Beth Chai members of all ages are invited to gather together around the dinner table to celebrate the tradition of Erev Shabbat with joy and conviviality. What better occasion than this gentle, relaxing evening to catch up with friends we haven't seen, as well as to welcome newcomers to the congregation - among them, our new High Holiday cantor Susan-Lisa Gvinter, who will also be song leader for our Shabbat celebrations? The gathering begins at 7:00 p.m. and takes place in the Fireside Room on the 2nd floor of Beth Chai at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Road, Bethesda (entrance and parking lot off Whittier Ave. near River Road).
The aim is to let food, song, and conversation erase the cares of the work week and send us home stimulated and refreshed. We'll start the evening with a song and a short reading by a member of the congregation, then turn to lighting the candles and saying the blessings for wine and challah and asking the children present to help pass out bread, grape juice, and wine. Next up is dinner, then more songs led by Susan-Lisa. Rounding out the celebration, Rabbi Art Blecher will lead a brief discussion of the weekly Torah portion and a memorial observance, and then there'll be some more songs.
We'll be providing beverages to go along with the meal. Participants are welcome either to bring their dinners with them or to join in a buffet. Beth Chai orders from a rotating selection of local restaurants. The price for the buffet is $12 per adult (those 13 and up) and $6 for kids 6-12; those 5 and under are free. To reserve your dinner, please contact Mark Israel by 2 PM on Friday.
Note: We will be collecting canned and other nonperishable food donations at each monthly Shabbat. All donations will go to the Jewish Social Services Agency to benefit those in need in the metropolitan area.
Location of all Beth Chai Shabbats (unless otherwise indicated): Beth Chai Congregation at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Rd. (entrance to parking lot from Whittier Blvd.), Bethesda.
For questions about our Shabbat Service programming, please contact Ken Jacobson.
If you would like to attend one of our Shabbat services as a non-member, please contact our Membership committee beforehand to let us know you are planning to come so that we can make sure to greet you. Such visits are free of charge.