Cancelled - Sat. April 24th

Alas, we have not enough leyners for this week's Double Parsha Torah reading.
so this Sat. April 24 Zoo Minyan is canceled.

next Zoo Minyan -- May 15th Bamidbar - A fresh start in the desert.

sorry for disappointment this week.

NOTE: if you are a leyner, please consider signing up now to leyn May 15.


Good Shabbos to all.
Shabbat Shalom.

Halfway from Egypt to Sinai - Sat. April 24

This shabbos we'll be halfway through the 50 days of the Omer, balanced between Egypt and Sinai. A good time to move from looking back over our shoulders, and start lifting our eyes to the mountain. Except Am Yisrael didn't know they were heading to Sinai! What surprises and revelations lie in front of *us*? Come join Zoo Minyan for davenning, Torah reading, lunch, and learning, this coming shabbos -- you never know where your next Sinai will be found.

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if you can tell us you're coming we'd appreciate it, but RSVP is never required
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(updated: 4/20/2010)
Location below

Zoo Minyan is meeting this Sat.

We'll be gathering for davenning, lunch, shmoozing, singing, etc., next Saturday in Woodley Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Deborah and Shalom's house.

Want to volunteer to lead something for davenning, or add something to enrich our kavannah (we call them davenning treats, i.e. creative tidbits, not actual food ;) Schlep a sefer torah, or bring some Zoo Minyan veggies? Write back to info@ZooMinyan.org.

For Leyning there are aliyot available (please sign up if you can!)...use self-service leyning spreadsheet, or email leyning@ZooMinyan.org.


The Details:

Zoo Minyan
Saturday, Parshat Parshat Acharei-K'doshim, 24 April
10am sharp, with a rockin' Psukei d'Zimrah
Pot-luck dairy/veggie lunch -- main courses especially appreciated

At the home of Deborah Hittleman Flank and Shalom Flank. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org

Shabbat Shalom

REMINDER... April 16 - Fri. night Zoo Minyan

Just a reminder:

• Cleveland Park,
  
• home of Rabbi Gilah Langner & David Dreilich.

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(Consider donating to the Sienna's catering "kitty")
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Details below - Shabbos is coming!

What happens at Fri. night Zoo Minyan?

Here's a description of some Spiritual & Physical aspects of a Fri. night Zoo Minyan.

For the *Physical*,
>>> see below for details about dinner -- it's not just a pot-luck!
For the *Spiritual*,
>>> here you go...

A few things to expect (besides the unexpected)

• Creative rituals and Kavanot
  

For example: To add sweetness from the week to shabbat, we will pass around the kiddush cup during kabbalat shabbat. For each of the mizmorim (psalms, corresponding to each of the days of the week), a few people at a time will share something from their week to add to our overflowing cup of joy.

• Nigunim

Both soulful and spirited tunes, with lots of repetition and space to sink into the melodies. (Sometimes, you don't really start singing a good melody until you've been singing it for 20 minutes!)

• Nusach shivyoni
  

Davenning leaders will be using our photocopied siddurim with egalitarian language (see the Guide for the Perplexed). Other siddurim will also be available, and everyone is welcome to daven from their own siddur. Certain kinds of cacophony / pluralism create their own harmony.

• Raza d'Shabbat ("the mystery of shabbos")

Between Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv, where Nusach Sefard has a passage from the Zohar and Nusach Ashkenaz has a passage from the Mishnah, we will have a (three minute) drash. Drawing on the text of the tefillot (or parshat shavua or other relevant texts), we aim to provide kavannah for davenning and for our entry into shabbos.

About Dinner

We will have main courses from Siena's! Kosher, lots of dairy plus at least one non-dairy option, all veggie, and all yummy! Vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan -- send in your requests.

For shabbat dinner, the community provides some hearty entrees. You can:

• Contribute to the kitty to help pay for the entree,

AND / OR

• Bring a side dish, salad, or entree as a dairy / veggie pot-luck contribution.
  

Don't worry about whether your kitchen is kosher (or “kosher enough”), everyone gets to contribute. But please be prepared to explain what's in your dish, to help people avoid allergy or kashrut issues.

If you're worried about whether you'll be able to eat at Zoo Minyan, there is always a critical mass of pot-luck contributions with a heksher or cooked in someone's heksher-only kitchen. There are always hekshered challot and grape juice. The entree is hekshered, and (for the l'mehadrin) heated while double-wrapped. And you'll get to know people as you ask who brought which dish.

Logistics

Helping out:

1. Picking-up dinner entrees from Rockville
   
2. Schlep siddurim, pot-luck plates & utensils, and benchers
   
3. Helping to organize set-up and clean-up
   
4. Leading Kabbalat Shabbat
   
5. Raza d'Shabbat: Kavanah / Torah between Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv
   
6. Leading Ma'ariv
   

Write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org to help out!

******************************************************************

Any questions, about this or anything else, please contact info@ZooMinyan.org.

Fri. night Zoo Minyan - April 16

Now we are free! As we emerge from Pesach, make plans to join Zoo Minyan Fri. night, April 16, for a tune filled joyful Erev Shabbat.

We'll have spirited songful Davening and delicious dinner (catered entrees from Sienna's). This time we'll be in Cleveland Park, at the home of super-hosts Rabbi Gilah Langner & David Dreilich. (Zoo Minyan will be davenning there, and then we'll combine for dinner with Ruach Minyan who will arrive after their separate davenning.)
We're seeking davenning leaders, and there's always room for davenning treats, special niggunim, etc., just write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org to volunteer.

Please make a donation toward dinner and/or bring a potluck contribution (veggie/dairy) -- details below.


The Details:
This Friday night, April 16
Shmoozing plus set-up: 6:15pm
Rockin' Kabbalat Shabbat -- 6:45pm sharp!
Followed by Ma'ariv, dinner, singing, drashing, more shmoozing....

At the home of Rabbi Gilah Langner & David Dreilich

For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org.

ABOUT DINNER (it's not just a pot-luck!)

We will have main courses from Siena's! Kosher, lots of dairy plus at least one non-dairy option, all veggie, and all yummy! Vegetable lasagna, eggplant parmesan -- send in your requests

For shabbat dinner, the community provides some hearty entrees. You can:

1. Contribute to the kitty to help pay for the entree AND / OR
   
2. Bring a side dish or salad as a dairy / veggie pot-luck contribution.
   

Don't worry about whether your kitchen is kosher (or “kosher enough”), everyone gets to contribute. But please be prepared to explain what's in your dish, to help people avoid allergy or kashrut issues.

If you're worried about whether you'll be able to eat at Zoo Minyan, there is always a critical mass of pot-luck contributions with a heksher or cooked in someone's heksher-only kitchen. There are always hekshered challot and grape juice, plus the entree is hekshered. And you'll get to know people as you ask who brought which dish. Questions? Ideas? Want to help? Need the address or directions? Write back to Fridays@ZooMinyan.org.

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This week, Challah for Shabbos!
Next week, Zoo Minyan!
Shavua Tov!!

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For more FRIDAY NIGHT INFO, get all the details here. And for upcoming dates, check the Zoo Minyan Google calendar (yep, it's there, just to your left, top of the page).