SHABBAT SERVICES FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2026 AT 8:00 PM
Please join us on Friday night as we welcome Shabbat with a meaningful and spiritual service.
Torah Study, 1st and 3rd Saturdays 8:30 am via Zoom
TORAH STUDY SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5 AT 8:30 am
ZOOM LINK BELOW
Contact Suzanne (suz_darby@hotmail.com) for information and study guide
Topic: Torah Study Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84590304211?pwd=VUY1WnltUEY0Q0xSU2JrNmJMMXYwZz09
Meeting ID: 845 9030 4211
SOTTERLEY’S ANNUAL DAY OF UNITY AND HEALING
Once again, Congregation Sha’are Shalom was invited to participate in the opening ceremonies at Historic Sotterley’s annual Day of Unity and Healing in St. Mary’s County. Liz Mildenstein told about the significance of the Hebrew month of Elul as we take an accounting of ourselves in preparation for the Days of Judgment, the High Holy Days. Pat Myers intoned the various shofar calls as Marv Cohen sounded them. Also representing Sha’are Shalom were Marshall Jones and Mark Holt.
The event brings together descendants from Sotterley — a Colonial plantation dating to the early 1700s — both of the farm’s owners, the Briscoe family, and of its Black enslaved people and tenant farmers (Native Americans also joined these families). The site is also known to be a landing point for at least one ship bringing enslaved people from Africa in what is known as the Middle Passage. Over the years, the groups became closely involved and fond of each other, truly unifying and healing. The day went on to feature rituals and educational talks from members of all these parts of the groups, along with tours of the beautiful farm, which is a few miles off Route 235 near Hollywood, Md.
We were honored to play a part once again in this enlightening and reflective event.
Marv Cohen sounds the shofar as Pat Myers calls out the names of the blasts.
HIGH HOLIDAYS INFORMATION
The High Holydays are rapidly approaching! Note that no tickets are required for any of these services, although we do welcome your donations and will have pledge cards available for this purpose.
Here is the schedule of our services:
ROSH HASHANAH
Erev Rosh Hashanah – Friday, September 11th – 8 PM
Morning service – Saturday, September 12th – 10 AM
Followed by Tashlich (brief service, then throwing bread into water) and lunch
YOM KIPPUR
Kol Nidre service – Sunday, September 20th – 8 PM
Morning service – Monday, September 21st – 10 AM
Activity: You Be the Judge! – Monday, September 21st – 4 PM
Yizkor service – Monday, September 21st – 5 PM
Ne’ilah service – Monday, September 21st – 6 PM
Followed by Havdalah and Community break-the-fast
For Yizkor, please be aware that all names on our memorial board will be read aloud. If you have additional names you would like to be included in this service, there will be a list available on which you can write these names.
Lunch on Rosh Hashanah will be provided by the congregation, but for the break-the-fast on Yom Kippur, we ask that you bring a dish for us all to share. Your food can be brought to the kitchen any time that day; just make sure to include instructions as to refrigeration, reheating, etc.
We suggest that you bring a nonperishable food item (cans, not glass) when you come to the synagogue on Yom Kippur, for donating to those in need.
If for some reason you are unable to make it to one or more of our services, you can access them on Zoom instead:
http://us02web.zoom.us/j/89306038164?pwd=w3JBH8vqrnGNebrlbv8aXxySQOrbrH.1
Meeting ID: 893 0603 8164
Passcode: 871775
Religious School Begins Sept 6
We’re excited to welcome everyone back for a new year of learning and community! Sunday School at Sha’are Shalom begins on Sunday, September 6 (time TBD) and we can’t wait to see our students and families for another fun and meaningful year of Jewish learning, friendship, and celebration. Our first day will focus on getting to know each other, determining each student’s goals for the year, and learning about the High Holy Days.
Interested in joining the religious school or volunteering, email lizgilpin@gmail.com.
Liz Mildenstein
301-752-0761 (c)
Email: lizgilpin@gmail.com
CONGREGATIONAL YIZKOR BOOK
Congregation Sha’are Shalom is once again offering you the opportunity to list the loved ones whom you have lost in a Yizkor Book. This will be made available on Yom Kippur before the Yizkor service and will remain on the table for you to pick up before the Ne’ilah service or the break-the-fast. The donation will be $18 per name for the first two names and a flat $50 if you want to list three or more names. You can send a check to our treasurer or you can make a donation online at
In the comments section, please write:
For Yizkor Book
And then write your listing as you want it. Eg:
The Moses Family
Moses ben Amram
Aaron ben Amram
Miriam bat Amram
For the kind of donation, please mark “General Donation”.
Fund Raiser For Safety Personnel
Dear Members,
Congregation Sha’are Shalom has started a never ending Fundraiser to pay for Security at our synagogue.
We want all our members to feel safe coming to services and events at the Synagogue, so we will be having
Security Personnel there at all events.
There will be a tab under Donation on our website where you can make a donation for Security.
Thank you in advance.
Jackie – Treasurer
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR MEMBERS
The Brag Space for Members to share special moments and events
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Lead a Friday evening Shabbat service — we’ll help you!
We at Sha’are Shalom are proud of our long tradition of member participation in everything our synagogue does — including leading Friday night services. While we’re fortunate to have Rabbi Gail Fisher on the second Saturday morning of most months, it’s our own congregants who lead the evening service on the fourth Friday.
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 myerspat@gmail.com 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 (Mjones.shaare@gmail.com) if you would like to sponsor an oneg or lead a Friday Night Service or have any questions about doing either.