Calendar

	January 2026
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1	2 Visioning Peace in Israel Palestine Circle Coffee Chat at R. House Visioning Peace in Israel Palestine Circle Coffee Chat at R. House January 2, 2026 8:00 am - 9:00 am This circle gives members a space to share thoughts, opinions, and concerns about the future of Israel and Palestine, and about Zionism and its alternatives. Please contact Charley Beller (charleybeller@gmail.com) or Evan Serpick (serpick@gmail.com) for more information and to be added to the list serve. See more details 🧸Shabbat is Awesome! 🧸Shabbat is Awesome! January 2, 2026 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm Join Rav Tyler and Rav Daniel for a joyful and engaging Shabbat experience for young kiddos and the people who love them. See more details 🧸Shabbat is Awesome! 🧸Shabbat is Awesome! January 2, 2026 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm Join Rav Tyler and Rav Daniel for a joyful and engaging Shabbat experience for young kiddos and the people who love them. See more details • • •	3 🕍Sanctuary Shabbat Morning Services 🕍Sanctuary Shabbat Morning Services January 3, 2026 9:30 am - 12:00 pm https://bethambaltimore.org/connect/videos/ End times are approximate. See more details Tefillah Boot Camp Tefillah Boot Camp January 3, 2026 10:15 am - 11:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Tefillah Boot Camp FACULTY: RABBI DANIEL BURG, RABBI TYLER DRATCH, YONA GORELICK OR SHABBAT MORNINGS Struggle at times to keep up in services? Interested in tefillah skill-building? Want to gain better appreciation for the flow of Shabbat morning at Beth Am? In response to this year’s congregational survey, we will offer a cohort-based learning opportunity from 10:15-11:00 A.M. Our group will assemble in a parallel location as the congregation moves into the Torah Service and rejoin in time for the sermon. Each week we’ll explore a different part of the service with the goal of helping you feel more confident with the words, melodies, choreography, and rhythms of the Shabbat morning service. Recordings of the material we cover will be available the week after each session to help you reinforce what we’ve learned. We will hold a siyyum (summation of our time together and celebration of our learning) on January 17, 2026 Fully transliterated prayer books will be provided for those who need them Participants are asked to attend as regularly as possible to build on our learning and maintain group cohesion. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/13, 12/20, 1/17. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Daniel (ravdaniel@bethambaltimore.org) or Rav Tyler (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here👈 See more details • •
4 Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle January 4, 2026 10:00 am - 11:30 am Through the Fire: Developing Resilience with Susannah Kolstad An IYUN Learning Circle SUNDAY MORNINGS BEGINNING January 4 AT 10:00 A.M. AT BETH AM ADMIN BUILDING REGISTER HERE What does it mean to be strong in a time of uncertainty and unraveling? Through the Fire: Developing Resilience is an eight-session IYUN learning circle that invites participants to explore resilience through Jewish text, conversation, reflection, and shared learning. Together, we will wrestle with uncertainty, friendship, leadership, brokenness, and hope—seeking not simple answers, but deeper strength, wisdom, and connection. This learning circle offers space to reflect honestly, learn communally, and cultivate a resilience that can sustain both individuals and communities. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Susannah Kolstad at skolstad@bethambaltimore.org. What We Will Learn Session 1: Why Learn? Cultivating a Learner’s Mindset Explore how different ways of learning—text, reflection, conversation, and lived experience—build resilience and help us remain open when one path feels blocked. Session 2: How Do I Face Uncertainty? Examine Jewish wisdom on living with unpredictability, vulnerability, and fear, and how staying present can cultivate grit and meaning. Session 3: Friendships That Carry Us Reflect on the challenges and necessity of adult friendships and how investing in relationships strengthens resilience during times of loss and change. Session 4: Revelation From the Ruins Learn from moments of upheaval in Jewish history to explore what clarity, insight, and holiness can emerge from brokenness—personally and communally. Session 5: Leading in Hard Times Study models of imperfect leadership in Torah to better understand how to lead wisely, humbly, and sustainably during times of pressure and crisis. Session 6: Developing Complex Resilience Reimagine resilience not just as “bouncing back,” but as transformation—exploring how hardship can fuel creativity, vision, and communal renewal. Session 7: Through Shards and Into Wholeness Consider how memory, forgetting, and brokenness shape who we become, and how wisdom can endure even when details fade. Session 8: Siyum (Closing & Celebration) Mark the completion of our learning together by celebrating the Torah, insights, and questions uncovered through this shared journey. See more details •	5	6	7 🥯Lox & Learn📚 🥯Lox & Learn📚 January 7, 2026 8:00 am - 9:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Register here: Lox & Learn 2026 - Event - Beth Am Synagogue Join us for five consecutive Thursday mornings beginning January 7th for bagels, lox, and a chance to learn together! Lox and Learn features a range of fascinating scholars and experts who share their knowledge with us. Each of this year’s speakers will present on "Exploring Change and Continuity." We will meet at Beth Am and Zoom. Please register for the zoom link. Contact Melissa Gerr at gerrmelissa@gmail.com, Barry Kessler at bakessler@aol.com, or Sharon Achinstein at sachins1@jhu.edu with any questions. Speakers: January 7th: Neta Stahl, Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at Johns Hopkins University Lamentation, Longing and Revenge: Hebrew literature themes post October 7th January 14th: Susannah Kolstad, Director of Congregational Engagement and Programming Jewish Journey: Helping Others Embrace Tradition in Modern Life January 21st: Rabbi Avram Israel Resiner, Rabbi Emeritus at Chevrei Tzedek Congregation and member of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Halachic Law: The Delicate Work of Modern Adaptations January 28th: Sol Davis, Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Maryland The Jewish Museum Redefined: Rooted in the past; Looking Toward the Future February 11th: Amit Peled, World Renowned Israeli Cellist/ Peabody Instructor Mozart in Jeans: When Contemporary Ausiences Delight in Classical Music See more details Beth Am Home Electrification Project Beth Am Home Electrification Project January 7, 2026 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Collectively, the Beth Am/Neighborhood Sun solar farm project has avoided burning almost a million pounds of coal! Now we are going to do more. What: Work session to determine what can be done for your home: To save on utility bills To make your home more comfortable To lower your greenhouse gas emissions When: First Wednesday of the Month, from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm Where: (Attend either in-person or via Zoom) In-person: Home of Marilyn Fisher Village of Cross Keys OR Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7547987541 Contact David Saunders - davidsaunders107@gmail.com for the address and to RSVP. See more details • •	8 iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler January 8, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Engage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler THURSDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING November 13 AT 7:00 P.M. AT BETH AM In this moment of challenge and transformation for Israel, how do those committed to the values of Liberalism and Zionism approach the many issues that have emerged during the many months of the ongoing war? Can our values coexist? In other words, what does it mean to be a Liberal Zionist? In nine sessions, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the key values that animate liberal Zionism and how to approach the core issues that have emerged during these many months of war. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Tyler Dratch (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here 👈 See more details •	9 Klei Kodesh Services and Dinner Klei Kodesh Services and Dinner January 9, 2026 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Join us for Klei Kodesh, Beth Am's instrumental Kabbalat Shabbat experience led by Rabbi Daniel Burg, Rabbi Tyler Dratch, and the Uncle Ira's Hebrew Washboard Ensemble in the Beit Midrash! Dinner to follow services. REGISTER HERE Schedule: 5:00 pm \| Proneg - For members with young families who would like to eat before services. This is instead of joining us for dinner after services. 6:00 pm \| Klei Kodesh Shabbat Service 7:00 pm* \| Dinner (* Timing is approximate) Pricing: Members: $25 - Adults 18+ FREE - Children 0 -17 Non-members: $37 - Adults 18+ $18 - Children 2+ FREE - Children 0-2 Menu: Moroccan Tagine Meatballs - A Blend Of Ground Beef And Lamb Seasoned With Coarse Cut Italian Parsley, Cumin, Paprika with Braised In A Cilantro Lemon Sauce Gluten Free Bread Crumbs; Parve Moroccan Tagine “Meatballs” - Coarse Cut Italian Parsley, Cumin, Paprika, Braised In A Cilantro Lemon Sauce With Gluten Free Bread Crumbs 6/person x 10 portions (Gluten Free/Vegan); Moroccan Rice - Chopped Dates, Diced Red Peppers, Slivers Of Fresh Scallions And Chic Peas (Gluten Free/Vegan); Fire Roasted Vegetable Medley (Gluten Free/Vegan); Garden Salad – Red Leaf Lettuce & Romaine Tossed With Dried Cranberries, Mandarin Orange Segments, Cucumber, & Tomatoes (Gluten Free/Vegan) with Balsamic Dressing (Gluten Free/Vegan) Registration is required for dinner; please register by Monday, January 5th at 10:00 am. REGISTER HERE Email skolstad@bethambaltimore.org if you want to register after registration has closed. See more details •	10 🕍Kesher Shabbat Morning Services 🕍Kesher Shabbat Morning Services January 10, 2026 9:30 am - 12:00 pm https://bethambaltimore.org/connect/videos/ End times are approximate. See more details Tefillah Boot Camp Tefillah Boot Camp January 10, 2026 10:15 am - 11:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Tefillah Boot Camp FACULTY: RABBI DANIEL BURG, RABBI TYLER DRATCH, YONA GORELICK OR SHABBAT MORNINGS Struggle at times to keep up in services? Interested in tefillah skill-building? Want to gain better appreciation for the flow of Shabbat morning at Beth Am? In response to this year’s congregational survey, we will offer a cohort-based learning opportunity from 10:15-11:00 A.M. Our group will assemble in a parallel location as the congregation moves into the Torah Service and rejoin in time for the sermon. Each week we’ll explore a different part of the service with the goal of helping you feel more confident with the words, melodies, choreography, and rhythms of the Shabbat morning service. Recordings of the material we cover will be available the week after each session to help you reinforce what we’ve learned. We will hold a siyyum (summation of our time together and celebration of our learning) on January 17, 2026 Fully transliterated prayer books will be provided for those who need them Participants are asked to attend as regularly as possible to build on our learning and maintain group cohesion. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/13, 12/20, 1/17. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Daniel (ravdaniel@bethambaltimore.org) or Rav Tyler (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here👈 See more details • •
11 Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle January 11, 2026 10:00 am - 11:30 am Through the Fire: Developing Resilience with Susannah Kolstad An IYUN Learning Circle SUNDAY MORNINGS BEGINNING January 4 AT 10:00 A.M. AT BETH AM ADMIN BUILDING REGISTER HERE What does it mean to be strong in a time of uncertainty and unraveling? Through the Fire: Developing Resilience is an eight-session IYUN learning circle that invites participants to explore resilience through Jewish text, conversation, reflection, and shared learning. Together, we will wrestle with uncertainty, friendship, leadership, brokenness, and hope—seeking not simple answers, but deeper strength, wisdom, and connection. This learning circle offers space to reflect honestly, learn communally, and cultivate a resilience that can sustain both individuals and communities. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Susannah Kolstad at skolstad@bethambaltimore.org. What We Will Learn Session 1: Why Learn? Cultivating a Learner’s Mindset Explore how different ways of learning—text, reflection, conversation, and lived experience—build resilience and help us remain open when one path feels blocked. Session 2: How Do I Face Uncertainty? Examine Jewish wisdom on living with unpredictability, vulnerability, and fear, and how staying present can cultivate grit and meaning. Session 3: Friendships That Carry Us Reflect on the challenges and necessity of adult friendships and how investing in relationships strengthens resilience during times of loss and change. Session 4: Revelation From the Ruins Learn from moments of upheaval in Jewish history to explore what clarity, insight, and holiness can emerge from brokenness—personally and communally. Session 5: Leading in Hard Times Study models of imperfect leadership in Torah to better understand how to lead wisely, humbly, and sustainably during times of pressure and crisis. Session 6: Developing Complex Resilience Reimagine resilience not just as “bouncing back,” but as transformation—exploring how hardship can fuel creativity, vision, and communal renewal. Session 7: Through Shards and Into Wholeness Consider how memory, forgetting, and brokenness shape who we become, and how wisdom can endure even when details fade. Session 8: Siyum (Closing & Celebration) Mark the completion of our learning together by celebrating the Torah, insights, and questions uncovered through this shared journey. See more details •	12	13 Balt Midrash: Peoplehood Balt Midrash: Peoplehood January 13, 2026 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm January Balt Midrash \| Tuesday, January 13th \| 7 PM \| Max's Tap House (737 S Broadway, 21231) Balt Midrash gives Jewish young adults (21-40 years old) the opportunity to gather for deep, meaningful learning across Baltimore. This month's topic - Peoplehood: What is our responsibility to Jewish community around the world? Register here! See more details Tzedek Beth Am Meeting Tzedek Beth Am Meeting January 13, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87016554732 Upcoming dates: August 12th - Zoom meeting Sept. 9th - Zoom meeting Oct. 14th -In person dinner meeting - in the sukkah Nov. 11th - Zoom meeting Dec. 9th - In person dinner meeting Jan. 13th - Zoom meeting Feb. 10th - Zoom meeting March 10th - In-person dinner meeting April 14th - Zoom meeting May 12th - Zoom meeting June 9th - In-person dinner meeting. CLICK HERE TO JOIN MEETING Meeting ID: 870 1655 4732 --- One tap mobile +13017158592,,87016554732# US (Washington DC) +16469313860,,87016554732# US --- Dial by your location • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 870 1655 4732 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd7Dn5szRa See more details • •	14 🥯Lox & Learn📚 🥯Lox & Learn📚 January 14, 2026 8:00 am - 9:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Register here: Lox & Learn 2026 - Event - Beth Am Synagogue Join us for five consecutive Thursday mornings beginning January 7th for bagels, lox, and a chance to learn together! Lox and Learn features a range of fascinating scholars and experts who share their knowledge with us. Each of this year’s speakers will present on "Exploring Change and Continuity." We will meet at Beth Am and Zoom. Please register for the zoom link. Contact Melissa Gerr at gerrmelissa@gmail.com, Barry Kessler at bakessler@aol.com, or Sharon Achinstein at sachins1@jhu.edu with any questions. Speakers: January 7th: Neta Stahl, Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at Johns Hopkins University Lamentation, Longing and Revenge: Hebrew literature themes post October 7th January 14th: Susannah Kolstad, Director of Congregational Engagement and Programming Jewish Journey: Helping Others Embrace Tradition in Modern Life January 21st: Rabbi Avram Israel Resiner, Rabbi Emeritus at Chevrei Tzedek Congregation and member of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Halachic Law: The Delicate Work of Modern Adaptations January 28th: Sol Davis, Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Maryland The Jewish Museum Redefined: Rooted in the past; Looking Toward the Future February 11th: Amit Peled, World Renowned Israeli Cellist/ Peabody Instructor Mozart in Jeans: When Contemporary Ausiences Delight in Classical Music See more details •	15 iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler January 15, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Engage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler THURSDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING November 13 AT 7:00 P.M. AT BETH AM In this moment of challenge and transformation for Israel, how do those committed to the values of Liberalism and Zionism approach the many issues that have emerged during the many months of the ongoing war? Can our values coexist? In other words, what does it mean to be a Liberal Zionist? In nine sessions, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the key values that animate liberal Zionism and how to approach the core issues that have emerged during these many months of war. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Tyler Dratch (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here 👈 See more details •	16 January 2026 BAYITT Shabbat January 2026 BAYITT Shabbat January 16, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm BAYITT Shabbat \| Friday, January 16th \| 6 PM \| RSVP for Address (Canton neighborhood) Join us for our monthly Shabbat gathering for young adults 21-40 years old featuring a potluck dinner, friends, and a chance to slow down into Shabbat. Register here! See more details •	17 Tefillah Boot Camp Tefillah Boot Camp January 17, 2026 10:15 am - 11:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Tefillah Boot Camp FACULTY: RABBI DANIEL BURG, RABBI TYLER DRATCH, YONA GORELICK OR SHABBAT MORNINGS Struggle at times to keep up in services? Interested in tefillah skill-building? Want to gain better appreciation for the flow of Shabbat morning at Beth Am? In response to this year’s congregational survey, we will offer a cohort-based learning opportunity from 10:15-11:00 A.M. Our group will assemble in a parallel location as the congregation moves into the Torah Service and rejoin in time for the sermon. Each week we’ll explore a different part of the service with the goal of helping you feel more confident with the words, melodies, choreography, and rhythms of the Shabbat morning service. Recordings of the material we cover will be available the week after each session to help you reinforce what we’ve learned. We will hold a siyyum (summation of our time together and celebration of our learning) on January 17, 2026 Fully transliterated prayer books will be provided for those who need them Participants are asked to attend as regularly as possible to build on our learning and maintain group cohesion. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/13, 12/20, 1/17. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Daniel (ravdaniel@bethambaltimore.org) or Rav Tyler (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here👈 See more details Visioning Peace in Israel Palestine Circle Kiddush Table Visioning Peace in Israel Palestine Circle Kiddush Table January 17, 2026 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm This circle gives members a space to share thoughts, opinions, and concerns about the future of Israel and Palestine, and about Zionism and its alternatives. Gather for a discussion after kiddush lunch. See more details • •
18 Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle January 18, 2026 10:00 am - 11:30 am Through the Fire: Developing Resilience with Susannah Kolstad An IYUN Learning Circle SUNDAY MORNINGS BEGINNING January 4 AT 10:00 A.M. AT BETH AM ADMIN BUILDING REGISTER HERE What does it mean to be strong in a time of uncertainty and unraveling? Through the Fire: Developing Resilience is an eight-session IYUN learning circle that invites participants to explore resilience through Jewish text, conversation, reflection, and shared learning. Together, we will wrestle with uncertainty, friendship, leadership, brokenness, and hope—seeking not simple answers, but deeper strength, wisdom, and connection. This learning circle offers space to reflect honestly, learn communally, and cultivate a resilience that can sustain both individuals and communities. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Susannah Kolstad at skolstad@bethambaltimore.org. What We Will Learn Session 1: Why Learn? Cultivating a Learner’s Mindset Explore how different ways of learning—text, reflection, conversation, and lived experience—build resilience and help us remain open when one path feels blocked. Session 2: How Do I Face Uncertainty? Examine Jewish wisdom on living with unpredictability, vulnerability, and fear, and how staying present can cultivate grit and meaning. Session 3: Friendships That Carry Us Reflect on the challenges and necessity of adult friendships and how investing in relationships strengthens resilience during times of loss and change. Session 4: Revelation From the Ruins Learn from moments of upheaval in Jewish history to explore what clarity, insight, and holiness can emerge from brokenness—personally and communally. Session 5: Leading in Hard Times Study models of imperfect leadership in Torah to better understand how to lead wisely, humbly, and sustainably during times of pressure and crisis. Session 6: Developing Complex Resilience Reimagine resilience not just as “bouncing back,” but as transformation—exploring how hardship can fuel creativity, vision, and communal renewal. Session 7: Through Shards and Into Wholeness Consider how memory, forgetting, and brokenness shape who we become, and how wisdom can endure even when details fade. Session 8: Siyum (Closing & Celebration) Mark the completion of our learning together by celebrating the Torah, insights, and questions uncovered through this shared journey. See more details •	19	20 An Evening with Dan Rodricks An Evening with Dan Rodricks January 20, 2026 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Register here! An Evening with Dan Rodricks - Event - Beth Am Synagogue Join us in conversation with local Baltimore legend, Dan Rodricks. Light refreshments will be served. Bios Dan Rodricks was an award-winning columnist for the Baltimore Sun from 1979 until 2025. Three times a week, Rodricks wrote on a sprawling range of local, regional and national topics. At 46 consecutive years, it was believed to be the longest-running local column in the U.S. Before resigning from The Sun in January 2025, he had written more than 6,600 columns. His "Dear Drug Dealers" series in The Sun, a public call for an end to criminal violence in Baltimore bolstered by his one-man campaign to provide jobs or job training for ex-offenders, won the 2006 Excellence in Urban Journalism Award from the Freedom Forum and the Enterprise Foundation. His series, which exposed the obstacles that paroled felons face in finding jobs, was cited on national television and radio, and the Columbia Journalism Review. It won the 2005 Public Service award from the Chesapeake Associated Press. In 2006, he was named Public Citizen of the Year by the Maryland chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Readers and editors of the City Paper and Baltimore Magazine repeatedly have cited Dan's column consistently as Baltimore's Best. Over a 25-year-period, his Evening Sun and Sun columns garnered several regional journalism awards as well as four national ones. Dan won the 2001 Headliner Award for column writing and the 1984 Heywood Broun Award from the Newspaper Guild, which cited him for newspaper writing that championed the underdog. Dan's column also has been cited in regional journalism competitions as the best local column in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Three times in recent years, including 2002, his columns were named "Best in Show" in the annual competition of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association. Both the City Paper and Baltimore Magazine gave high marks to Dan's live, local-interest television show, "Rodricks For Breakfast," which aired on WMAR-TV from 1995 until 1999. For two hours each Sunday morning, the show, a unique talk-variety program that emanated from a nostalgic kitchen that resembled the set of a Barry Levinson movie, celebrated Baltimore and Maryland life and culture. The cancellation of the show was listed in the April 2004 Style magazine as one of "10 decisions that changed Baltimore -- and not for the better." Dan's other television work included a weekly stint as a feature reporter/commentator on WBAL-TV, from 1980 until 1993. His Street Talk and Rodricks At-Large feature stories won several regional journalism awards. Dan has also written and narrated programs for Maryland Public Television. From 1989 until 1993, Dan hosted a nightly talk show on WBAL-Radio, as well as a five-hour Saturday morning show that ran until 1995. More than interviews and conversations with listeners, Dan's shows involved unique undertakings. His radio documentaries won acclaim, as well as the Silver Medal in an international broadcast competition in 1993. Listeners will recall some of Dan's popular radio features, including "Along The River," an outdoors travelogue and natural history, "Country Life Farm," a visit to a Maryland thoroughbred farm, "900 E. 33rd St.," a radio elegy to Memorial Stadium, "A Western Maryland Winter," and "The Greatest Game Never Played," a Chuck Thompson-Rex Barney play-by-play of a fictional game between the greatest Yankees and greatest Orioles. A collection of Dan's columns, "Mencken Doesn't Live Here Anymore," was published in 1989, and in 1998 he authored, "Baltimore: Charm City," a celebration of Baltimore featuring the work of several accomplished photographers. In 2019, Apprentice House published his fishing memoir, “Father’s Day Creek: Fly Fishing, Fatherhood and The Last Best Place on Earth.” In 2022, Dan found his way into writing for the stage. His first play, “Baltimore, You Have No Idea,” has had three runs to sell-out audiences at the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Meyerhoff Auditorium. A second play, “Baltimore Docket,” premiered in February 2024, also to sell-out audiences. Both plays are based on Dan’s work as a reporter and columnist for The Sun. His third play, “No Mean City: Baltimore 1966,” will have its premier run at the BMA in March 2026. Dan also has performed in semi-professional theater in Baltimore. His stage credits include: Young Victorian Theater Co., Samuel, The Pirates of Penzance, 1986; Monterrarat, Iolanthe, 1986; Shadbolt, The Yeoman of the Guard, 1987; Koko, The Mikado, 1988; Sir Joseph Porter, HMS Pinafore, 2001; and for Action Theater: Charlie, Death of a Salesman, 1999. His performance in Pinafore was voted one of the Top Ten of the year by the City Paper. Dan has lived in the Baltimore area since 1976, in the city since 1987. He grew up in East Bridgewater, Mass., and graduated from East Bridgewater High School in 1972. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut; he graduated summa cum laude and was voted outstanding journalism student in 1976. He was editor of his college newspaper, and interned professionally at The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Mass., The Times Herald-Record in Middletown, N.Y, and The Evening Sun in Baltimore. He was a Newspaper Fund scholar in 1975. See more details •	21 🥯Lox & Learn📚 🥯Lox & Learn📚 January 21, 2026 8:00 am - 9:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Register here: Lox & Learn 2026 - Event - Beth Am Synagogue Join us for five consecutive Thursday mornings beginning January 7th for bagels, lox, and a chance to learn together! Lox and Learn features a range of fascinating scholars and experts who share their knowledge with us. Each of this year’s speakers will present on "Exploring Change and Continuity." We will meet at Beth Am and Zoom. Please register for the zoom link. Contact Melissa Gerr at gerrmelissa@gmail.com, Barry Kessler at bakessler@aol.com, or Sharon Achinstein at sachins1@jhu.edu with any questions. Speakers: January 7th: Neta Stahl, Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at Johns Hopkins University Lamentation, Longing and Revenge: Hebrew literature themes post October 7th January 14th: Susannah Kolstad, Director of Congregational Engagement and Programming Jewish Journey: Helping Others Embrace Tradition in Modern Life January 21st: Rabbi Avram Israel Resiner, Rabbi Emeritus at Chevrei Tzedek Congregation and member of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Halachic Law: The Delicate Work of Modern Adaptations January 28th: Sol Davis, Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Maryland The Jewish Museum Redefined: Rooted in the past; Looking Toward the Future February 11th: Amit Peled, World Renowned Israeli Cellist/ Peabody Instructor Mozart in Jeans: When Contemporary Ausiences Delight in Classical Music See more details Environmental Team Meeting Environmental Team Meeting January 21, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89588956581?pwd=TzBoTzg4WklqL1pIQkNNMVBZR2E2dz09 Belowis the zoom link for tomorrow's meeting at 7 p.m. Stuart Stainman is invitingyou to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Wed Sept. 11 Beth Am Environmental Team Meeting Time: Sep 11, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83513482665 Meeting ID: 835 1348 2665 --- One tap mobile +13017158592,,83513482665# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,83513482665# US See more details • •	22 iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler January 22, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Engage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler THURSDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING November 13 AT 7:00 P.M. AT BETH AM In this moment of challenge and transformation for Israel, how do those committed to the values of Liberalism and Zionism approach the many issues that have emerged during the many months of the ongoing war? Can our values coexist? In other words, what does it mean to be a Liberal Zionist? In nine sessions, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the key values that animate liberal Zionism and how to approach the core issues that have emerged during these many months of war. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Tyler Dratch (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here 👈 See more details •	23	24
25 Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle Through the Fire: Developing Resilience - IYUN Circle January 25, 2026 10:00 am - 11:30 am Through the Fire: Developing Resilience with Susannah Kolstad An IYUN Learning Circle SUNDAY MORNINGS BEGINNING January 4 AT 10:00 A.M. AT BETH AM ADMIN BUILDING REGISTER HERE What does it mean to be strong in a time of uncertainty and unraveling? Through the Fire: Developing Resilience is an eight-session IYUN learning circle that invites participants to explore resilience through Jewish text, conversation, reflection, and shared learning. Together, we will wrestle with uncertainty, friendship, leadership, brokenness, and hope—seeking not simple answers, but deeper strength, wisdom, and connection. This learning circle offers space to reflect honestly, learn communally, and cultivate a resilience that can sustain both individuals and communities. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Susannah Kolstad at skolstad@bethambaltimore.org. What We Will Learn Session 1: Why Learn? Cultivating a Learner’s Mindset Explore how different ways of learning—text, reflection, conversation, and lived experience—build resilience and help us remain open when one path feels blocked. Session 2: How Do I Face Uncertainty? Examine Jewish wisdom on living with unpredictability, vulnerability, and fear, and how staying present can cultivate grit and meaning. Session 3: Friendships That Carry Us Reflect on the challenges and necessity of adult friendships and how investing in relationships strengthens resilience during times of loss and change. Session 4: Revelation From the Ruins Learn from moments of upheaval in Jewish history to explore what clarity, insight, and holiness can emerge from brokenness—personally and communally. Session 5: Leading in Hard Times Study models of imperfect leadership in Torah to better understand how to lead wisely, humbly, and sustainably during times of pressure and crisis. Session 6: Developing Complex Resilience Reimagine resilience not just as “bouncing back,” but as transformation—exploring how hardship can fuel creativity, vision, and communal renewal. Session 7: Through Shards and Into Wholeness Consider how memory, forgetting, and brokenness shape who we become, and how wisdom can endure even when details fade. Session 8: Siyum (Closing & Celebration) Mark the completion of our learning together by celebrating the Torah, insights, and questions uncovered through this shared journey. See more details •	26	27	28 🥯Lox & Learn📚 🥯Lox & Learn📚 January 28, 2026 8:00 am - 9:00 am Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Register here: Lox & Learn 2026 - Event - Beth Am Synagogue Join us for five consecutive Thursday mornings beginning January 7th for bagels, lox, and a chance to learn together! Lox and Learn features a range of fascinating scholars and experts who share their knowledge with us. Each of this year’s speakers will present on "Exploring Change and Continuity." We will meet at Beth Am and Zoom. Please register for the zoom link. Contact Melissa Gerr at gerrmelissa@gmail.com, Barry Kessler at bakessler@aol.com, or Sharon Achinstein at sachins1@jhu.edu with any questions. Speakers: January 7th: Neta Stahl, Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at Johns Hopkins University Lamentation, Longing and Revenge: Hebrew literature themes post October 7th January 14th: Susannah Kolstad, Director of Congregational Engagement and Programming Jewish Journey: Helping Others Embrace Tradition in Modern Life January 21st: Rabbi Avram Israel Resiner, Rabbi Emeritus at Chevrei Tzedek Congregation and member of the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Halachic Law: The Delicate Work of Modern Adaptations January 28th: Sol Davis, Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Maryland The Jewish Museum Redefined: Rooted in the past; Looking Toward the Future February 11th: Amit Peled, World Renowned Israeli Cellist/ Peabody Instructor Mozart in Jeans: When Contemporary Ausiences Delight in Classical Music See more details •	29 iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler iEngage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler January 29, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Beth Am Synagogue, 2501 Eutaw Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Engage: Liberal Zionism for the 21st Century with Rav Tyler THURSDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING November 13 AT 7:00 P.M. AT BETH AM In this moment of challenge and transformation for Israel, how do those committed to the values of Liberalism and Zionism approach the many issues that have emerged during the many months of the ongoing war? Can our values coexist? In other words, what does it mean to be a Liberal Zionist? In nine sessions, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the key values that animate liberal Zionism and how to approach the core issues that have emerged during these many months of war. Be sure to mark your calendar for all class meetings: 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5. This class meets in person only. Cost: $36 for members (including conversion students), $54 for non-member guests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rav Tyler Dratch (ravtyler@bethambaltimore.org). 👉 Register Here 👈 See more details •	30	31