Beth El Youth Movie Night December 13, 2025 at 5:45 pm - 9:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Save the date for our Beth El Youth Movie Night! Join us at 5:45 pm for Havdalah, then leave the kids with us from 6:00-9:00 pm - they'll have pizza for dinner and watch movies with their Beth El friends. Kids should come in PJs with a sleeping bag or pillow and a stuffy to ...
Volunteering at Manna Food Center Featured December 18, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Manna Food Center 9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 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 ...
Let There Be Light Featured December 21, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us on the last night of Hanukkah for a community candle lighting! Bring your own hanukkiah and add your glow to our beautifully lit lobby as we celebrate together. Let's come together for a night filled with light, laughter, music, and connection for all ages. Plus, enjoy live music with our shaliach, Yoel Gleizer, ...
Chug Kriah Featured January 4 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Chug Kriah meets regularly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, January 4, at 2:00 pm at a member’s home in suburban Maryland. We will be reading Aravim Rokdim (Dancing Arabs) by Sayed Qashu. The author is an Israeli Arab. For more information including meeting location, ...
Chug Kriah Featured January 4 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Chug Kriah meets regularly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, January 18, at 7:00 pm via Zoom. We will complete our reading of Aravim Rokdim (Dancing Arabs) by Sayed Qashu. The author is an Israeli Arab. For more information including meeting location, please contact Bill ...
Scholar in Residence Weekend: Shabbat Discussion with Masua Sagiv Featured January 10 at 12:30 pm Scholar in Residence Join us after services on Saturday, January 10, at 12:30 pm for a Shabbat Discussion with our Scholar in Residence guest speaker, Dr. Masua Sagiv. She will speak on "Is Everything Going to Change? Israel After the Ceasefire." Dr. Masua Sagiv is a Senior Faculty member of the Shalom Hartman Institute based in the San ...
American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews Featured January 11 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States A wealthy, Protestant, powerful member of the American elite, Teddy Roosevelt was an unlikely friend to struggling Jewish immigrants. Yet across the span of his public career, Roosevelt was closely involved with Jewish issues, both domestic and foreign. Many of the quandaries Roosevelt grappled with more than a century ago feel newly relevant and urgent – ...
Volunteering at Manna Food Center Featured January 20 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Manna Food Center 9311 Gaither Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 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 in need of up 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 ...
Beth El Gala 2026 Featured January 24 at 7:30 pm - 11:59 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join Us for “A Night Out” – Beth El’s 2026 Gala! We are overjoyed to invite members, family, and friends to A Night Out, Beth El’s 2026 Gala, on Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 pm. Come join our vibrant community for an evening full of connection, entertainment, and spirit. The evening will feature a lively ... $180
Kol Haneshama Friday Night Musical Service with Artist-in-Residence Micah Hendler Featured January 30 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 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. 6:00 pm - Light Dinner 7:00 pm - Kol ...
Shabbat Shirah with Artist-in-Residence Micah Hendler Featured January 31 at 9:15 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Shabbat Shirah celebrates Moses and Miriam's song as they cross the sea of reeds and celebrate their freedom. Micah Hendler, son of longtime congregants Clifford Hendler and Deborah Neipris, is the founder of The Jerusalem Youth Chorus and Beth El’s own acapella group, Marak Hayom. He returns to Beth El as artist in residence for ...
The Art Spy: A Conversation with Author Michelle Young Featured February 5 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm In The Art Spy, Michelle Young tells the thrilling, true story of Rose Valland, a World War II French resistance hero. When the Germans occupied Paris in 1940, they made the Jeu de Paume museum their headquarters for processing the art they plundered in France, mostly from Jews. The Germans allowed Valland, a museum employee, ...
Support After Loss Featured February 7 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. ...
Family Camp Info Session February 8 at 9:30 am - 10:30 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join the Beth El family camp co-chairs on February 8 between 9:30 and 10:45 am for an open house in the Beth El library to learn more about family camp, happening over Memorial Day weekend at Camp Saginaw in Pennsylvania. Learn more about what to expect and have your questions answered. For more information, reach ...
Yah Echsof Meditation and Exploration Group Featured February 14 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, ...
Chug Kriah Featured February 15 at 2:00 pm - 8:30 pm Chug Kriah meets regularly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. Our next meeting will be on February 15, 2:00 pm, at a private residence. We are reading Al Tesaper L'achicha (“Don’t Tell Your Brother”) by Meir Shalev. For more information including the address, please contact Bill Kanter at kanterdsw@aol.com.
Kesher Nashim: Women’s Cancer Connection February 19 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 ...
Bit O’ Megillah March 1 at 11:00 am - 11:30 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States It's a mitzvah to hear the story of Purim! Families with children ages 0-6 are invited to join in the Purim fun at Lisa Arber’s storytelling performance of The Runaway Hamentachen. A Beth El Purim favorite, Lisa will delight young families as she portrays each of the Purim characters in a show complete with songs ...
Megillah Madness: A Very Wicked Purim Featured March 2 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us for a Wicked good time as we explore Purim’s biggest questions: Who’s truly the most popular? What happens when Esther meets King Ahasuerus? Will the Jews dance through strife, or will Haman’s loathing steal the spotlight? Come see the story unfold as the Jews define their own destiny in this Wicked Purim spectacular!
Ma’ariv and The Whole Megillah Featured March 2 at 8:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Join us on Monday, March 2, at 8:00 pm as Minyan Chaverim leads Ma’ariv and The Whole Megillah. This lively, upbeat, and communal service is led by lay leaders who like to bring some zaniness to the Megillah experience by adding character voices and other surprises to the reading. Everyone is invited to join in ...
Morning Minyan and Full Megillah Reading March 3 at 7:30 am - 9:00 am Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Morning minyan on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 am will also include a full reading of the Megillah. Because the minyan includes the Megillah reading, it will be a slightly longer minyan, approximately one and a half hours.
Israel: What Comes Next March 7 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Please join us for a Shabbat afternoon conversation with Tom Warrick to discuss the current events in Israel and what happens next. Tom is a member of the Beth El Security Committee who has three decades worth of experience with the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the Atlantic Council. He is a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic ...
Downsizing & Decluttering – Part 2 Featured March 8 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Please join Beyond BEENs for a presentation by Jodi Eisner, MSW and Certified Professional Organizer, to discuss challenges and tips for downsizing and decluttering. The presentation will be followed by a panel of Beth El congregants who have successfully survived the process. There is no charge for the program but we request that you register ...
Chug Kriah Hebrew Literature Group March 8 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Chug Kriah meets regularly to read and discuss modern Israeli literature in Hebrew. Our next meeting will be on March 8 at 2:00 pm via Zoom. We will complete our reading of Al Tesaper L’achicha (“Don’t Tell Your Brother”) by Meir Shalev. For more information including the Zoom link, please contact Bill Kanter at kanterdsw@aol.com.
Cafe Ivrit: Coffee & Hebrew with Yoel Featured March 11 at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Coffee & Hebrew with Yoel Congregation Beth El 8215 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD, United States Coffee & Hebrew at Beth El, led by our Israeli Shaliach, Yoel Gleizer, is a relaxed, welcoming space to practice conversational Hebrew while enjoying great coffee and good company. Each session blends everyday Hebrew, Israeli culture, music, humor, and real-life conversation, with a strong emphasis on connection and community. This series is perfect for anyone ...