Bet Mishpachah
Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About Bet Mishpachah,
Our Mailing Lists, and Publications

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Bet Mishpachah's Email Mailing Lists & Web Site
 
What is ATCBM?
ATCBM is the Electronic Bulletin Board of Congregation Bet Mishpachah in Washington, DC, and contains different content from our print newsletter, Mishpachah Matters. We use ATCBM to broadcast late-breaking news and event notices to the congregation.  
 
All new and renewing members of the congregation automatically receive a subscription to ATCBM if they provide an email address on their membership form, unless the member specifically requests not to receive a subscription. It will take us approximately a month to get everybody added to the new system after membership renewal. Subscriptions to ATCBM are also open to nonmembers and the general public.  Members are advised to maintain a subscription to ATCBM, as the congregation's leadership is increasingly using this channel for communication with our members, and you will miss a lot of important announcements if you cancel your subscription. Again, the content of ATCBM is NOT THE SAME as Mishpachah Matters, our printed newsletter.
 
Can I be on the ATCBM mailing list if I am not a member?
Yes, subscriptions are open to nonmembers and the general public.

How do I join ATCBM?
 
For general technical assistance on any of our email mailing lists or email system, write to technical-support@betmish.org
 
How do I post an item to ATCBM?
In most cases, we will broadcast items via ATCBM that are either officially sponsored or co-sponsored by Bet Mishpachah or are of specific interest to the GLBT Jewish community. Other items are accepted on a case-by-case basis. However, please note that outside organizations (both for-profit and non-profit) wishing
to announce their non-Bet Mishpachah-sponsored event, service, or product in our email or print publications will be charged our standard advertising rates (discounts for CBM members).
List members cannot post items directly. All ATCBM announcements are moderated by an editor and queued as copy is received. We often broadcast items via ATCBM only when a sufficient quantity is reached or an event's date warrants.  If you wish to submit items for publication in ATCBM, please send your announcement (with COMPLETE details) to atcbm@betmish.org. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR ITEM AS AN ATTACHMENT!
 
Please DO NOT send subscription questions to this address.
It is important that your notice contain ALL the pertinent details about the event, including:
  • Date
  • Time
  • Place, including exact address, room/floor number, driving and Metro directions, and parking information
  • Costs, if any, for members and nonmembers
  • A description of the event, and any relevant Web links or other information
  • Contact for further information, including name, phone, and email
What is the advertising policy? How can I find out more about ad rates and deadlines?
Outside organizations (both for-profit and non-profit) wishing to announce their non-Bet Mishpachah-sponsored event, service, or product in our email or print publications will be charged our
standard advertising rates (discounts for CBM members). We do not run advertisements in ATCBM to prevent our announcements from being targeted as SPAM. Advertisements, text and display, may be purchased for publication in our print newsletter, Mishpachah Matters.
 
Circulation for Mishpachah Matters is monthly and is approximately 1,000.
 
Circulation for ATCBM is approximately 400.
 
For information about our ad rates and copy/display art deadlines, please contact our Advertising Sales Coordinator at advertise@betmish.org
 
Questions concerning our editorial and advertising policies may be directed to:
Chair, Communications Committee, communications@betmish.org

Where do I send items or corrections for the website?
This website is maintained by volunteers and provides information about the Congregation; our services, events, activities, and membership; and how to contact us.
 
If you have items to be placed on the website, or corrections or comments regarding the website, please contact webweaver@betmish.org

Is my information safe?
We care about your privacy, and your information is safe with us. Congregation Bet Mishpachah administers our own electronic mailing lists on our secure server, and your name and email address are not shared with any other individual or organization.

What other lists are operated by the congregation?
The congregation presently operates two additional email lists:
 
CBM-LEADERS, a closed announcement list for the Congregation's committee chairs and other leadership

CBM-MINUTES, a distribution list of members and non-members who have requested to receive the minutes of the monthly meeting of the Bet Mishpachah Board of Directors.  To receive the minutes, send your request to secretary@betmish.org
 
 

Bet Mishpachah's Print Newsletter

What is "Mishpachah Matters"?
Mishpachah Matters is our monthly print newsletter sent to members, friends, community organizations, and donors.
 
Can I be on the "Mishpachah Matters" mailing list if I am not a member?
Yes, we offer a 3-month trial subscription to non-members. Contact our Administrator at office@betmish.org for more information. Or you can receive the newsletter electronically, indefinitely, by sending an email to pdfnews-subscribe@betmish.org.

How do I change my address for "Mishpachah Matters"?
Send your new information to address-change@betmishpachah.org

My yahrtzeit/birthday/anniversary listing is not correct in "Mishpachah Matters." Whom do I contact about this?
Send your corrected information to our Administrator at office@betmish.org.

Where do I send my completed "Mishpachah Matters" article assignments? When are they due?
Articles for Mishpachah Matters are assigned by the Board of Directors. Space considerations generally prevent publication of unsolicited articles; contact the Editor for more assistance.
Articles are due on the 1st Tuesday of the month PRIOR to publication - for example, articles for the December newsletter are due on the first Tuesday in November. Send copy to news-editor@betmish.org

About the Congregation, Services & Events
 
Basic information about Congregation Bet Mishpachah
Founded in 1975, Congregation Bet Mishpachah (meaning, in Hebrew, "House of Family") by members of the GLBT
Community, is Washington, DC's Egalitarian synagogue embracing a diversity of sexual and gender identities.  We are a congregation for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews, our family, friends, and all who wish to participate in an inclusive, egalitarian, and mutually supportive community. We join together to
affirm our religious and cultural heritage, integrating Gay and Lesbian and Jewish identities. Our membership is comprised of singles, couples, and families, and is open to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Since our founding in 1975, our congregation has grown to hundreds of members. Bet Mishpachah is proud to have a celebratory community of women and men who share equally in the leadership of the congregation. Your presence in our congregation strengthens us and demonstrates your commitment to the broader Jewish and
Gay/Lesbian communities that we serve.  We are members of:
  • The Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington (www.jcouncil.org)
  • The Network of Independent Jewish Communities and Havurot
  • The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews: Keshet Ga'avah (www.wcgljo.org)
  • The Celebration of the Spirit Coalition (a Washington-area LGBT interfaith coalition)
  • The Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington (www.jewish-funerals.org)
 
Our contact details are:
Congregation Bet Mishpachah
PO Box 1410
Washington, D.C. 20013
 
Rabbi Bob Saks: rabbibob@betmish.org
Administrative E-mail: office@betmish.org
 
Proud to be Part of the DCJCC!
District of Columbia Jewish Community Center
16th & Q Streets NW
www.dcjcc.org
 
When and where are services held?
Bet Mishpachah holds Shabbat services at 8:30 pm every Friday and at 10:00 am on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at the District of Columbia Jewish Community Center, 16th and Q Streets NW, in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington DC. A festive Oneg Shabbat (social hour) follows each service.
Sign language interpretation is available by sending an email to sign@betmish.org.
 
On the first Friday of every month, a special Women's Program is held prior to services at 7:30 pm.
 
We also hold High Holy Days, festival, and holiday celebrations throughout the year, and offer a wide range of social, educational, religious, and cultural activities.
 
How can I find out more about the congregation?
Stop by our services and activities calendar, or browse this website. Some good starting points might be:
Congregation Bet Mishpachah email directory
We have a system of email addresses on the @betmish.org domain that has been set up for each function within the congregation. While the individual volunteers and leadership may change over time, the congregation's email addresses on the @betmish.org domain generally do not change and are continuously re-programmed to
always forward your message to the correct individual(s).
 
Office/Congregation Administrator
office@betmish.org
 
Questions/Events/Mailing List/Membership
office@betmish.org
 
Rabbi Bob Saks
rabbibob@betmish.org
 
 
Submit ATCBM Event Notices/News
atcbm@betmish.org
 
Submit Mishpachah Matters Print Newsletter Articles
news-editor@betmish.org
 
Submit Calendar Items (for Print Newsletter/Web)
calendar@betmish.org
 
Technical Help with Congregational E-mail System
technical-support@betmish.org
 
Technical Help with ATCBM Subscription Problems
technical-support@betmish.org
 
Web Site Technical Feedback/Problems
webweaver@betmish.org
 
Advertising Sales
advertise@betmish.org
 
Editorial Guidelines/Advertising Policy
communications@betmish.org

 
Why are there so many email addresses for congregation leadership?
Our congregation has very few paid staff and is primarily volunteer-run. Therefore, email is the best method of contacting us to avoid delays in gaining a response to your question. We have a system of email addresses on the @betmish.org domain that has been set up for each function within the congregation. While the individual volunteers and leadership may change over time, the congregation's email addresses on the @betmish.org domain generally do not change and are continuously re-programmed to always forward your
message to the correct individual(s).

Where else can I find a listing of congregation leadership and contact information, if I don't have this FAQ handy?
You can contact Congregation leadership via this website. A complete Congregation directory also appears every month in "Mishpachah Matters," our print newsletter.

Information for Members

How do I find out more about joining the congregation?
We have a printable membership form you can download from our FORMS PAGE and mail to us. Membership
information is available on the MEMBERSHIP link on this website.
Or, you can contact our Administrator at
 
My address/phone number changed, how do I correct my membership record?
Send your new information to our address-change@betmish.org.
 
I have a new yahrtzeit, whom do I contact with this information?
Send your new information to our Administrator at office@betmish.org.