A Note from the Rabbi
Dear Friends:
I wanted to take the opportunity to inform you of a couple of opportunities for high level Jewish learning which are made possible by our partnership with the Jewish Theological Seminary and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
On Sunday afternoon and evening May 15, the eighth annual JTS Evening of Learning will take place at Kol Shalom in Rockville. The topic is “Expanding the Canon: Transforming Judaism in the 21st Century.” The program will feature a keynote address by JTS’ new Chancellor Dr. Shuly Rubin Schwartz and study sessions led by JTS faculty, fellows, and board members. For more information and to register go to this link.
Please note that this is an in-person only event. The keynote and closing sessions will be video recorded and made available after the program but there will be no opportunity to join the program by Zoom or other video program in real time. The decision to offer the program only in person was made by JTS and not the co-sponsoring synagogues.
If you would like to increase your ritual skills and learn how to lead minyan, run a Shabbat service, or assist with lifecycle events, the Imun Program from July 11- 17 may be for you. This is an online-only program which meets for 3 to 4 hours a day except Shabbat to give its participants the necessary skills to lead these ritual activities. Applicants must belong to a small USCJ Congregation such as Kehilat Shalom, know how to read Hebrew, and be recommended by their rabbi or synagogue president. For more information contact Aimee Close at close@uscj.org. Space is limited and registration closes on May 1.
Because Thursday night and Friday is the seventh day of Pesach which is a full holiday (Yom Tov), there will be no Rashi class Thursday night. The office will be closed on Friday and there will be no “Rabbi’s Update” or weekend announcements.
As a reminder, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has established a Ukraine Emergency Fund to meet emergency humanitarian needs. You can find out more and donate here.
As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. Although I am working primarily from home, I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian
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