The Bulletin Was Being Prepared, This Year’S Recipient Had Not Yet Been Selected
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Beth El Bulletin May 2019 Beth El Hebrew Congregation Nissan/Iyyar 5779 ANNUAL BROTHERHOOD Worship Services MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Friday, May 3 Erev Shabbat Service, Brotherhood’s annual Mother’s Day Brunch is on Sunday, May 12 at 10 am 7:30 pm in the Social Hall. All women, and not just mothers, will be the guests of Saturday, May 4 Brotherhood. Come enjoy a delicious Brotherhood- Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah of catered brunch and (back by popular demand) be en- Michael Katz, son of Jon tertained by Beth El’s own Rock Hard Bagels. As is our and Dina Katz, tradition, ladies will receive a rose of appreciation, 10:30 am compliments of Brotherhood. Tot Shabbat, 11 am Friday, May 10 For payments received by May 6, the cost to gentle- Erev Shabbat Service, men is $8 per Brotherhood member and $10 per non- 7:30 pm Brotherhood member. The cost is $12 for gentlemen Saturday, May 11 who pay at the door. The brunch is complimentary for Shabbat Morning Service ladies. and Bar Mitzvah of Jonah Hilbert, son of Michael To guarantee guests a seat — and to help us determine the number of and Grace Hilbert, brunches to be prepared — advance reservations are required for all men and 10:30 am women attending. So please RSVP by May 5 to Ron Sturman Friday, May 17 ([email protected]). Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30 pm Saturday, May 18 Shabbat Morning Service and Bar Mitzvah of In this Issue Charles Sokolove, son of Eric and Kathleen Rabbi’s Remarks ................... 2 Alexandria’s Yom Hashoah Calendar ........................ 12-13 Sokolove, Marc Ross Scholarship ......... 2 Commemoration ................ 6 Mahj Mayhem .................... 14 10:30 am Tot Shabbat, 11 am Cantor’s Corner .................... 3 Evening with Friends ............ 6 Purim Carnival Volunteers . 15 Friday, May 24 ALIVE! ................................... 3 WRJ Social Action ................. 7 Study in Israel Program ...... 16 Erev Shabbat Service, President’s Point of Permanent Endowment Chapel in the Woods .......... 17 7:30 pm View ................................... 4 Fund ................................... 7 Rock Hard Bagels ................ 17 Saturday, May 25 Education Director Search Brotherhood News ............... 8 BEHC/JCCNV Events ........... 19 Shabbat Morning Service, 10:30 am Update ............................... 4 Readers of Beth El ................ 8 Donations ........................... 20 Friday, May 31 Caring Community Culture Club .......................... 8 WRJ Women’s Seder .......... 21 Erev Shabbat Service/ Committee ......................... 4 WRJ News ............................. 9 ...and lots of tantalizing tidbits WRJ Shabbat, 7:30 pm Religious School Report ....... 5 Playground Fundraising scattered throughout, ECLC News ............................ 5 Update ............................. 10 so don’t skip a page! Executive Director’s Member News .................... 11 Entry .................................. 6 B’Nei Mitzvah ..................... 11 Page 2 Rabbi’s Remarks Barry Smith: The Heart of a Teacher, the Soul of a Mensch ARRY SMITH, our long cessful career as an environmental attorney. Urged by a time and beloved Jewish friend who noted Barry’s love for the Jewish people and B educator will retire from his passion for learning, Barry pursued his Master’s de- Beth El Hebrew Congregation at the end of June. Since gree in Jewish education. And, in making the difficult 2003, for nearly a full generation, Barry has been the professional transition from attorney to Jewish educator, face and the voice of supplementary religious education Barry chose not only to become a teacher, but to become at Beth El. To put his tenure into perspective, Barry be- a teacher of Torah. On this honorable but difficult path, gan serving our congregation during the same year that time and again Barry stood for what he taught: A love of our 2019 confirmands were born! It is then only fitting Judaism, a love of people, and an insistence that all peo- that we honor Barry for his achievements and for his ple enjoy a seat at the table. During his tenure, Beth El contributions to our congregational community as part has become a significantly more inclusive community. of our special 2019 Confirmation service on Friday, Thanks to him and in partnership with outstanding pro- June 7, at 7:30 pm. fessional staff and lay leaders, our House of God is one Although I have known Barry for a relatively short in which we constantly strive to ensure that Jewish chil- time, in reflecting on his service to the congregation, dren have a congregational home that responds to their resonant are these words from Rabbi Abraham Joshua learning, emotional, and physical needs. While the road Heschel: to complete inclusion may be endless, without Barry’s “Everything depends on the person who stands in leadership we would not be as far along the path as we front of the classroom. The teacher is not an automatic are. fountain from which intellectual beverages may be ob- In keeping with Barry’s tremendous humility, he at tained. The teacher is either a witness or a stranger. To first insisted that he receive no special celebration. After guide a pupil into the promised land, the teacher must much arm-twisting, he finally acquiesced and allowed us have been there themselves. When asking themselves: to honor him as a part of our Confirmation service on ‘Do I stand for what I teach?’ and ‘Do I believe what I Friday, June 7 at 7:30 pm. While we had planned to en- say?’, the teacher must be able to answer in the affirma- rich our celebration with a delicious dinner catered by tive. What we need more than anything else is not text- the Brotherhood prior to services, because of his humili- books, but textpeople. It is the personality of the teacher ty and an upcoming private celebratory dinner with Beth which is the text that the pupils read: the text that they El teachers, Barry prefers that we not. Instead, join us will never forget.” for an extra special Oneg following services featuring A more apropos description of Barry the teacher, music from our own Rock Hard Bagels. Barry the mensch, and Barry the textperson cannot be Barry is adamantly opposed to receiving any gifts of found. At Beth El, Barry is a stranger to no one and a gratitude for his service, and it comes as no surprise that witness to the joys of Jewish community built through he would prefer that all material expressions of thanks education. For his kindness and for his child-focused be instead directed toward our Beth El children. For approach to education, Barry is loved by our families. those who wish to offer a gift of thanks in honor of Bar- For his creativity and collaboration, Barry is respected ry Smith, he asks that we donate to the Ina Lerner Fund, by our teachers. our scholarship fund that helps to underwrite the costs of In Heschel’s words, a teacher must be one who has Beth El teens traveling to Israel. To donate, please visit “been there” himself. As many of us know, prior to be- our website or call Beth El. See you on June 7! coming a Jewish educator Barry enjoyed a long and suc- — Rabbi Spinrad Marc Ross Scholarship Award Presentation Mark your calendar to attend Shabbat services on Friday, May 24, at which the recipient of the 2019 Marc Ross Scholarship will be recognized. This Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating Beth El high school senior who is going on to college and who has made significant contributions during his or her high school years to the Beth El and/or the Jewish community. At the time that the Bulletin was being prepared, this year’s recipient had not yet been selected. Beth El Bulletin May 2019 Beth El Hebrew Congregation Page 3 Cantor’s Corner Our Sweet Singer, Paul Edson z’l T IS WITH PROFOUND sadness that I share with special soul to beautify a religious tradi- you the loss of our friend, Paul Edson. Paul Edson tion, that is not its own, through music. I has sung in the Beth El High Holiday services the Paul was this special soul. past 5 years as our professional bass singer as well as A week after Paul’s passing, I partic- other Friday night services throughout the years. Paul ipated in his memorial service at the was a rock solid musician, a leader in our high holiday Clarendon United Methodist Church in Arlington, a musical family, and a welcomed addition to our Beth El beautiful church that Paul has been involved with for community. I did not know Paul very well — many years. In fact, he began singing there in but I certainly knew Paul well enough to know eighth grade! The congregation was filled what a special person he was. Paul and I with people from around our community who shared a mutual respect for each other’s work. came to show their love and respect to Paul In fact, on many occasions, I would consult and his family. I am glad to have been able to with Paul to ask for his input on an array of bring with me the well wishes of our commu- matters. nity. Of highest importance, Paul was a good- Our congregation is filled with incredible hearted, kind, and decent person. souls, doing the hard work — often out of Anyone who has ever participated in our sight of others — of making sure that our High Holiday choir knows what a labor of love programs run, our building is maintained, and it is to prepare Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kip- our music shines. Do yourself a favor, and pur services. Rehearsals are long and scattered get to know all the people in our synagogue throughout the summer. The music is challenging; it is who help us be our best selves.