Chadashot* The latest news* of all things youth and education at Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation Issue 18 February 6, 2020 11 Sh'vat, 5780 Friday evening, please join us in Silver Spring for Shavat Vayinafash. Pizza and Miss Ellie start at 5:30 PM.

Greetings, Thanks to the many of you who joined us this week to talk about the future of Jewish education and programming here at Adat Shalom. Whether you have pre-schoolers, school-age kids, tweens, teens, or grandchildren, we all agree that we have an opportunity to build a strong foundation of Jewish knowledge throughout our community. We have work to do and judging from the input from folks both around the table, via email, informal conversations and the like, there is strong desire for making our educational programs the best they can be and more importantly a willingness to help support the process and implementation. As always, my door and those of Rabbis Fred and Rachel are always open to talk about these issues -- we are committed to engaging our entire community -- from our littlest members to our great grandparents -- in meaningful and valuable lifelong learning. Informal learning and experiences are one way that we enhance our comfort with and understanding of Jewish ritual and practice. Shavat Vayinafash on Friday night in Silver Spring is Adat Shalom's mobile welcome to Shabbat. A short service with snacks, awakens all of our senses as we share in this beautiful ritual to close out the week that was and usher in peace and calm for Shabbat. Pizza is at 5:30 for our young tots and Miss Ellie gets our toes tapping by 6. Shabbat Shalom, Rena Rena Milchberg Interim Education and Operations Director

Jewish Learning for Parents

Shabbat Matters with Rabbi Sid: This weeks' Topic: Love, Jealousy and Estrangement through the prism of the Sarah-Hagar narrative in Genesis. 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM/Double Classroom It is commonplace to say that the Bible provides guidance for modern living. But in what way is this really true? Most people haven’t a clue. In this three-session mini-course, Rabbi Sid will explore how Biblical stories provide guidance to three issues that human beings have been struggling with since the dawn of civilization: The class will be using original sources in translation. The additional text will be our lives.

For Families with Young Children

Tu B'Shevat with the Tots! Following Tot Shabbat Saturday morning After singing and the Torah Parade, we'll gather in the social hall for some stories, songs and celebration of Tu B'Shevat. This program replaces the originally scheduled Sunday afternoon event.

This Shabbat in Torah School

This coming Sunday and Monday we celebrate the holiday of Tu B'Shevat. The name of this festival is actually its date: “Tu” is a pronunciation of the Hebrew letters for the number 15, and it falls in the Hebrew month of Shevat. Throughout Jewish history Tu B'Shevat has been observed in different ways but the early Zionist settlers to Israel began planting new trees not only to restore the ecology of ancient Israel, but as a symbol of renewed growth of the Jewish people returning to their ancestral homeland. For environmentalists, Tu B'Shevat is an ancient and authentic Jewish “Earth Day” that educates Jews about the Jewish tradition’s advocacy of responsible stewardship of God’s creation as manifested in ecological activism. We will learn more about this holiday on Shabbat morning!

Helping those in Need

This is a unique opportunity for families with high school age children to engage in action and study while helping people in need. Haiti Mission -- December 2020 Haiti Mission Info Session Saturday, February 8 after the Oneg Join Rabbi Sid, Pam Sommers and Haiti Project Co-chairs, Marta Beresin and Greg Schofer. If you have even the slightest interest in joining the Mission or want to keep posted on developments, please contact Pam Sommers

Manna Box Packing Tuesday, February 18 Over the years, Adat Shalom has been a strong supporter of Manna's work to end hunger in Montgomery County. And Manna has come to rely on Adat Shalomers to help pack boxes of non-perishable food to help our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. It is something school age children are welcome to participate in with their parents. SSL hours are available for middle and high schoolers. We need 8-10 families/groups (12 to 17 people). Filling, taping, and stacking the boxes of food takes an hour to an hour and a half.    Please sign up to help .

Support our Teens Ace Madrich Noam Richman is asking for donations of old shirts, blankets and other cloth items for a community service project at his school. These items will be reused and made into toys and other supplies for local animal shelters. There is a collection box in the lobby.

Multi-Faith Corner

Parenting for Pluralism: Raising Children of Faith in a Multi-faith World Join Interfaith Families for a conversation around your own faith traditions, the religious life of children, and your faith experience as a child.  You will have a chance to share a favorite sign or prayer from your own faith tradition, learn more about how children think about religion, and participate in small group discussions around connecting your faith experience as a child to your experience parenting children of faith today. We’ll conclude with your suggestions on planning a Parenting for Pluralism discussion series. Please join us!

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