Mishpachah Matters

Issue 76.9 and 76.10 Mishpachah Matters

Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776 The Newsletter of Bet Mishpachah, Founded in 1975 by Members of the Washington, DC, Gay Community May and June 2016 www.betmish.org It’s Bet Mishpachah’s Bet Mishpachah Celebrates 40th Anniversary Brunch at the Pride Week and Shavu-ot in June Donovan Hotel, Sunday, May 22 Pride Week 2016 is coming on June 5 through 12. This

year’s Pride Week will be especially celebratory for Bet On Sunday, May 22, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, join Bet Mishpachah because it coincides with the Festival of Shavu- Mishpachah as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary year with a ot, making the Week the perfect opportunity to celebrate our festive and fabulous brunch at the beautiful Donovan Hotel. religious and cultural heritage with the LGBT and Jewish We will celebrate our past and toast our future with fantastic communities. We’ll be participating as a congregation in food and drink, a song or two from our wonderful choir, and events throughout the Week, including the following: some reminiscing with old and new friends. Tickets are $40 and include unlimited Champagne (technically, it’s sparkling On the evening of Tuesday, June 7, at 7:30, Bet wine, but it is definitely unlimited), making this a true “40 for Mishpachah will participate in the Pride Week Interfaith 40” celebration. Space is limited, so get your tickets right Service at the Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ away so you don’t miss out. The Donovan Hotel is located (3845 South Capitol St SW). right on Thomas Circle at 1155 14th Street NW in Washington and is close to several Metro stations. For more On the evening of Friday, June 10, at 6:30pm reception/ information, including information on how to RSVP and how drinks/snacks, 7:15 pm services, and dinner afterwards. to take advantage of the occasion by making a special 40th Bet Mishpachah will cosponsor the National Pride Erev Anniversary contribution to Bet Mishpachah, go to Shabbat Service at Sixth and I Synagogue. Rabbi Laurie betmish.org. Green of Bet Mishpachah will co-lead the service with Rabbi Shira Stutman of Sixth and I. The service will be preceded by a reception and will be followed by dinner. Table of Contents: Tickets are required for the dinner (but not for the service) and may be purchased through the Sixth and I website Page 2: Page 7-8: (sixthandi.org). You’re Invited to the Rabbi’s May and June Calendars Daughter’s Covenant Page 9 On the afternoon of Saturday, June 11, a contingent Ceremony! Thanks to Our March and from Bet Mishpachah will march in the annual Pride NOVA Chavura, Saturday, April Oneg Shabbat and Parade, which is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm from 22nd and P Streets NW. June 4 Kiddush Luncheon Rock ‘N Scroll Switched to Sponsors The evening of Saturday, June 11, is Erev Shavu-ot, and May 13 Thank You to Our March Bet Mishpachah will be a cosponsor of the DCJCC’s Theater Outing, Sunday, and April Service Leaders “Tikun Leil Shavu-ot” study program at the DCJCC. June 5 Belated Thanks Finally, during the afternoon of Sunday, June 12, Bet Page 3: Page 10: Mishpachah will have a booth at the annual Pride Festival Ten Commandments May and June (although we won’t be selling t-shirts or merchandise this for Celebrating Pride Member Birthdays year because this is also the date of Shavu-ot!) and Shavu-ot and Anniversaries Volunteer Shabbat and Mazal Tov! More details about these and other events will be released as Congregational Awards, Special Thank You June approaches, so keep checking betmish.org, as well as the Friday, May 6 to Bet Mishpachah website for Capital Pride 2016 (capitalpride.org), for the most Page 4: Members up-to-date Pride information. Our 40th Anniversary . . . Page 11: Page 5: Donations Tsav 2016, d’rash Page 11-13: Page 6: Member Yartzeits Save the Dates: Page 15: Washington DC’s Rosh ha-Shana Starts Directory on Sunday, October 2 Egalitarian Synagogue Embracing a Diversity of Sexual and Gender Identities Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 2

You’re Invited to the Rabbi’s Rock ‘N Scroll Switched to May 13 Daughter’s Covenant Ceremony! Bet Mishpachah’s popular Rock ‘N Scroll musical Who: The entire congregation and their chosen family service, usually held on the first Friday of every month, has been moved from May 6 to May 13 due to What: Solveig Green’s Zeved HaBat scheduling issues. This is a one-time switch; Rock ‘N When: Rosh Hodesh Iyar Scroll will return to its usual first Friday schedule on Sunday, May 8th June 3. 4:00-6:00pm with the 20 minute ceremony beginning around 4:30pm Don’t forget Bet Mishpachah’s other special Friday night Shabbat services: On the third Friday of each month we Where: Home of Rabbi Gila and Dr. Paul Ruskin hold a “Text Messages: Torah for Today” discussion in 3515 Autumn Drive lieu of a sermon, and on the fourth Friday of each month Pikesville, MD we hold a “Classic Bet Mishpachah” Shabbat service. Less than a mile from the freeway

Why: Because it’s a simcha and Rabbi Laurie and Mira and Along with our Shabbat morning services on the second Gus want to share their joy with you. And because the and fourth Saturdays of every month, we offer a variety brit includes all Jews, even girls, and those identified of service types and styles for our members and the wider community. as female at birth.

How: Zeved HaBat is a Sefardic and Italian Jewish Whatever the style or format, all our services strive to be tradition dating back to the 17th century. Solveig’s warm, welcoming, accessible, egalitarian, participatory, covenant ceremony will combine traditional and thought-provoking and joyous celebrations for our Bet contemporary Jewish and feminist traditions. Mishpachah family and friends. We hope to see you at our services soon and often—bring your friends! Please RSVP to the Evite that went out to the congregation. If you need the Evite contact the secretary. If you have other questions or can offer rides to folks without cars, please Theater Outing, Sunday, June 5 contact the rabbi. Join us on Sunday, June 5 at 4 pm as we head to the Atlas on H Street NE to see Mosiac Theater’s production NoVA Chavura, Saturday, June 4 of When January Feels Like Summer. From the director of Bad Jews and The Apple Family Plays comes this The home of Batya and Belinda in Millsboro, Delaware is the romantic urban comedy about an unlikely pair of location of the next Northern Virginia Chavura. Havdala, drinks teenagers working at two different Burger Kings who and a potluck dinner, meet and greet old and new friends on become unexpected heroes, while an immigrant Saturday, June 4, starting at 6:00 pm. accountant struggles with visibility and sexual reassignment preparation, and two stifled romantics RSVP to Batya at [email protected] include how many in your begin to stumble toward each other during one strangely party and what you will be bringing. warm winter. Transported to Anacostia and H Street, this Off-Broadway hit follows five colliding lives as For further information and directions, send an email to change hums in the air and the many flavors of desire [email protected]. saturate the streets, conveniences stores and Metro stations of the city.

Following the play, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. Mosiac has agreed to provide us with a 30% discount. When purchasing tickets, use the code JANUARY30. RSVP to social- [email protected] so we can keep track of who is attending. Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 3

Ten Commandments 5. Never be ashamed again! When you daven Ahavah Rabbah (which you no doubt do for Celebrating Pride and Shavu-ot every day, or at least every holy day), be sure to linger over By Rabbi Laurie Green “v’lo nevosh l’olam va’ed—Then we shall never be ashamed, ever.” We Jews already knew that great love (ahavah rabbah) 10. Show up! Eat up! requires no shame (lo nevosh). This drash writes itself: Love Shavu-ot is a pilgrimage holiday, DC is the new Jerusalem, is a matter of pride, not shame. And you thought davenning and the Temple serves booze. Come one, come all. Come was meaningless… Out! Bonus, it’s the weekend, so you don’t have to take a day off work to go to synagogue, and they’ll give you cheesecake 4. Celebrate diversity! and ice cream and blintzes! Break your diet. Go vegetarian. Everyone counts. We all stood at Sinai—born and not yet Dairy on Shavuot is a fun custom. Yummy! born, Jews-by-birth and Jews-by-choice, Jews of all genders. Our tradition stresses that God spoke directly to the entire 9. Drink up! Jewish people, regardless of gender or other considerations Double the reasons to say ‘L’chaim – to life.” Make Kiddush, (Midrash Tanhuma, Midrash Rabbah). The midrash also and down a few beers…if you’re a drinker. Or maybe non- focuses on the value of converts, and we read the Book of alcoholic mixed drinks. Ruth, which is considered a paradigm of conversion. In fact, a literal reading of the Bible tells us that a sexually rebellious 8. Stay up! All night long!. woman from a hated ethnic group became a Jew, got a book Study Torah. Flirt with a hottie. Dance. Study more Torah. of the Bible named for her, and gave birth to the ancestry of Eat more cheesecake, while chatting with some other hottie. the future messiah. So clearly, God must be a black trans Who needs sleep? Thanks to the custom of staying up all night woman. studying Torah (tikkun leyl Shavu-ot), it’s socially acceptable to sleep in shul in the morning. 3. Seduce someone! That’s what Ruth did. She seduced a drunk Boaz on Naomi’s 7. Remember history’s first recorded marriage equality instructions and lay at his “feet” (Ruth 3:1-9). So that hottie case! you’ve been flirting with all night (while studying Torah of On Shavuot, we read the Book of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite, course)…what are you waiting for? and the Torah forbids Israelites from marrying Moabites, but that didn’t stop Boaz from marrying Ruth. Now there’s a good 2. Get married! It’s wedding season! argument to use the next time your homophobic uncle starts Shavu-ot marks the resumption of weddings following the Bible-thumping. conclusion of counting the Omer. Shavuot also celebrates the giving the Torah, which our tradition understands as a mar- 6. Embrace Love Between Women! riage between God and the Jewish people. Pride gives new Declare your undying love - “wherever you go, I will go”(Ruth meaning to the phrase “Divine Wedding.” 1:16). Ruth declared her love to Naomi and you should check out Rebecca Alpert’s groundbreaking lesbian midrash about it 1. PARTY! (“Finding Our Path: A Lesbian Interpretation of the Book of Double the joy! Double the reasons to party! Vesamachta Ruth”). And when Ruth gave birth, the Bible declared, “A son bechagecha vehayita ach same’ach. Thou shalt rejoice in is born to Naomi” (Ruth 4:17), so apparently lesbian co-parent your festival and thou shalt be only joyous (Deut. 16:14-15). adoptions are not new.

Do you want to join Bet Mishpachah? Volunteer Shabbat and Congregational Awards, Membership is an opportunity to develop friendships, learn, become Friday, May 6 involved in your heritage, and support the only LGBT synagogue The Bet Mishpachah Volunteer Shabbat and Congregational in the Washington, DC area. To awards will be taking place on Friday, May 6. This will be an join Bet Mishpachah as a member opportunity to recognize all of our wonderful volunteers from is easy, just visit www.betmish.org this past year who all work tirelessly on behalf of the today. Questions, e-mail synagogue. We will also be awarding the Congregational [email protected]. Dace Stone Award to Larry Neff for his years and tireless commitment to our Bet Mishpachah community. Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 4

Our 40th Anniversary . . . developed our own liturgy and religious services that By Stuart Sotsky de-genderized references to God, was inclusive of the voices of women and addressed the life experiences and life cycle As I write this column, our 40th anniversary Shabbaton has events of LGBT people, pioneering adult bar and bat mitzvas just concluded with great success. It was an exciting and and kiddushin or religious weddings. inspiring weekend of services, speakers and communal meals for the members of the Congregation and our special guests, We and our sibling American LGBT congregations have, by the members of the Board of the World Congress of GLBT our presence and advocacy, contributed to the gradual Jews. I was truly gratified by the large turnout and acceptance of LGBT people, relationships and clergy in the enthusiastic participation of our members throughout the mainstream Reform, Reconstructionist, and now events and the warmth and hospitality extended to our World Conservative movements of American Judaism. This has Congress guests. They were moved by the Shabbat spirit and meant open inclusion of LGBT Jews in membership and social consciousness of our congregants. Many of you have leadership roles in congregations, acceptance of same-sex spoken to me about how you were moved by the depth and marriages and families, and ordination of LGBT clergy. range of discussion of LGBT issues and experience in both Within the Washington Jewish community we fought to the American and international Jewish communities. I am overcome the opposition to our membership in the Jewish grateful for the powerful presentations of our guest speakers, Community Council, and I was honored to serve as our first EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum, Rabbi Julia Watts representative to the Council. Bet Mishpachah is pleased to Belser, Dr. Dana Beyer and Harry Samuels of the American have moved to a public place in the heart of the Washington Jewish World Service. The Shabbaton proudly reflected the Jewish community in our present home at the D.C. Jewish best of what Bet Mishpachah can be, and we can all share in Community Center. Bet Mishpachah is a founding member that pride. of the World Congress and was proud to host the first World Congress conference forty years ago. Several of our This was all due to the extraordinary volunteer efforts that members have served as officers of the World Congress, went into the planning and coordination of a most including Barret Brick, Beth Cohen, Lee Walzer, and Barbara complicated special event. I want to personally express my Goldberg. sincere appreciation to Jeff Kahn, Mindy Gasthalter and all the members of the Education Committee for their initiative, As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we honor our past, the programming, and recruitment of exceptional speakers; to development of an inclusive, egalitarian community, liturgy Larry Neff, Rabbi Laurie Green, Scott Reiter and all the and services and a tradition of lay leadership, while we members of the Religious Affairs Committee who have continue to evolve to sustain the community with a new contributed so much to arranging and leading spirited and generation of LGBT leadership. Today we face competition relevant religious services; to Brian Parks, Tim Kynerd, Noah for membership from the mainstream synagogues toward Wofsey, and Sharon Greenbaum who have aided the whole whose inclusiveness to LGBT Jews, we have contributed, and effort with outreach, publicity and logistical support; and we are challenged by the decreasing participation of younger especially to Barbara Goldberg and Frank Giaoui, vice adults in organized religious institutions in general. We are president and president of the World Congress, whose challenged to be more inclusive toward transgender men and interest, enthusiasm and cooperation made this special joint women and to advocate for their rights and role in the event possible. Y asher Koach! community. And while there has been enormous progress in social acceptance and civil rights for LGBT people in the Below is an edited version of an interview I was invited to do United States in recent years, culminating in the abolition of for the World Congress newsletter in response to their discrimination in military service and the recent Supreme questions about our congregation, my experience in it, and Court rulings on same-sex marriages and equal application of LGBT issues in the American Jewish community: federal benefits and rights, we still must work toward elimination of remaining legal discrimination in employment, I am one of the founding members of Bet Mishpachah, which housing and public services. started in 1975 as one of the first LGBT synagogues in the United States. To form a gay congregation only a few years Bet Mishpachah holds regular religious services every after Stonewall and the start of the Gay Liberation movement, Shabbat and on all the major Jewish holidays, especially our when there was no welcoming place in the Jewish spiritually beautiful and always popular High Holy Day community, no religious authority in any of the major Jewish services. With the religious guidance of Rabbi Laurie Green movements for acceptance of LGBT people, relationships, or and a cadre of lay service leaders, our congregation is run by clergy, and minimal integration of the Gay and the Lesbian a Board of Directors, and enriched by the musical movements, was a radical leap of faith and a bold effort contributions of our choir—Tach’shitim and Rabbi Ben toward social progress and human rights. At the time a small Shalva who provides song leadership and serves as cantor for group of gay men, and later lesbian, bisexual and transgender the High Holy Days. Throughout the year we offer a variety individuals sought a safe space in which to meet each other of adult education classes and presentations by guest and fully integrate their religious and sexual identities, seek speakers, as well as other programs in collaboration with an understanding of the unique spiritual contributions of other LGBT and Jewish groups. There are dinners and other LGBT lives within the Jewish tradition, and work toward social events as well as cultural activities, such as theater personal and professional openness and liberation. We (Continued on page 5) Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 5

Tsav 2016, d’rash places some meat and unleavened bread on Aaron’s ear, right By Elke Martin hand and right toe which, again according to Shefa Gold, is to awaken us to hearing the cry of the oppressed as well as the In this week’s parshah—Tsav which means Command—we still small voice within our hearts, to doing justice and to read about how Aaron and his sons are inducted into the walking carefully and deliberately through our days. priesthood. All the rules and the individual steps to be taken by Moses and other players are spelled out in exhaustive After monumental amounts of preparation before the meal the detail in this parshah. We’ll get to that later. But let’s start at leadership finally eats with the community witnessing from the the beginning. It mentions what we now know as the ner outside. And when I say community I need you to picture the tamid, the eternal flame/source of light. The command is to males only. Women are not part of these rituals. keep the fire burning! This is an essential duty of the priesthood. And it isn’t just mentioned once but twice. That only changed after the destruction of the Temple when rabbis replaced the sacrificial system with prayer, study and a Now we know when the Torah repeats something that means practice that is hinted at by Moses. He says not to eat the fat it’s really really important. Commentaries, Maimonides of ox, sheep or goat and not to eat the blood of an animal. among others, have concluded that the first mention of the This, Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer points out in the Women’s ever burning fire is aimed at Aaron and his sons instructing Commentary, made women the ritual experts, as the sacrificial the priesthood how to take care of the flame and ensure its system is transformed into a domestic affair which is continuous life but the second mention is directed at all of us. traditionally controlled by women.

Rabbi Shefa Gold sees it as encouraging us to enter within The Haftorah looks at sacrifice in a different way. Jeremiah and inspect the condition of the innermost fire upon the altar reveals the object of sacrifice which is to stimulate a holy life. of our heart. We are to look inside and ask ourselves serious What does that mean in our days, though? Jeremiah proclaims questions about what supports that fire inside of us, and what the uselessness of worship when combined with unholiness. puts it out. What sparks your creativity, and who nourishes Mere mechanical performance of acts of worship won’t do it. that flame in you? Do you surround yourself with the people We are urged to heighten our awareness throughout the day who support and challenge you? Do you put yourself in a putting meaning into the mundane details of daily life. place of continuous learning? Of creativity, growth, love? As I read over the parshah again, which—I can assure you— Not only does fire need to be fed continuously in order to with all its mention of how to slaughter a bull and a ram and feed us, it also needs space, open space. And air. Rabbi where to cut the fat that encases the kidneys and the fat that Gold asks, if you schedule every minute of your day, if you surrounds the entrails and which organ to cut out next is not an fill the silence with words, if you clutter up your life with so easy task for this vegan, it occurs to me that since food and much stuff—how can you expect your fire to have enough nourishment play such a central role in our lives that would be space to burn? an area deserving of our awareness.

And another thing: just like Aaron and his sons are How often do we go through the day just stuffing something in commanded to fulfill the rituals every day for seven our face because it sits on the table in front of us, grabbing consecutive days so do we have to tend to our inner fire every some convenient piece of food because we are in a hurry and day. That starts with removing ashes from the day before. A our mind is racing through a million other, more important fire cannot burn clean if the leftovers of the day before are things. For those of us who are not poor it has become so easy not moved out. The past has to be dealt with and then put to follow the grab & go culture that the different aspects of aside. We have to move on, each day a clean slate. generating food has become invisible.

Then Moses is told by God to get Aaron and his sons ready But what if we aimed to bring some more awareness to the for the ordination by taking a bath, putting on specific robes daily activities of eating? What if we asked ourselves where and performing the different classes of offerings. We learn the food we are about to eat came from? Who grew it and are all the different steps of slaughtering a bull or a ram, which they able to raise a family on their hard labor? Do they have to part of the animal to cut, to burn, to cook, to eat. Moses fight the consequences of breathing and touching toxic substances that enable them to increase their harvest? And where does that food or those ingredients travel from? How Our 40th Anniversary . . . much energy is spent to provide nourishment and energy to us? (Continued from page 4) What’s the impact on our environment, and do I really have parties and special visits to museum exhibitions. We publish any say in any of this? What thoughts and resources went into a newsletter and maintain an active website. We provide packaging, shipping, storing, assembling? Do the workers services to our members who are ill or bereaved, contribute to involved scramble to get by on minimum wages or can they social justice initiatives, and participate in the wider have a decent life? Do they have health insurance, for community in events such as Capital Pride and the National example? And what about this farm to table slogan—is it just Pride Shabbat. We are proud to welcome members of the another fad? And finally, what does the food that finally Board of the World Congress, our LGBT brothers and sisters enters our bodies do to us? Is it nourishing our own ner tamid from many countries, to join Bet Mishpachah for the events or is it just adding to a fast spike of energy due to massive in Washington, D.C. (Continued on page 6) Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 6

Save the Dates: Rosh ha-Shana Tsav 2016, d’rash (Continued from page 5) Starts on Sunday, October 2 amounts of sugar hidden behind a variety of words and labels? What are we doing to Passover is hardly over, but it’s not too early to mark your calendar for Bet ourselves in the long run—are we treating our Mishpachah’s moving, innovative and meaningful High Holy Day (HHD) bodies, this amazing gift from God, with services. Yes, the HHD are late this year according to the secular calendar, appropriate care, love and thoughtfulness? but as former Bet Mishpachah president Barrett Brick (z”l) used to say, “Rosh ha-Shana is on time, it always starts on the firstof Tishri.” We look With all these questions, you might think, we’ll forward to joining with you to celebrate the new year and to review and never get to eat and what’s left anyway if we refocus our lives at our HHD services this fall: were to constantly question every move and every morsel? Can’t we just have fun and enjoy a meal Saturday, September 24, 8:00 pm—S’lichot like Aaron and his sons? Well, they certainly had Sunday, October 2, 8:00 pm—Erev Rosh ha-Shana I to put a lot of work into preparing themselves before they could indulge in the meal offerings Monday, October 3, 10:00 am—Rosh ha-Shana I Morning and chow down on roasted ram, beef, fat and bread. Monday, October 3, 8:00 pm—Erev Rosh ha-Shana II Tuesday, October 4, 10:00 am—Rosh ha-Shana II Morning Obviously, we have replaced the burnt offering and the guilt offering and the sin offering and the Friday, October 7, 8:00 pm—Shabbat Shuva with Rock ‘N Scroll peace offering and the thank offering with a Saturday, October 8, 10:00 am—Shabbat Shuva Morning prayer we say before meals. Let us also involve all our five senses, as did Moses and Aaron and Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 pm—Kol Nidrei his sons. They burnt the fat so the smoke rose up Wednesday , October 12, 10:00 am—Yom Kippur morning and Yizkor into the sky, which they saw and smelled. They felt the heat by making sure the fire kept burning, Wednesday , October 12, 2:00 pm—Study Session they touched what would become their food as they prepared it and finally they tasted it. Wednesday , October 12, 4:30 pm—Yom Kippur Mincha and N’ila services Wednesday , October 12, 7:00 pm—Congregational Break-the-Fast And let us give some thought to what sustains us, (advance reservation required) recharges our batteries and keeps our life force strong—every time we are about to put food into our mouths. It may help connect us more deeply with the Divine.

Shabbat Shalom.

Community News? Let Us Know!

Did you get a promotion? Has a new niece or nephew arrived lately? Did you solve the entire Sunday New Y ork Times crossword, in ink? Send any cause for a mazel tov to news- [email protected]. What’s This?

Scan it with a QR code reader on your smartphone and find out!

Web: www.betmish.org April 9, 2016—Shoah Tour Facebook: http://on.fb.me/ BetMishpachah Twitter: twitter.com/betmish E-mail: [email protected]

Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 7

and

events/

Morning Morning

SAT

http://

10:00am, 10:00am, 10:00am,

14 14 7 21 28 Shabbat Service, DCJCC, Service Leader: NeffLarry Shabbat Service, DCJCC Library, Service Leader: RabbiLaurie Green go to betmish.org/ index.php/news upcoming calendar

N N

‘

Shabbat

Rock Rock Service; Text Service:

FRI

8:00pm, Erev 8:00pm, Erev 8:00pm, Erev 8:00pm,

8:00pm, Erev 8:00pm,

13 13 6 6 20 27 Volunteer Volunteer TorahMessages: for Service Service and Congregational (RockAwards Scrollbe secondwill for week only),May DCJCC, Service Leader: RabbiLaurie Green Shabbat Scroll Service change(schedule for only),May DCJCC, Service Leaders: ScottReiter and RabbiBen Shalva Shabbat Today, DCJCC, Service Leader: Allan Armus Shabbat Classic Bet Mishpachah Service, DCJCC, Leader: Rabbi GreenLaurie For the up most date calendar andinformation eventscommunity

Sho

THU

Yom

Yom ha

Atzma

12 12 5 5 19 26 ha

Zikaron

Lag Lag

WED

Erev

Yom ha

Omer

11 11 4 18 25 ba

May 2016

TUE

10 3 17 24 31

MON

9 2 16 23 30

s s

’

6:00pm,

SUN

4:00

8 8 1 15 22 29 Solveig Green Zeved HaBat, Home Rabbiof Gila and Dr. Paul (seeRuskin page invitation, 2) 40th Anniversary Brunch Celebration, Donovan Hotel (see page 1)

Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 8

, ,

Shab-

Chavura

Shabbat

(see page 1)

SAT

10:00am, 10:00am,

Pride Week

Morning Service, Morning Service,

NoVA NoVA

18 4 4 11 25 Annual Beach Annual Service DCJCC, Gathering, Millsboro, Delaware (see page 2) 2016 10:00am, Morning Service, Leader: RabbiLaurie Green 4:30pm, CapitalPride Parade, DuPont Circle (see page 1) Tikun Shavo Leil Study Session, DCJCC bat DCJCC, Service Leader: TBD

N N

‘

Rock Rock Service, Service, Service,

FRI

8:00pm, Erev 8:00pm, Pride Week Erev 8:00pm,

8:00pm, Erev 8:00pm,

17 17 3 3 10 24 Shabbat I, & Service 6th at ScrollService, DCJCC, Service Leaders: Rabbi Laurie Green and RabbiBen Shalva 2016 6:30pm reception, 7:15pm Pride Service Leaders: Rabbi Laurie Green and Rabbi Stutman,Shira and afterwardsdinner [$12 advance] (seein page 1) Shabbat DCJCC, Service Leader:TBD Shabbat DCJCC, Service Leader:TBD

THU

Pride Week 2016

16 2 9 23 30

WED

Pride Week 2016

15 1 8 22 29

June 2016

TUE

Pride Week 2016

14 7 21 28 3845SW Capitol S St 7:30pm, Interfaith Pride Service, Cove- Baptist nant UCC, (see page 1)

and

events/

MON

http://

Pride Week 2016

13 6 6 20 27 index.php/news go go to betmish.org/ upcoming calendar

SUN

Pride Week

Pride Week 2016

7pm, 7pm, CapitalPride

12 12 5 5 19 26 information and information H on NE Street Atlas For the most For the up most date calendar eventscommunity (see page 1) 4:00pm, Theater at outing Mosiac, The (see page 2) 2016 12 Festival, Freedom Plaza (see page 1) Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 9

Thanks to Our March and April Oneg Shabbat Thank You to Our and Kiddush Sponsors March and April Service Leaders Want to remember a loved one, celebrate a special event, or just help the Oneg and Kiddush coordinator? You can do this by sponsoring an Oneg Friday, March 4: Al Munzer and Rabbi Ben Shabbat or Kiddush luncheon. It’s simple and pain free. Contact Barbara Shalva “Goldy” Goldberg at [email protected] or call her at (703) 548-1086 to save your date and receive more information. Friday, March 11: Eryca Kasse and Jutta Brettschneider Can’t sponsor? Consider sending a donation of Chai ($18) or more to bring extended life to the Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Saturday, March 12: Paula Morris Fund, established by a generous bequest from our beloved member Joel Woldman. Make donations online at http://www.betmish.org/index.php/ Friday, March 18: Allan Armus donate or mail to Bet Mishpachah, Department 0520, Washington, DC 20073-0520. Wednesday, March 23 (Purim): Alex Carter and Rabbi Ben Shalva Contact Goldy and volunteer to shop in the absence of a loving sponsor. Friday, March 25: Paula Morris and Elke March 4: Jerry Goldberg, in memory of the first yartzeit of his partner Jim Martin March 11: Spring Forward Congregational Pot Luck, preparing for Spring and the time change on March 13 Saturday, March 26: Alex Carter and Ruth Potts March 12 : Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund March 18 : Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund Friday, April 1: Rabbi Laurie Green and Rabbi Ben Shalva March 25 : Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund March 26 : Steven Frank and Ed Knight, in memory of Steven’s sister, Friday, April 8: Rabbi Laurie Green and Yvette Frances Frank Scott Reiter

April 1: Scott Reiter and David Vos, in honor of their upcoming wedding Saturday, April 9: Rabbi Laurie Green and on April 3 Larry Neff

April 8: Congregation, Shabbaton Weekend Friday, April 15: Allan Armus April 9: Education Committee, Shabbaton Weekend Saturday, April 23: Jeff Burka and Marc April 15: Louis Blank and Dan Yost, in celebration of their eleventh Bernstein - Torah discussion anniversary April 23: Keith Cohen, in memory of his mother, Dolores Cohen Friday, April 29: Louis Blank April 29: Allan Armus, in honor of Pesach

Belated Thanks Belated thanks to Alex Carter and Rabbi Ben Shalva for And belated thanks to Paula Morris and Elke Martin for co-leading a wonderful Purim service and megila reading for leading a superb Bet Mishpachah Classic service on March 25. Bet Mishpachah on March 23. Your zany antics set the perfect Special thanks for your thoughtful, poetic transitions and tone for the holiday celebration. The excellent turn-out of more kavanot, for your choice of readings and especially for Elke’s than two dozen people on a weeknight is a strong testament to excellent d’rasha. the high regard in which members hold you both. (Which Marx brother will it be next year? Harpo? Lucille Ball playing Again, many thanks to you all for your continuing Harpo?) contributions to our religious life at Bet Mishpachah.

Larry Neff Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 10

May Member Birthdays June Member Birthdays

May 6 Nat Deutsch June 1 Chad Appel June 18 Steven Weinberg May 7 Jeffrey Akman June 1 Elyse Wander June 20 Alan Goodman May 7 Ruth Potts June 2 Joel Wind June 20 Aaron Hamburger May 8 Alan Carb June 3 Carol Wayman June 20 Beth Weisman May 15 Ashley June 3 Maxine Klane June 23 Marlene Cohen May 18 Eileen Greenberg June 4 Diane Liff June 25 Sarajane Garten May 21 Jeffrey Kahn June 5 Yutta Brettschneider June 26 Alicia May 22 Isaac Chaim Belfer June 5 Joseph June 27 Larry Berman May 23 Ed Knight June 7 David Fox June 27 Philip Budashewitz May 23 Robert Margrave June 10 Noah Wofsy June 27 Travis Hatch May 24 Judith Retchin June 11 Morris Levitt June 29 Cookie Backelman May 28 Bruce Horowitz June 11 James Nathan June 30 Hazel May 28 Robert Mapou June 12 Timothy Kynerd June 30 Sheila Hess May 29 Reginald McBee June 14 James Fortinsky May 30 Justin Laufer June 14 Michael Aaron Hoffman June 14 Rodney Ross

May Member Anniversaries Special Thank You to Bet Mishpachah Members

May 6 Beth Cohen and Fran Sneider I sit here kvelling with a smile on my lips and nachas in my heart May 9 Marc Charon and Jon Dauphine because of you, my Bet Mishpachah family. You certainly lived our May 10 Scott Reiter and David Vos name in hosting the World Congress of GLBT Jews, Keshet Ga’avah May 11 Margy Kohn and Myrna Chasanow during our Shabbaton weekend and their board meeting in Washington, May 14 Jeffrey Berns and Richard Bennett D.C., April 8-10. Special thanks to all the Bet Mishpachah members May 17 Cheryl Segal and Ellen Podgor who offered to host a World Congress guest including: Catherine and May 23 Ruthanna and Sarah Emrys Sarajane, David S., David V. and Scott, Douglas, Elke and Eva, John May 26 Maxine Klane and Elaine Raksis K., Larry, Nathaniel, Rodney, and Stuart. I regret I couldn’t May 29 Joel Berelson and Charles Maples accommodate all of you. Thanks also to Joel for arranging the discounted tickets for the Walking Tour of Jewish Washington, to Al June Member Anniversaries for the wonderfully informative docent tour of the U.S. Holocaust Museum, to Allan for chauffeuring us there on five minutes notice, and June 3 Alex Ford and Hal Ponder to Nathaniel for the lunch run during the board meeting. June 4 Erica Gloger and Wendy Handler June 11 Hank Londner and Keith Pickerel Bet Mishpachah, you made a positive imprint on new friends from June 13 Marc Bernstein and Jeff Burka around the world. I received positive comments about our exceptional June 15 Mary Arras and Vicki Brown liturgy and hamishness. I know our name will travel, globally, with our June 16 Robert Saks and Loretta Saks guests as they tell the stories of their wonderful trip to our nation’s June 19 Rene Rodriguez and Howard Stark capital for the World Congress board meeting and Bet Mishpachah June 27 Larry Berman and Thomas Milk Shabbaton Weekend. Many of us have made enduring friendships. June 30 Joseph and Bryan Thank you again for being exceptional Bet Mishpachah ambassadors.

Barbara Goldberg She/her/hers Mazal Tov! Vice President, World Congress of GLBT Jews, Keshet Ga’avah and Bet Mishpachah Delegate to the World Congress Mazal Tov on the marriage of Sharon Greenbaum and Kim Sgroi, and Scott Reiter and David Vos.

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Laurie Green and Mira on the birth of their daughter, Solveig. Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 11

Donations March 2016—Member Donations

We appreciate the generosity of our members and friends, and Operating Fund recognize them for their support. Contributions may be made  Barry Friedman, in memory of Yacov Angel at any time during the year. To make a contribution, send a  Jocelyn Kaplan, in honor of the wedding of Scott check payable to Bet Mishpachah, to Bet Mishpachah, Reiter and David Vos and of the birth of Solveig Department 0520,Washington, D.C. 20073-0520. Green to Rabbi Laurie and Mira  Rodney Ross February 2016—Member Donations Richard Krampf Memorial Social Action Fund Operating Fund  Michael Goldstein, Queen Esther Fund  Barry Friedman, in memory of Sylvia Belkin and his  Travis Hatch, Queen Esther Fund grandmother, Sarah Friedman  Bob Hollis and Don Jewler, Queen Esther Fund  Warren Snaider, in honor of the 59th anniversary of  Georgia Korn and Diane Liff, Queen Esther Fund Allan Armus’s Bar Mitzva  Timothy Kynerd, Queen Esther Fund Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund  Davi LaBarre, Queen Esther Fund  Michael Greenwald and David Murphy, in honor of  Vanessa Prell, Queen Esther Fund the 50th wedding anniversary of Marjorie and  Stuart Sotsky, Queen Esther Fund Richard Siegel  Noah Wofsy, Queen Esther Fund

Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund  Mindy Gasthalter, in memory of Alex Ford’s sister,  Al Munzer and Joel Wind, in honor of the birth of Lynn Foster, and in honor of Beth Cohen’s Solveig Green to Rabbi Laurie and Mira ordination as rabbi  Judy Retchin and Elyse Wander, in honor of the birth  Ruth Potts, 2016 Installation Shabbat of Solveig Green to Rabbi Laurie and Mira

February 2016—Non-Member Donations Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund  Jerry Goldberg , in memory of my partner James Operating Fund Olson  Randall Bell  Barry Sherbal, to help Bet Mishpachah to reduce March 2016—Non-Member Donations debt shortfall Operating Fund Joel and Murray Woldman Oneg Shabbat and Kiddush Fund  Randall Bell  Barry Sherbal, to help with onegs that I have missed  Eileen Zanar, in memory of my beloved daughter, for many years Louise Zanar Member Yartzeits

May 2016

Announced Friday, May 6 (Yartzeits observed May 6-12/Nisan 29-Iyar 5) George Kingsley May 6 Uncle of Seymour Stern Joel Woldman May 6 Beloved twin brother of Murray Woldman; member of Bet Mishpachah Betty Grossman Nisan 29 (May 7) Mother of Richard Grossman Steven Dixon May 8 Partner/spouse of Jeffrey Akman Miryam Rivka Szachter May 8 Grandmother of Ruth Eisenberg Rose Mendelson Iyar 1 (May 9) Grandmother of Barry Friedman Harold May 9 Grandfather of Alicia Lia Horowitz Iyar 2 (May 10) Mother of Bruce Horowitz Fred Weinberg Iyar 1 (May 10) Father of Steven Weinberg David M. Fein May 11 Member of Bet Mishpachah Cynthia Sachs May 11 Mother of Tom Sachs Rosalind S. Greenwald May 12 Mother of Michael Greenwald Ann Kubel May 12 Aunt of Paul Entis David Sotsky Iyar 4 (May 12) Father of Stuart Sotsky

Announced Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14 (Yartzeits observed May 13-19/Iyar 6-12) Sarah Sheinbein May 13 Mother of Israel Sheinbein Selma Cobden Iyar 6 (May 14) Grandmother of Jeffrey Berns Isaac M. Casel May 14 Great-uncle of Larry Neff Esther Entis May 14 Grandmother of Paul Entis Abraham Abrams Iyar 7 (May 15) Grandfather of Andy Abrams Sam Blank May 15 Grandfather of Louis Blank Issac Fox Iyar 7 (May 15) Grandfather of David Fox (Continued on page 12) Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 12

Member Yartzeits (Continued from page 11) Yvette Frances Frank May 16 Sister of Steven Frank Celeste Hanline Cohan May 17 Mother of Joanna Cohan Scherer Joseph Birt May 18 Friend of Jack Hillelsohn Molly Dickson Iyar 10 (May 18) Aunt of Stuart Sotsky Morris Grossman Iyar 10 (May 18) Father of Richard Grossman Brenda Jennetta May 18 Step-mother of Andrea Jennetta Belle Hollis May 19 Mother of Robert Hollis David Youngman Iyar 11 (May 19) Uncle of Joel Wind Pauline Karron Iyar 12 (May 20) Grandmother of David Fox

Announced Friday, May 20 (Yartzeits observed May 20-26/Iyar 13-19) Henry F. Spiegler May 21 Member of Bet Mishpachah Zoia Avram Umansky May 21 Sister-in-law of Morris Umansky Leonard Hecht Cohan May 22 Father of Joanna Cohan Scherer Evelyn Rosenblatt Goldfarb May 22 Mother-in-law of Allan Armus Etta J. Kaplan Iyar 14 (May 22) Grandmother of Ruth Potts Leon Kasarsky May 22 Father of Andi Kasarsky Hugh Hochberg Iyar 15 (May 23) Grandfather of Marlene Cohen Celia Lewin May 23 Aunt of Larry Neff Richard Spector Iyar 15 (May 23) Friend of Stuart Sotsky, member of Bet Mishpachah Geoffrey MacLellan May 24 Dear friend of Louis Blank Katherine Kane May 25 Friend of Elke Martin Leah Lev May 26 Aunt of Larry Neff Anita Lomberg Iyar 17 (May 25) Sister of Allan Armus Channah Wind Iyar 18 (May 26) Grandmother of Joel Wind Herman Wind Iyar 18 (May 26) Uncle of Joel Wind Yehoshua Wind Iyar 18 (May 26) Grandfather of Joel Wind Hilda H. Lehman Iyar 19 (May 27) Maternal grandmother of Michael Hoffman Helen Weinstein Iyar 19 (May 27) Aunt of Stuart Sotsky

Announced Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28 (Yartzeits observed May 27-June 2/Iyar 20-26) Jerry Moore May 27 Friend of Catherine Tarabochia Paul Neff May 27 Uncle of Larry Neff Harry Goldberg May 28 Grandfather of Paul Entis Anna Cela Greenberg May 28 Niece of Eileen Greenberg Albert Jaco May 28 Grandfather of Tom Sachs Mildred Spatz Shubs Iyar 20 (May 28) Aunt of Carl Spatz David Sikowitz May 29 Grandfather of Judith Retchin Namon Johnson, Sr. May 30 Father of LySandra Brady Anne Magid Londoner Iyar 22 (May 30) Aunt of Carl Spatz William V. Greenberg May 31 Father of Eileen Greenberg Frank Gasthalter June 1 Uncle of Mindy Gasthalter Murray Jaco June 1 Uncle of Tom Sachs Morton (Mike) Tannenbaum June 2 Father of Gail Tannenbaum Henrietta Isom Iyar 26 (June 3) Grandmother of LySandra Brad

June 2016

Announced Friday, June 3 (Yartzeits observed June 3-9/Iyar 27-Sivan 4) Edward S. Levy, Sr. June 3 Grandfather of Ellen Levy Mary Ann Cohen June 4 Aunt of Larry Neff Jay Gilbertson June 4 Friend of Catherine Tarabochia Birdie Goldberg June 4 Grandmother of Paul Entis Joel McBee June 4 Father of Reggie McBee Selma Reid June 4 Aunt of Devra Floyd Jerald Weinstein June 4 Cousin of Mindy Gasthalter Frances Abrams Iyar 28 (June 5) Grandmother of Andrew Abrams Alex Armus Iyar 28 (June 5) Father of Allan Armus Richard A. Kopley June 5 Member of Bet Mishpachah Sigmund and Gisella Redlich Iyar 28 (June 5) Maternal Grandparents of Bruce Horowitz Alan Tobin Iyar 28 (June 5) Father of Eric Tobin Max Youngman Iyar 29 (June 6) Grandfather of Joel Wind David Cobden Sivan 1 (June 7) Step-grandfather of Jeffrey Berns (Continued on page 13) Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 13

Member Yartzeits (Continued from page 12) Stanley Mitzner June 7 Father of Fred Mitzner Jan Berelson Dickstein June 8 Mother of Joel Berelson Gisele Munzer Sivan 2 (June 8) Mother of Al Munzer Clara Sachs June 8 Grandmother of Tom Sachs Sidney Spindel Sivan 2 (June 8) Uncle of Carol Stern Leo Stern June 8 Uncle of Larry Neff Bill McCreight June 9 Friend of Ruth Potts

Announced Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11 (Yartzeits observed June 10-16/Sivan 5-11) Polly Less Sivan 5 (June 11) Mother of Martin Less Sedonia Cohn Sneider June 11 Grandmother of Fran Sneider Jimmy Cockerham June 12 Friend of Charles Stewart Brian Meringoff June 12 Cousin of Larry Neff Leonard Sneider June 12 Father of Fran Sneider Alexander Cohen June 13 Uncle of Larry Neff Murray Backelman June 13 Father of Cookie Backelman Harry Karron Sivan 7 (June 13) Grandfather of David Fox Abraham Stern Sivan 7 (June 13) Grandfather of Alvin Stern Feiga Stern Sivan 7 (June 13) Grandmother of Alvin Stern Roberta Clair Hyman June 16 Sister of Deb Hyman Elizabeth Jacobson June 16 Partner of Eileen Greenberg Bernard Leish Sivan 11 (June 17) Father of Denise Leish

Announced Friday, June 17 (Yartzeits observed June 17-23/Sivan 12-18) Fred Burka Sivan 12 (June 18) Grandfather of Jeff Burka Hyman Lev June 18 Uncle of Larry Neff Annette Weinberg Sivan 12 (June 18) Mother of Mark Weinberg Elizabeth Weissman June 18 Grandmother of Jeffrey Kahn Elise Hanline Cheslock June 19 Aunt of Joanna Cohan Scherer George Cross June 20 Father of Belinda Cross Morris Hyman June 20 Paternal grandfather of Deb Hyman Salvatore “Ben” Zinnanti June 20 Uncle of Alex Carter Marc Rubenstein June 21 Cousin of Roger Schechter Paul Caine Sivan 16 (June 22) Grandfather of Rachel Wolkowitz Edgar Halpern June 22 Uncle of Roger Schechter Eva S. Baer June 23 Grandmother of Ellen Levy Samuel Sivan 17 (June 23) Father of Hazel Samuel Masia June 23 Grandfather of Martin Daniel Robinson Morris Sivan 17 (June 23) Father of Betty John Willig June 23 Friend of Larry Neff

Announced Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25 (Yartzeits observed June 24-30/Sivan 19-25) Albert Saks June 24 Father of Bob Saks Louis Winer June 24 Father of Diane Citron David (Doiv Ber) Barlas June 25 Father of Judy Barlas Ruth Barlas June 26 Mother of Judy Barlas Gerald M. Green June 26 Member of Bet Mishpachah Ida Grossman June 26 Grandmother of Susan Kirshner Marta Kusic June 26 Friend of Reggie McBee Hannah Lippert June 26 Great aunt of Deb Hyman Phil Rosenbloom Sivan 20 (June 26) Grandfather of Jeff Burka Charles Lewis June 27 Father of Barbara Lewis Samuel Sendrowitz Sivan 21 (June 27) Grandfather of Larry Berman Lillian Spindel June 27 Mother of Carol Stern Chad Allen June 28 Cousin of Larry Neff Anna Sivan 22 (June 28) Grandmother of Betty Ruth Verdin June 28 Aunt of Catherine Tarabochia Nettie Wofsy Sivan 22 (June 28) Mother of Noah Wofsy Samuel Gasthalter June 29 Grandfather of Mindy Gasthalter Ursula Petersen June 29 Friend of Elke Martin Harry Reiter June 29 Grandfather of Scott Reiter Ruth Friedman June 30 Grandmother of Louis Blank Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 14

Bet Mishpachah Communications Electronic Newsletter Subscription

This newsletter is published bimonthly by Bet Mishpachah, Do you want to receive Mishpachah Matters electronically and P.O. Box 1410, Washington, DC 20013. Articles must be in living color, while saving the synagogue money? Send an received by the first Tuesday of the month prior to publication email to [email protected]. Include all the email and should be sent to [email protected]. The addresses where you would like to receive the electronic newsletter is sent to members, donors, and various newsletter and your mailing address, as you will no longer organizations. For a three-month trial subscription, write to need the paper version. [email protected]. To advertise in our newsletter, contact [email protected]. Address, Phone, Email Changes

The congregation also publishes ATCBM, the electronic Send your name and old and new information to bulletin board of Bet Mishpachah, which contains late- [email protected]. breaking congregational news, as well as other Jewish and/or LGBT news that cannot be printed in this newsletter. We ATCBM Subscription maintain a website at www.betmish.org with synagogue If you wish to receive ATCBM, our electronic announcements information and links to other websites of interest. about events at Bet Mishpachah and of interest to the Jewish LGBT community, please send an email to Information contained in any of our publications may be [email protected] with “ATCBM” in the subject line and reprinted without permission, but acknowledgment of the the email address where you would like to receive mail. source is required. Direct any questions about our editorial or advertising policies to [email protected]. ATCBM Item Submission

Shabbat Services Email your item in the body of an email (no attachments) for ATCBM Submissions to [email protected]. Bet Mishpachah holds Shabbat services every Friday at 8:00 pm and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at Bikur Cholim — We Care About You 10:00 am at the District of Columbia Jewish Community Center (DCJCC), 16 and Q Streets, NW. Sign Language Become a partner in the mitzva of Bikur Cholim—visiting the interpretation is available by request to [email protected] with sick—by advising our Bikur Cholim Committee, rabbi, or a minimum of two weeks notice. Any changes to this regular president when you or a relative is hospitalized. We can stay schedule will appear on our website (www.betmish.org), in the informed ONLY if we receive the information. Please email us month’s printed calendar, and/or in our electronic bulletin at [email protected]. board ATCBM. Death Notices, Bereavement Services Enter the DCJCC building on Friday nights through the Q Street door. You will be buzzed in by our shammas. Shabbat If you are in need of bereavement services or to announce a worship will be in the DCJCC Kay Community Hall, on the death in your family, email [email protected]. right as you enter. A parking lot is available behind the DCJCC and may be entered from Q Street. It has Donations approximately 20 spaces, including one designated for disabled To make a donation to our congregation, please send it to Bet drivers. Mishpachah, Department 0520,Washington, D.C. 20073-0520.

Or you can donate via PayPal from the “Donations” page on Parking: Additional free parking for Friday night services our web site, www.betmish.org. is available at the surface lot at the Scottish Rite Temple starting at 7:30 pm. The lot will be closed and locked and all To Schedule a Bet Mishpachah Event cars must be removed by 10:30 pm. Parking is at your own risk. The Temple is at 16th and S Streets NW; entrance to the Email the date, space needs, and number of expected attendees lot is from the alley that connects 15th and 16th in the block to [email protected]. between R and S Streets. To Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush Mishpachah Matters Staff Newsletter Coordinator — Amy Heffernan Send an email to [email protected], with the date you’d like Design/Layout — Amy Heffernan to sponsor, and the occasion. Proofreaders — Douglas Auerbach, Alex Carter, Mindy Gasthalter, Elke Martin, and Martin Robinson Bet Mishpachah’s Affiliations Transliteration Consultant — Scott Reiter Bet Mishpachah is a member of: Network of Independent Jewish Communities and Havurot; Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington; World Congress of GLBT Jews: Keshet Ga’avah; Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington; and Celebration of the Spirit Coalition. Mishpachah Matters Iyar - Sivan - Tamuz 5776/May and June 2016 Page 15