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Key Dates SEPTEMBER 5 Selichot/Board Installation 11 Erev Rosh Hashanah 12 Rosh Hashanah Day 1 13 Rosh Hashanah Day 2 OCTOBER 2 Erev Simchat Torah, Sh’mini Atzeret
20 Erev Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre 21 Yom Kippur 26 Erev Sukkot 27 Sukkot 3
Community Festival Service, Simchat Torah
Happy
NOVEMBER 26 Thanksgiving Day DECEMBER 4 First Night Hanukkah 5-12 Hanukkah
31 New Year’s Eve
THANKSGIVING
In This Issue Clergy/Staff................................... 2
Mazel Tov..................................... 16
Sisterhood Book Group................ 25
Welcome New Members.............. 2
Capital Improvement Project....... 17
Hanukkah...................................... 26
Contact Info.................................. 2
Gan Tikvah.................................... 18
Brotherhood Events...................... 27
Committees List............................ 3
Generation NeXters...................... 19
Generation to Generation Circle.... 28
Board of Trustees ....................... 3
Perspective from Israel................ 20
Circles of Giving 2026................. 30
Clergy/Senior Leadership Messages .................................... 4
Mitzvah Corps.............................. 20
Condolences................................ 31
Worship Services......................... 8
Sisterhood Events........................ 21
List of Funds................................. 32
Book Club..................................... 22
Donations .................................... 34
Early Learning Center.................. 14
The Conversation Many Jews Say They Can't Have.................... 23
Shofar Sponsors ......................... 35
B’notai Mitzvah............................. 15
New(ish) Member Havdalah........ 24
Adult Education............................ 10
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CLERGY/SENIOR STAFF Senior Rabbi Rabbi Rachel Ackerman rabbiackerman@templeshalom.net Cantor Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev cantortovlev@templeshalom.net Rabbi Educator Rabbi Joshua Gischner rabbijosh@templeshalom.net Adjunct Rabbi/Jewish Educator Rabbi JoHanna Potts jpotts@templeshalom.net Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn rabbikahn@templeshalom.net
Welcome New Members MAY - JULY Gerry Baill Silver Spring Rebecca and Clint Correll Children ages 2 and 8 Takoma Park Ethan Feinstein and Claire Norris Children ages 3 and 5 Silver Spring Robin Friedman Washington DC
Daniel Kempner and Alexandra Stryker Children ages 4 and 9 Silver Spring Rose Lapp and Austin Del Priore Child age 1 Washington DC Annie and Josh Tulkin Child age 10 Silver Spring
Executive Director Andrew Maayan amaayan@templeshalom.net ELC Director Maggie Heidema elc@templeshalom.net
Whom do I contact at Temple Shalom about... ? Building/Space rental Calendar items Reserving meeting space/room set-up
Suzy Burstein sburstein@templeshalom.net
Accessibility Becoming a member
Jeannelle D’Isa jdisa@templeshalom.net
Account/statement or making a donation
Sharon Winick swinick@templeshalom.net
Religious School
Katherine Schnorrenberg school@templeshalom.net
Accounting Manager Sharon Winick swinick@templeshalom.net
Scheduling a lifecycle event Scheduling a meeting with one of our clergy
Katherine Schnorrenberg rabast@templeshalom.net
B’notai Mitzvah Administrator Andrea Mark amark@templeshalom.net
Other items
info@templeshalom.net
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Member Relations Administrator Suzy Burstein sburstein@templeshalom.net Clergy and Religious School Administrator Katherine Schnorrenberg rabast@templeshalom.net school@templeshalom.net Engagement and Family Education Coordinator Jeannelle D’Isa jdisa@templeshalom.net
Building Supervisor David Diaz
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All Temple Shalom staff may also be reached by telephone at (301) 587-2273.
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Matt Andelman President@templeshalom.net Executive Vice-President Karen Miller
Temple Shalom Committees and Contact Information Belonging (formerly Membership) Megan Parker and Dana Larkin membership@templeshalom.net Book Club Janice Zalen bookclub@templeshalom.net Budget Lynn Mandell treasurer@templeshalom.net Capital Improvements Debbie Szyfer deborah.szyfer@gmail.com Generation to Generation Rachel Miller GenerationtoGeneration@ templeshalom.net House and Grounds Mike Gurevich mike.gurevich@gmail.com Kulanu (LGBTQIA+ affinity group) Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev cantortovlev@templeshalom.net Mitzvah Corps Carolyn Shargel and Wilma Braun mitzvahcorps@templeshalom.net Opening the Gates Debbie Szyfer and Mike Rubin TSBuilding@templeshalom.net Religious Education Joanna Waldstreicher REC@TempleShalom.net
Renaissance Group Paula Kahn and Sherry Doggett renaissance@templeshalom.net Sacred Spaces Berinna Doggett and Sherry Doggett sacredspaces@templeshalom.net Shofar Newsletter Carol Jimenez and Colleen Labbe shofar@templeshalom.net Sukkat Shalom Sherry Doggett sukkatshalom@templeshalom.net Tikkun Olam Fran Paver and Betsy Kingery tikkunolam@templeshalom.net Young Professionals Emma Bassin ebassin713@gmail.com Worship Megan Parker and Sarah Leavitt meganrk@gmail.com; leavitt.sarah@gmail.com Auxiliaries Brotherhood Mike Gurevich and Marc Hershkowitz brotherhood@templeshalom.net Sisterhood Juliana Horowitz sisterhood@templeshalom.net Youth Groups Xani Pollakoff xpollakoff@templeshalom.net
Vice Presidents Megan Parker Debbie Szyfer Steve Schleien Leslie Rubin Treasurer Lynn Mandell treasurer@templeshalom.net Financial Secretary Sherry Doggett financialsecretary@templeshalom.net Secretary Joanna Waldstreicher Immediate Past President Peter Howard ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES Matthew Breman Paul B. Ellis Dawn Goldstein Deborah Hutton Robin Katcher Lisa Krim Dana Larkin Carrie Wolinetz Rachel Zimmerman EX-OFFICIO VOTING TRUSTEES Brotherhood Co-Presidents Mike Gurevich and Marc Hershkowitz Sisterhood President Juliana Horowitz Youth Representative To be determined HONORARY NON-VOTING TRUSTEES Senior Rabbi Rachel Ackerman Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev Rabbi Educator Joshua Gischner Executive Director Andrew Maayan URJ Board Member Anne Feinberg Joan Kalin Andrea Mark
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Message f rom Senior Rabbi By Rabbi Rachel Ackerman
As we enter the High Holiday season, we become well aware of life’s fragility–the leaves turning colors and soon to fall, the empty seats around our holiday tables, the recounting of our losses, illnesses, and near misses. We wonder what it means to be written into the Book of Life. The liturgy is heavy, the melodies haunting. We engage deeply in the act of teshuvah, of reflection and return, thinking about how we’ve lived up to our best selves and where we’ve fallen short.
issues. They are hard to face, so we are content to keep our reflections contained until it is absolutely necessary or our liturgy forces us to reflect.
It is important to face our mortality from time to time, to be put in situations where we are meant to think about how we want to live, die, and be remembered.
Because of these conversations, we are dedicating our Kehillat Shalom Adult Learning sessions this year to topics around death and dying. On six Sunday mornings throughout the year, we will meet with our senior staff and programming team to discuss everything from the mundane of funeral costs, to values and logistics around estate planning, to Jewish wisdom about death, legacy, and what happens to our soul after it departs our body. Our clergy and programming team will be joined by experts in the field -- cemetery executive directors, estate lawyers, hospice workers, and others -- as we navigate these difficult questions and explore how to prepare for the inevitable.
In recent years I have had more and more people approach me to talk about a host of issues related to death and dying, from the tachlis (logistical) to the spiritual. They are hungry to talk and to be nudged into the difficult work of reflection and preparation.
Watch for the dates and topics. Please join us for this meaningful and important learning. G’mar Chatimah Tovah. May you be sealed for a good year. Sermons by our clergy are on our Temple’s website. Some of us put our lives and deaths in order: we have completed our wills and advanced directives, selected cemetery plots, and addressed our finances. Some of us wonder how we will be remembered. Some of us question what will become of us once we breathe our last breath. Some of us continue to put things off. Many of us don’t think about one or more of these
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Welcome to Temple Shalom
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The Pieces We Carry for One Another By Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev
It’s really hard right now, but thank God we have each other. In the three years I’ve been at Temple Shalom, this sentiment has been a throughline: an honest response to “how’s it going,” a central message in a congregational email, a sermon I’ve given from the bimah in multiple ways. It’s been hard and there’s no guarantee it’s going to get easy any time soon. But one of the things I love most about Temple Shalom is that we show up, especially when times are difficult. As we approach the beginning of the new Jewish year, I want to lean into what helps us keep showing up. This High Holy Day season, I will be weaving a recurring musical thread throughout our services: L’ma’ancha. Traditionally heard on Kol Nidre, we will be singing this melody throughout the High Holy Day services, and even beginning to learn it together during Elul, the Jewish month of preparation before Tishrei, the first month of the new Jewish year. Literally translated, L’ma’ancha means “for your sake” or “for your purpose.” When our ancestors wrote these liturgical words, they imagined the “Your” as God. As they looked toward the new year, they prayed, “for Your sake, God.” For some of us, our prayers are directed toward God, and our Judaism for God’s sake. But what if the “your” in this phrase could also be interpreted more expansively? This year, L’ma’ancha can invite each of us to consider our individual “why”s. What is your purpose? What brings meaning to the ways you make Judaism an important part of your life, the ways you participate in our Temple Shalom community? What moves you to sign up for an adult learning session? Participate in a meal train for a congregant? Approach a person you don’t know to say hello during oneg? Join a committee? Come to services?
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The past year, like the ones before, has challenged us in many ways. And yet, we’re still here, making Judaism and Temple Shalom a part of our lives. There’s been so much to celebrate in this past year alongside all that’s been hard. We’ve had simchas (celebratory occasions), shehecheyanu moments (opportunities to bless newness), deep learning, and new friendships. The High Holy Days offer us a precious opportunity for reflection. As we step into this new Jewish year, what is your purpose? What drives you to show up, anchors you to your Judaism, and gives you hope? If you’re so inclined, I’d love to know your “why” as we approach this season of renewal. Come find me at oneg after services, reach out over email, or schedule time for us to meet. I would love to connect and listen. L’shanah tovah umetukah, wishing us all a good and sweet year ahead.
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The Magic of Camp is in the Small Moments By Rabbi Josh Gischner
Picture this: a Shabbat song session at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy. I noticed a group of teenage boys chatting off to the side, and I walked over. I pulled out a small metal bar with six colored gems, taught them the colors in Hebrew, and asked one camper to choose a gem. The moment he chose, every gem turned blue. Before I could say a word, one of them called out "kakhol" (blue), the word I'd just taught him. The real magic wasn't in the gems. It was that he'd learned Hebrew without trying to. Those teens kept checking in with me for the rest of the camp session. I first learned to teach Jewish values through magic tricks thirteen years ago, as a counselor at Sci-Tech, where I built a multi-day curriculum. This summer, back on faculty, I ran an elective using that same approach - and it gave me an excuse to teach campers about Harry Houdini. Houdini was the son of Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weiss, who led an early Reform congregation in Appleton, Wisconsin. Houdini’s wife and stage partner, Bess Rahner, was raised Catholic - a mixed marriage that was a quiet act of defiance in the late 19th century. What I love teaching most are Houdini’s ethics. Houdini spent much of his later career debunking Spiritualist mediums who preyed on grieving people's hope of reaching the dead. Houdini seemed to want it to be true himself, but the more he learned these mediums’ methods, the more he saw the harm in the con, and worked to expose it as an illusion. I believe that's kavod, (respect for people), lived out, a SciTech value before Sci-Tech ever named it. It's all small moments: sitting with a camper through a rough night; a Temple Shalom fifth grader earning their "Golden Alef" after taking our challenge; a student using their Hebrew Jewish values in a sentence at Temple. These are my favorite moments in my work - the small magical ones.
And how beshert (meant to be) it is that next summer brings a new chapter: Sci-Tech Academy and Creative Arts Academy are becoming one in summer 2027 – URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech & Arts Academy – to be located at the same location that was formerly the Creative Arts Academy. Bittersweet doesn't begin to describe it - I helped build Sci-Tech as one of its first counselors thirteen years ago, and now I get to watch it grow into something new. Speaking of science and the arts, watch for more during our Scholar/Scientist and Artist in Residence weekend this May, featuring Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelman and artist Heather Stoltz. Yes, Heather Stoltz, the creator of our beautiful new Torah covers. More details will come, but if this summer taught me anything, it's that the magic is always in what comes next.
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Worship Services MID-SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER SEPTEMBER/Elul-Tishrei Friday, September 11/Rosh HaShanah Erev Rosh Hashanah Tot Service, 5:30pm BYO Dinner, 6:15pm Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 8:00pm
Monday, September 21/Yom Kippur Morning and Youth Services, 8:30am* Explorations, Study and Learning Sessions, 11:00am Late Morning and Youth Services, 11:30am* Community Family Service, 2:00pm Afternoon Service/Teen Presentation of Jonah, 3:30pm Healing Service, 4:30pm * Registration required
Saturday, September 12/Rosh HaShanah Early Morning and Youth Services, 8:30am* Late Morning and Youth Services, 11:30am* Community Family Service, 2:00pm Tashlich Service, 3:00pm * Registration required
Monday, September 21/Yom Kippur Yizkor and Ne’ilah Service, 5:30pm Yom Kippur Breakfast, 6:30pm
Sunday, September 13/Rosh HaShanah Rosh HaShanah 2 nd Day, 10:00am Second Day Tashlich, 12:00pm
Friday, September 25/Sukkot Erev Sukkot Family Service and Erev Shabbat Vayinafash Service, 6:00pm
Wednesday, September 16 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Saturday, September 26/Sukkot Sukkot Community Service, 10:00am
Friday, September 18 Erev Shabbat, Shabbat Shuvah, 6:00pm
OCTOBER/Tishrei-Cheshvan
Saturday, September 19 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, Shabbat Shuvah, 10:00am
Friday, October 2/Simchat Torah Tot Erev Simchat Torah, 5:30pm Erev Simcha Torah Service, 7:30pm
Sunday, September 20 Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Service, 8:00pm
Saturday, October 3/Sh’mini Atzeret Shabbat/Community Festival
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Services Yizkor Memorial Service Temple Sinai, 10:00am Wednesday October 7 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, October 9 Erev Shabbat Service, 6:00pm Saturday, October 10 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Wednesday, October 14 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, October 16 Erev Shabbat Family Service/ Blessing of the Animals, 6:00pm Saturday, October 17 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Belonging Committee Havdalah, 6:00pm Wednesday, October 21 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, October 23 Erev Shabbat Vayinafash Service, 7:30pm Saturday, October 24 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am (continued on next page)
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Worship Services (continued from previous page) Shabbat Service, Escobedo/ Secunda B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am
Wednesday, November 18 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Shabbat Morning Service, d’Aubermont/Mackie B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am
Wednesday, October 28 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, November 20 Erev Shabbat Vayinafash Service, 7:30pm
Wednesday, December 9 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, October 30 Erev Shabbat Service, 6:00pm Mazon Speaker
Saturday, November 21 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, Sherr/Horowitz B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am
Friday, December 11 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm
Saturday, October 31 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, Hegstad/Tyler Pell B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am
NOVEMBER/Cheshvan/Kislev Saturday, November 7 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, Brownlie/ Waldstreicher B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am Wednesday, November 11 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, November 13 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Saturday, November 14 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, Lavery/Singer B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am
Wednesday, November 25 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, November 27 Leftovers Shabbat, 6:00pm Location TBD Saturday, November 28 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am
DECEMBER/Kislev-Tevet Wednesday, December 2 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, December 4 Erev Shabbat Service/Night of 1,000 Menorahs/Consecration, 7:30pm Saturday, December 5 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am
Saturday, December 12 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Wednesday, December 16 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, December 18 Erev Shabbat Vayinafash Service, 7:30pm Saturday, December 19 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Wednesday, December 23 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am Friday, December 25 Erev Shabbat Service Home Hosted, 6:00pm Saturday, December 26 Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am Wednesday, December 30 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
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Temple Shalom Adult Education SEPTEMBER - FEBRUARY Adult education offerings are grouped into three categories – regularly scheduled sessions/topics to which you may just drop in; multi-session courses for which registration is required; and “pop up” one-time sessions. Within the first two categories, sessions are listed by the day of the week. For “pop up” sessions, they are listed chronologically by date. All in-person sessions are at Temple Shalom. ONGOING REGULAR STUDY/DISCUSSION JUST DROP IN! Shabbat Morning Worship and Torah Study, Saturdays, 10:00am (In person and by Zoom) Experience the Joy of Shabbat Torah Study! Join us for Shabbat morning services at 10:00am, followed by a stimulating community Torah study at 11:00am. Deepen your understanding of the weekly Torah portion and connections with your community. Register here to receive the Zoom link. News and Views, Thursdays, 10:30am-11:30am (Zoom only) Join this lay-led group discussion of current news issues, providing an opportunity for thoughtful reflection on the world around us. Contact info@TempleShalom.net to register. Sisterhood Book Club, usually the second Thursday of each month, 7:00pm (Zoom only) To get the link for the meeting, sign into your Temple account, click this link, and follow the prompts to have the Zoom link sent to your email. For more information, email Sisterhood@ TempleShalom.net. See the Sisterhood Book Club flyer in this issue of the Shofar. Book Club, Sundays, 9:30am; October 18, December 13, January 24, March 7, and April 25 Dive deeper into Jewish literature! Temple Shalom’s Book Club explores a variety of fiction and non-fiction with lively discussions and friendly faces. Join us for stimulating conversation and new perspectives. For more information, email BookClub@templeshalom.net.
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POP-UP ADULT EDUCATION End of Life: What You Need to Know (Kehilat Shalom 5787 theme), Sundays, 9:30am; October 11, November 22, December 20, February 21, March 7, and April 25 Death is a part of life - and yet most of us are unprepared for it. This series brings together the clergy and other professionals to help you navigate the practical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of end-of-life planning. From estate (continued on next page)
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Temple Shalom Adult Education (continued from previous page) planning and logistics to Jewish text and tradition, this year’s Kehilat Shalom theme will give you and your family the tools, knowledge, and community support to face the future with clarity and peace of mind.
including the installation of Temple Shalom's Board of Trustees. Learn more about artist Amparo Rojas here.
Sukkat Shalom, Sundays, 6:00pm-8:00pm; October 11, January 31, and March 7
Come reflect in community through dynamic learning on the themes of this sacred day. Specific topics and times to be provided with High Holiday materials.
This is a unique program started by a core group of members to hold facilitated discussions about Israel. Trained moderators aim to bring understanding of different viewpoints -- with the goal of discussing topics openly without a need to come to a consensus. We recognize that support for Israel may be complicated, emotional, and takes many different forms. Learn more here, and for more information, please email SukkatShalom@TempleShalom.net. Learning with Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld Beit Midrash: Learning and Dinner, Wednesday, September 2, 6:00pm8:00pm Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld is the Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria.org, an online database and interface for Jewish texts that our Temple clergy use often. Rabbanit Wolkenfeld is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute and a Scholar in Residence at Ohev Sholom. Rabbanit Wolkenfeld is particularly interested in the cross sections between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Torah, and we are excited for her to share her unique perspective on the topic. Selichot: Kintsugi Program and Candlelit Service, Saturday, September 5, 7:00pm refreshments, 7:30pm educational program, and 9:00pm candlelit service Join us for a meaningful Selichot evening featuring a handson Kintsugi workshop with local artist Amparo Rojas. Kintsugi - the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold - is a beautiful metaphor for the themes of healing, repair, and teshuva (return) as we enter the High Holiday season. The idea was inspired in part by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl's memoir Heart of a Stranger — learn more here. The evening begins at 7:00pm with the workshop (registration required), followed by candlelit Selichot services at 9:00pm,
Yom Kippur Afternoon Study and Learning Sessions, Monday, September 21
"Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering" Book Talk with Author Rabbi Dr. Caryn Aviv, Sunday, October 4, 9:30am-11:30am Join Rabbi Caryn Aviv to explore how Jewish anxiety is something we often inherit and learn -- from our ancestors, our communities, and the wider world -- and how we can unlearn those patterns using neuroscience, Jewish wisdom, and spiritual practice. It feels especially timely in our current moment. Rabbi Aviv's book is on Amazon's Top 100 Jewish life best-seller list, and this conversation will be a part of her book tour. Explore a book review, purchase the book, and learn more about Rabbi Aviv. Remembrance, Reflection and Study - Marking Three Years Since October 7 Beit Midrash: Learning and Dinner, Wednesday, October 7, 6:00pm-8:00pm Join the Temple Shalom clergy for an evening of learning, reflection, and prayer as we mark three devastating years since the October 7 attack on Israel and the war that followed. Through text study, poetry, and honest conversation, we will sit with the complexity of this moment together - grieving, questioning, and finding meaning as a community. Dinner included. Dance of the Five Emotions - Dance Workshop with Julie Kashen, Sunday, October 25, 9:30am-11:30am Join Julie Kashen for a meaningful workshop to help destress, dance, and be together in community. (continued on next page)
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Temple Shalom Adult Education (continued from previous page) Taming Tech: Practical Parenting Skills with Dr. Rebecca Reznik, Sunday, October 25, 6:00pm-8:00pm (live streamed and recorded) Join us for a parent education workshop with Dr. Rebecca Resnik, as she offers specific advice on how to set boundaries, implement limits, and establish or re-build a healthy relationship with technology in our own families. Dr. Reznik is the host of the Cultivating Excellence Podcast and the author of A Family's First Guide to ADHD. She brings both deep clinical expertise and a genuine passion for helping kids and families thrive. Learn more about Dr. Reznik here. Learning with Rabbi Noa Sattath Beit Midrash: Learning and Dinner, Wednesday, November 11, 6:00pm-8:00pm
is a scholar in the areas of Jewish diversity, antisemitism, race, and American Jewish identity. From his bio on the Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT’’A website -- “his teaching explores the historical presence of Jews of African descent, the ethical and theological demands of confronting racism and antisemitism, and the stakes of pluralism within halakhic Jewish life.” Watch Rabbi Rishon’s Eli Talk on “What Makes This Jew Different Than All Other Jews: Race, Difference, and Safety in Jewish Spaces.” Learn more about Rabbi Rishon here. Learning with Yolanda Savage-Narva Beit Midrash: Learning and Dinner, Wednesday, January 6, 6:00pm8:00pm
We are excited to invite Rabbi Noa Sattath back to Temple Shalom, cosponsored by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) where Rabbi Sattath serves as Executive Director. Rabbi Sattath is a leading voice in civil rights and equity for Israel and Palestine and before the ACRI, she was the Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the social justice arm of the Israel Reform Movement. Watch Rabbi Sattath’s Gratitude Video from the Israel Religious Action Center after 11 years of service and learn more about her work.
Yolanda Savage-Narva is the Vice President for Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) for the Union for Reform Judaism. In a Beit Midrash co-sponsored by the Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and Tikkun Olam Committee, Savage-Narva will explore diversity, equity, and inclusion helpfully as we think about our privilege and our roles in making the world a better place. Learn more about SavageNarva here.
Hal Bruno Brunch with journalist Naftali Bendavid Sponsored by the Brotherhood Sunday, November 15, 9:30am
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February 3, Dr. Mirele B Goldsmith, environmental psychologist, educator, and activist.
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March 3, Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, local rabbi, educator, and leader in disability access and inclusion in the Jewish community. Watch Rabbi Tuchman’s Eli Talk on “We Were All at Sinai: The Transformative Power of Inclusive Torah.”
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April 7, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director Emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and appointed by President Obama as a member of the first White House Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and to serve as the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Watch the Union for Reform Judaism’s Tribute to Rabbi Saperstein.
Join the Temple Shalom Brotherhood to learn from journalist Naftali Bendavid, Senior National Political Correspondent for The Washington Post. Learn more about Bendavid here and explore his work here. Learning with Rabbi Shais Rishon Beit Midrash: Learning and Dinner, Wednesday, December 2, 6:00pm8:00pm Rabbi Shais Rishon, who originally wrote under the moniker "MaNishtana," is the founder and Rabbi of Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT’’A, a Modern Orthodox synagogue centered on Jews with African American and Caribbean roots, though open to all. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Rabbi Rishon
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Future Batei Midrash 5787: Learning and Dinner, Wednesdays
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Temple Shalom Adult Education (continued from previous page) MULTI-SESSION CLASSES REQUIRING REGISTRATION Tovanot: Rejecting the Binary, Embracing Dual Narratives, Sundays, 6:00pm-8:00pm; February 21, February 28, March 14, March 21, April 11, and April 18 (April 18 will be 4:00pm-8:00pm) Back by popular demand, Tovanot is a thoughtful, multisession adult education series led by educator Ruti Kadish. In the wake of October 7 and its aftermath, Tovanot creates space for the conversations many of us don't know how to have - exploring Israel and Palestine through nuanced, dual-narrative perspectives. Whether you feel strongly, feel conflicted, or simply want to understand more, this series is designed for you. Register here. Introduction to Judaism, Tuesdays, 7:00pm (in person/on Zoom), beginning September 29 Deepen your understanding of Judaism through a Reform lens. Ideal for interfaith couples, parents, and spiritual seekers of all backgrounds, this inclusive course helps give people from all walks of life an introduction to Judaism and the Jewish People. Discover Jewish holidays, values, and the rich tapestry of Jewish experience including our history and contemporary life. Register here. (continued on next page) Hebrew 1: Introduction to the Aleph Bet, Mondays, 7:00pm, October 12 - December 14 Learn to read the Hebrew alphabet - the names and sounds of the Aleph Bet. Begin to read the Hebrew words you know and add new ones. For more information, contact Rabbi JoHanna Potts at JPotts@TempleShalom.net. Hebrew 2: Hebrew Prayer Fluency, Mondays, 8:15pm, October 12 - December 14 Sitting in services and enjoying the music is an important aspect to experiencing the spirituality of the service. Add another important aspect - the ability to read and understand the Hebrew of the prayers. For more information, contact Rabbi JoHanna Potts at JPotts@TempleShalom.net.
Adult B’notai Mitzvah Class It’s never too late. Deepen your Jewish journey through Temple Shalom's Adult B’notai Mitzvah program. Embark on a transformative two-year journey of Torah study and spiritual growth. Whether you are new to Judaism or seeking a deeper connection, experience the joy of becoming a leader in your community and celebrating our heritage with a meaningful ceremony. For more information, contact Rabbi JoHanna Potts at JPotts@TempleShalom.net. The class date and time will be set after enrollment.
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B’notai Mitzvah OCTOBER - DECEMBER
ZACHARY ESCOBEDO October 24 Zack is an 8th grader at Odessa Shannon Middle School, where he is on the TV crew. He loves animals, especially cats, and plans to become a veterinarian. He likes soccer, playing Minecraft with his friends, listening to music, solving problems, reading fantasy books, and playing board games. On the weekends Zack likes hanging out with his family. He has enjoyed working on his d’var torah and haftarah with Scott Kravetz and learning to chant Torah with Andy Mark. Zack has enjoyed asking questions at every b’notai mitzvah he’s attended and looks forward to hearing the questions his classmates will ask at his bar mitzvah.
ADAM SECUNDA October 24 Adam Secunda is an 8th grader at Francis Scott Key Middle School. He plays the viola and loves video games. Adam will be having his b’notai mitzvah with Zack Escobedo on October 24.
PAISLEY HEGSTAD October 31 Paisley is an 8th grader at Alice Deal Middle School, where they love math and science classes, read voraciously and are on the Vikings’ softball team. This is also Paisley’s third
year playing with DC Soccer Club. (Paisley has yet to find a sport they don’t want to try at least once!) Between practices, they enjoy scouting with Troop 1123 at Washington Ethical Society, summers at Camp Havaya, and snuggling with their cats at home in Mt. Pleasant. Paisley appreciates Andy Mark’s and Adam Issenberg’s help with their Halloween b’notai mitzvah and also thanks their moms and brother for their support. ARIA TYLER PELL October 31 Aria Tyler Pell will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on October 31. This fall, Aria will be an eighth grader at Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring, where she enjoys theater and movie making classes and plays clarinet in the school band. Outside of school, she loves cooking and baking, swimming (go SBP Dolphins!), musical theater, creating custom nail art, going to concerts, reading, and snuggling her cats. Aria thanks her tutor, Andy Mark, and her madricha, Sarah Leavitt, for helping her prepare, and sends warm congratulations to her simchat mitzvah partner, Paisley! She is excited to celebrate with family, friends, and the Temple Shalom community. ASHER BROWNLIE November 7 HARRY WALDSTREICHER November 7 JESSE LAVERY November 14 (continued on next page)
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B’notai Mitzvah OCTOBER - DECEMBER (continued f rom previous page) DAVID SINGER November 14 This November, David will celebrate his bar mitzvah, marking an exciting new chapter in his story. A student at Silver Creek Middle School, David is happiest on the flag football field, the basketball court, or listening to his favorite music. He’s a caring big brother to Beckett, who is always ready for a game, a laugh, or an adventure together. David thanks Marty and Andy for their guidance and tutelage as he prepared for this special day. His parents are so proud of the kind, hardworking, and fun-loving young man David has become. ELLA SHERR November 21
ROSE HOROWITZ November 21 ZOEY MACKIE December 5 Zoey is an eighth grader at Takoma Park Middle School. She loves spending time with her family and dog Rico, having sleepovers with friends, and making paintings and ceramics. She sells custom-designed press-on nails, babysits, and has also won multiple awards in the Takoma Park Children's Business Fair. Zoey plays field hockey, does gymnastics, is an excellent skier, and has attended Camp Louise the past six summers. She loves music and looks forward to both her bat mitzvah and including Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Katseye in her playlist at the party afterwards.
Mazel Tov to . . . MAY - JULY Matilda Bilstein and Geoffrey Ong and big sister Talia on the birth of Noah
Jeremy and Jase Schwartz and big brother Ezra on the birth of Benjamin Noah (Benji)
Rebecca Gourevitch and Michael Wexler and big brother Oren on the birth of Leah Gloria
Gabrielle Smithson and James Collins on their wedding
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Capital Improvement Project: Solar Panels are Coming! by Mike Gurevich
Solar panels are coming to our building. This project will lower our energy costs, reduce our carbon footprint, and provide clean renewable electricity. The exact dates for installation and generation of these benefits have not been determined yet but it will likely be 12 to 18 months. Due to the expiration of the Federal solar tax credit, there was a rush to “safe harbor” projects this year, as Temple Shalom has done. This created a backlog. But we have made all necessary deposits and are committed to the project.
have a lot of value. The SRECs will actually generate more money than the savings on electricity!
As you may know, we have been working for a long time to have solar panels installed on Temple Shalom. This project took a turn this spring, when our longtime “dance partner” decided to drop the project. This happened because the economic model for third party solar dissolved this year due to increased costs and the commitment needed to secure the tax credits. Fortunately, our solar journey is not over. Thanks to quick work from our new solar partner, Energy Select, and some enthusiastic donors, we are back on track to install solar panels on the roofs of our building. The new plan is for Temple Shalom to own the panels, and benefit from both the electricity generated and the Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) that the system will earn.
If you have any questions on this project, feel free to email me.
One last point -- the panels will not affect our “Opening the Gates” project financially or physically. Donations were made specifically for this solar panels project to help Temple Shalom earn a quick payback on it, and the location of the panels are not where the additions and modifications to the building will occur as part of Opening the Gates.
The panels will be installed on the two large flat roofs over the sanctuary and the social hall. Additionally, some panels will be installed on the administrative wing. Look at the picture to see where the panels will go. There will be approximately 140 panels, which will generate approximately 115,000 kWh per year, which is about 70% of the electricity used annually at Temple Shalom. This will save around $13,000 per year in operating expenses. But that’s not all. Since Temple Shalom will own the SRECs and because the Temple Shalom building sits in the DC grid, the SRECs
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Gan Tikvah (Garden of Hope): Caring for Creation and Healing the Earth at Temple Shalom By Debby Goldberg Over the past year, more than 75 members of Temple Shalom have put into practice our Jewish values of caring for creation and healing the earth, both at home and on the temple grounds. This group and these efforts now have a new name -- Gan Tikvah, which means Garden of Hope.
native plants helps support a healthy ecosystem for us and for the web of life upon which we depend and with which we share our land. It helps to improve air and water quality and serves as a bulwark against climate change, all goals toward which we are called to work as Jews.
These efforts have been spurred by our participation in the Sacred Grounds program of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), which guides faith congregations throughout the DMV to help their members learn about the importance and benefits of gardening with native plants. It also provides congregations with plans and plants to create native plant gardens on their grounds. More than just a plant choice, using
Gan Tikvah accomplishments to date The NWF Sacred Grounds program enabled us to create new native plant beds adjacent to the Hal Bruno patio. Members of the congregation prepared those beds last spring and planted and mulched them last October. Ever since, they have helped to weed, water and keep those beds looking good. NWF also gave Temple Shalom members access to information on why and how to garden with native plants and offered us tours of existing home gardens that use native plants so we could see them "in the wild." NWF sponsored a boat ride, led by the Anacostia River Keeper, to learn about efforts to improve conditions on that river and throughout the Anacostia River watershed, of which our temple is a part. Through the Sacred Grounds program, we gave away 50 native plant starter kits so that Temple Shalom households could grow native plants at home. Eight additional members were able to get larger kits to add 100 square feet of native plants to their home gardens. Based on members’ interest in native plants, we held a native plant plug sale in May, which netted $1,000. Those funds are being used to pay for restoration work on the temple grounds: pruning and shaping trees and shrubs; removing invasive vines and other plants; and generally improving both the appearance and ecological health of this patch of land that we steward. (continued on next page)
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(continued from previous page) Looking ahead We are excited that Temple Shalom has been invited to participate in the next phase of NWF's Sacred Grounds program. That will mean: • More opportunities to get introduced to or deepen your knowledge of how gardening with native plants helps heal our planet. Click here to get more information and register for a workshop on garden planning resources being held on September 26 with a focus on Prince George's County; • More garden tours, so you can see how specific native plants perform in different settings; • More native plant giveaways; and • The ability to add 100 additional square feet of native plantings on our temple grounds.
In addition, we plan to hold another sale of native plant plugs next Spring. All of this means that there will be lots of chances for those of you who are so inclined to get your hands in the dirt at the temple including by prepping garden beds, planting, weeding, watering, and the like. We hope that all of you will enjoy the added beauty and life that our new plantings will bring to your time at Temple Shalom. If you would like to be added to the email list for notifications about Gan Tikvah activities, please email gantikvah@templeshalom.net.
Generation NeXters Assemble! Were you glued to the TV for “Happy Days” and “Laverne and Shirley”? Do you remember when Madonna had her first hit? Did you own an eight-track player, and then make mix tapes of songs like “Come on Eileen”? And are your kids (if you have kids) now off to college? Then we have the group for you, Temple Shalom’s new Generation NexTers. Please save the following dates for happy hours: • • •
Wednesday, September 23 Thursday, October 22 Tuesday, November 17
If you want to be on our mailing list or want to help plan events, please email Dawn Goldstein.
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Perspective f rom Israel By Rabbinical Student Katie Heinzer
I really, really, did not want to go to Israel. What was there for me, as a female Reform rabbinical student? That combination of identities is considered by many Israelis to be laughable at best and an affront to God at worst. Looking back at the year I spent living in Jerusalem, I can count on one hand the number of days when I wasn’t angry about something -- angry at my classmates, the wider Jerusalem society, the government, myself. One of my classmates could not have been more different than me. She was raised by clergy parents, spent significant time in Jerusalem growing up, and plans to move back for good. I was not terribly quiet about my personal beliefs, and neither was she, but that somehow never got in the way of our ability to talk to each other with mutual respect and genuine care. One evening in September her brother held an event on campus sharing his experience in Gaza as a “lone soldier,” someone who came to Israel without family to join the IDF. I came to his event with the intention of listening to those whose perspectives are nothing like mine; I left in tears after his slide show showing nothing but rubble and ruined buildings across Gaza. It was by far one of the hardest days I had in Israel (and there
were many). And as awful as it was, I fondly remember my classmate texting me afterwards to check on me because she had taken note of my discomfort. Thanks to her and many, many fascinating people I met, I grew in my interpersonal maturity throughout my year in Israel without abandoning the beliefs and morals I consider central to my Jewish identity. I no longer desire total agreement with my beliefs in the people closest to me; I no longer hold my own opinion so highly that I can’t believe I’d ever be wrong. At times I’m scared for the Jewish future. Scared that Reform Judaism will either experience a painful schism within the movement or morph into a religion that has no room for me and my beliefs. And many, many of my experiences in Israel were far from the kind of across-the-aisle camaraderie I experienced with my classmate. When these thoughts creep in, I think about what author Gershom Gorenberg said when he guest lectured a class at HUC’s Jerusalem campus on the topic of West Bank occupation: “Despair is immoral. When you say change is impossible, you become complicit in it.”
Mitzvah Corps Mitzvah Corps is Temple Shalom’s caring committee. We are here to help with meals during an illness, home visits, rides to doctors’ appointments as well as welcoming new babies. Everyone can help with these things. Sometimes you may be the one offering help and other times you may need assistance. If you are interested in participating or if you need help, call the Temple office or contact the co-chairs of the committee: Wilma Braun, 301-461-0856 or Carolyn Shargel, 301-299-2244.
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Sisterhood Upcoming Events While tickets last!
Alex Edelman at Strathmore Thursday, November 5 The Sisterhood has reserved a row of seats with a discounted group rate for comedian Alex Edelman's November 5 show at Strathmore. Open to all Temple members. To purchase: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Visit https://www.strathmore.org/events-tickets/in-the-music-center/alex-edelman/ Click the red "Buy tickets" button Select "Purchase" next to the November 5 date Enter the promo code SHALOM and click "Choose My Seats" (if you get a pop-up box, click "Proceed")
5. Select your seats and proceed to check out. Tickets are $70.20 One of the most critically hailed comedians of his generation, Alex Edelman is best known for solo shows that blur the line between his stand-up comedy roots and narrative-driven storytelling. His last offering, Just for Us, played more than 500 performances all over the world — including acclaimed runs off- and on-Broadway. It premiered as an HBO original comedy special in April 2024, earning him a place on the Time 100 list, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award for Best Writing for a Variety Special.
Mark your calendars!
Save the date!
Sisterhood game nights
Sisterhood retreat
Sundays, 6:00pm–8:00pm Oct. 18, Nov. 22, Dec. 20, and Jan. 10
March 5–6, 2027 Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD
Our first Sisterhood game night of the year will be Sunday, October 18, from 6-8 pm, at the Temple. Feel free to bring your dinner with you, and the Sisterhood will provide drinks and sweet treats for all. If you have a specific game you'd like to play, bring it along! Questions? Email Laura Gehl or Ros Docktor.
We’ll begin with Shabbat and dinner on Friday evening and conclude with Havdalah and dessert on Saturday night, with plenty of time for learning, connecting, and fun. Details to come!
Hope to see you there!
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Temple Shalom Book Club Sundays, 9:30am-11:30am • Temple Shalom’s Main Office All are welcome! For more information, contact bookclub@templeshalom.net. October 18, 2026 Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Sapiens spans the whole of human history, from the very first humans to walk the earth to the breakthroughs of the cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions. Harari describes the three major unification forces of human cultures (money, empires, and religions) and the interactions between science, imperialism and capitalism. December 13, 2026 One Life: The True Story of Sir Nicholas Winton by Barbara Winton One Life is the biography of Nicky Winton, a self-described “ordinary” man who organized the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Working with two British aid workers, he had to find foster parents, secure visas, health certificates, and fees for the children.
January 24, 2027 Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me by Harvey Pekar In this graphic memoir, Harvey Pekar explores what it means to be Jewish and what Israel means to the Jews. Pekar's mother was a Zionist by way of politics, his father by way of faith, and he grew up supporting Israel. As he became attuned to the wider world, Pekar began to question his parents' beliefs. Illustrator JT Waldman and Pekar discuss Jewish history as they roam through Cleveland, Ohio. March 7, 2027 The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China by Jonathan Kaufman This the story of two families, the Sassoons and the Kadoories. From Baghdad, both families relocated to Shanghai in the mid-nineteenth century and became very rich. A fascinating true story of Jews and their impact on China and efforts to save European Jews during World War II. April 25, 2027 Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging by Angela Buchdahl This autobiography tells the story of Rabbi/Cantor Angela Buchdahl. The daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and an American Jewish father, Buchdahl traces the journey she took to becoming the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City. Buchdahl shows how things that make one feel like a stranger can be the source of empathy and strength.
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The Conversation Many Jews Say They Can't Have by John Landesman
This Spring, a group of Temple Shalom members did something that many American Jews feel is no longer possible: they spent nine hours engaging in thoughtful and productive dialogue about Israel with people whose views differed significantly from their own. The inaugural Sukkat Shalom Extended Dialogue, organized by Temple Shalom's Sukkat Shalom Committee, was developed and facilitated by congregants John Landesman and Matthew Breman. The dialogue was designed to create space for curiosity, nuance, and understanding, rather than trying to win the argument or seek consensus. Participants explored the wide range of perspectives within our community, examined facts and history together, reflected on the values that shape their beliefs, and practiced skills for engaging difficult conversations constructively. The group reflected the diversity of opinions found within both Temple Shalom and the broader American Jewish community. Participants entered the dialogue with a wide range of perspectives, from unwavering support for Israel’s actions to the belief that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, with many views in between. By the end of the two sessions, participants overwhelmingly agreed that the experience had been worthwhile. In the evaluation, the dialogue received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5, with nearly every participant saying the nine-hour commitment was well worth their time. Participants consistently described the experience as respectful, thoughtful, and emotionally meaningful. Many said they felt able to speak honestly without fear of judgment, attack, or ostracism. One participant wrote, "It was a great opportunity to discuss your view without judgment." Another appreciated, "the ability to have such a calm and respectful multi-hour difficult discussion of differing points of view." Others simply shared, "I felt grateful and
felt heard," and "Respectful and genuine exchanges of views can be held on tough topics." Participants also reported lasting impacts. They described listening more carefully, becoming more open to complexity, reflecting more deeply before responding, and gaining a greater understanding of why others hold different beliefs. As one participant observed, "It helped me understand myself and others—especially those with significantly different views." Several participants said the dialogue strengthened their connection to Temple Shalom and gave them hope that disagreement does not have to lead to division. The goal is to continue to deepen the dialogue with this cohort, and to create new ones in the coming months. If you would like to learn more about the Sukkat Shalom Extended Dialogue, you can read the Frequently Asked Questions and Summary of the Evaluation Results. We hope to offer additional dialogue opportunities in the future as we continue building a community where difficult conversations can be held with honesty, respect, and care.
Worship Committee Save the Date for our upcoming Worship Committee meetings! November 17, 6:00pm February 2, 6:00pm For more information, please contact Megan Parker or Sarah Leavitt.
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SATURDAY. OCT.17TH
6:00 PM
Come meet fellow prospective, new and new-ish members at this Havdalah and social event! We'll start off the evening with a short & meaningful Havdalah service, followed by opportunities to get to know new friends. Leaders of our many committees and affinity groups will be on hand to talk to you about what they do and how you can engage. To cap it all off, there will be snacks and schmoozing!
•••
If you have questions, please email membership@templeshalom.net
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Sisterhood Book Group SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER Click on link below or email sisterhood@templeshalom.net to register. A Beginner's Guide to America: For the Immigrant and the Curious by Roya Hakakian Thursday, September 17, 7:00pm (Zoom only) Amid the contemporary debates about immigrants in the United States, this new book portrays what the new immigrant experience in America is really like. Immigrant Roya Hakakian reveals what those who settle here love about the country, what they miss about their homes, the cruelty of some Americans, and the unceasing generosity of others. She captures the texture of life in a new place in all its complexity, laying bare both its beauty and its darkness as she discusses race, sex, love, death, consumerism, and what it is like to be from a country that is in America's crosshairs. A Beginner's Guide to America is Hakakian's candid love letter to America Chutzpah Girls: 100 Tales of Daring Jewish Women by Julie Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer Thursday, October 15, 7:00pm (Zoom only) Embark on an extraordinary journey to discover the stories of daring Jewish women, past and present, who triumphed over darkness and went on to create a brighter world. From Abigail to Zivia, Chutzpah Girls come from diverse communities across the globe with powerful stories to awaken your Jewish pride, inspire you to explore your heritage, and despite the odds dream bigger than ever before.
Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer Sunday, November 15, 6:00pm–8:00pm (in person only, at Temple Shalom) The definitive, all-access biography of one of the world’s most beloved literary voices, showcasing a life as triumphant and inspiring as the stories she crafted.
The Woman Beyond the Sea by Sarit Yishai-Levi Thursday, December 17 at 7:00pm (Zoom only) An immersive historical tale spanning the life stories of three women, The Woman Beyond the Sea traces the paths of a daughter, mother, and grandmother who lead entirely separate lives, until finally their stories and their hearts are joined together.
Sisterhood Book Club Registration
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Hanukkah By Michael Schwartz
Hanukkah may be the most widely known and publicly celebrated holiday in the Jewish calendar. Lighting of the candles and large displays of the Menorah seem to be found everywhere. The lighting of candles during the dark months of early winter, the special foods, and the giving of presents all combine to make this one of the most appreciated holidays, even if it is not a particularly important religious one. It is certainly not a Biblical holiday. It is not mentioned in any book of the Tanach. The primary sources relating the origins of Hanukkah come from the Book of Maccabees which remained part of the Apocrypha and in the Catholic Bible. It is
noted by the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus, and discussed in the Rabbinic literature of the Talmudic age. These discussions primarily concern the legend of the oil found in the re-dedicated Temple that lasted for eight days and the proper way of lighting and viewing the candles. Very little is noted about the historicalpolitical circumstances that produced the holiday. This subsequent history changed the course of history for Israel and may have contributed ultimately to the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans. The Maccabean rebellion against the Syrian-Greek rulers, who had prohibited all Jewish religious observance in the Land of Israel, began three years earlier by Mattathias and succeeded in 165 BCE to (continued on next page)
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(continued from previous page) evict the Syrians from Jerusalem and the Temple. The family of Mattathias was known as the Hasmoneans. His descendants subsequently established themselves as both the political rulers of the Jewish state and the High Priests controlling the Temple. This unified control of both the religious and political spheres of the country conflicted with tradition and practice. Over the following decades, they became increasingly disliked by the people as they bitterly fought with each other for power and control. During the 70s BCE, internecine warfare among the descendants of Judah Maccabee led to a virtual civil war. By this time, the Roman general Pompey had concluded his wars in Asia Minor, bringing an end to Seleucid rule and the annexation of Syria to the Roman empire. He then turned his attention to Judea. The Hasmonean rivals fighting in Judea were ordered to present their claims to power to Pompey in Damascus. Pompey threw his support to Hyrcanus. His rivals were pursued by the Romans and forced to surrender. The gates of Jerusalem were opened to the Romans, who continued to recognize the sanctity of the Temple complex and did not disturb its traditional functions. Pompey continued to exert influence in the affairs of Judea making it essentially a vassal state of the Romans. The subsequent turbulent history of the Jewish people is well known, ending in the destruction of the Second Temple and the Jewish state in 70CE. Possibly what is the most miraculous thing about Hanukkah is how the holiday managed to evolve into the joyous occasion it has become, millennia after the cascade of political and social disorder the original Maccabean revolt set in motion. Chag sameach Hannukah!
Temple Shalom Brotherhood Events OCTOBER - DECEMBER OCTOBER Wednesday, October 14 Dinner at 6:30pm, Meeting at 7:00pm, in the Social Hall NOVEMBER Wednesday, November 11 Dinner at 6:30pm, Meeting at 7:00pm, in the Social Hall Sunday, November 15 FPO The Annual Hal Bruno Brunch Speaker Naftali Bendavid Senior National Political Correspondent, Washington Post Brunch at 9:45am, in the Social Hall DECEMBER Sunday, December 6 Brotherhood Latke Fry with the Religious School Morning and Evening Sessions Wednesday, December 9 Dinner at 6:30pm, Meeting at 7:00pm, in the Social Hall Saturday, December 19 Chinese Dinner and a Movie Co-sponsored with the Renaissance Group Details To Be Announced
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Generation to Generation Circle by Rachel Miller, Chairperson
Temple Shalom’s Generation to Generation Circle came to life in 2020, only six years ago. Its purpose is to help ensure that Temple Shalom lives on long after us, continuing to provide Jewish learning, support, and community for generations to come. This legacy program makes it easy for our Temple members who wish to do so to include Temple Shalom as part of their legacy planning. Today we are grateful to the 32 individuals and families who have chosen this beloved synagogue to be part of their legacy. Their generosity will help make Temple Shalom strong for the future and, we hope, serve as role models for others. The Generation to Generation program is designed to be as open and inclusive as our Temple culture, which means we welcome giving of any amount and in a variety of ways. We are all in different circumstances, but we hope that supporting Temple Shalom is a way for our members to live out their values, to say that this Temple matters to them even when they are gone,
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no matter what their wealth. To achieve this goal, we invite all members to participate. We created From the Heart, a column that is sent to all our congregants to share our Circle’s stories. It turns out that members of our Temple are very interested in learning more about people they have met at synagogue but really know little about. In this way, we have unexpectedly and wonderfully helped to increase our sense of community. We have been finding ways to say thank you that reflect our Temple’s values. Our Circle’s members are honored for their commitment at our annual special service, on our Generation to Generation Circle’s banner in Temple Shalom’s lobby, and in our book of From the Hearts. And when a member passes, we memorialize them with the original From the Heart they wrote to tell everyone why they wished to have the Temple as part their legacy. (continued on next page)
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(continued from previous page) Now, six years into this project, we can report that many Temple members have found their decision to be a meaningful one. Take a moment each month to read the featured From the Heart. You will be surprised to learn about your fellow congregants! Please contact Rachel Miller by email or by calling 516-754-7439 in full confidence to learn more about Generation to Generation Circle’s legacy program. It is simple to designate a specific amount or a percentage from your will, life insurance policy, or IRA or other retirement account. It is good practice to consult your financial or legal advisor. See Temple Shalom Legacy Giving. Finally, a huge thank you to the Generation to Generation Circle Committee members for their work towards ensuring the future of Temple Shalom. With gratitude to Harvey Berger, Mica Bevington, Marc Feinberg, Linda Gurevich, Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn, Rita Klein, Judy Lewis, Rachel Miller, and Michael Rubin.
Generation to Generation Circle Members AS OF AUGUST 1, 2026 Pearl and Maurice Axelrad
Joan Kalin
Lisa Rider and Simon Wing
Francine and Harvey Berger
Betsy Kingery
Jane Rosov
Ben Bederson and Allison Druin
Rita Klein
Leslie and Michael Rubin
Anne and Marc Feinberg
Virginia Kling and Jonathan Greenbaum
Theresa Helfman Taylor
Laura and Ryan Gehl
Linda and Robert Krauss
Susan and Stanley Gordon
Dana and Jonathan Larkin
Anonymous
Linda and Mike Gurevich
Myles R. Levin
Herb and Barbara Jacobowitz
Judith and Alan Lewis
Carol Jimenez
Karen and Jack Lowe
Toby A. and Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn
Peg MacKnight
Paula and Miles Kahn
Rabbi JoHanna Potts
Susan Goutos Zemsky
Lyman Legacy Leaders Hal Bruno Joseph Lyman Sandra Kamisar
Rachel and Walter Miller
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Circles of Giving 2026 Recognizing the generosity of our members’ donations made in calendar year 2025 KAVANAH CIRCLE
Karen and Douglas Miller
Direction of the Heart ($12,000+)
Walter and Rachel Miller
Matt and Jen Andelman
Michael and Leslie Rubin
Maurice and Pearl Axelrad
Andrew Schwartz and Lisa Krim
Harvey Berger
Earl Steinberg and Claire Reade
Kenneth and Sheila Berman
Lane Tapley
Marc and Anne Feinberg
Carl and Beryl Tretter
James and Dawn Goldstein
Soching Tsai and David Kornbluth
Jill Greenstein
Anonymous
Michael and Linda Gurevich Betsy Kingery
MITZVAH CIRCLE
Robert and Linda Krauss
Moral Deed ($9,000 - $11,999)
Margaret and Michael Liftik
Deb Gottesman and Jeanne Goldberg
Peggy MacKnight
Karen Green and Robert Yetvin
Lynn and Lauren Mandell
Virginia Kling and Jonathan Greenbaum
Ellen Marcus and Andy Sfekas
Vivian Kramer
Sharon, Emily, Sadie and Shaia McGowan
Myles R. Levin
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Alan and Judith Lewis
David and Nancy Horowitz
Craig Lustig and Pete Carter
Peter and Allison Howard
Jerry and Deborah Nedelman
Mary and John Jacobs
Megan and Austin Parker
Julie Kashen and Russ Feinberg
Joshua Sheinkman and Edith Livingstone
Rebecca Kaufman and Joseph Gould
Benjamin Smith and Doreen Sterling
Kenneth and Audrey Kramer
Jay and Robin Varon
John Landesman and Linda Aldoory
Peter Wolk and Beth Janoff
Jonathan and Dana Larkin
Shana Young and Jamal Cox
Joan Meier Barry Molar and Juliet Mellow
TZEDAKAH CIRCLE Righteousness ($6,000 - $8,999) Jana and Phoebe Arbogast Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider Michael and Carrie Brownlie Joy Chapper and Yolanda Ellis Jay Chervenak and Sarah Leavitt Andrew and Rebecca Davis Roslyn Docktor and Alon Schachter Laura and Ryan Gehl Julia and Ivan Goldberg Dahna Goldstein and Sarah Altschuller Shefa Gordon and Aimee Smart Lauren Greenberg Karl Held and Fran Paver Juliana and Ethan Horowitz
David Peal and Carol D Weiss Eric d'Aubermont and Judith Pichler Lisa Rider and Simon Wing Barrett and Marilyn Ripin Jane Rosov David and Rachel Schmeltz Evan Schultz and Jennifer Rubin Aaron Shapiro and Erin Love Jeffrey Steger and Janice Pliner Theresa Helfman Taylor and Jerry Taylor Susan Walsh Eliot Waxman and Jennifer Main David Weinreich and Shoshanna Sumka Jason Wexler and Joelle Tessler Anonymous Anonymous
Condolences MAY - JULY Jennifer Dutcher (Jennifer Stoy) and Amelia Dutcher-Stoy on the death of their grandmother and great-grandmother Joan R. Dutcher
Carol, William, and Steven Shyman on the death of their mother, Temple Shalom congregant, Heloise (Elly) J. Shyman
Alex Custin (Amanda McCrea) on the death of his sister’s partner James “Jaime” Lewis Longabaugh
Michelle Kanter Cohen (Ian Cohen) and Noah and Charlotte Cohen on the death of their grandmother and great-grandmother Shirley Sokolsky
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Temple Shalom Funds Tzedakah is a central mitzvah of Judaism. Donors benefit as much as, or more, from giving as does the recipient. Donating tzedakah can recognize a special event, honor an individual, memorialize a loved one or community member, or thank the Temple or an individual for something particular. All contributions made to Temple Shalom funds are fully eligible for a tax deduction and all amounts are welcome. GENERAL FUND These gifts have a great impact due to their flexibility and help ensure that our Temple is open to all, regardless of financial ability. CAPITAL FUND Capital projects support ongoing long-term work to improve our building and grounds. ENDOWMENT FUND HONORING RABBI EMERITUS BRUCE E. KAHN Supports the long-term financial health of Temple Shalom for generations to come.
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CLERGY MITZVAH FUNDS This is a traditional way to say thank you for support with a life-cycle event or other personal guidance, service or inspiration. Clergy use them for tzedakah projects at the clergy’s discretion. Senior Rabbi Rachel Ackerman Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev Rabbi Educator Joshua Gischner Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS There are 12 Special Purpose Funds, each uniquely dedicated to supporting specific projects and/or activities to supplement Temple funding.
Adele D. Lewis Memorial Teachers Fund Professional development for religious school teachers and the betterment of the religious school. Burton Hoffman Memorial Fund Special projects to support our Temple community related to worship, education, youth engagement, life cycle events, films/media presentations and adult b’nai mitzvah program. David Mark Gildenhorn Fund Scholarships for Temple youth to participate in programs in Israel. (continued on next page)
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Temple Shalom Funds (continued from previous page) David Rivkind Memorial Flower Fund Floral and other decorations are used for Temple Shalom’s services/programs and for the general beautification of the Temple and its grounds. Eli Newberger Speakers Fund Speaker programs for Temple Shalom, including its Brotherhood. Herman Rosenfeld Memorial Resettlement Fund Funds or loans to Jewish immigrants resettling in the United States; support Temple Shalom’s pursuit of social justice (including Mitzvah Corps). Levinsohn-Feinberg Youth Educational Program Fund Scholarships for Temple members to attend Jewish summer camps and programs for Temple youth. Opening the Gates Campaign Fund Supports Temple Shalom’s capital campaign to transform
our physical space to match our values of community, accessibility, and inclusivity. Oscar Felker Memorial Educational Enrichment Fund Educational enrichment for adults and youth, including scholarships for college/rabbinical/cantorial school, special projects for the religious school, purchase of books/reference materials, educational trips for members, and Scholars-in-Residence. Sigmund Mayer Jr. Prayer Book Fund For the purchase of prayer books, ritual items, and other ways to enable participation in religious services at Temple Shalom. Phyllis and Stanley Nehmer Fund for Special Events Temple programming/special events to expand Judaic knowledge, social interaction, continuing education, and arts enrichment.
The Tretter Family Music Fund Supports the Temple’s music programming, including Artistsin-Residence, scholarships for song leaders, shaliach tzibur, music training camps, musical community outreach, commissioning of music for Temple Shalom, musical education for Temple music groups, and audio-visual equipment not covered through other means. Torat Shalom Fund Torah-related education and programming, including Shabbat morning Torah study. Yvonne Wagner Emergency Needs Fund Enables our clergy to support members of our congregation in need.
To make a donation, click here. Donations may also be mailed to: Accounting Manager, Temple Shalom, 8401 Grubb Rd., Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Please specify the occasion or person being honored or remembered, the fund for your donation, and the name and address of the person who should be informed of your contribution.
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Donations MAY – JULY Tzedakah humanizes both the giver and the recipient. It acknowledges an important occasion, thanks someone for a particular thing or pays tribute in sympathy. Temple Shalom thanks all who have generously donated to our community. These acknowledgments do not include most donations to our Capital Campaign, which will be acknowledged separately. IN LOVING MEMORY
SOLAR PROJECTS FUND
Joy Chapper and Yolanda Ellis in memory of Debra S. Chapper
Rabbis Rachel Ackerman and Jake Singer-Beilin in honor of Mike Gurevich
David and Sherry Doggett in memory of Lebus Stephenson and Arthur Doggett
Matt and Jen Andelman in honor of Rabbi Ackerman, Mike Gurevich, Scott Kravetz, Andrew Maayan, and Andy Mark
Marc and Anne Feinberg in memory of Abraham Feinberg
Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider
Ely and Sheila Fishlowitz in memory of Frieda Fishlowitz
Jordin and Bev Cohen
Jeff Freedman in memory of Alec Freedman
Marc Hershkowitz in honor of Mike Gurevich
Fred and Marie Kaplowitz in memory of Jesse Coven
Daniel and Deborah Hutton in honor of Mike Gurevich's persistence
Karen Karl and John Heidema in memory of Karen Karl and Ruth Karl Snyder
Jonathan and Dana Larkin in honor of Mike Gurevich
Virginia Kling and Jonathan Greenbaum in memory of William Kling, Suzanne Kling, and Ruth Greenbaum
Robin and Tonya Katcher in honor of Mike Gurevich
Kenneth and Audrey Kramer in memory of Milton and Charlotte Kramer
Sharon McGowan and Emily Hecht-McGowan in honor of their children Sadie and Shaia
Michael and Barbara Krause in memory of Clara Krause Robert and Linda Krauss in memory of Dorothy Krauss Craig Lustig and Pete Carter in memory of Helen Perlstein Walter and Rachel Miller in memory of Peter Miller Freddi Peltz in memory of Francine Schaeffer Berger Eric Pianin and Mary McGinley in memory of Irene Pianin Natalie Pichler in memory of Solomon Dobrzelowski Beverly Potter in memory of Helen Wagner and Mollie Kleiner Mark and Jessica Rath in memory of Nelson Rath Jonathan Silverman in memory of Judy Silverman Benjamin Smith and Doreen Sterling in memory of Gertrude Sterling Dianne Tencer in memory of Charlotte Schulman Soching Tsai Kornbluth and David Kornbluth in memory of Seymour Kornbluth Carl and Beryl Tretter in memory of Zelda Sline and Ruth Gold Tretter Richard Weitzner and Vickie Gaul in memory of Ellen Weitzner Rita Zucker in honor of Ed Zucker
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Peggy MacKnight
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND Laura and Ryan Gehl OPENING THE GATES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Harvey Berger and Family in memory of Fran Berger Robin Earnest with thanks to Rabbi Rachel Ackerman, Rabbi JoHanna Potts, and Cantor Ze'evi Tovlev for their assistance in my conversion Marilyn Goldfarb in memory of Charles J. Simpson and Samuel E. Kaufman Scott Kravetz in memory of Phyllis Peikin, Robert Anthony, and Jaidon Smith Rachel Zimmerman and Greg D’Addario in memory of Adam Daniel Scott GENERAL FUND Matt and Jen Andelman Emma Bassin Christopher and Katherine Baur Mike Bray with thanks to Rabbi JoHanna Potts for her introduction to Temple Shalom Leah and Neil Cohen Libby and Richard Cohen with thanks to Rabbi
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Ackerman, Cantor Tovlev, and Andy Mark for preparing our granddaughter, Beatrice Cohen Letnes, so well for her Bat Mitzvah and instilling her with such a love for Judaism Walter and Rachel Miller in honor of Myles Levin's birthday
her services leading up to Ilana and Seth's wedding Martin and Carolyn Shargel in memory of Irene Shargel Heifetz and Eli Small Rita Zucker in memory of Leah Kamenker Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn Mitzvah Fund
Jerry and Deborah Nedelman in honor of the Tisha B'Av service led by Rabbi Ackerman, Rabbi Gischner and Cantor Tovlev
Arthur Drager in honor of Rabbi Kahn
Earl Steinberg and Claire Reade
Lynn and Temma Kanowith in memory of Celco Bianco
Jay and Robin Varon ENDOWMENT FUND HONORING RABBI EMERITUS BRUCE E. KAHN Alan and Judith Lewis in memory of Anna Cohen, Arnold H. Kahlenberg, Lillian S. and Edward I. Lewis, Ethel Lewis, Sylvia and Joseph Lyman, and Michael Lyman Deborah Redisch Wiederhorn in memory of Ron Weiner Pauline Robinson in memory of Laura Robinson, Max Robinson, and Jerome Casper
Brian and Bari Handelman in memory of Steven Handelman Alan and Judith Lewis in memory of Mark Edward Lewis, Edith D. and George Z. Stuhl, Adrianne Marcus, Lottie Lewis, Henrietta and Louis Saltzman, Richard S. Young, and Captain Jay J. Navin Miles and Paula Kahn in memory of Mollie Edelman SPECIAL FUNDS Tretter Family Music Fund Laura and Ryan Gehl in honor of the Temple Shalom Choir
CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS Senior Rabbi Rachel Ackerman Mitzvah Fund Lori Simon-Rusinowitz with thanks to Rabbi Rachel for
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8401 Grubb Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-587-2273 www.templeshalom.net