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 ...
Jews & Brews Featured April 23 at 7:00 pm Jews & Brews Join Rabbi Harris around the fire pit at his home for some schmoozing and casual Jewish learning. Jews & Brews is sponsored by Men’s Club, but all Beth El members ...
Kol Haneshama Friday Night Musical Service with Shabbat Dinner Hosted by NuBEENs and Beyond BEENs Featured April 24 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 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 ...
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" ...
Daniel Mann Literary Luminaries Lecture Featured May 3 at 10:30 am - 11:30 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 ...
Coffee Around the World & Hebrew Experience Featured May 3 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 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 ...
Chug Kriah Featured May 3 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Chug Kriah meets regularly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, May 3, at 7:00 pm via Zoom. We will complete our discussion of Yonim b’Trafalgar (Pigeons at Trafalgar Square) by Sami Michael. For more information including the Zoom link, please contact Bill Kanter at kanterdsw@aol.com.
Family Volunteering: Nourishing Bethesda Food Packing Featured May 7 at 5:00 pm - 7:00 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
Jews & Brews Featured May 12 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 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 - 8:30 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 ...
Parking Lot Shabbat Featured May 15 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us for a Shabbat outdoors in the Parking Lot with Hazzan Fradkin and friends featuring a musical service, warm atmosphere, and good weather! This is a laid-back, relaxed outdoor Shabbat experience – casual attire encouraged. Stay for the oneg after the service to connect with familiar faces, make new friends, and welcome Shabbat together. ...
Yah Echsof Meditation and Exploration Group Featured May 16 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 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 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Broadway comes to Beth El! Join Hazzan Fradkin with Beth El stars Valerie Issembert, Michelle Bronzo, Cory Breychak, Beth El choirs, and others for this Broadway Revue of songs about Belief and Community. Featuring songs from Pippin, Godspell, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, Ragtime, and more! This concert is free to attend with a suggested ...
Lunch and a Program: Stolpersteine: Memorializing the Victims of Nazism Featured May 19 at 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States 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, more than 100,000 stones have been set in European cities. In 2008, Marsha Rehns went ... $10
Shiva Leader Training Part 2 Featured May 19 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us to continue learning how 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 provide this ...
Congregational Annual Meeting May 20 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States The Beth El Annual Meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 20, at 7:00 pm. Drop in to the Zahler Social Hall before the meeting starts for food, schmooze, drinks, and fun from 6:00-7:00 pm. Please make every effort to attend so we can meet our quorum requirement; if you cannot make it in person, ...
Mental Health Professionals Breakfast Study Group Featured May 21 at 9:30 am - 11:00 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
Tikkun Leil Shavuot 5786 Featured May 21 at 6:30 pm - May 22 at 1:30 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us on Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 pm for Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a traditional night of learning. Shavuot celebrates the Israelites receiving and accepting revelation at Mt. Sinai. This transformative experience has defined and challenged the Jewish people ever since. Tikkun Leil Shavuot is a night of study based on the idea that we ... $12
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. ...
Kol Haneshama Friday Night Musical Service and Congregational Shabbat Dinner Featured May 29 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 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 ...
Naming of Meira Baila Benezra-Megdal Featured June 6 at 10:00 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Please join Rabbi Deborah Megdal and Karen Benezra for the naming of their daughter, Meira Baila Benezra-Megdal, on Saturday, June 6, 10:00 am during Shabbat services at Congregation Beth El. Please use the form below to RSVP to help ensure we have enough food for the kiddush.
Pups in the Parking Lot Shabbat Featured June 12 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us for one of our favorite summer gatherings, Pups in the Parking Lot Shabbat. This is a laid-back, relaxed outdoor Shabbat experience – casual attire encouraged. Stay for the oneg after the service to connect with familiar faces, make new friends, and pet some dogs! All well-behaved dogs on leashes are invited to join ...
Yah Echsof Meditation and Exploration Group Featured June 13 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 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, ...
Ricardo Munster Retirement Celebration June 16 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Ricardo joined the Beth El staff in 2006. For 20 years he has served in many different capacities, including administrative assistant to the clergy, liaison for b’nai mitzvah families, and support staff for the Senior Caucus. He performed countless other duties that brought members together and enriched congregation life. Most of all, Ricardo has been ...
