Mishpachah Members' Monthly
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JuneMishpachah 2021 Members ’ Monthly Sivan –TamuzMishpachah 5781/ June 2021 Members ’ Monthly Page Sivan/Tamuz, 5781 The Newsletter of Bet Mishpachah, Founded in 1975 by Members of the Washington, DC, Gay & Lesbian Community Issue 80.22 Table of Contents - Page 2 www.betmish.org From the Archives Project with the goal of raising $6,000. In September, the By Joel Wind, Archivist board assessed priorities in moving to the new DCJCC. In October, rent at NCCC was increased to $2,100/month Continuing our look back at Bet and our new Yom Kippur Machzor was introduced. The Mishpachah’s history, I present board voted to allow non-Jews to participate in certain as- years 1992 – 1995. pects of the Torah Service in December. 1992: In February, a joint pro- Next month: 1996 – 1999. gram with the Gay/Lesbian Arabic Society took place and a Theater Outing to the JCC of Greater Washington’s Produc- tion of Esther in March. In April, the board voted to pursue space at the National City Christian Church. Suzanne Wan- President’s Message dersman remained as President at the Annual Meeting in By Mindy Gasthalter May. CBM moved from Christ United Methodist Church to National City Christian Church in July. CBM collected over I’m scheduled to get my second Moderna vaccine on $5,000 for Whitman-Walker at the AIDS Walk in Septem- May 23rd. I am one of the last people I know not yet ber. In October, a Family Havura Shabbat Service took fully vaccinated. One-half of DC residents have now place. An 18th Anniversary Committee was established in received at least one vaccination. I don’t expect that my November and a Theater Party to see The Lisbon Traviata in behavior will change much after mid-June. I’m not December. planning on eating at restaurants (inside or outside), or returning to the gym, or getting on an airplane, or 1993: In January, AIDS Awareness took place with CBM walking with friends without my mask. I know this may activities. In February, membership exceeds 255. April sound extreme to some, but as a client told me not too saw the National March on Washington for LGB Equal long ago, “we all need to make our own decisions about Rights Weekend. Jeff Kaye was elected President in May. what we think will keep us safe.” In August, Temple Tracker, a synagogue membership data- base, was purchased. In September, Jeff Kaye and Beth But, contrary to my not willing to do much, I know that Cohen participated on a panel discussing homophobia at there are many in our congregation who cannot wait to Congregation Beth El in Bethesda, MD on Yom Kippur af- get back to more normal behavior, which includes in- ternoon. In November, over 100 members attended our 18th person services. In April, the EDCJCC told us that they Anniversary Party at the Georgetown Holiday Inn. Project were hoping to reopen in September, but that masks Machzor was launched in December to write our own prayer would be required, social distancing would be required, it book for HHD. was “debatable” if service leaders needed to wear masks and we would not be permitted to sing. With those 1994: In March, Marvin Leibman from the National Re- restrictions, it didn’t seem to make much sense to return view spoke at Shabbat Service on his coming out as a gay to services. Yes, we could be together, but if you man and coming home to Judaism. Ruth Potts was elected couldn’t sit next to your friends, or sing, why bother? President in May and the Lesbian and Gay Chorus sang at Family and Friends Shabbat. In June, installation of Offic- Fast forward to May when on May 10th, Mayor Bowser ers took place as well as Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. In announced the removal of most Covid restrictions July, the 6th Northeast Regional Conference of Gay and Les- effective May 21st with the remainder to be removed on bian Jews took place in Montreal. In September, our new June 11th. In her announcement, she said masks will still Kol Nidre Machzor was introduced. In November, the be required indoors. The EDJCCC is now trying to get board began talks with the new DCJCC regarding space. clarification from the city on whether or not the 6-foot social distancing requirement will still be in place and 1995: In February, the first Sign Language Interpreted will keep us posted as to what they find and what the Shabbat Service took place. A Service Leaders’ Retreat was restrictions will be when they reopen to worship groups held in March. Scott Mezistrano was elected President in and if that September date has been moved ahead. April and the first Theology Class took place in May. In July, the board voted to organize a fundraising campaign to raise funds for the Holocaust Museum’s Lesbian and Gay Continued on page 3 Washington DC’s Egalitarian Synagogue Embracing a Diversity of Sexual and Gender Identities Mishpachah Members’ Monthly Sivan –Tamuz 5781/ June 2021 Page 2 Seeking Nominations for Bet Mishpachah Annual Service Contents: Awards Page 1: From the Archives Nominations are now being President’s message accepted for our two annual Page 2: service awards to be Volunteer Recognition Shabbat presented at the Member Bet Mishpachah Book Group Volunteer Recognition on Page 3: Erev Shabbat Friday, D’rash from the past July 23rd. Please submit your nominees along with a brief description President’s message (continued) of their accomplishments no later than June 4th to Bruce Horowitz at Page 4: [email protected]. June is Pride Month Social Events Committee The Dace Stone Volunteer of the Year Award, named for congregant Page 5: Dace Stone, z”l, a distinguished social worker and LGBT and AIDS Celebrations—June Birthdays and activist, recognizes a congregational member who has made outstanding Anniversaries contributions to the Bet Mishpachah community. Michael Resnick was Thank You to our May Service Leaders our 2020 recipient. Look forward to our June Service Leaders Short Feature on Dupont Circle The Harvey Milk Chesed Award, named for LGBT activist and openly Pages 6 & 7: Member Yartzeits gay San Francisco City Council member assassinated in 1978, recognizes an individual, member or nonmember, who has made Page 8: outstanding contributions to the wider LGBT and Jewish communities About us of which Bet Mishpachah is a part. Ruth Eisenberg was our 2020 Page 9: recipient. Directory We look forward to selecting our 2021 candidates for these prestigious Thinking of membership at Bet awards in our community! Mishpachah? Membership is an opportunity to The Bet Mishpachah Book Group will be dis- develop friendships, learn, become cussing Black Radishes, by Susan Lynn Meyer involved in your heritage, and on Sunday, June 20, at 4:00 p.m. The novel, support the only LGBTQ synagogue in the Washington, DC area. appropriate both for adults and young adult audi- To join Bet Mishpachah is easy; just ences, is fiction, but was inspired by stories the visit www.betmish.org today. author heard about her father's childhood as a Jewish boy in Nazi-occupied France as he was Questions, e-mail growing up. In 1940, Gustave's family must flee [email protected]. Paris, leaving his cousin Jean-Paul and mischie- vous best friend Marcel, but Gustave works with Like our Facebook page the Resistance to come up with a risky and brave plan to help get them out of the Occupied www.facebook.com/betmish Zone. Through this adventure story, the author Please join our new facebook community group. raises questions about nationalism, equality, and identity. Available in paperback or Kindle. As always, all Bet Mish members are wel- https://www.facebook.com/groups/betmish. come. Please email [email protected] for Zoom information. This is a private group where you can have conversations with other members. This is a monitored group. Mishpachah Members’ Monthly Sivan –Tamuz 5781/ June 2021 Page 3 A D’rash from the Past—April, 2005 an ardor for the culture of life. By Eva Freund This same President does not much care that Indian children were massacred in their President who promises to protect the most vulnerable and yours. And in Israel we watch and listen to a Prime Minister profess commitment to a peace process -- as described by Dr. Stanley Chyet of the Hebrew Union College, is Pesach, there is also a spe- so politically insecure that he has acted time and again cial Torah reading (Numbers 19:1- to discourage this same peace process. Moses emerged from his shame and G-d's anger to Tonight, I will address the text in Numbers. The lead his people forward both physically and spiritually. idealistic order of Moses, in spite of his flaws, is remembered as a Great Leader and a Great Teacher. What legacy will the political and spiritual leaders of our generation leave behind them? And what legacy will we and this synagogue leave for the next generations? "Copyright ©2021 Eva Freund. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information stor- age and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author." constant grumbling. We know that the periodic rebellions were President’s Message Continued from page 1 The people were upset over a lack of food When we return to in-person services, we want it to be Aaron and Miriam were upset over prophecies safe for all. The last thing that we want to do is open before it’s safe to do so.