Dear Friends:
Yesterday afternoon we had a lovely ice cream social and an opportunity to view some prints from the “Wrapping Memory” exhibit from the Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem. The exhibit captures the beauty of the Israeli towns and kibbutzim bordering Gaza prior to Oct. 7 and raises money to provide assistance to the residents of that area. You can visit the website linked above and purchase digital copies of the prints, and the funds raised go entirely to a fund for the residents of what is known as the “Gaza Envelope.” Many thanks to our Administrator Joan Teich for arranging the display of the exhibit and yesterday’s event. You can view the prints in our Social Hall but only through June 25, when they will be returned to the Jewish Federation for display in other area Jewish institutions.
Kol HaKavod to Hazzan Komrad and Bob Goldberg, our Security Coordinator, who were featured in an article about Kehilat Shalom in the current Washington Jewish Week. If you have not yet seen the article please enjoy by clicking on the above link.
Thanks also to Rabbi Emeritus Mark Raphael who joined me last week at the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum and joined me as well last night as we both shared some of our reactions to what we saw and heard.
Please be cautious this weekend as our area experiences its first 100 degree days since 2016. Avoid being outdoors for too long, drink plenty of fluids, and wear a hat if you are outdoors. We need and value each of you.
As a reminder, I am having drop-in hours on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 4 at the shul. For my drop-in hours, you do not need to make an appointment -- that would negate the whole point of drop-in hours -- but I’d urge you to check and make sure I am there regardless as sometimes there are unavoidable pastoral or other emergencies which might take me away from the building.
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. I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment; 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. Additionally, if you know of a Kehilat Shalom congregant or another member of our Jewish community who could use a phone call, please let me know.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian
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