Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County

Meet the Author: Sasha Vasilyuk
2025-10-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | MD
Join us via Zoom for a talk with Sasha Vasilyuk, author of Your Presence is Mandatory, winner of the 2025 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and a California Book Award Gold Medal. Vasilyuk’s gripping novel, which is based on her own family history, illuminates both the Soviet past and the present-day Russia-Ukraine war. You are also invited to register for our in-person Book Chat (Thursday, October 16, at 7:00 pm at Beth El) about Your Presence is Mandatory, which will nicely complement the author’s Zoom visit.
Copies of Your Presence is Mandatory are available through Politics & Prose at a 10 percent discount. Click here and insert the coupon code SPECIAL10 (no spaces) in the field labelled “Apply Coupon.” You will then have the option of either picking up the book at the store or having it shipped. You must create a free P&P account (easy to do) to order the book.
This program is sponsored by the Library Committee, Women of Beth El, and Men’s Club, in partnership with Adas Israel Congregation’s Library and Sisterhood.
Questions? Contact Robin Jacobson at librarian@adasisrael.org.

Volunteering at Manna Food Center
2025-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Manna Food Center, 9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, United States
Beth El volunteers will pack boxes of non-perishable food at the Manna warehouse in Gaithersburg for distribution to the needy in Montgomery County. We are limited to 12 volunteers age 11+.In addition to serving the greater community, one of the goals is to give all Beth El parents a way to participate with their children (age 11 and older) in community service. SSL hours are available. Please contact Jonathan Epstein at jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com to register or for more information.

Shabbat Together: A Family Shabbat Service
2025-10-24 18:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us for a joyful and engaging Shabbat experience designed especially for children in grades K–5 and the adults who love them. Through music, stories, and age-appropriate prayer, we welcome Shabbat together, followed by a warm, kid-friendly dinner and community gathering.
Cost: $15 per member, $18 non-member, $12 for children ages 6-12, and $8 for children ages 2-5. No charge for children under 2.
Registration is now closed.

Kol Haneshama Friday Night Musical Service
2025-10-24 18:00 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us 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. The Kol Haneshama service blends tradition and creativity, drawing on contemporary and innovative Jewish music from around the world.

6:00 pm – Light Dinner
7:00 pm – Kol Haneshama Musical Service

Following the Friday, October 24 Kol Haneshama Shabbat evening service, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies Senior Director for U.S. Jewish Grantmaking David Rittberg will discuss “Trends in American Jewish Life.”
David advises Schusterman’s leadership on how to best leverage its investments in existing organizations and take new initiatives to scale. He spends much of his time working directly with organization staff and board members to help build their team’s capacity, develop a long-term strategy, and grow as integral players in common ecosystems. Prior to arriving at Schusterman, David served as Executive Director at the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU and Hillel at New York University. In 2011, he received NYU’s Hallmark Award for outstanding university administrators. David was also part of the Hillel staff at The University of Arizona and Stanford.
The oneg and discussion will take place around 8:00 pm following the service.
Dinner registration is now closed but all are welcome to attend the service an oneg.

Chug Kriah
2025-10-26 14:00 - 15:30 | MD
Chug Kriah meets bi-weekly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. We meet at Beth El and in private homes. Our next meeting will be via Zoom on October 26 at 2:00, when we will discuss Bayta (Home) by Assaf Inbari. For more information, including the Zoom link, please contact Bill Kanter at kanterdsw@aol.com.

Film Screening & Celebrating 10 Years of Support and Community
2025-10-26 14:30 - 17:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us at Congregation Beth El as we close out Mitzvah Day with a program honoring the 10th anniversary of I Support the Girls and the deep connection between the organization and our synagogue community.
We are honored to welcome Dana Marlowe, founder and executive director of I Support the Girls and a nationally recognized advocate for menstrual equity and dignity. Dana has been recognized by Jewish Women’s International as one of its Women to Watch and by Bethesda Magazine as one of its Women Who Inspire. She will join our panel to reflect on the shared history of the organization and Beth El – and to inspire our next decade of impact.
As part of the program, we’ll screen Full Support, a charming Israeli film set in a bra shop. Through a series of funny, tender, and revealing vignettes, the movie captures the universal awkwardness and intimacy of buying a bra. Think “taxi cab confessions,” but with underwire.
Tickets: $36 per person. Net proceeds will support the work of I Support the Girls.
This program is co-sponsored by Women of Beth El.
Please use the form below to register.

Jews & Brews
2025-10-28 19:00 - 21:30 | MD
Join Rabbi Harris at his home for some schmoozing and casual Jewish learning around the fire pit. Jews & Brews is sponsored by Men’s Club, but all Beth El members are welcome to attend.
Please RSVP using the form below.

Voices from Kibbutz Re’im: Stories of Loss, Resilience, and Rebuilding
2025-10-30 18:30 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us at Congregation Beth El for a powerful evening of learning, remembrance, and connection. Hear from Zohar Livne Mizrahi (50), a social worker and secretary of Kibbutz Re’im, who was evacuated with her family to Eilat after October 7. Mizrahi will share her community’s story in a 60-minute Q&A panel covering what life at Re’im was like before October 7, the aftermath of the attack and its impact on the community, Re’im’s plans for recovery and rebuilding, and the new partnership between Kibbutz Re’im and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
There will also a be a special Virtual Reality (VR) program presented by Israel-Is. With 24 VR headsets, participants will step into Kibbutz Re’im and the grounds of the Nova Music Festival, located adjacent to the kibbutz. The program includes A walk through the festival site as it stood before and after the attack and three first-hand testimonies from two Nova survivors and one Israeli police officer who was there.
This evening offers a unique chance to engage with stories of courage and resilience while bearing witness through both conversation and immersive technology.

Herzl & Friends: When Zionism Was New
2025-11-02 11:00 - 12:00 | MD
British author Rachel Cockerell’s Melting Point: Family, Memory, and the Search for a Promised Land has won enthusiastic acclaim for its innovative telling of the story of early Zionism, including the break-away group that settled Jews in the western United States through the Galveston Plan. Cockerell’s look back at the past reveals that early 20th century concerns about the creation of a Jewish state, Jewish identity in the Diaspora, and antisemitism continue to reverberate today in new forms. Cockerell will be in conversation with TV political and legal analyst Michael Zeldin, host of the public affairs podcast “That Said with Michael Zeldin.”
Copies of Melting Point are available through Politics & Prose at a 10 percent discount. Click here and insert the coupon code SPECIAL10 (no spaces) in the field labelled “Apply Coupon.” You will then have the option of either picking up the book at the store or having it shipped. You must create a free P&P account (easy to do) to order the book.
This program is sponsored by the Library Committee, Women of Beth El, and Men’s Club, in partnership with Adas Israel Congregation’s Library and Sisterhood.

Rosh Hodesh
2025-11-02 11:45 - 12:45 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Rosh Hodesh is a monthly program designed for sixth grade girls and youth who identify with girlhood or outside the gender binary. Participants come together to build friendships, explore Jewish values, and talk about the things that matter—like identity, confidence, and connection. Through games, discussion, and creative activities, guided by a trained adult mentor, participants will grow as individuals and as a group. For more information, contact Allison Brown at abrown@bethelmc.org.
Please use the form below to sign up.
﻿﻿﻿

Tzelem
2025-11-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, 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 up.
﻿﻿

"Holding Liat" Film Screening and Discussion
2025-11-02 17:00 - 19:30 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
We are pleased to screen the award-winning documentary, Holding Liat, produced by Lance Kramer and directed by Brandon Kramer who are proud Beth El graduates. This is one family’s story that represents the complexities of balancing family dynamics within the context of war, politics, and personal identity.
Film synopsis: After Liat Beinin Atzili is kidnapped on October 7th, her Israeli-American family faces their own conflicting perspectives to fight for her release and the future of the places they call home. Through the intimate lens of a family’s experience, Holding Liat poses complex questions of identity across generations, as the family is thrust into the epicenter of a global conflict rapidly unfolding in real-time. The film embraces how the family copes with the fear and confusion that comes with being thrust into a global conflict. Through a deeply intimate lens the film shines a light on one family’s story showing their resilience and vulnerability throughout the ordeal.
The film has received the 2025 Berlinale Documentary Award as well as many international and national awards.
Following the film, The Kramer brothers will be on a panel moderated by Rob Fersh and Rabbi Harris.
Please register using the form below.

Volunteering at Manna Food Center - Emergency Assistance for Furloughed Workers
2025-11-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Manna Food Center, 9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, United States
Manna is ramping up food distribution to provide emergency assistance to furloughed federal works and federal contractors affected by the Government shutdown. Beth El volunteers will pack boxes of non-perishable food at the Manna warehouse in Gaithersburg for distribution to the needy in Montgomery County. We are seeking 8-12 volunteers age 11+ to help.In addition to serving the greater community, one of the goals is to give all Beth El parents a way to participate with their children (age 11 and older) in community service. SSL hours are available. Please contact Jonathan Epstein at jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com to register or for more information.

Dor L'Dor: From Generation to Generation
2025-11-06 11:45 - 13:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Calling all members, especially seniors, to join Beth El Preschool (BEPS) for a program that provides an opportunity to make connections across generations. Adults and children will enjoy lunch, have a chance to talk and share, then join together for fun table activities, such as bingo, coloring, and other games, planned by the BEPS staff. We need plenty of seniors to match up with the kids, so please join us. There is no cost, but please register using the form below or contact Katie at kfriedman@bethelmc.org or 301-652-2606.

Open Conversations About Israel with Rabbi Harris
2025-11-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join fellow Beth El members in a safe, open, and nuanced conversation surrounding Israel. This ongoing space allows people to share their love, struggles, and connections with Israel.
RSVPs encouraged using the form below.
﻿

Hearing Men's Voices
2025-11-06 19:30 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Beth El men are invited to join us in person at Beth El or via Zoom as Charles Cohen leads a discussion of “Resilience: How I Responded to Life Challenges.”

Please RSVP using the form below.
﻿

Shir Yachad Friday Night Musical Service
2025-11-07 18:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, 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.

6:00 pm: Everyone is invited to schmooze while enjoying a light dinner.
7:00 pm: Shir Yachad service

Dinner Cost: $15 per member, $18 non-member, $12 for children ages 6-12, and $8 for children ages 2-5. No charge for children under 2.
Dinner registration is now closed, but all are welcome to join us for the 7:00 pm service.

Young Family Shabbat with BEPS and Nitzanim
2025-11-07 18:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join other families with young children for a family friendly Shabbat service, followed by a family style dinner!
Registration is now closed.

Tour of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History
2025-11-09 14:00 - 15:30 | National Museum of American Jewish Military History, 1811 R Street NW, Washington, DC, United States
Join us to commemorate Veterans Day with a 90-minute private tour of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History (1811 R Street NW, Washington, DC). Admission is free but donations are welcome. Although the tour is organized by Men’s Club, all Beth El members are invited.
Please register using the form below.

Chug Kriah
2025-11-09 14:00 - 15:30 | MD
Chug Kriah meets bi-weekly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. Our next meeting will be on Zoom on November 9 at 2:00 pm at a member’s home. We are reading Im Yesh Gan Eden (Beaufort) by Ron Leshem. For more information, including the meeting location, please contact Bill Kanter at kanterdsw@aol.com.

Shabbat Together: A Family Shabbat Service
2025-11-14 18:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us for a joyful and engaging Shabbat experience designed especially for children in grades K–5 and the adults who love them. Through music, stories, and age-appropriate prayer, we welcome Shabbat together, followed by a warm, kid-friendly dinner and community gathering.
Cost: $15 per member, $18 non-member, $12 for children ages 6-12, and $8 for children ages 2-5. No charge for children under 2.
Questions? Contact Education Director Elisha Frumkin at efrumkin@bethelmc.org.
Registration is now closed.

Kol Haneshama Friday Night Musical Service
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, 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.

6:00 pm – Light Dinner
7:00 pm – Kol Haneshama Musical Service

Following the service, there will be an oneg during which Chief Executive Officer of Hart Research Fred Yang will discuss “Political Polling – How It Works and A Look Forward.” Fred has been a dedicated pollster to numerous Democratic candidates and elected officials. He has over 35 years in public opinion research and campaign strategy. He is known for providing insightful analysis in his approach to political research and for his hands-on involvement with each of his clients’ campaigns, for which he helps to devise winning strategies and messages, especially in tough races. Fred has worked on national, state, and local political races, including in his home state of Maryland, where he has helped to elect numerous officials, including Angela Alsobrooks, Wes Moore, Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin, Anthony Brown, Brooke Lierman, Barbara Mikulski, and Martin O’Malley.
Dinner registration is now closed, but all are welcome to join us for the 7:00 pm service and the oneg.

Melaveh Malkah - Escorting the Queen
2025-11-15 18:30 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
We all need some extra joy and a chance to come together during these difficult times. In support of federal workers, contractors, businesses, families, and others who have been affected by the government shutdown, a generous donor has offered to cover the cost for everyone who attends. Join your Beth El community for a lively and traditional way to extend the sweetness of Shabbat by escorting the Sabbath Queen out with style and celebration. Bring your family and friends for Havdalah, a dairy meal catered by Moti’s, musical entertainment, singing and dancing, accompanied by our own Beth El Simcha Band, featuring Hazzan Asa and Sarah Fradkin and Yoel Gleizer.
For questions contact Suzanne Bronheim at bronheis@georgetown.edu.
Registration is now closed.

The American Media Today: Reflections by Journalist Hanna Gutmann
2025-11-18 11:45 - 14:15 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Congregant and journalist Hanna Gutmann spent 50 years covering Washington politics for print, radio, and television outlets. Her beat included the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. She will reflect on the current state of the media, and how individuals, groups, and media outlets are responding to the unprecedented attacks on freedom of the press and freedom of speech imposed under the current administration. How did we get here and why is Congress unwilling to act? What can we do and what could the future look like?
Registration deadline is noon on Friday, November 14. For information, free rides, or help registering contact Katie Friedman at kfriedman@bethelmc.org or 301-652-2606. The cost of lunch is $10 per person. There is no charge to attend the presentation only, which will begin at 12:45 pm. Let Katie know you are coming at kfriedman@bethelmc.org.
Please use the form below to register.

Jews & Brews
2025-11-20 19:00 - 21:30 | Tommy Joe’s, 7940 Norfolk Ave, Bethesda, MD, United States
Join Rabbi Harris at Tommy Joe’s (7940 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda) 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.
﻿

Kesher Nashim: Women's Cancer Connection
2025-11-20 19:30 - 20:30 | MD
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 woman interested in more information about the group.
For more information and to receive the Zoom link, please contact Judy Spector.

Yedid Nefesh Friday Night Musical Service with Shabbat Dinner Hosted by Minyan Chaverim
2025-11-21 18:30 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Kick off your weekend with the soulful Yedid Nefesh Friday night service at 6:30 pm, followed by a warm and welcoming Shabbat dinner hosted by Minyan Chaverim at 7:30 pm. Reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and savor a cozy fall evening filled with good food, good company, and the spirit of community.
Dinner Cost:$23 per member, $28 non-member, $12 for children ages 6-12, and $8 for children ages 2-5. No charge for children under 2.
Dinner registration is now closed, but all are invited to join us for services.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
2025-11-24 19:30 | Bethesda United Methodist Church, 8300 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Every year before Thanksgiving, Beth El shares an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with the Bethesda United Methodist Church, our neighbors across the street. This year, we will also be joined by Rev. Dr. Jay Moses of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, Ibramhim Anli of Rumi Forum, and Imam Refai Arefin of the Islamic Community Center of Potomac. The service will include prayers and reflections from the clergy, and performances by adult, childrens, and bell choirs. This year, we will gather at Bethesda United Methodist Church. The service will be followed by a small reception.
Thanksgiving Food Drive at BUMC: Food donations are needed for the Little Free Food Pantry at Bethesda United Methodist Church (BUMC), just across the street from us. BUMC has a Little Free Food Pantry located along Huntington Parkway next to their parking lot. Please consider bringing food with you when you attend the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Monday, November 24, at 7:30 pm. Food Bins will be just outside the sanctuary. After Thanksgiving, food can be put directly into the Food Pantry. Because of the current situation, the demand for food is incredible and The Little Free Food Panty is emptied almost every day. Click here for more information. For questions you can contact Janet at j.edmonds@erols.com.
Please use the form below to RSVP for the service.

College Parents Packing Party
2025-12-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us on Tuesday, December 2, at 7:00 pm for assemble Hanukkah care packages for our college age kids. Come ready to pack the boxes, and we’ll provide the holiday drinks, toppings, and a bit of fun!
Please click here to let us know what items you can bring to the packing party and use the link below to register. Even if you can’t attend the party itself or don’t have a college student, you can still volunteer to donate items to send to our college students and drop them off at the Beth El office by December 1.
Click Here to Register

Mosaic Tile Coaster Workshop
2025-12-04 19:00 - 21:30 | Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join Women of Beth El for a fun and festive mosaic tile coaster workshop in celebration of Hanukkah! Enjoy treats (fried and not fried), schmooze with friends, and create two beautiful custom coasters – perfect for gifting or keeping. Plus, play Hanukkah games and trivia, browse the gift shop, and spend quality time with your fellow WBE members.
Cost: $25 for WBE members, $30 for non-members. Please register using the form below by 5:00 pm on November 26.
