Synagogue Spotlight

Weekly feature on what’s happening at a different synagogue around the DMV.

The 12 tribes honor member families at Magen David Sephardic Congregation

The Torah teaches us to glorify God while the Talmud elaborates with a lovely concept called “hiddur mitzvah,” which means to beautify a deed...

At Agudas Achim Congregation, Young Families celebrate an Israeli Sukkot

Photos by Jen Halpern A  dozen families came to Agudas Achim Congregation’s Israeli Sukkot event on Sept. 26, led by the synagogue’s shlichah, or Israeli...

In Annapolis, David Sislen is new rabbi at Kneseth Israel

Five years is a long time for a synagogue to go without a rabbi, but with the arrival of Rabbi/Cantor David Sislen, that is...

Kesher Israel Congregation: Heart of a predecessor

For inspiration over the high holidays, Rabbi Hyim Shafner of Kesher Israel Congregation is reaching back a century to the writings of his predecessor,...

Or Chadash preparing food for the hungry on Yom Kippur

Last year, the Damascus Reform synagogue Congregation Or Chadash packaged 10,000 meals to help feed the hungry during Yom Kippur. That was at the...

Leesburg synagogue partners with Israeli congregation

An ocean and more than 6,000 miles separate Congregation Sha’are Shalom in Leesburg and the New Kehila of Ramat Aviv in Israel, but the...

At Washington Hebrew, student cantors find harmony

Last Shabbat, Washington Hebrew Congregation welcomed two new voices as student cantors. Justin Callis and Beth Reinstein appeared for the first time during services,...

Who let Rabbi Axler in the kitchen?

In one memorable class of Rabbi Craig Axler’s cooking class series, “Who let the rabbi in the kitchen,” Axler demonstrated his grandmother’s mushroom barley...

Arlene Berger to lead first service as Rabbah at Hevrat Shalom Congregation Friday

Rabbah Arlene Berger, a Washington-area community rabbi and chaplain, will lead her first monthly service at Hevrat Shalom Congregation in Rockville on Friday. The service...
Faryn Borella

Rabbinic intern to bring the great outdoors to Oseh Shalom Synagogue

Oseh Shalom Synagogue in Laurel is always looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly. Last fall, Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde decided to bring on...