B'nai Israel Congregation

$36 for members; $50 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.

Health screenings and Q&A with local doctors. Breakfast will be served. No registration is required. Sponsored by the Men’s Club.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A representative from Sharsheret, a non-profit Jewish breast cancer support organization, will speak about how breast cancer affects the Jewish community, what you should know about genetics, and the support available for Jewish families dealing with breast cancer. Sponsored by Sisterhood.

Although the b’nai mitzvah process involves a great deal of effort on the part of b’nai mitzvah students themselves, parents are a crucial part of the experience, too. Whether you are going through the process for the first time, or you feel like you have it all under control, the B’nai Mitzvah Parents’ Field Guide is designed to engage all parents of 5th-7th graders in conversations and learning sessions with one another, facilitated by our clergy. Please register for the series at ___________. October 22 – The Outline of the Prayer Service with Rabbi Michael Safra October 29 – The Meaning of B’nai Mitzvah with Rabbi Cheryl Stone November 5 – D’var Torah Workshop with Rabbi Michael Safra November 12 – B’nai Mitzvah and the Next New Beginning with Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz

Jump to your heart’s delight and dive into foam pits at SkyZone!

For Eastern European Jewish immigrants to this country, wrote one historian, “America was a promise, at once dream and reality, and in the manner of dreams a bundle of contradictions.” In this lecture/presentation, contemporaneous readings as well as musical recordings make up a journey in sound: from life in the “Old Country” to ships bound for America, to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and into the New World. This is music as social history: from lullabies and laments to rollicking songs of the Yiddish theater; from songs of the sweatshops to patriotic anthems and distinctly American religious and popular music. This program is made possible by the generosity of the Edith Black Endowment for Yiddish and Jewish Culture.

The aim of the Wise Aging program is to look at aging as a time of growth, discovery, and new meaning, rather than a time of decline. To reach this aim, we will use Judaism’s tools of study, prayer, mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and creative listening. The series is based on Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience, and Spirit by Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal and all participants should have a copy. As we read and meet we will explore answering questions such as: • Who am I, really? • What masks do I wear? • How can I cultivate generosity, gratitude, deep relationships? • What will be my legacy? The groups will be open to adults of all ages. Please join us for a Tase of Wise Aging on Monday, October 30th at 1 pm. We will have an opportunity to learn about the series, ask questions and have a brief experience

Noar B'Yachad program for Lessans Talmud Torah teens in grades 7 and up.

Adult Education Youth Men’s Club Tour of American History Museum Monday, October 16 10:30 AM Museum docent and B’nai Israel member Sylvia Rosenthal will lead a tour of the museum through a Jewish lens, highlighting Jewish connections to the museum’s collection. Out of the Ruins: Jewish Wisdom on Resilience with Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz Tuesday, October 17 (continuing for 3 more weeks: 10/24, 10/31, 11/7) Throughout Jewish history, the Jewish people faced a number of situations that demanded resilience in the face of great difficulty. From our beginnings as a people enslaved in Egypt to years spent wandering in the wilderness, from the destruction of not only one but two of our spiritual homes, to exile after exile under foreign rule, much of Jewish history has required the ability to persevere in the face of uncertainty and loss. In our four sessions together, we’re going to focus on four specific moments in Jewish history that demanded resilience. This course, designed by Rabbi Avi Strausberg, is presented by Hadar’s Project Zug, with which B’nai Israel is a partner group.

Classes are in-person only at Temple Beth Ami $150 (Registration fee includes a hard copy of the textbook and a class Shabbat dinner at Temple Beth Ami) Back by popular demand! This is an excellent course for those interested in converting to Judaism, non-Jewish family members wanting to learn more to support their Jewish loved ones, and Jewish adults interested in learning (or relearning!) the basics. A multi-denominational journey into the heart of Judaism taught by Metro DC-area rabbis representing a variety of Jewish affiliations. No matter your background, this course is here to guide you on your Jewish journey. Whether you’re soul-searching or seeking your community, the program will walk you through Judaism’s big ideas and the nuts and bolts of daily Jewish living. Presented by The Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies.

All are welcome to come play Mah Jongg, Canasta, or any other game you wish.

Retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin will address the congregation during Shabbat services on Saturday, Nov. 4, and reflect on his three terms on Capitol Hill. He is not seeking re-election next year and is leaving elective office at the end of his current term. As a first-time candidate for the Senate, then-Rep. Cardin spoke at the B'nai Israel Men's Club's biennial political forum in 2006. He was elected for the first time that fall after 20 years in the U.S. House. Before then, he served in the Maryland General Assembly. He currently chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sits on the Finance, Environment and Public Works, and Small Business committees.

Celebrate Shabbat with our friends from Camp Ramah! There will be activities for children of all ages, with a special program for grownups, too!