Tell us what you want to see in the Shofar (and what you do not)!
Because we want to make sure that the Shofar meets the needs of our congregants, we have created an easy-to-use survey. It should take you less than five minutes to fill out, so YOU can let us know what features you like in the Shofar and which features you do not care about.
Click on this link to fill out the survey and let us know your thoughts This survey will only be open until October 16, so please respond today. Or, you can always feel free to email Carol Jimenez and Michael Schwartz with your ideas.
Thank you to all who have contributed to and provided support for the Shofar Your dedication to the Temple Shalom community is what makes this newsletter possible.
Who should I contact at
Temple Shalom about...?
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All Temple Shalom
Suzy Burstein sburstein@templeshalom.net
Jeannelle D’Isa jdisa@templeshalom.net
Sharon Winick swinick@templeshalom net
Katherine Schnorrenberg school@templeshalom.net
Katherine Schnorrenberg rabast@templeshalom net
info@templeshalom.net
587-2273
Temple Shalom Committees and Contact Information
Belonging Committee
(Formerly Membership Committee)
Megan Parker and Dana Larkin membership@templeshalom.net
Book Club
Janice Zalen bookclub@templeshalom.net
Budget Committee
Lynn Mandell treasurer@templeshalom.net
Capital Improvements Committee
Debbie Szyfer deborah.szyfer@gmail com
Capital Campaign Committee
Debbie Szyfer and Mike Rubin TSBuilding@templeshalom.net
Generation to Generation Committee
Rachel Miller generationtogeneration@templeshalom.net
House and Grounds Committee
Mike Gurevich mike.gurevich@gmail.com
Kulanu (LGBTQIA+ affinity group)
Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev cantortovlev@templeshalom.net
Mitzvah Corps
Mary Jacobs mitzvahcorps@templeshalom.net
Religious Education Committee
Joanna Waldstreicher rec@TempleShalom.net
Renaissance Group
Paula Kahn and Sherry Doggett renaissance@templeshalom.net
Sacred Spaces
Berinna Doggett and Sherry Doggett sacredspaces@templeshalom.net
Shofar Newsletter
Carol Jimenez and Michael Schwartz shofar@templeshalom.net
Sukkat Shalom
Sherry Doggett sukkatshalom@templeshalom.net
Tikkun Olam
Fran Paver and Betsy Kingery tikkunolam@templeshalom.net
Young Professionals
Emma Bassin and Simon Heil ebassin713@gmail com ocaptain2015@gmail com
Worship Committee
Megan Parker and Sarah Leavitt meganrk@gmail.com leavitt.sarah@gmail com
Auxiliaries
Brotherhood
Mike Gurevich and Marc Hershkowitz brotherhood@templeshalom.net
By the time you read this message, presumably I will have begun my parental leave and, for the first time since 2011, I will not be leading High Holy Day services at Temple Shalom. Most of us are entering these days more raw and fragile than before, as both our world and our Jewish community are more tattered and torn than they were a year ago. The rapid pace at which the world is changing will likely influence the tone of services, what the sermons might touch on and how our clergy, staff and lay leaders will navigate the delicate balance of ensuring our congregation is both held and comforted, as well as agitated and activated as we enter 5786.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to journey with more wedding couples than at any other time in my career. With most, I have known one of the partners since they were barely teenagers. I think back to the hope that we had for them at their b'notai mitzvah, their Confirmations and as they embarked on their college journeys. But these formative years were defined by and peppered with unimaginable world events: 9/11, crises of moral leadership, a pandemic, a massacre of more than 1200 Jews and a war between Israel and Gaza, that tested their Jewish identities in ways we could have never anticipated.
The one ritual I keep coming back to in their wedding ceremonies is the breaking of the glass. A moment to acknowledge how very broken our world is and the power that loving people have to pick up the fragments and work toward repair. It is funny that at the sound of the smashing glass, we are primed to yell, “mazel tov!” followed by the first kiss of the newlyweds. But that is just it. The world is
broken, and still we find love in it. The world is broken, and still we find the courage to repair. The world is broken, and still we commit to celebrating. The world is broken, and still we dance. Again and again and again.
The world is broken, and still we show up for the same prayers and rituals as we do each year. We listen for the shofar to call us to moral clarity. We beat our chests as we confess our collective transgressions. We mourn our losses and broken promises. We commit to being better. And we commit that next year will bring about more wholeness and peace. The world is broken, and we lean into community because we must keep moving forward with the commitment that we will do better, that we will be better and that we deserve to expect better.
New life
New unions
New vows and commitments
Even when our hope is stolen from us, we move forward. Because if there is one enduring attribute we possess as a Jewish people, it is hope. And may we never let go of it.
Wishing you and your loved ones the courage to start 5786 with the belief that we will indeed make sure this one is better than the last.
Sermons given by Rabbi Ackerman and our other clergy are on Temple Shalom’s website.
Demystifying Prayer: Shalom Aleichem
By Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev
we begin our Shabbat Vayinafash service with Shalom Aleichem, inviting us to sing together to welcome Shabbat. Did you know Shalom Aleichem is a prayer about angels?
Given the intellectual roots of Reform Judaism, many are surprised that our prayers include angelology. However, Maimonides, a 12thcentury Jewish philosopher, described angels as intellectual rather than physical beings: divine messengers entrusted with a single mission. The contemporary Jewish scholar Steinsaltz teaches that angels are made by human actions. When we choose to complete a mitzvah, a positive commandment, we create an angel of goodness. When we choose to act in a harmful way, we create an angel of wickedness. In this way, our choices have the potential to create cycles of goodness or wickedness that live on long after our initial decision.
When we sing Shalom Aleichem, we welcome the angels of Shabbat each time we repeat the chorus: shalom aleichem, peace be upon you, malachei hashareit, attending angels, malachei Elyon, messengers of the Most High. Talmud (Shabbat 119b) teaches us that two angels journey home with each of us on Shabbat evening: one of goodness and one of wickedness. If we return home prepared and ready for Shabbat (which Talmud describes as “candles lit, table set and bed made”), the angel of goodness says, “May it be the will of God that it should be this way next Shabbat as well.” And the angel of wickedness must say, “Amen.” If we return home and we are not yet ready for Shabbat, the angel of wickedness says the same words and the angel of goodness
must say, “Amen.” Thus, the cycles of goodness and wickedness continue through our own actions and the words of these angels.
What does it mean for us to be prepared and ready for Shabbat, as Reform Jews in the modern day? Likely, it is deeper than lit candles, a set table and a made bed. At its core, Shabbat is separated from the rest of the week as a day of rest. Rather than turning to the definition of rest according to halacha (Jewish law), we can ask ourselves, what does rest mean to each of us? How can we intentionally set aside time on Shabbat for rejuvenation? Perhaps that means turning off email notifications on our phone for one day, sitting down for dinner with our families, taking a walk outside or setting aside time to hang out with friends.
Ahad Ha’am, a 19th-century Jewish scholar, taught that more than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews. We keep Shabbat because we need Shabbat. We cannot continue the rhythms of our workweek in perpetuity; we must set aside time to reset. As you approach Shabbat this week, take a moment to intentionally prepare yourself and your home for rest and renewal in whatever ways serve you best. Then, may the angel of goodness bless you with the momentum to continue this practice for next Shabbat as well, creating a continuing cycle of goodness, rest and peace.
Kabbalat Shabbat
Transforming Heartbreak and Trauma into Creativity and Renewal
By Rabbi Josh Gischner
I have been reflecting lately on moments in Jewish history when our communities did not just survive chaos and danger, they transformed them into sparks of creativity and renewal.
One such moment was the aftermath of the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. During our annual Earl Simons 7th Grade Retreat, our students explore this painful history through a “Choose Your Own Adventure” activity, confronting the impossible choices Jews faced: convert, escape or die. We ask them: “Can you imagine living a life where you had to hide being Jewish?”
Many who fled Spain made their way to the mystical city of Tzfat in the Land of Israel. There, out of grief and spiritual searching, they birthed Lurianic Kabbalah, a movement that gifted us the language of tikkun olam (repairing the world), the poetry of L’chah Dodi and the practice of Kabbalat Shabbat, now a centerpiece of Jewish spiritual life on Friday nights around the world. These early kabbalists did not ignore their pain. They honored it and transformed it through ritual, song and community In doing so, they gave us a model for resilience: feel deeply and create boldly
As we begin a new school year and look towards Rosh HaShanah 5786 in a world and in a city that both feel increasingly unstable, I find myself turning to this Kabbalah model again and again. My thoughts are often on
Israel and Palestine, Ukraine, federal workers and former government employees and their families, LGBTQ+ communities (especially trans and nonbinary folks and queer children), immigrants (especially children) and so many others in and beyond our Temple Shalom community. And as Jews, constantly in the headlines, we too are navigating a charged and uncertain moment.
Like the kabbalists of Tzfat, may we find strength in sacred rest. May we embrace the call to repair the world. And may we care for our mental, emotional and physical health with compassion and creativity. The past shows us what is possible when we respond to brokenness not only with endurance but with vision. I hope you will join us in this quest.
Message from Temple President Matt Andelman
Dear Congregants,
This past July, the IRS effectively reversed the long-standing policy that prohibited houses of worship from endorsing political candidates. Since 1954, the Johnson Amendment, named after Senator Lyndon Johnson, has proscribed tax-exempt religious institutions such as Temple Shalom from engaging in certain political campaign activities. In general, the Temple could endorse certain issues, but could not campaign for or against specific candidates or parties. But no longer. The IRS now says that it considers candidate endorsements as protected First Amendment speech, akin to “family discussions,” and will not violate the Johnson Amendment.
So, will we start to hear a flurry of candidate endorsements from the bimah every Friday night? And would you think that is a good thing or a bad thing?
For decades, Temple Shalom has given its senior rabbi, through their employment contracts, the “full freedom of the pulpit.” And so, the ultimate decision on how to handle this developing issue will fall to them.
But we can see some hints for now on what to expect based on the statement from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in response to the IRS change. Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the RAC, voiced alarm over the IRS decision, stating that the new policy "undermines both the separation of church and state and the integrity of religious institutions." He warned that loosening these restrictions could enable abuses of campaign finance laws by allowing political contributions through
religious entities with tax-deductible status. Rabbi Pesner also refuted the IRS’s characterization of political endorsements as mere “family discussions,” noting that digital technology has amplified the reach and impact of religious messaging far beyond the sanctuary walls. He further cautioned that endorsing candidates risks sowing division within congregations by introducing partisanship into sacred spaces meant to unify, not polarize.
Our tradition has championed civic engagement rooted in Jewish values as opposed to partisan politics. But certainly part of that tradition was formed by the Johnson Amendment itself, which was enacted before Temple Shalom was ever formed. Whether we continue to follow this same tradition or not, it will now be a choice that our Temple makes rather than something we are required to follow. Over time, we will see whether and how that choice results in any real changes for our Temple and our community.
Upcoming Meetings of the Board Of Trustees
All members of Temple Shalom are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees. The next board meeting will be on October 28 at 7:00pm. There will not be a regularly scheduled board meeting in November due to the Board of Trustees retreat, nor in December. If you plan to attend a Board meeting and are not a Trustee, as a courtesy, please contact our Temple Shalom President in advance.
September/Tishrei
Monday, September 22
Worship Services
Mid-September - December
Erev Rosh HaShanah Tot Service, 5:30pm
BYO (Bring Your Own) Dinner, 6:15pm
Erev Rosh HaShanah Service, 8:00pm
Tuesday, September 23
Rosh HaShanah Day 1 Services
Early Morning and Youth Services, 8:30am*
Late Morning and Youth Services, 11:30am*
Community Family Service, 2:00pm Tashlich Service, 3:00pm
* Registration required
Wednesday, September 24
Rosh HaShanah Day 2 Service, 10:00am
Friday, September 26
Erev Shabbat Service, 6:00pm
Saturday, September 27
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Sunday, September 28
Garden of Remembrance Annual Community Service, 10:00am
October/Tishrei-Cheshvan
Wednesday October 1
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Service, 8:00pm
Thursday, October 2
Yom Kippur Services
Morning and Youth Services, 8:30am*
Explorations, Study and Learning Sessions, 11:00am
Late Morning and Youth Services, 11:30am*
Thursday, October 2 (continued)
Community Family Service, 2:00pm
Afternoon Service/Teen Presentation of Jonah, 3:30pm
Healing Service, 4:30pm Yizkor and Neilah Service, 5:30pm
* Registration required
Friday, October 3
Erev Shabbat Service, 6:00pm
Saturday, October 4
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service/Bar Mitzvah Mandell, 10:00am
Monday, October 6
Erev Sukkot Service, 6:00pm
Tuesday, October 7
Sukkot Community Service, Temple Emanuel, 10:00am
Wednesday, October 8
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, October 10
Erev Shabbat/Chol HaMoed Sukkot Family Service with Blessing of the Animals, 6:00pm
Saturday, October 11
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Tikkun Olam Havdalah, Community Potluck in Sukkah, 5:30pm
Monday, October 13
Tot Erev Simchat Torah Service, 5:30pm
Erev Simchat Torah Service, 7:00pm
(continued on next page)
Tuesday, October 14
Worship Services
Mid-September - December
(continued from previous page)
Sh’mini Atzeret Community Festival Service with Yizkor Memorial Service Temple Emanuel, 10:00am
Wednesday, October 15
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, October 17
Erev Shabbat Service, 6:00pm
Saturday, October 18
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service/B’notai Mitzvah Cox and Glover-Trahan, 10:00am Havdalah, 6:00pm
Wednesday, October 22
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, October 24
Erev Shabbat Vayinafash Service, 6:00pm
Saturday, October 25
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Wednesday, October 29
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, October 31
Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm
November/Cheshvan-Kislev
Saturday, November 1
Shabbat Morning Service/ Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service/B’notai Mitzvah Bauer and Feuer, 10:00am
Wednesday, November 5
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, November 7
First Friday Tot Shabbat, 5:30pm
Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm
Saturday, November 8
Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service/Bat Mitzvah Nasser, 10:00am Havdalah sponsored by the Belonging Committee, 5:30pm
Wednesday, November 12
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, November 14
Erev Shabbat Service, 7:30pm
Saturday, November 15
Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service/B’notai Mitzvah Kramer and Stelzer, 10:00am
Wednesday, November 19
Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:00am
Friday, November 21
Erev Shabbat Vayinafash Service, Trans Day of Remembrance, 7:30pm
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Saturday, November 22
Worship Services
Mid-September - December (continued from previous page)
Shabbat Morning Service/Torah Study, 10:00am
Shabbat Service/B’notai Mitzvah Reisman and Schwartz, 10:00am
Sarah Cox is in grade 8 at Loiederman Middle School.
Sarah loves art and participates in many art classes in and out of school as well as the National Junior Arts Honors Society. When not in school and expressing her creativity through art, Sarah can be found reading, listening to music, hanging out with friends or watching the latest TV shows. Sarah thanks Andy Mark and Jill Greenstein for all their support in preparing for her bat mitzvah.
Martine Glover-Trahan
“Not pictured here”
October 18
Nora Bauer
November 1
Nora is in grade 8 at the Lowell School, where she swims for the Lionfish and plays trumpet in the school band. She loves going to summer camp at Lac du Bois, traveling to new places, hanging out with friends and taking her dog Persei on walks, especially to Starbucks. Nora is excited to celebrate her bat mitzvah this fall and would like to thank Andy Mark and Laura Gehl for helping her prepare.
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Kyra Feuer
November 1
November 8
B’notai Mitzvah
October – December 2025 (continued from previous page)
Kyra is currently in grade 8 at Sligo Middle School. She aspires to follow in the footsteps of her beloved late paternal grandfather ("Papa") and uncle in the legal profession. Kyra has been enthusiastically preparing for her bat mitzvah and is looking forward to celebrating becoming a bat mitzvah with her family and close friends.
Mia is in grade 8 at Takoma Park Middle School. She loves sports, music, traveling and spending time with friends. Mia plays soccer for her school and for her club. In the summer, she goes to soccer camp, goes on runs and hangs out at the pool. She loves to travel abroad and most recently explored Australia, Turkey and Eritrea. Mia thanks her family and her madrichimot Andy and Scott for supporting her bat mitzvah preparations.
Theodore Kramer
November 15
Theo is in grade 9 at Edmund Burke High School. Theo has a passion for math, science, hands-on learning and dreams of becoming an engineer. He studies martial arts (since age six) and also enjoys coding, robotics, swimming, biking, camping and playing piano and bass guitar. Theo is an avid Rubik’s Cuber and plans to compete this year. He spends summers at Camp Harlam and has attended Camp TRS, where he hopes to be a counselor. A world traveler, he has explored as far as Tokyo and Indonesia. Theo is excited for his bar mitzvah and gives special thanks to Andy and Scott for their help in preparing him for this meaningful day.
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Mia Nasser
Lucas Stelzner
November 15
Lillie Reisman November 22
B’notai Mitzvah
October – December 2025
(continued from p
Lucas is currently in grade 8 at Sligo Middle School. His favorite subject is history. When not in school, Lucas plays baseball for the BCC league, skateboards and bikes with friends and plays guitar with bands at the School of Rock Lucas is looking forward to celebrating his bar mitzvah at Temple Shalom this November with family and friends.
Lillie is in grade 8 at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School. Lillie is a National Junior Honor Society member with many interests. She is a visual artist working with drawing, painting and textiles and a member of the National Junior Art Honor Society. Lillie is also a theatre artist, singer and burgeoning aerial performer. Lillie thanks Andy and Lois for helping prepare for the ceremony and her family for their support.
Lyla Schwartz November 22
Lyla is an 8th grader at Loiederman Middle School, where she gets to flex her creative muscles in her favorite classes, Art, English and LCL (learning movie making). She volunteers as an assistant at Temple Shalom’s Sunday School. Lyla swims with the Forest Knolls Seahawks (GoFO!) in the summer and year-round with FAST. Lyla has spent 6 summers at Camp Louise. When she is not in the pool or at camp, Lyla is making bracelets for friends, painting or enjoying family video games. Lyla adores her big, lovable extended family and is known for sending goofy pictures and meme-worthy texts. She is a pasta enthusiast and ice cream connoisseur. Lyla is grateful to her family, friends, Andy Mark, Carrie Wolinetz and Temple Shalom for their support and guidance in preparing for her bat mitzvah.
Pearl Kromirs
December 6
B’notai Mitzvah
October – December 2025
(continued from previous page)
Pearl is in grade 8 at Loiederman Middle School, where she refines her visual arts skills. Outside of school, Pearl plays softball and volleyball. She loves animals, especially dogs. Her summer home is Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC. As part of the class tradition to make a donation in honor of her bat mitzvah, Pearl has chosen to direct her gift to Hadassah’s Neurim Youth Aliyah Village’s Dog Rehabilitation Center. Pearl is grateful for the guidance and encouragement she received from Andy and Catherine in helping her prepare for this milestone.
Ellie Levner
December 6
Ellie is in grade 8 at Silver Creek Middle School. She loves to sing, is fantastic with younger kids and spends as much time as she can with her friends. Ellie enjoys a shopping trip, especially if it includes a stop at Starbucks! She is grateful for the experience she has had preparing to become a bat mitzvah, and thanks Andy Mark and her family for their support.
Temple Shalom Adult Education
Mid-September - December
Adult education offerings are grouped into three categories: regularly scheduled sessions/topics to which you may just drop in; multi-session courses for which registration is required; and “popup” one-time sessions. All in-person sessions are at Temple Shalom.
Ongoing Regular Study/DiscussionJust Drop In!
Shabbat Morning Worship and Torah Study, Saturdays, 10:00am (In person and by Zoom)
Experience the Joy of Shabbat Torah Study! Join us for Shabbat morning services at 10:00am, followed by a stimulating community Torah study at 11:00am. Deepen your understanding of the weekly Torah portion and connections with your community. Register here to receive the Zoom link.
Book Club
Sundays, September 14 and November 9, 9:30am - 11:30am (In person)
Dive deeper into Jewish literature! Temple Shalom’s Book Club explores a variety of fiction and non-fiction with lively discussions and friendly faces. Join us for stimulating conversation and new perspectives. For more information, email BookClub@TempleShalom.net.
News and Views
Thursdays, 10:30am - 11:30am (Zoom only)
Join this lay-led group discussion of current news issues, providing an opportunity for thoughtful reflection on the world around us. Contact info@TempleShalom.net to register.
Sisterhood Book Club
Third Thursday of each month, 8:15pm (Zoom only)
Registration begins June 2025.
To get the link for the meeting: sign into your Temple Shalom account, click this link and follow the prompts to have the Zoom link sent to your email. For more information, email Sisterhood@TempleShalom.net.
Multi-Session Classes Requiring Registration
Hebrew 1: Introduction to the Aleph Bet Mondays beginning October 27, 7:00pm
Learn to read the Hebrew alphabet, the names and sounds of the Aleph Bet. Begin to read the Hebrew words you know and add new ones. Class begins October 27. For more information, contact Rabbi JoHanna Potts at JPotts@templeshalom.net.
Hebrew 2: Hebrew Prayer Fluency Mondays beginning October 27, 8:15pm
Sitting in services and enjoying the music is an important aspect of experiencing the spirituality of the service. Add another important aspect, the ability to read and understand the Hebrew of the prayers. For more information, contact Rabbi JoHanna Potts at JPotts@templeshalom.net.
Temple Shalom Adult Education
Mid-September - December
(continued from previous page)
Introduction to Judaism
Tuesdays, October 21 - February 24 (except December 24 and 31), 7:00pm - 9:00pm (In person and by Zoom)
Deepen your understanding of Judaism through a Reform lens. Ideal for interfaith couples, parents and spiritual seekers of all backgrounds, this inclusive course helps give people from all walks of life an introduction to Judaism and the Jewish People. Discover Jewish holidays, values and the rich tapestry of Jewish experience, including our history and contemporary life. Register here.
Adult B’notai Mitzvah Class
Dates and times will be set after enrollment.
It is never too late! Deepen your Jewish journey through Temple Shalom's adult B’notai Mitzvah program. Embark on a transformative two-year journey of Torah study and spiritual growth. Whether you are new to Judaism or seeking a deeper connection, experience the joy of becoming a leader in your community and celebrating your heritage with a meaningful ceremony. For more information, contact Rabbi JoHanna Potts at JPotts@templeshalom.net.
Pop-Up Adult Education
Yom Kippur Afternoon Study and Learning Sessions
Thursday, October 2
Come reflect on the themes of this sacred day in community through dynamic learning. Look to the High Holiday schedule for specific topics and times.
Sukkat Shalom with Noa Baum
Sunday, October 12, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (In person)
Noa Baum is a performance artist, author and educator who borrows “from principles of traditional storytelling as well as using tools from theater through the mixing of narration and characterization to evoke a story in the audience’s imagination.” Learn more about Baum here. For more information, email sukkatshalom@templeshalom.net.
Learning and Dinner with Danny Seigel Beit Midrash
Wednesday, November 5, at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Danny Seigel is an author, lecturer and poet. Learn more about Danny Seigel here.
Hal Bruno Memorial Brunch - Speaker to be announced
Sunday, November 16, 9:30am - 11:30am Sponsored by the Brotherhood
Learning and Dinner with Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev Beit Midrash
Wednesday, December 3, 6:00pm - 9:00pm Join Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev, scholar, educator, musician and Temple Shalom’s very own cantor!
Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round - Film
Sunday, December 7, 6:00pm - 8:00pm This film tells the powerful true story of a 1960 interracial sit in at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. Howard University students and Jewish neighbors challenged segregation by riding a Whites‑only carousel, sparking a key moment in the fight for civil rights. Sponsored by the Tikkun Olam Committee.
Welcome New Members
June - July
Eli Bierman and Anna Raffeld
Chevy Chase
Kayle Borenstein and Caleb Zimmerman
Child age 2
Takoma Park
Amy and Craig Chester
Children ages 3 and 6
University Park
Daniel and Anne Gelfand
Children ages 6 and 10
Silver Spring
Rei and Shani Heinrich
Children ages 1, 7 and 10
Silver Spring
Shira and Aaron Hollander
Children ages 1 and 5
Chevy Chase
Eliza Jacobs and Brian
Karfunkel
Child age 6
Takoma Park
Matthew Kravitz and Tamar Ariel
Children ages 1 and 6
Silver Spring
Harrison Kreisberg and Amy Zettle
Children ages 4, 6 and 6
Washington, DC
Heidi Levitan
College Park
Rachel Malashock
Children ages 1 and 10
Silver Spring
Elyse and Jeff Nocton Silver Spring
Miriam and Stephen Ollar
Children ages 5 and 9
Chevy Chase
Elijah Reeves Takoma Park
Tashlich
By Michael Schwartz
The High Holy Day season is full of traditions. One is that we are to begin preparations for these deeply spiritual holidays not on the first day of Rosh HaShanah, but rather a month earlier, with the start of the Hebrew month of Elul. At that time, we inaugurate the season with the daily blowing of the shofar at the morning service. We also begin thinking of how to make amends for things we regret and harm we have caused to others.
Many of these practices are internal and introspective, such as the Rosh HaShanah services and liturgy. However, there are exceptions that are outward and meant to be heard, such as the blowing of the shofar. Tashlich, based on the Hebrew word “to cast,” is another outward-facing High Holy Days tradition. It is most commonly done on the first day of Rosh HaShanah.
Tashlich is the ceremony of casting pieces of bread into a moving body of water to symbolize casting away our missteps and sins of the past year. Its biblical source is traced to the Prophet Micah, “You will cast all their sins/Into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Going even further back is the Yom Kippur ritual that the High Priest would send into the wilderness a goat onto which the sins of all the Israelites had been placed (Leviticus 16).
The custom of Tashlich was not universally supported. Some rabbis opposed a practice of symbolically throwing off our sins because it might be understood as resorting to superstition or magic. But the custom persisted over the centuries and is widely practiced. The symbolism seems too powerful to give up.
Casting away one’s sins into flowing water that carries them out of sight has an irresistible appeal to many for numerous reasons. Water has always been seen as a means of purification, such as using the mikvah (Jewish ritual bath) to mark a change in status from impure to pure or a major life event. During Rosh HaShanah, we mark the Biblical account of God’s creation of the world, in which God separated the earth from the waters. Without water, there is no life. Tashlich, casting our sins into the waters, can serve as another reminder that Judaism, as a religion, chooses life.
So, on Rosh HaShanah, join other congregants as we take a leisurely walk to nearby Rock Creek, cast off small pieces of bread into the flowing water and consider what we might cast off from ourselves in the coming year to make us and the world a better place.
Worship Committee 5786
By Co-Chairs Megan Parker and Sarah Leavitt
Join us as part of the Worship Committee! Do you have ideas about services at Temple Shalom? Are you curious about how services are different every week or about the innovative Shabbat Vayinafash services? Have you wanted to try out Torah Study on Saturday mornings? Would you participate in a training session to learn how to lead services? Do you feel like there should be more special Shabbat services or fewer? What are your thoughts about music, length, discussion, ushering and more?
Would you like to provide support to our powerhouse clergy team? Now is your chance!
Come join us as part of the Worship Committee! This fall, we will be meeting several times to see how we can help everyone feel comfortable, welcome, included and excited about services. We see this committee as a landing place for congregants to provide constructive feedback and serve as a sounding
board for the clergy team as they develop new kinds of services.
Maybe this is your year! Join the Worship Committee as we strengthen traditions, develop new ideas and continue to advise the board and clergy by providing feedback and support.
Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 16, at 6:00pm. Bring a brown bag dinner.
A prayer for the new year:
May 5786 be the year everybody figures out the bracketed page numbers
May we each find a footnote that inspires us
May each congregant be up on the bimah for an honor (if they want that)
May you learn the words and the melody to one new song
May we remember where we put our nametags
May each of us be moved by a prayer we had not noticed before Together, may we find a year of peace.
Temple Shalom Book Club
By Chair Janice Zalen
Welcome to Temple Shalom’s Book Club, which conveniently meets on Sundays during Hebrew School hours. Talking about a book with others who enjoy reading is a great way for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to spend time together until Hebrew School is over. It is a fun way to spend time for anyone who likes books, and we recommend that you give it a try. If you see a book that you like in the list below, read it and join us. We are happy to have our regulars (and you are encouraged to become one), but we understand that people are busy and not everyone wishes to read every book. One- or two-time visitors are fun as they offer new and additional perspectives.
We will meet on the following Sundays from 9:30am to 11:00am:
Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life by Joshua Leifer September 14
November 9
December 21
KosherSoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty
Eminent Jews: Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, Mailer by David Denby
(Off-site dinner meeting at Knowles Station in Kensington, MD) November 12
December 10
EVENTS
Hal Bruno Brunch - November 16 Chinese Dinner and Movie - December 13
All are welcome!! For more information, watch the Temple Shalom weekly update or email brotherhood@templeshalom.net.
Sukkat Shalom
by Lori Simon-Rusinowitz and Sherry Doggett
Sukkat Shalom was launched in 2014, in the wake of the war with Hamas, to offer a place to discuss Israel in an open and accepting environment. It is a safe space for candid conversations about Israel in the midst of diversity, potential discomfort and shared commitment to civil discourse. This is more important than ever in the wake of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre of about 1200 Israelis and the subsequent devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
Each year, the Sukkat Shalom Committee offers a session on Yom Kippur and at other times. Since October 7, 2023, it has become important to offer more frequent sessions for members to share their thoughts and feelings and hear others’ perspectives.
High school classes and other Temple Shalom groups, as well as individual members, have participated Sessions since October 7 have focused on the ongoing war. Topics have included questions such as:
What is it like to talk to others, including other Jews and non-Jews, about Israel?
What are your feelings at this stage of the war?
What are your feelings about Jews protesting against the war?
Currently scheduled upcoming Sukkat Shalom sessions:
Thursday, October 2
During Yom Kippur afternoon study sessions.
Sunday, October 12, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Program featuring Noa Baum. Noa Baum is a storyteller and author who promotes understanding and peace.
Tikkun Olam Committee
by Co-Chairs Betsy Kingery
and
Fran Paver
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, let us pledge to work together, support each other and not sit idly by and work to Do Justice!
The Tikkun Olam Committee (TOC) is open to all congregants and offers a variety of ways to get involved in tikkun olam, the mending of the world. We typically meet virtually on the third Wednesday of each month. Please contact cochairs Betsy Kingery and Fran Paver at tikkunolam@templeshalom.net to learn more.
Tikkun olam opportunities that are date-specific:
Sunday, October 4, 9:00am - Sacred Grounds Native Garden Installation
Saturday, October 11, 5:30pm - Sukkot Havdalah in the Sukkah, including Potluck and Postcard Party
Sunday, December 7, 6:00pmDocumentary Film “Ain’t No Back to a Merry Go Round” and Discussion
These and other opportunities that are not date-specific are described below.
Refugee Assistance
With the administration’s shutdown of refugee admissions, HIAS has pivoted its Welcome Circle program to assist asylum seekers, victims of persecution who are already here in the country. Temple Shalom is honored to be the first volunteer pilot group for the project. Temple Shalom volunteers are assisting a single Jewish mother of four, originally from Russia, who is now seeking asylum in the United States. This includes helping the mom, who is charming and vivacious, has a work permit, pharmacy and law degrees and a ton of drive to network for a professional job. For
example, she would be great as front desk staff in your or your friend's realty business, doctor, dentist or law office instead of driving for DoorDash. Email Marilyn Ripin at mjripin@gmail.com and Karen Green at karengreen301@gmail.com with any suggestions, or if you want more information.
Food for Nourishment
Temple Shalom Young Professionals are giving back. On the evening of July 19, more than a dozen young Jewish young congregants gathered at the Temple and cooked dishes for the Food for Nourishment program. This program is an effort to make sure that free nutritious meals are provided for Temple Shalom members, staff and friends. Volunteers make meals and place them on the top shelf of the kitchen's freezer, where anyone can take them, no questions asked. After making the dishes, everyone sat down for some excellent quesadillas and lentil soup and afterwards said Havdalah.
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Tikkun Olam Committee
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If you have lost your job, are going through financial hardship or are simply wiped out and need an easy, healthy meal, please take one or two of the meals from the Temple freezer. And if you are interested in participating in future cooking sessions or making meals for the program on your own, please email Michael DeLong at michaeldelong94@gmail.com or Lydia Schlosser at lydiaschlosser@gmail.com.
Sacred Grounds
On Sunday, October 5, at 9:00am, a group of dedicated Temple Sacred Grounds Team members will gather at the garden adjacent to the Hal Bruno patio to plant native landscape plugs. The Sacred Grounds program is grantfunded by the National Wildlife Federation. Its goal is to encourage congregations and congregants to plant native gardens to support our dwindling insect and bird populations. In May, 55 congregants picked up “starter kits” of
three native plants to begin their own native planting journey. To learn more about this wonderful program, please contact tikkunolam@templeshalom.net.
Ain’t No Back to a Merry Go Round
On Sunday, December 7, at 6:00pm, the Tikkun Olam Committee and Temple Shalom Religious School, in partnership with the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, will present a screening of Ain’t No Back to a Merry Go Round, an illuminating and inspirational documentary about the desegregation of Glen Echo Amusement Park. In the summer of 1960, a small group of Howard University students was joined by Glen Echo’s White neighbors, largely Jewish, to protest the amusement park’s Whites-only restriction. The film will be followed by a discussion with Ilana Trachtman, the film’s producer and director. This will be a special screening for Temple members and religious school students in grades 6-12, free of charge
An Incredible Year with TaSTY (Temple Shalom Youth Groups)!
By Xani Polakoff, TaSTY Director
The 2024–2025 year was nothing short of amazing for Temple Shalom Youth Groups! With over 70 enthusiastic participants ranging from grades 2 through 12, this year was filled with meaningful, fun and unforgettable moments.
From social events to service projects, TaSTY offered something for everyone this past year. Our teens made a difference on our social action trip and participated in the powerful L'Taken Seminar. We had a blast at our Havdalah laser tag event and bonded over chocolatey fun during the annual Junior Youth Group Chocolate Seder.
Our commitment to justice shone through initiatives like writing postcards with Reclaim Our Vote. Our need for fun and adventure was met with an action-packed trip to Zava Zone. And that is just a glimpse of the many things that happened throughout the year.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our outstanding 2024–2025 TaSTY Youth Group Board for their leadership and dedication:
President Eliza Bevington
Programming Vice President Lily Blackman
Membership and Communications Vice Presidents Joaquin Muñoz and Ben Trackman
NFTY (National Federation of Temple Youth)
Representative Max Hutton
We are so proud of everything this group accomplished and cannot wait to see what is in store next. Keep an eye out! Our 2025–2026 Youth Group calendar is coming soon!
Breakfast with the Feinbergs: Education to Improve Your Estate Planning
Sunday, September 14 10:00am-12:00pm
Anne and Marc Feinberg are opening their remarkable home to our synagogue members for an opportunity to spend time with our estate planning expert, Marc Feinberg.
Bring your questions about:
Estate Planning
Charitable Giving
Avoiding Probate
Coffee, tea and bagels will be shared as we join together to learn all about estate planning, a topic of importance to many.
Weather permitting, we will enjoy breakfast in the Feinbergs’ breathtaking formal garden. In case of inclement weather, we will meet inside, under the eyes of Anne’s 5th-generation grandparents.
RSVP online here, and you will receive the address via email.
Marc Feinberg, Practicing Estate Planning and Estate Administration attorney with over 50 years of experience, is a Member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
Sponsored by Generation to Generation Circle (No solicitations will be made).
Join the Generation to Generation Circle’s legacy program for the future of Temple Shalom. Legacy gifts of any amount are a way to express your support for the continuation of our Temple’s Jewish studies, values and community.
A legacy gift can be very easy to do through a designation in your retirement fund, bank account, life insurance policy or donor-advised fund. For information about the easiest ways to make your legacy gift, email Rachel Miller or call her at (516) 754-7439 for a private discussion.
We are grateful to all our members and look forward to building a bigger and stronger circle to take us into the decades ahead.
Generation to Generation Circle Membership
Pearl and Maurice Axelrad
Ben Bederson and Allison Druin
Francine and Harvey Berger
Anne and Marc Feinberg
Laura and Ryan Gehl
Linda and Mike Gurevich
Barbara and Herb Jacobowitz
Carol Jimenez
Paula and Miles Kahn
Toby and Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn
Joan Kalin
Betsy Kingery
Rita Klein
Linda and Robert Krauss
Judy and Alan Lewis
Myles Levin
Karen and Jack Lowe
Peg MacKnight
Rachel and Walter Miller
JoHanna Potts
Jane Rosov
Leslie and Michael Rubin
Theresa Helfman Taylor
Susan Goutos Zemsky
Anonymous
Lyman Legacy Leaders
Hal Bruno
Sandra Kamisar
Joseph Lyman
Sisterhood Book Group
September - December Thursdays, 8:15pm by Zoom
Click on link below or email sisterhood@templeshalom.net to register.
September 18
A small child comes to England on a Kindertransport and learns nothing of his real family from the people who raise him. When he is much older, fleeting memories return to him, and Austerlitz traces them to the world he left. There, faced with the void at the heart of 20th-century Europe, he struggles to rescue his heritage.
October 16
In the decades following the Holocaust, American Jewish leaders debated how to preserve and produce what they considered authentic Jewish culture, fearful that growing affluence and suburbanization threatened the future of Jewish life. Many contended that without educational interventions, Judaism as they understood it would disappear altogether. They pinned their hopes on residential summer camps for Jewish youth: institutions that sprang up across the U.S. in the postwar decades as places for children and teenagers to socialize, recreate and experience Jewish culture.
November 20
Link, Michael and Dana live in a quiet town. But it is woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika Michael, the first person to see it, is a suspect Link, a very popular guy, is expected to figure it out Dana, the only Jewish girl in the whole town, is treated as an outsider more than ever More swastikas begin to appear Some students try to bring people together instead of dividing them further The closer Link, Michael and Dana get to the truth, the more there is to face; not just the crimes of the present, but the crimes of the past.
Tzedakah is a central mitzvah of Judaism. Donors benefit as much as, or more, from giving as does the recipient. Donating tzedakah can recognize a special event, honor an individual, memorialize a loved one or community member or thank the Temple or an individual for something particular. All contributions made to Temple Shalom funds are fully eligible for a tax deduction, and all amounts are welcome.
TEMPLE SHALOM GENERAL FUND
These gifts have a great impact due to their flexibility and help ensure that our Temple is open to all, regardless of financial ability.
CAPITAL FUND
Capital projects support ongoing long-term work to improve our building and grounds.
TEMPLE SHALOM ENDOWMENT FUND
HONORING RABBI
EMERITUS BRUCE E. KAHN
Supports the long-term financial health of Temple Shalom for generations to come.
CLERGY MITZVAH FUNDS
This is a traditional way to say thank you for support with a lifecycle event or other personal guidance, service or inspiration. Clergy use them for tzedakah projects at the clergy’s discretion.
Senior Rabbi Rachel Ackerman
Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev
Rabbi Educator Joshua Gischner
Rabbi Emeritus Bruce E. Kahn
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
There are 12 Special Purpose Funds, each uniquely dedicated to support specific projects and/or activities to supplement Temple funding.
Adele D. Lewis Memorial Teachers Fund
Professional development for religious school teachers and betterment of the religious school.
Burton Hoffman Memorial Fund
Special projects to support our temple community related to worship, education, youth engagement, lifecycle events, films/media presentations and adult b'notai mitzvah program.
David Mark Gildenhorn Fund
Scholarships for Temple youth to participate in programs in Israel.
David Rivkind Memorial Flower Fund
Floral and other decorations are used for Temple Shalom’s services/programs and the general beautification of the Temple and its grounds.
Eli Newberger Speakers
Fund
Speaker programs for Temple Shalom, including its Brotherhood.
Herman Rosenfeld Memorial Resettlement Fund
Funds or loans to Jewish immigrants resettling in the United States; supports Temple Shalom’s pursuit of social justice (including Mitzvah Corps).
Levinsohn-Feinberg Youth Educational Program Fund Scholarships for Temple members to attend Jewish summer camps and programs for Temple youth.
Oscar Felker Memorial Educational Enrichment Fund
Educational enrichment for adults and youth, including scholarships for college/rabbinical/cantorial school, special projects for the religious school, purchase of books/reference materials, educational trips for members and Scholars-in-Residence.
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Sigmund Mayer Jr. Prayer Book Fund
For the purchase of prayer books, ritual items and other ways to enable participation in religious services at Temple Shalom.
Phyllis and Stanley Nehmer Fund for Special Events
Temple Shalom programming and special events to expand Judaic knowledge, social interaction, continuing education and arts enrichment.
The Tretter Family Music Fund
Supports the Temple’s music programming, including Artists-in-Residence, scholarships for song leaders, shaliach tzibur, music training camps, musical community outreach, commissioning of music for Temple Shalom, musical education for temple music groups and audio-visual equipment not covered through other means.
Torat Shalom Fund
Torah-related education and programming, including Shabbat morning Torah study.
Yvonne Wagner Emergency Needs Fund
Enables our clergy to support members of our congregation in need. Donations may also be mailed to: Accounting Manager, Temple Shalom, 8401 Grubb Rd., Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Please specify the occasion or person being honored or remembered, the fund for your donation and the name and address of who should be informed of your contribution.
To make a donation, click here.
Donations
June - July
Tzedakah humanizes both the giver and the recipient. It acknowledges an important occasion, gives thanks to someone for a particular thing or pays tribute in sympathy. Temple Shalom thanks all who have generously donated to our community. These acknowledgements do not include donations to our Capital Campaign, which will be acknowledged separately.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Bruce and Jeanne Bernard
Jacqueline Braun in memory of Buddy Weissel and Richard Lamm
Jacqueline Braun in memory of Phyllis Caro
Joy Chapper and Yolanda Ellis in memory of Debra S Chapper
Marc and Anne Feinberg in memory of Abraham Feinberg
Ely and Sheila Fishlowitz in memory of Freida Fishlowitz
Marilyn Goldfarb in memory of Charles J. Simpson and Samuel E. Kaufman
Carol Milwit in memory of Sydney Brenner
Jerry and Deborah Nedelman in memory of Eva Nedelman
Eric Pianin and Laurie McGinley in memory of Irene Pianin
Jane Rosov in memory of my beautiful and loving mother Lillian Tobin
Bela Saxonov Moore in memory of Abram Saksonov, Mira Saksonova and John L. Moore
Andrew Weissel in memory of Buddy Weissel and Richard Lamm
John and Arin Whiddon in memory of Ronald Weiner and for a Yahrzeit plaque
Heath Winter and Jennifer Alexander in memory of Stewart Alexander
Janice Zalen and Jared Wermiel in memory of Joseph Zalen and Ruth Zalen
GENERAL FUND
Andrew and Stefanie George with thanks to Andy Mark for helping Nina prepare for her bat mitzvah
Andrew and Stefanie George in honor of Anne Feinberg for being a wonderful madricha to Nina
Juliana and Ethan Horowitz in honor of Adam's bar mitzvah
Andrea Mark for Oneg Shabbat sponsorship
Lydia and Peter Schlosser for Food for Nourishment program
Steven and Helen Spindel to celebrate Tot Shabbat
Jennifer and David Tyler with thanks to Rabbi Rachel and Temple Shalom staff for a beautiful baby naming for our daughter Noa
Christine and Leaf Tyler Pell for Oneg Shabbat sponsorship
CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
RABBI RACHEL ACKERMAN MITZVAH FUND
Norman Gurevich (z”l)
Juliana and Ethan Horowitz in honor of Adam's bar mitzvah
David Peal and Carol D. Weiss
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Donations
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CANTOR ZE'EVI TOVLEV
MITZVAH FUND
Juliana and Ethan Horowitz in honor of Adam's Bar Mitzvah
RABBI EMERITUS BRUCE E. KAHN
MITZVAH FUND
Norman Gurevich (z"l)
Brian Handelman in memory of Steven Handelman
Allen and Pauline Robinson in memory of Jerome Casper and Laura Robinson
Allen and Pauline Robinson in memory of Laura Robinson
Meyer Sharlin
SPECIAL FUNDS
Adele D. Lewis Memorial Teachers Fund
Juliana and Ethan Horowitz in honor of Adam's bar mitzvah
Levinsohn-Feinberg Youth Educational Program Fund
Scott and Dara Goldberg in honor of Catherine Horowitz
