August 2022 Newsletter ................................ .Rabbi Eric L. Abbott
Av 5782 ................................ Rabbi Emeritus Sunny Schnitzer
IN THIS ISSUE: The Rabbi's Message, ICYMI, NCCF Backpack Drive
CLICK for the Complete BJC August Events Calendar
“Prioritizing Joy”

Toward the end of July, the day before Ezra turned two years old, my family hosted a small birthday party in our backyard. Eliana and I beamed as we watched Ezra splash in his kiddie pool, ride his new tricycle, and devour his cake. I especially enjoyed hearing Ezra’s unrelenting laughter as we ran through the sprinkler together. His huge grin and innocent giggles demonstrated pure, uncomplicated joy—joy which spread to me and I, too, found myself laughing with a massive smile.

The next morning, on Ezra’s actual birthday, my joy took a turn as my rapid COVID test came back positive. Instead of happiness, I suddenly began to feel a host of other feelings: fear (will we be safe and healthy?), anxiety (what will I do for work?), sadness (what will we do for fun this week?), and more. At the flip of a switch, my initial happy emotions disappeared—and others took their place.

In many ways, those two days reflect the reality of the human condition. One day we can be happy and the next sad, or vice versa—or a mishmash of any other countless emotions. How often have we experienced a jumble of feelings at the same time? When we celebrate the birth of a child even as we mourn the loss of a parent; when we rejoice over a friend’s promotion while we struggle with our own work; when we sing happy birthday to our child while we wear a mask due to a positive COVID test—these are the realities of life. And yet these moments can be so difficult.

As we enter August, we also enter an emotionally complicated season in the Jewish calendar. While the month begins with a solemn holiday, Tisha B’Av, in which many Jews commemorate the destruction of the Temple, the month then turns towards happiness with the celebration of Tu B’Av, the Jewish day of love. From there, we begin a journey toward the month of Elul, the month of introspection preceding the High Holidays. Sadness, joy, introspection—it all comes in August this year.

What do we do when we hold all these emotions at once? How do we ease the pain and lean into the joy?

Our Sages teach that when both a funeral procession and a wedding convoy reach a crossroads at the same time, the funeral must make way for the wedding (Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 17a). Joy takes precedence. At the same time, the funeral does not simply pack up and go home; the Rabbis acknowledge that the funeral also has a high priority. This analogy teaches us that we must acknowledge both the sadness and the joy even as we aim to elevate the joy.

So, too, with the month of Av, which coincides with much of August this year: we begin with sadness but then elevate the joy. And while August may signal that summer is ending and that the High Holidays are right around the corner, there is still so much time left for pure happiness: pool parties, ice-cold drinks, vacations, and more. The joy is there—we just need to make it the top priority.

On the day I tested positive, I felt fear, worry, and sadness. Yet by the end of the day, my family and I had a plan in place. I had my designated isolation room; we sketched out a plan for our week of at-home parenting; and we setup our patio for outdoor meals. And then we celebrated. Outside and distanced, Eliana and I took out Ezra’s leftover cake, sang “Happy Birthday,” and celebrated with joy Ezra’s second birthday. His cake-smeared smile proved that happiness comes out on top.

May we each find the wisdom and courage to put the wedding before the funeral, to make joy a top priority.

LET THE RABBI PROVIDE PASTORAL SUPPORT
Please be in touch with me in times of joy, sadness, or illness in your life or in the lives of a loved one or another member of the congregation. If you have a pastoral need, please call the BJC Office at (301) 469-8636 or email me at rabbiabbott@bethesdajewish.org.

When I am away, please contact Geryl Baer in the BJC office at (301) 469-8636, admin@bethesdajewish.org. She will know how to contact me or my substitute.
Onegs are back! BJC members love gathering after services to chat and have a nosh. Hosting an Oneg—the nosh put out after Shabbat services—is an excellent way to share community with fellow congregants. Lingering, talking, and eating after services on Shabbat adds to the feeling of Shabbat being different from other days of the week when we rush to get to our next activity. It also lets us meet and greet other members of our community. According to the prophet Isaiah, the Sabbath shall be a delight. By having something sweet to nosh on, delight is added to Shabbat. 
 
You can sponsor an Oneg in honor of any simcha—birthday, anniversary, graduation, new baby, loved one’s accomplishments, any happy occasion. It is a wonderful way to celebrate any special occasion and to celebrate being part of BJC!  

This yearly obligation of membership is just one way that you can contribute to the community. We look forward to your involvement in the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, hospitality. Thank you for doing your share! 
 
A special thank you to Lorrie Van Akkeren for stepping in as our Oneg coordinator! You can reach out to Lorrie with questions here. Please sign up to host an Oneg here.   

Buttons are back: When you come to BJC, wear your new, improved name button. Your choice: pin or magnet-backed. Your choice: put it back in the box or take it with you and bring it each time you come. Everyone wants to know you by name!  
 
We have continued to work closely together with Rabbi Abbott, staff, and the board over the summer. We have been reaching out to our committee chairpersons to learn how we can help them with the work of the congregation. The committees and our staff are busy planning for great activities, events, and youth and adult education programs for the upcoming year including our monthly Mah Jongg and Back to Shul Night on Friday, August 26. 


In addition to the opportunities to get to know Rabbi Abbott by setting up a meeting through his calendar, we are working through the Membership Committee and Geryl Baer to set up various Parlor Meetings. Membership Co-Chairs Diane Blumenthal and Liz Sloss, describe Parlor Meetings and the ins and outs, in an article below, but think of these opportunities this way: a chance to chat with Rabbi Abbott and a few of your neighbors about whatever is on your mind. It’s a wonderful way to meet our new Rabbi and to meet fellow congregants who live nearby. We will also set up a Zoom meeting for the same the purpose. And we will hold one of these meetings at BJC. Some will happen before High Holy Days and others afterward.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in person, although like many of you we are each taking a bit of August away from the DMV.

 L’Shalom 
Harri Kramer and Wynne Busman
Show your Face!

We are asking everyone to upload their photos on the synagogue directory on our website. This will help congregants, and our new Rabbi, learn everyone’s names better.  

Uploading your photos is easy. Here’s how to do it from your computer:

  1. Go to our website, https://www.bethesdajewish.org/
  2. On the top Right of the screen, please log in. If you do not know your log in information, please email Geryl, geryl@bethesdajewish.org to reset your log in.
  3. Once logged in, there will be a new tab, slightly lower, on the right hand side labled “My Account.” There you will find a drop down menu where you can click on “Directory.”
  4. Here is a list of all of our congregants. Below the alphabet, there is a button that reads “Edit My Account Info”. Click on that.
  5. Scroll down just a little till you see “Change Directory Listing” and the second item there is “Picture”. To the right you will see a button that says “Upload a File”. Click on that.
  6. Find the photo that you want to use on your computer and insert.  
  7. Before closing the website, scroll down to the bottom right side of the page and make sure that you click “Save Changes”

It is that easy! If you need additional help, please contact Geryl, geryl@bethesdajewish.org or Amy, amy@bethesdajewish.org 

Click for the complete BJC August Calendar
WORSHIP SCHEDULE UPDATE

BJC continues our Friday night worship at 7:30 PM. Saturday morning services will resume in September. Consult BJC Now for the latest information about in-person activities and for links to services if you prefer to worship virtually.

Book Club
Wednesday, August 24, 8 PM
Wednesday, September 28, 8 PM


The BJC Open Book Club will continue to meet virtually for the foreseeable future. We usually meet at 8 pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Our upcoming selections are: 

August 24- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (author of A Man Called Ove) is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. 

September 28- Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson is a biography that details the full sweep of Franklin’s amazing life, showing how he helped to forge the American national identity and why he has a particular resonance in the twenty-first century. 

Evelyn Ganzglass eganzglass@gmail.com will send out the Zoom link prior to each meeting. If you are not already on the book club’s email list and would like to join us for any or all of our meetings, please let Evelyn know and she will add you to the list. 
 
OPPORTUNITY FOR INFORMAL COMMUNITY BUILDING AT UPCOMING "PARLOR MEETINGS"  
By: Diane Blumenthal and Liz Sloss

Want to share what’s on your mind with Rabbi Abbott and other members of the BJC community? Come to one of BJC’s upcoming “parlor meetings”. Beginning in August, BJC will hold small informal gatherings every two to three weeks (with a hiatus for the High Holy Days). Rabbi Abbott will attend each meeting to answer your questions or just schmooze about topics of interest. Not only are these gatherings an opportunity to spend time with the Rabbi, but they offer you a chance to get to know other BJC members. Have a friend who may be interested in BJC? Bring them along.

We anticipate that many of the parlor meetings will be held in homes of BJC congregants in different areas, like Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Northern Virginia. However, you can attend any meeting you choose. For those who prefer meeting online, and our out-of-state members, at least one Zoom meeting will be held. If you prefer a familiar setting, at least one meeting will be held in the BJC lounge.

COVID guidelines will be observed at every in-person gathering. Please watch BJC Now for more information on Parlor Meetings and how to register.
HELP WITH THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
By: Jim Korelitz

One thing that makes BJC so special is the active participation of our membership in our services and events. This is especially true now that we’re back to seeing each other in person during the High Holy Days. We need our volunteers to help guarantee that everything runs smoothly for our members and guests. Volunteers will help with our usual tasks of ushering, parking, removing/returning books, setting up and cleaning up for the Rosh Hashanah Kiddush and Tashlich, etc. We’ll also need volunteers to help with the online broadcast of our High Holy Days services.

Please look for upcoming announcements in the weekly BJC NOW emails with information on how you can sign up to volunteer.
Send a jar of the sweet stuff with a personalized message to friends and family for just $13 and start the New Year off right. 

After August 1, each jar will have a $6.50 shipping charge, so get those orders in soon! 

And thank you for your support of BJC!
High Holy Days are around the corner. If you would like to purchase your own Luluv and Etrog set for the holiday of Sukkot, you can order them here: Lulav and Etrog
Bethesda Jewish Congregation will earn 10% of all purchases. 
ONEG VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
By: Lorrie Van Akkeren

It is a most welcome sign of the return of normality to life at BJC that the Friday evening Oneg Shabbat is back. You have seen the notices in “BJC Now” and a link to sign up.

When BJC started, volunteerism was a major part of membership. It kept dues low, promoted Jewish values, and provided a network for building “community”. That philosophy was still prevalent when I started coming to services at BJC in 1986. Once a year members received a major mailing with information about High Holy Days, Yizkor remembrances, committee preferences, and a form to sign up for Oneg. It was considered part of membership to provide one or two Onegs per year.  

We don’t use paper forms anymore, but everyone still has the opportunity to sign up and do their share. 

Oneg is very easy! Come a little early to Friday night services with some snacks like cheese and fruit and a challah. Beverages including wine and grape juice and paper products and plastic cutlery are provided by BJC. Serving platters are also available. Amy or Geryl will be there as a resource if there are questions or you need help finding anything or help in setting up. Pour the wine and grape juice towards the end of the service, and stay to help clean up. That’s it! 

Summer dates are full, but Fall dates are available. Choose today to get your preferred date. 

Please use the sign-up link here or contact me directly here to pick a date satisfactory to you. Please do not leave it up to me to assign dates. I hate to do that.

And one more thing—if you have comments or ideas to improve Oneg Shabbats, please let me, a staff member, or one of the Co-Presidents know.

Thank you all for helping make our Onegs wonderful!
Welcoming Rabbi Abbott

What an amazing and full month of Shabbats to welcome Rabbi Abbott to BJC! From the first Shabbat on July 1st, to BJC's kid centered family Shabbat, to our Shabbat honoring our volunteers, we've had great company and tons of ruach.

It's been lovely to have a full house on Friday nights! Let's keep it up!
Thank you to everyone for making Rabbi Abbott's first month at BJC a success.

Please join us on Friday Nights for services and join the fun!
New Story Leadership
By: Marty Ganzglass


On Sunday, July 17th, after a two year hiatus caused by Covid, eight young Israeli and Palestinian delegates of New Story Leadership returned for an emotional and passionate presentation in Covenant Hall. Each of them spoke to an audience of about 60 attendees (plus ten other congregants participating by Zoom) about their experiences and hopes for bringing about reconciliation and peace in Israel/Palestine. They urged those in the audience to contact their elected representatives to break the deadlock of the current status quo. 
Associate Pastor Denise Diaab, Rabbi Eric Abbott and Suraiya Bari of the Maqaame Ibrahim Islamic Center introduced the program.
Congressman Jamie Raskin was warmly welcomed by the attendees and conducted a round table discussion with the NSL interns. His comment that he was not on any of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittees but he was protecting democracy at home provoked laughter and applause.
Jewish Sports Trivia
BJC members gathered online July 25 for a fun game of Kahoot! This time, the trivia quiz was all about Jewish athletes and sports.

The competition was fierce, but Jim Korelitz held on to his Trivia King title and came away with yet another tiny trophy. Mazel Tov Jim!!

Keep your eyes on BJC Now for another trivia night.
BJC EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Bethesda Jewish Congregation Youth Education Program is now open for registration! We can't wait to welcome your family to the 2022-2023 school year.

BJC provides a warm, lively, and creative environment in which students develop a solid understanding of Judaism and a positive Jewish identity. Students also acquire the skills and ethics necessary to become responsible and motivated members of the Jewish community.

BJC welcomes students who have not yet enjoyed an organized religious school model as they begin to reach traditional B’nai Mitzvah age.
Take advantage of our flexible programming including one-on-one Hebrew instruction for grades 4-7.

First year synagogue membership is included for any new family that registers for the coming year! $25 per student early bird discount if you register by August 1st.

Make This the Year You Learn Hebrew!

Our multi-level Hebrew class for adults will resume in person this month. There is a depth and richness to being able to experience prayer and Torah in the original that is available to you through the study of our people’s ancient yet amazingly modern language. We have groups from beginners through advanced and welcome everyone.
Tuition is free for BJC members and just $200 for non-members! That's a steal for this 9 month program.
Class starts August 10th!
L’hitraot! See you soon!

Please contact the BJC office with any questions. We're happy to help!
GET INVOLVED- BJC SOCIAL ACTION
NCCF SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE


Back to School is almost here! Help BJC put together backpacks loaded with supplies for deserving kids currently supported by the National Center for Children and Families. The Social Action Committee needs your help to get kids the items they need.

Here is the printable supply list. We will be delivering all the goods directly to NCCF. Please bring all items to the box outside BJC's office between August 9th and August 22nd.
UGANDA AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE UPDATE
By: Laurie Mabile

This month, BJC enthusiastically welcomes to our Uganda Agro Initiative 15 new beginner-farmers from the Abayudaya Congregation in Nasenyi B. 

The project, initiated in 2021 by Rabbi Emeritus Sunny Schnitzer in collaboration with Phincas Ziraba, the spiritual leader of the congregation in Uganda, grew from our social action focus on caring for the ‘larger tent’ of the Jewish community, especially where there is abject poverty or hardship; and to make a difference. Our donations provide support towards training in farming, seeds and growing supplies, and tractor rentals – all with the goal of participants becoming self-sustaining after just three growing seasons. The first 3-season cycle of the project involved fourteen members of the Abayudaya congregation growing green peppers. They completed the project successfully in June and are now independent growers -- uplifting themselves, their families, and their community.

Now we are building on these past results and beginning a new cycle. Through generous donations and tzedakah funds, we have provided full support for season 1, July through December 2022. And we have our sights on funding for seasons 2 and 3. 

You can help strengthen our tent by donating to the project by check to BJC (with a notation on the check earmarking it for the Uganda Agro Initiative) or donate on our website by going to BJC Giving here. Select Uganda Farm Project in the Type dropdown box. 

Please contact BJC member Laurie Mabile for additional information on ways to help out.

“On behalf of the first group of farmers, I do appreciate the opportunity that was given to us.Through this agricultural program we have been able to discover a reliable source of income for our families, through this program I have been able to meet most of my family basic needs and also bought three goats.
I will continue with this commercial agricultural program on my own for the coming seasons and also share the knowledge I have acquired with others.
Thank you BJC and GJF for the support.
It has been such an amazing experience of learning and achieving."

-KALUKUSU JERIMIAH

We also have a lovely selection of handmade kippot from the Ugandan community available to purchase on the BJC website. All proceeds will benefit the farmers. You can order these kippot here.

OUR MEMBERS
THANK YOU TO OUR JULY ONEG VOLUNTEERS
Harri Kramer and Russ Hogya
Wynne and Bruce Busman
Lauren Rathmann, Howard Berkof, and Charlotte
Norma and Ed Stern
Linda Blumberg and Steve Turow
Ted Posner

NACHAS NOTES
Editor’s Note: Share the joys in your life! Send to: amy@bethesdajewish.org

Mazel Tov to:

  • Wynne Busman on her retirement
  • Larry and Davi Walders on the B'nei Mitzvah of their twin grandsons
  • Al and Judy Folsom on the wedding of their grandson
REMEMBRANCES

Ever confused about when we remember the yahrzeit of your loved one? You can choose to remember this special date according to the Hebrew or English calendar. Get in touch with Geryl Baer in the office to review and verify the accuracy of your records.

Shloshim:


Yahrzeits: August 2022

Milton Austin, father of Laurie Mabile
Burton Bernard, father of Cathy Bernard
Herman Cohen, grandfather of Donna Goldberg
Noah Cohen, nephew of Nancy Glassman
Minnie Druckman, grandmother of Linda Blumberg
Skip Evey, brother of Bunny Roufa
Howard Faigin, father of Marty Faigin
Daniel Goldstein, father of Jim Goldstein
Edward Goldstein, father of Dana Goldstein
Morris Heller, father of Carie Schaffer
Hope Horn, mother of Yaffah Schnitzer
Joyce Horn, mother of Dennis Horn
Isadore Kornfield, father of Judy Folsom
Bernard Kramer, father of Harri Kramer
Warren Levy, father of Karen Levy
Kenneth Mandeville, son-in-law of Lorrie Van Akkeren
Elizabeth Mersky Thorn, mother of Nancy Allinson
Julia Robinson, daughter of Kurt Kohn
Herman Rosensweig, grandfather of Teri Brenits
Sara Slacter, mother of David Slacter
Phil Schneider, father of Cynthia "Cindy" Bogorad
Marla Schwartz, sister of Linda Baum
Louis Shapiro, uncle of Wynne Busman
Leona Silberman, mother of Paul Silberman
Coleman Silbert, father of Earl Silbert
Kenneth Stein, father of Kathie and Margo Stein
Frieda Stepper, mother of Shirley Altschuler
Irving Turow, grandfather of Stephen Turow
Michael Wolpert, father of Ira Wolpert
THANK YOUS

DONATION GENERAL

Anonymous
In Honor of Rabbi Eric Abbott from Linda Engel and Michael Goldstein
Joseph Gooteberg and Susan Leibenhaut
In Memory of Aaron (Harry) Kramer from Harri Kramer & Russ Hogya
In Honor of Jeremy Mendelson from Harri Kramer & Russ Hogya
Carie Schaffer


RABBI ERIC ABBOTT'S DISCRETIONARY FUND

Jim Korelitz & Liz Sloss
In Memory of Bernard I.H. Kramer from Harri Kramer & Russ Hogya


RABBI SUNNY LEGACY FUND

Evelyn Rabin


And to all of our members who “round up” their synagogue support and donate their time.
MODERN TRIBE

We are now an affiliate partner with Modern Tribe! Shop for all your Judaica needs though this link or by clicking the image. Bethesda Jewish Congregation earns 5% of all purchases! You get wonderful new items, and you support BJC in the process. Happy Shopping! 
AMAZON SMILES


Sign up for Amazon Smiles and benefit BJC! Those pennies, nickels, dimes, and sheckles add up. It costs you nothing, but by doing your Amazon shopping through their Smiles program and designating BJC, we profit a little bit at a time -- BJC will get 0.5% of your purchase. Sign up now and choose BJC. It never costs you anything, and it's very easy to do. Just click below.
Board of Trustees (As of 7/1/2022)

Co-Presidents
Wynne Busman & Harri Kramer
Co-Vice Presidents
Ken Fine & Issie Resti
Treasurer Steve Turow
Secretary Michelle Goldstein

Trustees
Helen DiStefano
Shoshanah Drake
Karen Levy
Ted Posner
David Slacter
Lorrie Van Akkeren
Board Members & Committee Chairs

Chesed Society Lorrie Van Akkeren
Education Amy Rubenstein & Shoshanah Drake
Financial Advisor Terri Reicher
Fundraising Robin Sorkin & Sandra Walter
High Holy Days Jim Korelitz
Intercongregational Partnership Liaison
Marty Ganzglass
Membership Diane Blumenthal & Liz Sloss
Immediate Past President Sandra Walter
Programs Diane Horn & Joan Kaufman
Social Action Karen Levi
Student Representative Gabby Mendelsohn

BJC Administration

Spiritual Leader Rabbi Eric L. Abbott
Synagogue Director Geryl Baer
Program/Communications Director Amy Kertesz
Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer

DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE: August 27, 2022

Bethesda Jewish Congregation
6601 Bradley Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20817-3042
Tel: 301-469-8636