This page summarizes what you need to know about joining Bet Aviv.
| About Membership | Learn about membership at Bet Aviv and find application forms. |
| Why Join | Discover why you should join Bet Aviv. |
| FAQs | Find the answers to some frequently asked questions. |
At Bet Aviv our leadership consists of the, the Clergy, the Board and Non-Board Committees.
A Saturday evening party was one part of our 15th Anniversary Celebration Weekend.
In December 1997, a group of men and woman convened at a private home for worship and study and to work through their idea of a synagogue community. Over time, and as more people attended the monthly services, the gathering evolved into a congregation. And although many of the congregants were no longer in the spring of their own lives, they named this burgeoning congregation Bet Aviv–House or Tent of Spring–tent for its welcoming policy of inclusion and spring to symbolize its energy and the power of Jewish community to renew lives at every juncture.
Soon, the group was guided to Rabbi Marc Lee Raphael, who conducted his first Bet Aviv service in May 1998. Not long after, the synagogue settled into a neighborhood center, Amherst House. Morris Levine, the first President, had the foresight to set aside reserve funds which allowed us to move in fall, 2004, as permanent owners, to the Meeting House in Oakland Mills. It felt like home, especially since it was in this space that, from the beginning, we had held our High Holiday services. After the first couple of years, Marge Auerbach joined us as our Cantor and served until she retired in 2014.
After Morris’s term, Saul Lubitz assumed the presidency, followed by Barbara Hurwitz, Sami Klein, Howie Feldmesser, Richard Tobin, co-presidents Geri Epstein and Marty Stein, Lynn Green, Bill Salganik, Richard Rosenblatt, Richard Madonna and Azi Siner. Our current presidents Lou Ebert and Art Brody. Each president brought his or her own talents and strengths to the position and left an enduring legacy.
Founded with approximately 35 families, we hit our peak at 262 families strong. We have celebrated several bnai mitzvot, including a memorable one for nine adult women in 2005 and our most recent one for six adults in November 2016. In June of 2022 we celebrated a single Adult Bar Mitzvah. On our fifth anniversary, we retold the Bet Aviv story in narrative and song. We celebrated our 10th anniversary in November 2008 and our 20th anniversary celebration weekend in June 2018.
In May 2011 we bid a fond farewell to Rabbi Raphael as he retired, having served as Bet Aviv’s spiritual leader since its early days. In July 2011 we welcomed Rabbi Seth Bernstein as our new spiritual leader. In July 2014 we welcomed Cantor Linda Baer to lead us in song. When Rabbi Bernstein retired in 2019, we welcomed Rabbi Linda Joseph as our rabbi. For several years, Cantor Stephanie Weishaar, served as our interim cantor. We are delighted to have Beth Rubens grace our services with her beautiful voice as our current Cantorial Soloist.
Beyond our twice monthly services, led by Rabbi Joseph and Cantorial Soloist Beth Rubens and enhanced by occasional appearances by the Bet Aviv Choir, Bet Aviv has, since its founding, demonstrated its commitment to social action and study through adult education classes. Our Lunch and Learn classes are a highlight for many members. We have a strong Women of Bet Aviv group and a growing Men’s Club. Recently we added a Caring Committee and social groups like the Singles Club.
Since its inception, Bet Aviv has flourished and grown without sacrificing its original intent to construct a vital synagogue community, enriched with experience and welcoming to all.
From the celebration of new life to the saying of Kaddish, Bet Aviv is your spiritual family for honoring life cycle events, as well as the Jewish holy days. Rabbi Joseph, our members, and our staff assist you to meet your spiritual needs.. During the year, you will enjoy participating in our ritual services, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover and other events which honor and celebrate the history of our people.
This page is the portal to the following information about us.
| Directions | Directions provides a map and written directions to The Meeting House where we hold most events. | |
| Reform Judaism | Reform Judaism provides a brief overview of some of the principles of Reform Judaism. | |
| Our History | Our History provides some highlights in our history since our inception in 1998. | |
| Media | Media is where you’ll find photos, videos and the latest blog from the Union for Reform Judaism. | |
| Communications | Communications tells you about the ways we communicate with our members via e-mail, our newsletter and our weekly bulletin. | |
| Interfaith Community | Interfaith Community describes our relationship with the Intefaith Community as an equity owner of The Meeting House. |
This page summarizes all you can learn by reading the Program pages. Click on the page title to the left to go directly to the page.
| Adult Education | Learn about our exciting Adult Ed programs. |
| Caring Committee | Learn about the services that this committee provides. |
| Choir | Join our choir. |
| Men’s Club | Attend interesting lectures on timely topics. |
| Singles Club | Learn about activities for our single members. |
| Social Action | Fulfill your desire to make a difference through volunteering. |
| Special Events | Learn about Bet Aviv’s Special Events for this year. |
| Women of Bet Aviv | Participate in one of the Women of Bet Aviv’s many programs. |
The Torah commands us to circumcise our newborn sons on the eight day of their new lives. This powerful ceremony celebrates new life, and also brings our sons into Judaism’s sacred covenant. Rabbi Joseph can put you in touch with a Mohel (ritual circumciser) and help the parents understand the ceremony.
We celebrate the great blessing of a newborn daughter with a ceremony that brings her into the covenant, and confers upon her a Hebrew name. Rabbi Joseph can help you think through and design this ceremony, which can take place at the synagogue, on a Shabbat.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are moving from childhood to adulthood, from learning to be responsible to being responsible. As son or daughter of the commandments, you commit yourself to be proud membership in our ancient people. Contact Rabbi Joseph to plan for your event. In 2005, ten women at Bet Aviv celebrated their B’not Mitzvot together. Six adult congregants studied with Rabbi Bernstein for over a year to prepare for their B’nai Mitzvah, held in November 2016.
On June 3, 2022 Tom Cramer celebrated his Bar Mitzvah after learning Hebrew and studying with Rabbi Joseph
Rabbi Joseph can help you prepare for this wonderful, joyous occasion, by teaching bride and groom the meaning of the ceremony, from Ketubah (marriage document), to Kiddushin (Engagement) to Huppah (Marriage Canopy) to Nissuin (marriage ceremony) to breaking the glass. We also counsel you, offering Jewish wisdom in preparation for a life dedicated to love and companionship. We also work with you in designing the ceremony, providing our knowledge and experience.
Our tradition offers several powerful end of life rituals – Kriah (tearing of a garment), Levayah (funeral procession), Hesped (eulogy), Kevurah (burial) and Shiva (days of mourning). Rabbi Joseph will instruct you on these and other rituals. We can also perform the funeral ceremony, and help you understand and implement other meaningful Jewish mourning practices. We can also arrange lay leaders for one or more Shiva services. See our Funeral and shiva policy by clicking here for more details.
Consider sponsoring an Oneg in honor of a baby naming, special birthday or annivesary or some other significant event in your life! If you are interested in sponsoring an Oneg following Friday evening Shabbat service, our staff can assist you. Please fill out our Oneg Sponsor Form and contact the office for more information!
High Holy Days are a time for reflection, introspection, prayer, and re-connection. Join us in experiencing the spirituality of the High Holy Days. We observe the service of Selichot at the start of Rosh Hashanah, before the beginning of the ten day period of penitence and introspection ending on the fast day of Yom Kippur. In our services, we use the two-volume set of Mishkan HaNefesh, the text of which reflects our interest in gender-sensitive language. Membership in Bet Aviv includes admission to High Holy Day services. As a gesture of hospitality, you may invite your parents, children and grandchildren to attend at no additional cost. Please see the Schedule of Services for a list of dates, times, and locations of services.
Last year, a trio of congregants called us to worship with the sound of the shofar. A special highlight of our Yom Kippur service is hearing the haunting melody of the Kol Nidre played by a professional cellist.
As a reminder, please bring your Mishkan HaNefesh prayer books with you to services, as we have only a limited number for guests. If you need to purchase the two volume Mishkan HaNefesh prayer books, then call the Bet Aviv office at 410-992-9994 prior to the High Holy Days. Also, please remember to stop at security for check-in prior to entering the sanctuary so that we can be informed of your presence.
If you are not a member of the congregation and not yet ready to make that commitment, you may purchase a seat at our High Holiday services to join us. If you decide to join the congregation shortly after the holidays have ended, we will apply the ticket costs toward your membership dues! Please contact us for details.
We look forward to sharing a wonderful High Holy Days together!
The Union for Reform Judaism suggests, where space allows, that those members in good standing at Union congregations who will be in another community during the High Holy Days be welcomed to worship. If you will be traveling during the holidays and wish to attend services at a URJ member synagogue, download and fill out the “High Holiday Courtesy Seating Request.” Then forward this form to the Bet Aviv office where it will be completed and mailed to your destination congregation.
Click the link below to read the High Holiday Letter for 2024 that includes the list of services.
Bet Aviv and Kol Nefesh allow members in good standing to bring guests to High Holiday services if space allows. Please review our High Holiday Ticket Policy to learn the the important details about guests. If you have guests who will attend Bet Aviv or Kol Nefesh High Holiday services, then please notify us by filling out our on-line High Holiday Guest Attendance form.
Click the links below to make online High Holiday Donations. You may also print the forms below and sent it to the Bet Aviv office with a check.
Kol Nefesh is sponsoring a Break-the-Fast pot-luck immediately following Neilah at approximately 6:00 pm in Room 100. Click here to sign up.
URJ High Holy Days Resources
Congregant blesses the Torah during a Shabbat Service
Come join us at Shabbat services to learn from the thought-provoking teachings of our rabbi, Linda Joseph. Experience the joy of singing led by our cantor ial soloist, Beth Rubens. Feel a great sense of community as we worship together and sing the blessings at our Oneg Shabbats. Our members reach out to make guests and new members feel at home. We respect diversity and welcome all into our family.
Our rabbi’s sermons are a mix of relevant topics of the day and Torah discussions. Throughout the service our rabbi may read us some of her favorite psalms or a poem that she finds moving and appropriate for the occasion. Our cantorial soloist leads us in a variety of music, from traditional to modern, designed to please every ear and expectation. We have piano accompaniment at every Shabbat service and occasionally singing by our choir to enhance the service.
At the end of the service, we recite the prayers for the wine and bread as one community. Following the prayers, we all gather in a separate room to partake of refreshments, to catch up with the news our fellow congregants have to share, and to meet newcomers.
If you would like to experience a Bet Aviv service for yourself, please contact us to let us know you’re coming, so we can greet you. You are most welcome to join us.
Our services are Covid-safe. For those who are not able to attend in person, we offer streaming and a virtual session afterwards to catch up with fellow congregants.
All Shabbat services are held in the Meeting House, usually in Room 200. Evening services generally begin at 7:30 PM.
| Second and Fourth Fridays | January – June
September – October |
7:30 PM
7:30 PM |
| First and Third Fridays | November – December
|
7:30 PM |
| Summer Shabbat Services
Fourth Friday |
July – August | 7:30 PM |
Prayer is a language that each of us speaks and hears in a different way. When we pray together, we try to find meaning within the chorus of diverse voices. With his engaging sermon and stimulating teachings, our Rabbi shows us how the lessons from the past are relevant to our lives today.
Our services are fully egalitarian (men and women participate equally). We believe we have found a healthy balance between the traditional and the creative. We use the Mishkhan T’filah prayer book for our services and offer a mix of English and Hebrew. We use both traditional and contemporary melodies. People who attend vary from those with Orthodox backgrounds to Jewish by choice.
This page summarizes all you can learn by reading the Worship pages. Click on the page title to the left to go directly to the page.
| LiveStream | Go to the LiveStream Broadcast player |
| Shabbat | Learn about the Rabbi’s upcoming Shabbat sermon topic. |
| Holidays | Discover Bet Aviv’s holiday traditions, including High Holiday schedules. |
| Life Cycle Events | Find out how Bet Aviv celebrates life cycle events. |
| Yahrzeit | Discover Bet Aviv’s yahrzeit prayers and practices, |
| Healing | Learn about our healing practices and prayers. |
After months of planning and design, this week we finally unveiled the new BRS website – www.brsonline.org We are very proud of its great features including a FAQ section for people who live here, those looking to move and those visiting. We have videos, podcasts, a blog, photo galleries, and much more. We have also included a member login where you can see your statements, pay your invoices, make donations and look someone up on the membership directory. We look forward to hearing your feedback and your help in spreading the word about this great new tool to reach people and spread the BRS mission. Look soon for the BRS app for apple and android. A tremendous thank you is due to Kerry Purcell in our office who put in countless hours, great creativity and hard work to make this new website a reality.
As we put the finishing touches on the new website this week, we kept reminding one another that it represents the face of the Shul to someone looking into who we are. You only get one opportunity to make a first impression and it is critically important to make a positive one if you want to get a relationship started on the right foot.
What is true for a website and a Shul, is true for how we present ourselves to others as well. Our faces are the homepage of who we are and how we are perceived. No matter what is happening in our hearts or our minds, we leave a strong impression on others based on the disposition carried in our faces. Do we project sadness, despair, worry, uncertainty and doubt? Or are we happy, positive, optimistic and joyful.
Rabbi Yisroel Salanter once said that our faces have the status of reshus ha’rabim, they are public domain and we therefore need to be sensitive to the public when we decide what mood we are going to project. The gemara (Kesubos 111b) says that it is better to smile at someone warmly than to provide him with food and drink. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe writes that just as plants require sunshine to live, converting the rays of the sun into nutrients, people too convert smiles into energy and strength, and without it they wilt and perish. Smiling is a uniquely human expression. When is the last time you saw a dog or cat smile?
Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a physician at Harvard Medical School, authored a study that concludes that happiness is contagious. The same way when one person yawns, it affects others, when one person smiles or is happy it leads to others happiness and smiling as well.
This poem says it best:
It cost nothing, but creates much.
It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give.
It happens in a flash and the memory of it lasts forever.
None are so rich they can get along without it and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.
It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends.
It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away!
If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of yours.
For, nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none to give.