Singles Club

Members of the Singles Club enjoy dinner at the Stanford Grill.

Bet Aviv is fortunate to have a vibrant and interesting group of single members.  We get together in small and large gatherings to go to dinner, the movies, the theater and meet twice a year in member homes for cook outs and pot lucks.

There are no dues, no participation obligations, just a desire to form new friendships and solidify existing ones.  You must be a member of Bet Aviv and be an individual on your own.

If you would like to be on the email list, please contact Terri Clayman.

Genealogy Club

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The Genealogy Club meets monthly to discuss tools and techniques related to tracing one’s family heritage.   The main focus of the club is to help researchers develop skills and become aware of the sources that can be used wherever their ancestors lived.  We invite you to join a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to researching their family histories. Membership is open to both Bet Aviv members and the community. For more information contact Joel Weiner.

Temple Book Club

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The Temple Book meets once every six weeks to discuss books selected by its members.  Membership is open to any Bet Aviv member and both men and women participate.  Membership is limited to facilitate discussions where everyone can participate.  Contact Sylvia Bloch for more information.

Camera Club

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The Camera Club welcomes photographers of all skill and experience levels. Meetings are generally held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in Room 300 at The Meeting House. Contact David Blackman to RSVP.

Camera Club
The Camera Club on a field trip to view the Annie Leibovitz exhibit.

Social Action

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Volunteers Complete Food Bags for the Hungry

As a community that thrives on volunteer efforts, Bet Aviv welcome your experience and knowledge in supporting existing Bet Aviv’s efforts like Adopt-a-Road, High Holidays food drive ,the Route One Day Resource Center for the homeless, Our Daily Bread soup kitchen in Baltimore, knitting hats for the homeless in Baltimore, and the Chili cook-off to support Bridges to Housing Stability in Howard County. Or if you prefer, gather a new group to support your favorite cause — at Bet Aviv there are always others to help and who welcome new programs. Whether you want to mentor a school child, improve the environment , aid others overseas, or prove services for the needy, Bet Aviv has a place for an active you.

About Social Action

Bet Aviv’s Social Action programs aim to energize and actively engage congregants to make a difference in our community locally and globally. All participants are invited to meet annually to review existing programs and develop new ones. Typically we have over six local initiatives and one-two international initiatives in any given year, designed to make our community and the world a stronger, healthier and better place to live.

Where to Find Out About Our Activities

You’ll always see announcements of upcoming activities and volunteer calls in “What’s Nu” and “The Observer.” These highlight what both one-time or regular volunteers can contribute to individual activities ranging from our quarterly team at the Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen” and annual High Holiday food drive to our monthly group of volunteers for the Grassroots Day Resource Center and three times each year Adopt-a-Road Cleanup.

How to Find Out More or to Join

We invite you come to our annual fall meeting and “get involved” with Social Action programs to become part of a congregational community of caring Jews aiming to make a difference! For questions or details, please contact the Social Action Co-Chairs or send us a message.

 

Choir

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The Choir enhances a Shabbat Service with their joyful singing.

About the Choir

The Bet Aviv choir welcomes all members of the congregation without regard to musical training or experience. If you have a desire to sing, have fun and can come to most of the rehearsals, we invite you to join us. Some songs are selected from the liturgy as we enhance the musical component of the service. Other songs include Israeli music and contemporary melodies. Much of our music is arranged by our former director, Isaac Bankman.

The Bet Aviv Choir began singing together in November, 2004 and made our debut in April, 2005 at the Interfaith Musical Benefit. We participate in High Holy Day services, our Chanukah service and party, an annual Choir Shabbat and other special synagogue activities.

Rehearsals

The Bet Aviv Choir meets twice a month for rehearsals, usually Sundays from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. If the choir sounds good to you (or you think you can make it sound better), please feel free to get in touch with our director, Michaela Wilson, or contact Bob Hurwitz, Choir Manager.  Feel free to come to a rehearsal or two with no commitment to see if you want to join us.

Adult Education

 Adult Education Session

Our adult education programs are interactive experiences between dynamic speakers and participants. Topics may focus on Jewish and world history, Biblical issues, and comparative religion among others, prompting discussions of social, cultural and political influences. Normally held as two hour sessions on Sunday, the programs are free and open to the entire community, not just members.

For additional information, please feel free to get in touch with the Adult Education Chair or contact us.

Lunch and Learn

Held weekly on Thursdays from September through June, Rabbi Joseph leads textual discussions on Jewish history, philosophy, holidays, or other topics of interest to participants. Discussions are extremely interactive and enlightening. Participants are asked to bring a brown bag lunch to enjoy with coffee during the discussion. Please contact Rabbi Joseph to participate.

Scholar in Residence

Bet Aviv’s annual Gene Klein Scholar in Residence Program is an immensely popular program dedicated to the memory of one our founding members. Our congregants are provided with several opportunities for learning about topics of interest to Reform Jews. In recent years, our congregants and guests have had the opportunity to hear Rabbi David Sapperstein, then Chair of the URJ Religious Action Center, speak on “Racing with God: The Use and Abuse of Religion in American Elections” and “The Impact of the 2012 Elections on the Jewish Community’s Agenda.” Subsequently, we have heard from Alan Cooperman, Director of Religious Research at the Pew Research Center discuss the Religious Landscape in the US and the World, and “The Rise of the ‘Nones,’” trends in affiliation and growth/shrinkage of religions. We were also fortunate to hear from Mitchell Duneier, author of the book “Ghetto,” trace the evolution of the term in history and to see photographs of “A Beautiful Ghetto” taken by self-taught Baltimore photographer Devin Allen.

Adult Education Program Overview 

Click here to download an overview of all of Bet Aviv’s Adult Education programs for this year.

 

Men’s Club

Latke Kings

Our Men’s Club prepares delicious latkes for a huge crowd at Hanukkah

The Bet Aviv Men’s Club meets monthly on Sunday mornings to explore current topics of interest. In the past, we have focused on those related to health, US intelligence, politics, finances and identity theft. Movies of Jewish interest are always a big draw.  Women are always welcome, and are particularly encouraged to attend when our speaker’s topic is of general interest. Preceding the program, the Men’s Club hosts an optional bagelicious brunch for a nominal fee. In addition to the Sunday morning programs, the Men’s Club proudly prepares latkes for our congregants at our annual Hanukah Party.

Join

Membership in the Bet Aviv Men’s Club is open to the community; you do not have to be a member of Bet Aviv to join. To join the Men’s Club, learn more about its programs, or offer suggestions for future programs, contact one of the three co-chairs:

  • Alan Berlin
  • Bob Hurwitz
  • Gene Schulman

Women of Bet Aviv

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 Women of Bet Aviv  are honored at Shabbat

Women of Bet Aviv  provides its members diverse opportunities to connect with other women, to develop spiritual, intellectual and personal growth and to touch the lives of others through support of Bet Aviv , organized community service and social action initiatives.  The most important aspect of Sisterhood is the bond of friendship and support created between members where one call leads to whatever help, guidance or care one needs. Sisterhood is an incredible group of ladies that will wrap their arms around you and be there for you.

Women of Bet Aviv  is a member of Women of Reform Judaism, the women’s agency of the Union of Reform Judaism.

Programs

Some of our on-going and ever popular educational and social events include:

  • The September Kick-off Meeting is when members are introduced to the board and a special-interest speaker or activity is planned.  Our featured speaker for the 2024-2025 Kickoff meeting will provide an overview of legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly addressing issues including maternal health, reproductive rights, pay equity, childcare, the Equal Rights Amendment, and more..
  • Women of Bet Aviv Book Club meets the second Wednesday of every other month, with a daytime meeting offered at members’ homes.. Annually, members vote on book selection, and leaders volunteer to lead the discussions.
  • Program Events are generally held at least once a month. We have a broad range of programs, both educational and entertaining. We sometimes bring in guest speakers and sometimes our own members inform and entertain us with topics ranging from protecting ourselves from scam artists to Jews on Broadway. We also have special dinners to celebrate the holidays and activities such as game day and yoga class.
  • Women of Bet Aviv Shabbat, observed in the spring of each year features a special Shabbat program honoring the sisterhood women of Bet Aviv who have worked so diligently throughout the year.
  • Community Service is a very important aspect of our Sisterhood. During the year we have fundraisers to support local community services, such as an “Empty Bowl” event to collect funds for Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. We also cook once a month for the Crisis Center, and collect non-perishable items and clothing for the Grassroots Day Resource Center.
  • Our Fundraising events raise money for Bet Aviv, our local community and beyond.  In addition to our support of Grassroots and Bet Aviv, Women of Bet Aviv has raised funds for JEN (the Jewish Emergency Network) and the Interfaith Coalition for Compassion. Women of Bet Aviv funds also support WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism).

Board of Directors

President Hattie Katkow
VP Membership Paula Wolkowitz
VP Membership Elaine Gorman
VP Community Service Rita Brill
VP Community Service Marcia Berlin
VP Programming Judy Silver Weisberg
Recording Secretary Robin Schulman
Corresponding Secretary Candee Brodsky
Treasurer Faye Levine
Communications Terri Clayman
Grassroots Meals Barbara Hurwitz
School Supplies Rita Brill
School Supplies Marcia Berlin
Newsletter Linda Feldmesser
Book Club Coordinator Geri Epstein
Join

To join Women of Bet Aviv, please contact our Women of Bet Aviv Membership Chair.   Click here to download the Membership Form.

Bylaws

Click here to read the Women of Bet Aviv Bylaws updated in January 2023.

Women of Reform Judaism

Women of Bet Aviv is a proud member of the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ).  WRJ represents women in over 600 local chapters throughout the U.S., Canada and other countries around the world.  Click here to  access their website that is a fountain of information on items of interest to Women of Bet Aviv members.

 

 

Caring Committee

Bet Aviv, as part of its efforts to continually foster a caring community, has created a program that provides support, solace and hope to Bet Aviv congregants during times of illness, suffering, loss, and grief. Congregants are encouraged to contact Rabbi Joseph at rabbijoseph@betaviv.org if there is a need/illness in their family, or if they know of a Bet Aviv member who is in need of this type of support.

About The Caring Committee

Our areas of care include providing:

  • meals to Bet Aviv members who are ill
  • assistance during Shiva
  • get well cards
Policies the Caring Committee Has Adopted
  1.  Mi Sheberachs  – Before you include a congregant’s name to be mentioned in the Mi Sheberach  prayer, please make sure that the person gives you permission to have his/her name read at services.  Names will be read for one month. If the congregant requests further announcements at services, the Temple office will need to be notified at the beginning of the new month. 
  2.  Get Well Cards – As part of this process, we will continue to send out get well cards. If you know of a congregant who is ill, please let a committee member know . We want to make sure we do not overlook someone who is ill or having surgery.
  3. Meals – Other services that we will continue to provide will be two to-three meals for those congregants who are in need during an illness.
  4. Shiva– Also we can be available to be at a house of Shiva to receive food ordered by the family and friends when they are attending the funeral and burial.

Questions

Questions about The Caring Committee or Bet Aviv members who are interested in joining The Caring Committee should contact:

  • Ellen Rappoport
  • Joan Selekoff

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Contact Info

info@betaviv.org

Bet Aviv
The Meeting House
5885 Robert Oliver Place
Columbia, MD 21045
Office Phone: (410)-992-9994
Rabbi Phone:  (410)-992-9995

Shabbat Times

Yom Shlishi, 2 Kislev 5785