Dear Friends:
This coming Sunday 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.
On Tuesday May 17, there will be a national Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice in DC. Although this event was planned before the recent leak of a Supreme Court opinion which would reverse Roe v. Wade and 50 years of abortion rights, it has taken on new urgency. Among the cosponsors of the rally are the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, of which we are a member and on whose board I sat for five years; and my professional association, the Rabbinical Assembly.
You can find more information and register to attend the rally at this link.
As part of their curriculum on Jewish values and Tikkun Olam, the students in Joe Lustig’s religious school class wrote and recorded a PSA for the Manna Food Center collection basket at our synagogue. Please watch the video and bring non-perishable food to the synagogue as food insecurity continues to be a serious problem in our community.
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. I have been spending more time in the synagogue recently but if you want to speak with me it’s best to make an appointment rather than assuming I will be there when you stop by.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian
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