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.

We invite members of the community to train to become B’nai Israel Mashgichim, certified overseers of the kosher status of our kitchen. Those who choose to participate are committing to attend the entire session, and may be called upon throughout the year to oversee the kitchen when it is in use and for synagogue events. This training session will include an advanced exploration of kashrut, with an emphasis on the core halakhic concepts, as well as a review of B’nai Israel’s kitchen and kashrut policies, a tour of the kitchen, and an interactive learning session about what to do when mistakes are made.

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

Craziness is to be celebrated at this intense painting party! Bring clothes you’re willing to get super painty and colorful.

B’nai Israel will be providing dinner for the residents of the Crabbs Branch Interfaith Women's Shelter. We need your help in supplying various parts of the meal. The items can be purchased or prepared in your home. They should serve 6 to 8 people and be in disposable pans. There will be various opportunities for drop off of your items.

B’nai Israel member David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, and B’nai Israel Men’s Club co-president Jonathan Salant, an award-winning veteran Washington political reporter, will talk about the year in politics and look ahead to 2024. Dessert will be served. Co-sponsored with Sisterhood.

6:15 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Program 8:00 PM Evening Minyan Join two experts in their fields, Lawrence Wachtel and Jamie Blum, for a conversation about planning for the legal and financial implications of major life transitions. The program begins with dinner and is followed by the panel discussion, with time for Q&A at the end. We will conclude in time to join the evening minyan at 8:00 PM. This program is generously sponsored by the Dr. Wayne I. Bernstein Endowment for Minyan and Healing. Jamie S. Blum, CPA, CDFA® is the Director of Divorce Financial and Litigation Support at Argent Bridge Advisors. She has more than 30 years of experience in accounting and finance including financial and tax issues for people going through a transition. Jamie's passion is to help people understand and make informed decisions about their finances along with how to have financial conversations with loved ones. Lawrence Wachtel, a Solo Practitioner, has operated a successful law practice in Montgomery County for more than 47 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his JD from the University of Maryland School of Law. He specializes in the areas of estate planning and administration as well as taxation. Larry has been happily married to his wife, Sherry, for nearly fifty years. They have three wonderful children and five extraordinary grandchildren.

The Wrong Kind of Jew: A Mizrahi Manifesto by Hen Mazzig “When people ask what I’m passionate about, Judaism, likely, comes first. I’m fromIsrael; my family comes from Tunisia, and Iraq. So you’re Arab? people often ask. I’m a Jew. I’m Mizrahi. But few people—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—know of us. We’re not only unfamiliar, but our culture shatters stereotypes and unspoken rules. I don’t fit into what many people see as the secular, cultural tenets of Judaism. Yes, my grandparents were in the Holocaust. Can’t get more Jewish than that, right? But their streets were never lined with swastikas or German soldiers. No one scrawled “Jude” on their homes or businesses. They were due to be sent to Nazi camps with unknown names. Their neighbors were shot and raped in antisemitic riots, which most people, even most synagogues, don’t commemorate. For some, I’m not just the wrong kind of Jew; I’m a bad Jew. I’m bad at meeting expectations of what Jewish looks like, sounds like, thinks like, and means.”

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.

12:00 PM BYO Dairy Lunch 12:30–1:30 PM Program Former Acting Solicitor General Ian Gershengorn will return to lead us in another lively and informative discussion of the Supreme Court. He will discuss recent developments at the Court, including public debate about judicial ethics, Justice Jackson’s first term, and the overall direction of the Court. He will also discuss high-profile cases regarding college admissions, election law, the First Amendment, abortion, religion, elections and associated voting issues, the Second Amendment, and Affirmative Action.