Holiday Celebrations

In Israel, Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day of Assembly) and Simhat Torah—the 8th and 9th days of Sukkot—are celebrated as a single holiday. Outside of Israel, the two days are separated, and their moods could not be more different. Shemini Atzeret is a serious moment when we recite Tefillat Geshem, the traditional prayer for rain in Israel, and the Yizkor memorial prayers. And then in the evening, we shift to joyous singing and dancing to celebrate the conclusion of our annual cycle of reading the Torah.

At B’nai Israel, each of these holidays brings hundreds of individuals for reflection and joy. In addition to singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls on Simhat Torah evening, we unroll the entire Torah so that we can visualize every letter and word of our most sacred text—this is always a popular event! On Simhat Torah morning, we honor every member of the congregation with an aliyah, a commitment that requires numerous reading stations to accommodate everyone. We also honor the commitment of two members to the congregation with the honors of Hatan/Kallat Torah and Hatan/Kallat Breishit, the last readings of Deuteronomy and first reading of Genesis respectively.

kallat Torah & Kallat Breishit

During Simhat Torah services on Friday, October 25, it is customary for every member of the congregation to receive an aliyah. The honors of Kallat Torah, the last aliyah of the book of Deuteronomy; and Kallat Breishit, the first aliyah in Genesis, are assigned by our Ritual committee to recognize significant contributions to the ritual life of our synagogue. Mazal tov to Alice Harris and Fonda Lowe on receiving those honors this year.

alice harris

I would like to thank the Ritual Committee for honoring me as Kallat Torah. 

My dear late husband, Carl, and I joined B’nai Israel in 1978, when we moved back to Rockville from Syracuse, NY. In Syracuse, we were members of a small, “hands-on” congregation —If you didn’t help, it didn’t get done—and I learned the value of volunteering. I also learned from my dear parents, Gladys and Murray Follender, who were active at B'nai Israel and the JCC, and before that at their synagogue in Brooklyn. 

At B’nai Israel, I joined the synagogue’s Education Committee.  My ability to volunteer was limited when my children were still young, as my husband’s professional responsibilities kept him out many evenings.  I have fond memories of Cantor Josh leading our synagogue chorus. To this day I still sing with the Rockville Community Chorus.  Although it was short-lived, I enjoyed working in B’nai Israel’s small vegetable garden, which provided needed produce to the Manna food bank.  
 
When my children, Naomi and Margo, were young, we helped prepare the special receptions for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities becoming b'nai mitzvah. My daughters also learned to deposit a portion of their weekly allowance in the family tzedakah box, a tradition that lives on today through their children. 

I am a longtime member of Sisterhood, having held various board positions and volunteered in the Judaica Shop. I have been driving and coordinating the Kosher Meals on Wheels program for about 30 years, and through Sisterhood’s affiliation with Jewish Council for the Aging, tutoring at local elementary schools.

I am most proud of two synagogue programs. Together with Ted Meyerson, I helped to plan the first Sunday program of our HAZAK chapter, bringing together “mature” adults (of a certain age). We filled the social hall and began planning other programs that grew into an established part of B’nai programming.

About 40 years ago, I worked with Diane Schilit to establish the first havurot. We organized several groups and an annual All Havurah Happenings program. I am proud that so many havurot, including my own Havurah Chai, continue to thrive.

Currently, I co-chair the Bereavement Committee with Susan Weinmann. We assist members with end-of-life needs, provide taharah for women and shomrim before all funerals at B’nai Israel, and help prepare shiva homes or gather people for a minyan when needed. Our committee—with a lot of help from Fonda Lowe!—prepared an informative booklet, which is available online, to guide people through the bereavement process.

B’nai Israel has given me endless opportunities to volunteer and support others. I am so grateful for these opportunities to care for my shul community and the greater community in which I live.

fonda lowe

Jeff and I joined B’nai Israel in 1988, when our sons were ready for Hebrew School. My parents and grandparents had been members of B’nai in the early ‘50s, so it just made sense. Jeff and I quickly became active; we joined a havurah, I joined the Board of Governors and the Consolidated Hebrew School board and Jeff became a holiday usher. 

Our sons, Ryan and Matthew, attended Consolidated Hebrew School through 8th grade and celebrated b'nai mitzvah at B’nai. Since I did not have a bat mitzvah as a teen, I joined Rabbi Schnitzer’s Adult B’nai Mitzvah class in 1994, and celebrated my bat mitzvah just after Matthew son celebrated his.  In addition to learning about our culture, history and traditions, we learned to chant Torah and Haftarah with Cantor Robert Kieval, z”l, and Nathaniel Schudrich. The friendships I formed in that class continue to this day; and I continue reading Torah for Sisterhood Shabbat.

On the Board of Governors and Executive Committee, I have served as Secretary, Vice President of Youth and Education (two separate times), VP of Administration, and VP of Religious Affairs.  I have also co-chaired Mitzvah Day and chaired our Program Committee Cabinet, which I found particularly gratifying. 

While I have enjoyed my work with the clergy and administrative team, I have especially enjoyed working with our staff in the Education Department—Education Directors, Youth Directors, and Nursery School Directors. I am so impressed with the programming and curriculum.  For a brief time, I enjoyed teaching 4th-grade Hebrew in the Lessans Talmud Torah, together with Haidee Bernstein.

B’nai Israel has been an integral part of our lives for many years. Our son Matthew was B’nai’s first teen gabbai and, after graduating from List college, taught Judaics in our Talmud Torah. Rabbi Schnitzer officiated at our son Ryan and Lauren’s wedding.  The clergy and community have been a great support to our family during the illness and death of family members and most recently in my own health challenges. 

I have greatly enjoyed my role as a lay leader and as an active member of our congregation, which afforded me the opportunity to work closely with our amazing clergy, senior staff and lay leaders, and to make many friends. Thank you to the Ritual Committee for honoring me as Kallat Breishit.

Simhat Torah BBQ dinner

Thursday, October 24
6:00–7:30 PM
$15/adult
$10/child (ages 12-18)
$5/child (ages 2-11)
Under 2, free
We celebrate completing the Torah once again with a delicious barbeque-style dinner before the onset of Simhat Torah. Click here to register by Sunday, October 20.

Shemini Atzeret & Simhat Torah service times

Wednesday, October 23
8:00 PM Festival Evening Service

Thursday, October 24
9:00 AM Festival Morning Service
10:45 AM Yizkor (approximately)
11:00 AM Visit to the Cohen-Rosen House (meet in the B'nai Israel lobby at 10:45 AM)
12:30 PM Festival Minha
6:00 PM Simhat Torah BBQ Dinner
6:30 PM Simhat Torah for Tots
6:45 PM Festival Evening Service and Hakafot

Friday, October 25
9:00 AM Festival Morning Service
9:45 AM Tots Simhat Torah Dancing, Service & Brunch
6:10 PM Festival Minha and Shabbat Evening Service