B'nai Israel Congregation

The music may be old, but the artists are new! Come here these new renditions of classic Jewish music, collected by the Milken Archive and presented by Cantor Josh. A musical adventure of historic scope and proportion, the Milken Archive was founded in 1990 to document, preserve, and disseminate the vast body of music that pertains to the American Jewish experience. In the time since, the Milken Archive has become the largest collection of American Jewish music ever assembled—roughly 600 recorded works, more than 500 of them world premieres.

Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel (I Hr. 26 Min.; English) After years of crushing defeats, Israel’s national baseball team finally ranks among the world’s best in 2017. Its roster includes many Jewish-American major leaguers, most with a tenuous relationship to Judaism, barely any ever having set foot in Israel. Their odyssey takes them from the Holy Land to South Korea where they must debunk their reputations as has-beens and wannabes. The connection to Israel that the players forge pushes them to unexpected heights as they represent the country on the world stage.

For an ancient text intended to set boundaries and impart values, the Torah contains many narratives which include episodes of, let us say, less than exemplary behaviors. During this class we will explore family narratives and relationships in the Book of Bereshit. We’re pretty sure your religious school didn’t focus your attention on these stories. Please bring a copy of the Torah with an English translation.

To attend this service, please contact Allison to reserve your space.

BYOB and join Rabbi Safra for a thoughtful discussion on a topic relevant to today.

Hang out. Do homework. Catch up with friends. And enjoy some snacks and drinks, of course. Open to all teens in Grades 9-12, regardless of where you go to school.

The Answers to Your Questions and Then a Whole New Set of Questions A multi-denominational journey into the heart of Judaism taught by seven Metro DC-area rabbis representing the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements. No matter your background, the Miller Intro to Judaism Program, developed by American Jewish University, is here to guide you on your Jewish journey. Whether you’re soul-searching or seeking your community, the Intro Program will walk you through Judaism’s big ideas and the nuts and bolts of daily Jewish living. We know you have questions—so do we—and we can’t wait to discuss them all with you. Join us in person or participate online!

Join our Shlicha, Netta Asner-Minster, and Talia Garber, the Shlicha at Congregation B’nai Tzedek who also has a film degree from Israel, virtually for this series focusing on Israeli TV shows. Once a month, September through December, we will be showing an episode from a different Israeli TV show. This will be followed with a discussion about cinematography, Israeli society and history, sharing the variety of Israeli TV and the meaning behind it.

The Jewish people are no strangers to exile. This course will explore key moments in the history of the Jewish diaspora, beginning with the Jews of Sepharad in 1492. This class will take you on a journey into the lives of Jewish communities and families in the various cosmopolitan societies of the diaspora. What brought the Jews to situate themselves in these particular regions? What were the circumstances that led to our storied past as a people who flourished and struggled in the diaspora? Participants will receive a copy of Allen Levine’s Scattered Among the Peoples, which will be the “textbook” for the course. To enrich each class and ensure a lively discussion, participants are asked to read one chapter each week. Questions for discussion and reflection will be sent in advance of each class. Fred Jacobs is Professor Emeritus of Education at American University where he was a faculty member and administrator for over thirty years, serving as University Dean of Faculties, Dean of the School of Education, and Director of the Doctoral Program.in Education. Previously, he taught at Denison University, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the City University of New York. He has a B.A. from Dickinson College, and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University. In 2007, he was a Fulbright Scholar in Romania where he had an opportunity to explore his maternal ancestry in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. He and his family are long-time members of Congregation Bnai Tzedek. Ira Lieberman Ph.D., who has been President and Chief Executive Officer of LIPAM International, Inc., since October 2004. In this capacity he has advised governments, not-for-profit institutions, and private companies. Much of his advisory work has been focused on the microfinance sector. Ira worked for the World Bank in Washington DC from 1993-2004 and from 1985–1987 in several positions. Ira has a BA from Lehigh University an MBA from Columbia University and a Ph.D. (D.Phil.) from Oxford University.

Join us on selected Saturday mornings for discussions about the weekly Torah parsha. Interested in leading a session? Contact Wendy Fanaroff (wfanaroff@gmail.com).

What does it take to be a hero? Just a little bit of your gevurah (strength). You can be strong of body, strong of mind, strong of spirit, or strong in many other ways. Who are the heroes of Jewish history? Who are the heroes in your life? Join us for a celebration of heroes as we approach Hannukah, which celebrates the heroic efforts of our ancestors.