B'nai Israel Congregation

$50 for members; $60 for nonmembers This is a beginner’s course to help you learn to read Hebrew, with a focus on the Hebrew of the siddur, or prayer book. The course will also explore aspects of Israeli history and culture. The registration includes a copy of the textbook, Aleph Isn’t Tough.

Join us for the Rabbinical Assembly’s International Seminar for Halakhic Study where we will explore Jewish legal perspectives on sustainability and environmentalism. This program was created to show how our halakhic decisions develop from our spiritual values and ethical ideals, to bring our membership and its communities into the CJLS process, and to emphasize the importance of halakhic study within the global Conservative/Masorti communities. This year’s teshuvah is “On the Mitzvah of Sustainability” by Rabbis Nina Beth Cardin and Avram Reisner. View the introductory video here. We will use this Source Sheet with Study Guide during the program. THIS PROGRAM IS NOW ON ZOOM ONLY. Register to receive the link.

Join us for a friendly and fun ice cream afternoon where you’ll make your own and top it to your delight!

Participants will discover where chocolate really comes from as we uncover interesting kosher facts. We will roast, shell, and grind cocoa beans and create delicious chocolate. Then, we will make our own mouthwatering treats!

Many people feel compelled to intervene in someone’s dying, to forestall it, ameliorate its intensity, or perhaps hasten it. Such impulses are not new, of course. Religious traditions have long wrestled with practical and ethical implications of such interventions. This talk surveys Jewish perspectives on many of these features. Cosponsored with The Haberman Institute.

BRCA and Beyond: Cancer Causing Genes in the Jewish Population This presentation will focus on cancers caused by the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in both men and women. We will talk about understanding your risk and who should undergo genetic counseling and testing. In addition, other cancer causing genes in the Jewish population will be introduced and discussed Dr. Nancy R. Markus graduated from Temple University School of Medicine followed by a residency in General Surgery at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. She subsequently completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Markus then established a Breast Surgery practice in Rockville where she practiced for over 20 years at Shady Grove Medical Center and served as the Director of the Breast Program and President of the Medical Staff. She is also certified in Cancer Genetics through The City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Markus is now retired from surgical practice and enjoys reading, knitting, cooking and mosaic art. )

In-Person and Zoom Event This series, conducted in English, offers a window into the world of Yiddish language and cultural expression. Once the language of eleven million Jews, after the Holocaust it seemed to be destroyed. But now there is a generation of young people carrying on the legacy. $36 for members; $50 for nonmembers Sponsored by the Edith Black Endowment for Yiddish and Jewish Culture.

Join our Shlicha Uriel Lin who will share her knowledge about the phenomenon of Israelis traveling after serving in the IDF. Why does it happen? Where do they travel to? Uriel will also share her own travel experiences prior to Shlichut.

Each grade leads significant components of our Shabbat Morning Youth & Family Services, demonstrating their mastery of the prayers and offering insights on the weekly Torah portion.

These teen discussions and prayer are for the post-B’nai Mitzvah teens of B’nai Israel. Our teens help to decide the topics and lead it, with support from Mayer Adelberg, Director of Youth Engagement.