B'nai Israel Congregation

This year we will be holding a sale of our cemetery plots. Due to an increase in costs, starting June 1st our inventory of plots at Judean Memorial Gardens and the Garden of Remembrance will be going up in price. However, they will be available for purchase at a promotional rate, which will be in effect until June 30th. Our staff, along with representatives from each cemetery, will be on-site at B’nai on June 2nd to answer questions, to review plot availability, and to facilitate any desired purchases. Should you wish to tour either cemetery ahead of time, please contact Ken Levine (ken.levine@comcast.net).

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride An instant New York Times bestseller. Workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill where Chona, a Jew, ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at her husband’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, worked together to keep the boy safe. As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.

Join us as we continue our study of 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.

In this 4-sessions series, we will explore different voices and perspectives from various segments of Israeli society in light of the ongoing situation in Israel.

Come together with other like-minded individuals for a morning of crafting and schmoozing. Bring whatever project you are currently working on (knitting, crocheting, needlepointing, drawing, scrapbooking, origami, or other creative technique). There will also be an opportunity to participate in a knitting/crochet blanket project for charity (all materials provided). We will meet in the Blumberg-Zalis Family Library which has comfy chairs and ample table space. For more information, contact Melissa Menschik (mblochmen@gmail.com). Please register below.

6:15 PM Shabbat Service 7:00 PM Shabbat Dinner 8:00 PM Presentation by Joe Levin-Manning Joe (he/him) has spent his career striving to bring together communities, and inspiring others to live their most authentic lives. He has a background in leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and human resources. He works with an intersectional approach that focuses on inclusion, belonging, and accessibility. In the US and abroad, Joe has presented on topics such as intersectionality, inclusion best practices, and community engagement. He also consults with organizations to help them build and implement strategies around expansion, DEI strategy, and nonprofit management practices. An active participant in the DC community, Joe founded Capital Qvellers, a gender-inclusive group that organizes programs, events, and leadership retreats for LGBTQ Jewish young professionals in the DMV. He also volunteers with several other organizations that promote equity and inclusion for others throughout the city. When he isn’t working or volunteering, Joe also performs with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC and their small ensemble, Seasons of Love. Look for him in the kitchen baking or jet-setting somewhere around the world!

“Building an Inclusive B’nai” with Cantor Sarah Bolts Saturday, June 8 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Services with Pride-Themed D'var Torah 12:30 PM Lunch and Learn with Cantor Sarah Bolts Sometimes small steps can make a big difference in helping LGBTQ+ people feel welcome. Cantor Bolts will lead a discussion about how we as a community can take steps to become more inclusive, and why it is important to do so.

Designed for the youngest members of our congregational family, Tot Shabbat meets weekly to sing, learn, and pray together with Tot Shabbat leaders, Morah Juliann Goldman and Lily Pollack. Beginning July 1, this service is followed by a Family Kiddush.