Tuesday, October 14, 2025
A year in the making. Hundreds of congregants participating. Honoring our heritage and preparing for our future. Now it’s time to dedicate Beth Am’s new Torah scroll!
Bring-your-own dinner (5:00 pm) will be followed by Maariv, Dancing and Singing in the Courtyard (6:00 pm.). After, the dedication will take place and we will read from our new Sefer Torah (7:15pm). This momentous occasion will conclude with a dessert reception!
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Honor Beth Am’s past clergy and staff at the morning service (9:30 am). A special kiddush lunch will follow the service.
Friday, November 14 – Sunday, November 16, 2025
Spend an inspiring and informative weekend with Rabbi Dr. Jane Kanerak, Professor of Rabbinics and Dean of Faculty at Hebrew College.
Friday, November 14th | 8:00 PM | Scholar in Residence Friday Night Dinner
Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat and Dinner, followed by Rabbi Kanarek’s first lecture, Reading the Talmud Through Feminist Eyes. All too often, we assume that women are not present in the Talmud. But if we shift our lenses and being with an assumption that in fact women are present in the Talmud, we suddenly see much more than we had thought possible. This talk will ask us to practice the art of learning to notice what we might all too easily overlook.
Following services and Kiddush lunch, join us for Rabbi Kanarek’s second lecture, Seeing God Under an Apple Tree: The Righteous Women of Tractate Sotah. Tractate Sotah of the Babylonian Talmud contains a magnificent midrash about the righteous women for whose sake Israel was redeemed from Egypt. We will study this story as a window into the rabbinic imagination and as a guidepost for rebellion, resistance, and subversion.
Don’t miss Rabbi Kanarek’s final lecture, How the Bible Became Rabbinic. We often take for granted that the Bible is the foundation of Jewish life. But the Bible underwent a process of becoming the foundation of Jewish life. Through examining the ways in which stories from the book of Genesis become sources for rabbinic law, this talk will look at the process of the Bible becoming a rabbinic document.
*Join us for a wine and cheese reception and Havdalah before the talk.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 6:00 – 10:00 pm
Milk cost $1.57 a gallon, Stephen King published his first thriller, “Carrie”, the film “Young Frankenstein” was a box office hit, the first UPC (Universal Product Code) barcode was scanned at a supermarket in Ohio AND Beth Am was founded. All in 1974.
As we conclude our 50th Anniversary year focused on The Torah of Beth Am: Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future, Living Our Values, it’s time to party — like it’s 1974!
Dance and shmooze the night away at the final event of our fantastic 50th Anniversary celebration, featuring Machaya Klezmer Band and a DJ spinning 70’s tunes. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and sip signature cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, and more.
Make your reservations now! Capacity is limited! This event is limited to adults ages 21+. Bell-bottoms and platform shoes are optional!
Throughout the year
At several sanctuary shabbats during the anniversary year, we will honor congregants and friends whose creativity and dedication over the last five decades have made the Beth Am community so special.
December 13-14, 2024
Start the celebration of Beth Am’s 50th Anniversary with inspiring Klei Kodesh, followed by a delicious dinner and a tisch afterparty; Shabbat morning services and a special catered lunch; and joyous music at a Saturday evening concert with Jacob’s Ladder.
Click here to see photos from the event
December 15-16, 2024
As we write the first strokes of our new Sefer Torah, enjoy fun family activities that will introduce the scribing process and enrich our experience and understanding of the Torah itself.
Click here to see photos from the event
January – March 2025
Participate in interesting conversations with scholars and experts, each relating to one of the Beth Am values we’re celebrating this year. Program Dates: Thursdays at 8:00 am at Beth Am – January 9, January 23, February 6, February 20 and March 6. Bagels and lox included!
February 23-24, 2025
Participate in writing our new Sefer Torah. Enjoy fun family activities for all ages that will introduce the scribing process and enrich our experience and understanding of the Torah itself.
Scribing Sessions for all congregants:
Sunday, February 23 3:00-8:00pm
Monday, February 24 11:30am-9:00pm
Sunday, March 30, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:00 am
What might the practice and values of Jewish scribal arts (sofrut) teach us about living our most engaged and meaningful lives? Join Boston based Torah scribe and artist, Rachel Jackson, for a text study and discussion about her work, and how the Jewish laws of scribing might teach us something more about ourselves, our community, and our world. A light breakfast will be provided.
Click here to see photos from the event
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Discovery Lab students will work with Soferit Rachel Jackson on a 50th Anniversary-inspired art project to adorn the walls of our building.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 | 4:00 pm
This year’s Women’s Pesach Celebration (formerly known as the Women’s Seder) will lean into our 50th Anniversary values with a special focus on Kehillah – Sacred Community. Together, we will share wisdom, create art, and collaborate on how we can support one another in sacred community during turbulent moments. All who identify as women or non-binary are welcome. Abby Woloff (Ba’alat Tefilah) will be our spiritual guide and help us connect with our traditions and our community. Rachel Jackson (Soferet and Artist-in-Residence) will lead us in an etched glass Seder plate project.
Click here to see photos from the event
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 4:00 pm
Connect with our Reservoir Hill neighbors and celebrate our 50th anniversary at a special free concert featuring jazz royalty Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanoes, with special guest Baltimore rapper Eze Jackson. Lafayette Gilchrist is the winner of an Independent Music Award for Best Jazz Album and the Maryland State Arts Council’s Maryland Traditions Master/Apprentice Award. His work was featured in the scores for the hit TV shows The Wire and Treme. 4:00 PM. More details to come! Brought to you by Beth Am’s Tzedek Committee.
Click here to see photos from the event
