Bet Mishpachah
An Egalitarian Synagogue Embracing Diversity
 

Web Archive

 

Bet Mishpachah Leases Office Space at the Metro DC GLBT Community Center (Jan 2010) 

Bet Mishpachah is pleased to announce that we are leasinIMG_0117.JPGg office space at the Metro DC GLBT Community Center (1810 14th Street NW). With this lease we will also be able to use the center's common space, including the cyber-office, conference room, kitchen, living room and big meeting room.  The agreement is in place to the end of June.  More details, including the Rabbi's office hours, to be announced.

 

5/2- Lag B'omer
Lag B'omer comes on the 33rd day of the Omer, a break in the solemnness of the period with one day of celebrating Rabbi Akiba's escape from death. This day is traditionally one for picnics, bonfires, and bows and arrows!

Join Moishe House Silver Spring and Bet Mishpachah for a Lag B'Omer event full of 'family', food, and fire! On May 2nd at 6PM we'll meet
at the Moishe House for a traditional celebration of Lag B'Omer, including an outdoor picnic, bonfire, and games.

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Tisha B'Av Study Event July 20

Tisha B’Av – the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av-  which technically commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, has become a catch-all of sorts for mourning otherwise unheralded Jewish tragedy.  Among other events linked to this date are: the return of the twelve spies from Canaan, the end of the Bar Kochba revolt, the expulsion of the Jews from England, and Germany’s  entrance into World War One.

To commemorate Tisha B’Av, this year the Bet Mishpachah community has invited other GLBT faith communities to join us for an evening of study and reflection. Our topic will be GLBT persecution at the hands of religious communities. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday July 20th. Please feel free to invite partners and friends of other faith traditions. Please be reminded, that since this is traditionally a somber day, food will not be served.
Marriage Mazal Tovs (Mar 2010)
     Bet Mishpachah extends a hearty Mazal Tov to our members Jeff Berns and Richard Bennet who were married by Rabbi Manewith on March 16; to Lee Knefelkamp and Evie Beck who were married by Rabbi Saks also on March 16; and to Batya Hyman and Belinda Cross who were married by him on March 26. We share their joy and excitement!
     We invite all of our members to share news of their simchas with us. Any couple who would like an auf ruf/aliya to celebrate an upcoming wedding at a Saturday morning service, or who would like a blessing at a Friday night service, should let Rabbi Manewith know.


Batya and Belinda with Rabbi Saks

May 10 Rabbi's Class

             "Taboos and Tatoos"

This class will explore some of Judaism's bubbe meisas (grandma's tales) that have legs, but no real foundation. You can't get buried in a Jewish cemetery if you have a tattoo, right? Wrong!  Come find out if there is anything else you really wanted to do but thought you couldn't!

DCJCC at 7:30 pm.  Free and open to all.


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 May 18  Shavuot Celebration

24 Bet Mishpachah members and guests  celebrated Shavuot Tuesday evening, May 18,  at 7:00 PM, in the community hall of the Washington DCJCC. The celebration included a dairy/vegetarian pot luck,  a short Ma’ariv service , and a study session led by Rabbi Manewith and volunteers from the congregation. The topic for study was Loshan Hara, literally evil tongue, more commonly referred to as gossip.

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World AIDS Day 2010

Photo courtesy of Washington Blade.

A World AIDS Day candlelight vigil was held on Wednesday Dec 1st in Dupont Circle. Members of Bet Mishpachah  lit the first candle of the menorah marking the first day of Hanukkah. Speakers included Rabbi Toby Manewith, Don Blanchon of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, and television personality Paul Wharton.  To read Jack Hillelsohn's drash at from the December 3rd Shabbat Service, click here.

4/25 Israel Trip/Brunch Study 

     On Sunday, April 25, there will be a brunch where some of the people who visited Israel and Jordan in October will be sharing photos and answering questions about their trip.  If you would like to attend, please email so we know how much food to order. 

The brunch will be at the Washington DC JCC starting at 11 am.  We anticipate that it will go no later than 12:30.

Member in the News - Apr 2010
Bet Mishpachah member Steven Frank makes  challah at the first ever deaf-blind shabbaton, in Reisterstown, Maryland in April.

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HHD Tikun Olam Report

A greatful N Street Village Staff sorts thorugh the donations made by Bet Mispachah members.  Thanks also to Lee S. and the Social Action/Social Justice Committee.

 
 
 
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