Shabbat morning service
Saturday, May 10, at 10:00 AM
Please join us for our monthly Saturday morning service. We will sing and pray together, hear the reading from the Torah, and talk about what that reading means for us in today’s world. A serious message indeed. Please join us after services for a light Oneg lunch provided by Suzanne Darby.
If you are unable to attend in person, the Zoom link is:
http://shaareshalomsomd.us1.
Meeting ID: 832 7996 0831.
Torah Study, 1st and 3rd Saturday’s 8:30 am via Zoom
Contact Suzanne ([email protected]) for information and study guide
Topic: Torah Study Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 845 9030 4211
Men’s Group Dinner May 14
The next Men’s Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m., at Szechuan Garden in Waldorf. Good food that includes gluten-free and vegetarian options. Please RSVP to Mark Holt at [email protected]
What a fun night we had at the Temple watching the fabulous movie Wicked! We didn’t have a large audience but those who came had a wonderful time. Pizza, PopCorn and a candy bar made it feel like it we were really in a theater. Our Religious School did a great job arranging their first mitzvah project. They raised $55 for the animal shelter. A great big thank you to Melissa Gilpin Ball, Zack Ball, Linus Ball, Robert Ball, Mia Mildenstein, Mayzie Mildenstein and Liz Mildenstein for this fun night.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
****CSS Membership Meeting****
Please mark your calendars for our biannual Membership Meeting on June 8, 2025 @5pm. This will be a hybrid in person/virtual event but I’d like to pass along that we will have treats at the synagogue for those joining us in person! Also, Pat Myers will be conducting training on being a service leader; I hope we have a great turnout for the meeting and the training session! Our meeting will include financial status, major projects that are underway, as well as discuss the open board positions that will be voted on. Details to include an agenda will follow in the next week or so.
http://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 870 0141 5136
Passcode: 599340
Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions on how we can better serve our congregation!
Thank you!
Jake Lindsay
CSS Board President
Thank You
I saw the new Directory and I would like to give a Thank You to the Memorial Page for Rabbi Randy Schoch to Marvin & Judy Cohen, Suzanne & Don Darby, Rabbi Gail Fisher,
Pamela & Mike Green, Mark Holt & Pat Myers, Marshall Jones, Amelia & Jasha Levenson, Maryiha & Jake Lindsay, and Susan & Stuart Richman.
I would like to share The Train with everyone from Randy.
THE TRAIN:
At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, strangers and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don’t realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you a joyful journey for the coming years on your train of life. Reap success, give lots of love and be happy. More importantly, thank God for the journey!
Lastly, I want to thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!
2025 Congregation Directory Now Available
The 2025 Congregation Sha’are Shalom Directory has now been published and is available in the synagogue lobby. Please pick up one copy per member (and advertiser) and write your name on the adjacent list so we know how many still need to be mailed out. The directory has current contact information for our members, tributes and memorials for loved ones, recipes, and pictures of congregation activities during the past year. And, of course, please patronize our advertisers who help support our congregation. The full directory is also on the Member Area of our website under the “Welcome” tab (ask any board member if you’ve forgotten the password). A public edition without member contact information is also on our website under the “About” tab here.
Calling all veterans
“I am trying to establish a Jewish War Veterans post in Southern Maryland. If you are serving or have served in the US Armed Forces and are interested in learning more please email [email protected] with your name, branch, and service dates.” Matthew Cook
Do you play Mah Jongg or would you like to learn? Did you know that there is a group that plays at Congregation Sha’are Shalom? Well, there most definitely is and everyone is welcome. If you have been playing for years or having been hoping to learn how to play you are welcome to join the group. For information contact Susan Richman at [email protected]
Lead a Friday evening Shabbat service — we’ll help you!
Our prayer book makes it easy — just choose your favorite reading from each two-page spread, either in English or Hebrew, spoken or sung. We even have some pre-chosen plans to use. The pressure is very low — the audience is usually small and supportive. If you’d rather not write a brief d’var Torah (a mini-sermon on how something from the week’s Torah portion might apply to our lives today), Suzanne Darby has volunteered to write it; and if you’re hesitant about leading songs, I can help out with that.
We’d just like more of our members to come up and play a part in services, and so we’re eager to help any way we can.
You don’t have to know Hebrew, and you just have to be past bar/bat mitzvah age. You can even enlist your spouse and/or kids to be your co-leaders. We’re looking for volunteers for Friday evenings. Please contact me at [email protected] to sign up or for more information.
See you at our next service
HELP WANTED
Dates Available for Oneg Sponsors
Shar’are Shalom each Saturday morning (every 2nd Saturday) and Friday night (every 4th Friday) service at the temple ends with the pleasure of fellowship. A little nosh usually makes this fellowship last longer and adds to its delightfulness. Each post service nosh or oneg requires an Oneg Sponsor. Whether it is wine, juice, a challah, and some cookies, or even more – it is always appreciated by those in attendance.
Contact Marshall Jones ([email protected]) if you would like to sponsor an oneg or lead a Friday Night Service or have any questions about doing either.