B'nai Israel Congregation

A close examination of the most written about character in the Book of Bereshit. We know more about Joseph than his father, grandfather and great grandfather, who get mentioned in our daily prayers. Why is so much ink spent on Joseph – was he a great man or an opportunist? We will look at the Torah closely to try to find the answers.

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

Something Beautiful Happened by Yvette Manessis Corporon Yvette Corporon grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories about how the people of the small Greek island Erikousa hid a Jewish family, a tailor named Savvas and his daughters, from the Nazis and the family survived the war. Years later, Yvette eventually found the Jewish tailor’s descendants in Israel. Their tearful reunion was proof to her that evil doesn’t always win. But just days after she made the connection, her cousin’s child was gunned down in Kansas, a victim of a Neo-Nazi. Despite her best hopes, she was forced to confront the fact that seventy years after the Nazis were defeated, remainders of their hateful legacy still linger.

Although most people today are aware of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, few can name all seven. Perhaps fewer still realize that throughout much of its history the list was never static. From the time of its creation in the 3rd century BCE until the Renaissance when the list finally became canonized, “wonders” were added and removed from the list according to such factors as political expediency, religious affiliation, and personal taste. This lecture will examine the various monuments that earned “wonder” status, exploring the reasons for each one’s construction and why each was deemed marvelous. In the process we will note how each of these monuments served to enhance the status of the person or community that created it. In a similar way, by reviewing the cultural climate in which the list was initially created together with the historical circumstances that motivated changes to the list, this lecture will investigate how the list of the Seven Wonders has promoted notions of cultural, political, and religious supremacy from antiquity to the present. How to Access the BAF/BASONOVA Zoom Lecture Series If you wish to subscribe to the lecture series, please access the BASONOVA PayPal portal and use a credit card for an annual subscription ($35 per family). Go to: http://www.basonova.org/ membership-form.html It is also possible to access the series one lecture at a time, for $7 per lecture. To reserve your single-lecture Zoom spot for this event, go to: http://www.basonova.org/ next-lecture-reservation.html Questions: info@basonova.org Zoom links will be sent Monday, January 10.

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!

David Sotsky, Vice-President, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and member of B’nai Israel, will present his annual financial review.

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

The Shabbat when we read Parshat Beshalah is always referred to as Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, because on it we always recite the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15), celebrating the redemption of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This year, we will enhance our celebration of Shabbat Shira with the sounds and songs of Kol Sasson’s the University of Maryland’s premiere a cappella group.