Shaare Tefila Congregation

16620 Georgia Avenue, Olney, MD 20832 | (301) 593-3410 | info@shaaretefila.org

Welcome to Shaare Tefila
Where you will always belong

THE SHABBAT CHALLENGE & PASSOVER – STAYING CONNECTED – COVID-19 UPDATE 3/26/20

As we continue our second week of staying at home and as we continue to navigate our telecommuting schedule with our children’s virtual learning, I’d like to propose this challenge. Shabbat is a day of rest. It’s a day that we sorely need to take a break from the stress of the work week, and in our case today, to take a break from the news and social media. Shabbat is a time to spend with family and to better appreciate the beautiful people in our lives.
 
This week – March 27 – shabbat candle lighting is at 7:10pm and Shabbat concludes Saturday night March 28 at 8:10pm. One can always start shabbat earlier but shabbat doesn’t end until the stars come out Saturday night! Can we consider instituting any of these suggestions into our lives this coming weekend? Let me know if you’re going to try and let me know how you did!
How to Watch Services – Friday at 6pm, Shabbat Morning at 9:30am
How to do Havdalah – the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat – great arts and crafts projects as well as the blessings.
 
SERVICES – We have canceled our evening services. Many synagogues are offering evening services through ZOOM so that by having a virtual minyan, the service can be conducted. I would recommend that we join Rabbi Steven Abraham (son of our own Wendy & Richard Abraham) and his congregation in Omaha, NE for their daily (Sunday through Thursday) evening service. Here is the link that has instructions for joining. The time is 6:30 eastern, 5:30 central.
evening service
 
We have canceled Shabbat morning services until further notice. However, I will be in the building on Friday evening at 6pm to lead a service which will be live-streamed and Cantor Adina and I will be in the building at 9:30am on Shabbat morning to lead a live-streamed service. Since there won’t be a minyan present a few things will be different but it will be close to a regular service. At the end of the service I will also recite the memorial prayer for yartzeits for the coming week. Click here to live-stream.
Livestream
 
CONTINUING CLASSES – I will continue to teach my Friday morning Torah class (9:30-10:30), my Sunday morning Talmud class (9:30-10:30) and my Sunday morning Prayer Book Hebrew class (10:30-11:30). Though these are continuing classes, please feel free to join. They are all easy to pick up where we are and we’d be happy to have more in attendance. Here are the links for these ZOOM classes.
Friday Morning Torah Study Class – 9:30-10:30
Sunday Morning Talmud Class – 9:30-10:30
Sunday Morning Prayer Book Hebrew Class – 10:30-11:30
And don’t forget the weekly Wednesday morning class – 11-Noon. This week we’ll check in and continue the discussion about Passover preparation.
 
RESOURCES WHILE AT HOME
PRIVATE PRAYERS TO RECITE – My rabbinical organization has made our prayer books available as a pdf that you can download. The weekday afternoon service begins on p. 121, the evening service begins on p. 137. The morning service begins on p. 1. You can use these to follow the evening service in Omaha and the shabbat services on our live-stream.
Finally, here are other prayers you can recite on your own.
 
Oh, and don’t forget to sell your chametz!
I’ll have other Passover resources to share with you next week.
 
I extend my prayers for continued good health and safety in these trying times.
Rabbi Jonah Layman

Shaare Tefila is an egalitarian congregation, affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism & The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. We encourage member participation in a variety of activities & where individuals of diverse backgrounds and levels of observance are accepted & valued. We build on our heritage by strengthening our connections to Jewish life through worship, education, & community.

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Families

MARCH 16TH UPDATE – COVID-19 – Gates of Discovery and Chavaya Religious School are closed until further notice. Parents will be contacted by email with details over time.

Gan Katan – Next Date: 5/3/20, 9:45-11:15 a.m. Join our experiential play group focused on Jewish Values for Preschoolers & a Grown-up! Bring your friends & have fun with crafts, story time & music! Register on ChaverWeb by Friday, April 17. Questions? Contact Babette or call, 301-593-3410 x106 Cost: $5 per session.

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the upcoming summer camp and fall 2020 school year programs at Gates of Discovery: The Rose and George Teller Preschool of Shaare Tefila. As always, the opening of registration for the upcoming year is an exciting time. As a staff, we have already begun planning for next year and this is another major step in the process  While the summer and fall may seem far away, they will be here before we know it. For registration materials, please contact Beth Adler at badler@shaaretefila.org or 301-593-3410 ext. 105
 
JOIN OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FOR THE 2020-21 YEAR – NEXT OPEN HOUSE ON MAY 3RD – Looking for an engaging, liberal Jewish education program for your child? We offer free tuition for grades K-2 and have a unique two-day-a-week program for grades 3-7 which combines in person and online learning, plus teen education on Sunday mornings. Register on ChaverWeb or if you would like to learn more please contact Babette Cohn, Director of Education & Programming.

Upcoming Events

ONLINE LEARNING WITH RABBI LAYMAN DURING COVID-19 CLOSURE – Stay connected and continue studying with the Shaare Tefila community.

Topic: Wednesday Check In and Portion of the Week
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/484261397
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acukEJWAkV

Topic: Friday Torah Class
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/358999246
Meeting ID: 358 999 246
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acukEJWAkV
Topic: Sunday Talmud Class
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/337308761
Meeting ID: 337 308 761
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acukEJWAkVTopic: Sunday Prayer Book Hebrew
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/483009137
Meeting ID: 483 009 137
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acukEJWAkV

UPDATE Due to COVID-19 – Men’s Club Annual Wine Sale – Ordering is available by phone or email to Stephen Leavey, saleavey@gmail.com.  Phone: 301-384-8928, or 301-325-4859. The form can be found here: There is a wide variety to choose from; Kosher wines have come a long way from Manischewitz Concord Grape! See all the details on this flyer! Orders can be picked up on March 22nd & 29th at Shaare Tefila from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Contact Mike Binder for more information

Shaare Tefila Men’s Club is excited to announce the selection of Ira Kolmaister as this year’s Blue Yarmulke Person of the Year! Be sure to congratulate Ira when you see him again for this wonderful honor.

Support Sisterhood and buy Scrip! There are lots of merchants available for gift cards – you can even use them to buy your groceries! See all the details here.

 

 

See more information here about these events and more.

Service Times

Junior Congregation – 10:15 am, Next Date: 5/16/20
Join Morah Babette and Eytan Layman for a service focused on engaging the children Shaare Tefila in prayer. We offer a camp-style Shabbat service using Siddur Shema Yisrael. Enjoy a ruach/spirited Shabbat experience!

Tot Shabbat – 10:45 am, Next Date: 5/16/20
A fun, music-filled service for families with little ones (0-6yrs), the same morning as the Family Shabbat Service, in the Grosberg-Baumgart Chapel. Join Morah Mara for the next Tot Shabbat.

Weekdays
Sun Mornings- 8:45am
Mon & Thurs Mornings- 8am
Sun-Thurs Evenings- 7:30pm

Shabbat
Friday Evening- 6:00 pm
Saturday Morning- 9:30 am

 

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Chesed – Kindness Committee – Helping Community Members
Hazak – For Mature Adults
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Centrally located in Olney just off the Intercounty Connector

Shaare Tefila is located on the west side of Georgia Avenue across from Olney Manor Park.