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(Note the date and time have changed from those published in Dec. Gatekeeper)
This holiday is the New Year of Trees. To celebrate, join us for our annual Congregational Tu B’Shevat Seder. In addition to the traditional foods of Tu B’Shevat (come and learn what they are) the menu will include pizza and desserts! Read the rest of this entry »

February 11, 10 am
Service leader Rabbi Saltzman. Oneg sponsor Joan Troncoso. Adult Education follows the oneg: “Denominations: Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform and Humanistic. A brief background of each denomination; examples of leading rabbinic thinkers; how the movements differ and are similar in interpretation of Jewish Law and Halachah. What is Halachah? Is there a Reform Halachah? Read the rest of this entry »

Movie Night
Saturday, January 21, 7 pm
Tu B’Shvat, which celebrates the New Year of Trees, falls this year on Feb. 8. With that in mind, we will see “Pom Poko.” This animated film, which adults will enjoy as much as children, a story about what happens to a group of raccoons when developers destroy their forest. Pom Poko is a tale of the clash between modern civilization and the natural world, and the raccoons’ decision to fight back. Will it be enough? Bring your popcorn or dessert and find out. For more on Pom Poko, see www.imdb.com/title/tt0110008

Please Help Make The 2012 Congregation Directory A Big Success!
We are beginning to update and publish the annual Congregational Directory. Our Directory is not only a very useful address book that most of us keep by the phone but is also a major fund raiser for our building and furnishings fund. Your support is essential for the continued success of this valuable publication. You can support the Congregation’s effort in two ways. One is to place a personal greeting in the Directory — a great way to wish everyone a happy New Year or to remember a loved one. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Sha’are Shalom Congregants:

In addition to our monthly Saturday morning Shabbat services led by Rabbi Saltzman, we continue to provide two Friday evening Shabbat services each month. These services are led by congregation members, and we hope you will take one or more turns this year.

To lead the service, you don’t need to have had formal training, or even know Hebrew. You just have to be familiar with one or more of the services in our siddur, Gates of Prayer; to spend a little time choosing which passages and songs you’d like to include, and to prepare a brief d’var Torah, a comment on that week’s Torah portion and how it might relate to our lives today.

Many of you attended our meeting last year in which we went over basic guidelines and tips. If you weren’t there, I or another congregant can show you what to do. We also have some handouts. If you would rather not sing, someone else can help out with the music.

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We mourn the passing of a member and friend to many, Alice Lebowitz who passed away December 21, 2011. Alice, as many of you know, was a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. After the war, returned to her native Czechoslovakia which had become part of the Soviet Union. Later she immigrated to the United States. She is survived by her two daughters, Sylvia Yotko and Judy Marmer; her grandchildren Bella Dean and Jason Yorko; and her great-grandson Sebastian.

A plaque for our Memorial Board is being purchased in her memory. Anyone so inclined may contribute to this memorial plaque by sending a contribution to Lee Weinberger at 4826 Bryantown Rd., Waldorf, MD 20601-4240.

Noah Kanter, age 8, led Sunday School services on Dec 11,2011. He is the youngest member of our Sunday School to lead services and give a D’var Torah.

Jacob realized he’s close to where Esau lives. He thinks Esau is still angry with him. Jacob sends his men to give Esau a message saying he was sorry for all he had done to him. The men returned and told Jacob that Esau was coming with an army of 400 men.

Fearing for his family’s lives, he sends servants to Esau with gifts. These gifts included all different types of cattle.

During the night, Jacob wrestled with an angel that represented Esau. He won the fight, and G-d gave Jacob a new name: Israel. Israel means “he who wins over the divine.”

In the morning, Jacob could see Esau’s army. When the brothers met, Jacob learned Esau was not angry with him anymore. Jacob still insisted Esau take the gifts. That was when they stopped fighting.
When Isaac, their father, died, Jacob and Esau buried him – together.

This portion teaches us that although my brother and I don’t always get along and sometimes fight, we will forgive each other and make up with one another. We do not need gifts to do it, either!

Happy new year! I’m proud to report that Congregation Sha’are Shalom has a vibrant group of religious school students that are active at the Synagogue as well as their schools and in the local community. In addition to arts, crafts, Bible stories, Hebrew studies, and music sessions, our students took part in the fall food drive, the walk to end homelessness in Charles County, volunteered for the Safe Nights Program, and contributed winter clothing for the Children’s Aid Society here in Southern Maryland. More to come in 2012!
Thanks to all our families and especially our volunteer teachers. Thanks also to Pam Green and those who organized and hosted the Chanukah party.

A special Mazel Tov! to Noah Kanter who at age 8 did an outstanding job leading our family service in December and preparing a meaningful d’var Torah. His motivation, hard work and thoughtful commentary is commended.

Religious School is held Sundays at 9am. There is a family service open to the congregation which lasts from 9-10am and then 2 class sessions which cover prayer based Hebrew and Jewish Studies. New students are welcome any time throughout the year.

Shalom,
Jasha Levenson
Religious School Principal
shaareshalom@gmail.com, 301-645-4606

I want to wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Year. As we start 2012 there is a lot that Sha’are Shalom needs to do and I hope you will join me in the work that we have ahead of us.

The saying “It takes a village to raise a child”, well it takes members to build a synagogue. The Outreach Committee has been doing a great job working to show what Sha’are Shalom has to offer. Show your support by coming to all the events. Now it is our turn to WELCOME new visitors to our synagogue. When you come to services or events and you see a face that you don’t know, please walk up to that person and introduce yourself. We need to show our visitors that we have a lot to offer a nd friendship is one of them.

I have another article about the Biennial that was held on December 14-17, 2011. If you want to listen to some of the speakers you can go to www.urj.org/biennial

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This week’s parsha is the very eventful Vayetze, which, like all the early portions of the Torah, is just crammed with some of our most familiar Bible stories.

It starts off with Jacob fleeing from Esau (Vayetze means “And he left”) and going to seek a wife in Charan, where his relative Laban lives; then there’s the story about his dream of the ladder; then the wonderful scene in Charan where Jacob, once he sees the beautiful Rachel, uses superhuman strength to move a rock off the shepherds’ well so they, and she, can water their flocks.

And then there’s the whole story about how Jacob, after agreeing to work seven years for Rachel’s hand, is given Leah’s instead, and then his working seven more years for the woman he truly loves. After that there’s the part about the dueling wits of Laban and Jacob over a promised portion of Laban’s flock – all the colored sheep — and how basically Jacob out-tricks Laban with crafty animal breeding to assure that there would be an especially large number of this kind.

And finally, the entertaining scene where Jacob decides to return with his already large family to Padan-Aram, and the whole family sneaks away from Laban, and Rachel steals a couple of Laban’s idols. Laban tracks down Jacob and his family, can’t find the idols, and finally comes into Rachel’s tent to look for them. And Rachel – who’s sitting right on top of the idols, which are inside a cushion — basically says: Um, you really can’t come here because I have this, you know, women’s condition, and Laban grosses out and returns empty-handed.

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