B'nai Israel Congregation

B’nai Israel’s Gold Kippah Honor Society recognizes students for their proficiency in various prayers. New this year: Pre-b’nai mitzvah students will be “buddied” up with a post-b’nai mitzvah student. Older students will mentor younger students to build stronger tefillah skills while fostering friendships across grades, role modeling, and building an integrated community. Click here for more Gold Kippah information including the Gold Kippah Siddur and audio files.

Experience a different approach to Shabbat morning prayers. With a mixture of song, meditation, and discussion, we will explore an intentional path to enhance your prayer practice. Mindfulness Meditation helps us to connect to our Jewish values, creating greater perception in our minds for a connection to the Divine.

Family Minyan includes spirited prayer, an engaging Torah reading, and lively conversation about the weekly Torah portion. There is no better way to prepare your child for their bar or bat mitzvah and build community connections than regular Shabbat attendance. This service is led by clergy and staff, including Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz and Rabbi Cheryl Stone.

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.

$36/member; $50/nonmember There are many ways to understand the oft-cited statistic that Jews are the least “prayerful” of all religious communities in America. This course unpacks some of the mysteries of the traditional prayer service in an effort to alleviate discomfort in the synagogue. We will begin with an overview of the structures of Jewish prayer and then examine several of our most popular prayers. We will use Lev Shalem, the newest siddur of the Conservative movement, and find ways to use its tools to find meaning and otherwise enhance the prayer experience.

Join members of the B'nai Israel Men's Club as we take a hike through western Rockville. David Merkin will take us through the Woodley Gardens, Welsh Park and West Rockville neighborhoods of historic Rockville. The round trip walk is around 2 miles and we will start and complete the walk outside Carmen's Italian Ice, 1115 Nelson Street, Rockville 20850, which is just off the Rockville exit 5 of I-270 (just be careful of the speed cameras on Nelson Street). Anyone is welcome to join us, including family and friends and dogs on a leash, and we will go as fast as the slowest participants. We will gather at about 12:45 on the patio outside of Carmen's and we can conclude the walk with a little nosh following our walk. There are no limitations on numbers, but please contact David Merkin, dmerk01@gmail.com or 240-876-8559, to let us know that you are coming or to let you know of any last minute weather related changes.

The Purim Spiel will be “Shushanian Nights” and will be a Purim-spin on Aladdin. The music and story are recognizable, upbeat and fun and the show has great comedic characters.

The Purim Spiel will be “Shushanian Nights” and will be a Purim-spin on Aladdin. The music and story are recognizable, upbeat and fun and the show has great comedic characters.

*Every Monday when B’nai Israel offices are open.

39 Pounds of Love (1 hr. 29 min.; English) 39 Pounds of Love is a non-fictional, fascinating, humorous and truly inspirational ride through life with a remarkable man who embodies the very term, life! Ami Ankilewitz was diagnosed with an extremely rare and often fatal form of spinal muscular atrophy that severely limits his physical growth and movement, yet at 34 years of age, he continues to outlive a doctor’s prediction of life expectancy by 28 years, and counting. Ami, who weighs only 39 pounds, works in Israel as a 3D animator despite the fact that his bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left hand. The film follows Ami’s journey in search of the doctor who predicted his early demise.

$36/member; $50/nonmember The Jewish calendar is endlessly fascinating! It may seem arbitrary on the surface, but it’s really an intricate system designed to place the holidays in sync with the seasons, ensure that holidays can only fall on certain days of the week, and keep the Torah reading cycle perfectly aligned with the liturgical calendar. Take a deep dive into the Jewish calendar and learn about how it developed, how it works, and why the holidays never seem to come “on time.”

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.

The Purim Spiel will be “Shushanian Nights” and will be a Purim-spin on Aladdin. The music and story are recognizable, upbeat and fun and the show has great comedic characters.

Wednesday, February 5 (continuing 14 more weeks, concluding May 28) 7:00–8:30 PM at Ohr Kodesh Congregation $150/person (includes textbook) Whether you want to learn more about your heritage, are considering converting, or are eager to incorporate more Judaism into your life, this course is for you. Throughout this 15-week course, students of all ages and backgrounds explore significant topics: rituals, holidays, Torah and values. Each cohort is guided by a multi-denominational team of rabbis who bring the past, present, and future together—including B’nai Israel’s own Rabbi Michael Safra, Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz, and Rabbi Cheryl Stone. Presented by The Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies.

B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School in Rockville has been providing the very best in early childhood Jewish education for generations. Please join us for an exciting Open House and Informational Tour Event. Meet with Early Childhood Director Rebecca Ravski beginning at 4:00 PM before a tour of the school followed by complimentary access to our Tots-aged Purim Carnival beginning at 5:00 PM. We look forward to meeting your family and sharing more about our award-winning program and synagogue. Please register by March 10. If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Ravski at rebeccar@bnaiisraelcong.org.

Celebrate Purim at our annual Purim Carnival!

Celebrate Purim at our annual Purim Carnival! Round 2 of our Carnival is geared towards school-aged children, but all are welcome.

Enjoy an evening of fun and games to celebrate Purim!

Sponsored by B’nai Israel Sisterhood and Men’s Club.

Join us on selected Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM for discussions about the weekly Torah parsha. Interested in leading a session? Contact Wendy Fanaroff. September 9 – Nitzavim/Vayeilech with Eric Luftman September 23 – Ha'azinu with Wendy Fanaroff October 14 – Breshit with Alan Siegel October 28 – Lech Lecha with Fonda Lowe November 4 – Vayera with Matt Lowe November 11 – Chaye Sarah with Adrienne Rulnick December 2 – Vayishlach with Rabbi Stone December 16 – Miketz with Judy Saks January 6 – Shemot with Rabbi Safra January 20 – Bo with Larry Kravitz

Please join us for Volunteer Shabbat as we honor B’nai Israel’s most committed volunteers.

B’nai Israel’s Gold Kippah Honor Society recognizes students for their proficiency in various prayers. New this year: Pre-b’nai mitzvah students will be “buddied” up with a post-b’nai mitzvah student. Older students will mentor younger students to build stronger tefillah skills while fostering friendships across grades, role modeling, and building an integrated community. Click here for more Gold Kippah information including the Gold Kippah Siddur and audio files.

Family Minyan includes spirited prayer, an engaging Torah reading, and lively conversation about the weekly Torah portion. There is no better way to prepare your child for their bar or bat mitzvah and build community connections than regular Shabbat attendance. This service is led by clergy and staff, including Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz and Rabbi Cheryl Stone.

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.