PAST PROGRAMS
Hanukkah '20
Saturday, December 12, 2020 07:30pm-9:30pm. *Virtual Event*
Join us on Saturday, December 12, 2020 for a virtual Hanukkah celebration with Rabbi Jeremy Kridel of Machar, The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism. We know it's become customary to light a Hanukkah menorah. But how did we get to the menorah we now have? Is there some other way to mark Hanukkah? We'll light our menorahs and talk about where the tradition really comes from -- not the true history behind Hanukkah, but the history of Hanukkah.
JEWISH SELF-DEFENSE in EASTERN EUROPEAN POGROMS in 1903 – 1905
Friday, November 20, 2020, 7:30pm-9:30pm. *Virtual Event*
Rabbi Judith Seid will speak on the history of Jewish self-defense during the pogroms in the early 20th century. Many Jews know of the horrific Kishinev pogrom of 1903. It was the beginning of a three-year reign of terror among the Jews of Eastern Europe. Fewer people know of the Jewish self-defense movements of the time, their success against the pogroms and the internecine fighting among the various factions. Learn this fascinating piece of Jewish history and how the idea of Jewish self-defense took inspiration from the past and gave inspiration to the future.
Secular Humanistic Rabbi Judith Seid is the founder of the BJCC. She is a third-generation Jewish secularist and the parent of three fourth-generation Jewish secularists. She likes to sing and may burst into song at any random moment. She also laughs more than is strictly necessary. BJCC is delighted to have Rabbi Seid as an event speaker.
HARRY EZRATTY PRESENTATION ON ISAAC LEESER
Sunday, November 08, 2020, 10:30am-12:30pm. *Virtual Event*
Join us on Zoom this coming Sunday, November 8th for a talk on Isaac Leeser by Harry Ezratty. Isaac Leeser was a 19th century American, Ashkenazi Jewish religious leader, teacher, scholar and publisher. He sparred as Orthodoxy's representative with Isaac Mayer Wise Reform's advocates. He ran a newspaper, founded seminaries including setting up congregations in new settlements, and translated the bible and the Siddur into English. Our host, Harry Ezratty is a graduate of New York University and Brooklyn Law School. His specialty is Admiralty or Maritime Law. He has written three books on American Jewish history, three novels about lawyers who practice the law of the sea. And has over 40 years lecturing at colleges, universities, Jewish organizations and as scholar in residence about Jewish history, the Inquisition and the rise of Jewish mercantile presence in the 16th century.
"JEWS IN SPACE" TOUR w/ THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF MARYLAND
Sunday, October 25, 2020, 10:00am-12:00pm
*Virtual Event* Join us on Zoom for a virtual tour of the “Jews in Space” exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Maryland on Sunday, October 25 at 10:00 AM. As the reality of life on Earth continues to get more complicated, the Jewish Museum of Maryland welcomes BJCC members and friends to virtually explore the wonders of space. From ancient astronomers to today’s space scientists and astronauts, Jewish people have been interested in “looking up.” Outer space has also inspired Jewish artists, writers, comedians, and thinkers, both religious and secular, to boldly imagine realms beyond our Earth.
AMOS OZ READING
Sunday, July 12, 2020, 10:30am-12:30pm
*Virtual Event* Join us this Sunday, July 12th for an Amos Oz reading. Amos Oz (1939-2018) was an Israeli novelist, short-story writer and essayist, as well as a professor and a prominent peace advocate. A committed secularist and atheist, he was active in the Israeli Secular Humanistic Judaism movement and the Israeli peace movement. We will discuss one of his short stories “Dreams Israel Should Let Go of Soon” on Sunday, July 12 at 10:30am.
PURIM
Friday, March 6, 2020, 7:00-9:00pm
Join us this Friday, March 6th as we commemorate the story of Purim. Start time is 7:00pm and includes features such as a potluck dessert with hamantaschen, candles, challah, and wine/grape juice. Costumes are encouraged but not mandatory. Please consider this is a non-alcoholic event.
A BINTEL BRIEF, OR BUNDLE OF LETTERS
Friday, February 21, 2020, 7:00-9:00pm
Come join us, as our very own Bob Jacobson hosts a discussion on A Bintel Brief, a Yiddish advice column, starting in the early 20th century New York City, that anonymously printed readers' questions and posted replies. In Yiddish, bintel means "bundle" and brief means a "letter" or "letters."
The focus of the Jewish Daily Forward's Bintel Brief column was "every aspect of the immigrant experience." It invited readers to tell their own stories in the pages of the paper. Here's a link to an article that does a great job of giving you a feel for what it was like around that time: https://forward.com/the-bintel-brief/about/
As always, you're welcome to bring food. We tend to eat at our events. And it's usually immediately following a short Shabbat and immediately preceding whatever we have planned for that event. Hope to see you there.
A SECULAR APPROACH TO JEWISH HOLIDAYS WITH RABBI JEREMY KRIDEL
Friday, February 7, 7:00-9:00pm
Welcome Jeremy Kridel, Rabbi at Machar, the Washington Congregation for Humanistic Judaism as he shares his views on a secular approach to the harder-to-deal-with Jewish holidays like Shavuot and Tisha B’Av (and not including the High Holidays, Passover, and Hanukkah). Co-editor of the Society for Humanistic Judaism’s quarterly magazine, Humanistic Judaism, and member on the governing board of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, Rabbi Kridel is committed to Secular Humanistic Judaism and to helping people of every age find a place to express both their Judaism and their humanism. https://machar.org/
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY CELEBRATION
Sunday, January 19, 1:00-4:30pm
Learn about the importance of paid family leave and take action to bring it to Maryland at JUFJ and Baltimore Hebrew Congregation's (7401 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21208) annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day film screening. There are many, many families in our country who receive ZERO WEEKS of paid family leave, despite living in the richest country in the world. "Zero Weeks" shows the struggles to change that, featuring JUFJ members campaigning for paid family leave in DC. This event is co-sponsored by Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Beth Am Synagogue, Chizuk Amuno Congregation, Chevrei Tzedek Congregation, Baltimore Jewish Cultural Chavurah, Congregation Beit Tikvah, and Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom. You must sign up at https://jufj.org/event/zero-weeks-baltimore/.
CHRISTMAS DAY POT LUCK AND MOVIE
Wednesday, December 25, 5:00-8:00pm
Join us on Christmas Day for our annual Pot Luck Dinner and Movie! Dinner will begin at 5:00pm and the movie will begin around 6:00pm. Given the decades-old tradition of having Chinese food on Christmas, everyone is encouraged to bring a Chinese dish to share. This is not essential and all appetizers, entrees, side dishes, desserts and drinks are welcome.
At around 6:00pm, the meeting space will be transformed into a movie theater for the showing of Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles. This recent documentary has received great reviews (including 98–100% on the review site Rotten Tomatoes) and includes interviews with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Gray, Austin Pendleton (who played Motel the tailor), writer Joseph Stein, composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick. 97 minutes.
CELEBRATE HUMANLIGHT ON DECEMBER 23RD!
Monday, December 23, 6:30-9:30pm
First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Corner of Charles and Franklin, enter hall on Charles St.)
Please join us to celebrate HumanLight with the Baltimore Coalition of Reason, the 10 Year Anniversary, featuring music, food and the lighting of three candles celebrating Reason, Compassion and Hope.
Sign up for the potluck dinner here (https://tinyurl.com/humanlight-baltimore-2019). For more information visit the Baltimore Coalition of Reason: http://www.BaltimoreCoR.org/.
CHANUKAH POT LUCK LATKE BASH, DECEMBER 22
Sunday, December 22, 5:00-7:00pm
Potato latkes. Zucchini latkes. All you can eat. That’s the way the BJCC will be celebrating Chanukah. Be there by 4:00pm if you would like to help cook. We will provide the latkes, sour cream and applesauce. Along with your appetites, please bring other food to share, including non-meat side dishes, desserts, and drinks. DO NOT BRING SOUR CREAM OR APPLESAUCE. These will be provided. Also, remember to bring your menorahs and candles for our group candle-lighting.