Kol Ha Bayit (BST Blog)

As part of Beth Sholom’s B. Mitzvah process, each student has to do a “Mitzvah Project”:  some way to make the world a little better.  In Jewish teaching, this is Tikkun Olam, or “Repairing the World”

So what have our students been doing? Let’s hear from them:

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Looking for Other Ways to Give?

Think of how much you spend on Amazon.  You probably don’t know, but for most of us it's far more than we’d guess. I was shocked at what my relatively non-consumerist household spent with Amazon in one year. Now, what if I told you there’s a way to raise a bit of money for Beth Sholom, that costs you nothing and requires no effort.  The Amazon Smile feature donates 0.5% of many...Read more...

Shana Tova!

Cantor’s theme this year is “courage” and “bravery.” To avoid competing with (or contradicting) her, I decided to start with the opposite side: “fear;” or in this case, “fear of God.” The angel says to Abraham: “I know you are one who fears God, (y’rei Elohim) because you did not withhold your son whom you love.”

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(Adapted from D’var Torah 27Aug 2022 by Rob Jobrack)

How Should A Jew in Fredericksburg Feel About Events in Ukraine and the Russian Invasion?

As Americans, we should pay attention.  Any rudimentary knowledge of history tells us two things:

-          The U.S. cannot insulate itself from wars in Europe

-          A military invasion of neighboring country by a large, powerful country does not end with just one...Read more...

What does it say about a Jewish community that comes together to do a mitzvah for someone they don’t know, a person who does not have a relationship with our congregation?

 
On February 9,  Sarita London was  laid to rest at Oak Hill cemetery.  She was a Jewish woman living in Fredericksburg with no family in the area.  She was not a member of BST and personally unknown to us.  When her family...Read more...

Why do we each make a dues commitment to a congregation and why bother?

For years in the Reform Movement membership implied certain privileges, like invitations for upcoming events, Religious School eligibility, and tickets for High Holy Day services (though tickets for HHDs are no longer done at BST).  This membership model implies fee for...Read more...