Shiva Leader Training Featured April 21 at 7:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States This session is for those interested in learning to lead a shiva minyan in someone's home. Beth El members often take on this leadership role to assist in the mitzvah of nachum avelim, comforting the mourner. Come join Rabbi Harris and Hazzan Fradkin if you would like to learn the skills and sensitivities needed to ...
Book Chat: The Director by Daniel Kehlmann Featured April 23 at 7:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Our across-the-street neighbors, the Bethesda United Methodist Church (BUMC) book club, will join us at Beth El for an in-person book discussion of Daniel Kehlmann's The Director. This novel, based on the life of pioneering 20th century Austrian film director, G.W. Pabst, has earned rave reviews for its powerful, darkly comic World War II story of art, ego, ...
Jews & Brews Featured April 23 at 7:00 pm Jews & Brews Join Rabbi Harris for some schmoozing and casual Jewish learning. Jews & Brews is sponsored by Men’s Club, but all Beth El members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP using the form below. The location will be sent to registrants closer to the date of the program.
Shabbat Together: A Family Shabbat Service Featured April 24 at 6:00 pm Shabbat Together Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join Beth El Religious School (BERS) for a joyful and engaging Shabbat experience designed especially for children in grades K–5 and the adults who love them. $15
Kol Haneshama Friday Night Musical Service with Shabbat Dinner Hosted by NuBEENs and Beyond BEENs Featured April 24 at 6:30 pm Kol Haneshama Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us on for prayer, reflection, and song! Welcome Shabbat in a joyful, participatory, and engaging service, with melodies that calm, songs that enliven, and prayers that elevate. This lay-led service blends tradition and creativity, drawing on contemporary and innovative Jewish music from around the world. 6:30 pm - Kol Haneshama Musical Service 7:30 pm ...
Café Sababa – Coffee & Community at Beth El Featured April 26 at 9:00 am Start your Sunday with great coffee and great people! Café Sababa is a pop-up Israeli-style coffee experience led by shaliach Yoel Gleizer, offering espresso, hafuch (latte), and more in a relaxed community setting. Coffee is free with optional donations to support a charitable cause, just come, sip, and schmooze.
Economic and Demographic Developments in Israel Featured April 26 at 1:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Professor Avi Weiss, President of the Taub Center in Israel, will discuss economic and demographic developments in Israel, drawing on the findings of the Center's 2025 "State of the Nation" report. Professor Weiss will specifically address the impact of the current Iran war. This Zoom event is free of charge. RSVP requested by April 19.
Let’s Get Cooking! Featured April 30 at 7:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join Women of Beth El for a fun, interfaith cooking event with members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Our two groups will use our culinary talents to make a delicious soup that will be donated to Interfaith Works. It’ll be a great opportunity to give back to those in need while getting to ...
Young Family Shabbat with BEPS and Nitzanim Featured May 1 at 6:00 pm Families with Young Children Shabbat Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join other families with young children for a family friendly Shabbat service, followed by a family style dinner! Please use the form below to register for dinner by noon the Wednesday before the service takes place. $36
Shir Yachad Friday Night Musical Service Featured May 1 at 6:00 pm Shir Yachad Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Friday night is a time for community, song, and joyful noise. Everyone is invited to join us for this exciting service filled with music past and present that stirs the soul and welcomes Shabbat with joy and warmth.
Daniel Mann Literary Luminaries Lecture Featured May 3 at 10:30 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Please join us for the annual Daniel Mann Literary Luminaries Lecture featuring guest speaker Emily Tamkin, author of Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities, and The Influence of Soros: Politics, Power, and the Struggle for an Open Society. Tamkin is a journalist by trade, and she writes and reports mostly on ...
Tzelem Featured May 3 at 12:00 pm Tzelem Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Tzelem is Beth El's group for LGBTQ+ teens. This group is geared for 7th-12th graders and is meant to create a safe space for Jewish teens of all genders and sexualities to talk about the issues in their lives as teens. For more information, contact Allison Brown abrown@bethelmc.org. Please use the form below to sign ...
Coffee Around the World & Hebrew Experience Featured May 3 at 12:00 pm Love coffee? Join Shaliach Yoel Gleizer for a unique, hands-on coffee workshop exploring flavors from around the world, plus learn how to order your favorite drink in Hebrew! Hosted in a warm home setting, this experience blends culture, language, and great coffee. The event will take place at a private home in Bethesda; address details ...
Family Volunteering: Nourishing Bethesda Food Packing Featured May 7 at 5:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join Beth El families in packing produce and shelf-stable food for Nourishing Bethesda, a local nonprofit operating out of the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad just up Old Georgetown Road. Volunteers must be 9 years or older. We are limited to 15 participants.
Beth El Night at JxJ: DC Jewish Film and Music Festival Featured May 7 at 7:30 pm Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema 7235 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us for the JxJ: DC Jewish Film and Music Festival's Opening Night presentation of Once Upon my Mother at Landmark Bethesda Row $16
Hearing Men’s Voices Featured May 7 at 7:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Beth El men are invited to join us in person at Beth El or via Zoom as Yoel Gleizer, our Beth El shaliach, leads a discussion on “Bridging Israeli and American Cultures.” Please RSVP using the form below.
Yedid Nefesh Friday Night Musical Service Featured May 8 at 6:30 pm Yedid Nefesh Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Friday night is a time for community, song, and joyful noise. Everyone is invited to join us for this exciting service filled with music past and present that stirs the soul and welcomes Shabbat with joy and warmth.
Jews & Brews Featured May 12 at 7:00 pm Jews & Brews Silver Branch Rockville Beerworks 7301 Calhoun Place, Derwood, United States Join Rabbi Harris for some schmoozing and casual Jewish learning. Jews & Brews is sponsored by Men’s Club, but all Beth El members are welcome to attend. May's meeting will take place at Silver Branch Rockville Beerworks (7301 Calhoun Place #600, Derwood, MD 20855) Please RSVP using the form below.
Kesher Nashim: Women’s Cancer Connection May 14 at 7:30 pm Kesher Nashim: Women’s Cancer Connection Kesher Nashim supports female cancer survivors and those with a new cancer diagnosis. Join Beth El women for confidential, lively discussions, friendship and support at our monthly Zoom meetings. Discussion/Support group for women newly diagnosed or survivors of cancer. One or two women from the group will be "On Call" monthly to talk to any ...
10th Grade Confirmation Shabbat Featured May 15 at 6:30 pm Celebrate with our 10th-grade students and their families as we come together on May 15 at Beth El for Shabbat services and dinner. Services start at 6:30 pm at Beth El. Dinner follows the service and will be held at the home of Rabbi Harris. $15
Yah Echsof Meditation and Exploration Group Featured May 16 at 12:30 pm Yah Echsof Meditation Group Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States While classical Jewish teaching suggests "Naaseh V'Nishmah" ("first we do, then we understand"), Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of Jewish Renewal, advocated for an alternative approach. He believed that profound connection comes from first understanding one's inner Jewish self through study, practice, and meditation. This monthly gathering adopts Reb Zalman's path. We will use meditation, chant, ...
Broadway Revue Concert Featured May 17 at 4:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Broadway comes to Beth El! Join Beth El's talented lineup of performers for this incredible afternoon of hits from your favorite Broadway Musicals. This concert is free to attend with a suggested donation of $10 per person. Registration is required.
Lunch and a Program: Stolpersteine: Memorializing the Victims of Nazism Featured May 19 at 12:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join Senior Caucus for lunch and a program on Tuesday, May 19, at 12:30 pm. Stolpersteine (German for stumbling stones) are 4x4 inch brass plaques set into the sidewalk in front of a building where a victim of the Nazis lived or worked. They were created by German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992. Since then, ... $10
Mental Health Professionals Breakfast Study Group Featured May 21 at 9:30 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States We invite Beth El Mental Health Professionals, both working and retired, to join us in person at Beth El for our Mental Health Professionals Study Group. Come for breakfast and a stimulating discussion of "The Wisdom of Jewish Grief Rituals." There is a $5 registration fee to defray the cost of breakfast. $5
Support After Loss Featured May 23 at 12:30 pm Support After Loss Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States With a special invitation to those who have had a recent loss, we will gather for a brief teaching and discussion led by a member of the Beth El Clergy. All are welcome to join this six-session series as often as they wish. Registration for each individual session is recommended in case there are updates. ...
