Mazal Tov

To our Religious School Manager & B'nai Mitzvah Coordinator,
Andy Shankman, his wife Mandy and son Isaac on the birth of their daughter and little sister, Adira Ann Shankman , born March 1st. We wish good health to the mommy and baby and lots of happiness to the whole family! We can't wait to meet baby Adira here at Beth El!
Renew Our Days: How Jews Use Memory as a Tool on Purim
Jews are a people of memory. In many ways, the past grounds Jewish identity, infusing Jewish life with context, purpose, and meaning.
Jewish memory is why Beth El gathers every year on Purim to hear the words of Megillat Esther read aloud in its entirety. Uniquely, Purim is the only Jewish holiday in which the tradition explicitly commands Jews to listen to the story in full.  Continue reading here .
Purim 5780/2020
Monday evening, March 9, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with our Annual Purim Carnival
GREAT SCOTT! Beth El proudly presents Back to the (57)80s our  Purim Spiel 2020/5780 ! Starring Rabbis Schwartz and Saroken as Marty McFly, and Cantors King and Blatt as Doc Brown!
This Purim, where we're going, we won't need roads... SEE YOU THERE!
Click here for full details.
* If you have an exciting item to contribute to our 80's museum
(old cell phone, fun clothes, scrunchies, fanny packs, etc.), please click here .
* Volunteers needed for our Purim Carnival games. If interested, please click here .
Inter-generational Hamantaschen Bake *Sold out
Sunday, March 8 at 12:00 p.m., Offit Auditorium
Grandparents and grandchildren (ages 7 and up) are invited to make, bake and take home their own hamantaschen ! A variety of fillings available, all ingredients are nut free. Registration is now closed!
Mitzvah Extravaganza at Beth El in Partnership with JVC
Sunday, March 29 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Join the fun at Beth El Congregation for Good Deeds Day! Volunteers will be participating in a variety of hands on projects that will benefit students participating in Thread, a comprehensive volunteer mentor program. Volunteers will also be able to delve deeper with Rabbis and other educators to learn more about how and why we can make every day Good Deeds Day. Event is sponsored by Beth El Congregation.
Open to all ages, click here to register.
Passover 5780/2020
Beth El Presents: 2nd Night Community Seder
Thursday, April 9, 6:15 - 9:30 p.m. in the Offit Auditorium
Join Cantor Thom King & family, the Beth El community and your friends and neighbors, for a festive, song filled and sumptuous Community Seder! Enjoy a full course meal including all the Passover ritual foods, and of course delicious Kosher L’Pesach desserts. 
For more information, including pricing, full menu and registration, click here . Space is limited, RSVP due by March 16.
This Weekend 
Friday, March 6
Morning Service: 8:00 a.m., Gorn Chapel
The Spark: 8:30 a.m., The Soul Center
Evening Service: 6:00 p.m., Gorn Chapel

Saturday, March 7
Torah Study Class: 9:00 a.m., Agus Library
Morning Service: 10:00 a.m., Gorn Chapel
Family Shabbat Service - Led by Kitah Aleph: 11:15 a.m., Kolker Room
Evening Service: 6:00 p.m., Gorn Chapel

Sunday, March 8
Morning Service: 9:15 a.m., Gorn Chapel
Torah & Yoga: 9:30 a.m., The Soul Center
Inter-generational Hamantaschen Bake.: 12:00 p.m., Offit Auditorium
Zentangling: 3:00 p.m., The Soul Center
Evening Service: 5:30 p.m., Gorn Chapel
Beth El Seniors Dinner & Entertainment - The Music of My Fair Lady : 6:00 p.m., Offit Auditorium

Want to know what is going on at Beth El all month? Go to our calendar of events here .

Unable to attend the Shabbat services? Live stream available here .
In Loving Memory - Weekly Yahrzeit List
Tuesday, March 3 - Monday, March 9
Click here
Interested in getting hospital and bereavement notices from Beth El?
Please sign up here .
Affiliates, Committees and Other Happenings

Beth El Seniors Dinner & Entertainment - Music from  My Fair Lady
Sunday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m., Offit Auditorium
The music of My Fair Lady will be performed by the company of Musical Artists Theater. For more information, contact Ellen Budish at 443-857-7499 or Ruthye Steinberg at 410-655-8242. *Registration closed.
Beth El's Social Action Committee Presents: Winter Mitzvah Project
to benefit the Community Crisis Center
Now through March 10, 2020
Click here for a list of needed items. For more information, please contact Jeanette Davis at jeajekdavis@hotmail.com.
Beth El Sisterhood Luncheon & Book Review
with Rabbi Dana Saroken
Wednesday, March 18 at 12:00 p.m., Myers Auditorium
Rabbi Saroken will review the book Eternal Life by Dara Horn. The protagonist, Rachel’s current problem following scores of marriages, hundreds of children and 2,000 years going back to Roman occupied Jerusalem is explored in this novel. Click here to read more and download your reservation form.
Beth El's Empty Nesters/Baby Boomers Present:
Kosher for Pesach Cooking Demonstration
Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us for a fun cooking demonstration at the home of Faith Wolf in Pikesville. She is a leading Certified Culinary Instructor. The menu will include “soup to nuts” a complete dinner to serve to your company for Passover. Click here for more information. Reservations due by March 6.
Beth El Blood Drive
Wednesday, March 25, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Offit Auditorium
Did you know that every blood donation saves up to 3 lives? Join us and save lives! Walk-ins welcome. To schedule an appointment, click here . For more information, contact Steve Silber at 410-491-9157 or sfs6914@gmail.com
The Rabbi Mark G. Loeb Center for Lifelong Learning
Special Event
A Weekend with Jonathan Ornstein
March 13, 14 & 15
*This program is sponsored by the Rabbi Mark G. Loeb's Center for Lifelong Learning and the Beth El Israel Affairs Committee
Jonathan Ornstein has been the Executive Director for the Krakow JCC for the past 8 years. Join us for a full weekend with Mr. Ornstein and Get to know how this personable, charismatic leader created a thriving Jewish community.
* Friday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m.: Shabbat service followed by a Shabbat dinner. Dinner cost is $30/person .
* Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m.: Shabbat service followed by a kiddush and discussion with Jonathan Ornstein.
* Sunday, March 15 at 10:00 a.m.: Discussion group with Jonathan Ornstein, Berman-Lipavsky students and the Beth El community. A light breakfast will be included .
Click here for more information and to download your reservation form.
1st Wednesdays @ Beth El
Hotel Paradise Orchestra
Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., Offit Auditorium
We welcome back this diverse orchestra. They are a 12-piece big band specializing in early jazz and sweet dance tunes from 1920 to 1935. Some of the orchestra's songs go back as far as 1910. Click here for more information.
The Genius of Pablo Picasso
with Joseph Cassar
Tuesdays, beginning March 3
at 7:00 p.m., Myers Auditorium
Click here for information.
A Time For All Things:
A Study Of The Five Megillot
Wednesdays, beginning
March 4 at 10:30 a.m.,
Agus Library
Click here for information.
Rikud Baltimore
Israeli Dance for Beginners
Mondays through April 6
at 7:00 p.m., Offit Auditorium *Excluding March 9
Click here for information.
Click here to download a copy of the 2019-2020 Adult Education Booklet.
The Family Corner

Family Shabbat Service - Led by Kitah Aleph and Cantor Blatt
Saturday, March 7 at 11:15 a.m., Gorn Chapel
Families with children of all ages are invited to join us for songs, stories and a wonderful family Shabbat experience. Each month, one grade from the religious school will be honored.
Beth El Summer Program
Beth El offers a nine week summer program for children 2 to 5 years old. Our 2020 summer session will run from Monday, June 15 through Friday, August 14.  Registration starts NOW! Click here for rates, application and further information.
The Soul Center

New Program! Real Talk (About Taboo Topics)
Wednesday, March 4 at 12:00 p.m.
Session 1 Topic: “An Emergency Colostomy Was Not on My List”. Enjoy a gourmet catered lunch and touchingly truthful discussion about a subject people don’t ordinarily talk about. Moderated by columnist Laura Black, our learning and sharing will kick off by reading one of Laura’s starkly honest,
on-topic articles. You’ll leave feeling elevated and connected to our special Soul Center community. First session of a 7-week spring series. 
Click here for more information and registration.
Happy Hour: Talmud & Torah on Tap
Wednesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m.
with Rabbi Steven Schwartz @ BC Brewery
Who says Torah talk only happens at temple? All through March, we’ll be hosting after-work Torah learning over drinks at a rotation of convenient local hot spots. Moderated by some of Baltimore’s coolest rabbis, we’ll start with happy hour at 5:30 p.m.;
Torah talk around the table begins at 6:00 sharp. You’ll be headed home in time for dinner before 7:00 p.m.…or stay after to grab a bite and watch March Madness with new Soul Center friends!  
Click here for more information and registration.
Intro to Meditation with Rabbi Ben Shalva
Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Intrigued by the idea of starting a meditation practice or looking to add something special to your existing practice? Get a supportive kickstart in this monthly gathering. Click here for registration and information.
Healing Service
Wednesday, March 11
at 9:15 a.m.
Click here for information.
Caregiver Cafe
Thursday, March 19 at 2:00 p.m.
March's Topic:
Anticipatory Grief with
Carol Hallinan from Gilchrist
Click here for information .
Chair Yoga
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m
and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Click here for information.
The Spark
Fridays at 8:30 a.m.
March’s Topic:
 Between Jealousy and Love: the Biblical Elijah 
Click here for information.
Torah & Yoga
Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Click here for information.
Zentangling
Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
Click here for information.
For information regarding up-coming programs, go to www.soulcenterbaltimore.org
or contact Julie Hettleman at julie@bethelbalto.com or 410-484-0411 x 1103