Mishpachah Matters
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Mishpachah Matters Issue 75.11 and 75.12 Mishpachah Matters Tamuz - Av - Elul 5775 The Newsletter of Bet Mishpachah, Founded in 1975 July and August 2015 by Members of the Washington, DC, Gay Community High Holy Days: A Primer by Liora Moriel, VP Religious Affairs This year, Rosh ha-Shana begins at sundown on Sunday, September 13, and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, September 15. This is the Jewish New Year. For the most Orthodox of Jews, this is not only the anniversary of the seven days of Creation (and rest), but also “a day of judgment and coronation of God as king.” At Bet Mishpachah, we believe in and use gender in more egalitarian, creative ways. But the point remains that we celebrate both Creation and Judgment. Ten soul-searching days later begins Yom Kippur, which this year falls from sunset on Tuesday, September 22, through nightfall on Wednesday, September 23. According to Wikipedia, “The term High Holy Days most probably derives from the popular English phrase, ‘high days Leti Gomez and Tim Kynerd at the Capital Pride Event. and holydays.’ Many prefer the term High Holy Days over High Holidays because the former emphasizes the personal, reflective, introspective aspects of this period.” Bet Mishpachah Highly Visible At Capital Pride Weekend Some scholars believe that the Hebrew equivalent, Yamim Nora’im, is neither Biblical nor Talmudic. Rather, it dates to Capital Pride Week on June 9-14 was a big success for Bet Medieval times of persecution, “reflecting a change in the Mishpachah. Congregants turned out in force throughout the mood of Rosh ha-Shana from a predominantly joyous week for a variety of religious and social programs. celebration to a more subdued day.” Allan Armus represented our congregation at the Capital This ten-day period is also known as the “Ten Days of Pride Interfaith Service held at All Souls Church on Tuesday, Repentance” (Aseret Yemei T’shuvah). During this special June 9, where this beautiful tradition continued in its 32nd time, Jews are required to focus on repentance and year. atonement. While God passes judgment on Rosh ha-Shana, (Continued on page 8) (Continued on page 11) Table of Contents: Page 10: Page 3: HHD Logistics Volunteers 2015 Advance High Holy The Meaning of Needed! Day Reservation Form www.betmish.org Membership in Our Havdala and Potluck! Page 12: Community Page 8: Bet Mishpachah Yizkor Page 4: Become a Member of Bet Book for 5776 Form Washington DC’s Elul: The Beginning of the Mishpachah in 2015-2016, Page 13: End or the End of the Our 40th Anniversary Year July and August Birthdays Egalitarian Synagogue Beginning? Bet Mishpachah Now Has and Anniversaries Text Messages: Torah for a List Serve Mazal Tov Embracing a Diversity Today Page 9: Page 14: Page 5-6: Thanks to Our April, May Donations of Sexual July and August Calendars and June Oneg Shabbat Page 15-18: Page 7: Bet Mishpachah and Kiddush Sponsors Member Yartzeits and Gender Identities HHD Service Schedule for Thanks to Our May and Page 19: 2015/5776 June Service Leaders Directory Mishpachah Matters—Tamuz - Av - Elul 5775/July and August 2015 Page 2 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 Address, Phone, Email Changes [email protected]. Send your name and old and new information to The congregation also publishes ATCBM, the electronic [email protected]. bulletin board of Bet Mishpachah, which contains late- ATCBM Subscription breaking congregational news, as well as other Jewish and/or LGBT news that cannot be printed in this newsletter. We If you wish to receive ATCBM, our electronic announcements maintain a website at www.betmish.org with synagogue about events at Bet Mishpachah and of interest to the Jewish information and links to other websites of interest. 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 Email your item in the body of an email (no attachments) for Shabbat Services ATCBM Submissions to [email protected]. Bet Mishpachah holds Shabbat services every Friday at 8:00 Bikur Cholim — We Care About You pm and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at 10:00 am at the District of Columbia Jewish Community Become a partner in the mitzva of Bikur Cholim—visiting the Center (DCJCC), 16 and Q Streets, NW. Sign Language sick—by advising our Bikur Cholim Committee, rabbi, or interpretation is available by request to [email protected] with president when you or a relative is hospitalized. We can stay a minimum of two weeks notice. Any changes to this regular informed ONLY if we receive the information. Please email us schedule will appear on our website (www.betmish.org), in the at [email protected]. month’s printed calendar, and/or in our electronic bulletin Death Notices, Bereavement Services board ATCBM. If you are in need of bereavement services or to announce a Enter the DCJCC building on Friday nights through the Q death in your family, email [email protected]. Street door. You will be buzzed in by our shammas. Shabbat worship will be in the DCJCC Kay Community Hall, on the Donations right as you enter. A parking lot is available behind the To make a donation to our congregation, please send it to Bet DCJCC and may be entered from Q Street. It has Mishpachah, Department 0520,Washington, D.C. 20073-0520. approximately 20 spaces, including one designated for disabled Or you can donate via PayPal from the “Donations” page on drivers. our web site, www.betmish.org. Parking: Additional free parking for Friday night services is To Schedule a Bet Mishpachah Event available at the surface lot at the Scottish Rite Temple starting at 7:30 pm. The lot will be closed and locked and all cars must Email the date, space needs, and number of expected attendees be removed by 10:30 pm. Parking is at your own risk. The to [email protected]. Temple is at 16th and S Streets NW; entrance to the lot is from To Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush the alley that connects 15th and 16th in the block between R and S Streets. Send an email to [email protected], with the date you’d like to sponsor, and the occasion. Mishpachah Matters Staff Newsletter Coordinator — Amy Heffernan Bet Mishpachah’s Affiliations Design/Layout — Amy Heffernan Bet Mishpachah is a member of: Network of Independent Proofreaders — Eytan Apelberg, Alex Carter, Jewish Communities and Havurot; Jewish Community Council Mindy Gasthalter, Elke Martin, and Martin Robinson of Greater Washington; World Congress of GLBT Jews: Transliteration Consultant — Scott Reiter Keshet Ga’avah; Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington; and Celebration of the Spirit Coalition. Mishpachah Matters—Tamuz - Av - Elul 5775/July and August 2015 Page 3 The Meaning of Membership The Good News In Our Community We have 12 new members this year. About 50% of them by Rabbi Laurie Green are over the age of 40, and about 50% under the age of 40. Last year’s statistics were similar. We are adding new My favorite quote from the Prophets is in the haftarah we’ll people to our community, and we are blessed by their read on July 4. When the Jewish people declare that they presence, their energy and their financial contributions. don’t know how to serve God and need guidance, the Prophet Several newer members volunteer, including both the newest Micah boils our mission down to three things: do justice, member of the Liturgy Committee and a member of the love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Keep reading Board of Directors (both of whom joined less than 18 and I’ll tell you how this is connected to membership. months ago). Let’s share the good news. Lots of synagogues would be jealous of those membership numbers. The Restructuring We’re doing something right. By now you’ve likely heard that we have completely The Frustrations redesigned our approach to membership. Much gratitude to Eileen, Bob, the Membership Committee and the Board of At the same time, I want to acknowledge the frustrating fact Directors for their hard work. We researched best practices that our overall membership numbers are slightly decreased and contemporary trends in our area and around the country, as a result of deaths, moves, and resignations for other and we collected feedback. reason. In the last year, six (6) members have moved away (mostly new members and young adults). Earlier this year, Our intention is to create a membership process that is easier, one man joined the shul just after the holidays, and then faster, fairer, and friendlier.