Zoo Minyan goes to NHC Chesapeake Retreat (National Havurah Committee)

Chesapeake Retreat

February 17-19, 2012 "Shall the Rich Pay More?"

Join the National Havurah Committee, havurahs and minyans from across the Mid-Atlantic Region for the NHC Chesapeake Retreat!

Shabbat Shekalim / 24-26 Sh’vat, 5772

Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center / Reisterstown, Maryland

Read about this year's courses and registration and retreat information at www.havurah.org/chesapeake.

------------------------------------

In parashat Mishpatim, Moses receives law concerning fines, lending, and restitution. On Shabbat Shekalim, the haftarah defines a system of census and taxation, including that “the rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less” than a half-shekel. In the midst of a presidential primary, with Wall Street recently occupied, and in the weeks before Passover, how do we perceive these laws? Does equal taxation promote or hinder equality? Do regulations and taxes represent an infringement on, or an enabler of, human freedom?

Take a weekend to examine these questions while experiencing the holiness of a community that learns, prays, and rests together. Individuals, families, and havurot of all ages will gather to sing, eat, study, dance, pray, debate, relax, and bond.

Zoo Minyan Dinner in the Sukkah - Thurs. Oct 13

Zoo Minyan Dinner in the Sukkah -

Thurs. Oct 13

7pm

-------------------------------------
Potluck: veggie/dairy

WHERE: Woodley Park /Deb & Shalom's

more info? sukkah@zooMinyan.org

Sukkah building - Oct. 10

Greetings Zoo Minyanites, old & new,
advanced planning:

Sukkah building will be Oct 10th - Columbus day

Plan to join in!

BLINTZfest -- Wed. June 8

(Zoo Minyan is not scheduled to meet in June, however --


***BLINTZfest***:
Blintz Fest at Deborah and Shalom's - 1st Day of Shavuot -- 5pm, June 8 (Wed.)
-----------------------------
Come join Shalom & Deborah for their Annual Shavuot Blintz Fest!
Sleep to your hearts content on the 1st day of Shavuot and then come by starting at 5pm.
Blintzes come fresh from Grandma's heirloom blintz pan - you are invited to bring toppings. If you are in the mood, other Hekshered potluck items are welcome but certainly not required. Eat Bubbelah eat!

TIME: 5 p.m. through ???

LOCATION:
At Deborah and Shalom's house in Woodley Park. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email Blintzes@ZooMinyan.org


No RSVP necessary (but always appreciated) - yes@zooMinyan.org

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Shall we meet Sat. May 14th?

question --
Shall we meet Sat. May 14th?

Zoo Minyan needs you!

(see below)
-----

The NHC Chesapeake Retreat (National Havurah Committee) was great!
a weekend of music and classes with new friends and old.
Now is a good time to consider NHC Summer Institute -
http://havurah.org/institute2011
-----

Next scheduled Sat. Zoo Minyan is...

May 14th

Can you...
Sign up to Leyn?
volunteer to Host?
Bring zooMinyan veggies?
RSVP !!

email yes@ZooMinyan.org

Enjoy your Pesach!
Chag Kasher v'Sameach

Fri. night Zoo Minyan - March 18th

Friday night before Purim, what do you do for Erev Shabbat???
come to

Fri night Zoo Minyan

March 18th

We'll have spirited songful Davening and delicious dinner (catered entrees from Sienna's). We'll be in Woodley Park, at the home of Deborah & Shalom. 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:
Friday night, March 18
Shmoozing plus set-up: 6:30pm
Rockin' Kabbalat Shabbat -- 7:00pm sharp!
Followed by Ma'ariv, dinner, singing, drashing, more shmoozing....

At the home of Deborah & Shalom

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, salad, or desert 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.

Shabbos is coming!

-------

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

3/18 Friday night; 3/16 bake Hamantaschen

2 announcements -

March 18
save the date for Friday Zoo Minyan in Woodley Park

March 16
come bake Hamantashen! RSVP info@zooMinyan.org


--Happy Spring!

Zoo Minyan - No Davenning, but some learning, Sat. Feb. 26th

Zoo Minyan is not meeting for davenning Sat. Feb 26.

Sorry folks! Insufficient leyning turn-out for Zoo this shabbos, wouldn't be lichvod Torah. Apologies for the short notice / change of plans.

But feel free to stop by for some learning after davenning elsewhere (or after shaarei sheina / sleeping in, as is your custom).

We'll have some awesome texts on Hulda the prophetess's role at the Beit ha-Mikdash, on the difference between the Mishkan and the Beit ha-Mikdash, and we may even experiment with some (shabbos-friendly) mishkan-building of our own.

1:30pm at Deborah and Shalom's house, challah and light snacks provided, add a pot-luck contribution if you'd like.

Good shabbos!

P.S. We're considering some chasiddishe non-davenning events for Zoo Minyan. Write back to info@ZooMinyan.org if you want to get in on the plotting.

---

*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>*>
SPECIAL NOTE: Sat. Feb 12 is Erev Shira/ Evening of Song (folk singing and musical instruments) Come join us Sat. night - 6:30pm; Havdallah & then singing -with Instruments.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
(now back to info on regular Zoo Minyan Sat.)

The opening pasuk of this week's Parsha (Shmot 27:20) says, “Tell Israel, that they should take for you pure olive oil, beaten for the light, to bring up the Ner Tamid [continuous light]”. This verse is cited in the gemara (Shabbat 21a) as a proof-text:

Rami bar Hama taught, “the wicks and oils that the sages decreed cannot be used for kindling the shabbat [lights], cannot be used in the Mikdash [the Temple]....For the flame should rise from itself, and not ascend by means of something else.”

One interpretation is that we are the olive oil, and holiness is the flame. The eternal light, the blinding presence of the holy, is something that happens naturally – unbelievable as that seems, until we actually experience it. But it only happens when we've prepared for it. The purity of the olive oil takes a lot of work, as we're pounded through the mortar of life.

When we can step back from that necessary work, and enter into shabbos menuchah, then we are drawn up into the wick, and become part of that brilliant flame. Rami bar Hama says, that process happens by ourselves, not through another: by virtue of where we are (the Mikdash, or whatever holy spaces we create), when we are most ourselves (shabbos, of course), and especially, who we are – or who we've made ourselves to be.

May your mortar yield sediment-free oil this week, and may you be drawn up into the wick of the Ner Tamid this shabbos, and every shabbos – including the next Zoo Minyan, on February 26^th.

==================

We'll be gathering for davenning, lunch, shmoozing, singing, etc., Sat. Feb 26 in Woodley Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Deborah & 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 Vayakhel, 26 Feb
10am sharp, with a rockin' Psukei d'Zimrah
Pot-luck dairy/veggie lunch -- main courses especially appreciated

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

Shabbat Shalom

Next Zoo Minyan - Sat. Feb. 26th

To lead, Leyn, offer a Davenning Treat, or bring Zoo Minyan veggies, contact us.

email yes@zooMinyan.org

See you soon!

Zoo Minyan & AU Hillel

Hey Zoo Minyan-ites!

Please remember we borrow the AU Hillel Torah, and please make a donation to them, in any amount

AU Hillel donations

End your year on a Chai note!

Fri. night Zoo Minyan - Dec 10th

When Hanukkah ends, what do you do for Erev Shabbat???
come to

**Mt. Pleasant**

Fri night Zoo Minyan

Dec. 10th

We'll have spirited songful Davening and delicious dinner (catered entrees from Sienna's). We'll be in Mt. Pleasant, at the home of Judith & David. 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:
Friday night, Dec 10
Shmoozing plus set-up: 5:30pm
Rockin' Kabbalat Shabbat -- 6:00pm sharp!
Followed by Ma'ariv, dinner, singing, drashing, more shmoozing....

At the home of Judith & David

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, salad, or desert 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.

Shabbos is coming!

-------

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

THIS WEEK Vayishlach - send yourself to Zoo - Nov. 20

Vayishlach - And you should send...yourself to Zoo Minyan this Sat.!
==================

In this week's parsha, Ya'akov finally returns home, and receives God's blessing (35:9). Zoo Minyan returns home this week too, in a way. We last met two weeks ago, as one of the multiple communities that came together at Adas Israel to celebrate and observe shabbos with Rabbi Ethan Tucker (zachor and shamor being distinct approaches to shabbat, as we learned together that Friday night).

Shuls are an essential part of the fabric of Jewish communal life, and all the more so when they reach out beyond the walls of the building to bring people together. At the same time, home-based davenning is an ancient and ongoing stitch in that same fabric, providing a different weave and vibrant splashes of color. Come join us for haimishe davenning, singing, drashing, share a meal together, air out your neshama yetaira (your expanded shabbos soul) and settle into the comfortable lap of the shechina.

---
==================

Zoo Minyan is meeting this Sat.

We'll be gathering for davenning, lunch, shmoozing, singing, etc., this Saturday in Cleveland Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Stefan'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 Vayishlach, 20 Nov
10am sharp, with a rockin' Psukei d'Zimrah
Pot-luck dairy/veggie lunch -- main courses especially appreciated

At the home of Stefan G. For directions, check your Zoo mail, or email info@ZooMinyan.org

Shabbat Shalom

Next Zoo Minyan - Sat. Nov. 20

To lead, Leyn
offer a Davenning Treat, or
bring Zoo Minyan Veggies,

email yes@zooMinyan.org

See you soon!

weekend: "Exploring Observance in a Pluralistic Setting” - Oct 29-31

This Weekend:
“Exploring Jewish Observance in a Pluralistic Setting”

Led by Rabbi Ethan Tucker, Adas Israel and area independent minyanim—including Zoo Minyan!—will be “Exploring Jewish Observance in a Pluralistic Setting.” With events spanning the weekend (Oct. 29-31) there's something for everyone. Visit details & schedule-of-events for more info and to RSVP.

To volunteer for part of Zoo Minyan leading/leyning, email
info@zooMinyan.org.

Experience the power of Torah Lishma—learning for its own sake.

See you there!

----------------------------------

ETHAN TUCKER BIO
Special Guest: Rabbi Ethan Tucker

Rabbi Tucker is Rosh Yeshiva at Mechon Hadar and chair in Jewish law.
He was a faculty member at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education,
where he taught Talmud and Halakhah in the Scholars Circle. He was
ordained by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and earned a Ph.D. in Talmud
and Rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a B.A. from
Harvard College. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, he was a co-founder of
Kehilat Hadar and a winner of the first Grinspoon Foundation Social
Entrepreneur Fellowship.
-----

Save the Date - Sat. Nov 20th (& Oct 29-31)

Next Zoo Minyan - Sat. Nov. 20

(we are *not* meeting Nov. 13th)

-----------------------

Oct. activity:
Rabbi Ethan Tucker at Torah Lishma weekend

Oct 29-31

Independent Minyanim co-sponsoring with Adas Israel
See a schedule of events and RSVP online


-----------------------

Details coming soon...

Zoo Minyan Sukkah time - Thurs. Sept 23

Sukkot is here!

Need some more Chag?
Missing your Zoo Minyan chevre? Want to meet new folks?
Come gather together and share a festive potluck in Woodley Park, at the sukkah of Deborah & Shalom Flank.

6pm Dinner & Mincha
7:45pm Candles & Ushpizin/Ushpizata for Ice Cream

-------------
THE DETAILS:
Thurs. night, September 23, (2nd night Sukkot)
Starting at 6pm
Pot-luck dairy/veggie dinner -- 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

Chag same'ach!

---
FACEBOOK! Be sure to check out our Events on our page! Send 'em to your friends.
(people are RSVPing like crazy!)

Simhat Torah option

There's no Zoo Minyan, but there's the first ever TLS Simhat Torah celebration...

(Tikkun Leil Shabbat)
-------------------

TLS SIMCHAT TORAH CELEBRATION!


Thursday, September 30, 2010
7:15 pm

+ Church of the Pilgrims building, 2201 P St NW
+ Gothic building (with large rainbow "welcome" banner) on west side of 22nd St between P & Q Sts, NW. Enter around to the left side of the main entrance through the stairs down marked "Fellowship Hall."
+ Directions: http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/directions.html

Join TLS for our first ever Simchat Torah celebration! We'll begin with ma'ariv (the evening service)*, continue with hakafot (dancing with the Torah), and conclude by completing and restarting the annual reading of the Torah. Wear your dancing shoes!

- The first 4 hakafot will be a cappella (without instruments).
- The last 3 hakafot will be accompanied by instruments (a klezmer band).


POTLUCK INFO
If your last name starts with the letters A-L, bring a potluck snack that can be eaten with fingers.
If your last name starts with the letters M-Z, bring a hydrating beverage or a pitcher for water
You may bring other beverages as an additional contribution if you wish.
(There will not be a regular potluck dinner. All are encouraged to eat dinner before arriving - it will be a late night!)

*TLS is a diverse Jewish community. Some of us celebrate 2 days of yom tov (festival), including Thursday night Sep 30 as the second night of yom tov. Some celebrate one day of yom tov and see Thursday night Sep 30 as a weeknight. Some don't have an opinion one way or the other. This service will be set up to accommodate all of these different practices. You can read further about the one day and two-day yom tov celebration practices here: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/About_Holidays/Types_of_Holidays/Length_of_Holidays.shtml

Next Zoo Minyan: Sukkot!

In the coming Chaggim intensive month, Zoo Minyan will not be having any of the usual Sat. or Fri night davenning. The next Zoo Minyan activities will be for *Sukkot*

For the *Physical*,
>>> Raising the Sukkah --- Sun. Sept 19th @ 4pm

Come play with wood, nuts, and bolts

For the *Spiritual*,
>>> Dinner in the Sukkah --- Tues night Sept 23

Potluck dinner in the Sukkah, 2nd night of Sukkot

Sukkah will be in Woodley Park (within walking distance of the Zoo, as is Zoo Minyan custom) at Deborah and Shalom's house.

(Additional details coming soon)
---

FACEBOOK! Be sure to check out our Events on our page! Send 'em to your friends.

"Labor on the Bima " Zoo Minyan w/ UAW drash - Aug 28

.
.Come enjoy a drash over lunch by UAW (United Auto Workers) insider at Zoo Minyan's "Labor on the Bima"

..come enjoy "davenning treats" with a Labor theme

...Maybe sing some Labor songs?

(celebrating JUFJ program "Labor on the Bima")
(Zoo Minyan is doing its programming the week **before** labor day, so it won't conflict with other congregations' programs, so come on down!)

---
if you can tell us you're coming we'd appreciate it, but RSVP is never required
==================


We'll be gathering for davenning, lunch drash, shmoozing, singing, etc., 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 Ki Tavo, 28 August
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

Rosh Hodesh: SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN OF THE WALL

In recent months, the Kotel in Jerusalem has been even less of a site of kedusha and unity, with Rosh Chodesh davenners with Women of the Wall subject to a new wave of harassment, arrest, and even the threat of violence. As we enter the season of Teshuva on Rosh Chodesh Elul, we stand in solidarity to sound the wake-up call of the Shofar.

WHAT: SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN OF THE WALL

Rosh Hodesh Elul Morning Service

WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 7:30 a.m.

WHERE: Adas Israel, 2850 Quebec Street, NW, Washington, DC

(Metro: Red Line, Cleveland Park)

DETAILS:

A cross - denominational group of women and men will gather in solidarity with Women of the Wall and begin the spiritual journey toward the new year. Women will lead the service, including reading from the Torah. The service, like those held on Rosh Hodesh by Women of the Wall in Jerusalem, will accommodate participants from across the Jewish spectrum.

Women of the Wall strive to achieve the right to pray together at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem, Judaism’s most sacred holy site and the principal symbol of Jewish peoplehood and sovereignty.

Women who would like to lead part of the service or read from the Torah should contact Virginia Spatz, 202-557-0086, songeveryday@gmail.com.

Please bring a prayerbook (siddur) if you are able and a tallit if you wear one. While women will lead the service, men are encouraged to come.

"One thing I have asked from You, one thing I seek, to dwell in Your house all the days of my life." -- Psalm 27

For more details, please visit

http://songeveryday.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/rosh-hodesh elul/

or on Facebook "Rosh Hodesh Elul DC".