Board Of Trustees Meetings And Update Regarding Minutes
All members of Temple Shalom are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees. All regularly scheduled monthly meetings are on Tuesdays and start at 7:00 pm. Board meetings through the end of this fiscal year will be on March 24, April 21 and May 19. If you plan to attend a Board meeting and are not a Trustee, as a courtesy, please contact our Temple President in advance.
Also, please hold Tuesday, June 9, 2026 on your calendar for Temple Shalom’s Annual Congregational Meeting.
Please note that Board meeting minutes are now available to members through your Shul Cloud account. To view them, sign into your Temple Shalom account at this link
Who do I contact at Temple Shalom about... ?
Building/Space rental
Calendar items
Reserving meeting space/room set-up
Accessibility
Becoming a member
Account/statement or making a donation
Religious School
Scheduling a lifecycle event
Scheduling a meeting with one of our clergy
Other items
Suzy Burstein sburstein@templeshalom.net
Jeannelle D’Isa jdisa@templeshalom.net
Sharon Winick swinick@templeshalom.net
Katherine Schnorrenberg school@templeshalom.net
Katherine Schnorrenberg rabast@templeshalom.net
info@templeshalom.net
All Temple Shalom staff may also be reached by telephone at (301) 587-2273
Welcome New Members
NOVEMBER – JANUARY
Nora English Highland Springs, VA
Lauren Lentz and Charles Harry
Takoma Park
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 Michael Schwartz shofar@templeshalom.net
Sukkat Shalom
Sherry Doggett sukkatshalom@templeshalom.net
Tikkun Olam
Fran Paver and Betsy Kingery tikkunolam@templeshalom.net
Young Professionals
Emma Bassin and Simon Blechman ebassin713@gmail.com; simonblechman@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
From Rain to Dew: A Passover Reminder of Enoughness
By Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev
Passover marks a turning point in our Jewish liturgical calendar. Before Passover arrives, we pray for wind and rain. Once Passover comes, we instead pray for dew. If each of us made a list of weather we’d like to pray for, I don’t think dew would rank very high. So why do we pray specifically for dew?
Dew teaches us about enoughness: dayeinu . When we pray for rain, we pray for abundance: enough rain to water the fields where our food grows or to fill
our reservoirs. Praying for dew reminds us that even the smallest things can be sufficient. Dew sustains ecosystems and can be the tipping point of survival during drought.
As we tell our Passover story this year, we must remember that even after the Israelites became free people, they worried for their survival. Only a short time after Miriam danced on the shores of the sea, the people came to Moses with an existential question: surrounded by wilderness, what were they supposed to eat and drink? Some even wondered if they’d be led out of slavery only to die in the desert.
Moses assured them that they would have water to drink and food to eat. It’s no coincidence that the description of manna, the key to their survival, begins with dew. Every morning dew would surround the camp and when it lifted, the ground would be covered with manna for the Israelites to eat.
This spring, when you go outside in the mornings, notice the tiny beads of dew on the grass or the condensation on your car. Let it remind you that we don’t need abundance to thrive. Even the smallest things can sustain us and be enough: dayeinu .
Sermons given by our clergy are on Temple Shalom’s website .
Creative Ways to Make Your Seder More Inclusive
By Rabbi Educator Josh Gischner
Congregants often ask how we can be more “inclusive” during Passover. How we can make sure that everyone, regardless of their background, gender, gender identity, age, or abilities, can participate fully and feel respected during a seder. Here are some suggestions to consider.
• Updating the language we use so all can “see themselves as if they personally went out of Egypt.” (Mishnah Pesachim 10:5). For example, the four “sons” can be the four “children”, “Blessed be He” can be changed to “Blessed be You”, and “Mankind” can be changed to “People”.
• Including new items on your Seder table such as: Ruth’s Cup which honors all of those who made the intentional choice to become a Jew; Miriam’s Cup for the critical role women have always had in our Community; an orange, which reminds all the women and the LGBTQIA+ community belong at our table and in leadership; an artichoke to symbolize that our Jewish community is built in many layers with Jews and non-Jews alike; or a roasted beet (to replace the shank bone) or avocado pit (to replace an egg) to better include vegans/vegetarians; an olive to symbolize our desire for peace and prosperity for all in the Middle East.
• Creating a quiet sensory space in your home for guests with sensory challenges to take a sensory break with pillows (that we can recline on) if they need or for those with other sensory needs a social story or a visual schedule for the seder. Click here and here for some examples.
• Adding experiential activities to liven your Seder for everyone, such as using a timbrel (small hand drum similar to a modern tambourine) during Miriam’s song; acting out the Passover story or
having a Seder-themed skit; handing out Passover themed coloring sheets; or having conversations about our Jewish values with new “questions”.
• Being more inclusive of everyone’s dietary restrictions and needs . From vegans to vegetarians to Jews who do not eat kitniyot (rice, legumes), to those with a Celiac diet or non-dairy diet or for those who keep kosher more strictly - make sure to ask what your guests need.
• Offering everyone readings or a special job so that each person feels important.
Our Extraordinary Temple Administrative Staff
By Andrew Maayan, Executive Director
The Temple often gets questions as to who congregants should contact when they have questions. One distinction to keep in mind is whether you need to speak with someone who is “programming staff” or “administrative staff”. Programming staff are those who help plan the content of events such as curriculum, liturgy, and speakers. Administrative staff are those who address logistical needs such as building use, event staffing, and set up needs.
Jeanelle D’Isa is our Engagement and Family Education Coordinator and can be a primary point of contact for programming questions. Her job is to build relationships with both new and long-time members and to connect them with meaningful opportunities within the Temple Shalom community. She is the
primary point of contact for all inclusion topics, and she collaborates with committees on relevant projects. Jeannelle also serves as the primary point of contact for First Friday (family-oriented) Shabbat and for Shabbat Vayinafash . Finally, Jeannelle is the first point of contact for B’notai Mitzvah logistics and communications.
On the administrative side is Katherine Schnorrenberg, our Clergy and Religious School Administrator. Katherine manages the clergy team’s individual calendars and is the first point of contact to get in touch with our clergy. She coordinates all ritual items and logistics for services, such as prayer books and service sheets, as well as organizes ushers and other volunteers needed during religious services. This includes arrangements for B’notai Mitzvah services and funeral arrangements. Katherine also coordinates our audio/video needs for religious services, including our sound board operation and video streaming. She also handles yahrtzeit mailings, the administrative duties of the Religious School, and much more!
Suzy Burstein is the Temple’s Operations Coordinator. In her role, she coordinates all room bookings, event setups, custodial needs, and catering questions. She also works with our maintenance team to schedule event staffing, including security officers. No less important, Suzy manages the main Temple’s calendar of events and is a key player in planning any event. Further, Suzy manages all rental contracts for both members and non-members alike. This includes B’notai Mitzvah events, all congregational kiddushes, as well as paid private rentals.
We appreciate the million and one things that Jeannelle, Katherine, and Suzy do to keep Temple Shalom running!
Temple Shalom’s Board of Trustees’ Priorities
By Dawn Goldstein and Matt Andelman
The Board of Trustees held its Annual Retreat, on November 16, at the Gureviches’ lovely Cherry Hill Park. The retreat was meaningful, engaging, energizing, and productive. The Board agreed to focus on the following priorities.
1. Making the Board more visible and available to the congregation. For example, there should be a brief welcome from a Board member at services and congregational events.
2. Providing more education to members about what information is available on ShulCloud, which houses the Temple’s members’ information. We envision doing this through both written and video instruction.
3. Increasing engagement in Temple Shalom life of post-confirmation and Renaissance Group families. As a start, we are planning trivia nights for new Generation X and empty nest members.
4. Re-envisioning the Temple’s Leadership Development Class/Program. This will include assessing previous classes to help determine what to keep and what should be changed; learning about best practices and resources from the URJ for such classes; and looking at the recruitment process, frequency, and expectations following completion of the program.
5. Placing greater focus on the importance of attending shiva minyanim , for the whole congregation and also specifically for our 8th –10th graders.
6. Reaching out to our members once a year to find out what sorts of events YOU want to volunteer for. We also need to generate a list of types of volunteer needs including event coordination, internal and external outreach, committees, education (family, parent, adult, religious
We and all of the members of the Board of Trustees are always interested to hear your ideas about the areas in which the Board should be placing its time and attention. Please reach out at any time to president@templeshalom.net with your ideas and interests.
Worship Services
APRIL - JUNE
APRIL/NISSAN-IYAR
Wednesday, April 1
Erev Pesach , First Seder
Thursday, April 2
Pesach Community Festival Service, Temple Sinai, 10:00am
Friday, April 3
Home hosted Shabbat, 6:00pm
Saturday, April 4
Shabbat Morning Worship/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Wednesday, April 8
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Pesach 7th day Community Festival/ Yizkor Service, Temple Sinai, 10:00am
Friday, April 10
First Friday Erev Shabbat Services
Tot Shabbat, 5:30pm 2nd and 3rd grade led, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 11
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Wednesday, April 15
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, April 17
Erev Shabbat Vayinafash , 7:30pm
Saturday, April 18
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service, B’notai Mitzvah
Budd/Parker, 10:00am
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, April 24
Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 25
Shabbat Morning Worship/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Wednesday, April 29
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
MAY/IYAR-SIVAN
Friday, May 1
First Friday Erev Shabbat Service Tot Shabbat, 5:45pm
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/DISCUSSIONJUST 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 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.
Book Club, Sunday April 19, 9:30am-11:30am (In person)
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
Sukkat Shalom, (Dates TBD; In person)
This is a unique program started by a core group of Temple Shalom 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, and we understand that many struggle with what supporting Israel means. For more information, email SukkatShalom@TempleShalom.net
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, the 3rd Thursday of each month, 8:15pm (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.
MULTI-SESSION CLASSES REQUIRING REGISTRATION
Hebrew 1: Introduction to the Aleph Bet, Thursdays beginning February 12, 7:00pm
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, Thursdays beginning February 12, 8:15pm
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
Introduction to Judaism, Tuesdays beginning March 10, 7:00pm (In person and by Zoom)
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.
Temple Shalom Adult Education
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Adult B’notai Mitzvah Class
It’s never too late. Deepen your Jewish journey through Temple Shalom’s Adult B’notei 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.
POP-UP ADULT EDUCATION
Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors Program (3DDC) and Service, Yom HaShoah 5786, Tuesday, April 14, 6:00pm
Carrying on the lessons and legacy of Holocaust Survivors, come hear from the third generation of survivors and commemorate this solemn day in services led by our 7th and 10th graders. Learn more about 3D-DC here.
Kehilat Shalom Adult Education Program, Sunday, April 12, 9:30am-11:30am.
More to be announced soon about this spiritually enriching program.
Learning and Dinner with Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, Beit Midrash, Wednesday, May 13, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, Ph.D. is the Rabbi Aaron Panken Professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew Union College (HUC), Los Angeles campus. Rabbi Weisberg served HUC for eleven years as the Rabbinical Program Director in Los Angeles and then as the National Rabbinical School Director from 2020 to 2025. Register here and learn more about Rabbi Weisberg here.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot Sessions: Nosh and Knowledge, Thursday, May 21, 9:00pm-11:00pm
Join the clergy for an inspirational evening of learning, eating, and a meaningful time as we celebrate Torah learning on Shavuot eve.
Learning and Dinner with Barbara Weinstein, Beit Midrash, Wednesday, June 3, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Barbara Weinstein is the Associate Director of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism in Washington D.C. She is also the Director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. Register here and learn more about Ms. Weinstein here and read articles that she has written here.
B’notai Mitzvah
APRIL – JUNE
MIRA BUDD
April 18
Mira Budd is a 7th grader at Westland Middle School, where she studies Spanish and violin and serves as a student ambassador. Mira also enjoys soccer, basketball, skiing, and swimming. She loves the beach and spends time each summer camping with the ponies on Assateague Island with her family. She also adores Camp Louise, where this summer will be her fourth year. Mira loves to bake blueberry muffins, babysit the neighborhood kids, and spend time at Starbucks with her friends. She thanks Andy Mark and Michael Schwartz for helping support her bat mitzvah studies, as well as her parents, younger brother Solly, and best furry friends, kitties Salt and Pepper.
EUGENIE (GINNY) PARKER
April 18
Ginny is a seventh grader at Silver Spring International Middle School. She loves to sing, tap dance, rock climb, listen to podcasts, and spend time with her friends and family. She is a voracious reader and can frequently be found with her nose in a book. Ginny loves to spend her summers at Camp Havaya, her happy place and home away from home. She thanks Andy Mark and Michael Schwartz for their help in preparing her for this milestone, and her Mom, Dad, and Shai for their help, support, and love along the way.
MAXWELL ORENSTEIN
May 2
Maxwell (Dafi Yisrach) is a seventh grader at Cabin John Middle School. Maxwell enjoys his friends, playing basketball, and video games. He is a committed student who especially enjoys math and technology. When he is not in school, he loves going to the pool, shooting baskets, and visiting the Delaware beaches with family. Maxwell is excited for his upcoming bar mitzvah and is grateful to his tutors, Scott Kravetz and Andrea Mark, for all their encouragement and support.
OLIVIA ELINOFF
May 9
Olivia is a seventh grader at Silver Spring International Middle School. She is obsessed with basketball and plays on four different teams. Olivia loves hanging out with friends, shopping, and baking sweet treats. In her downtime, Olivia loves cuddling her two snuggly pets - Finn, a miniature golden doodle, and Maverick, a Siamese cat. Olivia appreciates and is very grateful to her amazing tutor, Andy Mark. She has also enjoyed exploring and interpreting the Torah with her bat mitzvah partner Eliza and madricha Sarah Leavitt. Olivia looks forward to celebrating her bat mitzvah with all her friends and family.
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B’notai Mitzvah
APRIL – JUNE
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ELIZA JANE ENGEL
May 9
Eliza Engel is a seventh grader at A. Mario Loiderman Middle School. She lives in downtown Silver Spring. Eliza is an avid reader, soccer player, and loves the beach. She has a dog, two cats and an older brother.
MILES STRUM
May 30
Myles is a seventh grader at the Auburn school. He loves basketball, flag football, snowboarding, and gaming. He also loves art and is a budding artist. Next summer, he will be returning to Camp Harlam in the Poconos where he loves hanging out with his friends, playing sports, taking art classes, archery, rock climbing, color war, and lots of other fun activities. Myles thanks his tutor Andrea Mark and madrich Rabbi Josh Gischner and appreciates the support of his mom, sister, dog Oreo, and grandparents for their encouragement and support!
RAYAH HARRIS
June 6
Rayah lives in Kensington and is a seventh grader at Newport Mill Middle School. When she’s not at school or Temple, you can find her pursuing her passion of dance at the Bethesda Conservatory of Dance (BCOD). Rayah has been dancing at BCOD since she was six and enjoys jazz,
ballet, lyrical, poms, and the dance performance team. She also loves art and all animals, especially her dog and four cats. Rayah thanks her parents and brother for their support as well as Andy Mark and Anne Fienberg for helping her prepare for her bat mitzvah.
BEATRICE LETNES
June 6
Beatrice is a seventh grader at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School where she plays violin in the concert orchestra and runs cross country. She also performs in All County Orchestra, East County Strings, and DC Youth Orchestra. Beatrice enjoys rock climbing and ice skating, and is an avid reader. Her favorite genre is post-apocalyptic dystopian fiction. Beatrice will be spending her fifth summer at Eisner Camp this year as a second generation camper. Beatrice deeply appreciates the support and guidance of Andy Mark and Lois Kimmel in preparing for her bat mitzvah and thanks her moms and sister Ruth for all their love and encouragement.
LEORA BREMAN
June 13
Leora is a seventh grader at Charles E Smith Jewish Day School, where she enjoys spending time with friends, playing soccer, and doing stage crew. Leora has loved spending summers at Camp Havaya since 2021, playing sports, singing, and dancing with her many friends. Leora is grateful to Laura Gehl and Rachel Robinson for helping her prepare for her bat mitzvah, and to her parents and siblings for their encouragement and support.
Our New Torah Mantles
By Sarah Leavitt, Karen Lowe and Megan Parker
Have you noticed a change inside Temple Shalom’s Torah arks? Perhaps you’ve overheard the gasps of joy when the ark is opened for a Torah service or for the Aleinu
Indeed, the burgundy and gold velvet mantles (Peace, Truth, and Justice) that you might remember have been replaced. They served us well for 25+ years. However, Torah mantles are not meant to last forever: if we are doing things right, these Torahs will be held by many hands. Ours started to look threadbare.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, Temple Shalom now has new mantles! The donor requested that (1) we work with a Jewish artist, and (2) the Committee members range in age and be active in religious services.
Sarah Leavitt, Karen Lowe and Megan Parker each brought different skills and ideas to the project. Deliberation began. Should the mantles reflect the colors of the sanctuary? Perhaps the design should echo the rectangular patterns in the windows? We
worked with Heather Stoltz, a New York-based fiber artist, to create the right design.
We settled on trees as a motif to signal the comfort of nature and the value of environmental justice. For our year-round mantles we chose fabrics in blues and greens. Our new High Holiday mantles have the same designs, but in the traditional muted tones. The sparkles in the fabrics are just for fun. They bring a sense of sparkle to our congregational study of Torah.
Temple Shalom has six Torahs. We have offseason “custody” of a seventh, which summers at 6 Points Sports Academy in North Carolina. There are a total of four tree themes: Sapling (youth); Burning Bush (God appearing to Moses); Tree of Life (a Torah metaphor); and Olive Branch (a symbol of peace).
Rabbi Ackerman chose the words for each mantle. Each mantle can stand on its own (just like the Torah itself) but put all together, our congregation is stronger. The Torahs upstairs carry words from Pirke Avot 1:12: love peace, pursue peace, love creation.
Ohev Shalom
Rodef Shalom
Ohev et HaBriot
The Torahs in the downstairs chapel carry words from the prophet Micah: do justice, love goodness, walk humbly.
Asot Mishpat
Ahavat Chesed
Hatznea Lechet
Next time you’re at services, be sure to pay attention to our new Torah mantles during the Aleinu or the Torah service. We’ll be listening for those audible gasps of joy.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Shabbat
From Rabbi Educator Josh Gischner
During the Martin Luther King, Jr., Shabbat service, we were privileged to hear a very inspiring and informative talk by Professor Dana R. Fisher. Professor Fisher’s bottom line is that “We’re all going to need to work together to save
Counting of the Omer
By Michael Schwartz
Passover has a lot of rituals, with its much-anticipated Seder ceremony, the week long eating of special foods, and the avoidance of forbidden ones. After Passover, the time feels a bit empty of special religious activity and somewhat of a let-down. However, the Counting of the Omer - Sefirat Ha’Omer in Hebrew - is observed from the second day of Passover until the eve of Shavuot, seven weeks later.
The Counting of the Omer, a somewhat neglected ancient custom, seems to have originated as marking the beginning and ending of agricultural harvests. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, a barley offering of an Omer (about 9 pounds of grain) was made at the start of this period, and an offering of the wheat harvest was made at the end of this period. (Leviticus 23;15-21).
As has often happened in the development of our Jewish tradition, the Sages of the Talmud managed to change the original purpose of an agricultural holiday - thanking God for successful harvests - to a holiday imbued with additional spiritual meaning. After the Temple’s destruction, the Sages ordained that we should continue the Counting of the Omer to remind us of the link they made between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. Passover marked the liberation of the ancient Israelites from Egypt and Shavuot commemorated the
ourselves.” The talk has been adapted to a blog, Remaining Awake Through This Social Revolution , which shares lessons from Dr. King that “can help guide us in these precarious times”. Professor Fisher’s blog can be read here .
giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. They suggested that this time between the exodus from Egypt to the giving of the Torah (49 days) should be one of reflection and inner spiritual growth.
Later, this time period acquired a sense of loss and mourning when the last Jewish resistance against the Romans led by Shimon bar Kochba was crushed in 135 CE and many died. But in modern times, the founding of the State of Israel occurred during this time of year and is celebrated as a holiday. Thus, the observance continues to evolve.
The mystics of the Kabbala saw the period of Counting the Omer as a time of preparation for receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. They felt that each of the 49 days was meant to be used to improve ourselves, as a symbolic way of remembering the ancient Israelite journey from slavery in Egypt to revelation at Sinai. We are recommended to work on promoting the various facets of our souls they viewed as coming from the Divine Presence, such as chesed (loving kindness), justice, and compassion.
Thus, the ancient custom of Counting of the Omer can serve as a reminder of the need for this type of mindfulness in our own lives. Try it.
Sisterhood Book Group
APRIL - JUNE
Thursdays, 7:00pm by Zoom
NOTE: Meetings are now the second Thursday of the month at a new time. Click on link below or email sisterhood@templeshalom.net to register.
Thursday, April 9 at 7:00pm
The Cohen sisters are at a crossroads. Fortune, the obedient middle sister, has secretly started to question her engagement and impending wedding as her family scrambles to prepare for the big day. Nina, the rebellious eldest sister, is single at twenty-six (and growing cobwebs by her community’s standards) when an old friend offers her a chance to choose a different path. Meanwhile, Lucy, the youngest and a senior in high school, has started sneaking around with a charming older bachelor.
Thursday, May 14 at 7:00pm
"The story of my life is the story of my stories,” writes Susan Orlean in this extraordinary, era-defining memoir. Joyride is a magic carpet ride through Orlean’s life and career, where every day is an opportunity for discovery and every moment holds the potential for wonder. Throughout her storied career, her curiosity draws her to explore the most ordinary and extraordinary places, from inside the head of a regular ten-year-old boy (“The American Man Age Ten”) to reporting on a woman who owns twentyseven tigers, and from capturing the routine magic of Saturday night to climbing Mt. Fuji.
Thursday, June 11 at 7:00pm
Against the backdrop of German reunification, Restitution asks urgent questions that resonate today. What remains when people leave entire lives behind? What happens when personal histories are erased? And what – if anything – can heal these wounds??
Sisterhood Book Club Registration
Temple Shalom Brotherhood - Spring Activities Update
By Jim Goldstein
The Temple Shalom Brotherhood is a group within the Temple which organizes activities and events to “give back” to Temple Shalom. For example, we host multiple brunches each year with a variety of outside speakers, make latkes with the Sunday School kids for all ages, do both a Fall Kick-Off Pizza lunch and Spring BBQ, as well as sponsor Temple events and speakers brought in by our clergy. For the past several years, we have organized trips to go cheer on the University of Maryland Women’s Basketball team, as well as events such as a beer tasting, whiskey tasting, and comedy-night fundraisers for the Summer Camp Fund. All of the proceeds that we raise from these events are returned to Temple Shalom through sponsorships and donations.
We would love for you to join us at any of our monthly planning meetings or events, all of which are always open to the entire community. This Spring we will be meeting (mostly) on the second Wednesday of every month at the Temple at 6:30pm for dinner followed by a 7:00pm meeting. Upcoming dates are April 15, May 6, and June 10.
Events in the next several months are an offsite Retreat on March 13-14 at Cherry Hill Park, a “Pre-Mother’s Day” Brunch (Speaker TBD) on Sunday May 3, our annual End-of- School-Year BBQ on May 17, a Comedy Night Fundraiser at Give-A-Hoot Comedy Club in Gaithersburg on Saturday May 30, and a Wine Tasting at Urban Winery in Silver Spring on Sunday May 31. We are working to schedule a second Bowling Night outing this spring as well. Stay tuned for details.
Also, many Brotherhood members participate on the Temple Shalom Softball team, for which we have teamed with nearby Ohr Kodesh Congregation for the past decade to compete in a suburban Maryland Synagogue Men's Softball league. We play doubleheaders each
From Our Religious Education Committee (REC)
Friday, June 5 at 7:30pm Teacher Appreciation Shabbat Service
Come show your support for our amazing religious school teachers!!
Contributions for teacher gifts are being collected by the REC. Please contact rec@templeshalom.net by May 31.
Interested in joining the REC? We welcome your participation! Contact rec@templeshalom.net .
Worship Committee
The Worship Committee plans to meet in May, exact date TBD. To be on the mailing list for information, email leavitt.sarah@gmail.com and meganrk@gmail.com .
Sunday in April through the end of June. We could always use new players; all skill-levels are welcome! Please join us. Minimal commitment is required. Contact Jim Goldstein at Goldysox@comcast.net if you are interested in learning more.
TIKKUN OLAM COMMITTEE
APRIL - JUNE
Shepherd’s Table
Looking for a way to help our Montgomery County community? Consider joining us at Shepherd’s Table, a local nonprofit that serves individuals and families from all walks of life who are experiencing food insecurity and homelessness and/or housing instability in the DMV. On the first Monday of each month, Temple Shalom sponsors several volunteers to help serve dinner at its Silver Spring location. Upcoming dates are April 6, May 4, and June 1; shift hours are 5:00pm - 7:30pm. For more information, email tikkunolam@templeshalom.net and we will forward your inquiry to our Temple Shalom Shepherd’s Table coordinator, Alexa Spencer. You can also reach out to the Shepherd’s Table Volunteer Coordinator Makeda Yeshaneh at myeshaneh@shepherdstable.org for more information.
Sacred Grounds – Native Plant Sale
Sunday, May 17, 9:00am - 12:00pm Native Plant Sale
During the end of the year Community Picnic, the Sacred Grounds Team will hold a native plant sale in the Temple Shalom parking lot. Look for more information in the Spring in our weekly emails. Choose from a preselected variety of native plants and native cultivars.
It’s almost time to get back to the garden! If you are interested in helping maintain our new native garden, clean up the garden in the circle, and free the rain
garden of invasive plants, we’re here to teach you all you need to know about garden maintenance. Email us at tikkunolam@templeshalom.net to join our growing group of Temple gardeners.
Postcarding with Reclaim Our Vote
Temple Shalom has been participating in get out the vote postcarding campaigns with Center for Common Ground’s Reclaim Our Vote since 2020. This year is no different. We are planning to write postcards to encourage low propensity voters in swing states to vote in the 2026 mid-term elections. If there is enough interest we will also participate in phone banking. If you have not written postcards with us before now and are interested in participating, please email tikkunolam@templeshalom. net for more information. The campaigns will likely begin in mid to late summer. To learn more about The Center for Common Ground and the Reclaim Our Vote campaigns, click here.
Generation to Generation Circle Members
Pearl and Maurice Axelrad
Ben Bederson and Allison Druin
Francine and Harvey Berger
Anne and Marc Feinberg
Laura and Ryan Gehl
Linda and Mike Gurevich
Barbara and Herb Jacobowitz
Carol Jimenez
Paula and Miles Kahn
Toby and Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn
Joan Kalin
Betsy Kingery
Rita Klein
Linda and Robert Krauss
Judy and Alan Lewis
Myles Levin
Karen and Jack Lowe
Peg MacKnight
Rachel and Walter Miller
JoHanna Potts
Lisa G. Rider
Jane Rosov
Leslie and Michael Rubin
Theresa Helfman Taylor
Susan Goutos Zemsky
Anonymous
Lyman Legacy Leaders
Hal Bruno
Sandra Kamisar
Joseph Lyman
Join the Generation to Generation Circle’s legacy program for the future of Temple Shalom. Legacy gifts of any amount are a way to express your support for the continuation of our Temple’s Jewish studies, values and community.
A legacy gift can be very easy to do through a designation in your retirement fund, bank account, life insurance policy or donor advised fund. For information about the easiest ways to make your legacy gift, email Rachel Miller or call her at 516-754-7439 for a private discussion.
We are grateful to all our members and look forward to building a bigger and stronger circle to take us into the decades ahead.
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.
CLERGY MITZVAH FUNDS
This is a traditional way to say thank you for support with a lifecycle 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.
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Temple Shalom Funds
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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.
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.
Donations
NOVEMBER – JANUARY
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 donations to our Capital Campaign, which will be acknowledged separately.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Stuart and Jeannette Gordon in memory of Sam Gordon
Marc Hershkowitz in memory of Sam Hershkowitz and Brenda Guttman
Jonathan and Dana Larkin in memory of Frances Larkin and Jack Freedman
Jane Rosov in memory of her beloved dad Ben Tobin, and in memory of Jeffrey Greenberg, beloved son of Maxine and Bob Greenberg
Ann Rubin Goldman in memory of Pearl Axelrod
Louisa Scott in memory of Bruce Hutton
Lori Weinstein in memory of Lila Barth, Richard Barth, Anita Weinstein, Calvin Weinstein and Stuart Weinstein
GENERAL FUND
Alexis and Aaron Schwartz for enhanced flowers in honor of Lyla Schwartz’s Bat Mitzvah
Robert and Maxine Greenberg in honor of their granddaughter Mia Greenberg Nasser's Bat Mitzvah, and in appreciation of Rabbi Josh, Cantor Ze'evi, Andrea Mark, and Scott Kravitz, for their time and support preparing Mia for her Bat Mitzvah
Elizabeth and William Kingery with thanks to Ellen Marcus for her artwork for the Tikkun Olam Committee
Anna Lorch
Laura Wides-Muñoz and Carlos Muñoz
Lisa Rider and Simon Wing in honor of Rabbi Gischner and Cantor Tovlev for their very meaningful high holiday services
Hillary Steen in honor of Cantor Tovlev and Rabbi Josh's wonderful Rosh Hashanah service
Francoise and Jefferson Stovall for Happy Giving
Tuesday
Sue Stolov Weiss in honor of Lyla Schwartz becoming Bat Mitzvah
ENDOWMENT FUND HONORING RABBI EMERITUS
BRUCE E. KAHN
Lynn and Lauren Mandell in honor of Rabbi Josh Gischner, Cantor Ze'evi Tovlev, and Andy Mark for their
incredible care and support of our family in celebrating Max's Bar Mitzvah
CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
Senior Rabbi Rachel Ackerman Mitzvah Fund
Stuart and Jeannette Gordon in memory of Allen Robinson
Lori Weinstein in memory of Lila Barth, Richard Barth, Anita Weinstein, Calvin Weinstein, and Stuart Weinstein
Cantor Ze'evi Tovlev Mitzvah Fund
Laura and Ryan Gehl in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance
Marc Hershkowitz in memory of Bruce Hutton
Lori Weinstein in memory of Lila Barth, Richard Barth, Anita Weinstein, Calvin Weinstein, and Stuart Weinstein
Rabbi Educator Josh Gischner Mitzvah Fund
Michael and Leslie Rubin
Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn Mitzvah Fund
Lee and Ellen Burstyn in memory of Pearl Axelrad
Robert and Linda Krauss in honor of Pearl Axelrad
Barney Singer in honor of Rabbi Bruce Kahn
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
Eli Newberger Speakers Fund
Robert and Linda Krauss in honor of the life of Charles Krauss
Barney Singer in memory of Lucille Newberger Malamut
Herman Rosenfeld Religious School Scholarship and Social Justice Fund
Karen Green and Robert Yetvin in memory of Steven Fenves, a brilliant and caring man
Levinsohn-Feinberg Youth Educational Program Fund
Robert and Linda Krauss in memory of Rhoda Raider and Alvin Raider
Oscar Felker Memorial Educational Enrichment Fund
Lori Weinstein in memory of Stuart Weinstein
Condolences
NOVEMBER – JANUARY
Maurice Axelrad on the death of his wife Pearl Axelrad
Alex Custin (Amanda McCrea) on the death of his grandmother Jeane Custin
Norma Fenves on the death of her husband Steven Fenves
Daniel (Deborah), Max and Jacob Hutton on the death of their father and grandfather Bruce Hutton
Pauline Robinson on the death of her husband Allen Robinson
Greg Wilmoth on the death of his wife Cynthia Cohen
Attract new business or congratulate a family member or friend! Submit your ad to shofar@templeshalom.net . A JPG file will help retain the
