May was a busy month at Keneseth Beth Israel!
We came together at Pop’s Kosher Dairy Kitchen to celebrate the holiday of Lag Baomer where we had a beautiful pizza dinner, sports games, and of course a bonfire. Jewish tradition teaches us that the endurance of Jewish wisdom is represented by fire.
Next the Sisterhood made the most of Mother’s Day with some good old-fashioned face-to-face socializing and had a session in advance of Shavuot to learn how to design their own flower pots. Jewish tradition teaches us that the base of the mountain bloomed during the giving of the Torah.
Our May Scholar-in Residence was Rabbi Bezalel Naor, a prolific author and scholar. Rabbi Naor is one of the world’s leading experts on Rav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook ztl. His translations have helped the Anglo world access the teachings of the late Chief Rabbi. Our highlight was our holiday programming.
The congregation hosted our annual reenactment of Sinai when everyone rises as one in the sanctuary to hear the Ten Commandments read from the holy scroll.
We also heard lectures from a guest speaker, Rabbi Elias Hochner of Miami Beach, Rabbi Adam Winston, president of Beth Israel and clerk at Virginia’s Supreme Court, and Rabbi Dovid Asher.
Lastly, the holiday included the very competitive and delicious cheesecake contest as well. Many thanks to the Levy family for hosting.
We are looking forward to a busy month in June with our annual meeting discussing this past year and our plans for 5774!
On June 11th, before the meeting, there will be an open waffle bar and following the meeting there will be a presentation by Mark Werner from the organization Volunteers for Israel.
During the last week in June, we will begin our epic Camp Seed program. Please see the flier nearby for registration.
To learn more about Keneseth Beth Israel, please contact our office on weekdays between 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at (804) 402-6363.
