Dear Friends:
I first started using Zoom several years ago when some of our members who either lived far away from the synagogue or spent part of the winter in warmer climes asked if there was some way to continue participating in the classes I was teaching. After doing a bit of research, and having just earned a Certificate in Jewish Educational Technology from JTS, I decided that Zoom was the best available technology. I also realized that in using Zoom, it was easy to create a video of each class which could be viewed later. These are linked from the Adult Education page of Kehilat Shalom’s website but I wanted to share them here as well in case there is a subject of interest from previous years:
Last night’s discussion of the “Great American Rabbi Shortage” is part of the “Contemporary Jewish Controversies” playlist but can also be accessed here. It was an interesting discussion and I invite you to view it.
This Sunday at 1 pm, the Jewish Community Relations Council is sponsoring its annual Holocaust Remembrance Service. The service will be held on Zoom and will feature a talk by Holocaust survivor Josie Traum. For more information or to participate, please visit this link.
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.
Please note that starting this Sunday, May 1, evening minyan will include both Minchah and Ma’ariv. Please plan on minyan lasting until about 8:10 rather than 8 pm.
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.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian