The Torah of Beth Am:

Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future, Living Our Values.

The Torah of Beth Am:

Honoring our Past, Inspiring Our Future, Living Our Values.

50th Anniversary Calendar of Events

December 2024 - December 2025

Simchat Torah and Introduction of our New Sefer Torah

October 14-15, 2025

Dance and sing as we celebrate the completion of the new Sefer Torah and read from it for the first time. 

Scholar-in-Residence

November 2025

Check in later in 2025 as a special scholar discusses themes of Torah.

Party Like It’s 1974 – 50th Anniversary Closing Party

Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 6:00 – 10:00 pm

Nixon resigned; Eric Clapton’s “I Shot the Sheriff” hits #1; Oskar Schindler dies; Jim “Catfish” Hunter is ruled the first free agent in modern baseball history; the first People magazine was published; Blazing Saddles was the top grossing movie AND Beth Am was founded! All of this happened in 1974.

Save the evening of December 13 to party like it’s 1974 with the Beth Am community to celebrate the completion of our 50th Anniversary year! Enjoy festive drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres and dance the night away to the music of Machaya Klezmer Band and a DJ spinning an artfully curated 70’s playlist.

Special Sanctuary Shabbats

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.

Past 50th Anniversary Events

Opening Weekend Shabbat and Concert

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

Opening Weekend Scribing Sessions and TorahFest

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

Lox and Learn

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!

Scribing and TorahFest

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

The Chain of Tradition: Values & the Creation of Torah Scrolls

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

Lab Student Project

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.

Honoring and Creating Our Sacred Community: Women’s Pesach Celebration

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

Free Community Concert

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