B'nai Israel Congregation

More and more, Julius Rosenwald’s philanthropic support of Black education in the segregated South is being widely heralded. Did you know Montgomery County once had 17 Rosenwald schools? And two in Rockville proved to be significant both for our county and nationally. Historian Ralph Buglass will detail this important local tie between Jewish activism and racial progress.

Help us provide lunch for the residents of the Interfaith Works Women’s Shelter in Rockville. Items can be purchased or prepared in your home. Cosponsored by Men’s Club and Sisterhood.

Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said (Exodus 24:4). Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). Does the Hebrew Bible contain the inerrant, immutable words of God? Did the prophets speak the words of God? Might there be older versions of our sacred writings that we can point to that add or subtract from the text or, in some cases, demonstrate different theological meanings? This illustrated lecture will highlight differences between what is called the “Masoretic” Bible Jews use today, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible known as the Septuagint, sacred texts recovered from among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Pentateuch used by Israel’s Samaritans. The presentation will also put into context how the ancestors of today’s Jews apprehended the pluriforms of sacred writings in their time, and examine the role scribes played in reproducing, harmonizing and changing these texts, and indeed, in preserving Revelation.

For many years, our Lunch and Learn group has explored the text of the Torah verse-by verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book. We “unpack” not only the more obvious meaning of the words and ideas but how they interface with contemporary issues and our own personal concerns and challenges. This season will be especially meaningful as we complete our study of the Book of Deuteronomy, the last section of the Torah. We will then continue with excerpts from the Book of Joshua, the next text in the biblical sequence. Comments Elie Wiesel: “(Joshua) is the narrative of a stunning adventure, the echoes of which reverberate in our consciousness—and in our newspapers—to this day: a nation still exuberant and young, still homeless, is about to take possession of a territory, still inhabited by other tribes and other entities, in the name of an ancient promise, on the authority of a higher inscrutable will.” As the “regulars” will attest, our conversations are lively, and we are not a “closed club.” Newcomers are always warmly welcomed, as together we discover anew the power of the Bible.

For many years, our Lunch and Learn group has explored the text of the Torah verse-by verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book. We “unpack” not only the more obvious meaning of the words and ideas but how they interface with contemporary issues and our own personal concerns and challenges. This season will be especially meaningful as we complete our study of the Book of Deuteronomy, the last section of the Torah. We will then continue with excerpts from the Book of Joshua, the next text in the biblical sequence. Comments Elie Wiesel: “(Joshua) is the narrative of a stunning adventure, the echoes of which reverberate in our consciousness—and in our newspapers—to this day: a nation still exuberant and young, still homeless, is about to take possession of a territory, still inhabited by other tribes and other entities, in the name of an ancient promise, on the authority of a higher inscrutable will.” As the “regulars” will attest, our conversations are lively, and we are not a “closed club.” Newcomers are always warmly welcomed, as together we discover anew the power of the Bible.

A new year and a new tractate of Talmud! Join us to study Tractate Berakhot which includes a comprehensive discussion of the Shema and Amidah, the essential components of the prayer service. Newcomers are more than welcome to join us. No prior knowledge is necessary.

Although the text of the Bible was fully “standardized” only in the 8th–9th century CE, the books of the Bible have been written down more or less in their final form much earlier and were known already by 200–100 BCE. Therefore, it is fascinating to look at other authors who re-tell the biblical stories (in particular the Torah stories) that we are all familiar with. In this course we will look at two such re-tellers who are not connected and are at least 500 years apart. On one hand we will look at the way the historian Josephus Flavius re-tells the biblical stories in his book The Antiquities of the Jews, written around 93–94 CE. We will compare it with the way the Quran (told and written down around 609–650 CE) re-tells these stories. As we will see, while by the time of Josephus, the Jewish Midrash was not yet fully developed and therefore has little influence on his writings, by the time Muhammad re-tells the stories and tailors them to his theology, the impact of Jewish Midrash on these stories is substantial.

Grandparents have traditionally been the transmitters of religion within the family, and in this situation they can be very important vehicles to transmitting Judaism to their grandchildren. Through a facilitated group discussion, grandparents and friends will be able to address their concerns and their hopes for the children. Issues of loss and possibility will be explored. We will also learn skills with which they can begin to transmit their Jewish heritage and religious values to their grandchildren. The theme of this workshop is to help grandparents feel empowered and affirmed in their efforts. Possibilities will become clearer. Come, talk, discuss, and learn effective grandparenting!

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 us as we honor our teens and celebrate the ways in which they contribute to the vitality of our congregation.

Now offered almost every week, Family Minyan includes spirited prayer, an engaging Torah reading, and lively conversation about the weekly Torah portion. This service is organized by our shlicha, Netta Asner-Minster, who leads it alongside Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz, and Moshe Ben-Lev, Educational Director.