To have an item listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send mail to 10220 River Road, Suite 303, Potomac, MD 20854, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos encouraged. If you have any questions, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.
Friday, April 21, 8 p.m., Shabbat Unplugged, a worship service of dance, music, song and prayer, at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. All welcome, no fee, 301-299-7087.
Congregation B'nai Tzedek, 10621 South Glen Road, Potomac will have a Tot Shabbat Morning Service, Saturday, April 22 at 11-11:45 a.m. Shabbat morning service led by Carol Boyd Leon. Interactive service with music and singing of favorite Shabbat melodies especially for preschool children, ages 2-5 years old, followed by separate kiddush for parents and children. Call 301-299-0225.
Saturday, April 22, Sabbath Youth Services at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Four separate children’s services geared to grade level. 10 a.m. for grades 3-4 and grades 5-6; 11 a.m. for grades K-2, Pre-K. All welcome, no fee, 301-299-7087.
The Galil group of the Greater Washington Area Chapter of Hadassah invites single Jewish men and women between the ages 35 and 55 to attend their upcoming Second Annual White Elephant Auction and Chocolate Party. Enjoy some sweet deals and benefit Hadassah too. The auction will be held on Saturday, April 22 with the doors opening at 8 p.m. and the auction starting at 8:30 p.m.. The evening will be held at a private home in Potomac. RSVP to Galil-Hadassah@comcast.net or 301-585-7772 by Thursday, April 20.
Separated and Divorced Catholics (SDC) of the Archdiocese of Washington will hold its Rockville meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 23 at Saint Elizabeth's Church. Call Jackie at 301-515-3273. This month: Carol Sprang will speak on Life Coaching in the event of Separation and Divorce.
Interfaith Bible Study: The Song of Songs. This class, a joint venture between Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Congregation Har Shalom, will focus on the “Song of Songs,” the beautiful poetry chanted in the synagogue on Passover. The class will be held on Sunday, April 23, from 7-9 p.m. There is no fee. At Congregation Har Shalom; 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
Yiddish Lecture at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 23 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville. Shirley Kumove, translator and writer on Yiddish literature and folklore, will present a lecture in Yiddish entitled, “Shiker fun bittern emes, di lider fun ana margolin.” The fee is $6 for members of the JCC, Yiddish of Greater Washington and Workmen’s Circle, or $9 for the general public. For more information, call Lynn Gittleson at 301-348-3840.
Archaeology Lecture at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville. Dr. Barry Gittlen of Baltimore Hebrew University will present a lecture entitled, “Man, Woman, Earth and God: Creation or Not in Genesis 1-2.” For more information, call Lynn Gittleson at 301-348-3840.
Film: “Mixed Blessings” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville. Join us to watch and discuss this documentary about the challenges of raising children in an interfaith home. The fee is $6 for JCC members and $10 for the general public. Preregistration is required and can be made by contacting Tracey Dorfmann at 301-348-3845 or tdorfmann@jccgw.org.
Rally Against Genocide in Darfur. Members of Congregation Har Shalom will be among those gathering on the National Mall on Sunday, April 30, to express support for a multinational force to protect the civilians of Darfur. Meet at Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac, at 12 noon, for pick up of banners, carpooling. Information and to tell us you'll be coming, Yvonne at 301-251-5870.
Scattered Among the Nations: Jewish Communities from Around the World. At 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, hear writer/photographer Bryan Schwartz discuss Jewish communities that are geographically and culturally distant from the world’s larger Jewish communities. The focus will be on Africa, Asia, and Latin America, countries in which Jews must work diligently to maintain the religion of their ancestors. A fee of $5 per person will be requested at the door. At Congregation Har Shalom; 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
Writing an Ethical Will. Through this mini-course, Rabbi David Rose will provide spiritual advice on how to figure out what is most important to you so that you can compose an ethical will. The class will be held two Tuesdays, April 25 and May 2, from 8-9:30 p.m. The fee is $16. At Congregation Har Shalom; 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
Judaism, Physics & God. Join Rabbi David Nelson as he explores how the language of science can be used to generate new religious language, and how that language impacts on our religious lives. The lecture will be held Sunday, May 9, from 8-10 p.m. There is no fee. At Congregation Har Shalom; 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087, ext. 2315.
Work and Volunteering on Thursday, May 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at JSSA's main office, 6123 Montrose Road Rockville. Featured Speakers: Viktoriya Lotkina and Shade Ojibe, JVS Career Services, Hedy Peyser, Hebrew Home, and Sam Rosenbaum, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. For registration or information, contact Alan Shakin, 301-816-2645 or ashakin@jssa.org.
Bethesda Jewish Congregation will hold an open house on Friday, May 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event will include refreshments along with a celebration of the Sabbath and descriptions of other unique BJC services (including our all-musical Sabbath service) Share a nosh and meet BJC’s spiritual leader, director of education and other members. BJC is committed to including young children during Tot Shabbat, religious school and social action projects. This unique, trans-denominational, independent congregation serves Jews from traditional to liberal religious backgrounds, interfaith couples and their families. Located at 6601 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda. Call 301-469-8636.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bethesda will hold its second annual community festival on Saturday, May 20. This 10 a.m.-4 p.m. event offers food and fun for everyone, from the very young to the young at heart. Bob Brown Puppets will be back this year with a 10:30 a.m. performance that will give festival-goers a ringside seat at a Chinese circus. St. Luke's is located at 6030 Grosvenor Lane in Bethesda. Visit www.StLukesBethesda.org.
The Jewish Social Service Agency's (JSSA) summer social skills program runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon from July 11 - Aug. 3. Cost is $450 with registration by April 15; $500 after April 15. Located at 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Visit www.jssa.org.
The following is a list of ongoing classes and events presented by the Jewish Social Service Agency:
* Girl Talk: Middle School Group. In this group, girls will have the chance to discuss difficulties, academic pressures, family, self-esteem and decision-making. Wednesdays at 5 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-263-2633 to register.
* Strong Girls, Smart Women. High school girls will learn to strengthen the critical competencies and skills needed to successfully master the transition to young adulthood. Topics include self-esteem, body image and depression. Tuesdays at 6 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* Guy Talk. In this therapy group, boys ages 14-16 will discuss such topics as self-esteem, peer pressure, family dynamics and handling emotions. Thursdays at 6 p.m., 11B Firstfield Road, Gaithersburg. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* Dr. Dan G. Shapiro’s Raising Your Challenging Child: A Parent Training Program. This unique program is designed to help parents understand the source of their child’s challenging behavior and what to do about it. Parents are provided proactive strategies for raising pre-school through elementary school-age children with temperaments and developmental differences. Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* Future Planning For Family Members of Individuals With Disabilities: Services In The Jewish Community. Families will learn all about services to support independence and well being for adults with disabilities; supported housing, social and psychological services, recreational opportunities, and vocational services from a variety of Jewish area agencies. Monthly evening sessions, Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-816-2633 to register. Free of Charge.
* Family Support Group for parents and family members of children with disabilities. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday evening at Jewish Social Service Agency Main Office, 6123 Montrose Rd., Rockville. Free of charge. Call 301-816-2633 to register.
* You and Your Aging Parents for adult children with aging parents. Monthly evening sessions. Call 301-816-2633 for date of upcoming session. Located at 6123 Montrose Rd., Rockville.
* Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Monthly daytime sessions. Call 301-816-2633 for date of upcoming session. Located at 6123 Montrose Rd., Rockville.
The following is a list of upcoming classes and events presented by the Congregation Har Shalom:
* “Back to the Sources,” Thursdays, through April 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Jewish texts have shaped Jewish life and thought throughout the ages. Study a tractate of Mishnah, the code of Jewish law compiled in the Third century, CE, from beginning to end. No Hebrew required. There is no fee for members. Non-members contact the rabbis’ office.
* Israeli Dancing on Wednesdays, year round from 8-10 p.m. Energize your body and soul under the watchful eye of long-time instructor Ben Hole. There is no fee for members and those under 18. For non-members, it’s $5 per class.
Unless otherwise indicated, all classes are held at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087 ext. 2315.
Jewish Social Service Agency sponsors Support Group for Bereaved parents. Ongoing group for parents grieving the death of a young or young adult child. Monthly in Rockville, dates and times TBA. Free of charge. Call 301-816-2683. Located at 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville.
Jewish Social Service Agency sponsors Support Group for Newly Widowed Spouses. Ongoing group for those bereaved in the last year. Second and fourth Wednesday of every month, 9:30-11 a.m. Free of charge. Call 301-816-2658. Located at 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville.
"Prayer Book Hebrew," Tuesdays from 6:45-7:45 p.m. at Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 301-299-7087, ext. 2315. This is a continuing course for those who have completed a basic Hebrew siddur series of classes using Level I of "Alef Isn't Enough." This course is designed to open the door to understanding the Hebrew of prayers. The fee is $30 in addition to registration fee.
First Church of Christ, Scientist holds testimony meetings every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at 100 Nelson St. Rockville. Free child care and parking is provided. Call 301-762-8222.
The Seven Locks Baptist Church, 11845 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, holds weekly prayer meetings in the sanctuary at 6:45 p.m. Call 301-279-9388.
Rockville Presbyterian Church, 215 West Montgomery Avenue, is searching for volunteers to be on call to assist in the nursery. Call Charlene Janes at 301-251-6682 or e-mail ckjanes@patriot.net.
Friendly Family Services meet at St. Dunstan's Church, 5450 Mass. Ave. at Fort Sumner Drive, Bethesda at 9:15 a.m. Sundays, with fun songs, a children's Bible lesson, and Holy Eucharist in a 40-minute service geared to small children. Young families are invited to try this "easy entry" service. Call 301-229-2960 or e-mail stdunstans@verizon.net.