A note about programming survey emails
We sincerely apologize for the many duplicate emails you likely received earlier this week. The Governance and Strategic Planning's Programming Subcommittee attempted to send a reminder email about the Programming Survey on Monday evening, but a glitch in SurveyKing’s system caused some of you to receive dozens or even hundreds of reminder emails.
Please use the original individual link sent by [email protected] ("DC Minyan Programming Survey") on Friday morning to access the survey. The survey remains open until January 5, regardless of the incorrect link and message in the spam emails. Thank you for your participation!
Shabbat Services
FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES - 12/13
Join us for Friday night davening on Friday, December 13 at 6:00 pm at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW). [Note the change in location for this week!]
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES - 12/21
Join us for Shabbat Morning Services on Saturday, December 21 at 9:15 am at Friends Meeting of Washington (2111 Decatur Pl NW). Kids programming will begin at 10:30 am.
Kiddush is sponsored by Stephanie Schwartz, Noam Kutler, and Judah Schwartz Kutler in celebration of Marjorie and Len Schwartz’s 50th anniversary, which is tomorrow. Judah picked out special treats in honor of Grandmom and GP.
Upcoming events and programs
EntryPointDC CHANUKAH HAPPY HOUR: FIRE & ICE - 12/18
Join EntryPointDC, DC Minyan, and other young professional community organizations on Wednesday, December 18 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at MetroBar (640 Rhode Island Ave NE) for the largest annual Chanukah happy hour in the DC area. Come out for specialty drinks, s’mores bar and firepits, Israeli dance music, candlelighting, sufganiyot, quiet smaller spaces for crafts and dreidel playing, and more! Be sure to bring warm winter items such as socks and gloves for our clothing drive for D25 Day of Service.
This event is 21+ and is for young professionals 21–45. Register in advance for $8 or at the door for $10.
PRE-CHANUKAH MATCH-UP MEAL - 12/21
Join the DC Minyan community for a Pre-Chanukah Match-Up Shabbat Lunch on Saturday, December 21. We are including in the sign-up form a space to state your preference as to whether you want to stay in your local area or if you want us to try and match you with people who haven't previously shared a match-up meal with you. Note that catered meals will be fleishig with vegetarian options and some hosts will choose to self cater.
Please register here by Sunday, December 15 as a host or by Tuesday, December 17 at 12:00 pm as a guest [note the change in time for guest sign-up]. Please contact Adam Fineberg at [email protected] with any questions.
CELEBRATE FESTIVUS WITH DC MINYAN, ROSH PINA, AND KESHER ISRAEL - 12/24
Join DC Minyan, Rosh Pina, and Kesher Israel on Tuesday, December 24 from 7:30–10:30 pm for the Jew-ish tradition inspired by a festivus for the rest of us. The event will take place at a bar in Parkview (address will be provided to registrants) and will include catering from David Chu's China Bistro in Baltimore.
Early-bird tickets are $18, through Wednesday, December 18; regular price is $23. Sign up here by Sunday, December 22.
DC MINYAN NIGGUN CIRCLE
Join a group interested in learning new niggunim and strengthening their ability to share those melodies with our community. The group will meet twice a month during the spring (once a month after shul and once a month on a weeknight). Participants will have access to Hadar's singing communities resources as part of the program and will help shape the goals and structure of the niggun circle. Participants are asked to commit to attending at least 75% of the sessions and to support other members of the group as they implement what we learn together at DC Minyan.
Stay tuned for a sign-up form in next week’s Announcements. Reach out to Deena Fox and Noam Kantor in the meantime at [email protected] with any questions.
COMMUNITY NEWS
MAZAL TOV
Mazal tov to Talya Bock, Rafi Cohen, Vered, Noam, and Eitan on the birth of their son and brother Ori Zev on December 1. You can sign up here to provide a meal for the family.
PROGRAMMING SURVEY
By now, all adult members should have received a personalized link to the DC Minyan Programming Survey, which the Governance and Strategic Planning' Programming Subcommittee is fielding to gather feedback from members about the Minyan's programming.
If you are a member and have not received a link to your survey, please check your spam or promotions folder for an email from [email protected]. This survey was not sent to associate members. Please contact Rivka Friedman at [email protected] with any questions.
Volunteer Spotlight
MIRIAM SZUBIN
Current: Bereavement Subcommittee Co-Chair, Leyner, as-needed Gabbai Pinch-Hitter and Leyning Tutor, “Bnei Mitzvah Fairy Godmother”
Former: Gabbai Chair and Leyning Coordinator, Lifecycle point-person, Founder and Former Leader of Midrash Minyan
Member since 2003
From left: Nathan, Micah, Adam, Josiah, and Miriam Szubin
Q: What are you up to in DC? What fills your time?
A: I work at the Edlavitch DCJCC, which means that the boundaries between my personal and professional lives are pretty blurry. As the J’s Director of Children and Family Programming, I get to run all sorts of programs and events to help people adjust to parenthood and build community, and I’ve had the pleasure of playing that role for several generations of new DC Minyan parents.
In my own family life, we are helping our three boys [Nathan, Micah and Josiah] navigate middle school and high school and are preparing with excitement and sadness to send our oldest off to college next year. I also serve on the Board of Mary’s Center, an amazingly impactful DC health center where my kids are patients.
Q: Tell us about your experience getting involved with DC Minyan.
A: I moved to DC in the summer of 2002, when the DC Minyan was only a few months old and was soon fixed up on a blind date with one of its founders/leaders. Once our relationship took off, I immediately became super involved by proximity, but it took me over a year to find my way towards contributing independently.
I started with leyning and gabbaing. I hadn’t read Torah since my Bat Mitzvah and I had never gabbaied, but I found people willing to teach me and I practiced a lot. Back then, the gabbaim didn’t have anything written down, as they were people with years of synagogue experience who knew exactly how the service ran. I wanted to join the gabbai team but I didn’t feel like I had that comfort level, so I asked if I could type up a script so that I would know exactly what to announce and when to do everything.
My typed script became the original Gabbai Guide, now dramatically expanded and improved upon by generations of gabbaim and an integral part of running every service. I really think that’s my proudest DC Minyan accomplishment! And feeling confident in that one area opened the door to feeling comfortable taking on a variety of other roles.
Q: What’s the secret to being the #1 baby magnet at DC Minyan?
A: Ha, I’m definitely a distant second to my husband Adam. And I actually think his secret is his unusual (for our people) height. Babies and toddlers are fascinated by seeing the world from that vantage point. I do love the fact that there are so many delicious babies to cuddle every Shabbat. I would never want to go back to the stage of having to actually live with babies, but it’s wonderful to be able to snuggle with other peoples’ and then give them back as soon as they get annoying. It’s just one of the many wonderful aspects of living in our community!