PROGRAM GUIDE FALL 2021 | 5782 2021–2022 | 5782 1 Dear Members of B’nai Israel, We are thrilled to present the B’nai Israel Program Guide for Fall 2021. The Guide offers an overview of the programs and events that shape our active and dynamic community. For the first time in more than a year, we can say that unless otherwise noted, the programs and events listed in this Guide will take place in-person. Some programs will continue to be offered exclusively on Zoom. Others will be offered both in-person and via Zoom or Livestream. Please check the website calendar for details about each event. This Guide covers events that take place through January 2022. The Guide for Winter and Spring 2022 will be published later this fall. We wish to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff and volunteers whose names appear throughout the pages of this Guide, and to all of you for your steadfast support of B’nai Israel. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change. Updates will circulate in the Scroll, Upcoming Events emails, and at www.bnaiisraelcong.org throughout the year. May 5782 be a year of health and well-being for each of us, Michael J. Safra Mitchell H. Berkowitz Senior Rabbi Associate Rabbi 2 FALL PROGRAM GUIDE Key ADULT EDUCATION Table of Contents Lectures, courses, and other programs that promote lifelong Jewish learning through the Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Adult Education Institute. Worship ....................................... 2 BISNS September .................................... 8 B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School programs designed for October ....................................... 12 families enrolled in the nursery school. November . 18 FAMILY December . 24 Programs designed for all B’nai Israel children and their parents, regardless of where they attend school. January ....................................... 28 Instructors. 32 HAZAK Lectures for active retirees, typically one per month. B’nai Mitzvah ..................................37 LIBRARY Executive Committee & Board of Governors .......38 Lectures, films, and programs sponsored by the Blumberg-Zalis Committee Chairs . 39 Family Library. Social Action Collections. 40 L.I.F.E. LECTURE Staff Directory ................................41 “Learning Is For Everyone” Lecture Series with speakers on a broad range of relevant Jewish topics. MEN’S CLUB Social programming that builds community, typically for B’nai Israel men. Get Social With Us SISTERHOOD Dynamic programming that enriches our families, our synagogue, During this time of social distancing, make sure to stay and the greater community. connected with us via social media for latest updates, Facebook Live events, and more. SOCIAL ACTION Collections and events to give back to the community and engage in tikkun olam (repair of the world). TALMUD TORAH Events for families with children enrolled in the Dr. Stuart Join our group on FB Lessans Talmud Torah. https://www.facebook.com/groups/BnaiIsraelCong/ YOUTH Follow us on Instagram Events for school-aged children, including, but not limited to, https://www.instagram.com/bnaiisraelcong/ our four youth groups (Bonim, Machar, Kadima, USY). Part of the Carl and Doris Lane Youth Department. 2021–2022 | 5782 1 WORSHIP WORSHIP In-person services have resumed at B’nai Israel. You may also join us virtually by visiting www.bnaiisraelcong.org/dailyminyan. 2 FALL PROGRAM GUIDE WORSHIP WEEKDAYS SHABBAT Daily Minyan Friday Evening Services 7:15 AM Monday–Friday 6:15 PM 8:00 PM Sunday–Thursday Our Friday evening services are participatory, filled with 9:00 AM Sundays and these Federal holidays: singing and ruah (spirit). Our rabbis share a teaching related to the parsha (Torah portion). Periodically, our services are September 6 (Labor Day) enhanced with special themes or followed by dinners and November 25 (Thanksgiving Day) programs. December 24 (Christmas Day Observed) December 31 (New Year’s Day Observed) Saturday Morning Services 9:00 AM January 17 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) Our Shabbat morning services are celebratory and February 21 (Presidents’ Day) participatory, with baby namings, b’nai mitzvah, aufrufen May 30 (Memorial Day) (aliyot for couples prior to their weddings), and other July 4 (Independence Day) lifecycle events. Contact the clergy with questions. Minyan on other Federal holidays begins at the regular time. All changes to the regular service times are publicized on our website and in the Scroll. 2021–2022 | 5782 3 WORSHIP WEEKLY LEARNING FOR ADULTS ADULTS Shabbat Morning Torah Study Drop-in Hebrew Prayer Reading 9:00–10:00 AM with Netta Asner-Minster Morning Torah Study returns to its original time on Saturday Wednesdays, beginning August 11 mornings at 9:00 AM! Join us on selected Saturday mornings for 3:00–3:30 PM discussions about the weekly Torah parsha. Interested in leading Practice your Hebrew reading of prayer and text with our a session? Contact Wendy Fanaroff [email protected]( ). shlicha, Netta Asner-Minster. This is designed for those who October 2 – Bereshit want to strengthen their Hebrew reading and familiarity with October 16 – Lekh Lekha prayers. Recommended to bring and use the Sim Shalom Siddur November 6 – Toldot for Shabbat and Festivals. November 20 – Vayishlach The congregational shlicha program is made possible by a December 4 – Miketz partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. December 18 – Vayechi January 8 – Bo January 22 – Yitro Talmud on Tuesdays with Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz S.E.A. CHANGE COALITION Tuesdays (weekly), beginning October 12 12:30–1:30 PM B’nai Israel and Washington Hebrew spent this past year A new year and a new tractate of Talmud! Join us to study with a committed cohort of 50 individuals, half from Tractate Berakhot which includes a comprehensive discussion each congregation. The cohort considered historical and of the Shema and Amidah, the essential components of the prayer current inequities in our community and our country, service. Newcomers are more than welcome to join us. No prior learned how to identify the areas of racial justice work knowledge is necessary. that are priorities for our communities, and developed with interfaith and other partners the tools to galvanize our communities to work together to realize our vision of a more perfect world. This work will continue this fall at B’nai Israel both internally and externally. Contact Marla Schulman (mschulman@schreibernet. com), chair of the Faith Community Outreach Committee, for more information or with questions. 4 FALL PROGRAM GUIDE WORSHIP SHABBAT YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES We are excited to welcome everyone back for in-person youth and family services this fall! Beginning on September 11, we will have Family Minyan almost every week, with occasional Grade Shabbatot and other special events. Tot Shabbat will also return to its weekly schedule. See the descriptions below for further details. Family Minyan Birthday Shabbatot Beginning on Saturday, September 11 and Continuing Celebrate each month’s birthdays at the end of Youth and Family Weekly services with songs and treats! 10:00 AM–11:45 AM September 11 (Celebrating July, August, & September Now offered almost every week, Family Minyan includes spirited Birthdays) prayer, an engaging Torah reading, and lively conversation October 2 about the weekly Torah portion. This service is organized by November 6 our shlicha, Netta Asner-Minster, who leads it alongside Rabbi December 4 Mitchell Berkowitz, Moshe Ben-Lev, Educational Director, and January 8 Sarah Jarvis, Director of Youth Engagement. February 5 March 5 Tot Shabbat (Ages 5 and under with a parent) April 2 Beginning on Saturday, September 11 and Continuing May 7 Weekly June 4 11:00 AM–11:45 AM Designed for the youngest members of our congregational family, Grade Shabbatot Tot Shabbat meets weekly to sing, learn, and pray together with Periodically, each grade leads significant components of our Tot Shabbat leader, Morah Juliann Goldman. Shabbat Morning Youth and Family Services, demonstrating their mastery of the prayers and offering insights on the weekly Teen Minyan Torah portion. These special services are intended for all our Selected Saturday Mornings youth, regardless of particular school enrollment. 10:30 AM–11:45 AM These services are for the post-b’nai mitzvah teens of B’nai Kindergarten – November 13 Israel. Our teens help to organize the service and lead it, with First Grade – December 4 support from Sarah Jarvis, Director of Youth Engagement. Second Grade – December 18 Third Grade – January 22 September 11 Fourth Grade – March 12 October 2 Fifth Grade – February 26 November 13 Sixth Grade B’nai Mitzvah Experience – November 5 December 11 (Friday evening) January 15 2021–2022 | 5782 5 WORSHIP HIGH HOLIDAYS 2021/5782 Jonah: Repairing Ourselves, Repairing the World Selihot: The Official Start with Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz to the High Holiday Season Monday, August 23 7:00 PM Saturday, August 28 The Book of Jonah serves as the haftarah for the afternoon of Yom 9:15 PM Havdalah & Light Kippur. The book may be brief, but its lessons are profound. Rabbi Refreshments Berkowitz will present a new commentary authored by Rabbi Dr. 9:30 PM Screening (in-person Shmuly Yanklowitz, focusing on the message “human responsibility only) of Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua in a shared world.” Heschel Story followed by a discussion with the clergy 10:45 PM Selihot Service Demystifying the Rosh Hashanah Musaf Service Join us for an evening of exploration and reflection as we with Cantor Sarah Bolts look back at the life of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Tuesday, August 24 the indelible mark that he made on our nation during the Civil 7:30 PM Rights Movement. The film screening will be followed by a The Rosh Hashanah morning service can feel like an ocean of discussion with the clergy, connecting the film to seasonal mostly-unfamiliar text, even to those who know the weekday and themes like the power of every individual, the Jewish people’s Shabbat services well.