 11/25-12/31 Sippin’ Santa @ The Arvada Tavern Christmas Tiki Themed Pop Up 21+ NO COVER? Reservation Recommended Hours Vary between 4PM-12AM 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd Arvada, CO
• 11/25-12/24 Miracle at Union Station Christmas Themed Pop Up Bar / Single Chanukah Table 21+ $2 Cover Pre Paid Reservation Required Hours Vary between 2PM and 12AM Union Station 1700 Wewatta St, Denver, CO 80202
• 11/25-12/31 Blazing Bright Christmas Themed Pop Up Bar Inside Hilton Inverness / Specialty Cocktails / Hot Cocoa Bar / Food 21+ $2 Cover Reservation Recommended 200 Inverness Dr W Englewood, CO
• 11/25-12/31 Call to Arms Brewing Big Holiday Energy Daily Scavenger Hunt / Advent Calendar / Giant Stocking Raffle / Holiday Events 21+ NO COVER 4526 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212
• 11/30-12/30 Tinseltown: Nightmare Before XMas Burtonesque Christmas Pop Up Bar / Cover Includes 1 Drink 21+ $14 Hours Vary between 1PM-11PM 3501 Wazee St. Suite #100, Denver, CO 80216
• 12/01-12/31 Noel at the Bluegrass Coffee and Bourbon Bar Holiday Pop Up Bar / Holiday Workshops ? Karaoke / Santa Visits ALL AGES NO COVER Hours Vary between 7am-12am 7415 Grandview Ave Arvada, CO 80002
• 12/02-12/31 The Electric Cure’s Krampus Room Gay Satanic Bar 21+ Hours Vary between 2PM-2AM 5350 W. 25th Ave., Edgewater, CO 80214
• 12/02-12/31 Jolly Old Saint Dick at Hell or High Water Gay Satanic Tiki Christmas 21+ $15 Cover Applied to Drink Tab Tues-Sun Hours Vary between 5PM-1AM 1526 Blake St Denver CO 80202
• Felix Navidad at My Neighbor Felix Mexican Restaurant and Bar ALL AGES Hours Vary between 10AM-11:30PM Locations in LoHi and Boulder
-----------------------Christmas-----------------------
• 11/19-01/02 The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle Immersive Art Exhibition ALL AGES $30 Times Vary Between 10:30AM-3:30PM 3900 Elati St, Denver, CO 80216 • Sundays 11/27-12/18 Santa and Mrs. Claus Visits ALL AGES FREE 11AM-4PM Union Station Great Hall 1700 Wewatta St, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/02 Olde Golden Candlelight Walk Candlelit Walk through Golden / Cocoa and Cider / Caroling / Illumination Ceremony 6PM 15th St and Washington Ave 809 15th St, Golden, CO 80401
• 12/11, 12/17, 12/18 Four Mile Historic Park December Delights Ice Skating / Snacks / Scavenger Hunt / Kids Activities / Crafts / Santa / Carolers ALL AGES $19-$25 4:30PM-8:30PM 712 S Forest St, Denver, CO 80246
• 12/17 Jingle on the Avenue Meet and Greet with Holiday Characters 11AM-1PM –Washington Ave 809 15th St, Golden, CO 80401
Where to Visit Santa!
-----------------------Parades-----------------------
• 12/03 Parade of Lights Parade with 40+ Floats 6PM Downtown Denver (14th St, Tremont St, 17th St, Arapahoe St, 15th St, Glenarm St)
• 12/10 Holiday Parade Parade 10:30AM Washington Ave 15th St, Golden, CO 80401 from 10th St to 13th St
-----------------------Chanukah-----------------------
• 12/11 The Temple Micah Latke Cook-Off Latke Contest / Face Painting / Balloon Artist ALL AGES $25 5:30PM Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church 1980 Dahlia St, Denver, CO 80220
• 12/16 YAD Shabbat: Festival of Lights Shabbat Dinner / Open Bar / Entry to Botanic Garden Blossom of Lights Age 21-45 $50 5:30PM-9:30PM 1007 York St Denver, CO 80206
• 12/18 Chabad of Cherry Creek Chanukah Celebration Fire Show / Facepainting / Balloon Artists / Food / Crafts ALL AGES FREE Cherry Creek North 2401 E. 2nd Ave, Suite 150 Denver, CO 80206
• 12/17 Burn Baby Burn: A Queer Hanukkah Disco Inferno 70s Themed LGBTQ+ Dance Night 21+ $25 (Includes 1 Drink) 8PM-11PM Factory Fashion in Stanley Marketplace 2501 Dallas St, Aurora, CO 80010
• 12/18 Temple Sinai Religious School Gelt Together Make Candles / Spin the Dreidel / Bake Cookies / Songs ALL AGES FREE 10AM-12PM 3509 S Glencoe St Denver, CO 80237
• 12/18 Lighting of the World’s Largest Lego Menorah Lighting / Live DJs / Donut Decorating Station ALL AGES FREE 5:30PM-7:30PM 2450 S. Wabash Street Denver, CO 80231
• 12/18 Latkes and Lights at the JCC Denver Latke Making Contest / Lights / Themed Games / Crafts ALL AGES $3-$20 10AM-12PM 350 S Dahlia St Denver, CO 80246
• 12/23 Shabbat Chanukah Dinner Service and Dinner ALL AGES FREE 5:30PM Service, 6PM Dinner 3509 S Glencoe St Denver, CO 80237
-----------------------Kwanzaa-----------------------
• 12/01 Kwanzaa Celebration 2022 ALL AGES FREE 8PM Abram’s Lounge C4C, 3rd Floor Boulder, CO 80309
-----------------------New Years-----------------------
• 12/30-12/31 Decadence EDM Performances including Chris Lake, Dillon Francis, Flume, Ganja White Night, Jai Wolf, Kaskade, Porter Robinson, Tiesto, Zeds Dead, Zomboy, and Many More! 18+ $169 1 Day / $269 2 Day 6:30 Doors Colorado Convention Center 700 14th St Denver, CO 80202
• 12/31 Resolution Denver Open Bar / World Class DJs / Immersive Art Installations / Circa Performers $109 9PM-2AM The Brighton 3403 Brighton Blvd, Denver 80216
• 12/31 White Rose Gala Roaring 20s Gatsby Party 21+ 20s Attire Required 9PM Ellie Caulkins Opera House 14th & Champa, Denver, CO 80204
• 12/31 Roaring 20s with The Establishment at Bradburn Village Roaring 20s Party / Midnight Balloon Drop 21+ 20s Attire Recommended 8PM-1AM The Establishment at Bradburn Village 11885 Bradburn Boulevard Westminster, CO 80031
• 12/31 Denver NYE Cocktail Party Opulent and Upscale Party / Live Music / Open Bars $120-$199 Black Tie Recommended 8PM-2AM Sheraton Downtown Hotel 1550 Court Pl, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/31 Denver New Year’s Eve Black Tie Party DJs / Casino Games / Photo Booth / Party Favors / Open Bar $130 8:30PM-1:30AM 2027 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204
• 12/31 Bigsby’s Folly NYE 2023 1920s Party / DJS / 2 Drink Tickets 21+ 20s Attire Recommended $75 9PM-2AM 3563 Wazee St Denver, CO 80216
• 12/31 Drop at McGregor Square Dancing / Open Bar / Massive Screen for Countdown 21+ 1901 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/31 The Clocktower Cabaret’s Annual New Year’s Eve Burlesque Bash Burlesque and Comedy 21+ 7PM-9PM, 10PM-12AM 1601 Arapahoe St d&f tower, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/31 Gatsby’s House 1920s Gatsby Party / Open Bar / 3 DJs / Casino Games 21+ 20s Attire Recommended, Formal Required $100 8PM-1:30AM 3563 Wazee St Denver, CO 80216
• 12/31 Mile High Spirits Dinner and Party $50-$125 7PM-1AM Mile High Spirits - Tasting Room 2201 Lawrence Street Denver, CO 80205
• 2 Fireworks Displays FREE 9PM and 12AM 16th St Mall
----------------------- Plays / Ballets / Operas / Symphonies-----------------------
Denver Performance Arts Complex
• 12/03 Holiday Brassfest Public Brass Concert You Can Join ALL AGES $15-$30 Registration to Join / FREE concert 10AM Rehearsal / 12PM Concert Denver Performing Arts Complex 1400 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204
• 12/18 Tuba Christmas Public Tuba Concert You Can Join ALL AGES $10 Registration to Join / FREE concert 8AM Rehearsal / 11AM Concert Denver Performing Arts Complex 1400 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204
Buell Theatre
• 12/10-12/11 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas HOLIDAY THEMED $45-$100
• 12/16-12/18 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical HOLIDAY THEMED $25-$80
• 12/20-01/01 Mean Girls $35-$175
• 01/24-02/05 To Kill a Mockingbird $35-$125
• 12/21-01/26 Stomp $30-$100
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
• 11/26-12/24 Colorado Ballet Presents the Nutcracker HOLIDAY THEMED Colorado Ballet ALL AGES $40+ Ellie Caulkins Opera House 1385 Curtis St, Denver, CO 80204
Garner Galleria Theatre
• 12/07-01/01 Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation $20-$52
• 02/01-02/26 The Secret Comedy of Women $46-$52
Kilstrom Theatre
• 02/10-03/12 Hotter Than Egypt $35-$70
Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre
• 02/10-03/12 Little Red – A New Musical $16-$30
Singleton Theatre
• 02/10-03/12 Laughs In Spanish $35-$50
Wolf Theatre
• 11/18-12/24 A Christmas Carol HOLIDAY THEMED $42-$100
Miners Alley Playhouse
• 11/29-12/23 A Christmas Story HOLIDAY THEMED $25-$27
• 11/30-12/23 Story of the Nutcracker HOLIDAY THEMED $12
Bellco Theatre (In the Colorado Convention Center)
• 11/30 A Magical Cirque Christmas HOLIDAY THEMED $40-$80 6:30PM
Adams Mystery playhouse
• 11/26-01/06 A Made of TV Holiday Homicide HOLIDAY THEMED Murder Mystery Dinner and Show $64 6PM-8:15PM
• 11/03-12/26 Holidays R Murder Dinner Show HOLIDAY THEMED Murder Mystery Dinner and Show $54 6:30PM-8:30PM
Arvada Center Theatre
• 11/25-12/31 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast $56
• 02/24-05/21 Our Town Murder Mystery Dinner and Show $45
Vintage Theatre Productions
• 11/04-12/11 Monty Python’s Spamalot $20-$38
• 11/11-12/18 DOT An Unforgettable Holiday Comedy HOLIDAY THEMED $20-$34
• 12/05-12/31 Who’s Holiday HOLIDAY THEMED 18+ $21 • 12/17 You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown HOLIDAY THEMED FAMILY ORIENTED $10 12PM
• 01/13-02/19 The Roommate
• 01/17 Sophisticated Ladies
Firehouse Theatre Company at The John Hand Theatre
• 11/19-12/17 Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley HOLIDAY THEMED sequel to Pride and Prejudice $25
• 02/25-03/25 Tiny Beautiful Things
Lone Tree Arts Center
• 12/08 A Kantorei Christmas Choir
• 12/15 Home for the Holidays Singing and Dancing / Sensory Friendly Show on the 18th
Other
• 11/25-12/17 Drunk Christmas Drunk Actors Perform A Christmas Tale 21+ Pay What You Can Breweries Across Denver
Theatre Shows
-----------------------Concerts / Shows-----------------------
Denver Concerts 2022
Denver Concerts 2023
• 11/30-12/01 Holislay Concert and Drag Show 21+ $40-$80 7PM Doors; 8PM Show Meow Wolf 1338 1st St, Denver, CO 80204
• 11/30-12/01 Matt Rogers' Have You Heard of Christmas Comedy / Music Show 16+ $35 8PM The Gothic Theatre 3263 S. Broadway Englewood, CO 80113
• 12/14 Jinx and DeLa Holiday Drag Show HOLIDAY Drag Show / ALMOST SOLD OUT 16+ $300 7PM Doors; 8PM Show Paramount Theatre 1621 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80202
• 12/29 Broken Babes Present: December is a Drag HOLIDAY Drag Show / 18+ 8PM-10:30PM Luci's Shambles and Provisions 1553 Platte St Ste 110, Denver, CO 80202
----------------------- Other Winter-Specific Events / Activities-----------------------
• 11/21-02/14 Ice Skating Rink Outdoor Ice Skating Rink ALL AGES FREE Admission; $11 Rentals Hours Vary between 10AM and 7PM Skyline at 1601 Arapahoe St., Denver, CO 80202
• 12/03 Jingle Jog 2 Mile Fun Run ALL AGES $40 4:30PM McNichols Building 144 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80202
----------------------- Museums / Zoo / Botanical Gardens -----------------------
Art
• Denver Art Museum - $12-$19 ALL AGES Daily 10AM-5PM General Art Museum 100 W. 14th Avenue Pkwy Denver, CO 80204 - FREE DAYS: 05/09, 05/14, 06/13, 07/11, 07/30, 09/09, 09/12, 10/10, 11/04, 11/14, 12/12)
• Museum of Contemporary Art Denver - T-F 12PM-7PM; Sa-Su 10AM-5PM $7-$10 All Ages Contemporary and Modern Art 1485 Delgany St Denver, CO 80202 - FREE DAYS: 06/03, 07/01, 08/05, 09/02, 10/07, 11/04, 12/02
• Meow Wolf - Su-Th 10AM-10PM; F-Sa 10AM-12AM $40-$55 ALL AGES Psychedelic Immersive Alien Art Experience 1338 1st St, Denver, CO 80204
• Spectra Art Space: Spookadelia - 11AM-9/10PM $12-$30 ALL AGES * Psychedelic, Immersive Local Art Experience* 1842 S Broadway Denver, CO 80210
• Clyfford Still Museum - 10AM-5PM $6-$10 ALL AGES Art by the Artist Clyfford Still 1250 Bannock St Denver, CO 80204 - FREE DAYS: 05/31, 06/25, 07/23, 08/18, 09/06, 10/05, 11/04, 12/03
• Museo de las Americas - 12PM-5/6PM $5-$8 ALL AGES Latin American Art 861 Santa Fe Dr, CO 80204 - FREE DAYS: 06/02, 07/07, 08/04, 09/01, 10/06, 11/03, 12/01
• American Museum of Western Art 10AM-4:30PM $5 All Ages Art Depicting the American West from 1800s to Present 1727 Tremont Place, Denver, CO 80202
• Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art- T-Sa 11AM-5PM; Su12PM-5PM $10-$12 All Ages Fine and Decorative Art 1201 Bannock St Denver, CO 80204
History
• History Colorado Center - 10AM-5PM $14 ALL AGES General History Museum with Emphasis on Colorado History 1200 Broadway Denver, CO 80203
• Four Mile Historic Park 10AM-4PM $6-$8 ALL AGES Celebration of Denver’s Western Heritage 715 S Forest St, Denver, CO 80246 - FREE DAYS: 05/26, 06/23, 08/25, 09/22, 10/27, 11/24, 12/22
• Black American West Museum - 10AM-2PM $10-$15 All Ages History of Black and African American in the Wild West 3091 California St Denver, CO 80205
*Science / Nature
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science - 9AM-5PM $17-$23 Daily 9AM-5PM Nature, Science, Technology, and History; Planetarium; Laser Fantasy 2001 Colorado Blvd Denver, CO 80205
• Denver Botanic Gardens – York St Indoor and Outdoor Botanic Gardens $11-$15 (FREE 01/17; 02/17) Daily 9AM-2:30PM 1007 York St Denver, CO 80206
• Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms Plant Refuge and Working Farm $7-$10 Daily 9AM-3/4PM 8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road Littleton, CO 80128
• Plains Conservation Center Prairie Conservation Center / Activities / Educational Experiences $10 (FREE 12/15; 01/19; 02/23) Mon-Fri 8AM-4PM; Sat 9AM-5PM 21901 E Hampden Ave Aurora, CO 80013
Animals
• Denver Zoo Zoo $14-$20 Daily 10AM-5PM 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205
• Denver Downtown Aquarium Aquarium / Restaurant / 4D Theatre / Mermaid Shows $19-$25 Plus Add-ons Mon-Thurs 10AM-8:30PM; Fri-Sat 11AM-10PM; Sun 11AM-8PM 700 Water Street Denver, CO 80211
-----------------------Other Links / Resources-----------------------
What to Do in Denver in the Winter Basically Denver.org’s version of this list – Check it out to see what I missed!
Denver Winter and Fall Festivals
New Years
Plays

Any help would be appreciated. A family member of mine has recently begin practicing a religion that they are being rather... circumspect about describing to us. Not necessarily a strange thing in and of itself, we're a close family but have very different political outlooks, and so have adopted kind of a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in order to keep from offending each other.
Anyways, she is definitely still Christian as she talks about Jesus in a very evangelical way, but also is strictly following some interpretation of Jewish law. She strictly observes Shabbat, prays by candlelight fridays and saturdays, and her partner has taken to wearing a yarmulke and tallit.
This may or may not be tied to a "prepper" community. Anti-vax, society is about to collapse, bible prophecy coming true kind of thing, but I can't be certain whether this is tied to the religion, or just happens to coincide with it. The sect is located in North America.
I respect her as an adult to make her own religious choices, and want to respect her beliefs whatever they are, but it's clear they are well out of my comfort zone. The prepper stuff is a little concerning and I just want to be sure she's safe. If this is some kind of cult I should be worried about, I'd like to know.
Anyone who has any ideas about what this might be, I would appreciate any info.
Thanks!

If you are into Shomer Shabbat home automation, I built a free Homebridge Plugin to know when it Shabbat, Yom Tov, Sukkot, etc. It's highly configurable, supports Israel/Diaspora settings, and uses your Longitude and Latitude for timing. You configure your Candlelighting and Havdalah offset.
Homebridge Jewish Calendar
If you use Apple's HomeKit, and have a Homebridge or HOOBS setup, you simply install it. It has support for the graphical UI configuration.
It creates a "Tile" with 14 "Contact Sensors" that you can build your Automation Logic around. Things that I use it for:
Motion Sensor Rules - Trigger on the motion, but only when Kodesh (Shabbat OR Yom Tov) is off, so those rules turn off.
Dining Room/Patio Settings - Turn on before lunch, and Off after lunch, things related to Shabbat/Yom Tov entertaining. My rule fires when it is Shabbat/Yom Tov but NOT Sukkot. When it is Sukkot AND Shabbat/Yom Tov, the Sukkah turns on/off at that time.
I even included some obscure things... if you want your music to turn on, but only when it's not the Three Weeks or the Omer, you can use those sensors. If you wanted an outlet for a Menorah to turn on/off during Chanukah only, you can do that as well (I thought that might be helpful for a dorm/business that is automating Christamas lights). My family eats in the Sukkah on Shemini Atzeret, to I turn on sheminiatzeret_in_sukkot, but it defaults to off.
All holidays are listed in Modern Hebrew Transliterations, but are settable in the config file, so you can switch them to Ashkenazi, or proper Hebrew just by entering it in the config file.
I'd love feedback. It uses He-Date and Sun-Calc, is 100% open source, and posted in Github.
I wrote it for myself, I spend an extra couple of hours making it configurable, and I hope it is useful to others.
Alex

Like water carrying resonance waves, or particles vibrating in the atmosphere, harmonic structures in the field project, retain, and attenuate self-reference patterns. In syncopation with other processes, this creates a self, the culture, notions of time, models of behavior, and so on.
The self-reflecting, bodymind "I"-ness of being is self-informed according to the signals that proliferate in its vicinity. Realizing this is the organizational principle and driving force of media creation and consumption: we realize, to some extent, that we're meta-programming ourselves. Hence the importance of signal curation, media-fasting, unplugging, identifying "positive" and "negative" influences, becoming an uploader instead of merely a consumer, content saturation (thousands of channels in radio, television, and web streams), the dopaminergic addiction to novelty, and the intuition that the noosphere is already a cognizant, pre-singularity AI matrix (with which non-local intelligences interface with humanity using the triad of liquid crystals, electricity, and light waves).
The choice to not have an input nexus creates social isolation. The digital simulacra has become a surrogate for community. When, if ever, do small groups of people cohere around candlelight and eat together and it not be followed by television afterwards? (maybe save for Shabbat if you're Israeli).
On the bright side, constant connectivity with interlinked circuitry is embraced as evidence for our transcendent capabilities, a celebration of knowledge, music, art, language, and a delivery vessel for our most beautiful creations (of sounds, lights, symbols).
A bit of meandering digression -- as to the culmination of these considerations:
If there was a vast intentional conspiracy whereby your friends, family, and colleagues personally treated you as gifted, extremely intelligent, talented on multiple levels, radiant in your beauty, and compassionate in your concerns for others, they will only be able to convince you of this to the extent that they themselves are imbued with these qualities from the field. (An encouraging person was probably encouraged by previous mentors or guidance, hence the earlier water and gaseous particle analogy: retention of love permeates self-replicating patterns). It partially explains families of composers, lineages of inventors, generations of trauma, aggregates of self-definition: porous transmittance via osmotic diffusion of body-mind-state patterns.
If we are echoing the sum total of what already exists, how (and from where) are 'new' signals coming? Indivisible parts (the letter B, the musical note A, the color red, the word, are all vectors of subjective space time that are recombined, mixed, amalgamated - as with the genome, pixel space, and interference patterns of signals).
The human being as crystalline intelligence:
As with (light-based) absorption, reflection, refraction:
Permittivity is before reactivity Permittivity is the sieve of transparency The substrata of the conduit The interstitial zone between in and out.
What passes through the filters of the physical and mental perceptive faculties co-create the vibratory state of the being. Psychedelics are one way to bioelectrically modify the filters that transduce signals.
Food for thought.
Much love.

Today's Daf continues exploring the Mishnah prohibition into reading by candle or lamplight during Shabbat. Why? Because of the temptation to adjust the wick to produce more light, which would violate a Torah prohibition.
On 12b Rava suggests that an important sage would be exempt from the prohibition of reading simply because a sage knows better. But the Gemara relates a cautionary tale from Tosefta about Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha. He was a great sage and thought himself safe to read by candlelight on Shabbat, confident he would never adjust the wick. Yet that's exactly what he did, out of simple absent mindedness. Then he reminded himself of the power of habit and how nobody is beyond mistakes.
It's an important lesson. We're all human and knowledge doesn't exempt us from habit. That's why the Rabbis built a fence around the law in the first place.

This may be the most important message you have ever received. Please share It with every Jewish person you know.
 
This Shabbos, it looks like every Jew worldwide will be in their home...
This is an INCREDIBLE chance!
It is written:
“If Israel (the Jews) will keep just one Shabbat properly, Moshiach will come immediately.”
 
LET’S DO IT!
 

• Cook all food before Shabbat starts. Leave your lights as you want them for the whole of Shabbat or set a timer. Close your phone and all devices for the ultimate 25 hour detox!
  
• Light candles 18 minutes before sunset on Friday.
  
• Pray. Eat. Enjoy this most beautiful gift that Hashem gave us. The holy Shabbos.
  Stay home and enjoy time with your loved ones. If you’re alone, speak to your friends or family before Shabbat and relax with some good Jewish books.
  

 
No traveling - this week, God arranged it all! If you can, say Havdala, The blessings which conclude Shabbat, after nightfall on Saturday.
This CAN happen!
This can be that Shabbos that can bring Moshiach!
🕯 🕯 💐 🍷 🍾
 
Helpful resources below.
Who’s in? Please share!
With prayers for Moshiach and good health for everyone!
 
Shemot Rabba 25:12; Yerushalmi, Ta’anit 1:1 “Though I have set a limit to ‘the end,’ that it will happen in its time regardless of whether they will do teshuvah or not… the scion of David (Mashiach) will come if they keep just one Shabbat, because the Shabbat is equivalent to all the mitzvot.”
 
CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES:
https://www.chabad.org/calendacandlelighting_cdo/aid/6226/jewish/Shabbat-Candle-Lighting-Times.htm
INFORMATION ABOUT SHABBAT:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/82898/jewish/Shabbat-Info.htm
Print up interesting articles from Chabad.org or another Torah site and read them with your family on Shabbat
 
PS: If you can translate this into any other language, please do so and continue to pass it around. Thank you!

Here are some Holiday Celebration Music Events scheduled to be live streamed this weekend. Please feel free to add any others you find in the comments below.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Holiday Entertainment Streams December 7 - 9
Friday, Dec 7 7pm: Boyer College FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERT https://livestream.com/accounts/1927261/events/8342878
7pm: 5779 Erev Shabbat Miketz w/Chanukah Candle Lighting https://livestream.com/accounts/3592063/5779-erev-shabbat-miketz-channukah
7:30pm: Hamilton College Orchestra Winter Concert https://livestream.com/accounts/8533034/2018OrchWinterConcert
Saturday, Dec 8 2pm: Colorado Driving Society: Parker Christmas Carriage Parade https://livestream.com/accounts/671893/ParkerChristmasCarriageParade2018
2pm: Ouachita Baptist University Dance Praize: The Nutcracker https://livestream.com/accounts/1487881/dancepraizenutcracker2018
3pm: The USAF Band's Holiday Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wGal7GAvM4
3pm: Bass Pro Shop and Tanger Outlets Atlantic City Christmas Parade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq3m-OG2fBM
7:30pm: Interlochen Arts Academy: Swan Lake https://livestream.com/accounts/11307406/events/3805293
8pm: The USAF Band's Holiday Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mWR7QWYJ3Q
Sunday, Dec 9 3pm: The USAF Band's Holiday Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Mj2W5LmJw
3pm: The United States Army Band: Stan Kenton Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxhjZGf6jxM
3pm: Baker University: Christmas Candlelight Vespers https://livestream.com/accounts/5725340/vespers2018
4pm: Eastern Wyoming College: An Afternoon of Music & Art - Christmas Concert https://livestream.com/accounts/14874053/events/8471095
4pm: Bluffton University: Handel's Messiah https://livestream.com/accounts/8912176/events/8482882
7:30pm: Seymour Dance Company: The Nutcracker https://livestream.com/accounts/15325353/events/8482736
Monday, Dec 10 6pm: Kennedy Center: MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYPgvKA_5w
All Times are Eastern Time Zone

I've been out of work and lonely. I cut all ties with Orthodoxy a couple months ago after a particularly traumatic series of experiences that really confirmed the way I felt for a long time.
I thought I'd go to a Reform temple and see some other people. I've been isolated days at a time but I haven't wanted to go through the discomfort of going to the Orthodox community across the county, which is the only place I really know anyone. I stopped my job search a little before candlelighting and told myself I would have a nice Reform Shabbat. No worrying about melachot, just stop the job search and stuff.
It was innocent enough but it just hit me right in the gut in the first 15 minutes of the service. I don't have anything in common with these people. I can't pray at their pace. I don't even particularly believe in a God but I have all these rules just burned into my consciousness that they've never been weighed down by. Don't pause here. Don't sing that over and over.
It wasn't that they were bad, it was that my experience was bad. Why the hell was all this crap burned into me? Why did anyone believe any of this superficial shit matter to anyone? Why couldn't I have had a nice experience, too? Why couldn't I have had rabbis that talked about happy things and God's love and not terrorized the fuck out of me?
Stayed around after the oneg and I felt so self-conscious. The people were nice but I couldn't explain anything. I couldn't explain why I left my last job and why I moved to a new city. I couldn't talk about anything Jewish that they would relate to. I just was... there.
I bought a pepperoni pizza and some Sculpin and now I'm just riding the night out alone.