Issuu

WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

Key Dates DECEMBER 14 Hanukkah First Night 15-20 Hanukkah 24-31 Temple closed JANUARY 1 New Year’s Day 19 Martin Luther King Holiday FEBRUARY Tu BiShvat 2 Presidents’ Day Holiday 16 MARCH 2 Erev Purim 3 Purim

In This Issue Clergy/Staff ..............................2

Profile – Allan Berger ................12

Contact Info ..............................2

Brotherhood Meetings/Events...12

Committees List ........................3

B’notai Mitzvah ........................13

Board of Trustees .....................3

2025 Shofar Survey Results ....14

Clergy/Senior Leadership Messages ..................................4

Purim Carnival ..........................14

Welcome New Members ..........7

Young Professionals Group ......16

Mazel Tovs ...............................7 Worship Services .....................8 Adult Education ........................10

The Book of Esther ...................15 Renaissance Group ..................16 Worship Committee ..................16 Sisterhood Book Group ............17

Opening the Gates Design Launch ..........................18 Circles of Giving 2025 ..............20 From Generation to Generation ................................20 List of Funds .............................21 Condolences ............................22 Donations .................................23 Shofar Sponsors ......................25

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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

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Board Of Trustees Meetings And Update Regarding Minutes

Also, please hold Tuesday, June 9, 2026 on your calendar for Temple Shalom’s Annual Congregational Meeting.

Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn rabbikahn@templeshalom.net

Board meeting minutes are now available to members through your ShulCloud account. To view them, sign into your Temple Shalom account at this link.

ELC Director Maggie Heidema elc@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.com Accounting Manager Sharon Winick swinick@templeshalom.net B’notai Mitzvah Administrator Andrea Mark amark@templeshalom.net Building Supervisor David Diaz

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Matt Andelman President@templeshalom.net

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 7:00pm. Board meetings for the next six months will be on January 27, February 24, 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.

Adjunct Rabbi/Jewish Educator Rabbi JoHanna Potts jpotts@templeshalom.net

Executive Director Andrew Maayan amaayan@templeshalom.net

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Who do I contact at Temple Shalom about... ?

Executive Vice-President Karen Miller Vice Presidents Debbie Szyfer Megan Parker Steve Schleien

Temple Shalom Committees and Contact Information Belonging (formerly Membership) Megan Parker and Dana Larkin membership@templeshalom.net Book Club Janice Zalen bookclub@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

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.com

Account/statement or making a donation

Sharon Winick swinick@templeshalom.net

Religious School

Katherine Schnorrenberg school@templeshalom.net

House and Grounds Mike Gurevich mike.gurevich@gmail.com

Katherine Schnorrenberg rabast@templeshalom.net

Kulanu (LGBTQIA+ affinity group) Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev cantortovlev@templeshalom.net

Brotherhood Mike Gurevich and Marc Hershkowitz brotherhood@templeshalom.net

Mitzvah Corps Carolyn Shargel and Wilma Braun mitzvahcorps@templeshalom.net

Sisterhood Juliana Horowitz sisterhood@templeshalom.net

Opening the Gates Debbie Szyfer and Mike Rubin TSBuilding@templeshalom.net

Youth Groups Xani Polakoff xpollakoff@templeshalom.net

Scheduling a lifecycle event Scheduling a meeting with one of our clergy Other items

info@templeshalom.net

All Temple Shalom staff may also be reached by telephone at (301) 587-2273.

Budget Lynn Mandell treasurer@templeshalom.net Capital Improvements Debbie Szyfer deborah.szyfer@gmail.com Generation to Generation Rachel Miller GenerationtoGeneration@ 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

Treasurer Lynn Mandell treasurer@templeshalom.net Financial Secretary Sherry Doggett financialsecretary@templeshalom.net Secretary Joanna Waldstreicher Immediate Past President Peter Howard ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES Matthew Bremen Berinna Doggett Dawn Goldstein Deborah Hutton Lisa Krim Jason Kromirs Dana Larkin Toby Lowe Rachel Zimmerman EX-OFFICIO VOTING TRUSTEES Brotherhood Co-Presidents Mike Gurevich and Marc Hershkowitz Sisterhood President Juliana Horowitz Youth Co-Representatives Ben Trackman and Lily Blackman 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

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

Sacred Jewish Time

Carrying Light, One Step at a Time

By Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev

By Rabbi Educator Josh Gischner

Sitting with a congregant the other day, I asked them what they love about Judaism. They responded that they love the way Judaism marks the passing of time. Time has felt especially nonlinear for many of us this year. A significant portion of our community was affected by the government shutdown. Federal workers were furloughed or working without pay. Federal contractors and others whose work depended on federal funding or resources were thrown into uncertainty. Those who relied on SNAP benefits were left wondering how they would make ends meet. This shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, for many warped our sense of time. The sacred practices of Jewish time can be our anchors in the storm. In addition to the weekly ritual of Shabbat and the yearly cycles of renewal guided by our High Holy Days, I find myself drawn to the cycles of time in our everyday prayers. A pair of prayers recited near the Sh’ma in our services bless the cycle of light and darkness in each day. During the day we recite Yotzer Or, a blessing for light. In the evening we recite Ma’ariv Aravim, a blessing for darkness. In this time of short days and long nights, it can be easy to see light as a blessing. A ray of sunlight can feel almost transcendent in its warmth and brightness. But Judaism reminds us to also find the blessing in darkness. In the cycle of light and dark we can find the comforting rhythm of our days. Just as the light illuminates our days, the darkness reminds us to rest at their conclusion. But what about those times that are not quite day and not quite night: the time right before sunrise when the dark sky begins to turn shades of pale orange and pink; the time right after sunset when the sky turns an indigo blue. Rabbi Reuben Zellman reminds us in his poem Twilight People to lift up these times too as sacred. “We are all twilight people,” Zellman writes,

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

“We are in between roles and at the intersection of histories. All of us are crisscrossed paths of memory and destination, streaks of light swirled together.” Just as we find blessing in the day and the night, so too can we find blessing in the times that are neither and in the parts of ourselves that defy categorization. As the uncertainty of these times pulls many of us from our usual routines and time feels like it is moving in unfamiliar ways, let us take comfort in the blessings of Jewish time. Our spot on this earth turns toward and away from the sun each day, reminding us to practice gratitude for both the light and the darkness. In the twilight moments let us not forget the beauty inherent in the in-between. Let us sanctify the parts of our days and ourselves that live outside the boundaries of categorization. Let us lift them up as reminders of the holiness in the transitional moments in our days and in ourselves, all of which are deserving of blessing. Sermons given by our clergy are on Temple Shalom’s website.

Back in Eastern Europe, a traveler lost in the forest saw a faint light ahead. Walking toward the glimmer, they found a sage holding a small candle. “How can such a small light guide you in such darkness?” the traveler asked. The sage replied, “It cannot illuminate the whole forest—but it can show me one step at a time, and that is enough.”

your light shine most honestly.

I recently came across this Hasidic tale while reflecting on the darkness of our world. I know I’m not alone in feeling the weight of this moment—the exhaustion, the fear, the heartbreak. Especially as American Jews living in the D.C. area, many of us holding multiple marginalized identities, the world can feel dense and heavy, sometimes unbearably so.

toward a world illuminated by compassion.

Bringing light into the world is a radical act of courage. It is an act of resistance, of hope, and of justice. May your light—whether kindled with oil, flame, or tears— remind you that its beauty is not in its brightness, but in its persistence. And may that persistence carry you forward, one small step at a time, toward renewal and

Light is powerful. Fire can both destroy and illuminate; it can burn or warm. In this season when many traditions bring light into dark days, we’re reminded that every flame—whatever its source—adds warmth to the same world. Like the sage in the forest, we don’t need to see the whole path ahead; sometimes one step of light is enough to keep moving forward. There’s a story told of the Maggid of Mezeritch, whose impoverished student confessed he had no oil to light his Hanukkah candles. The Maggid replied, “Then light with your tears.” The next day, the student’s home was filled with light. I love how real this story is. Many of us have shed tears in these past years of uncertainty, pain, and sorrow—tears for our safety, for those we love, for a world that feels fragile. If this winter or early spring you find yourself lighting candles with tears, if the rituals or celebrations ahead don’t spark the same joy or hope they once did, please know you are not doing anything wrong. Quite the opposite. The vulnerability and compassion within those tears are what make

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

President’s Message By Matt Andelman

When I was growing up an hour north of Los Angeles, we were one of only a handful of Jewish families in the area. Surrounded by homes glowing with Christmas lights, all I wanted was to have some of my own. It wasn’t about religion; it was about belonging. I wanted to fit in. A few years later, my family moved to Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania, a neighborhood rich in Jewish life, and fitting in wasn’t something I thought about as much. But I still loved the idea of lights. There’s something universal about the warmth and joy they bring during the darkest days of winter. When Jen and I bought our first (and current) home, we found ourselves in a neighborhood with a small number of Jewish families and a spirited Christmas decorating contest every year. There was a whole judging committee who would hammer signs into the winners’ yards – first, second, and third place across multiple categories – and circulate a list so the whole neighborhood could take a festive tour. Each year, we’ve put up blue and white lights and a giant menorah made of tinsel. It wasn’t about trying to fit in anymore. It was about joining in the community celebration while proudly celebrating our own traditions. Over the years, I’ve met other Jewish families who moved into the neighborhood and told me how welcome they felt when they saw our Hanukkah display. And it reminded me that sometimes the most powerful way to affirm our identity is to share it openly and joyfully. Hanukkah is, at its heart, a story about resilience and light. About holding fast to who we are even when the world around us feels overwhelming. For me, those blue and white lights are not just decorations; they represent something deeper. They show that we can join in a shared tradition while still expressing who

Welcome New Members we are. It’s not a choice between conformity and isolation but rather about contributing our own color to the neighborhood’s tapestry. By participating in the common celebration in a distinctly Jewish way, we affirm that assimilation does not mean erasing identity. It means enriching the whole by bringing our uniqueness to the table. And when others see our menorah shining among the lights, it’s a reminder that diversity makes the community brighter.

AUGUST – OCTOBER Allison and Grace Adams Child age 3 Silver Spring

Shanna and Michael Hirsch Children ages 7 and 12 Takoma Park

Lauren Bregman and Dan Barrie Children ages 6 and 9 Chevy Chase

Aaron Igdalsky and Maariya Bassa Children ages 4 and 0 Bethesda

Emma and Gregory Brownstein Children ages 6, 4, and 1 Silver Spring Stefanie Cohen and Benjamin Rubenstein Child age 2 Silver Spring Lillian Feist and Ethan Weiss Silver Spring Jay Fuhrman Silver Spring Lane and Patrina Goodman Children (three) Silver Spring

Elizabeth Joseloff Child age 21 Silver Spring Teresa and William Kasper Child age 15 Silver Spring Daniel and Emily Kaufman Child age 1 Silver Spring Andrew Kornbluth and Valentyna Polunina Child age 6 Chevy Chase

Donna LaTorre and Martin Gruenberg Paul LaTorre Takoma Park Joshua and Hilary Loewenstein Children ages 2 and 4 Washington DC Jennifer Myers and Moshe Tsfadia Child age 1 Silver Spring Scott Rosenbloom and Kristen Yealy Washington DC Raisa Sheynberg Child age 5 Washington DC Lisa Troshinsky Bethesda Sarah Unowsky and Benjamin Schiffman Washington DC

Mazel Tov to . . . AUGUST - OCTOBER Rabbi Rachel Ackerman and Rabbi Jake Singer-Beilin on the birth of of Avital and Kinneret’s baby brother Shir Ackerman-Singer Paul Ellis and Jess Begue on their wedding Carol Jimenez on the birth of her granddaughter Adhira Elizabeth Jimenez

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

Worship Services

MID-DECEMBER – MARCH

(continued f rom previous page)

DECEMBER/KISLEV

JANUARY/TEVET-SHEVAT

Friday, December 19 Erev Shabbat/Night of 1,000 Menorahs/Consecration Services, 7:30pm

Friday, January 2 Erev Shabbat Home Hosted Service – details to be provided

Saturday, December 20 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am Wednesday, December 24 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, December 26 Brotherhood Home Hosted Erev Shabbat, 6:00pm (no service at Temple) Saturday, December 27 Shabbat Morning Worship/ Torah Study, 10:00am (virtual only) Wednesday, December 31 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual)

Saturday, January 3 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am (virtual only) Wednesday, January 7 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, January 9 Tot Shabbat Service, 5:30pm Erev Shabbat Family Service, 7:30pm Saturday, January 10 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am TaSTY Havdalah, 6:00pm Wednesday, January 14 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, January 16 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30 pm Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Saturday, January 17 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am

Wednesday, January 21 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, January 23 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Saturday, January 24 Shabbat Morning Worship/ Torah Study, 10:00am Drag Queen Havdalah Activities, 4:00pm Havdalah Service, 6:00pm Wednesday, January 28 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, January 30 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Shabbat Vayinafash Saturday, January 31 Shabbat Morning Worship/ Torah Study, 10:00am continued on next page

FEBRUARY/SHEVAT-ADAR

Wednesday, February 25 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual)

Wednesday March 11 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual)

Friday, February 27 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Shabbat Vayinafash

Friday March 13 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Shabbat Vayinafash

Saturday, February 28 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am

Saturday, February 7 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am

Saturday, March 14 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, McGowen B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am

MARCH/ADAR-NISSAN

Wednesday, February 11 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual)

Monday, March 2 Erev Purim Service/ Purim Schpiel, 7:00pm

Wednesday, March 18 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual)

Friday, February 13 Erev Shabbat Service Home Hosted Time TBD by each host

Wednesday, March 4 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Shushan Purim

Saturday, February 14 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am

Friday, March 6 Tot Shabbat Service, 5:30pm Erev Shabbat Family Service, 7:30pm

Wednesday, February 4 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, February 6 First Friday Tot Shabbat Service, 5:30pm Erev Shabbat Family Service, 7:30pm

Wednesday, February 18 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, February 20 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30 pm Saturday, February 21 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am

Saturday, March 7 Shabbat Morning Worship/ Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, Gould/Gould B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am

Friday, March 20 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Saturday, March 21 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am Shabbat Service, Kayne B’notai Mitzvah, 10:00am Wednesday March 25 Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am (in person/virtual) Friday, March 27 Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm Trans Day of Visibility Saturday March 28 Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

Temple Shalom Adult Education

JANUARY - JUNE 2026

(continued f rom previous page)

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.

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 your 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.

to serve as senior advisor to the Union for Reform Judaism and remains a leading moral voice in American public life.

POP-UP ADULT EDUCATION Kehilat Shalom Adult Education Program, Sunday, January 11, 9:30am-11:30am

3G DC: DC Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors Program and Yom HaShoah 5786 Service, Tuesday, April 14, 6:00pm

More to be announced soon about this spiritually enriching program.

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.

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. Book Club, Sundays February 22 and April 19, 9:30am11:30am (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 (In person) This program facilitates discussions about Israel. Trained moderators bring understanding of different viewpoints with discussing topics openly without a need to come to a consensus. Support for Israel may be complicated, emotional, and take many different forms, and 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 group discussion of current news issues, an opportunity for thoughtful reflection on the world around us. Contact info@TempleShalom.net to register. Sisterhood Book Group, the third 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 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 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, 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. 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 continued on next page

Beit Midrash Learning and Dinner with Dr. Betsy Stone, January 21, 6:00pm-9:00pm Dr. Stone is a retired psychologist and former professor at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Dr Stone is an expert in trauma and post-traumatic growth as well as practical tools for communal wellness—addressing grief, anxiety, resilience, boundaries, burnout, and the emotional–spiritual health of families and communities. Register here and learn more about Dr. Stone here. Beit Midrash Learning and Dinner, February 4, 6:00pm9:00pm Join us for an evening of spirited Torah study, great conversation, and a community dinner. Our guest teachers for both dates will be announced shortly. Expect a thoughtful, engaging session accessible to all levels (no prior experience needed). Beit Midrash Learning and Dinner with Rabbi David Saperstein, March 4, 6:00pm-8:00pm Rabbi David Saperstein is the director emeritus of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, which he led for 40 years. He served as the first rabbi in U.S. history to be appointed Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, advising both President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry on global religious liberty. A longtime advocate for justice, Rabbi Saperstein continues

Kehilat Shalom Adult Education Program, Sunday, March 8, 9:30am-11:30am More to be announced soon about this spiritually enriching program.

Kehilat Shalom Adult Education Program, Sunday, April 12, 9:30am-11:30am More to be announced soon about this spiritually enriching program. Beit Midrash Learning and Dinner with Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, May 13, 6:00pm-8:00pm Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, Ph.D. is the Rabbi Aaron Panken Professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Weisberg served for eleven years as the Rabbinical Program Director in Los Angeles and then as the National Rabbinical School Director of Hebrew Union College from 2020 to 2025. Register here and learn more about Rabbi Weisberg here. Beit Midrash Learning and Dinner with Barbara Weinstein, June 3, 6:00pm-8:00pm Barbara Weinstein is the Associate Director of the Religious Action Center (RAC) of Reform Judaism and Director of the Commission on Social Action, guiding the Reform Movement’s social justice work. Before joining the RAC in 2002, she worked in the U.S. House of Representatives on women’s rights, human rights, and environmental policy.

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

Prof ile - Allan Berger By Lynn Kanowith, Marty Shargel and Jim Goldstein This is one in an occasional profile of a long-term Temple Shalom congregant. Born in 1931, Allan grew up on the lower east side of New York City. His father, a physician, was born in Belarus near Minsk. His grandfather was a rabbi and forest keeper. His mother came from Ukraine; her father was a marksman in the czar’s Russian army. Allan was raised in a largely secular home and did not belong to a synagogue. He graduated from Syracuse University, then trained at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Yale University, specializing in child psychiatry. Two years after Temple Shalom was established as a “breakaway” synagogue from Temple Emanuel, in 1961 Allan and his family joined Temple Shalom. At that time, the temple was renting space in a church in Bethesda, at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Bradley Boulevard (now the location of the fire station). Allan became active in Temple Shalom leadership and became a board member for several years in the 1960s as Temple Shalom purchased property and relocated to its current home in Chevy Chase in 1965. Allan was involved in fundraising for the new building. He was also instrumental in establishing relationships with nearby community churches; we still have ongoing connections to St. Paul United Methodist Church (which is catty-corner from Temple Shalom). Allan and his family joined Temple Shalom because it was “a nice place”, he “liked the people”, and he had “a sense of belonging.” When asked recently about

B’notai Mitzvah Brotherhood

January – March All meetings and events are at Temple Shalom unless otherwise noted. All Temple Shalom members (and their guests) are welcome unless otherwise noted. Monthly Meetings (Wednesdays) Dinner at 6:30pm and Meeting at 7:00pm January 14 February 11 March 11 Events University of Maryland Women’s Basketball vs. The Ohio State University Sunday, January 11, 4:00pm at the Xfinity Center Contact James Goldstein (goldysox@comcast.net) to reserve tickets Price per ticket expected to be $20-$25 Brunch with Speaker Sunday, January 25 Stay tuned for more details! Annual Brotherhood Retreat Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 Cherry Hill Park, College Park MD All members welcome

the most important influence in his Temple Shalom life, the definitive answer was Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn, our Rabbi Emeritus. Allan is known for his humor and storytelling, which are often infused with “Jewishness” (or “yiddishkeit”). What is not as widely known about Allan is his artistic talent. He is a gifted sculptor and his works of art displayed in his home are museum quality.

JANUARY – MARCH

GRAHAM GOULD March 7 Graham is a seventh grader at Maret School. Graham loves making all kinds of art, such as resin, jewelry, and crafts. He volunteers at the Loft Collective in Takoma Park after school, where he helps K-2 students with art projects. An explorer at heart, Graham loves to travel all over the world with family. He’s a hard-working student who especially enjoys math and drama. In his free time Graham often listens to music and hangs out with friends. Graham swims for Daleview Swim Team, enjoys playing tennis, and loves live concerts and plays. He appreciates all the support from family and the Temple Shalom community and is looking forward to celebrating his Bar Mitzvah with family and friends!

SADIE MCGOWAN March 14 Sadie is a seventh grader in the math and science magnet program at Takoma Park Middle School. A budding musician, orchestra is Sadie’s favorite team sport! She plays violin with her middle school orchestra as well as the DC Youth Orchestra Program, and also plays the piano. Sadie loves spending her summers at Camp Havaya where she enjoys swimming, zip lining, pontubing, and making as many friendship bracelets as is humanly possible. Sadie is extremely grateful to Andy Mark and Jill Greenstein for helping her prepare for her Bat Mitzvah, and to her moms and younger sibling Shaia for their encouragement and support.

INDIA GOULD March 7 India is in seventh grade at the Lowell School where they run track and cross country. They especially love playing ice hockey and compete at tournaments throughout the mid-Atlantic with their travel team. India also loves art and music, including drawing and playing guitar and ukulele. Next summer will be India’s fifth summer at Camp Hidden Meadows in West Virginia, where they do all kinds of fun activities, including climbing, arts and crafts, archery, backpacking, and baking. India is excited about their Bet Mitzvah and grateful for all the support from family, teachers, and others at Temple Shalom.

JONI KAYNE March 21 Joni lives in Woodmoor and is a seventh grader at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. She loves art, music, and theater. She has been acting with Lumina Studio Theatre in downtown Silver Spring since 2021 and singing with the Strathmore Children’s Chorus since 2023. She enjoys traveling, camping, skiing, museums, dance, and opera. Joni thanks her tutor Rachel Robinson and her madrich Marty Shargel, and appreciates the support of her parents, extended family, and cat Hermes.

TEMPLE SHALOM WINTER 2025-2026 | 5786

2025 Shofar Survey Results

The Book of Esther

By Dawn Goldstein and Carol Jimenez

By Michael Schwartz

In September and October, we offered the congregation the opportunity through a short survey to provide feedback on what content you would like in the Shofar. We received 37 responses to the survey. A huge thank you to everyone who responded. We have found the input very helpful. Although this response level is not statistically significant, here is what people responded: •

92 percent of respondents read all or some of each issue of the Shofar.

•

More than half of respondents want the following in every issue: • Messages from the Senior Rabbi, Cantor, Rabbi Educator, Executive Director, and President; • Articles about temple committees and Jewish holidays/rituals; • Adult education, worship services, and other meetings and events; and • Mazel tovs and condolences.

•

Among those who recommended that some of these articles be included but published less frequently, 75 percent recommended that such content appear every other issue.

•

30 percent of respondents identified specific content they think should not appear, but there was no consensus as to which content.

The survey also provided the opportunity for people to make suggestions. Overall, respondents are pleased that the Shofar has returned, but many would like it to be easier to read on mobile devices and many would like a hard copy print edition made available. There were some individual comments suggesting articles by our youth and about our youth programs, Zionism

and Israel, and what we can do to remain sane during times of political attacks. The Shofar committee is working on making the Shofar easier to read electronically including on mobile devices. Based on the current Temple budget approved at the Annual Congregational Meeting, at this time the Shofar is only available electronically. However, we will submit this request to the Budget Committee. If you have a suggestion for a specific article, please let us know. Please also let us know if you are interested in writing an article for the Shofar by emailing shofar@templeshalom.net.

Purim has always seemed a bit different from our other holidays. It has little of the more ordered serious atmosphere and rituals associated with our other holidays. Rather, it is often thought of as a time for frivolity, for carnival-like gatherings with costumes, and a raucous noisy atmosphere during the reading of the associated text the Megillah Esther. Even the holiday’s Book of Esther (“Book”) has many unusual aspects, including its unclear origin and the comic nature of its style in contrast to the seriousness of its story and its proposed lessons. It seems odd that the Book is included in the canon of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanach). Professor Robert Alter discusses its origins in the introduction to his translation of the Book. It is the only scriptural text of which nothing has been found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. He speculates that the somewhat bawdy nature of the tale may have been offensive to the pious people living by the Dead Sea. The Book never mentions the name of God and its setting is thoroughly secular. Unlike most other writings in the Tanach, it never mentions the Temple, God’s covenant with the people of Israel, Jewish practices, or divine commandments. The Megillah makes no suggestion that Purim is a holiday of ancient origin. It fully supports that Purim was a new festival created long after the Torah. The creation of this new holiday is consistent with the legal practices of Persia - the setting of the story where a document would be authorized by the king and circulated throughout the empire.

attributed great significance to the Book which they felt did indeed concern itself with a biblical matter of importance. In the Talmud (Jerusalem Megillah 1.5) commentators discussed the eternity of the Bible’s teachings, stating that the two portions of the Hebrew Bible that could never be abolished were the Books of Moses and the Book of Esther. They felt that the Book of Esther provided the key to understanding the nature of the miraculous (Berachot 57b). Yarom Hazony, in his book God and Politics in Esther, argues that the Book provides an important doorway into the worldview of the Hebrew Bible. He emphasizes that to appreciate the deeper significance of the Book it must be recognized that it is a story about exile. It describes a world far removed from the Land of Israel, the traditions that developed there, and the Israelites’ conception of their God. In exile, the Jews of Persia had to find a way to preserve their way of life without the support of their own country; they lived by the grace of the Persian ruler’s wishes. The Book of Esther offers insight on how Jews can gain power and influence in a foreign land, as Mordechai and Esther’s political activities allowed them to gain the power to save their people from Haman. Under all of the Book’s frivolity lies a serious message still relevant today for the Jewish people living as a minority in countries throughout the world.

Although the story told in the Book of Esther is deadly serious-the annihilation of the Jewish people of Persia by Haman’s decree-the style is comic. Its descriptions of bawdy drinking parties, its use of hyperbole, mockery, and reversals, all have the tone of a raucous tale or a staged play. This is the tone that comes through in how Purim is celebrated. Yet other commentators note that the Sages of the Talmud

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Young Professionals Group By Co-Chairs Emma Bassin and Simon Blechman

Temple Shalom’s Young Professionals group - for people in their 20s and 30s - holds several events each season, focusing on social gathering, Jewish learning, and Tikkun Olam. Please join us for any or all of our upcoming events and connect with fellow Jewish young professionals in the Temple Shalom community! Previous events include a Tu B’Av learning and crafting session, pumpkin carving for Halloween, and cooking for Temple Shalom’s Food for Nourishment program. Group members have the option to help plan future events – or simply show up and enjoy participating. Childcare can be arranged for some events held at the temple. For more information and to join our Whatsapp community, please reach out to Emma Bassin (ebassin713@gmail.com) or Simon Blechman (simonblechman@gmail.com).

Renaissance Group Hello Dolly Olney Theater January 4, 1:00pm Dinner to follow Stay tuned for registration and additional information. All are welcome! Contact renaissance@templeshalom.net for more information.

Worship Committee February 3, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Bring your own dinner; treats provided Clergy will be attending

Sisterhood Book Group DECEMBER - MARCH Thursdays, 8:15pm by Zoom Click here or email sisterhood@templeshalom.net to register.

December 18 In 1940, as the Nazis sweep toward Lithuania, Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara defies his government and secretly issues visas to fleeing Jewish refugees. After the war, Sugihara is dismissed and disappears into obscurity. In Australia three decades later, Rachel Margol is shocked when her engagement reveals that she is Jewish. As she grapples with this deception and the dysfunction it has caused, unspoken tragedies from the past begin to come to light. But will a journey to Japan and the secrets it uncovers heal the family or fracture them for good?

January 22 The Abadi Family saga begins when a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story between a Palestinian and a Jew ends in predictable tragedy. The family flees to America to mend but encounters only more turmoil that threatens to tear the family apart.

All members are welcome! Please join the Worship Committee as we support our clergy team in their work. We’ll discuss Friday night and Saturday morning services; we’ll share ideas about how to help everything go smoothly; and we’ll enjoy camaraderie. This is your chance to discuss your ideas for enhancing the worship experience at Temple Shalom!

February 19 Thousands of miles from home, a woman stands on a dark street peeking through well-lit windows at two little girls. They are the grandchildren she’s never met, daughters of the daughter she has not seen in years. At the center of this mesmerizing story is the woman’s quest to understand how a relationship that began in bliss arrived at a point of such unfathomable distance. Weaving back and forth in time and with exquisite psychological precision, Blum traces the seemingly insignificant missteps and deceptions of family life, where it’s possible to cross the line between protectiveness and possession without even seeing it; and uncertainty as to whether or how we can find our way back.

For more information, contact co-chairs Megan Parker and Sarah Leavitt.

March 19 Hadley Freeman knew that her grandmother Sara lived in France just as Hitler started to gain power, but her family rarely talked about it. Long after her grandmother’s death, Hadley found a shoebox tucked in the closet containing photographs of her grandmother with a mysterious stranger, a cryptic telegram from the Red Cross, and a drawing signed by Picasso.

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Opening the Gates Design Launch By Co-Chairs Debbie Szyfer and Mike Rubin

On November 2, the Opening the Gates Project public design phase was launched with approximately 80 adult participants. Cantor Tovlev beautifully led us in “Come as You Are”–the song they wrote for their installation, inspired by Temple Shalom’s values that are the foundation of Opening the Gates. Rabbi Educator Gischner offered inspiring words about audacious hospitality in the Torah Portion of the week, Vayeira, where Abraham welcomes three strangers. Rabbi Kahn described how this project fulfills the Torah commandment not to put barriers before those who are disabled and is also the culmination of our Founders’ vision of a building in which our congregation can come together as a family. And Executive Director Andrew Mayaan described what the new spaces will mean for our staff. Our professional team’s remarks beautifully captured the goals of the Opening the Gates Project: community, accessibility, and inclusivity. Our design partners from Brawer Hauptman Larkin Architects presented key design elements: • an accessible and welcoming lobby • an elevator to connect the upper and lower levels • a new wide staircase near the entryway, and an improved staircase by the sanctuary • a refreshed multi-purpose social hall • collaborative workspace • new classrooms and a refreshed education wing • upgraded bathrooms that meet our variety of needs. Their updated conceptual renderings and a walkthrough video are available for viewing on the Opening the Gates webpage. Scan the QR code below to review them as well as our campaign brochure.

All images are conceptual—colors, finishes, and design will require extensive input from you as we continue forward. To begin the process, we broke up into small groups to discuss the values underlying the project, reflect on how we might use the spaces, and offer design refinements. As we write this article, the architectural committee is analyzing these reactions, which will have been shared with the community by the time you read this article. The project’s vision was also shared with hundreds of students during morning and evening Religious School to obtain the wisdom of our students. It was remarkable how engaged our youth were, and that their reflections aligned with those of the adults. Abe, in 1st Grade, suggested that the elevator should have music and a live stream of the services. Naomi, in 3rd Grade, was so excited that she provided 15 fundraising ideas. Students in Chai School identified the elevator as essential not just to older congregants but to accommodate their personal challenges. Our youngest students shared their ideas in pictures.

Reflections of Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn on Opening the Gates NOVEMBER 3, 2025 A congregational family thriving in a space that creates the feel of a congregational home. A place of welcome, inclusivity, comfort, unity, and pleasantness that physically complements the warmth and caring we feel so strongly in relation to one another. For the very first time, Opening the Gates gets us where we have sought to be since Temple Shalom began on July 2, 1959, and since our building first opened exactly 60 years ago. We have made advances previously, to be sure. But Opening

the Gates completes all that was yet missing in our physical Shalom space. How we shall celebrate when the job is done! I am so grateful to have had the privilege of being here with this congregational family long enough to see these dreams come true. I sense I will feel moved to recite sh’he’che’ya’nu every time I enter what all together we are about to make real. “O God, I love your Temple home, the dwelling place where Your glory resides.” Psalm 26:8.

There was widespread spontaneous applause when we reflected that the wide-ranging attacks on community, accessibility, and inclusivity outside our walls make it even more important that we move forward. The adult and Chai School programs ended with an ask to share their excitement with friends and families. Adults were asked to reflect deeply about what it looks like for each of us to participate in a meaningful, stretch way to make this vision a reality, and to imagine what it would feel like in a few years when they come into the new spaces, look around, and think I helped build this. Our hope is for all of our members to do the same. For more information, please contact Mike Rubin and Debbie Szyfer at TSBuilding@templeshalom.net.

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Circles of Giving 2025

Temple Shalom Funds

Recognizing the generosity of our members’ donations made in calendar year 2024

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.

KAVANAH CIRCLE Direction of the Heart ($12,000+) Ken and Sheila Berman Harvey and Fran Berger Beth Biegelsen and Mary Barton Marc and Anne Feinberg James and Dawn Goldstein Jill Greenstein Michael and Linda Gurevich Norman and Joan Gurevich (z’l) Rita Klein Lynn and Lauren Mandell Barrett and Marilyn Ripin Michael and Leslie Rubin Benjamin Smith and Doreen Sterling Earl Steinberg and Claire Reade Carl and Beryl Tretter Jay and Robin Varon Anonymous MITZVAH CIRCLE Moral Deed ($9,000 - $11,999) Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider Joel Klein and Erica Goldman Betsy Kingery

Virginia Kling and Jonathan Greenbaum Margaret and Michael Liftik Andrew Schwartz and Lisa Krim Benjamin and Alexandra Slade TZEDAKAH CIRCLE Righteousness ($6,000 - $8,999) Matt and Jen Andelman Michael and Carrie Brownlie Joy Chapper and Yolanda Ellis Jordin and Bev Cohen Paul Egendorf and Stacey Wahrman Deb Gottesman and Jeanne Goldberg Juliana and Ethan Horowitz Adam Issenberg and Wyndy Rausenberger Mary and John Jacobs Julie Kashen and Russ Feinberg John Landesman and Linda Aldoory Myles R. Levin Joshua and Susan Lott Peggy MacKnight Ellen Marcus and Andy Sfekas

Sharon, Emily, Sadie and Shaia McGowan Jerry and Deborah Nedelman Karl Held and Fran Paver Rachael Pierotti and Jerry Lavery Mark and Jessica Rath Lisa Rider and Simon Wing Jonathan Rose and Sage Hulsebus Jane Rosov Steven Schleien and Deborah Szyfer Evan Schultz and Jennifer Rubin Mark and Miriam Secunda Joshua Sheinkman and Edith Livingstone Jeffrey Steger and Janice Pliner Lane Tapley Theresa Helfman Taylor and Jerry Taylor Dianne Tencer Soching Tsai and David Kornbluth Shana Young and Jamal Cox Eliot Waxman and Jennifer Main Jason Wexler and Joelle Tessler Louis and Carrie Wolinetz Anonymous

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.

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.

Adele D. Lewis Memorial Teachers Fund Professional development for religious school teachers and the betterment of the religious school.

Levinsohn-Feinberg Youth Educational Program Fund Scholarships for Temple members to attend Jewish summer camps and programs for Temple youth.

CAPITAL FUND Capital projects support ongoing long-term work to improve our building and grounds.

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.

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.

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.

David Mark Gildenhorn Fund Scholarships for Temple youth to participate in programs in Israel. 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).

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. continued on next page

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Temple Shalom Funds

Donations

(continued f rom previous page)

AUGUST - OCTOBER

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.

Condolences AUGUST – OCTOBER Chris (Katherine), Esther and Nora Bauer on the death of their father and grandfather John Bauer Susan Blankenheimer (Joseph Geraci) on the death of her cousin Ellen Bloom Ivan, Samuel, Haim, and Gaby Caballero on the death of their mother and grandmother Gilma Estela Pacheco Chavez Kathryn (Michael), Iris, Petra, and Jude Campana-Scherer on the death of their aunt and great-aunt Kathleen Campana Hutchinson Steven (Stephanie), Maxwell, Harrison, and Laura Dennis on the death of their mother and grandmother Carolyn June Dennis Paul Egendorf (Stacey Wahrman) on the death of his mother Judy Egendorf

Robert and Maxine Greenberg Lauren, Amir, and Mia Greenberg on the death of their son, brother and uncle Jeffrey Greenberg Marla (Ze’ev) Lahat on the death of her sister Andrea Zinder Alan and Judy Lewis on the death of their son Mark Edward Lewis Nancy Lewis (Henry Friedman) on the death of her brother-in-law Norman Rushefsky Laura (Lionel) and Lena Lourenco on the death of their mother and grandmother’s partner Victor Shapiro Evan (Jennifer Rubin) and Jay Schultz on the death of their mother and grandmother Joan Schultz Steve (Diane) Wechsler on the death of his father Lawrence Wechsler

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 acknowledgements do not include donations to our Capital Campaign, which will be acknowledged separately. IN LOVING MEMORY In memory of Mark Lewis, son of Judy and Alan Lewis Carol Jimenez Lynn and Temma Kanowith Martin and Carolyn Shargel Ruth Stuart Carl and Beryl Tretter Harvey and Francine Berger in memory of Norman Shulman, Murray M. Berger, and Irving Borscher Bruce and Jeanne Bernard in memory of Joan Betty Bernard and Gida Ackerman Michaels Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider Lynn Brooks in memory of Sidney Goldstein Joy Chapper and Yolanda Ellis in memory of Adelaide R. Chapper and Frank M. Chapper Phyllis and Thomas Dietz in memory of Jeffrey Greenberg, son of Maxine and Bob Greenberg David and Sherry Doggett in memory of Mildred Doggett Jeff Freedman in memory of Evelyn Aptaker and Alex Freedman Stuart and Jeannette Gordon in memory of Felicita Sierra Karl Held and Fran Paver in memory of Louis Held Barbara Jacobowitz in memory of Jonathan Gallo and Jack Esterman Joan Kalin in memory of Stanford Hamburger, Carrie Hamburger, and Ann S. Lubin Lynn and Temma Kanowith in memory of Celso Bianco Fred and Marie Kaplowitz in memory of Benjamin Kaplowitz Karen Karl and John Heidema Scott Kravetz Myles R. Levin in memory of Albert Levin and Hanna Sukiennik Karen and John Lowe Craig Lustig and Pete Carter in memory of Helen Perlstein Walter and Rachel Miller Barry Molar and Juliet Mellow in memory of Clara Molar Nathan and Bruce Mellow Jerry and Deborah Nedelman in memory of Sam Nedelman David Peal and Carol D Weiss in memory of David’s mother Ethel Peal Eric Pianin and Laurie McGinley in memory of Jill Richards Natalie Pichler in memory of Chana Dobrzelowski

Mark and Jessica Rath in memory of Nelson Rath Jane Rosov in memory of Howard Rosov Lydia and Peter Schlosser in memory of Geraldine Lebowitz and Leroy Lebowitz Alan and Amy Shaffer in memory of Helen Shaffer and James Lippman Martin and Carolyn Shargel in memory of Irene Shargel Heifetz, Earl Shargel, and Lillian Small Jonathan Silverman in memory of Etta Silverman, Marie Glucksberg, and Leroy Glucksberg Benjamin Smith and Doreen Sterling in memory of Gertrude Sterling Carl and Beryl Tretter in memory of George Tretter Susan Walsh in memory of Joan Burka Richard Weitzner and Vickie Gaul in memory of Louis Weitzner Peter Wolk and Beth Janoff Rita Zucker in memory of Edwin Zucker GENERAL FUND Maurice and Pearl Axelrad Paul B. Ellis and Jessica Begue in honor of Rabbi Ackerman providing counsel and officiating at their wedding Jeff Feuer and Sherry Klein Laura and Ryan Gehl to celebrate the birth of Shir Ackerman-Singer Bonnie Green hosting Oneg in honor of Mathew and Monika Rabbi Bruce E. and Toby Kahn hosting Oneg in honor of the Rabbi’s 80th birthday Hank and Barbara Kimmel hosting Oneg in honor of Lois Kimmel and Ethan Bennett Richard and Vivian Kramer Margaret and Michael Liftik in honor of Rabbi Potts Sylvia Orenstein in honor of and mazel tov to Lois Kimmel and Ethan Bennett Rita Schonberg Stephan and Rachel Sylvan Soching Tsai and David Kornbluth in support of Temple members who are facing financial hardship in paying their membership dues now Marcos and Kelly Vaena hosting Oneg in honor of Oliver and Samuel’s B’notai Mitzvah Sara Weiser to support the Tikkun Olam Committee Peter Wolk and Beth Janoff to support the Temple Shalom Brotherhood continued on next page

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Donations

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SHOFAR SPONSORS

(continued f rom previous page) Donations to Support the Religious School Allen Blackman and Clara Beshoar Emma and Gregory Brownstein Andrew and Rebecca Davis Lauren Greenberg Shanna and Michael Hirsch David and Shana Jacobs Ethan and Katherine Joselow Katie Kronick and John Wilson Jeff Lidz and Tonia Bleam Jeffrey and Janet Max Jamie and Shawn Sullivan Donations to Support Tikkun Olam Refugee Resettlement Work Michael DeLong Charles Githler Karen Green and Robert Yetvin Karl Held and Fran Paver Elizabeth and William Kingery Benjamin Smith and Doreen Sterling CAPITAL FUND Kate Geyer to celebrate the new Introduction to Judaism class Jane Rosov with Mazel Tov to Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Jake on the arrival of their baby boy ENDOWMENT FUND HONORING RABBI EMERITUS BRUCE E. KAHN Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider Lynn and Temma Kanowith in memory of Sally Kanowith, Mrs. Ellen Legow, and the recent passing of my cousin Donald Legow CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS Senior Rabbi Rachel Ackerman Mitzvah Fund Gary and Mona Ellis in honor of Rabbi Ackerman for Paul and Jess’s wedding Laura Flegel and Mary Farmer in honor of Naomi and Elvin’s wedding Joan Kalin Alan and Judith Lewis in appreciation of Rabbi Ackerman’s counsel and support Margaret and Michael Liftik Diann Onsted in memory of Ron Weiner Stuart Rubenstein in honor of the bris for Levi Thompson Bela Saxonov Moore in support of the recovery, health, and wellbeing of my friend Sara (Marina) Katsobashviei Bela Saxonov Moore Zachary and Dara Segal to celebrate Sadie Ursel Segal’s baby naming Martin and Carolyn Shargel in honor of the beautiful and meaningful holiday services

Martin and Carolyn Shargel Peter Wolk and Beth Janoff Rita Zucker in memory of Irving Kamenker and Louis Zucker Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev Mitzvah Fund Elisabeth Berman Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider Jared and Michelle Cohen in memory of Sylvia Ann Elfman Laura and Ryan Gehl Margaret and Michael Liftik Peter Wolk and Beth Janoff Rabbi Educator Josh Gischner Mitzvah Fund Wilma Braun and Victor Schneider Joan Kalin Michael and Leslie Rubin Janice Zalen and Jared Wermiel in memory of Lydia Springham and Ruth Wermiel

SPONSORSHIP ADS

Full Page

$300/issue

Half Page

$175/issue

Quarter Page

$125/issue

Business Card Size

$ 75/issue

Attract new business or congratulate a family member or friend! Submit your ad to shofar@templeshalom.net. A JPG file will help retain the highest quality when published.

With 25 years of experience in the local real estate industry, Marc understands that buying or selling a home is an emotional process and Marc takes that very seriously, guiding you every step of the way. With Marc on your side, the relationship doesn’t end at your closing. Marc stays in touch with his clients and has helped many clients with multiple purchases and sales over the years. Marc also holds the designation of Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), helping Seniors with the difficult transition from their long-term homes to a home more suited to their golden years. Marc has helped numerous Temple Shalom members with their real estate needs and would be honored to help you as well. Marc is licensed in Maryland, DC and Virginia.

Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn Mitzvah Fund Jerry and Deborah Nedelman in gratitude to Rabbi Kahn Diann Onsted in memory of Ron Weiner Tikkun Olam Committee in support of Sacred Spaces Peter Wolk and Beth Janoff SPECIAL FUNDS Levinsohn-Feinberg Youth Educational Program Fund Maurice and Pearl Axelrad Harvey and Francine Berger in honor of the birth of Shir Uriel Ackerman-Singer Harvey and Francine Berger wishing a full recovery to Beverly Potter Phyllis and Thomas Dietz in honor of the birth of Shir Uriel Ackerman-Singer Ely and Sheila Fishlowitz in honor of Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Jake’s new son James and Dawn Goldstein in honor of the birth of Rabbi Rachel’s new son Karen and John Lowe Allen and Pauline Robinson in memory of Max Robinson Rachel Rodnyansky with thanks for the Fall Foam Party. We were grateful it was open to the wider community! Tretter Family Music Fund Marilyn Goldfarb in memory of Mark Lewis, son and brother of Judy, Alan, and Lynn Lewis Yvonne Wagner Emergency Needs Fund Diana Ordin

8401 Grubb Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-587-2273 www.templeshalom.net

Happy Tu BiShvat