Congregation Beth El - Announcements

This program is designed to prepare parents for the service of their upcoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah and to focus on the “ins and outs” of the experience. Join Rabbi Harris on Saturdays, March 13, April 17 and May 1, at 10:30 am. This Shabbat, the topic will be, “Understanding the Service.” Contact Rabbi Harris at gharris@bethelmc.org for more information.

BETH EL YOUNG FAMILY SHABBATON

Limited space remains for the new Beth El Young Family Shabbaton at the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA, March 19 - 21. Spend the whole weekend inside the 80,000 square foot indoor waterpark and learn some amazing new tunes to bring energy to our Shabbat services. $750 per family covers a room that sleeps up to 6, waterpark tickets, meals, and more. For more information, contact Adam Zeren, Youth Director, at azeren@bethelmc.org. Payment deadline has been extended to March 10.

BETH EL BOOK CLUB***

All are welcome to the next meeting of the Beth El Book Club on Sunday, March 21, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, in the Family Room. We will discuss Chandler Burr’s controversial novel, “You or Someone Like You,” which questions whether Judaism is overly exclusive. The book is available at the Montgomery County Public Library.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT BETH EL

BETH EL EMPTY NESTERS (BEENs)

THEATRE PARTY***

Empty Nesters are invited to see “Andy Warhol: Good for the Jews?” at Theatre J on Sunday, March 21, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $25 each; $21 for those over 65 years. Optional: Dinner before the show, probably at Logan Tavern. To RSVP, contact Ricardo Munster at rmunster@bethelmc.org.

B’RUCHIM HABAIM

CHERISH THY (SPECIAL NEEDS) CHILD

If you’re looking for a place to talk, listen, and feel understood, don’t miss being a part of this group! Parents of children or young adults with special needs are welcome to this helpful group for wide-ranging discussions and support. Special needs encompass physical, cognitive, developmental, and/or emotional/mental health challenges. Don’t miss our next meeting on Thursday, March 18, at 7:00 pm. At this meeting, we will also review results of our group evaluation survey, including programming ideas and scheduling preferences of participants. This warm and informative group is facilitated by our synagogue liaison from JSSA, Juliet Wolff, LCSW-C. There is no fee for this group. Contact Juliet at 301-610-8341 or jwolff@jssa.org for more information.

EDUCATION

SAUL BENDIT ADULT INSTITUTE

As we struggle through current economic times, Mollie Berch offers a class on “The 1930s: the Great Depression and the Cultural Reaction of the Jews” at the Saul Bendit Institute. Join her for a discussion of the influence of the 1930s on everyday life and culture among the Jews. Tuesday classes have already started, and Wednesday evening classes will begin on Wednesday, March 10, but it is not too late to register! Just arrive a few minutes early and register in the Gallery. Be sure to check out the full brochure at www.bethelmc.org.

NEW ADULT B’NAI MITZVAH CLASS FORMING***

If you were able to attend the recent Shabbat service conducted almost entirely by the Adult B’nai Mitzvah class, or hear about it from friends or from the Washington Post article about Esther Isralow, you know that this is an amazing educational growth opportunity, whether you had a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony or not. The next class, led by Rabbi Rudolph, begins in the fall of 2010. It’s an 18 month commitment, with the emphasis on learning and community building. An organizing meeting will be held on Sunday, May 2, at 10:00 am. If you want to register now, have questions, or cannot attend the meeting, contact Ricardo Munster at 301-652-8569, ext. 316, or rmunster@bethelmc.org.

BE THE WISE CHILD AT YOUR SEDER!

How is this night different? Be the one with the answers at your family's seder! Study the origins of the seder and the text of the haggadah that illustrate how past generations celebrated the story of freedom. Discover traces of the relationship between rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity, and parallels between Easter and Pesach. Explore rituals and readings (and recipes!) we can add to reflect our experience as contemporary Jews. While the first of this two-session class has already taken place, you are welcome to join us for the second session on Monday, March 15, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, at Beth El, taught by Rabbi Avis Miller, president of the Open Dor Foundation. Cost is $9 for the one session (scholarships readily available). Pre-registration preferred but not required. For more information, please contact Rabbi Miller at 240-395-9454 or rabbi@opendor.org.

INCORPORATING JUDAISM INTO YOUR LIFE

Looking for holiday hints or some ways to engage your family with the week’s Torah portion at your Shabbat table? Check out Family Education Director Elisha Frumkin’s blog for articles, resources, and ideas on incorporating Judaism into your life: http://jewishfamilyliving.blogspot.com.

SHABBAT PARASHAT HASHAVUA STUDY GROUP

The Shabbat Parashat Hashavua Study Group meets weekly at about 9:30 am every Shabbat, following the Early Morning Minyan Kiddush. The Parasha is discussed dynamically, based mainly on translations of the Torah, Rashi, and other medieval and contemporary commentaries. The group has organizers, but no leader or teacher. We seek to read the texts closely (English is all that is needed) and relate to them personally, learn from one another, and respect different views and interpretations. Contact David Margulies (dlv.dhm@verizon.net) for more information.

A TASTE OF TALMUD

This class, taught by adjunct Rabbi David Abramson, meets every Tuesday morning year-round at approximately 8:15 am, following morning minyan. All are welcome; no fee.

MEN’S CLUB

SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST

Everyone is invited to the Men’s Club 9:30 am breakfast on Sunday, March 14, followed at 10:00 am by Blake Robinson, producing artistic director of round House Theatre, who will discuss their upcoming production, “My Name is Asher Lev.”

PASSOVER HIGHLIGHTS

CONGREGATIONAL SEDER

Our annual Second Seder will take place on Tuesday evening, March 30, at 7:00 pm, following the Festival Evening Service. RSVP deadline is Monday, March 15. Reservation forms are in the March Scroll (page 14), on the website, and in the Lobby lucite holders.

CAFÉ PESACH

Tired of eating at home every night during Passover? Join us on Friday evening, April 2, at 7:00 pm, following the Shabbat/Festival Evening Service, for a delicious meal. RSVP deadline is Monday, March 15; Reservation forms are in the March Scroll (page 12), on the website, and in the Lobby lucite holders.

PESACH YIZKOR BOOK LISTING

The Beth El Pesach Yizkor Book will be available at morning services on Tuesday, April 6, when Yizkor is recited. To be included, please return the appropriate form to Beth El by Monday, March 22. Forms are available on page 12 of the March Scroll, on the website, and in the lucite holders in the Lobby.

SELLING OF CHAMETZ

During the week of Passover, it is forbidden, according to Jewish tradition, to eat chametz or even to own the chametz that has been put away in your home. Therefore, we annually observe the custom of Mechirat Chametz, selling the chametz to someone who is not bound by Jewish law. If you would like to have Rabbi Rudolph sell your chametz, be sure to mail or drop off the form (available on page 12 of the March Scroll, on the website, or in the Lobby lucite holders) so that it is received by 9:00 am on Monday, March 29. Donations are also being accepted for Maot Chittim, feeding the hungry. Please make checks payable to Congregation Beth El.

SIYYUM FOR THE FIRSTBORN

On Monday, March 29, at 7:15 am, the Morning Minyan will include a brief study session so that firstborn can eat that day, and a special breakfast honoring our firstborn will follow. Thanks to Debby and Menachem Shoham, who are sponsoring the Siyyum in memory of Sy and Barbara Wolf, Abraham and Sarah Krupsaw, Abraham and Dora Wolf, and Israel Shoham.

PASSOVER DRIVE FOR MANNA FOOD CENTER

Purim is over and Passover is around the corner. As you are preparing for the holiday and cleaning out your kitchen, please bring all of your non-Passover food to the marked container in the Beth El Lobby starting Sunday, March 7. Even if you don't clean out your kitchen for the holiday, this is a great opportunity to donate food to Manna. This special food drive will run until Monday, March 29, at 9:00 am – when a Manna truck will pick up all of donations. Due to Passover food restrictions in the shul, please do not leave any food after the deadline. Thank you for helping Manna and your community.

HACHNASSAT ORCHIM

Do you have extra room at your Seder table? If you would like to perform the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim (welcoming of guests) and open your home to one or more individuals for a seder, or if you would like to be invited to the home of another congregant for a seder, please contact Hattie Goodman in the Beth El Office at hgoodman@bethelmc.org or 301-652-2606.

KOSTROMA APPEAL

The World Jewry Committee very much appreciates the response coming in for Kostroma’s Pesach needs . . . . . Thank You!

REFUAH SHLEIMAH

Refuah Shleimah: Have you ever found out about someone’s illness or surgery after the fact and through that, if you had known earlier, you would have sent a card, called, visited or helped them in some way? In keeping with the Jewish value of bikkur cholim (caring for the sick), Beth El has initiated a weekly Refuah Shleimah (complete healing) list that will be included in the Tuesday listserv announcements, and in the hard copy Shabbat announcements. Names will be included for the duration of the illness or for four weeks, whichever period is shorter. While we hope congregants will participate, we recognize that not everyone may want his/her name included. Therefore, we will accept names only from the person him/herself, or an immediate family member, and details of the illness will not be disclosed. To be included on the list, please contact the clergy or Ricardo Munster at rmunster@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569, ext. 316.

Refuah Shleimah to Sid Groeneman.

SENIOR CAUCUS - VATIKKIM

BRIDGE

The greatest card game ever – all are welcome! Enjoy a friendly afternoon of bridge every Monday; join the next game on March 15, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. No partner or RSVP is needed. This program is sponsored by Beth El’s Senior Caucus. For more information, contact Ricardo Munster at rmunster@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569, ext. 316.

THIRD THURSDAY LUNCHEON

Join Senior Caucus and Vatikkim for their monthly luncheon on Thursday, March 18, at Noon. Following lunch, Blake Robinson, artistic director of Round House Theatre, will discuss “Bringing Asher Lev to the Stage.” Round House Theatre in Bethesda is presenting Aaron Posner’s new play based on the novel “My Name is Asher Lev,” by Chaim Potok. Lunch beings at Noon; cost is $7. Please RSVP no later than 10:00 am on Tuesday morning, March 16, to Ricardo Munster at rmunster@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569, ext. 316. The program is free and begins after lunch, around 12:45 pm.

SERVICES

Assignment cards are mailed to congregants in alphabetical order over the course of the year to encourage attendance so that there will always be a minyan at Beth El. Please try to join us at 8:00 pm for 15 minutes during your assigned week. Please note, on Wednesday evening during Saul Bendit, minyan begins at 8:20 pm. For March 14 to 18, assignments are for those families with surnames from H. Boxerman to K. Brown.

SISTERHOOD / ZHAVA

KESHER NASHIM***

Everyone is welcome to attend the next meeting of Kesher Nashim, Tuesday, March 9, at 7:30 pm. This group offers support to Beth El women newly diagnosed with cancer by pairing them with Beth El cancer survivors and resources.

BE MORE OF A PART OF BETH EL’S SISTERHOOD

To join the Sisterhood Board or chair a committee, contact Nominating Committee Chairman Amanda Ford by March 12.

SOCIALS AND SAMPLERS

Join us on Monday, March 15, at 7:15 pm, for “The Two Stories of Creation: What They Tell us About God, Judaism, and Ourselves.” The story of creation sets the stage for our reading of the rest of the Torah. What are we to make of the two, often contradictory, accounts of how the world began in the book of Genesis? Come study with congregant Leesa Fine as we explore the relationships between Adam, Eve, and God that you never learned in Hebrew School.

MAH JONGG NIGHT***

Join us on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00 pm, for a game of Mah Jongg. Beginning and experienced players are welcome.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

BETH EL YOUNG FAMILY SHABBATON

See details under the Highlights section at the top of this email.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION***

Box Tops for Education: Beth El Sisterhood received a grateful thank you note from Weller Road Elementary School for our donation of approximately $60 worth of Box Top coupons last fall. Our contributions helped them purchase several media carts and wipe boards. The next submission date is coming up soon, so please bring in your collected Box Top coupons and deposit them in the canister in the lobby. Questions? Call Sandra Cohen at 301-229-8649.

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: SMART KIDS WHO LEARN DIFFERENTLY

A conference focusing on bright children with learning disabilities will take place March 11 - 13 at the University of Maryland Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville. It will include best practices for identifying such students, and research-based strategies and interventions for helping them academically, socially, and emotionally. Sponsored by Weinfeld Education Group and co-sponsored by several organizations serving students, professionals, and families, including Jewish Social Service Agency. Visit www.richweinfeld.com for registration and information, or call 888-881-1001, ext. 104.

CAMP RAMAH IN NEW ENGLAND – ELEVATE YOUR SUMMER!

Camp Ramah in New England offers an outstanding overnight camp in a dynamic Jewish environment. The rich and varied programs offer campers the opportunity to grown, learn, and develop life-long friendships as they connect to their religion in a unique way. All of this happens on the beautiful campus of more than 75 acres of prime lakefront land in western Massachusetts. Camp Ramah offers two-week sessions for children currently in grades 2-3 and four or eight week sessions for children in grades 3-10. Ramah draws campers from Virginia, Washington, DC Maryland, and Connecticut, parts of New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine. A $1,000 incentive grant is available to all new campers attending our 4 or 8 week sessions. To learn more, please contact Lori Fish Bard, Greater Washington, DC Community Liaison at 301-564-0844, email: lorib@campramahne.org.