Latest Information Concerning
the Emergency in IsraelA MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSMAN HOYER
As a nightmare continues to unfold across Israel in the aftermath of Hamas’s heinous attack on civilians over the weekend which included the killing of more than 1,000 Israelis and 14 Americans, taking over 150 people hostage, and leaving at least 20 Americans unaccounted for and many others still missing, I want to provide you with the latest information concerning the emergency. My full statement condemning the terror attack in the strongest possible terms can be found here.
My office is closely monitoring the security situation in Israel, and the Department of State has a 24/7 coordinating group communicating with U.S. citizens and providing them assistance through phone calls and an online form.
Any American citizen can still book commercial flights out of Ben Gurion airport, there are several airlines, including El Al, that are fully operational, and the State Department supports this travel.
U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel can fill out the intake form or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-
641-0131. For the latest updates, please monitor the messages to U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Israel on the Embassy website here.
Any U.S. citizens in Israel should please enroll their contact information in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) here.
The United States Department of State travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza will continue to be updated here.
See here for a Statement from President Joe Biden on American Citizens Impacted in Israel.
See here for a Joint Statement on Israel from the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
As always, I encourage all Fifth-District residents to direct any questions or share their concerns and feedback with me by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
If you are in need of assistance, such as with help accessing veterans’ benefits, or have another issue regarding a federal agency, and you wish for my office to place an inquiry on your behalf, please complete the casework request form by clicking here.
Sincerely Yours,
Steny H. Hoyer
Statement from the Charles County Interfaith Commission on behalf of Charles County
Fellow congregants of Sha’are Shalom I have the privilege of being a member of the Charles County Interfaith Commission. We developed a statement on behalf of Charles County in regards to the tragic attack on Israel last week and the need to discourage hate in our community. The statement can be found below. I join you as we mourn those lost and may all of their memories be a blessing. As we often do I pray for our leaders and specifically President Biden to have the wisdom to find a path that brings justice to those who perpetrated this horrendous act without the further loss of life among innocents. I pray for President Biden’s safety as he travels to Israel this week.
Richard Gilpin
Interfaith Commission of Charles County
We, the Interfaith Commission of Charles County, write to express our horror at the atrocities committed against civilians in Israel by Hamas, as well as the loss of life, homes and essential services for civilian noncombatants in Gaza as Israel takes action against Hamas. It breaks our hearts to see infants, grandparents, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters bearing the brunt of long-standing enmities. We pray for hostages to be released, for security for all, and for those in positions of leadership to find the courage to seek a lasting peace so their people can thrive.
In this time of trauma, we weep with our Jewish friends who have already experienced such an increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence in our country, especially our Jewish sisters and brothers in Charles County. We weep with our Muslim brothers and sisters as anti-Muslim violence in Illinois claims the life of a 6-year-old boy. We are grateful for the collaborative friendships among Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and those of other traditions in our county.
Standing against hatred and violence, particularly that perpetrated in the name of religion, is one reason we exist. We commit ourselves to being agents of healing and reconciliation in our community.
The Interfaith Commission of Charles County includes: Sherry Burks, Rich Gilpin, Kate Heichler, Rebecca Michaela, Vaseem Mughal, Sarab Suri, Michael Wilson, Anthony Wilson and Don Zimmer
A Message From Israel
Aviad Yisraeli, the nephew of Sha’are Shalom member Pat Myers, is a medic in the Israeli army; he’s 36 with a wife and four young children. He’s now at the Gaza border. Please keep him along with Pat’s relatives in Israel — her stepbrother and his wife; Aviad’s six siblings; and many young grandchildren — in your thoughts.
Here is a Facebook post from Aviad’s wife on October 7 as he prepared to leave home for Gaza.
Aviva Sutnik Yisraeli: Abba leaving for war. Scared as —- but never been happier that we have a Jewish country we can fight for. May Hashem give us the strength to do what we have to do. Please Hashem.
KVETCH AND KVELL
Thursday October 19 at 7:30 pm via Zoom
Hang out and share your Kvells and Kvetches
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 850 3979 8832
Passcode: 29825
Men’s Dinner at Salsita’s Grill on October 26
The next Sha’are Shalom Men’s Dinner will be Thursday, October 26, at 7 p.m. at Salsitas Grill. The food is plentiful and tasty at this Tex-Mex restaurant in Rosewick Shopping Center in La Plata. As with all Men’s Dinners, the agenda will be good food, beverages, and fellowship–no business!
More details about Salsitas Grill is on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/
If you can attend, contact Men’s Group Chairman Mark Holt at mark.edward.holt@gmail.com
Our Fabulous Simchat Torah Service this year!
Family Camp: December 8-10
Capital Camps is offering two family camp weekend getaways for existing and new families to enjoy the outdoors and experience our incredible weekend programming.
Family Camp will include: camp-style shabbat with rikkud/dancing, shira/singing, community bonding, arts & crafts, sports, gaga, boating, ziplining, and so much more!
This is the perfect weekend to bring together your friends and spend time in the mountains! This is a great opportunity for all families in our community, including those that may be interested in Capital Camps in the future.
Click HERE to learn more and register. Bring your family and friends. Restore, rejuvenate and reenergize!
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
HELP WANTED
We are looking for some people that would be willing to serve as our Vice President or as our Memorial Board Coordinator, If you are willing to help please contact Marv Cohen
301-710-8191
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.
Current oneg openings:
Friday, Oct 27 for 8pm services
Saturday, Nov 11 for 10am services
Friday, Nov 24 for 8pm services
Contact Mike Green, VP, at mrgreen@csmd.edu or (240) 210-1064 (text or call and please leave a message if I don’t answer) if you would like to sponsor an oneg or lead a Friday Night Service or have any questions about doing either.