Chadashot*
The latest news* of all things
youth and education
at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation

Issue 2
August 23, 2019/ 22 Av 5779
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Welcome to our second issue! We are experimenting with this newsletter and want it to be as useful as possible to as many folks as possible. Please share your thoughts with us!
...Getting Ready for a New Year

Greetings! It seems like the calm before the storm. As I type this the clouds are darkening and the thunder is rumbling and we are gearing up for yet another weather event here in Bethesda. But inside at Adat Shalom, we are calmly preparing for the start of the new school year.

Just like the rituals before the start of a new academic year -- secular or Jewish -- we engage in Jewish rituals that help give structure and meaning to our lives. One set of rituals surrounds Shabbat. Some families light candles, sing kiddush and make a motzi over the challah. Some families play "roses and thorns" and eat pizza. Regardless of what your families rituals are, they can help center us and allow each member of the family to appreciate the rhythms and meaning of this time. Last week the New York Times ran this beautiful article about a young man with autism and the rituals that he created to celebrate Shabbat. I invite you to read it and think about how you and your family might bring new rituals into how you welcome Shabbat. As we get ready for a new year it can be helpful to pause and think about how new and old rituals can help prepare us to move ahed.

As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat, please don't hesitate to reach out by phone (301.767.3333, ext 105) or by email.

להתראות , L'hitraot and Shabbat Shalom.


Rena Milchberg
Interim Education Coordinator
School Starts on Shabbat Morning,
Saturday, September 7 at 9:30!
New and Prospective Member Oneg Shabbat!
 
If you joined Adat Shalom since last year's High Holidays please join other new members at a special welcome Oneg in the triple classroom. Families welcome--come a bit early if your small children are hungry

Please spread the word to folks considering or curious about Adat Shalom!  

RSVP  appreciated by Sept. 4.
Just a reminder that information about the Days of Awe -- the High Holidays -- can be found on the Adat Shalom Website.

This includes sign-up pages for erev Rosh Hashanah Dinner, opportunities to volunteer and other programming.

And watch your household mail for a beautiful postcard that has all the key dates and times!
Idan is at the Beach!
You are not the only one still on vacation! Check out Shaliach Idan, building sand castles at the Rishon LeTzion Beach.

Trivia: Did you know that one of the twin/sister cities to Rishon LeTzion is Prince George's County, MD?
Community Happenings

JNF College Summit in DC from September 13 th-15 th. We are bringing together over 300 college students, as well as over a thousand supporters of Israel. Students will be able to meet college students from across the country, hear from innovative organizations, individuals doing great work to improve life in Israel for all Israelis, and participate in workshops that teach them how to bring what they have learned home to their college campuses and to the Hebrew school classrooms that they teach in. The conference is only $100 per person, which includes food, housing and all programming. I would greatly appreciate if you would advertise this to the college students in your community .you can find more details and register at www.jnf.org/summit .
Unity Walk

This year's Unity Walk, sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington will be on Sunday, September 8 from 12:30 - 6:30. More than 1000 people of all faiths and backgrounds will come together on one day to celebrate the diversity of our region, to visit houses of worship, and most importantly, to listen to each other and ask questions of each other.  Now is time for us all to come together and to publicly declare that this is a no hate zone and to unite around our shared humanity.

If families are interested in joining together to attend the walk, please let me know and we'll get organized!
NameTags, Please!!
One of the great things about Adat Shalom is that you don't have to remember people's names. No more awkward moments of "hmmm, what is that person's name." But this only works if we wear our name tags! It's also a great security measure. Even if you are just popping in to the building to drop off a child (or an adult), put that name tag on and let us say Hello!
I like this newsletter but what's the schedule?
Good Question. Once the school year officially starts, you'll receive Chadashot every Thursday. Until then, consider this a little surprise in your in-box! Please feel free to forward this to folks both in and outside of Adat Shalom if you think they'd benefit from being in the know! To be added to the Chadashot mailing list, please let us know here .