Bet Mishpachah

Bet Mishpachah is Washington's only Egalitarian Synagogue Embracing a Diversity of Sexual
and Gender Identities, founded in 1975 by members of DC's LGBTQ+ community.

WELCOME TO BET MISHPACHAH!

A congregation for gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, trans and queer Jews, our
families, friends and allies and all who wish to participate in an inclusive,
progressive, egalitarian, and mutually supportive community. Explore our
website to learn more about our vibrant community!

Our Rabbi, Jake Singer-Beilin, guides our spiritual path, and leads or co-leads
half of our Shabbat and holiday services along with our talented cohort of
lay leaders.

Click here to find out more about services. If you have any questions, please
see our contact page where you will find the contact information for our
administrator and board.

Please join us!

UPCOMING EVENTS

All Events

Friday ,
JanJanuary 5 , 2024

Shabbat Services with Bet Mishpachah
Friday, Jan 5th 8:00p to Friday, Dec 27th 8:00p
Join Bet Mishpachah weekly on Fridays at 8:00 pm as we welcome Shabbat with our warm and joyous services. We also meet the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 10:00 am for a brief service and stimulating Torah discussion. Both services are followed by our tasty Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush luncheon. All are welcome!
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Friday ,
OctOctober 25 , 2024

Simchat Shabbat
Friday, Oct 25th 8:00p to 10:00p
Celebrate your special event or occasion with us. A special blessing will be recited as well as an enhanced Oneg Shabbat.
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Saturday ,
OctOctober 26 , 2024

Queer Jewish Poets and Poetry
Shabbat, Oct 26th 12:30p to 2:00p
Delve into poetry that reflects LGBTQ Jews and their experiences. The intersection of identities, of tradition and contemporary interpretation, can lead to beautiful and provocative pieces. No prior experience with poetry is necessary - though if you have your own pieces to share, that is most welcome!
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Sunday ,
OctOctober 27 , 2024

Mattachine Society presentation
Sunday, Oct 27th 2:00p to 4:00p
In honor of LGBTQ History Month, Eva Freund will talk to us about her involvement with the Mattachine Society, an early DC gay rights organization founded in 1961. This program will be via Zoom only.
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Friday ,
NovNovember 1 , 2024

Women's First Friday Monthly Outreach
Friday, Nov 1st 6:30p to 8:00p
Join us for our virtual First Friday pre service Women’s Outreach. Pour your favorite beverage and enjoy your dinner while you zoom into our gathering and usher in Shabbat with great company and conversation!
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Friday ,
NovNovember 8 , 2024

Veterans Shabbat
Friday, Nov 8th 8:00p to 10:00p
Join us this Shabbat as we honor those who have served and protected our country with a special guest speaker, Audry McHugh
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Wednesday ,
NovNovember 13 , 2024

Enlightenment, Emancipation, and the Dawn of Jewish Religious Movements
Wednesday, Nov 13th 7:30p to 9:00p
The Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox movements within American Judaism can trace their origin back to Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. The seismic shifts that helped shape the modern world also helped shape Judaism as we know it. Ideas of liberty, citizenship, democracy, and science found their way into the religious landscape as well as the political. The emergence of these Jewish movements led to our own forms of Judaism today, and greatly affected how communities welcomed LGBTQ people (or didn’t).
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Friday ,
NovNovember 15 , 2024

Trans Day of Remembrance
Friday, Nov 15th 8:00p to 10:00p
Alex Custin from Temple Shalom will be our guest speaker
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Saturday ,
NovNovember 16 , 2024

Prayer for the French Republic at Theater J
Motzei Shabbat, Nov 16th 7:00p to 10:00p
The Benhamou family has lived in Paris for five generations. A visit from their American cousin is quickly overshadowed by an antisemitic attack on the family's son.
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Sunday ,
NovNovember 17 , 2024

Panel presentation on Conversos
Sunday, Nov 17th 11:30a to 1:30p
Join us as we hear from several prominent scholars on the topic of Conversos, Jews who converted from Judaism to escape the Spanish Inquisition.
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Friday ,
NovNovember 22 , 2024

New Members Shabbat
Friday, Nov 22nd 8:00p to 10:00p
Join us as we welcome this year's new members to our congregation. Introduce yourself; say hello and honor them at Erev Shabbat services.
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Sunday ,
DecDecember 8 , 2024

Congregational Annual Meeting
Sunday, Dec 8th 2:00p to 4:30p
Join us for this most important meeting to hear about our plans, elect a new slate of officers and ask questions regarding the future of Bet Mishpachah
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Wednesday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2024

Spiritual Resources for Aging
Wednesday, Dec 11th 7:30p to 9:00p
Our Jewish tradition helps us navigate all stages of life, so it only makes sense that we would find ancient and modern wisdom on the process of aging. Let’s find out what resources exist within Judaism to bring meaning, ritual, and understanding to this part of life
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Wednesday ,
DecDecember 25 , 2024

Movie Outing and Chinese Food
Wednesday, Dec 25th 2:00p to 7:00p
Join us for a time-honored tradition - A Christmas Day movie followed by dinner at a local Chinese restaurant! Movie selection will be done closer to the date.
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Friday ,
DecDecember 27 , 2024

Chanuka candle lighting
Friday, Dec 27th 8:00p to 10:00p
For the evening service of Shabbat Chanuka, bring your Menorah (Chanukiyah) and enough candles (2 + the shammas) to light just before Erev Shabbat services start. Enjoy the glow of dozens of candles burning brightly during the service as we join in our community. If you will be at home, we hope you will join us in lighting your Chanukiyah and reciting the blessings with us.
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