Member Only Event
Am Kolel
Weekly News

August 17, 2016 

13 Av 5776

          

Issue 198 


Dear ,
This week I decided to include a part of the statement from T'ruah, the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, regarding a section of the recently release platform of the Black Lives Matter Movement that refers to the Israeli occupation as genocide.  

This position has caused much anguish in the mainstream Jewish community and among progressive Jews. We are grateful for T'ruah for its response. Much work needs to be done to address racism and injustice in this country.  And much needs to be done to address injustices and human rights violations in Israel and Palestine.  To say that what Israel does is genocide, is wrong.
 
As we enter these Seven Weeks of Consolation following Tisha B'Av leading to Rosh HaShanah let us seek ways to grow in understanding and be in dialogue with others.
 
Reb David

T'ruah Statement

on The Movement for Black Lives Platform 


August 3, 2016 
Earlier this week, a coalition of more than 60 organizations associated with the Black Lives Matter Movement released a platform entitled A Vision for Black Lives: Policy Demands for Black Power, Freedom, and Justice.  The core demands embrace goals that we share concerning economic justice, mass incarceration and law enforcement, climate change, education, and the ongoing legacy of slavery. We applaud the leaders of Black Lives Matter for insisting that the United States meet its human rights obligations, and for concretizing these into specific policy recommendations. We stand with these leaders in insisting that every human being-regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or presentation, or abilities-be treated as an equal creation in the image of God, and in accordance with international human rights principles.

While we agree with many of the policy recommendations, we are extremely dismayed at the decision to refer to the Israeli occupation as genocide. We are committed to ending the occupation, which leads to daily human rights violations against Palestinians, and also compromises the safety of Israelis. Our work aims to build a just and secure future for both Israelis and Palestinians, both of whom deserve the same human rights protections as all people.
However, the military occupation does not rise to the level of genocide-a term defined as "the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group." While we agree that the occupation violates the human rights of Palestinians, and has caused too many deaths, the Israeli government is not carrying out a plan intended to wipe out the Palestinians. There is no basis for comparing this situation to the genocides of the 20thcentury, such as those in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, or Armenia, or the Nazi Holocaust in Europe, each of which constituted a calculated plan to destroy specific groups, and each of which killed hundreds of thousands to millions of people. The Black Lives Matter platform also does not address the use of violence by some Palestinians, including the rocket attacks against civilians that Human Rights Watch has classified as a war crime. One can vigorously oppose occupation without resorting to terms such as "genocide," and without ignoring the human rights violations of terrorist groups such as Hamas...
(For rest of statement go to Truah.org)
High Holiday Information
  

  HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS INFO
Am Kolel will be sending out High holiday information the last week of August. If you are a full dues-paying member, you will receive your ticket(s) in the mail in early September.

Open Shabbes: Rosh Hodesh Elul  
September 3 at Sanctuary

Elul is a Time to Reflect
mm
 
Rosh Chodesh Elul begins on Shabbat, Saturday, September 3. Elul is also a Hebrew acronym for Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li...I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine.  What a perfect time to be at our beloved  Sanctuary with our beloved friends!

Thank you 

Many thanks to those who have 
recently contributed to the June Appeal! 
 
Alice Bailes
Noreen Friedman
Gloree Gault, in Honor of Laura Brown
Highlights in this Issue
HIGH HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Open Shabbes, Rosh Chodesh Elul
Schedule for Shabbat Services
Shabbat Services 
 Services begin at 10:00am, followed by a potluck vegetarian/dairy lunch.  Please bring a dish to share!
 
August 20
Led by Reb David
Special Kiddush sponsored by Florence Winnick
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Va'etchanan
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

August 27
NO SERVICES

September 3
 Led by Reb David
 
 
OPEN SHABBES
   Parsha: Re'eh
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

September 10
Led by Reb David
   Parsha: Shoftim
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

September 17
Led by Reb David
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Ki Teitzei
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
September 24
Led by Reb David
Cedar Lane
Parsha: Ki Tavo
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8


Special Kiddush
August 20 Kiddush
    Shabbat Nachamu       
sponsored by 
Florence Winnick 
in celebration of 
her 75th birthday.  
Mazel tov!
Join Our Mailing List!
Our Healing Prayers
Refuah Shleyma for... 
Barbara Brunswick, Betsy Combs, Sarah bat Rachel Eliezer, Rosemary Emmer, Joy Esterlitz, Susan Freiband, Miriam Karram, Steve Katz, 
Margalit Hannah Bat Gilah Leora, Martina Knee, Ira Levine, Ruth Marks, Janet Morrison, Marjorie Robinson, Moses Sterngast, Nancy Ungar, Neil Willens, Gerry & Gene Wixson
 
To add a name, please call the office at 301-349-2799  
Our Sincere Condolences
Sincere condolences to David Garber on the loss of his mother, Annette D. Garber
Quick Links
Garden Volunteers Needed
Reb David needs helpers 1 morning a week to work in the Gene Lippman Plus veggie garden. Contact admin@am-kolel.org
Visitors Project for People with Dementia
Seeking volunteers to be trained to visit people with Alzheimer's or dementia. Training will begin in the Fall. If interested, contact 
Community News   

Fall Day of Learning: "The Wisdom of Kabbalah" with Rabbi Daniel C. Matt
Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Kol Shalom, 9:00 am - 4:45 pm
Registration:  $45 by Wednesday, September 7th, then $54

Brunch Honoring Bob Hausman As Jewish Funeral Practices Commitee celebrates his 40 years of service Sunday, September 26, 2016, 10:30 am. For Information and Tickets visit: click here

EMBODYING THE GREAT MYSTERY, A KABBALISTIC MOVEMENT JOURNEY with Simona Aronow and Guest Faculty click here

Workmen's Circle online Yiddish courses 
For detailed Class information, click here

Jews United for Justice For a list of events endorsed by Jews United for Justice, visit www.jufj.org.

The Foundation for Jewish Studies
For detailed class offerings and locations, click click here.


Am Kolel Pardes Cemetery

 The Am Kolel Pardes is our section at the Garden of Remembrance in Clarksburg. 

 

The Garden of Remembrance is the region's only not-for-profit cemetery owned & operated by a board of Jewish community leaders.  More information about the Am Kolel Pardes can be found on the Lifecycle page of our website, or you may contact our Office Manager at admin@am-kolel.org.

 

Am Kolel Board of Trustees 2016-2017
Acting President - Annette Jolles
Vice President - Shelley Sturman
Treasurer - Fran McMahon
Secretary - Carol Perone
Trustee, At Large - Sandy Hoffman
Trustee, At Large - De Herman
Immediate Past President - Ira Levine
Emeritus - Paige Jacobson

Director - R. David Shneyer
Reb David & Staff
Am Kolel
19520 Darnestown Road  Beallsville, MD 20839
(301) 349-2799     (301) 349-2744 Fax