Events & Happenings

Rabbi Saks’ Column

Last month in this Column, I began to review the six values that we’ve selected over the years for special emphasis at Bet Mishpachah. I began with hachnasat orchim - hospitality, welcoming the stranger - which encourages us to make sure visitors feel greeted, and welcomed, and attended to at our services and activities.

This month I want to move on to sh’lom bayit - peace in the home or community.

This value encourages us to be respectful of each other’s opinions and to listen to each other with open ears and minds and hearts, and to be humble in the certainty we have of the rightness of our own perspectives—after all, we might be wrong!

When we want to grow intellectually, it’s a good discipline to engage in reading, or conversation, precisely with those whom we know differ with us. How else do we grow? Like physical muscles, our intellects and spirits become stronger when forced to do some heavy lifting.

In organizational life, such terms as “cutthroat” and “dog eat dog” often apply. Unfortunately, religious institutions are not so different. Say “church politics” or “shul politics” and those in the know nod understandingly. At Bet Mishpahchah, that’s not the way we want it to be and, with minor exceptions, that’s not the way it’s been.

By and large, our focus on this value has served us well. Board meetings are almost always friendly. Congregational meetings are usually quite amicable.

When issues have divided us, we’ve tried to defuse the tension and give everyone a fair hearing. We’ve tried to observe the rabbinic maxim - dan et kol adam b’kaf z’chut - judge everyone in the scale of merit, which means, judge others kindly, assume they mean well, and are trying to do their best.

When it’s seemed useful, we’ve hired others from outside the congregation to moderate our discussions so a skilled and impartial hand could guide us. We wanted, in choosing this value, to have a community where people like and respect each other.

At Bet Mishpachah we talk, and even when we don’t agree, we listen and we learn. We wanted sh’lom bayit, and I think it’s fair to say that’s what we have.

Yom Ha-Shoah Observance - Friday, May 2, 2008

Bet Mishpachah will mark Yom Ha-Shoah, the annual commemoration of the Holocaust, at erev Shabbat services on Friday, May 2, at 8:30 pm at the DCJCC. There will be a special memorial candle-lighting ceremony before the service, and Bet Mishpachah’s choir, Tach’shitim, will participate in the service.

Women’s Program Continues Contemplating Next Moves - Friday, May 2, 2008

The Women’s Program will meet on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the DCJCC, for a brown bag dinner and to continue the lively discussion we began last month. (At April’s meeting, Elke Martin led the first part of a discussion about “what do we want the women’s outreach program to become—if anything?”).

Last Opportunity to Honor Our Service Award Winners!

Deadline is Friday, May 2! Don’t miss the opportunity to recognize Charlie Stewart and Nancy Polikoff, our volunteer award winners, with a tribute line or business-card size ad in the evening’s program.

A congratulatory line greeting costs only $18 and a business card-size ad costs $54. By participating in the program, you will not only be honoring our recipients, but contributing to the well being of our congregational too.

Please submit your program ads or greetings, no later than May 2, 2008, to: Andrea Perll, 1121 University Blvd. West, #1211, Silver Spring, MD 20902. Checks should be made payable to Bet Mishpachah. If you have any questions, please contact Andrea at vpm@betmish.org.

Join Us For Service Awards Shabbat Dinner—May 16, 2008

On Friday, May 16, in conjunction with the celebration of our two award-winning volunteers, Bet Mishpachah will host a congregational Shabbat dinner from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the DCJCC. Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize these committed and caring individuals.

In a departure from normal practice, the cost of the dinner, for members and non-members alike, is $36. Please make your check payable to Bet Mishpachah, and send to the address below. Dinner will be kosher; if you have other dietary restrictions, or require a vegetarian meal, please let us know.

Mail your check and any special requirements to: Shabbat Dinner, c/o Mindy Gasthalter, 1725 17th Street, N.W., #208, Washington, DC 20009. Checks and reservations are due by May 9, 2008. Please be aware that there is space for only 56 attendees, and our dinners often sell out, so make your reservation early. Questions can be directed to socialevents@betmish.org.

Lag b’Omer Observed Friday, May 23, 2008

Join us for services on Friday, May 23, at 8:30 pm at the DCJCC, when our services will include observance of Lag b’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer.

The Omer marks the period between Pesach and Shavuot, and reminds us that the redemption from slavery we celebrate at Passover was not complete until we received the Torah, celebrated at Shavuot. The Omer is traditionally a time of semi-mourning, when celebration of any kind is discouraged. Lag b’Omer is a break from the solemnity, observed with dancing, singing, picnics and other outdoor activities.

As of press time, specifics had not been finalized, but we’re sure it will be a joyful evening for all.

Read the Book, Meet the Author

The Book Readers’ Group invites you to join us on Wednesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. to discuss our next book, Light Fell, by Evan Fallenberg.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Fallenberg made aliya to Israel in 1985, where he is active as a teacher and translator from Hebrew into English. Three of his latest translations are Murder in Jerusalem by Batya Gur (zal), A Pigeon and a Boy by Meir Shalev, and Beaufort by Ron Leshem. The latter was made into an award-winning Israeli movie.

In this, his first novel, Fallenberg tells the story of Israeli scholar Joseph Licht who 20 years ago gave up his wife, five sons, father and religious community when he fell in love with a famous rabbi. The love affair is long over and Joseph is turning 50. So what does he do but invite all his sons, and the daughter-in-law he has never met, over to his penthouse in Tel Aviv for Shabbat while his new boyfriend is out of town. Oy vey! Is this guy a masochist with chutzpah or what?

Read the book to find out how each of the sons, whose life paths differ greatly from one another, reacts to the father they haven’t seen for two decades. The themes of this book should resonate with synagogue members who were in heterosexual relationships in the past and have grown-up children today.

The Book Reader’s Group will gather on May 28 at the home of Jack Hillelsohn and Charlie Stewart (3504 Shepherd St., Mt. Rainier, MD 20712), for a vegetarian/parve potluck dinner and a discussion of the book afterwards. For more details, contact Charlie Stewart at charlie.s.stewart@gmail.com or 301-699-9248.

And then, while the discussion is still fresh in your mind, come to Friday evening services at Bet Mishpachah two days later to meet Mr. Fallenberg and hear him discuss his new book. (See: Save the date: Guest Speaker Evan Fallenberg on Friday, May 30, 2008).

Save the date: Guest Speaker Evan Fallenberg on Friday, May 30, 2008

On Friday, May 30, Bet Mishpachah will host Evan Fallenberg, the acclaimed author of the novel Light Fell. (For more information on the book, see Read the Book, Meet the Author). Books will be available for sale and signing before services, and Evan will read and speak after services.

Israel@60 is Just Around the Corner!

In less than a month, people from all around the region will be converging on the National Mall to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. The party will get under way at noon on Sunday, June 1, and last until 5 p.m. Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor, Mandy Patinkin will emcee the event. He will be joined by popular singer and songwriter Regina Spector, the Israeli rock band Mashina, and the Sesame Street Muppets, among other entertainers and speakers.

In addition to the two sound stages, there will be eight pavilions sponsored by local organizations with exhibits and interactive activities highlighting various aspects of Israeli life and culture. One pavilion will display Israeli achievements in research, Nobel prizes, high tech, the environment, industry and the revival of the Hebrew language as a modern living tongue.

Other pavilions will focus on society and religion, government and democracy, arts and literature, immigration, history and geography. There will even be a tent with games and hands-on activities devoted exclusively to children. In short, there is something for everyone, no matter where your area of interest lies in the Jewish homeland.

Want to have fun and do a mitzva at the same time? Then volunteer to work a single two-hour shift as a guide, docent, or “gopher,” or to help set up before the event, or tear down afterwards. Volunteers are also needed to help with the displays and activities in the various p`avilions.

You can sign up and represent Bet Mishpachah in the community by contacting Charlie Stewart at charlie.s.stewart@gmail.com, or 301-699-9248, or by filling in the sign-up sheet on the information table at services. Volunteers will get an Israel@60 T-shirt. If you cannot volunteer your time on the day of the event, you can still help out in a valuable way by being a Bet Mishpachah PR spokesperson for Israel@60. Tell your friends, relatives and co-workers about the event and urge them to attend. So come learn about, celebrate and support Israel, and have fun all at the same time. It’s going to be a Capital Celebration!

“Best Cantor in Northern California” to be Our Guest Cantor on Friday, June 6 - SAVE THE DATE

Linda Hirschhorn, one of the most influential singers and composers of new Jewish music for the synagogue, will be with us on June 6. She and Rabbi Bob will conduct the service. This is a return visit for Linda to Bet Mishpachah.

Linda has been a major figure in Jewish music for decades. She has recorded numerous albums as a soloist and with her group, "Vocolot.” She brings a lovely voice and an engaging personality to the services she leads, and takes congregants with her on a spiritual journey that makes Shabbat services with her memorable. We’re looking forward to a real treat, one you won’t want to miss.

Shavuot at Bet Mishpachah June 8: A Taste of Dairy and a Taste of Talmud

On Sunday, June 8, 2008, Bet Mishpachah will observe Shavuot and the customs of partaking in a dairy meal and studying Torah. We will gather at the DCJCC beginning at 6:30 pm with a dairy potluck (details below), followed by an evening Holy Day service and special study sessions, to end around 10:00 pm.

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, is the second of three festivals of agricultural and historical significance. The others are Passover and Sukkot. Agriculturally, Shavuot celebrates the harvest of the first fruits which were then brought as an offering to the Temple, hence the name Hag Habikkurim. With the destruction of the Temple and the establishment of Rabbinic Judaism, it came to be a celebration of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, or Hag Matan Torah.

While Passover celebrates our liberation from physical bondage, Shavuot celebrates our spiritual rebirth as a people guided by the Torah. It is therefore customary to spend the first night of Shavuot studying Torah, a practice known as Tikun Leil Shavuot. Another custom of Shavuot is to eat at least one dairy meal. Some say that this derives from the biblical reference to Israel as a “land of milk and honey,” while others say that it emphasizes that the circumstances that permitted the consumption of meat were unknown until the Torah was given.

For the dairy potluck, attendees with last names A-E are asked to bring an appetizer or salad, F-K a main dish, L-P a dessert or fruit, and Q-Z beverages.

For the study session, we will need volunteer discussion leaders. Rabbi Saks will develop a four or five course “Talmud Tasting Menu” covering major ethical, juridical and liturgical themes. Volunteers will be asked to read the materials he will provide and facilitate the discussion of the selected course.

To volunteer, send an e-mail to either RabbiBob@betmish.org or
vpra@betmish.org, or call Al Munzer at 202-244 -8317.

Be A Capital Pride Volunteer!

The Capital Pride Festival will take place on Sunday, June 15, 2008, and Bet Mishpachah is looking for volunteers to help staff our booth. Volunteers will be staffing the booth in short shifts, to allow you time to enjoy the festival on your own. Please lend us a hand (or two!).

As a volunteer at the booth, you will be telling people about Bet Mishpachah, socializing with people who come up to the booth and answering questions and handing out chotchkes. Who knows - you might even get to meet that someone special!

To sign up for a shift, please Abigail Haddad at bmal1@betmish.org.

Question of the Month - by Rabbi Bob Saks

In the spirit of Passover, here are four related questions:

When a person first starts to do this, he or she is like a sheep. What is it?
As a person continues to do it, he or she becomes like a lion. What is it?
Continuing to do it, he or she becomes like a pig, wallowing in dirt. What is it?
.And if a person still continues, he or she will dance around like a monkey. What is it?

And since sometimes we’re supposed to do it, and at least once a year to do a lot of it, what does Judaism really think about it?

Answer to This Month's Question

The Four Questions, based on a Rabbinic midrash, refer to drinking wine.

As we drink more and more, we progress from sitting quietly like a sheep, to acting aggressively toward others like a lion, to losing control and wallowing around like a pig, and finally to making a fool of ourselves by acting like a monkey.

Still, Judaism appreciates the benefits of a glass of wine to enhance a meal, and to help us relax and unwind. For this reason, wine is used for the blessings that usher in the Sabbath and our holidays—it helps us forget our weekday worries and settle in to the companionship of family and friends, and the spirit of the special day.

On Purim, however, the tradition seems to go further and to encourage us to become so intoxicated that “we don’t know the difference between ‘cursed be Haman’ and ‘blessed be Mordechai.’“ Look a little deeper into the literature, however, and you’ll find that this permission is extended only to those who can drink and not progress to aggressive, sloppy, or ridiculous behavior. A drink on Purim is meant to allow us to loosen our inhibitions and to enter into the frivolity of the day, without worrying excessively about what others will think. In truth, the drinking on Purim isn’t meant to make a person drunk on anything other than the joy of the day.

In like fashion, the four cups of wine on Passover are meant to make the celebration and the discussion easy-going and joyous, as is the bottle of shnaps that often, in traditional circles, shows up on Simchat Torah. If you forget that it’s a religious holiday that you’re celebrating, you’ve had too much to drink, but if you can become intoxicated just enough to relax into the intoxication of the day, then you’re doing all right.

L’ Chayim! - Rabbi Bob Saks