Siyyum Torah Photos

Photographers Sam Backman and Alex Perry generously donated their time and talent to produce wonderful photos of our Siyyum HaTorah!  Click here to view the photos. To protect our members' privacy, you will need to enter the password distributed in the Weekly Update e-mail and Bulletin.  If you did not receive the password, please contact the synagogue office.

   

A Celebration in Video and Song

View the story of Eileh HaDevarim

Directed and produced by Cliff Braverman

   

Webcast for Siyyum HaTorah

Watch the webcast of our Siyyum HaTorah on Feb. 21!

   

Eileh HaDevarim - Siyyum HaTorah


These are the words that God spoke to Moses, the words every Jew received at Sinai, the words that connect each of us, wherever or whenever we live, to one another.Eileh HaDevarim. These are the words.

 

Read more: Eileh HaDevarim - These Are The Words

   

Passover Guide 5770

 

The Pesah Guide for 5770 from The Rabbinical Assembly, is now available. The guide has been extensively revised by the CJLS.  We thank our colleagues, Barry Starr, who revised the document and Paul Plotkin, chair of the kashrut subcommittee and Ashira Konigsburg, secretary to the CJLS.

 

   

Purim

Purim is Coming
Saturday, February 27 & Sunday, February 28

Purim will be here at the end of this month, and we invite you to come to the festivities on Saturday night, February 27, and Sunday, February 28, dressed as your favorite character from the Bible. (Be creative…and stick to OUR Bible.) But whether you dress up or don’t, whether you come for the megillah reading or the carnival, whether you like prune, poppy seed or apricot, take the opportunity to observe the holiday that reminds us to “make happy.” The lesson of Purim is the lesson of joy, and in the exhausting world we inhabit, it is not such bad advice to make more happy.

This year, we are inviting all in attendance to participate in the reading not only by the traditional booing/noisemaking during the mention of Haman's name, but also by making the sounds listed below for the mention of the other main characters in the Purim story:
Haman - BOO!
Ester - Lululululu (in high pitch)
Mordechai - Hooray!
King Achashverosh - Du du du du! (make a trumpet noise)
Queen Vashti (the first queen) - oh... (after all, we are so sorry she didn't make it past the first chapter in the story!)
Zeresh (Haman's not-so-nice wife) - Hissssss
Please join us Saturday night, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday morning, February 28 at 9:00 a.m. for the reading of the megillah.  See you then!

Purim Carnival: click here for information.

Sunday, February 28 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. for preschoolers
11:30-1:30 - Everyone welcome

   

AAC - Congregational Israel Trip - Summer 2010

It is with great excitement that we announce the details of the 2010 Agudas Achim Congregational Trip to Israel. Please read the two information sheets:

Trip Details (PDF)
Proposed Itinerary (PDF)

and get ready to MAKE YOUR RESERVATION!
Please contact the synagogue office for the registration form at 703.998.6460 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Rabbi Moline will gladly answer your questions and offer encouragement!

   

Torah Facts

Torah Fact: A Torah scroll retains its sanctity as long as 85 letters are in good condition.

The number 85 was selected because verses 35 and 36 of Chapter 10 of the Book of Numbers contain a total of 85 letters. These two verses were considered by the Rabbis to be a separate book of the Torah, and therefore any section of the Torah that contains 85 consecutive letters in good, readable condition is to be equated with a complete book of the Torah and is to be accorded the same degree of sanctity.