Looking for ways to connect, meet people, learn new things, do good works in the community? We offer a host of ways to get involved.
Torah Study
We meet for Torah study on Saturday mornings a few times a month via Zoom. Check the calendar for dates. Please feel free to join us for interesting discussions. No knowledge of Torah required!
Movies
Are you a movie buff? We offer opportunities to attend films of Jewish content at various times during the year, which also serve as fundraisers for the temple. Recently, we have partnered with the Alamo Drafthouse for airings of Fiddler on the Roof, Menashe, Yentl, Big Sonia, and The Invisibles.
Groups
Our Sisterhood supports B’nai Mitzvah families by hosting an Oneg Shabbat on Friday night and helps to coordinate community meals after deaths in the congregation
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They also keep the Judaica shop stocked with holiday essentials.
Recent events include baking challahs for Rosh Hashanah, hosting our annual Sisterhood Shabbat, book discussion and lunch, a Thanksgiving gathering, and a Galentine’s Day get-together.
Our Men’s Group chooses a diverse range of activities, including such recent events as attending a Royals Baseball game, organizing a lecture for the whole congregation via the Smithsonian Institution, and visiting a nearby battlefield.
Our Caring Committee coordinates visits to congregants who are recuperating from illness or surgery, sends cards to congregants, and makes phone calls to keep us all connected. They also encouraged us all to reach out to loved ones during the cold winter months.
They even baked hamentaschen and delivered shalach manot for Purim to home-bound congregants.
Our Social Action Committee implements a variety of important community activities, including our Annual Charlie and Virginia Zuckerman Blood Drive in conjunction with the local Red Cross. Charlie and Virginia, zichronam l’vracha, were founding members of Beth El. And Charlie, also a past mayor of Winchester, was one of the biggest-ever blood donors to Red Cross.
Some other examples from the recent past: highly successful winter coat drive, food distribution for young people over the December holidays, no-sew blanket making project to benefit local organizations including CCAP (Congregational Community Action Project), Froggy’s Closet (providers of clothes and supplies to children at-risk or in foster care), and The Laurel Center (offering services to domestic and sexual violence survivors).
In addition, Social Action projects are woven into the lifeblood of our congregation, including:
- Sisterhood-sponsored food collection and donation to CCAP (Congregational Community Action Project) of Winchester
- High Holidays collection and donation of food to CCAP and Winchester Rescue Mission
- Participation in the WATTS (Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter) project, from overnight supervision to meal preparation to food and gift bags for homeless men and women at Christmas
- Involvement with other congregations of faith in Shenandoah University’s “Rise Up Against Hunger” program on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, including packaging 50,000 meals
- Contributions to local Thanksgiving food giveaways
Judaica Shop
We keep basic Judaica supplies in our Judaica Shop all year long, including Shabbat candles, Havdalah candles, yahrzeit candles, and Jewish-themed cards. During Hanukkah and Passover, we offer a wider selection of ritual items, games, and toys.